The Guardian's Women's Football Weekly - England’s tough Euro draw, WSL managerial moves and more – Women’s Football Weekly

Episode Date: December 17, 2024

Faye Carruthers is joined by Suzy Wrack, Carla Ward, and Marva Kreel to round up the Euro Draw and the weekend’s WSL games.

This is The Guardian. free. Without insurance, your assets are at risk from major financial losses, data breaches, and natural disasters. Get customized coverage today starting at $19 per month at zensurance.com. Be protected. Be Zen. Hello, I'm Faye Carruthers, and welcome to the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. Could Group D of next year's European Championships be the definition of the law of sod as England draw Wales, the Netherlands and France? We'll round up the weekend's WSL and Championship results, nibble away at the League Cup quarterfinal draw,

as well as focus on some of the managerial changes over the past week. And look at that, on our last pod before the winter break, I've managed not to shove as many Christmas puns into the intro as possible and not mention Tapao. Ho, ho, ho. All that, plus we'll take your questions, and that's today's Guardian Women's Football Weekly. Susie Rack, are jingle belled out yet?

Do I look very jingle belled out? That's a stupid thing to say on a podcast isn't it? I'm sat in my front room because I'm redecorating my office so I'm sat in front of

the sparkly Christmas tree and a Merry Christmas neon sign so I don't think I'm very Christmasted out yet I can't wait I can't wait for the last game of football

that I'm going to by Arsenal-Bayern and then freedom. You literally have baubles coming out of your head. I do. It's quite a sight. Marva Creel, look at that timing. Merry Christmas to you. Finally an Everton win for you to talk about. I know, the timing. And I got asked before we even knew the result I think I think I got asked expecting a battering again because that seems to be my role on this pod but no I'm here with

smiles I think we had faith in you that's what I think uh Carla Ward or should I say Naughty Elf Naughty Elf yes we love it honestly it's the best time of the year? So, yeah, no, it's been one of those every night. What do we do? Wake up, first thing she says is, what's the naughty elf done, mum? So, yeah, gets her out of bed in the morning. Can't wait for that stage slash dreading it massively. Right, we will get on to the weekend's action very shortly,

but let's start with a big Euro 2025 draw that happened in Switzerland on Monday evening. We were all looking out for England and Wales being drawn, and it was perhaps inevitable, wasn't it, that they'd end up meeting each other, both drawn in a tricky Group D alongside France and the Netherlands. Before we discuss that, let's run through the other groups. In Group A, hosts Switzerland face Norway, Iceland and Finland. I mean, you literally couldn't write before we discuss that let's run through the other groups in group a hosts switzerland face norway iceland and finland i mean you literally couldn't write it could you group b contains spain portugal belgium and italy and group c is germany poland denmark and sweden well what do you make of

england's chances suzy i mean look we we know both the Netherlands and France pretty well. Wales, close neighbours, which always kind of means an unpredictable game. But I don't know, I was a bit disappointed by the draw for many different reasons. I think they've used up a lot of their luck on the Euros last time out, where the draw was kind and they didn't get any major players down with COVID, just Serena and Hannah Hampton, I think, compared to some of the other teams. So, yeah, a lot of luck has been used up. It's not the easiest of draws, but it's not impossible either. Beat France in Euro qualifying in France and then I think back

to like the Nations League last year lost a game to Netherlands and then beat them 3-2 at home so like you know they're teams that they can beat and like I think it just depends on sort of form going into the tournament a little bit but it it's not, it's certainly not the kindest draw. It's certainly not the delicious group A. You could almost see Serena Wiegmann eye rolling when she was asked about it. And obviously drawing her native Netherlands. A first Euros for Wales though, Carla, which is very exciting. How do you think they're going to be feeling?

Are they going to also be sitting there thinking, oh, come on, that could have been, that could have been kinder. No, you think they're going to be feeling? Are they going to also be sitting there thinking, oh, come on, that could have been kinder? No, I think they'll relish it. I think, you know, they're going up against the top, top nations. I think when they would have seen England, if you look at it, honestly, they'll love that. They'll go into it as the underdogs, you know, nothing expected from them.

So they'll thrive off that pressure. And yeah, and then facing the Netherlands and France is huge. So it is interesting. I think Susie's hit the nail on the head. You yeah, and then facing the Netherlands and France is huge. So it is interesting. I think Susie's hit the nail on the head. You know, they were lucky last time around because they did get the luck of the draw. This time they haven't. Although I would argue they've tested themselves

against the very, very best in this latest period, which Serena's been criticised for, but I think unfairly actually, because I think there's, they're really good tests and it will set them up really, really well for what's a difficult draw. Listen, you have to beat the best to be the best is the is the old cliche, Marva, isn't it? Hosts Switzerland automatically placed in Group A. You've got to go back to 2005, which is quite incredible.

The last time that the hosts failed to reach the knockout stages. How are they going to view their chances under pierre suntage well i think with that group you know you can't you can't ask for much better than that norway you just never know what you're going to get with them i think last year as we thought we would have a hard group with norway and then we know how that turned out with that matchup so no they've got a relish in this. It's really exciting for them. And, you know, they didn't draw France, Netherlands and England, so they can be happy with that and look ahead for what's to come. Yeah.

