The Guardian's Women's Football Weekly - Manchester City march on and Leicester cut the gap – Women’s Football Weekly

Episode Date: February 14, 2023

Faye Carruthers, Suzanne Wrack, Anne-Marie Batson and Amie Cripps reflect on another busy weekend of WSL action and news across the women’s game

This is The Guardian. Without insurance, your assets are at risk from major financial losses, data breaches, and natural disasters. Get customized coverage today starting at $19 per month at zensurance.com. Be protected. Be Zen. Hello, I'm Faye Carruthers and welcome to the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. A better weekend to be from Manchester than London. Wins for City and United. The Arsenal drop out of the top three, while Spurs extend their losing streak to seven games.

It's also a good weekend for the Midlands, with Leicester moving to within a point of safety. And if your name is Jordan Nobbs, a call-up to the England squad, a hat-trick for Aston Villa, and that puts the cherry on a heavily-iced weekend cake. We'll discuss all of that. Look ahead to the international break. Take your questions.

And that's today's Guardian Women's Football Weekly. Hi there, Susie Rack. Happy Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day. It's just awful, isn't it? Awful. Anne-Marie Batson, lovely to see you. How are you? Lovely to see you. Lovely to see you all. Happy Valentine's Day, everyone. And big up the singletons in the house today.

Hey, listen, it's also Pancake Day, I do believe. So, I mean, in my world, one takes precedence over the other. I'm with you on that one. Pancakes all day, every day. Isn't it Pancake Day in February? Oh, it is February. It is February. It is February.

I thought it was the 21st. Wow. Why did I think that? I think it's today. I might be wrong. I'm sure the rest of you will tell me if I am. Amy Cripps, you must be wondering what on earth is going on. We don't usually spend this amount of time talking about

Valentine's Day and pancakes, but it's your debut. Hello. Hello. I mean, I'm quite happy to talk about pancakes, not so much Valentine's Day. I wish my girlfriend happy Valentine's Day. And she said, that's for singletons or people who are newly dating not people who have been together for eight plus years so that was her response so fair enough and I'm just going to burst everybody's bubble who thought that they might be getting pancakes today producer Lucy or Jesse have just told me Shrove Tuesday is the 21st I was right I'm never right I'm gonna have pancakes anyway every day is pancake day in my house. Right, let's get into the football, shall we?

These rearranged fixtures did not disappoint, did they? Manchester City 2, Arsenal 1. We're starting at the Academy Stadium. Manchester City avenging their Conte Cup semi-final loss to Arsenal. It was a dominant performance. Could have won by so much more as well. First half goals from Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly, putting them in the driving seat,

and then they weren't threatened, despite Raffaele getting a goal back. Susie, I'm really sorry to start with you on this one, bearing in mind your allegiances, but it was a pretty poor performance from Arsenal. I mean, you'd beaten City midweek. That was quite an even game, I would say. But why did they look so mismatched here? Oh, it was so bad. I mean, don't get me wrong, City were brilliant, I thought.

I think it's very easy to take a look at the Arsenal performance and take a lot away from the City performance, but I thought they were superb. The way they pressed the Arsenal back three was really brutal brutal um and really exploited the changes that made to that team um for me it was all in the formation the decision to play a back three just it had half worked in midweek but they again in midweek looked far more solid when they switched to a back four and that's when things started to click a little bit more so then the decision to revert to back three but not only that to change the wing backs for the game just was beyond me I think that's a really really bizarre decision I like Noelle Moritz but she really really struggled against Lauren Hemp like could not handle her at all and you just saw Leah Williamson get dragged

further and further out to the right and that's not where you want Leah Williamson you know she's most effective driving through the middle and helping launch your your attacks from the back and she was pulled wide and unable to ping those balls through the middle like she does or drive through the center and it just left loads of space in between her and Lotta Wobben-Moy and not only that Lotta Wobben-Moy is then sort of left one-on-one to deal with Chloe Kelly I think you look at it and Lotta had a pretty poor game and probably feel pretty disappointed with her own performance but she was also left pretty isolated and sort of forced into making mistakes because you know you look at the second goal she's got no one to pass it to

