The Guardian's Women's Football Weekly - Macário’s dream debut and are Manchester United in crisis? – Women’s Football Weekly

Episode Date: March 5, 2024

Faye Carruthers is joined by Suzanne Wrack, Moyo Abiona and Chris Slegg to round up another crucial weekend of WSL action and look ahead to the League and FA Cups

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starting at $19 per month at zensurance.com. Be protected, be Zen. This is The Guardian. Hello, I'm Faye Carruthers and welcome to the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. It's as you were in the WSL title race after the international break with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City all winning. Another seven, this time for Brighton, the first in their history, putting a real dent in Bristol City's survival hopes in a 10-goal thriller. We'll go through all the action from the weekend and preview the League Cup semi-finals and FA Cup quarters as we get to the business end in the hunt for silverware. All that to come, plus we'll take your questions and that's today's Guardian Women's Football Weekly. Women's Football Weekly is supported by Google Pixel, the only phone engineered by Google, an official mobile phone of Arsenal Football Club, Liverpool Football Club and the England teams.

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What a panel we have today! Big smile on your face, Susie Rack, after that positive North London derby. Thanks for turning up today. Thought you might. It was a very stressful North London derby. It wasn't a very comfortable one. No, it wasn't.

We'll delve into that in a second. I was there. Moyo Abiona, I promise we really do not mean to get you on after a disappointing Manchester United result every single time. It's just they're so frequent this season. Yeah, that is what it's starting to feel like, to be honest. But I blame them, not you. Oh, I'm really glad.

Thank you very much. Chris Legge, lovely to have you back. Not to be for the league double over Arsenal, I'm afraid. Yeah, not quite so enjoyable this time around, but still a lot of positives to take. I mean, a 1-0 win and only a 1-0 defeat a couple of years ago, you wouldn't have dreamed of that

as a Spurs fan heading into a North London derby against Arsenal. Most definitely. We will go through that game in a minute, but we're going to start with Sunday night's match at King Power Stadium, where it finished less than 0, Chelsea 4. Chelsea bouncing back in style from that defeat by Manchester City

before the international break. It was a moment of real joy as well. 641 days out. It took Katerina Macario just six minutes to then score on her long-awaited debut for Chelsea. She had 20 months out in total with an ACL injury. The smile on her face was absolutely incredible as she stood on the side of the pitch. And what an amazing introduction to the WSL for her, Susie. The icing on the cake for a big win

for Chelsea. Yeah, it was a beautiful moment. Hard not to feel a little bit emotional for her because you look at some of the quickest players to come back from ACL injuries. Chloe Kelly did it in about nine months. That's probably as fast as you can do it. But to go 21 months without stepping onto a pitch, like the mental toll that must take, particularly when a move to a big club comes in between it as well and then you're at your new club they've spent a lot of money on you and you're not able to sort of reward them for for sort of taking a chance on you and that risk I mean it just must like be a horrific mental roller coaster right like so for her to come on and score in that fashion so instinctively as well you you must wonder after 21 months whether

you've still got it right obviously she's probably been smashing a minute in training for a good while and Chelsea have clearly taken their time with when to bring her back and and really really being careful because perhaps of how long she's had out but to be that instinctive under pressure was phenomenal already like really liked her as a player when she went to Lyon. I thought that was a bold move and was really excited to see her there. And obviously, you know, her time there was sort of marred by the injury as well. So to actually be at the start of hopefully the best of her is really exciting. Yeah, it is. She paid special tribute to Emma Hayes after the game saying, Emma's been tremendous. She's been so supportive, not pressuring me to come back which is really rare no one wants to come into a club being injured

but I couldn't have asked for a better manager and I attribute that a lot to her more testament to her player management skills Moyo as if we needed them but Macario herself could be so important for Chelsea in the run-in it's just at the right time isn't it yeah I mean when we had the Sam Kerr news, obviously it was like, wow, this is a big loss. But I feel like if any team was the most equipped to handle that sort of loss, it was probably Chelsea, just because of the depth they have up front.

So Macario coming back is huge. And obviously they were able to get Ramirez as well. So yeah, the timing of it is great as well, because I feel like she's a versatile player. Obviously we saw when Sam Kerr first got injured that Lauren James was sometimes playing in the nine, sometimes playing in the ten. And I think Macario is someone as well

that can play in both of those positions as well as out wide. So I guess it gives them some more versatility in that respect as well. Yeah, it does. Myron Ramirez also scoring her first WSL goal for the club, Chris, adding to Natalie Bjorn's opener

before Johanna Ritting-Canyard made it three. It was exactly the response that they needed, actually, wasn't it? To prove they're certainly not letting go of their grip on the title without a fight. Yeah, I think the quality from Macario and from Ramirez as well, to see the way she took that goal. I mean, Paul Green, the assistant manager, hailed her when she signed. Big, big prize tag, €450,000 when she arrived.