What else catches your eye, Susie, of all the fixtures? I mean, well, it's obviously Group D, right? But, like, I suppose Group C, you've obviously got Germany and Sweden. I think Denmark aren't to be rested on particularly as well. But other than that, all of the interest is going to be Group D, I think. There's no competition there for like, which group is going to soak up attention. I'm like curious to see what Norway can do. I think they're looking far more organised than they did at the last Euros where everything collapsed a little bit. They've never really got the best out of this really impressive midfield and attack that they've got at their disposal in a group like that where they could potentially build up a decent head of steam. It might be quite interesting to see what they then do

should they get to the knockouts. I'm not going to say they will, guaranteed, even from that group, because based on last time out, anything can happen. Yes, I'm sort of curious to see what they do. I mean, it should be fairly straightforward in Spain, shouldn't it? But we'll see. Yeah. I was sent earlier, France, England, either in Zurich or Lucerne on the 5th of July,

Saturday the 5th of July. Very exciting, and that is going to come around so quickly, isn't it? Right, let's look at the league now. Barclays WSL full of drama this weekend. Marva, over to you because we'll start with the upset

of the weekend. Troubled Everton, sorry, Sophie wrote that, not me. Troubled Everton entertained Manchester City at Walton Hall Park. Obviously, Chelsea dropped points on the Saturday, which we'll discuss in a minute, but it was a perfect opportunity for Gareth Taylor's side to close the gap at the top of the table.

But your team were having none of it. It finished Everton 2, Manchester City 1. Lucy Hope and Hanaka Hayashi firing Everton into an unexpected 2-0 lead. Could have been more as well in the first half. A late penalty from Mary Fowler meant a tense final few minutes, but ultimately Brian

Sorensen's side held on for a massive victory. I mean, look, the first time in 17 WSL games that Everton have beaten Manchester City, Marva. Just 20% of possession as well explain exactly how they got the job done that's a real one club mentality that isn't it Sean Dyche is uh working his magic across the club no I mean I think I'm still in shock um not not

only at the result but the performance as well like I know we joke about 20% possession but that was a game plan it didn't feel like a smash and grab it know we joke about 20% possession, but that was a game plan. It didn't feel like a smash and grab. It didn't feel like 20% possession, but not deserved win. It was very much plan tactic. And I think Brian Sorensen got it completely right. And I've been critical of him now and then,

but I think we saw glimpses of that type of tactical performance against Liverpool in the derby, and against Arsenal actually, where we got the point, but where the kind of aim was to have that low block and then look for the outlet ball which when we play against teams where we're kind of more expected to win we don't do that and we just try and build out from the back and then we end up losing the ball and losing the points so it was so important to actually get points against well both Liverpool and Man City now because if you're not getting the points against the teams you're expected to beat

and you're putting in good performances in the bigger games, but you're not getting the points and there's no point in it. But, yeah, I sort of saw glimpses of it against Liverpool where we were really using Tony Payne as an outlet, where we were using Lawley as an outlet, and this really came through in this game. And I think it was the perfect tactical match-up because, you know, City just couldn't really deal

with that pace. They couldn't deal with directness. I think they were in shock. I think in the first sort of 10 minutes, Noe's had a chance where she just ran in a straight line. And they were sort of, all of City's defence were like, what's going on here?

We kind of didn't expect this from Everton. And they seemed kind of shell-shocked. And then we scored. And like you said, we could have had about four in that first half. I was just watching, confused at how many chances we were creating. But it was just because we were playing direct. And that's what we've been missing so much in so many games. And we've only really pulled out against certain clubs.

And I think this is hopefully a sign for Sorensen that, you know, this is actually the better way for us to play currently. While we don't have like a strong number nine who can hold it up and Snowys is better when she's facing towards goal rather than away from it and having to hold it up that's not her game and yeah I thought Payne was excellent even though I don't know what she was doing on that 1v1 should have buried that but other than that she was excellent Van Hever mate coming into centre mid rather than in defence I think really really helped us because Hayashi has just been doing

all the work for us in midfield. So some really, really good tactical changes that I was really impressed by and, yeah, massively impressed by the performance. I can hear how excited you are about it. I love it when your team gets a good win and you can literally just explain the game in super speed, watching it on replay in your head. Because it has, Carla, been a really tough year actually for Brian Sorensen and his players as well.

But this three points in particular and the manner of the performance as well as the victory is massive and it moves them up to ninth. They've obviously got the new owners on the horizon as well. Does it feel, and this is difficult to say because of the ownership problems that they've had in the past, but does it feel as if maybe there's light at the end of the tunnel for them? I think so.

And I think that performance on Sunday was a little bit reminiscent of 22-23 season where first half of the season they dominated the ball, they possessed the ball against most sides, but they had no end product in the final third. And around Christmas time, they started going a little bit more direct. And then they started picking up points and wins. And I feel that that's how I felt at the weekend. They kind of went away from the Brian Sorensen way

and were a little bit more direct. And I think that suited them. And that might be something they have to attack if they don't get the January window that they want. They might have to attack it in that way. And there's absolutely no problem with that. Obviously, Brian has a very clear way of playing. And don't get me wrong, when he gets it right, it's superb to watch.

But sometimes when you've got a group of players that don't necessarily fit that style, you have to change. And I think what you saw at the weekend was him changing it and it paid off. Yeah, it did pay off for sure. Not so for Manchester City. And Everton have had injury problems, but so have Man City at the moment. Alex Greenwood and Bunny Shaw both ruled out in midweek.

But I still think that they've got a much stronger depth of squad to call upon, that's for sure, than Everton. This is what Gareth Taylor had to say. We looked a bit flat today. Looked like a team that has played quite a few games recently and we didn't seem to have much energy. Is that where it went wrong for them, Susie?