she's trying to force it like squeeze it for a space and isn't really there and bunny sure pounces and goes through one-on-one and it's not the smartest of decisions it's not smartest of passes but the options are so limited because of the way they're set up and the way it's it's sort of worked out positionally for them so i just thought it was a really really poor decision and then only to change it like later in the game at halftime when the damage has already been done felt like a big mistake you know we were all watching it very early on going come on just just change it just change to a backfall this is clearly not working within minutes of the game all those spaces were already being exploited and the pressure was being put on

and they were being pulled apart and they weren't really reading each other's movements very well, weren't leaving the right balls for each other because when it's a back three, it's a little bit different from a back two. You don't necessarily know which area is your responsibility quite so much.

And that, yeah, disaster, basically. Absolute disaster. Do you know what I'd love to see? You know how the referees are all mic'd up and the coaches and everything and they can talk to each other? I'd love it if Susie Rack was mic'd up in the stands writing her report going,

change it, change it, this is a disaster. Honestly, it's a running joke that no one wants to sit next to me in the press box for big Arsenal games. Can I just say also, my dad watched the match as well. He watches a lot of Arsenal women. And the word he used was shambles when I spoke to him on the phone on Sunday. And I trust every word that my dad says when it comes to football because he knows a lot about it.

So, yeah, that's how he described it, a shambles. Yeah, it's a bit of an oracle i would say uh as much as they defensively struggled anne-marie there was also an issue in attack as well and and they actually haven't scored a single wsl goal from open play in 2023 we're six weeks in that's a bit of a problem it's a huge problem it's a huge problem. I don't know how it's going to be solved. The season is now coming to that point. It's coming to that pinch point now where every single game means you've got to win to secure your place. Wherever your targets are going to be for the season, you've got to start doing it now.

Otherwise, it's going to get away from you. It has a massive issue and I just don't know how they're going to be able to solve it with the limited time that they have. I don't know. When I was watching the game, I was just like, I was like Susie really just getting really frustrated, just thinking like the exact words that Susie was using, like, please just change it.

Do something, do something. And of course, halftime comes. And I think Leah, Volte made a kind of a bit of a difference in that second half, just being that extra body in the midfield, but the damage was already done in the first half. Yeah, certainly was. Amy, Manchester City though, feel like a really

different team to the one we've discussed on this pod previously. That front three in particular seemed to be really clicking and they pressed Arsenal within an inch of their lives. Would you say it was perhaps their best performance of the season so far? I think so and to do it you know within a couple of days after suffering a midweek defeat to the same team I mean like that mentality is perhaps a mentality that we've not seen from City for a while or arguably since definitely not the beginning of

the season I mean it's really difficult for me, just like it is for Susie, because I am a Gooner as well. So watching that game, like my heart was... You're everywhere. I know, I'm sorry. We are everywhere. I know, I know. But it's just, it was shambolic. And I don't know whether this is just like a Gooner attitude, but I am a bit of a defeatist. And like when that game started, I just thought they've got something to prove.

Both of us would rather have won that game at the weekend than that midweek fixture. In honest opinion, I honestly think that if you ask every Arsenal fan, they would have rather have won that WSL matchup because it's so tight this season. And we know if you lose a game, if you drop a point, that's it.

You're out of the title race. And to not be in top three, I don't think I'm over it still, be honest but like credit where it's due like City they've really really bounced back like Khadija Bhani-Shaw has been unbelievable and just like seeing her pounce on Lotta and Chloe Kelly just take it and drive it into the back of the net I just thought oh wow like this attacking threat we just don't have it at the moment you know and I'm not I'm not quite sure what we can do moving forward in terms of attacking players like we didn't sign anyone in January I think that's dented Jonas I think that's really affected the team and as fans were a bit like well why didn't we I think

the big kind of media and hoo-ha around Russo not coming to the club has affected the team arguably as well. So yeah, I'm a bit at a loss at the minute, but City, they're looking dangerous. Yeah, they really are. And actually, I think we need to give Gareth Taylor some credit, Susie, because certainly he got plenty of criticism at the start of the season what do you think Manchester City can do this season because it feels like they're back in the mix at least for the Champions League spots but actually Lauren Hemp was saying they've got their eyes on the title yeah and you can see why they've got the like the bit between their teeth they're full of confidence Chloe Kelly has come back into form at exactly the right time. She's admitted that she struggled during the Euros and after the Euros,

still recovering from her ACL injury. It's taken her time before she's found her form. They've got to play Chelsea at home, Arsenal away and United away. It's not an easy set of fixtures, but like, you know, the idea of them being able to go for the title is there. There's no reason why they can't. Do I think we give Gareth Taylor credit? I mean, to a certain extent, yes.