And he was hailing her athleticism, her physicality. And she really showed that in that goal. And they're going to need it, aren't they? Although they've got a huge squad, but they're still in all four competitions. I think if they were to go all the way in all four competitions, I think they've still got something like 17 games they might still have to play. So they've got that quality there. As we've mentioned, you know, the absence of Sam Kerr for the injury

and now the news that we'll come on to later that's broken earlier today as well. Kind of that cloud hanging over the club, even though she's going to be out injured. But it's great to see these players coming to the fore and such an intriguing title race now. You know, the three clubs still so fully in it. Yeah, I'll just remind you of that news actually it broke on monday evening chelsea striker and australia captain sam kerr set to face trial after being charged with racially aggravated harassment of a london police officer she pleaded not guilty to the offence at a court hearing on monday and is scheduled to appear at

wimbledon magististrates Court on the 1st of February next year after an alleged incident in January 2023, just in case you missed that news. Let's focus on Leicester, Susie, because we need to give them some credit. Even though the scoreline was dominant in a Chelsea way, they certainly went toe-to-toe with Emma Hayes' side in the first half an hour or so, just kind of undone really by a few moments of quality and some defensive lapses. Yeah, I mean, they should have taken the lead really. Rantala's strike, I think perhaps she should have passed it, was a little bit of an error right at the very, very beginning of the match.

The thing is is like playing against Chelsea is tough right like it's never it's never easy you know you want to say that Tabor should do better against Ramirez as well but again she's such a hugely powerful and effective player that most players would struggle when put under pressure by her. So there were moments where they could have done better, but despite the scoreline, you sort of have to say that the improvement at Leicester is really, really obvious, right? There's an identity to the way they play. They do create chances.

And if they can just get rid of those little lapses, defensively and offensively, and make those decisions better, then I think they've got a chance in a game like this. I look at what West Ham have done against Arsenal and then against Man United, and you think Leicester should be doing that a little bit more. They have the quality there to be causing that kind of upset, and they're not quite getting there.

I don't know, is that a confidence thing? Is it more of a mental thing? They've got the quality to be able to pull off an upset, to grab a point against a big side here and there, not on a regular basis, not with any level of consistency necessarily, but they've got the potential to make that happen. But the thing is, is the Chelsea machine is just so slick, regardless of who comes in and out of that squad,

that they're always going to grind out a result. That's what it feels like. And it's sort of what we said at the start of the season, you know, sort of regardless of the fact that they've got Champions League as well, regardless of, you know, Arsenal's form or City's form, whatever it may be, you would never bet against Chelsea to retain their title because they are such a slick machine.

Yeah, they are. They're back on the top of the table on goal difference. We'll go through Manchester City's win in a second. But thank you for sending in your questions as always. I've got another quick one for you, Susie. This is from Adam who sent this in on social media. Are we any closer to finding out Emma Hayes' successor? No, I've got no idea.

I mean, obviously we know that they want a woman they've sort of made that fairly clear but beyond that who it's going to be no idea yeah it's going to be an interesting one because it's such big shoes to fill but the thing is is you know I think we said this before like you look at say when for the closest example when Sir Alex Ferguson left Man United and left the team an aging team on its way out of sort of the top level Emma Hayes is leaving a team with Mario Ramirez newly recruited Captain Macario coming back to full fitness a like young exciting team a new sort of defensive partnership building with Natalie Bjorn brought in. And like there's a lot of things that you can be happy about as a Chelsea fan

and as a incoming Chelsea manager because your job is being made really, really easy. Plus Paul Green is staying and I think that's hugely important as well because then you've got the person at the top that knows the workings like you could even argue as well or better than Emma so like you you've you've kind of got every ingredient for immediate success so it's like the dream job for whoever does come in yeah that is really key because a lot of um Emma's coaching staff are going with her out to the states so you know having a little bit of stability is really key because a lot of Emma's coaching staff are going with her out to the States.

So, you know, having a little bit of stability is really important. OK, so the reason Chelsea are back at the top of the table on goal difference is because they were briefly overtaken on Saturday by Manchester City after their 2-1 win over Everton. Gareth Taylor's side keeping the pressure on their title rivals and this is quite unbelievable bearing in mind how we were discussing this team at the start of the season. 12 consecutive victories in all competitions thanks to goals from the inevitable Bunny Shaw. Lovely curling effort as well from Lauren Hemp. Everton did pull one back through Hannah Bennison on the hour mark. It was an absolute stunner but to be honest as we expected the hosts were completely dominant never really looked like losing their grip on the game either and sorry moyo but they just keep picking up win after win after win and they outclassed everton all over

the pitch yeah they do to be honest i think city look a really good project right now they look as though everyone sort of understands their role obviously they had the injury with dual wards but it looks like Jess Parker just picks up that number 10 role really nicely with them I think it helps as well that she's played a lot of her time when she was on loan out wide because it feels like she has a really good combination with the wide players understands their runs they look really good I'll be honest they look really good their attack looks so clinical midfield looks really assured and then their defense like they hardly can see goals obviously they it was a there's a banger by um Benison there wasn't much that anyone could do but they they just hardly can see goals and that all starts I think with um Hasegawa deep in midfield yeah they look

impressive and I'm I'm honestly so jealous I't lie. It's okay to be jealous. It's an aspiration, isn't it? I mean, look, they're in search for their first title since 2016 and that feels crazy in many ways when you think about what they've done over the years. And after the game, Chris, Gareth Taylor referenced a mentality shift this year particularly. What do you think that can be attributed to?