I mean, just four shots on target. We've seen this before when Bunny Shaw's not been available. They do look a little bit flat, but I mean, you know, they had a real chance to close the gap and they must be quite disappointed with the fact that they haven't capitalised on Chelsea dropping points. Yeah, I mean, that's going to be frustrating for sure. But the thing is, it's not just the, you know, Bunny Shaw and Alex Greenwood. Although I think Alex Greenwood is a really, really key one, because if you're going to argue where there was defensive weakness in that, where there weakness in that side it would be at centre back right like in terms of depth at centre back

when you've got got alexandria and kennedy um as your centre back pairing like you're going to be a little bit concerned about that there's not a huge amount of like pace in that back pairing or i mean just technical quality in terms of the way way Alex Greenwood is able to read a game, but also then build out from the back as well. So like it's that I think that injury is actually in many respects more significant than Bunny Shaw's, although obviously it'd be stupid to like play down the impacts of Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp as well. The fact that Chloe Kelly can't even get a start with all of those players out I think is like you know pretty damning about the relationship breakdown that's happened there and you know I

thought when she came on she had an impact but it's they've got depth in their squad but not in the positions that really really matter at centre back and centre forward they're they're the key for them and if you're not willing to play Chloe Kelly when Lauren Hemp and Bunny Shaw are out, then I think you're really kind of kicking yourself in the foot a little bit for no reason. Because I don't think that Fagino, Fowler and Park together are as experienced as Chloe Kelly in these kind of games that you just have to win when you're

you know limping towards the the winter break a little bit that's gonna be interesting to see how that plays out in in the new year maybe a fresh start potentially look there was Chelsea will have been watching that game having just taken away a point against Leicester with a little bit of relief I think think, but disappointing. And we talked about the law of sod earlier. Sonia Bonpastel was going for 10 out of 10 in terms of wins, but the 100% winning run ended. Omundi Mikel's side pulling out the performance of the season for them.

They took away a really important draw against the title holders. It finished Leicester 1, Chelsea 1. Missy Goodwin shocking the visitors in the first half to give them a valuable lead. Just their third goal of the campaign, which I can't quite believe, bearing in mind it's the middle of December. But so much Chelsea pressure

that they had to deal with Leicester. But Vika Kapteyn ensured the points were shared with a fine finish right towards the end of the game. It was a brilliant defensive display from Leicester, Carla. And maybe not mentioned enough, actually, that they have got one of the best defences in the leagues outside of the top four. What did you make of their performance? Yeah, I think they do deserve an awful lot of credit because, look, when you're facing a Chelsea side in the form they've been in, and let's be honest, they're in scintating form they're they're relentless at the moment and the way that Leicester set up and she spoke about it

didn't she pre-match and that she wanted to do something different um to sit that low and defending their way they did and close the gaps they did for 90 minutes I think is you know remarkable and they deserve an awful lot of credit for that they really do because that's not easy you know people talking about yes it is easy to defend and and go and attack of course but to deal with that type of pressure those types of movements it's um they deserve a huge amount of credit and you saw them celebrate like a win and you would do when they're so yeah I think that you're right it wasn't spoken about enough it was all about Chelsea's woes but I think Leicester need to be spoken about

because the way they defended was absolutely brilliant. Yeah, it's just so easy, isn't it, always, for the narrative to be about the big team. And we've done this on the pod this season, actually, because somebody flagged to us that actually we don't talk enough about the so-called smaller teams. That feels patronising even saying that. So we've changed things on our pod this season haven't we Susie

and and you actually described this game as as David against Goliath in in your match report but I mean it could just be such an enormous point I know it's only a point but wow you know the battle against relegation every single point counts doesn't it how much are they going to take from this going into the winter break? Loads. Amandine McHale said afterwards that it was like a huge point to take a point off of the champions. Like, you know, obviously going into the winter break, like you can't really ask for much more.

She said she just sort of told them to go out there and just have a go basically and I mean they did I like I just they were just so well like there was so much defensive heart that's what like I really took from it and that they're actually a really well coached side I've not watched a huge amount of Leicester this season like in person and obviously when you're watching on telly the camera follows the ball a bit so you don't really necessarily see sort of what's what's happening um beyond you know the the little box that is is is pointed at it but um the yeah like I was really impressed and I feel like you know the number of injuries they've got

to their forward line with uh Naomi Mouchon um Jutta Rantala, Peterman, Lena Peterman they have no attack, right? They played Ruby Mace up front in one game. You know, they're playing another midfielder up front in this game. Like, there's just, they're really, like, scraping the barrel. So, like, I don't think too much can be taken from the fact that that's their third goal of the season in that context. But it sort of makes me excited for the second part of the season

when they might potentially have a player back or I mean I know some of the most long-term injuries or they might be able to do something in the transfer window that just helps them stick something in front of the players that have been performing so defensively well that's what is quite exciting for me because I actually think you know so far what we've seen there are signs of a well-coached team and a really good coach but we're not really being able to get the best out of them at the moment because they are just so hamstrung by those injuries to their forward line like just you know they have no players so like I mean what can you do so yeah that'll be fun. It makes the draw

even more impressive doesn't it when you list the amount of players that are out and the struggles that they've had. First bump in the road for Sonia Bonpastor's tenure so far. I mean, they dominated possession, but really wayward in front of goal. This is what she had to say. When we talk about ambitions, we need to turn our words into action

and I need the players to be ready from the start of the game. We didn't show our intentions and we got punished for that I'm frustrated because we have the talent in the team and we didn't show it the players need to realize this league is competitive and you don't show up from the beginning in every game if you don't show up from the beginning in every game you don't get good results pretty damning actually uh towards her players Marva should that be a warning sign for for some of them? I mean, you know, these are

the standards Sonia has, right? You don't drop your first points now in December if you don't have those standards. So I think that's what she has to put forward to her team and that's what she needs from her team if they're going to go for all the trophies that they can go for. But I think Chelsea fans shouldn't be too worried.

