The Guardian's Women's Football Weekly - High fives for Arsenal and Manchester United – Women’s Football Weekly

Episode Date: September 16, 2025

Faye Carruthers is joined by Suzy Wrack, Emma Sanders and Tom Garry to round up all the weekend’s WSL action

This is The Guardian. How much do you really know about heat pumps? Not only are they more efficient than traditional boilers, but with a Niba heat pump, you could potentially save on your energy bills. Heat pumps work by extracting energy from the air or ground to heat your home. With government grants available towards installation, You can enjoy more efficient, more sustainable energy with one of Niebuhr's innovative heat pumps. Take the next step at the Guardian.com forward slash taking the step.

This message was paid for by Niebu. Hello, I'm Faker Others and welcome to the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. 5-1 was the scoreline of the weekend, it seems, with Manchester. Manchester United and Arsenal posting five-star performances in the Barclays WSL. At least United could find the back of the net, even if they couldn't find their boots out in Norway. Caching! Sam is back for Chelsea and on the score sheet as if that was ever in doubt. Manchester, Cicely, Lester and Spurs all took three points, and there were some gorgeous goals to see as well. We'll look back on all the games from the weekend, plus we'll take your questions,

and that's today's Guardian Women's Football Weekly. What a panel we have today. Sizzy Rack, how are you? I am good, good. Tired but good, as ever on a Tuesday morning. What hat are you wearing today? Can you not see? It's my Sam Kerr Tribute hat. It says Tilly time and it's got her doing a backflip. Oh, amazing. You know we were discussing the microphone technique earlier on? Yeah, I just leant right past it.

You did. You did. But to show you the hat, to show you the hat. It had its purpose. Tom Gary, how are you in your posh new studio set up? Very well, yeah. Thanks to the production team for helping to get set up. but I want to know, Faye, was that Kerching on purpose? Was that a Sam Kerr goal reference? Of course it was. Oh my goodness. Would I just randomly throw in Kerching into my opener? I salute you in that case because that was superb. Thank you. I take a bow. Emma Sanders, how are you? It's been a while.

Yeah, and I've just seen you all. I'm having a bit of a dial-in there actually because I'm at that time of the year where I'm actually sat here shivering, but I refuse to put on the heating because it's September. So I don't know whether to just fight the bullet or just be cold. So I'm being cold. That's the decision I've made so far. I've hooded up. I made an admission to my husband the other day that while he was away working, me and Ted went under the blanket and the sofa, but I did put the heating on for the first time this year.

Early September, I thought, you know, he's not here. He can't tell me off for it. It's fine. But I have since now he is back taken to putting on the layers instead. So I recommend any of those kind of underlayers. Yeah. Look like the Michelin Man. I have got the hoodie on, so first step.

Excellent. Is that an all-blacks hoodie? Are we supporting the New Zealand rugby team? We are. The Silver fans. Glad to hear it. Okay. I was worried this was a rugby hoodie for a second on a football pod, but you are forgiven.

Right, let's talk about the football, shall we? and we'll start with Manchester United, actually, because they put their midweek European struggles behind them with a comfortable 5-1 victory over London City lionesses in Bromley. We'll talk about Norway in a sec, but it was a real statement performance, actually, from Man United at the weekend. Confidence-inducing, some might say, from Mark Skinner's side. What did you make of their display, Susie?

Confident is the word. It's quite nice to see some of the players that, you know, well, like Melvin Mallard, who was a little bit more on the fringe last season, and sort of really embrace the starting opportunity. And then obviously Jess Park's performances since she's come in have been phenomenal. I think, you know, quite a lot of people were like, oh, Man United getting the raw end of that deal in that, you know, it was clear City really, really wanted Grace Clinton

and no team would want Grace Clinton to leave. And although they insist that it's not a swap and it wasn't a swap, I mean it ultimately is a swap. sort of like, for like player going in the opposite direction. But Jess Park has shown her quality as well. So, like, they're things that I've really enjoyed. But, I mean, like London City, this was never going to be a game where they kind of made their mark on the league.

I think these first two games have been really tricky for them. So I'm not, like, totally surprised by Man United's dominance either. Yeah, we'll discuss London City Lionesses in a sec. Really tough when that fixture list came out for them. Can't kind of gently ease themselves in. But you mentioned Melvin Mallard there. And, you know, she has actually struggled to nail down a starting spot since she joined the club a couple of years ago.

But she's now the top scorer in the WSL, scored twice for the second game running. How surprising is it? A, it's taking her a little bit of time, Tom, but is it maybe that Mark Skinner hasn't quite seen her potential? Which way around is it? Maybe a little bit of both. But I think I prefer seeing her in that central number nine role.