Well I was on this show just after they lost to Brighton back in November and I think you know that came off the back of that quite disappointing performance in the Arsenal game as well didn't it and I don't think any of us ever thought he'd be signing a new contract as he did yesterday in TL2027 but I remember at the time Lauren Hemp was left out of that game, the starting line-up against Brighton, which I found really surprising. She's started every game since, certainly every WSL game since. They've won all nine since that Brighton defeat. They've won all 12, as you say, in every competition since then. So, I mean, maybe it was the kick that they needed at the time,

you know, that they can't take any game for granted. And they have had that. I mean, you know, I liked his comments after the game on Saturday. He was like, it's just all about winning now. Yeah, OK, we haven't added to our goal difference today, but that really isn't the priority. We've just got to keep getting the points in the bag. And that mentality seems to be there right throughout the team.

They are just a machine at the moment. Yeah, it's impressive to watch. I remember that pod really vividly as well because I thought, oh dear, I feel as if we're massively sticking the boot into Gareth Taylor. And he's turned things around despite people not being entirely convinced about what he was doing. This is what he had to say after he signed that three-year deal. I'm very happy to be able to commit to City for another three seasons. I think what we're doing here and trying to achieve is a build and a long-term project of sustainability and success. Our ambition was always to be right at the top,

and we've done that. It's taken a lot of hard work from a lot of people behind the scenes. The players have really brought in to what we're trying to do and what we're trying to achieve. I mean, we'll preview the League Cup semi-finals properly in part two, Susie, but with that game between City and Chelsea on Thursday night, it could potentially be a marker for what we can expect in the run-in with just seven games in the league left.

Yes, absolutely. Delicious tie, right? They're always classic ties, Chelsea-City, and we've sort of become a little bit bored of them, I want to say, in particular, in Cup semi-finals in particular but I think at the moment where you've got this transition period at Chelsea which one of the best things about Emma Hayes right is like that she's managed to maintain winning whenever the team is in a transition period which is really exciting for me but you've got that team that is sort of in this transition where you've got a few new players particularly those leading the line like coming in versus a team that is just sort of

relentlessly good at the moment and um who have such incredible attacking width with hemp and kelly that that makes it really really exciting obviously arsenal still got to play Chelsea and City in the league so that makes it a little bit more tasty as well but I was surprised that Gareth Taylor was given a three-year deal that's that's a real statement of of support from the club as a whole and we don't really see deals of that length in women's football just generally right like it's usually much shorter term than that obviously managers usually get a bit more but a three-year deal when that you know there've been question marks there's not been a huge number of trophies and they've not put together a season where they've competed on all fronts uh under him they're the you know warning signs for me like

next season when they are back in the champions league as they undoubtedly will be you know warning signs for me like next season when they are back in the champions league as they undoubtedly will be you know if they don't get through qualifying again are they going to regret that contract that's a you would expect them to get through qualifying right like you would expect it that you know the players are going most of the players lots of england and team gp players in that side they've not got a major tournament this summer with the Olympics. Obviously, they've got a few Nations League games and things like that. But their record under Gareth Taylor in the Champions League qualifier has not been great.

And even if they get through that and get to a group stage, it's been a long time since they were in a group stage. And experience really matters in the Champions League. So I wonder if they'll come to regret the length of the deal. Maybe they won't. Maybe they all love him and he's doing a brilliant job. But it feels a little premature for that length for me. Well, they always keep people within the City group in some way, don't they?

So I wonder if that's what they've got in mind. Let's move on to Arsenal. Top three all winning this weekend. But as you said, Susie, slightly stressful maybe at the Emirates, but title hopes are still alive. It was a narrow 1-0 win over Tottenham and it felt like we were in for a case of déjà vu after a really cagey first half.

Spurs pretty able to contain the underside of our side, it felt. Actually had the better chances, arguably. They hit the post at one point as well didn't they but Alessia Russo's goal four minutes after the break was enough to secure all three points for Arsenal it wasn't pretty but it was in front of another sellout crowd Susie back to back sellout crowds now at the Emirates but it was the three points really that mattered to keep them in touching distance oh yeah I mean the crowd's hugely impressive, right? Like to do it back to back

and to have an average attendance that is better than some Premier League sides this season so far is incredible and shows what can be achieved when you engage your fan base in a really like genuine way as well. But like, yes, I mean, they need to start delivering on the pitch

for these new fans. And I mean, I thought Tottenhamham were brilliant I just thought they were absolutely fantastic they're so organized uh Robert Villaham is like such a like likable guy and clearly excellent manager you know the way he's closed them up defensively and got them playing in such a short space of time is hugely impressive. I mean, the fact that it was, I want to say, 5-0 on 4-1 or the other way around, it might be, last season across the two games against Arsenal. And this year they've won 1-0 and lost 1-1-0 and had the 3-3 draw in the Conte Cup. Just like an incredible shift in momentum in this fixture like it's become

a derby before it was like you know a sure thing for Arsenal I remember how many years ago six seven years ago when they lost 10-0 to Arsenal in the FA Cup like how tight these games are now and how much Spurs can get from them is just a huge testament to what the club have achieved as a whole but what he's done in this year is just yeah remarkable I felt a bit sorry for them because you know I think they maybe deserved a point for that performance but Arsenal desperately seeking some more clinical finishing against a low block and finding the way through in a way it's slightly alarming that it's kim little that finds the the pass that is going to eventually unlock that that really really low block because she's not going to be around forever so who is

there that's going to step in and sort of take that mantle um i enjoyed katherine core everton and thought maybe she's the one but I worry that we're still relying on the brilliance of Kibb Little to find the little breakthrough that makes a difference in a game like that. Well she is one of those players that can just turn a game though isn't she but from a Tottenham perspective Chris he's still sixth It is four without a win. And that six point gap has kind of opened up between you and Manchester United and Liverpool. But it's still massive progress on last season. But because of that progress,

do you feel as if the team are going to be a little bit disappointed that they've dropped off after such a bright start? Maybe, yeah. If you look at that as a run of four games without a win. But I think, as Susie was saying there, it's great to hear even Susie as an Arsenal fan saying she felt sorry for us.