I still am not convinced in him, like personally, but, you know, I think the quality is there in the City squad for them to be pushing and challenging for the title and for Champions League. And I think, as I said last week, the injuries to Arsenal in Bethmedem, Viviana, Miedema easily put them as favourites for missing out on the top three. One person for me who I felt was a player of the match in terms of Manchester City, I know Chloe Kelly had a stellar, but Yui Hasegawa was immense for me. I never stopped. She was running.

I think she must have covered the entire pitch several times over. I think she's made a massive change to that midfield. And I would say she's probably been key to the resurgence of City over the last few weeks. 100%. Yeah, that's a really interesting point, actually, Anne-Marie. And when we go back to Arsenal and talking about their title race, when we look at Manchester City perhaps pushing into that and players coming into form, as you said, Arsenal are five points off Chelsea now. And it's really easy, Amy, to point to the absences of Beth Mead and Viv Miedemaar

as obviously having an impact on their season. But should they be doing better with the players that they have? Yeah, absolutely. better with the players that they have yeah absolutely I think we've spoken about you know well Susie spoke brilliantly about our formation and our defensive play didn't we have something like 16 clean sheets on 21 WSL way games that's that's crazy and then to go from that to this like we should be playing better the quality of players that we have. Catelyn Ford, Sina Blackstenius, Katie McCabe, Leah Volte, Leah Williamson. You know, Manuela Zinsberg has been phenomenal for us. We should be performing.

We are not only top in terms of players that we have on the pitch, but we have something that Mark Skinner spoke about at the weekend with United and what that club is trying to build. We have a history of winning and that does make a difference. That creates a culture and it's sewn into the fabric of your club and the mentality. Those players will be so disappointed with how they performed at the weekend and they will look inwards and they will look at themselves and think, what can I do better? So, yeah, we do have what it takes um I'm not too sure we've got what it takes to win the title um I'm not as confident as I was maybe a month or so ago but we we should not be going into next season without Champions League football well you might be I'm afraid when you look at... Don't say it! Sorry, you've got Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

So that's your route at the minute. Is there a real danger, Anne-Marie, of Arsenal actually finishing fourth this season? Yeah, I think the alarm bells are ringing. I think the alarm bells are ringing. The only way I think they're not going to win the title, and I think that's pretty obvious now, they're still in with a chance of lifting up a trophy with the Conte Cup, of course.

And of course, they've got the UEFA Women's Champions League as well. Them potentially winning that, I don't see it. Not on the strength of that squad. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a lot of meetings and WhatsApp messages flying around on Monday morning going, what on earth is going on? And asking those questions. And I know, you know, Faye, you mentioned about

the loss of Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema. I think it's bigger than we anticipated. I think before Arsenal have managed to coat over when they've had injuries, like when Leo Volte went out for a period of time and Jordan Norris went out for a period of time, they've managed to work around it. I think they're struggling without them. And I think this is pretty big for them. And I think we've underestimated how big it is. And they're running out of time to figure it out. And I think it's now trying to just do in the season the best that they can. Of course, I'd love to see them in the top three. I'd love to see them back in, you know, hopefully competing for the Champions League next season. But it looks very off it right now. And even on the strength of this current squad I'll be worried about that so I think it's just doing the best that you can keeping the pressure up on the cities and the Chelsea's in the United this world and see and then reviewing at the end of the season. Do you know what as much as I hate it isn't this just a huge testament to the development of this league and how competitive it's become you know year after year we've been

able to say Chelsea are going to win, Arsenal are going to win, City are going to get top three. Like to now be in a point where we're not only fighting for that top spot, but we're fighting for Champions League football.