I feel that's where she's most at home. and we have seen her sometimes coming in off from the Y positions or we've seen her coming in as a substitute but to lead the line from a start she looked really in her place her first goal was offside let's not kind of gloss over that like there shouldn't have been a goal but I like the movement and I like the way she also attacked for the second goal as well but forget you know she was critical to winning the penalty

early on too so hats off to Mallard she started really well and they've got Tirland firing on all cylinders as well early on in the season but the other person who really stood out for me is Sandberg she had a really good start to the season

I thought she played well in all the qualifiers really giving them an extra attacking dimension with that pace and movement down the left getting in behind getting to the by line

really well which is something that she's very good at so well done to them but a huge week now because they have to win on Thursday no excuses they have to

turn that tire around against Bran and they need to try and show something against Arsenal to sort of try and show they're taking steps in the right direction. So big week ahead for and a difficult week for Man United.

Yeah, that game is crucial. We'll have a look at it in a second because they're looking a little bit light defensively, Emma, actually going into that game. Millie Turner stretched off the pitch, nasty looking leg injury for her. Is defence the issue? Yeah, I mean, I think that was one of the areas

that certainly the fans were looking to see more come in in the summer transfer window. I think there was a lot of surprise when they were being linked to forwards. Well, I was linking them to forwards. You know, obviously, you know, they brought in a midfielder in Just Park and they brought in, you know, Junior DiGiotti. They brought in Fridaleed and Rolfo, who can play as a wingback. But they weren't really being linked to any, you know, out-and-out defenders, fullbacks.

So I think I was quite surprised by that. Obviously, you know, we don't know the activity that the club was doing as a whole. So I'm sure they were looking at defenders. But I was really surprised to see them not bringing anyone in, particularly in the fallback areas, because, you know, as Tom sort of said there about, you know, Sandberg, I completely agree. I think she started really strongly. I thought Jade Revere, yet again, I had another fantastic performance. I think she really is becoming, you know, one of the best fallbacks in the WSL, certainly. So they've got strong players there, but I still don't think they've got the debts.

You know, those centreback areas, I think, have been areas that they've struggled for that debt. I think, you know, Mayor Lettissier is obviously a fantastic footballer. If you can, you play her every week, and she seems to be able to have done that so far in her early career. But I do wonder if you put another, you know, really top elite level centre back alongside her. I do think that would really elevate that Manchester United team. So, yeah, I think it is a bit of a concern for them, and I think they need to address it soon, because if they want to be playing in the Champions League and going far in those competitions, they do need, you know, really solid backup in those centreback areas in particular.

And like I said, I'd like to see, you know, one or two fallbacks come in as well. Yeah, well, if they don't get off to a good start on Thursday, then the solution might be there for them. They don't need the depth if they don't get into the group stage, but we shall see. A quick word on London City lionesses, Susie. You know, we mentioned it's been a tough start for them, but, you know, they are the self-proclaimed disruptors. And as of yet, we are not seeing them disrupt.

two defeats, nine goals conceded. That's probably not the start that Jocelyn Prasur wanted for his team. How concerned is he going to be? And look, it's so difficult to say this early on. But even when you spend big, obviously it takes a little bit of time to get up to the standard that being in the WSL requires. Is it a bit of a reality check as well? I don't think so, to be honest.

Like, I think they would have expected these two games to be really tough, right? Like, they're not aiming to break top four this season. That's never been a target. of theirs if you speak to them behind the scenes that they want to be sort of in that that tier just below there that's sort of more a two year three year goal than the goal for this season and like you know they've just come up right like they're not going to be challenging the likes of arsenal and man city straight away and they did cause problems in those games at times but it was fleeting that's the thing no team is going to bring in 16 players and gel them straight away right

it's going to look chaotic. I think anyone predicting anything other than sort of chaos in their, I would say their first month and a half even. It's going to take some time for them to settle and gel. And then also they've got this really difficult situation of needing to get some consistency and to build relationship between players on the pitch, but having such a large squad that you've recruited heavily for, also sort of demanding a degree of rotation and you're giving some time to the players

that have taken a chance on this club. a really difficult situation. You only one change between these two games, which is what is needed, right? They need some kind of settledness. But then you're going to have players who aren't quite as happy coming off the bench, having to do that. So you've got like, there's all these different like relationship issues as well as like them from a, you know, sort of more mental point of view as well as from, you know, a footballing point of view. And the disrupt the thing for me, I very much took that as it's not a, they're going to land in the WSL and disrupt things from a footballing point of view.

it's more they're landing in the WSL as disruptors spending big as a newly promoted side a completely different way of doing things not attached to a men's team obviously lots of money going in that kind of stuff is a disruptive thing that I took from that and I think they will ultimately disrupting on the pitch

but it's not going to happen it's not going to have a straightway and it's not going to happen in games against Arsenal Man United. Takes time they've got Everton on Friday night so hopefully just in for sure will be able well, from a London City Lioness's point of view,

hopefully he'll be able to show what they're all about. Listen, Tom, I want to talk to you about Norway and what happened out there. First and foremost, what on earth happened? It's giving me vibes of Sockgate, losing some of the player's boots on the flight out. Did they even put them on the flight out? Or did they get lost in baggage and it's not Man United's fault?