We don't need your pity, Susie. Like Susie said, it's a derby now. I mean, and it was, and we wanted to all big it up a couple of years ago because we need those kind of games. But now it truly is. To have seen Tottenham take on Arsenal at that level twice and go toe-to-toe with them at a sold-out Emirates as well I mean that's incredible so Spurs are taking huge leaps forward this season Robert Villaham

you do fear that it might be only be two or three years before a top club comes calling you wonder if he'd have had another season under his belt whether he would be a prospect for the Chelsea job but he doesn't have enough WSL experience right now it might prove to be a flash in the pan you know we we were seeing Kyle Ward's phrases last year and I'm sure that Villa can probably come back and have a better season than they have this time around but we can't judge it all on this but the strides that they have taken the quality that's in that side now you know Grace Clinton okay she's only on loan but what a. I love what I've seen from Bizet on the other side of midfield

and in a more attacking role. Martha Thomas started the season so well. I guess we're still hoping that Bethany England is going to get back to what she showed last season. She missed the first half of this season with the hip injury. And Tottenham are playing a different way now,

so she doesn't quite have the same role that she had. But there's so much talent there now we are we are moving to the next level um we've taught them and i feel there's so much to be optimistic about if i'm robert villaham i'm like doing everything in my power to make grace clinton never want to leave and to prize her away i mean it would be very very difficult to prize her away. I mean, it would be very, very difficult to prize her away from Man United after the season she's had. But I am spending the entire rest of the season tapping her up like no tomorrow and promising her the world to get her to stay.

Because what a player. She's the kind of player that you would build this Spurs team around going forward. So unlikely that I'll get to keep her. But I would love to see her stay at a club like that and have the impact that she's having like long term

that would be really exciting What's that going to depend on Moyo do you think? Some kind of plan at Manchester United what what investment is going to come in?

There's no plan I can assure you and I think if Mark Skinner is still there, I think she's gone. I think it would be like how Kirstie Hansen was at Villa last season, had a great season last season, was near the top of the assist table and then was like, yeah, I'm trying to stay at Villa right now.

And I think it's kind of tough when you know that the place you're at now, you're assured games, you're assured starts. And as soon as you move from that level, you're not now you're assured games you're assured starts and like as soon as you move from that level you're not assured anything basically so I guess it's tough and if I were her I'd actually consider staying at Spurs but obviously selfishly I want her to come back to United but it is such a good prospect at Spurs and United have been so bad this season that the gap between us and Spurs is not even as big as what you you know, is it that much of a level up? Who knows at this point?

That's exactly what I was about to say. They're on par, really. Yeah. The problem is, is like Skinner, if he stays, he's made it very, very clear that his midfield is immovable.

So Katie Zellemann is captain. He's not dropping her. Ella Toon, he's not dropping. Hayley Ladd, he's not dropping. That's it. it's that's it it's literally one spot right now in that eight between Lisa Nelson Hayley Ladd Mia Zawa

and then Grace Clinton is getting joined to that group well I mean look we're going to talk Manchester United in a second but frustrating as you can tell from Moyo our Manchester United fan by the way just putting it back onto Arsenal, and I've got a quick question that's been sent in to us as well. Arsenal actually travel to Stamford Bridge next up in the WSL after the break for the FA Cup. That one's under the lights on a Friday night, which is quite exciting.

So actually, Arsenal have away trips at both Chelsea and Manchester City to come. So it's going to be really interesting and could turn the title race on its head yet again if they get anything out of either of those games but I just want to focus on the crowd stick your hand up if you want to answer this is from Nolly do you ever see a point in which men's and women's schedules will be coordinated to enable a bigger crowds with fans not having to choose from matches at the same time and b teams to play more regularly at the bigger stadia i knew suzy rack's hand would go straight up for that i mean i wish

like i'd love to see that level of coordination and yeah working together collaboration every word you can imagine for any kind of linking up between the two. But it's like, it's never going to happen. It should happen. And I wish there was a drive to make it happen and to make it that it has to happen and that you can't avoid it happening. But, you know, I don't know, does the football regulator or something

have the power to do that? Maybe. But again, I still don't think it will happen. You know, you look at, say, the drive, you know, there was a big push from the Women's Super League and Nikki Doucette, the new CEO of the Women's Super League, new entity that is going to go independent as of next season, to try and get the 3pm Saturday TV slot made available

for women's football and sort of removed from the blackout. And that was stamped out by the Premier League and Premier League clubs like they don't want to help you know they're actively blocking the development of the Women's Super League as a really sort of you know financially viable independent league because if it comes at a price to their attendances, viewing figures, finances, in any way, they are not going to do it. And any threat to the status quo of dominance that they have at the top is not going to be tolerated.