And if we look at that middle table as well, Aston Villa, Carla Ward, she deserves her flowers, to be honest. Like what she's built at that club is amazing. But to now have this standard

of football in England, this is what I live for. I'm here for it. We all are. It's why we exist. Hallelujah. I know. It's our lats and pancakes.

You've got to wait another week, I'm afraid, if we're going with convention. Elsewhere at the top of the table, Manchester United managed to hold on against Spurs despite being reduced to 10 players after Ella Toome was given a straight red for her shove on Evelina Sumanen. Leah Galton had given United the lead before Beth England scored a spectacular solo goal but less than a minute later one of those head in your hands moments Molly Bartrip turning Garcia's cross into her

own net and we will discuss that shortly and Amy mentioned the competitiveness of this league. We were writing Manchester United off after a couple of draws the other week, but a bit like Chelsea, Susie, they've not necessarily looked great recently, but they are getting the results. How much does that show the mentality that they've got to push Chelsea all the way? Oh, yeah. And they've got the advantage of not having Champions League football as well, which I think is huge.

You know, that's like a really intense run of fixtures for Chelsea with Lyon and Arsenal with Bayern Munich that Man United don't have to worry about for now. So there's a real opportunity there and I think they can sense it. Ellertoon's red card, big, big loss for the next three games for them, especially when they've barely rotated their starting lineup. So, you know, you've got quality and Vilda Boerisa coming in potentially into that spot, but she's not played much football at all this season. So you've not really kind of built her up ready to step in, in my mind. Although, you know, it's good that the United fans have been desperate

to see things mixed up a little bit, finally get it enforced, I suppose, in a way. But, yeah, huge, huge loss, particularly for their game against Chelsea. Solid win, given that they've not been playing their best. I thought Leah Gordon was absolutely superb. And, you know, every time I watch her lately, I'm just thinking, I know she's chosen not to be in contention for England.

I know that's her choice. And, you know, it's to protect her own mental health and that kind of thing. But you do wonder, you know, is there a point at which she's going to consider coming back into the mix? Because you just, you know, imagine her pushing Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp for a starting place on the wings for England

and the depth that she would provide as well would be really, really exciting. So that's all I can think about when I watch Man United of late. Yeah, she's tenacious, isn't she? That's for sure. Let's talk about Ella Toon's red card though, Anne-Marie, because as Susie mentioned, they're likely to miss United's away match against Chelsea in March it was a real loss of control that was not like Ellertoon I felt

but it could be decisive for United It's absolutely decisive and this is going to be a big lesson it's a big lesson for the team and it's a big lesson for the club to do that on the 80th minute knowing that you needed to win this match you're up against Tottenham, who were really anticipating this game.

You know you're going to be facing Beth England. You've got that front forward, that Rousseau, Toon, Paris and Galton line-up. So it was going to be a feisty encounter anyway. And I know Mark Skinner is looking out to protect his players, saying that the Spurs player was a little bit of play-acting, but it happened right in front of the ref. And the one thing you can't do is put your hands on another player and credit to Ella Toon. She has tweeted since that, you know, she holds her hands up and it's going to be a big lesson. And it's a lesson now for United to learn how to manage this situation.

Bear in mind, they've never been in this position before. They've never been in the position of potentially winning the league and booking themselves in the Champions League as well. So there's been a lot riding on this, on this match, a lot of pressure. And I think it just blew up. I'm really surprised by Latune. But like I said, I think it's a big lesson for her, one for her to go away and think about. And now it's a real test for Mark Skinner to find out how he, as Susie's mentioned, the United fans have been calling for rotation. It is a forced rotation. Let's see how he can manage this. But, you know, Ella Toon, she's a big, big loss. I love her as a player. I love her feistiness. I just don't want her seeing shoving players. I would also say maybe the wrong choice of words when you're apologising.