You know, this is a little blip in the road it's the first points dropped all season which is absolutely insane and we speak about injuries and we kind of often sort of gloss over Chelsea's just because their squad is so good that you kind of don't even realise but you look at their midfield in this game and it's a very young midfield I think fullbacks have been a slight problem for them in terms of defending on transition you look at sort of Lucy Bronze who didn't have her best game in this game I think she's actually been pretty good this season but I think she's been better when she's made to just stay back and in this game I think probably because they thought it was a Leicester and they could just kind of attack those the wide areas that they could just go for it when you don't get

that early goal then you are kind of left quite exposed and that's what happened and I think they also got a bit shocked once they conceded that goal but we've seen slight elements of this in previous performances I thought Chelsea got a bit lucky against Brighton even against Palace when they went on to win what was it 7-0 or whatever even in that first half there were elements that you were going oh they've left a little bit exposed there against Villa as well. I mean, they've always managed to score.

And in this game, they just kind of, they had a few chances, a few long shots at the beginning, but they just didn't capitalise on it. And it's been that first

kind of game where they then just sort of went against them. But I wouldn't be too worried if I was a Chelsea fan. I thought it was interesting that one of the things she said afterwards as well, Sonia said afterwards, was that, like like they just lacked a little bit of creativity and that you know it

was telling that the goal came from the captain basically just like taking it on and just going for it and that's sort of what they needed they needed uh players to just have a try a little bit and to try and make something happen and no one was really doing that they were sort of almost trying to work it into the net instead of just you know kind of attacking the box a little bit um and her drive to the edge of the area and then like you know just hitting it was enough to give them that point so like I thought that was an interesting point I think maybe it's a time of the year yeah I don I don't know. Maybe it's the three games a week, but they just didn't look like they had that sort of creative bite to them.

But I completely agree with Martha. I think this season there have been signs that defensively they can be got at, but no team has really capitalised on that necessarily at any point so far. So, yeah, huge. I don't want to level an accusation with no proof on it, but, you know, the teams that you mentioned there that they struggled against or didn't have that creativity are teams that on paper you think immediately

that they can easily beat. It feels like they're maybe up for the bigger games and not necessarily up for the games that, you know, maybe a little bit of complacency. I don't know they still went on to beat Crystal Palace 7-0 I know well yeah but this is what I mean after you know a bit of a a bit of a shellacking in the in the dressing room perhaps from from Sonia I think we're just being really hypercritical because they're so hypercritical because they're that good but also

like I just think as I was we me and Tom have done like you know mid-season wherever we at kind of piece that should come out at some point today or tomorrow team by team and I did the Chelsea one and I was just like the context of this is wild right look at where they are and what they've done in the context of a new manager like having just been in for a couple of months and like you know new players coming in and like they should be a team in transition. Any team that has gone through that stage is usually being given loads of leeway for results not quite going their way and stuff. And we're literally picking apart the minutiae of one dropped point. And like, you know, this was the first time they've not led in a game all season. And yet, like, we're still picking apart some of those other results and saying, yeah, defensively, like, you could see holes, which is true, right?

Like, it's all true. It's all analysis that is valid. But like, it shows the quality that they have and the level that they're at that makes it like, yeah, that kind of funny. I suppose that we're having to makes it like yeah that kind of funny I suppose that we're having to really really dig deep for it I'm looking at Carla's face and she's got her head in her hands the media the media robbing her temples it's funny though isn't it because that's an app that's a compliment to Sonia and Chelsea because she's come in and yeah that there hasn't been that transition moment and it's quite funny listening because you sat there thinking well she's dropped two points in 10 games with a new squad you know she's flying in the Champions League flying on all fronts and and yeah you media giving her a hard time listen you're part

of that now you've crossed over to the dark side right Right, that's it for part one. In part two, we look at the rest of the weekend's action and catch up on some significant management changes. Do you have business insurance? If not, how would you pay to recover from a cyber attack, fire damage, theft, or a lawsuit? No business or profession is risk-free. Without insurance, your assets are at

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Right now, you can get $25 off Aura's best-selling Carver Matte Frames by using promo code ACAST. Just visit auraframes.com. That's A-U-R-A frames.com, promo code ACAST. Conditions apply. Welcome back to part two of the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. Now it's been quite a turbulent week in Birmingham, hasn't it, with a big management change ahead of the winter break.

Before Aston Villa's League Cup match against Charlton midweek, it was announced that Robert De Pau had left the club with a media effect. Whether he had China in his hands at the time, I have absolutely no idea and cannot comment. Before we get on to the weekend's results, you and Tom broke the news.

Susie, what can you update us on the situation? There's not much to update on. Obviously, he left amid concerns about the way he spoke to players, including about their appearance. Obviously, me and Tom worked on the story together. Many sources, many strong sources. And I think there's more to come from the story obviously we don't necessarily know the details of what has happened and you know kind of the processes that have taken place to get them to this point um so I think there's definitely

more to come from the story important to say that he's refuted the allegations at the moment yeah yeah I mean he has he posted He posted on X before deleting it that the allegations were disgusting. And, you know, they told me the English media could be this low, but I never make comments about players' appearances as a former social worker

and father of a daughter. I'm disgusted by people who would do this. We'll see. We'll see what happens. Yeah, without a doubt. Watching with interest, for sure. Sean Goat has been put in interim charge while the club start their recruitment process

but it was Aston Villa's second win at Villa Park. It finished Aston Villa 3, West Ham 1. Adriana Leon returning to the starting line-up for only the second time this season. She made an instant impact as well, scoring inside four minutes. Vivienne Asahi responded

for the visitors before Lyon restored her side's lead just before the break. Ken Zadali made short of the three points in the second half, meaning Villa were up to seventh in the table. And it was quite an entertaining encounter, actually, Carla, wasn't it? Both sides created a similar amount of chances. What do you think got Villa over the line and what have you made of them? Yeah, look, they've struggled, haven't they? But up until the weekend, I think they showed a bite about them. I thought bringing Kenza and Drie back in was absolutely the right decision.