So the idea of them deigning to shift a match here or there for the women's team is just not going to happen. You might get it on a club by club basis you know Arsenal might strategically work their fixtures at the Emirates so that both teams can play there even more regularly or whatever but I just like across the whole you're just not going to see it and I wish you would because it's crap and short-sighted yeah well by the way you mentioned the new code there and Nicky Doucette. The women's professional game confirmed on Monday that Dawn Airey is going to continue as chair of the Barclays Women's Super League and Barclays Women's Championship board. So kind of transitioning into the same role within the Newco, as it's called at the moment, with both leagues becoming an independent body this summer. So there is at least some continuity in those kind of fights, if you like. I think that's maybe too

harsh a phrase to use. Those discussions, debates, etc. will continue because of that. Right, that's it for part one. In part two, we'll round up the rest of the weekend's WSL results and look ahead to the midweek Conti Cup semi-finals. Welcome back to part two of the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. Let's just take you through the rest of the weekend's WSL results.

Close your ears. Moyo, speaking of dropping off, Manchester United dropping yet more points, conceding an 85th minute Vivian Asai equaliser to be held 1-1 at West Ham. Rachel Williams had given the visitors the lead after just four minutes, but the Hammers grew into the game, got the late goal for their efforts in some style as well. It means that United's hopes of European football, I have to say, look all but over. Nine points adrift of the top three now. Please give us more of your thoughts

on Manchester United, Moyo, if you could quite cope with it. I'll be honest. I think that Rachel Williams still being on at the 90, whatever minute it was that she missed that open goal, was just tempting fate.

Let's be real. Like she normally comes on at the end and you started her so I think 60th minute she should no longer have been on the pitch I think he was getting greedy and she should not have been on the pitch anymore and we got punished as a result of that like the subs just made no sense the whole front line had three strikers starting yes we have injuries but I just feel like he's so tactically rigid there's nothing we can do to like break the rut with the full-back injuries we've had I would have gone to a three at the back ages ago but I think I don't know if he trusts his ability to like implement that so I think

we're just sticking with a 4-2-3-1 which doesn't make sense right now especially because it's random people playing at full-back right now like one week it's a left winger in Leo Goulton, one week it's Gemma Evans who absolutely does not want to play there. And it's just getting frustrating to be honest, because it feels like we're not utilising what we have. I don't think United's squad can compete or compare with the three above us. But if you're trying to tell me that we need a Chelsea level squad to compete with some of the teams that we've dropped points with this season then I don't believe you unfortunately so yeah I don't believe

in this project I don't know if the players believe in the project I don't think that Mark Skinner knows what the project is and I think right now he's just trying to buy time and hope that he can get you know just keep adding more. But right now it doesn't feel like there's a structure in place, even with the players we're getting. I think that's my main issue. Just loads of eights and that's it. Yeah. And the thing is, that's not going to be any more obvious at the moment because their head of women's football, Polly Bancroft, is going to a men's league two side in Grimsby at the end of the season. So it feels as if they're a little bit directionless at the moment. Just two wins in their last five league games as well, Susie.

To say it's been a difficult start to 2024 is an understatement, really. Yeah, I mean, hugely disappointing. The thing is, is right, like, you can look across Man United and you can say that, you know, their problems don't just lie with the managers. There's clearly deep ingrained problems. there's been high staff turnover around them I've not heard great things about dealing with them player wise when it comes to like you know agents dealing with them over their players moving or arriving so like nothing is going quite right but then in addition to that you've got mark skinner who is not engendering a lot of trust amongst players if you're a player arriving at man united

are you gonna play there are now too many players that have come in and have had a really tough time, either with minutes or lack of rotation, whatever it may be, and have left unhappy, that you've got to start thinking that he could be a barrier to recruitment on that basis. And so as much as I think that, I think he's actually a really genuinely nice guy and did a brilliant job at Birmingham

and was really turning things around in Orlando. It's reaching a point at United where he is actively becoming a bit of a block on their ability to recruit and retain players. And that's a worry. If you're Grace Clinton and you've just joined Man United, but you spent the season on loan at spurs and yeah that may have been the plan from the start that you were going to go out on loan but you want to

be coming back to man united having broken into the england team having had the season you've had hoping that you are going to get some decent minutes and you can't guarantee that by any stretch of the imagination in fact it's unlikely and so that's a worry like you need a manager that is going to make you feel like you are valued and you are part of this squad and this squad is going to be used and lent on across the course of a season and you don't get that impression at the moment so whilst I don't think the blame is entirely at Mark Skinner's door like I think he is a problem as well. So in that case, MCWFC Girls in Blue asks, I'm assuming a Manchester City fan, if Mark Skinner goes at the end of the season, who could replace him?

Might Melissa Phillips be a good fit? Who knows, right? Like, there's such a dearth of top quality managers out there. You know, we had Mark Parsons on the podcast last week. He's a very good club manager, as we saw at Portland. He could be an option. But in terms of Melissa Phillips, again, showed she was very good, but also a club of Man United size, unproven.

I've said it on the pod for the past few weeks, there are so few top-level managers available. That's a problem, isn't it? After such a difficult start to the season, West Ham though, really starting to look like a dangerous outfit. Asahi in great form, squad growing in confidence week on week as well.