Pride myself on the passion and love I have playing for this club. Hold my hands up for my reaction and I'll learn for it. No, that's what got you in trouble in the first place. Don't hold them up again. Really interesting, actually, you mentioned the rotation because there's a question from Natalie. Was the difference between the Spurs game this week and last week's draw with Everton the fact that Mark Skinner brought on more different players to impact the game? I think that does make an impact. I think it was the main thing that did it. I'm not too sure, to be honest. I am gutted about Ellerton, but I am really looking forward to see what changes, like we speak about Wilder,

what changes Mark makes moving forward. And perhaps that might also inform what we might have said now. So a bit of a cop-out answer. But yeah, no, I think there was an impact. I think it was a big enough one compared to the week before. I'm not too sure. I think Everton were so resilient in that game. I was really impressed with their performance and that shouldn't go un-miss either.

But without El-Atun, I think, because I hear what you're saying. I agree with you, Amy. I think the loss of El-Atun is that pace that they've had in the midfield. And I wonder how they're going to be able to replicate that. The fact that, you know, she runs like the clappers. So I just don't know how they can replace that. And I think the three games they've got coming up and Chelsea's not far away. I think that's going to be a bit of a concern.

I hope, you know, Wilder can step in, but you're not going to get another two in that place. She's unique in that respect. And I think that would be my question mark. As someone with those connections with the players around her as well, when you've not rotated at all, really, like you're starting XI, like expecting a player to come in and have the sort of telepathic relationship that she has with Leah Galton, with Alessia Russo, with the players behind her.

It's just not it's not going to be the same. Right. Like there's no way that someone can build those up that quickly. Even, you know, obviously they play with each other and against each other in training and stuff. But you can't you can't replicate that in-match pressure. You know, the lack of the coaching staff telling what you want to do and that kind of stuff. It's a completely different environment. And I think that's a big one, is that whoever comes in is not going to have the same level of telepathy

between themselves and the players around them that Ellertoon has. That's huge, massive blow. Amy, it's the seventh consecutive loss in the WSL for Spurs. They haven't won since October, which was that crazy 8-0 over Brighton. It feels really strange saying this out loud, but, you know, when you look at the table and the numbers, they don't lie. Do they need to start kind of looking at who's below them at the moment, a bit nervously perhaps?

Yeah, I think so. I think it's what is it three points that separates them from relegation at the moment I think that's right and to have seven consecutive losses on the bounce that's I mean you can't be doing that in any league let alone the WSL where it can come back to seriously bite you and it's the difference between playing top-flight football or going back down to the Championship. Yeah, I think, you know, Rhiann Skinner will be, should be worried. She made some really, really good January signings. We've got Manorio Bucci, who can seriously pull the strings in midfield.

They've got a striker, they've got a finisher now in Beth England. And, you know, three goals in three games, although she's the first player to score three consecutive goals and lose all three games. That's not, I mean, that's a paradox if ever I've heard one to be honest but they have someone who can finish and they have someone who is willing to go hell for leather to get a goal wants to make a statement wants to be back in that England squad just as we we've spoken this morning about key players you lose Ellertoon you lose Beth Mead you lose Vivian Mead and what happens to the squad but when you do them, you can see things change drastically.

Am I worried about the pressure that that might put on Beth a little bit? Do I think that she can carry that pressure? I think so. I think she's more than willing to. I think she's willing to prove her worth. But yeah, if I was a Spurs fan, thankfully I'm not, I would be very worried at this moment in time. Yeah, you were right. Three points.

It's very, very tight at the bottom, which, as you said at the beginning, Amy, is exciting for the league. That's it for part one. In part two, we'll look at who might be catching up with Spurs before previewing the Arnold Clark Cup. Do you have business insurance? If not, how would you pay to recover from a cyber attack, fire damage, theft, or a lawsuit?