I'd love to know they then lost on the field as well, second half goal from S.K. Brand's Ingrid Stenevick. but first and foremost, how do you let that happen? And secondly, how do they turn things around? Yeah, it's a little bit embarrassing for Manchester United and the irony was they really did not have their shooting boots on them, did they in the game itself when they had so many chances and really sort of struggle to hit the target or convert those chances.

The reality is I don't think anyone seems to really know where those boots went. They went missing in transit and they worked quite hard, I think, at the last minute to source them. alternatives, although Norwegian media have done an interview with a man who owns a shop who's talking about the club coming in to buy around 15 pairs of boots and some

shim pads before the game, which is quite a tale. I'd urge anyone to try and find that and read that if they want to. They're also, at the moment, I believe I've just seen an advert on LinkedIn that they're hiring a kit manager. So whether that's just a coincidental

timing or that's ironic, that did make me chuck on a little bit. Listen, They did, we should stress, after the conversation we've all been having in the last few weeks, they did do the private charter there and back. So a bit more of what you would expect from the, in this sales side, travelling abroad in Europe. Professional. Yes. But how do they turn it around?

Listen, I think they can and probably will and should turn it around. They were by far the better team. They've just got to take the chances. They've got to convert. I think probably Brann maybe had two opportunities. I would say Mani Knight had six or seven. so the odds would say that they should, they can do it, but they've got to defend that, that free kick better.

It was really poor just to allow Blanche's scoring that way. Yes, it was a dangerous in-swinging delivery, but they just didn't defend the situation well enough at all. And that coupled with the poor finishing kind of left them in this sticky patch, but they certainly shouldn't be panicking. They can turn it around. I was a little bit surprised by the tone of Mark Skinner's post-match press conference. He almost seemed a little bit kind of riled up by the Brown celebration.

And, yeah, Nanamane United need to deliver on Thursday. Do you think Mark's going to saw the boots to fund some money for him to spend on defenders in the transfer window? That's my theory. That's your theory. I don't know. I dare you to ask him next time out, Emma. That's my challenge to you. Maybe not.

I quite like my job. Well, sometimes. A record crowd out there, by the way, 16,019. record for a women's fixture in Norway, by the way. They're managed as well by Leif Smerud, who was formerly a Crystal Palace, you'll remember. He replaced Martin Ho as manager. They reached the quarterfinals a couple of years ago, so certainly not to be underestimated. Right, let's carry on with the WSL, shall we?

Brand new season's same old script for Chelsea, far from their best on their travels to Villa Park, but still coming away with a 3-1 victory over a spirited Astin Villa. The story of the afternoon, though, was the return. of Sam Kerr, 634 days, because it's really been that long, 634 days since she last appeared and scored in a Chelsea shirt and this long-awaited comeback from an ACL injury, 13 minutes is all it took for her to score her 100th Chelsea goal. We were all worried she was going to be on 99 not out, made the scoreline comfortable in the end. And I have to say, Susie, it felt absolutely inevitable. Yeah, I mean, there's a reason I put her in my fantasy

football team from the words go at the start of the season before Chelsea had even played a minute of football, even knowing that she probably wouldn't start a game or two, right? Like, she is like a machine and will score in any circumstance. I really, like, found a lot of joy in the celebration because she just looked so happy, almost slightly surprised that she had done it that early on. And I think that impact psychologically that that goal can have so soon after coming back after such a lengthy layout is absolutely massive. Obviously, she's clearly had various setbacks along this ACL journey.

Obviously, had the court case that would have delivered a fair degree of stress, has become a parent in that time as well. Like, a lot has gone on in her life since she last played the game of football for Chelsea. So, like, to have that impact so soon after her return is phenomenal. And also, like, all her family were there as well, which is really nice. I really enjoyed the celebrations afterwards as well, as in like after the final whistle with some of the substitutes, you know, Guruaiton, who she's very close with,

just like leaping into her arms and those kind of things were just really nice to see. Yeah, we love to see stuff like that. And Aston Villa actually proved quite tough opponents in the end, Emma. They asked some difficult questions, created more than Chelsea actually in the first half, so they'll be pretty disappointed not to have come away with anything from this game. If I was a Villafan, I'd be quite positive, though, about this starts of the season.

We know that Natalia Roryo came in and, you know, she had work to do. They were a team that were fighting relegation. They were, you know, really down in the dumps when she came in last season. And it took a long time, you know, for kind of her work to show itself. Obviously, they kept themselves up with a strong end to the season. And I think they've started really well this season. I actually went to go watch their last preseason friendly against Union Berlin. and I saw some signs in that

that I thought were really interesting and so far at start the season you've kind of seen those bits that she was experimenting with in the first two games and I think for me one of the biggest things I took away from that friendly

was how much she was basically screaming at Ebony Salmon to take on anyone and anything in her path and just being really, really direct and I think already in the first two games in the season she's one of the bit of players I've been really impressed with

and I think she had a really good game against Chelsea, you know, obviously scored the goal. And I think she's just been kind of running the show a little bit. So I think there's positive signs there. I think they just need, they need a bit more of a bite about them, which I think I've said for a while now with Villa. But yeah, they definitely cause Chelsea problems. And I don't think Chelsea were comfortable. Just the unfortunate thing for Villa is that Chelsea are the certainly, you know, a team, if not the one team in the league that literally can care less whether or not they're comfortable or in control. They're still very confident, you know, in scoring goals.