So Rianskin is finally managing to get her methods into the players, which is brilliant. We need to turn to the small matter of 10 goals at Ashton Gate next, though. It finished Bristol City 3, Brighton 7. Let me just give you a kind of overview of what happened. This is kind of Brighton ahead. 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 4-3, 7-3.

It's just bonkers. Nine different goal scorers, all sorts of chaos. Brighton ultimately romping to victory. But a win would have taken Lauren Smith's side to within two points of Brighton. But despite rallying, they scored three late goals, put some gloss on the scoreline, Brighton, and leave the home side six points from safety at the bottom of the table. You were there, Chris, commentating on it.

I mean, God, I wish I'd been able to wish you luck beforehand, but nobody would have predicted this kind of scoreline. But what we did predict is that it was pretty much a must win for Bristol City if they wanted to have any hopes of surviving. Yeah, it was one of the craziest games I've ever worked on. I mean, as a neutral, absolutely enthralling to watch. Hard to make sense of it. And yeah, I mean mean until the 89th

minute when madison haley put brighton five three up you felt like bristol city was still going to get a point out of it because they'd staged that amazing comeback from four one to four three and in fact even after that right and fifth goal they put up 10 minutes of added time so you thought there's actually still time because we'd had two spells in the game where two goals was scored in the space of three minutes that had happened twice so you're like Bristol City could still get a five all here but yet they've ended up heartbreakingly from their perspective losing 7-3 and I do think that is probably that's probably the result that's going to send them down because I felt before Christmas that they they still had a chance but they've lost to West Ham since Christmas they've lost heavily

to Brighton they shipped five to Leicester, didn't they, the other week? So they've let in 12 goals in two games against teams that should be within their reach as such. So I think Lauren Smith said after the game too, things that were working really well have started to fall apart. Like they're not defending well

from corners and set pieces anymore. They did miss Naomi Lazell, who's been a rock at the back. And obviously she got called up to train with the England senior team during that camp in Spain. But unfortunately she picked up a hamstring injury during that trip.

So she had to miss out the weekend and she was a big miss, a big loss for them. But yeah, there's so much that I like that I've seen from Bristol City this season under Lauren Smith and so many of the young players coming through. But this is the problem with relegation. I mean, I'm a fan of it.

I think you need promotion and relegation, but it doesn't give teams much chance. They need more chance to really transition. There is still a really big gulf between the WSL and the Championship, and it's really hard to come up and stay up and then look to build, like Liverpool have done brilliantly. But Bristol City don't have that level of resource, and I feel for them.

But I think it's going to be too much for them now to bridge this six-point gap as it is now to West Ham. They've conceded 45 goals this season. You just can't do that and expect to stay in the WSL. It was a massive three points for Brighton, though, particularly after all the uncertainty in recent weeks following the departure of Melissa Phillips. Let's talk Liverpool, shall we, and Aston Villa.

Liverpool took advantage of Manchester United's draw at West Ham. They're level on points now with United. It was a 4-1 win for them at Aston Villa in the end. Emma Coyavisto scoring a second-half brace, adding to the first-half goals

from Grace Fisk and Sophie Roman-Horgue. The conditions weren't great. I mean, they weren't great anywhere this weekend, were they? But particularly at the best score, it was pretty grim. And without Adriana Leon away on international duty

and Rachel Daly serving the last of her three-match suspension, Villa really struggled, didn't they, Moyo? And they were made to pay, ultimately. Yeah, it was unfortunate

they were missing probably their two best attackers right now. I thought Liverpool were clinical, to be honest. I think that in this game, they haven't been in necessarily clinical, to be honest. I think that in this game, they haven't been in necessarily all the other games, but I feel like in this game specifically,

it felt like the chances they were getting, the good chances, they were pretty much putting them away. And Villa didn't have anyone that could be able to respond in the same way because of the absences. Liverpool look good, to be honest. They look like they've taken a big stride from last year, whereas Villa kind of look like they've added to the team. We know they added a lot of players last season, especially in midfield. And then they added some attackers, but I don't think

the new attackers they brought other than Adrian Aliyah have really gelled yet with the team. And I think they're waiting as well for like Kirsty Hansen to sort of regain the form that she had last season. Yeah, it's quite tricky right now. We've seen a lot of movement with their team this year. Like we've seen Mas Pacheco on the bench a lot this year, as opposed to last year where she was pretty much playing every game. And I think those sort of combinations plus injuries haven't helped. Yeah, Liverpool though have been brilliant.

You mentioned Villa there, disappointing at home. They've won just one of their seven games at the best got this season. Perhaps not the best preparation to travel to Arsenal in the League Cup in midweek. But Liverpool are having a really good season under Matt Beard. And I feel as if they're going to be as frustrated almost as Tottenham, Susie, in terms of such good form at the beginning of the season and just had that little dip in the middle. Oh, yeah. Infuriating right like the

biggest problem with any team trying to challenge in sort of the middle of the park and to be the best of the rest for want of a less cliched term is consistency no team has really managed it be outside the top three across the course of a season to the level that you would hope for I mean one of the things that I think just harking back to the discussion we're having before this about Man United and Mark Skinner and you look at say a Matt Beard and if you're a player looking for somewhere to go that is showing serious signs of progress and is like you've got a chance of playing in you've got a chance of having an impact in you feel like the manager is doing a good job in I mean you would