No business or profession is risk-free. Without insurance, your assets are at risk from major financial losses, data breaches, and natural disasters. Get customized coverage today starting at $19 per month at zensurance.com. Be protected. Be Zen. Welcome back to part two of the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. So we've discussed the top of the table. Let's look at the bottom, shall we? Is the great escape on for Leicester, Susie Rack? A Hannah Kane goal giving them a 1-0 win over Liverpool

puts them just a point behind Reading. And they have a game in hand as well. Is it on? 100%. 100%. Willie Kirk is going to pull off one of the greatest escapes in WSL history WSL history isn't that long

but still no like it's yeah their turnaround has been fantastic having Hannah Kane back

I thought her goal was sublime really nicely well worked clearly something they practiced and yeah really

impressive impressive win you know they've still got to play Reading they've still got to play Liverpool they've still got to play Brighton there's there's chances for them to get more points on the board they look far more organized I think Willie Kirk said after the game that you can take a lot from grinding out a result from not necessarily the best performance and you know how important that can be. And that's what they did, right? Liverpool were arguably the better side in that game.

Leicester walk away with the three points. And I think that is huge for the mentality of the side in the way that Willie Kirk described. They've got a couple of tough games up next. They've got Man Utd and then they've got Everton and then they've got Villa. They're three difficult fixtures in the context of the league this season but in terms of like them being able to claw up I think all of the teams above them are suddenly

looking over their shoulders very very worried whereas previously they were thinking it's okay we've got we've got the Leicester cushion. And it's very, very different now. But yeah, they just look like they're playing for each other, playing for the manager, fighting in a way that, you know, I think they believe they can do it, which is the big difference. You know, I think they perhaps had their heads drop a little bit and it all seemed a little bit inevitable. But I think they genuinely believe that they can do it now

and I think that really matters for something. Yeah, they play Brighton on the 2nd of April, I think it is. And, you know, as you say, Brighton as well. And Anne-Marie, there were worries for Brighton. They were thumped 6-2 by Aston Villa. Goals from Yulia Zigiotti, Olma and Danielle Carter

couldn't dent a Jordan Nobbs hat-trick with Rachel Daly, Lucy Saniforth Goals from Yulia Zigiotti, Olma and Danielle Carter. Couldn't dent a Jordan Nobbs hat trick with Rachel Daly, Lucy Staniforth and Kirstie Hansen also on the score sheet as well. What did you make of this game and what do you think of Brighton's chances of staying in the league? So Aston Villa pretty much were, they were ruthless. They just prized open the Brighton defence and then some, they really went for it. And when you've got the mixture of youth and experience in that Aston Villa team, the likes of, you know, Jordan Nobbs and Rachel Daly and Lucy Staniforth and Kirsty Hansen, my goodness, I'd be slightly worried if I'd see those names on the team sheets in the opposition. There's some serious inequality in that team. And for Brighton, I mean, I think they made the right call in terms

of who they've appointed, you know, in terms of terms of with you know Hope Howell moving on they needed someone to just come in and freshen things up a little bit and Yenshire formerly of Bayern Munich of course of that parish comes with a lot of experience so they're going through and that's that word is it that transition period at the moment it just just for me at the, like I think Amy and Susie made the points earlier in the first half of this podcast, you haven't got a lot of time and you need to win and you need to get draws. You cannot afford to lose too many games in the WSL. And this is a big loss for Brighton because they'll be looking nervously around them. Defensively, they were just all over the shop against Villa. Once one goal goes in, then another and another,

the heads start to drop, the shoulders start to drop. And that's exactly what happened in that game. And for me, as I said on this podcast before, Carl Award for me, if she's not nominated as, you know, coach of the year, I will rage on social media because I think she's done a brilliant job, a brilliant job. And it's so exciting to see Villa as well, considering where they were a little while ago to where they are now.

They've just simply transformed. And I think Brighton may look at them and go, why can't we play like that? All I could think when I was watching that game is, if you're Jonas Eidevall watching Jordan Nobbs score a hat-trick and also Manu Iwabuchi's performance for Tottenham and the way she set up Beth England for that goal. You're seriously wondering about what decisions you've made in January in terms of, you know, looking to the future and bringing in some players with some great, great talent,

but sending out some players who can and have the ability to get you goals in big moments, yeah, I would be seriously questioning myself. Although that said, whether you would have seen Jordan banging in the goals for Arsenal in the way she is for Villa, with the freedom she is given that she's not played and now she's playing regular football is another thing. But similarly for Man United, I mean, you know, you've got Ella Toon out and you've got Kirsty Hansen putting in performances of a lifetime in a Villa shirt.