winning games and that's exactly what they did. Yeah, I liked Ashton Villa's equaliser. I liked it. That sounds really patronising. I enjoyed it very much. Ebony Salmon's goal, the cutback, I thought, was fantastic. And, you know, they took advantage of a disjointed-looking

Chelsea in that first half. Triple change at the break for Sonia Bonpastor, Tom. Alyssa Thompson, Erin Cuthbert and Sandy Baltimore coming on. Did they change the course of the game? Or were there other adaptations on the pitch that that kind of changed the momentum a bit.

No, I think they did. And I think that it's sort of symbolic of the strength on the Chelsea bench so they can do that sort of thing, right? But at the same time, I also want to give a shout out to Agi Biva Jones, who I think, if my maths is right, has now started 20 games for Chelsea and scored in 15 of those 20. So when she starts games, you know, that's three quarters of the time she's scoring goals. And that's pretty impressive, really, as a ratio. And if that continues, you know, she'll be up there for the gold and boot race.

But, you know, you're right. They really needed to change things at the break. They were, I think Villa were arguably even the more threatening side. And listen, Baltimore, potentially in the two, maybe top two, best three players in the league last year. Somebody can say the best player in the league up there with Caldente. And I, it's such a good player to be able to, to be able to have in those situations. And they've still got more, they've still got more who aren't actually available right now who come in. So it's a really, really strong team

and it's going to take something special from teams of Villas Calibur to do it over 90 minutes. You might find away from the start. You might have spells where you do really well, but to still be beating them with 20 minutes to go and they bring all the superstars on, that's not going to be easy for anybody.

No. Arsenal, similar scoreline, well, not the similar scoreline, the same scoreline as Manchester United. West Ham won. Arsenal five. They had to come from behind, though, Arsenal. and the scoreline does tell one part of the story

but they didn't have it all their own way in the first half, Susie, did they? Depth from the bench again, just like Chelsea, changing the game. Yeah, I think so far, Arsenal season is a story of their, like, improved depth. The fact that they changed the three players behind Alessia Russo from the opening game to this one with, like, minimal effect and then they start, you know, kind of create the goals. It's Marum that scores first for Arsenal. Like that impact, that sort of seamless impact that players can have when they're rotated in and out of a team, I think is massive. And, yeah, a testament to that.

But yeah, it wasn't easy. I do think the own goal was bizarre in that, like, yes, obviously Van Domslau should have done so much better. And it was really, really poor. But, like, it was so wet. And the ball just slips through her fingers, basically. And yes, she should be very aware that she is playing in. and it is really wet and it is going to be a slippery ball and should get more behind it. But yeah, I also am like it was soaking wet and those kind of fluke things happen.

But yeah, like second half in particular, Arsenal were in complete cruise control. Fort Russo was outstanding, Beth Meade, brilliant, Olivia Smith when she came on as well, like gets an assist and then is brought down for the penalty. So, like, there were so many players had such great games. but Alessia Rousseau is who's shown for me. I feel like she's oozing confidence at the moment. You know when a player steps onto the field and you just, you see the glint in their eye.

I feel like Alessia Rousseau has that at the minute. Player of the match performance, two goals and that cheeky back heel assist. I mean, that is what a supremely confident player can do. She's so vital, isn't she, Emma, with the way that Rene Slegger wants her side to play? Yeah, she is. And to be honest, I think she's vital.

and she would be vital in any team. You know, she's vital for England, she's vital for Arsenal because she gives you not just the goals. Like you say, she gives you that bit of audacity, that bit of skill in and around the box. She's always involved in goals, you know, even if she's not scoring them, whether that's her movement,

whether that's her touches in and around the box. She's just such a clever player, isn't she? And you know, one of the things that you get with Russo, and I don't mean this as a patronising thing because, you know, we talk about professional footballers, they should all be giving 110% in every game. But she genuinely does go above and beyond. Like, I'd love to see her running stats compared to, you know,