I think they give you something different. And I think Kenza's numbers over the years since I signed have just been phenomenal. And someone that was ever present in my team and as was Drie. So they're top players. They make the team tick. They were different dynamic and surprising for them not to play many minutes so far. But look, I think they were hungry, weren't they? You could see even when they walked out the tunnel, you could see with the way they walked out there, they wanted to go out there and show everyone why they should be playing and credit to them. I think they were the difference on the day.

How hard is it watching your team, bearing in mind you were up there pushing to kind of upset the top three, if you like, when you were in charge at Villa? How hard is it watching everything that you've built kind of adjust so significantly this season? It's interesting, isn't it? Because I think I joked at the start of the season saying I didn't want them to beat our top five record um but then actually seeing them struggle early on that was difficult

because I have a lot of care and love for a lot of the players and staff and still have really good relationships with a lot of people there so it was tough and I was kind of a mum to a lot of them so of course then you get them you get them you keep in contact with them but it's difficult isn't it because you just want them to do well and seeing them struggle was was tough but look they obviously Robert's gone and I think they'll they'll really investigate now what it looks like and what happens next but one thing I will say is they've got an incredible board and people that really genuinely care. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks or says. They have alongside Unai, they have Munchie and Damian that are sensational, really support the women, have shown that, have backed that and they really care about it.

So this will be an important period and I think it will come to fruition that what they do next, I think will show how much they do care. Yeah, agreed. Good things going on behind the scenes at the club itself. Disappointing again though, Marva, for West Ham. You could see how frustrating it was for Rhian Skinner. Vivian Assay's goal disallowed in the first half. That would have put them ahead and changed the momentum a little bit. How's she going to be looking at the result? and more widely that the first half of the season bearing in mind we've got Tom and uh and and Susie's uh dissection of that coming up uh

they've struggled a little bit haven't they they have but um and maybe it was just my low expectations for them for this season but they have actually um surpassed what I thought they were going to do I thought um well the first few games I was quite worried for them and it seemed like they were going to be really sort of down there in the relegation battle and obviously it's still so close between about six teams you know one win just puts you right up the table so they're not completely out of it or anything but I have still been quite impressed by one their ability to score goals, because, you know, you look at some of the other teams,

you look at Leicester, you look at Everton, we're teams that are struggling to do that. And they've got some key talent, which I think is really going to help pull them through. And you saw it in this game as well. They didn't get the win, they didn't get the draw, but I thought Gori has been so, so good for them. And it was a real shame when she got injured

towards the end of last season, because I think that they really struggled without her. And she's really showing what she can do. I say we know what she can do. Pavi I've been really excited by as well. And I think we know that Rihanna's going to build a very good

defensive team and organised team. And if you have that and then just a few players who can bring you that technical ability, I think they're not looking as much in a bad position as I thought they might be.

However, games like this are where you want to pick up points with the teams that you're competing with. And it's a shame for them to have that goal that's allowed and then not go on to get any points. But I'm not as worried for them as I was at the beginning of the season. I think they're showing that they've got enough to be OK. But then we keep saying that about lots of teams now. Every time we think they're like dead and buried, we're like, I think they're showing that they've got enough to be okay. But then we keep saying that about lots of teams now. Every time we think they're like dead and buried,

we're like, I think they'll be okay. It's not going to be okay. We're eternally optimistic on this point, although our predictions are terrible. So we could get the first ever season where about four teams get relegated. Arsenal continued their winning streak under Rene Slagers to make sure that they capitalised on Chelsea and Manchester City's failings this weekend. Couldn't have gone more

perfect for you, Susie. Finished Liverpool nil, Arsenal won thanks for another goal from Alessia Russo, her fifth in five games and the fourth in the space of a week as well. This is what she had to say about that. I'm feeling good. I'm just enjoying my football. I play my best and I'm happy and enjoying football, which seems to be a bit of a theme for the Arsenal players at the moment, Susie. Yeah, I mean, it could have gone better. Obviously, Mariano Cardente's penalty could have gone in. That would have helped.

Just make it that little bit easy. But yeah, I mean, yeah, Leslie Rousseau is looking in phenomenal form, which is obviously good news for England. I think she, I don't know, the way the team set up under Jonas, I don't think it necessarily got the best out of her. You know, she drops deep a lot. She moves wide a lot. And the way the team is sort of set up around her now sort of forces her to stay in the middle a little bit because the quality of the players around the outside of her is so strong. And then you've got players coming up on the overlap the Mish doesn't

need to do that and the players behind uh yeah are sort of close to her so they're almost like boxing her in on all sides and forcing her to stay quite central which is which is really great to see because I think that's what she needs um like it made me think a little bit about Ellen White and uh England and when Phil Neville said that she needed to stay between the width of the posts just that little bit more because often you would see like less serious like drift deep or wide and you know ball get into the box and there'd just be no one there to pick it up and you know either you have to have the rotation amongst the front three that people you know kind of swap in positions a little bit or you've got to have her stay in there.

And I think that we're sort of seeing her get the service she needs instead of having to go searching for it a little bit, which, you know, is obviously like it's going to feel good, right? Like when you're essentially doing less work to get the ball and able to get in the back of the net more you're gonna start feeling like things are going right for you i feel like we're like um also giving an update every week and there is no update to be had in terms of uh who's going to take over permanently but sani has sent us a message on social media saying well arsenal fans have to keep singing last christmas ending with i'll give it to re Slagers I mean it doesn't work but it kind of does in a very weird way even into the new year what say you Susie Rack as an Arsenal fan? I think I said it before on the pod like I really like the way they're looking and what she's doing but and I think you know one of the turning points that sort of led to Jonas going was the fact that they were really struggling against teams that set up in a low block against them.