And you just think, come on, wake up to some of the talent that you've got in these squads that is just being slightly wasted, really disappointingly. Wasted is the perfect word. Amy, going back to the relegation battle, how many teams do you actually think could be battling it out come the end of the season? And who is going to go down, which is a tough question to ask. And I'll just give you a bit of context to this pod. We like to get predictions very badly wrong. So even if you say who you think it is, don't worry. Oh, God. I am still worried about Brighton I am I think there are glimmers of hope

like Anne-Marie has said they're in that weird honeymoon transition period but I am worried about them um so I'm gonna put Brighton in there I really really hope that Willie Kirk does pull off the biggest comeback in WSL history. As Susie put it earlier, regardless of how short that history is, I do hope that he does that. But the two that I think that we'll be battling out, I think it will be Brighton and I think it will be Leicester. Who do I think will get relegated of the two? I'm going to go with Brighton. I'm going to do it. And come May, you're going to turn around and be like, Amy, you're absolutely wrong. And that'll be great because I do really like Brighton.

So it's a bit of a win-win for me there. I get a ridiculous prediction, but I also get the team I want to stay in the WSL. Wow. No one's mentioned Reading. I was going to say, yeah, Reading for me. I think Reading are in real trouble, Faye. I really do. And I think this has been building for some time. This isn't just about this season. This has been about the last couple of seasons with Reading.

They're not the team that they were. I thought, you know, when I first started watching women's football, Reading were really up there trying to break into the top two, if you like, being around, you know, between positions like four to six. And they've just tailed away over the last few years. And I think this is now coming to a pinch point with Reading. I think the battle for me, I think Leicester will remain up but I think Reading will be the ones that will go down. I'm looking at Reading but I feel like we look at Reading every season and even at the start

of this season we're saying you know they're one of the favourites for the drop after a really poor start and Kelly Chambers just has an ability to claw some results out of nowhere when you least expect it and suddenly they're safe and dry and I feel like every season we're waiting for her miracle against the odds with you know the Reading team not you know hugely supported financially and things like that that she's been able to pull off miracle after miracle and we're sort of waiting for the point at which they're no longer she's no longer able to compensate for the lack of investment in the squad and this the support staff and all of those kind of things and maybe maybe we're reaching that moment after me saying earlier in the season that that moment had passed

and she had already caught them out of it so I feel like we're constantly on the edge of that on the edge of waiting for that moment to happen and then it comes or it doesn't and more often than not it doesn't and she is able to hold them up and and sort of stem stem the inevitable for another season but maybe this is the one I was gonna that that was a Fence City splinters kind of answer, Susie, which you don't usually give, but I know why you gave it. But it's going to be fascinating. And actually, we'll come back to this pod at the end of the season and we'll see how we did in terms of predictions.

No one wants to see anybody go out of the league because it's tough to get back up again. But we shall see. Right, before we get on to the international break and the Arnold Clark Cup, we need to touch on the draw for the Women's Champions League. We briefly mentioned it earlier. Chelsea have drawn holders Lyon, while Arsenal face Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.

If Chelsea were to progress, they would meet Barcelona or Roma in the semifinals. Arsenal could face Wolfsburg or PSG. Neither English team got that dream draw of Roma. Can you actually believe that Barcelona got the dream draw of Roma? You couldn't write it. How hopeful, though, are you that we will have some English representation in the semi-finals? Not very.

I mean, in a way, from a really selfish point of view given that i'm going to miss the second leg of the semifinals for my mother-in-law's 60th birthday don't be bitter you know if no english team makes the semifinals would i be devastated maybe not even as an arsenal fan no i think wow think... Wow. No, I lie. No, but it's just the toughest draws they could possibly be, basically. Arsenal, I mean, you look at the runner fixtures around that first Bayern game is absolutely horrific. I think it's two of their title rivals

around that Bayern second leg. They've got Bayern on the 29th of March at home, then City at home on the 2nd of April. And then after the international break, they come straight back and they've got Man United away. I mean, that is incredibly difficult. The first leg comes just before they've got to play Tottenham as well. So it's a big, big ask.