arguably go to either Liverpool Aston Villa ahead of Man United regardless of Aston Villa's come and that that's a like yeah I'm switching back to Man United chat now but like a stammering indictment of Man United but also a testament to the work of Matt Beard and Carla Ward, actually, because even though they've had a terrible season, by all accounts, on the basis of their campaign last season, it is notoriously difficult to be successful across the course of the season. It is notoriously difficult to have a high turnover in your team to try and break into the top and then maintain a level of of sort of

impact and I actually think Robert Villaham after the Arsenal game like in the press conference he spoke really really well about how much time it takes for you to build a team that is going to be competitive and to close the gap on the top three and he was like this isn't going to be a consistent thing this isn't going to be a like next season we're going to beat them over two games and you know be really challenging at the top and be in the champions league he was like this is like a free four-year thing like you need time to develop a team a squad players build them up and stuff so yeah like yes the dip in form but like every team in that middle pack has that at some point at this stage

while they're trying to still they're all still baby teams they're all still in their infancy in the women's super league relatively speaking like the managers are all still relatively new in their tenures like none of them have the longevity of a gareth taylor or emma hayes and have been able to build a squad with unlimited budgets and top-level players. So that's sort of inevitable. So yeah, you kick yourself about dips in form mid-season, but at the same time, they've not had the time or resources to be able to build that level of consistency yet.

That was a really long answer. I can see the daggers coming out of Faye's eyes. I'm like, quick one on this. I always say that. I give you the chance and you just can't but that is because you're passionate and it was a really brilliant answer actually suzy um because it encompassed exactly what this season has been like for for those challenging and this is what we're hoping the wsl is going to do going forward is that those in the middle of the park are actually going to be genuine title contenders eventually. It just takes time, doesn't it?

In the Championship, it was a rain-affected weekend. Crystal Palace Birmingham and Watford Charlton both postponed because of waterlogged pitches. Sunderland then took advantage. It was a narrow 1-0 win for them over fellow promotion chasers Southampton. Mary McAteer's 49th minute strike sealing all three points for them and it means that the Lasses are four points clear of Crystal

Palace, Southampton and Charlton who all sit on 30 points. But do not forget Palace and Charlton both have two games in hand very importantly. Down at the bottom big wins for London City Lionesses who beat fellow strugglers Reading 2-1. Lewis gave themselves hope of avoiding relegation, courtesy of Maria Faruja Brace in the 2-1 win over Sheffield United. A couple of bits of big news, actually. Firstly, the wonderful Maggie Murphy, who's been in charge at Lewis FC since its inception, really. She's announced that she's leaving the club at the end of the season, which is going to be a huge miss for them. And some big news out of London City Lionesses on Saturday as well.

It was announced Remy Allen's been named head coach until the end of the season. So her player coach contract at Birmingham was terminated by mutual agreement as a result. You'll, of course, remember her from Reading, Leicester City and Aston Villa. Brilliant midfielder. But she's been England's under-23s assistant coach since October 23. And it's a really good acquisition, I think, Chris, for the pride. Yeah, definitely. I mean, they look to be building something a couple of seasons back, didn't they?

And they've had too much of a turnover of coaches. Mel Phillips did a great job there before she headed off to the US and then came back to Brighton and wasn't at Brighton, sadly, for too long either. So London City Lionesses, when they broke away from the entity of Millwall, they wanted to go it alone as a women's club. They didn't want to be tied to the sponsorship deals that Millwall were sorting out, kind of mainly through the men's club. And it seemed like a really brave, bold,

some people thought reckless, maybe foolish move. But, you know, it's been a difficult season for them this time around. But Remy Allen is going to bring so much great experience to the club that you would like to think she's got the ability to turn things well. And that's a club I'm really intrigued to see how they do. As the championship becomes more and more of a mirror of really the WSL

and clubs there really need to be tied to men's clubs that are doing pretty well, you know, or in the upper echelons of the professional men's games. It's great that we do still have clubs like Durham, like London City Lionesses, like Lewis that you mentioned a few moments ago as well. It just adds to the tapestry. It gives a different identity to that division. What an enthralling division it's been this season. And that title race that you mentioned with the four clubs,

really Sunderland, Palace, Southampton, Charlton, Birmingham, only four points further back than those three who are just behind Sunderland. So next few weeks are going to be fascinating to watch in the championship. It's been brilliant all season, the Championship, hasn't it? Now, as we teased ahead to earlier, we've reached the semi-final stage of the Conti Cup. Real shame, actually, that no Championship sides are

in this, but the final's going to be held at Wolves' Molyneux Stadium on the 31st of March. It's going to be contested between either Arsenal and Aston Villa, who play on Wednesday, or Manchester City and Chelsea, who who play on Wednesday or Manchester City and Chelsea who face off on Thursday.

What do you reckon, Moyo? How do you see these two semi-finals playing out? I think Arsenal get a comfortable win against Villa.

The Chelsea City one, it can go, I'm not sure because a lot of the time we see draws from them. We see like two twos, we see like one ones. But like, obviously someone has to win this game.

So maybe just because I rarely ever see Chelsea lose semis, I'll go with Chelsea. But like in terms of form, City, yeah, I'd expect them to win. But I won't be shocked if Chelsea win, basically. Basically, you've just sat on the fence. You've got yourself some splinters in your backside as a result and you've told us nothing. OK, Arsenal, Chelsea, done.