And, you know, they've had a really good run against teams that essentially do that and done very well. I would like to see her have it maybe to the end of the season or at least till sort of the three-quarter mark or something like that, basically because I really want to see how she would do in those games at the end of January, start of February against Chelsea and City, back-to-back away games. Like, for me, that would be a bit of a deciding factor. I mean, you don't necessarily want to say, oh yeah, two games would be the difference, but I think then you're getting a little bit more of an idea of how her teams are going to cope because you will have had you know

obviously the end of the Champions League campaign like the group the Champions League group campaign uh you have you know this run against teams sort of below them and then you would see them tested against you know the two above them also both away that for me feels like a really good audition but you know who knows it's a live or it's a live audition though it's like I find it very interesting for a club like Arsenal to be giving a manager a live audition I mean they may just hire someone over Christmas right like let's face it like that that's where it points you know so who knows who knows what's gonna happen but um but I've enjoyed her tenure so far. Yes me too me too as a neutral um Carla they've got a really big match against

uh Bayern Munich coming in in midweek you know Susie mentioned it they needed to really capitalize a bit more on their on their chances to make the win more comfortable but at the end of the day they got the result over the line and saved themselves a little bit for Bayern. Yeah and I think look you can't underestimate the the power of man management and she's come in and clearly done that you listen to any player and they talk about playing with a smile on their face right so it's something I'm big on it's something that people just don't see that side of the game the more you can create an environment for players to feel confident and believe which is huge the more you're

going to get out of them and she's getting a tune out of them right now and I would like to keep her I would like to see her keep her job I'd love to keep her see her job because you can see the players buy into her. And that is so important. But going into buy-in, yes, it's a test. But the way they're playing, they'll be confident. They'll be fearless. They'll go into it with huge belief. I have no doubt. You can see that she's installed that into them.

So fascinated to see what happens. Yes, there's tests to come up, but there's no denying whatsoever that she has installed a belief and a confidence into him and guide them. And a couple of people throughout my career have said to me,

you know, poor, well, average players need coaching, good players need guiding. And I think what you're seeing is when he's saying, just guide them to a belief that they can go and beat anyone. Yeah, I like that.

I like that. A guide. That's what it should be. Players have got to have their responsibilities as well and you kind of shape them and point them in the right direction. Really tough period for Liverpool

at the minute, Marva. You're going to have to give them some love, I'm afraid, much as you are. That's going to really, really hurt you. I mean, look, they're also injury hampered,

so you must have a little bit of empathy for them in that way. Poor runner results as well. Matt Beard did say there was light at the end of the tunnel in terms of their injuries, but also said there's not going to be much money to spend in the January window, which must be pretty disappointing. Yeah, I'll put aside my professionalism just quickly. Just one point in that I love that Matt Beard

brought up all the decisions that have gone against him this season in his post-match interview. I was like, hello, Matt Beard. But aside from that, I'll go back to being professional now. No, I do feel for them in that sense because they haven't had the biggest squad. They sold a lot of their squad players over the summer as well. They haven't had much money to bring in that depth. You know, obviously bringing Smith was great, but they haven't had that depth to really help them in these difficult periods for them. It must be frustrating for Matt Beale as well,

because I feel like even in this game, and we saw it against Chelsea as well, where they set up pretty well. They've done kind of a lot of the hard work. You know what they're trying to do. They're just trying to frustrate Arsenal. They're trying to frustrate Chelsea. And then in both games, they've just had sort of lapses of the hard work you know what they're trying to do they're just trying to frustrate Arsenal they're trying to frustrate Chelsea and then in both games they've just had sort of laps of concentration which has then ultimately led to to losing the points and it must be quite

frustrating for the whole team when you know you're all trying to be there together you've got your injuries you're up against a difficult team you're to but to put in that kind of tactical performance, you need to be on it from minute zero to the very, very end. And in this game, obviously the penalty didn't come off, but that's an absolute concentration. And then even just like going for the second ball for that goal, it's just, you know, a corner, not a very good corner, that bounces off a few people and Russo's the first to react and that must be

quite frustrating when what you have to do in that game especially against a team like Arsenal is just defend for your lives and they sort of did that they didn't do too badly as a whole I thought they looked organized but you can't then just you know not go for that second ball in a moment like that and now your whole game plan is out the window and they didn't really create much either I think they had sort shots, one on target. So if you're not going to really go for it in that sense, then you have to be on it defensively and they weren't this weekend. No, they weren't.

Fifth played sixth on Saturday night, finished Brighton 1. Tottenham 1, Bethany England putting Spurs into the lead, but Marissa Oleslager responded late, making sure Brighton carried their unbeaten home form into the new year. They've had a great start, haven't they? Both managers actually talked about how evenly matched the two sides were, Susie, which kind of played out. Will either of them be happier with that result?

I think, arguably, Brighton will be the happier purely because after Beth England had given them the lead they could have gone two up pretty rapidly and like didn't and then they were able to come back into it and get the point so like from that point of view they'd be happier but on the other hand Spurs have clawed a couple of points back on them in the table. So, you know, you'd say that, you know, they'd potentially be happy. They're probably both a little bit happy and a little bit unhappy, right? Like, you know. How are those splinters in your bum? You all right?