Europe's best players because I'd imagine she'll be in that top percentage every single game. So when you have that as a baseline and then you add the quality that she has and the confidence, the audacity, the skills sets, you've got a really complete player there. I found it really fascinating. Actually, I spoke to it on the Arsenal Media Day before the season started. and I asked her about that confidence and she'd sort of said that

you know she'd only really been a striker as such, she'd only really started to learn this role in the last four years and I found that such an interesting answer because she has played, you know, obviously out wide, she's played a little bit deeper and to actually be an out and out number nine which she, you know, she's kind of playing under Renee

but with still that freedom you know she sees that as quite a new role it looks like she's already mastered pretty much all of the elements of it you know, she's one of the most outstanding players in the WSL easily, you know, she'll be right up there in terms of the Ball and Door as well. So, yeah, I think this is the best football I've ever seen her play. Obviously, she's had a lot of success with England as well, but to actually see that week and week out for Arsenal, I think, you know, is another

level. And I think she's showing that consistency. And that, particularly as a striker, for me, is probably the most important aspects of everything, is to be able to do that every single week. never really have a bad game. It's such a skill. Yeah, it is. West Ham, Tom. How do you solve a problem like West Ham? They didn't offer a lot going forward, which is surprising, bearing in mind you've got Shakira Martinez, Wecki, Asaii, up front for them. But defensively, they were, sounds strange to say, actually pretty decent, bearing in mind they let him five goals. What does she take from that, Rian Skinner? Was the scoreline a bit harsh? Give her some positive, so I'm sure she's taken some herself, but see what Tom Gary can give her.

Well, I think the reality is that the squad, you know, and the level that it's at and the operating budget and all those sort of things that they're playing, it is sort of like bottom three, bottom four. So that's where they are. They're, realistically, they are going to lose these kind of games unless they can have their best day and someone at Arstall can have a really off day. But I kind of agree with the way you phrased that question totally because It's the forwards that I kind of expected to be the stars, right? They've got the attacking, the best thing about their squad is the attacking options, right? You know, with they say, and Martinez, and they had so much success with those combinations

in the second half of last season. So that was sort of the bit you'd, you'd have expected to be outperforming. And yet they haven't quite clicked yet. It was similar when I saw them play at Tottenham on the opening weekend, that things just weren't quite cohesive in the final third, when that was the one area you kind of expected. them to be the most dangerous. They'll come, they've got time to kind of get things going.

I would judge them more on the games when they go to say, I think in October they're going to London City, for example, away from home. You know, they've got matches coming up before then where they'll try and get some points attempt to offer positivity is probably not. It's probably more depressing. This is just a reality of where they are. Like they're not, they're not.

I don't have them in the same category as Ashton Villa, who I think looking even though they lost to Chelsea are looking like a side capable of a top half strong finish I just think this is where West Ham are I think that's just the honest brutal reality of it

that's a fair point a fair assessment I would say right that's it for part one in part two we're going to look at how some of the other teams got on how much do you really know about heat pumps not only are they more efficient

than traditional boilers but with a Niba heat pump You could potentially save on your energy bills. Heat pumps work by extracting energy from the air or ground to heat your home. With government grants available towards installation, you can enjoy more efficient, more sustainable energy with one of Niebu's innovative heat pumps. Take the next step at the Guardian.com forward slash taking the step.

This message was paid for by Niebu. Welcome back to part two of the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. Let's continue with the rest of the weekends, Barkler's WSL action. The other Friday fixture saw Andre Jurgletz and his first win as Manchester City Manager, his team coming from behind against Brighton to win by two goals to one. Brighton started well, Susie. Didn't they energetic in their press as well? but, you know, trying to keep that up for 90 minutes,

particularly against a team like Manchester City, it is pretty tricky. Yeah, it's always going to be tough defending against City's attack, isn't it? That's the reality. But I thought them really good counter themselves, Brighton in that first half in particular. Second half, it got a little bit difficult for them. I'm not sure why they just lost their shape a little bit

and seemed to struggle a little bit more. But, yeah, first half, I think it's a really solid performance and reflective of the potential that they have to do something. It was nice to see. Ajamang forced the save that led to the goal and things like that. Some nice play from those forwards. Some nice linking up. Frank Kirby on the score sheet is always great to see from someone who feels increasingly old

with as every player edges towards their retirement. But yeah, I thought it was a decent performance in the first half. But just sort of, you know, when you're up against team like Man City with the strength of players, they have, the depth they have and the fitness levels. and ability to rotate that they have, then, you know, you're going to struggle. Talk to me about these stats, Tom. 19 chances created for Manchester City, but eight on target. Wasteful in front of goal, again.

Vivian Amidemar could have had a hat trick, Bunny Shore as well. What is the reason for this, do you think? Do you know what? I'm not concerned about those stats at all, they're being much more concerned if they weren't creating the chances. And players of that calibre forwards like Bunny Shore, shore, hemp, me tomorrow. They will score. The statistical reality is that they'll eventually they'll be converting those. So I don't think that's a worry at all. That will click with a little

bit more match sharpness that maybe is the autumn rolls on. So if you're a Manchester City fan, don't worry. The goals will come. You're creating so many chances. And I really liked the way that, well, the fascinating thing about them right now is that their house of Gower, is being deployed in this much more forward-looking role. She's being allowed to roam forward more. Yaglats have spoken about wanting to find a balance of using her in a more attacking way while also not losing the things that made her so good last season in that deeper role. And it's worked in the sense she's come up with the winner.