OK, thank you. That's better. Speaking of cups, the quarterfinals of the FA Cup take place this weekend. Saturday, it's Liverpool, Leicester and Brighton, Manchester United. And Sunday, Everton,

Chelsea and Tottenham, Manchester City. It's a competition you take a keen interest in. Chris, what's the standout tie for you? Well, from a biased Tottenham perspective, Tottenham, Man City. Maybe they have a chance, Tottenham, because I know we lost 7-0 to Man City last time out, so that's not great, but

we're at home. Great season under Robert Villaham I think they'll get a pretty decent crowd down at Brisbane Road Tottenham a club that is tied so much to FA Cup tradition through the men's side and there hasn't been any FA Cup success since 1991 on the men's side I would love to see Tottenham women get to an FA Cup semi-final I think there would be so much wider interest around that tie. But yeah, Man City do just look like a winning machine at the moment. So maybe I'm just dreaming there. But that's obviously

the tie that stands out to me. Brighton Man, New Brighton got to the semi-finals a couple of seasons back. They're coming off the back of that amazing result against Bristol City. That's going to be a real feel-good factor around the club. But Manchester United, Mark Skinner, he got to the final of this competition last season. It gives him a bit of something to kind of push back on.

If he could get them to the final again, the critics are growing against him. I think we saw more banners with Skinner out at the weekend than we've seen before. But this competition might just give him some respite because obviously Champions League qualification looks beyond them now. If he can get through to another final, then it might just give him, you know, a bit of breathing space and hope for him that he can stay on for another season. You can dream. That's what the FA Cup's all about. It's magic. Sprinkle, sprinkle all the fairy dust. Let's let Susie bask in the glory of her Spanish getaway for a little bit longer.

We should round up the Lionesses 5-1 win over Italy last week. It was obviously after that very comfortable victory 7-2 romp against austria what were your main takeaways suzy did we actually learn anything in this camp yeah um a lot um what was really exciting for me was that so many players were played and uh so many changes were made to starting lineups. I was just so delighted to see Lotto Wobbenmooy get a first start in a very, very, very long time, I think since 2022 or something,

in the second game against Italy and 45 minutes in the first game against Austria as well. Grace Clinton, obviously a huge highlight. There were just starting to be answers to questions about who fills in in various positions that made me quite happy. I thought Maya Letizia had a really good game in the first one at right back, like potential future deputy for Lucy Bronze, which is an important position. I thought Niamh Charles had a really good go at left back. And again, it's like the fullback positions

have been really, really light on the ground. So it's been a while since we've had some time ahead of the next major international tournament and competitive fixtures where Serena Wiegmann has been able to experiment a little bit and give minutes to players and start to do a little bit of that squad development that's been needed and here we saw it and the most impressive thing was that

they did that but was still completely fluid in possession play attack like there was no dip when these changes were made or when there were a load of substitutions or whatever and that was like for me the most exciting part is the maintenance of that, like form and consistency. Yeah. And it's going to be interesting to find out later on the draw for Euro 2025 taking place Tuesday, just after we've recorded and we'll assess England's opponents in next week's

show. But I just need to remind you what happened. Spain adding to their trophy cabinet, beating France 2-0 in the Nations League final. Goals from Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldente. The Ballon d'Or winner said afterwards, it's quite incredible, everything we've achieved.

This team has no ceiling. World Cup, now Nations League, and now for the Olympics. Massive congratulations to them, by the way. The first time they've ever reached the Olympics, which I hadn't realised, that had completely passed me by. The Nations League has been really interesting, I would say, over this past season.

And it's going to be fascinating to see who everybody draws for the Euro 2025 qualifiers. Right, it's been a pleasure as always. Chris, take care of yourself. I'll keep my fingers crossed for your Spurs magic at the weekend. We will keep dreaming. Yes, get your support behind us, Faye. Cheer on Spurs.

Even you can do it this weekend. I'm sorry, I can't. But dream big, Moyo. Dream big. You need to. Yeah, I do need to, to be honest. Thanks, Faye. Susie Rack, always an absolute delight to see you

I will see you very soon yeah what next event I don't know we haven't seen each other enough lately I know

well I thought I was going to pop down and see you at the Emirates and then I didn't get a chance but maybe I'll see you at Stamford Bridge yes Stamford Bridge

oh you got very excited I feel really privileged by that excitement you gave I'll see you well that excitement you gave. I'll see you. Well, that's still ages away. I'll see you for a coffee before then.

We hope you enjoyed NWSL season preview special last week. It is, of course, still available to listen to if you missed it. That season kicks off in a couple of weeks' time. Our regular parish notice that you can get involved in the show by sending us your questions via X or emailing us at womensfootballweeklyattheguardian.com is inserted right here. Be sure to sign up as well for our bi-weekly women's football newsletter. All you need to do is search Moving the Goalposts, sign up.

Plenty to look forward to this week. On Tuesday's edition, Sudesh Benaiah tells the incredible story of Sabitra Bandari, who's become the first ever Nepalese footballer to play in the European top fly. And on Thursday, Osasu Obiwane takes us inside how Rachel Kundunandji became the most expensive women's player in the world. Fascinating. Make sure you download it. And I just want to say before we go, a massive thank you to producer Lucy for some sterling work on the pod. She's leaving us for pastures new and we're going to miss her

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