Well, yeah, but it's true, right? Like, you know, neither of them are going to be like that delighted about dropping points to the team that is, you know, very, very close to them in the table. And, you know, arguably Tottenham should have put the game to bed before Brighton pulled one back. So I think Brian will be happier, Susie. You think Brian? Yeah, 100%. They've had a great start to the season. They do not want to go into Christmas in a break, in a lull after having been so successful in the first half of the season 100% they will be happier

because yeah arguably Tottenham could have been out of sight they could have that's a fascinating battle between those two teams actually this season. I thought you meant between me and Carla yeah I mean that is also I feel like naughty elves get involved here

somehow last game of the weekend to wrap up Manchester United beating quite a stubborn Crystal Palace to make sure

they stay level on points with Arsenal going into the winter break beating them by a goal to nil Grace Clinton

with the only goal of the game deep into first half injury time. Actually, Carla, Manchester United's defence has kind of been the story

of the first half of their season. They've got the meanest in the league, which is quite impressive. And this was another example of maybe where they've been lacking

at the other end of the pitch despite getting another important win. Just three shots on target, which I'm sure they'll be disappointed with. 100% they will be. I think I alluded to this a couple of weeks ago. We're talking about Manchester United, the biggest brand in world football

and an organisation that breeds attacking style football, whether you're an under-8, whether you're a men's player, women's player, academy player, it doesn't matter. There's an expectation at Manchester United to play a free-flowing, attacking style of play. And I think that, yes, that's where I think the frustration comes from maybe. But I think after Christmas, there'll be absolutely no doubt

that they'll be looking at how they can be more creative, how they can be more on the front foot. Because yes, you know what, they've been solid at the back. But there will be a concern, 100%. I think that'll be the first thing you look at as a manager how can we be better in that final third but they need to be if they're gonna you know push for um you know a top three spot they're gonna have to be better in front of goal of course I need to give Crystal Palace some love as well like I just think they are a really really well coached side I really like what Laura's done with them I think they're greater than the sum of their parts I like I just the fact that they've

gone taken the lead in four of their five last games I want to say is I may be getting that slightly wrong like shows the potential there and the fact that they've kept it uh really competitive at that bottom end of the table is really really exciting for me the fact that they've kept it uh really competitive at that bottom end of the table is really really exciting for me the fact that you've got sixth and fifth separated by as many points as sixth and twelfth and first and second like I just really like that it's not easy for teams at the bottom at the moment because they're doing such a good job. And a couple of players, a little bit of WSL-level experience or international experience coming into that side could make a big difference.

I think we said it last week after the West Ham game, that they need a Katrina Gorey-type player, someone with that level of experience coming into that side that can just bring that young team together and provide a little bit of impetus to it and just elevate them that little bit. I feel like they could have a really strong second half of the season if a player of that kind of calibre recognises

that something quite special is going on there. And yeah, we have to go into the winter break being quite excited about that because there aren't many other races to get excited about in the table at the moment well you know we wanted a more competitive league didn't we um for sure and it feels like it's the gaps closing slightly and it's getting a bit better and i'm sure it will only improve um i want to finish with, well, not finish completely, but just finish the WSL part of the pod with a really lovely email

that we got from Grace. She sent us an email on womensfootballweeklyattheguardian.com. Hi, everyone. My name's Grace and I started watching women's football, especially the WSL last year after a home World Cup in New Zealand

and watching England play in the final. I listen to your podcast every night, cooking cooking dinner and we're wondering a few things about the top three ish she's put in brackets um so marva see if you can answer some of these questions for grace for arsenal do you think renee slagers will continue to rotate between van dompsalar and zinsberger or has a clear number one emerged? For City, has Lauren Hemp's injury highlighted that the team are too dependent on her and Shaw? Or am I imagining things?

And at Chelsea, with the news that Sam Kerr won't be back until at least February, March next year, do you have any idea on how she's going to fit back into the squad, especially as Bonpastor has been so successful and Kerr hasn't played under her yet? so much and i heart heart heart your pod will we heart heart heart your email grace thank you very much uh marva can you remember all three of those like a christmas pub quiz all right number one uh in terms of the games that they've been playing and it does seem that van dumpsler is the number one but that

the rotation comes with that and i think that is a healthy thing to have if if it isn't too distracting for the goalkeepers and i think if they sort of know their their place with that isn't that and i think chelsea do that really well where they have um over many years we sort of ma's as well where yes they have a rotation of goalkeepers which keeps in fresh which keeps you know their second choice goalkeeper happy um to an extent as long as you're getting minutes in enough cups but that you sort of still kind of know who is preferred for the bigger games that's what i sort of get from from this decision uh with van domselaar and zinsberger but we will see and I think it does

depend on how many cups you're in because if you then aren't in many and you're only in the league and only one player gets to play then it gets a bit difficult. Question number two. Hemp and Shaw which we kind of mentioned Shaw already but I think it has highlighted the fact that they're too dependent on her. And Bunny Shaw, I can answer that for you, Grace. I think we're seeing that for definite. And then we've mentioned on the pod before about Sam Kerr, haven't we, and how she fits back into this squad.

It's going to be really difficult, but you can't leave a player like Sam Kerr out, can you? We said this in previous seasons as well, where Chelsea have good squad depth and they're not playing her. But you go, oh, do they even need Sam Kerr out, can you? We said this in previous seasons as well, where Chelsea have good squad depth and they're not playing her, but you go, oh, do they even need Sam Kerr? And then she comes in and she's just so world-class that it's just not even a question. I think it's just going to be how they fit in. They've just got so many good players.

I mean, Lauren James still got to come back into this team. It's just actually unfair. I say this every time I'm on the podcast. The luxury is that they can ease her back in gently they don't have to thrust her back in and can really manage her return which I think not every player

returning from an ACL necessarily gets Yeah, agreed, agreed I hope that answers your questions Grace thank you again for your email if anyone wants to send in some emails during the winter break for us to read out an answer in January, it's womensfootballweeklyattheguardian.com.