That sort of seems to be the big difference in the way their midfield is set up now. So they found a way to win it. And I think there's positive signs for the way they're playing. with the ball as they go forward now. So no, that may not be the answer you're expecting, but my message would be, don't worry, that the goals are going to come, that they're creating so many opportunities,

and that's got to be a good thing. I don't pose a question expecting any answer in particular, Tom. I like you to guide me in the direction with your expertise, which you have. And actually, producer Sof has reminded me that before this season, Lauren Hemp, Riviana Meademar and Bunny Shore,

had actually only played three times together in the league because of injuries between them all. So, you know, it's going to take a little bit of time, isn't it, to click like this? Whereas Yuihasa Gawa's been given a more fluid role in this city set up than she had under Gareth Taylor, got her goal as well. Lovely finish. Are we maybe starting to see her attacking qualities come to the four again, Emma? I'm absolutely obsessed with that. I'm so glad Tom brought her up because I've loved watching her in these first two games.

I mean, I've loved watching her for her entire career. but particularly in these first two games because I completely agree and actually I think it's been a bit of a mastermind move by Andre Yerglitz coming in and seeing that and seeing the fact that I think people have clotped on while they were a large portion of the time

still not able to stop it but I think people have clots on that city were so dangerous out wide because of the forward players that we've just said when you've got someone like Died ashore in the middle then naturally you've got to use your wide players put those balls into the box.

But I think what they have now with Hasagawa in that more attacking position is they have someone with such high quality like she genuinely is one of the best players in the world with that intelligence, that, you know, sort of really good kind of agile, you know, skill set movement in those small spaces. So you're now adding, I think, another dimension to your attacking game where, you know, defensively you can't just set up quite narrow and kind of, push them out wide and just deal with the crosses, you've really got to watch, you know, those small spaces right on the edge of the box where Ui Hasagawa will really like to operate.

And I think so far she's taken advantage of that because teams, they don't really know what to do because, you know, if you try and push them out wide, then you're giving the ball to Lauren Hem. If you try and stop that attacking threat out wide, then you're opening up spaces for Hasagawa in the middle. So I think what they've done is they've opened up another branch. if you like, of a really good attacking threat at Manchester City. And I'm excited to see what she can do this season when she learns that role a little bit more and she plays in that role a little bit more.

But I think she's a fantastic player for Cicier. I think Yerblett is basically come in and realise that she is a player that can win games and that can turn games for him. Yeah, and we saw that for sure. We weren't sure whether either of these two teams were going to win or if we were going to get a boring goal, a straw, Leicester City and Liverpool, both clubs that started the season with several question marks over them for various different reasons.

And it felt like a crucial encounter at King Power Stadium on Sunday. And it finished Leicester won, Liverpool, nil, Rick Passmore's side, taking home the three points. That was despite being down to 10 players because Shannon O'Brien saw Red for a second bookable offence. But Emily Van Egman's goal saw them get their first victory of the season. 26% of the ball Lester had, actually, Susie, scored with their only shot on target. I mean, look, those stats don't lie. We talked about creativity with some of the other teams.

Sometimes you just need one goal and you get the three points. But what did you make of the defensive display? They've got a real resilience that they've kind of built up over the last 12 months. How impressive was that? Yeah, very impressive. I think they've got a little bit of consistency now. In their starting 11, there's obviously a new manager

in which changes things and can give you a little bit of a boost regardless of sort of who it is and when it happens like I think it's inevitable that you get that a little bit sometimes any change can be beneficial even like even if it's just short term I'm more concerned about Liverpool and like their lack of cutting edge in this game than I am about Lester I think you know Lester's resolve when they went down to 10 players and the sort of I suppose, you know, when a team feels a little bit hard done by, regardless of whether that's accurate or not, they can find a little bit of fire in their bellies

in a way that can sometimes get you over the line. So, yeah, for me, the bigger concern in this game was the state of Liverpool. Emma Sanders, the state of Liverpool. Wow. How are Liverpool fans going to be feeling about that? Yeah, it's definitely a concern. I completely agree with Susie. I think, you know, when you go into the club, you speak to the club, Garab,

Taylor, I think it's been quite open about it. I think there was always an understanding that I think it would be a really grueling few months up until January because they haven't got the squad debt. They haven't got enough quality in the squad. And I think he's a manager that's obviously come in with such a stark different style of play to what, you know, local have been used to. And he wants to play that possession-based football. He wants to play out from the back.