Right, the Barclays Championship return for the final time before the break. Despite Bristol City's 5-0 win over Durham, drawing them level on points at the top, Birmingham's goalless draw with Charlton made sure that they continue to lead the pack going into Christmas. Elsewhere, London City Lionesses kept up the chase

with a 3-1 victory over Southampton, while Portsmouth earned their second point of the season with a 2-2 draw away to Sunderland. As they go into the break, just five points separate first from eighth. I'll tell Carla this in case she's not listened this season. I love this league.

I just love it. So excited. Brilliant. First from eighth, five points separate them and four points separate the bottom three. Just makes for such a brilliant league, Susie. Yeah, I like, I, you know, I've been saying I want to sack off the title race in the WSL to follow the relegation battle

because it's more exciting, like the relegation battle and the championship. because like just the fact that you've got Bristol putting five past Durham and them only being separated by the point in the league and then Birmingham dropping points and one point separating the top four like that is just brilliant fun right like it's just you know no team has gone unbeaten Birmingham and Bristol both have two defeats and then it's like two and three from there all the way down until you get to sort of ninth tenth eleventh if you're talking about competitive balance they've got a much better competitive balance than WSL has because it's a much more like like I say, evenly funded crowd of teams, you know, relatively speaking, just really enjoyable.

That is a really enjoyable thing when things are unpredictable. It makes, that's what we love about football. That's why we love football. That's why we reject all attempts to, you know, stop promotion and relegation and bring in European Super Leagues that close things off and stuff like that, because it ruins the unpredictability of the game. Yes, it does indeed. It ruins the drama. Graham's asked us on X, is anyone looking most likely to come up from the championship? And then he's put in brackets, cheeky, sorry, WSL2. Looks impossible

to call at this stage. Who do you reckon, Carla? Do you know what? It is really interesting. I'm looking at it here. The top eight, yeah, there's five points between them. There's no surprise, by the way, because they're all funded very well. And the bottom three aren't. So I think you usually end up realistically where you've spent. But I just don't know. I think I did say at the start of the season, so sure I should stick to it, Birmingham or London City. I think it will come down to one of those two. I agree. I agree. Exciting. That's what I know. As is the Women's League Cup, which has a new sponsor. It was announced on Monday that Subway has become the new title partner in a multi-year deal. Insert your sandwich-based puns here. I did put nibble into the intro that was as far as I could

kind of go it's just going to be really weird not calling it Conti Cup for a long time and well done Continental Tyres for for making sure that you constantly forever just like the Sony Awards end up getting sponsorship name but brilliant news to get this one over the line for sure. The draw for the quarterfinals and semifinals was also made. Manchester United host Manchester City. The winner will play the Brighton. The winner will play the Brighton No that doesn't make any sense

The winner will play the winner of Brighton and Arsenal is what I mean Meanwhile Tottenham play West Ham and Durham are going to make the long trip down to Chelsea. And those two winners will meet in the semifinals with the final being played at Pride Park on the 15th of March. Now, we have mentioned it a couple of times, but there's been some big management news in the last week. On Wednesday, it was announced that the FAI wouldn't be renewing Eileen Gleeson's contract following the Republic of Ireland's failure to qualify for Euro 2025.

The Scottish FA followed suit with the announcement that Pedro Martinez-Losa would be leaving his role after Scotland missed out on their third major tournament in a row. What did you make of both of these decisions, Marva? I think Pedro was coming. I think a lot of Scottish fans have not been happy for a while. So that I was not was coming. I think a lot of, you know, Scottish fans have not been happy for a while. So that I was not surprised by. I think Eileen is a very, very close one. I don't think they played very well in those two games against Wales. And their whole point is to qualify for the Euros, which they didn't do. So you can understand. But still a bit more surprising because I think they were still building something there together.

But interesting to see who's going to be next. Yeah, for sure. By the way, this is going to be our final show of 2024. We've got our own winter break, but we will be back in the new year when the women's game returns from the winter break. I'll tell you what, we could have played winter break bingo today in in the pod i feel like it's been mentioned constantly i think we're all limping towards it aren't we for for sure what are your plans over the festive period

carla mostly out with the little one i think um yeah just pantomimes and Christmas grottos, Sansi and Santa, plenty of times, you know, all these millions of Santa. I mean, how do you keep telling a child that Santa lives in the North Pole yet you keep taking them to grottos and they look different every time? They don't care. They're getting a present every time. They literally, they're like, oh, my God, how stupid do you think I am? But I get a present, so it's fine.

I know. She did say to me the other day I know that that Santa's not real mummy because Santa is at the North Pole getting my presents ready I said exactly darling that is exactly correct so yeah lots of kid stuff best time of the year I love it I'm just a big kid when it comes to this time of the year so yeah enjoy it yep absolutely um Susie what you up to, stupidly redecorating my office, which is why I'm sat in front of the Christmas tree, instead of in my office.

And yeah, lots of fun stuff with the kid. And the occasional deeper investigation that a winter break affords us as journalists. Dot, dot, dot. Martha? Basically nothing, which is lovely. My twin baby nieces, who are only one years old are coming over for Christmas.

So that's going to be very, very cute. And yeah, just doing absolutely nothing, which I can't wait for. Amazing, amazing. Well, everybody have a wonderful Christmas. Hope Santa brings you everything that you desire. Lovely to see you all. Happy New Year as well.

We'll see you in the new year. Keep having your say by sending in your questions via X or emailing us at womensfootballweekly at theguardian.com. And as ever, a reminder to sign up for our weekly women's football newsletter. All you need to do is search

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