He wants to dominate the game as that's a show against Leicester. The problem I find, though, and, you know, we've, I think, it's fair to say that we found this a lot when Gareth Taylor was at Manchester City was that when it's not working it is just so stale and I think at the moment because local have got nothing coming off the bench and

there's an argument they haven't got enough quality already in the squad that you know they're dominating games you know they dominated against Everton in the first half and we're two one down like you just you can't win football matches when you just keep the ball

but do nothing with it to be blunt about it So I think it is it concerning because of the manner in which they've lost the first two games. And actually I was quite positive for them after the Moside Derby in a weird way because Everton were the favourites in that game. You know, they brought in some real quality in the transfer window. They've got a really good record at Anfield. And that first half, a lot of people were saying, and me included, that that was the best I'd seen, Liverpool Women.

in play in, I can't remember how long. But like I say, they were two on down. So I think going into the game against Lester, I think people were like, okay, I think they showed enough that even if it's not clicking yet, you know, you need to be getting results against Lester, who a lot of people think will be really struggling this season and yet Lester come away with a win. So it's all well and good saying we need time, you know, we need to build this, we need to build that, we need to get through to January. You've still got to get results. You know, the, the Football League isn't just going to stop for half of the year. So to come away from Leicester without anything

when you've dominated 80% of the possession, I think it's a bit unforgivable, really. Interesting. Tottenham backed up their opening day win with a comfortable 2-0 victory away at Goodison Park. Things seem like they're looking a little bit brighter, Tom, for Martin Ho's side creatively. Kathinker-Tamberg's stunning goal, first for the club. It was an absolute bute, wasn't it?

It was the icing on the cake for them. How different do they look from last season? Yeah, I was a good as soon. I'm very impressed with Tottenham. This was a performance that really built on the opening when they were much better than they were against West Ham. Another clean sheet as well. Two clean sheets in a row,

which is really rare for Tottenham in the WSL. And the new front two combined really well. Tamberg in England. England essentially in the number 10 role, a little bit deeper, but she led the press so well and was just such an energetic forward in that game that both the goals came from essentially Spurs pressing and winning the ball off of Shikawa, who was quite upset at the end of the game. But I really liked what Brian Sorensen said afterwards, he said that essentially, you know, that's football. She played

really well in the first game at Liverpool. She was young and she was learning and they were, you know, they were fully supporting her for kind of making a couple of mistakes. But they weren't just about mistakes. Look, Tottenham deserved the win. They were creating more. They linked up really well. And Tamberg, let's just applaud Tamberg for the audacity of shooting with a first time

strike from around 35 yards, seeing the keeper off her line. And from what Martin Ho said straight after the game, you know, she had actually done it in training just a few days beforehand. And I know from talking to somebody at Hammerby that she did it last season in the league there. So I think we need to find the footage of that and maybe put the two goals together. Really encouraging for Tottenham, really, really encouraging. Another good performance from Koga as well, who we mentioned on a previous pod, I think. But, you know, one of their summer signings who's still really young, Japan, international,

a sense of half, who I think a lot of clubs were looking at. And she's, you know, she started, despite being 19 years old, she started with. two clean sheets in the double sales, so fair play. Are you trying to be an analyst as well as a journalist? No, I'm really not a very good analyst. Giving them all a clue ahead of when they... Don't give away her superpower

if other people haven't done their research. Look, disappointing for Everton, their first game at their new home, particularly after last week's Merseyside Derby's success, didn't register a single shot on target. We actually had a message in, on X from Hans Solo 1918? Can Everton do what many have failed to do and bring in the numbers to Goodison Park? Not sure performances like that will do that, Susie. But what do you reckon going forward?

I'm just really happy that Star Wars characters are like taking interest in women's football and the women's Super League. That's really doing it for me. In terms of Everton, like I'm actually feeling quite good about their season. There's going to be games like this in that sort of mid-table. pack that they sort of have the rub of the green of and don't. I mean, it's disappointing not to get a single shot on target obviously, but they had 19 touches in the opposition box to Spurs is 25. So, like, it's not that they're not getting into the spaces in and around the box and creating moments, if not, like, them directly leading to shots. So I'm not, like, overly concerned with them across the course of the season. They've got huge talent in that squad. If they could just play Liverpool every single week at Anfield, they'll be fine.

I'm not sure if the fixture gods are going to provide that for us, I'm afraid. It was a busy weekend in the Barclays WSL2, eye-catching games around. Chart and Athletic, the only team to win their first two. Southampton and Crystal Palace shared the spoils in an eight-gold thriller. That was brilliant, four-all, fantastic. Birmingham held by Sunderland, Newcastle held by Sheffield United. Nottingham Forest, though, got their first WSL-2 win. Actually, speaking of Sheffield United, Tom, news this week centering around that club.

They've had a busy week, it feels, men's and women's. But you reported that Ash Thompson had been suspended from his duties as head coach. What more can you tell us about the situation going on up in the Steel City? Well, there was a bit of mystery around their first game of the season when they played on the opening night and Ash Thompson was described as simply being unavailable. As we understand it, that's because he's been suspended from his duties. exactly what has triggered this. We have to be honest and say that at the moment.

We're not able to report that right now. But clearly, you know, this is not just some kind of absence for personal reasons. We understand it that, you know, this is a matter that's sort of an internal process. So for the time being, the club are under the interim leadership of Luke Turner, who has done it three times before. and I think is seen as a relatively steady pair of hands they picked up a good result at the weekend he's experienced of having to step up into the situation

but it just feels as though club just sort of can't catch a break they kind of seem to have lurch from one problem to the next so the players and the fans will hope for a kind of speedy resolution I guess and a bit more clarity because it's a bit of a difficult situation at the moment for everyone involved but when we can report more we will

but this is not the start to the season that I think Sheffield United States would have wanted off the pitch on it I think they look good on Sunday so that's some encouragement for them amidst the uncertainty so we'll see how they can get on over the coming weeks Yeah we will keep you posted

England have announced a series of homecoming fixtures for the autumn they're going to face Brazil at the Etiad and Australia at Pride Park in October. Then they're going to round out a successful 2025 against China at Wembley and Ghana in Southampton. A variety of opposition Emma. How important are these

friendly is going to be in preparing for the 2027 World Cup, which seems a long way away? Yeah, it's just straight back at it, isn't it? I feel like the Euro's only last week. Paul Serena's probably not any, had any time off. I've seen her all around the country at WSAL Games over the last two weeks.

So it will be important because you know, they need to build on the success of the Euros, keep up that momentum. You know, it's just as much about kind of travelling around the country as well, building the connection with the fans, those who might have watched the Euros that now want to go and watch the lionesses in action. I think the opposition is really interesting. I'm absolutely delighted that there's a game in Manchester, first and foremost. That was what I took away from the fixture announcement, so I don't have to travel too far for that one, so that's good. I also thought it was interesting that they're going

back to Pride Park after the whole Women's League Cup final saga, I think, is how I would describe it. But yeah, I'm interested to see, you know, how they got on against, you know, like an African opposition. I think that's just, it's rare that we get to see European teams play African teams. So obviously, in the build up to a World Cup, they're the type of fixtures that, you know, I get quite excited about because it's just something a little bit out of the ordinary. Looking forward to it. Yeah, me too. And actually, you've stolen the thunder from Minty 83, also known as Amir Alipur. England going to Derby after the pitch at last season's Sandwich Cup.

Let's call it properly. It was the Subway Women's League Cup final. But do not worry because they have relayed the pitch. So hopefully not the same kind of issues that we saw and rightly criticized last season. Finally, I just want to read an email that came in from Jim following on from Alex I Bessetta's piece in The Guardian's Moving the Goalposts newslet. letter. Have a read of it if you haven't had a chance. Hello all, following Alex's piece, could Barcelona be the next club to sell off their women's team? It would seem to make sense for all parties. After all, the hundreds of millions that Femini would bring in for

the men's team would be a huge lever to help their finances. For Femini themselves, they wouldn't be held back by the financial mismanagement of the club as a whole anymore, while any investor would benefit from buying into one of the biggest brands in football and a team that is still fixable. If it's left too long, the team could end up losing more of its stars. and lose its competitiveness in Europe and maybe even at Liga F. Jim. What do you reckon, Susie? I mean, obviously they've got huge problems, but I'm not sure selling off the women's team is the answer.

I mean, that's a short-term fix, right? They'd get a little financial boost for one year on their accounts for the sell of the women's team. But what about season after that, season after that, season after that? I'd far rather see them properly investing in the team and recognising the commercial future potential of women's football, looking at, you know, what Arsenal are doing around kind of, you know, big stadium and attendances and things like that and going, hang on a second,

this is a way that we can bring money into the club that can offset that on a year-on-year basis rather than a one-off sale of the women's team. I think these little short-term financial loopholes that, clubs are finding, which has involved them offloading their women's teams to help balance their men's books, I think is not a, not a healthy long-term solution. I'd love to see women's teams split from men's clubs, generally speaking financially and things like that in the right way when they're ready to and when they're like on a financially sustainable footing. I think that could be a healthy thing to have happened, but this feels like, yeah, the women's teams being used

as a bit of a financial porn by clubs who want to prioritise their men's. Interesting. Another one to keep an eye on for sure. We have packed in so much in today's pod. I hope you've enjoyed it. Emma, lovely to see you as always. Nice to see you all. Have a good week.

Thank you. Tom Gary, superstar. See you soon, mate. Great to see you. It's tilly time, Susie Wack. See you later, Alligator. Happy to have Sam back. Should I go and practice a back flip or all that, like, kill me?

Please don't. Be very, very. very careful. The conditions outside aren't great, slippy. It's been raining. Just be safe, please. Someone's just running to do a risk assessment for The Guardian, straight away. Without a doubt. They'll start rewriting my contract like they do for players and have like no skiing, no soccer backlips. Extra insurance for Susie Rack. Keep having your say. Send in your questions via X or email us at Women's Football Weekly at the Guardian.com. A reminder as ever as well to sign up for for our bi-weekly women's football newsletter.

All you need to do is search moving the goalposts sign up. The Guardian Women's Football Weekly is produced by Sophie Downey and Silas Gray. Music composition was by Laura Iodale. Our executive producer is Joel Grove. This is The Guardian. How much do you really know about Heardin? pumps. Not only are they more efficient than traditional boilers, but with a Niebu heat pump, you could potentially save on your energy bills. Heat pumps work by extracting energy

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