And yeah, Chelsea against Lyon obviously finishing second in the group behind Arsenal Arsenal delivering that 5-1 defeat away was huge but it's uh it's a different Lyon side they've got a lot of the players that were missing coming back from injury and Chelsea have not necessarily been playing their best football I just I yeah I fear for them both it's gonna be interesting Anne-Marie isn't it because what does success actually look like for Chelsea this year because in some ways losing to Lyon shouldn't be an embarrassment but also not making it past the quarterfinals feels like it would be they've got to get past the quarterfinals they've got to be. They've got to get past the quarterfinals. They've got to win it.

That's all that Chelsea are going to be focusing on. They want to lift that trophy. And, you know, Susie mentioned there about in Chelsea, in terms of how they've been playing over the last few weeks, they are conceding goals. You know, the last four matches or so they've been conceding, apart from that rout against West Ham. They are letting in goals.

And I think that's going to be a big concern for Emma Hayes going into the UEFA Women's Champions League. So nothing will be anything for them unless they get to the final. I think they can take some hope from the fact that, you know, Arsenal did beat Lyon, but Susie made that fantastic point that Lyon's got players coming back. They are the holders. That gives them that extra fire, the passion, the desire, the commitment to be the defending champions already. Do you know what? When that draw came out, I just lifted my eyes up to the sky.

I went, no, I couldn't believe it for both the English sides. I thought the football gods were not looking unfavourably on us for English football. I could not believe that Barcelona have ended up with Roma. No disrespect to Roma, but we wanted you to play against one of our English sides and we haven't got it. So, you know, the players, either for Arsenal or Chelsea, they're going to relish this regardless because it's the Champions League. But for us supporters, it's going to be, you know,

hiding behind the cushions moment, I think. Can I just say, having mentioned my defeatist attitude as an Arsenal team that are dithering and really weak at the back and they can't finish a sentence, let alone score a goal. My hopes were fairly low anyway. Barca, jammy. Roma will relish that. They're playing at Olimpico. That'll be great. First time they played there. That'll be a really great moment. Another one for the Women's Champions League history books looking forward to that do you know I was we talk about this we've got quite a few Chelsea fans in the office at versus one of them Iowa who's been on this pod and I think you know I agree with Anne-Marie they've got to get past quarterfinal stage I'm gonna say that

they're I think they're gonna am I gonna say it You're all looking at me. I think they can win it. I do. I think they can. And I think a big part of that is that Emma Hayes wants it so bad. Like she wants it so badly. And so does the rest of that team. And, you know, there's been rumours of Peniela Harder and Magdalena Eriksen potentially leaving at the end of the season. Their contracts are running out.

We've got players in that squad potentially coming towards the end of the season, their contracts are running out. We've got players in that squad potentially coming towards the end of their playing career. It's like, is this the last moment before the band disbands? Is this like our Busted and McFlurr before it comes McBusted? Like, is this the moment that we've been waiting for in Chelsea? So I really wouldn't write them off like, yeah, of course they've got Leon, but they'll put out a dogged performance. I really wouldn't write them off like yeah of course they've got Leon but they'll put out a dogged performance

I really do believe that and that pains me to say as an Arsenal fan giving Chelsea that much praise but I think they're going to go for it Yeah that's going to be really interesting you're right Emma Hayes desperately desperately wants it and who needs to see another McBusted

not me so England head off to the international break looking to defend their Arnold Clark Cup crown. Games against Belgium, Italy and South Korea coming up. Susie, what's Serena Wiegmann going to be looking for over this fixtures? It feels like a very different Arnold Clark Cup to the one last year. Yeah mean it's not the level of team of you know germany and spain and i can't remember the third team they played last year but it's not the same um canada there we go canada bev priestman's canada you know italy belgium and south korea do not offer that same level of test. But they're three decent teams, and it's a real opportunity for her to get a look, I hope,

at some of the players that don't necessarily feature as often as they might. I was really excited to see Man Utd's Everton-loaned goalkeeper, Emory Ramsey, be called up to the senior side for the first time. I don't think she's going to see any football, but it's really good to see a player who has been playing her socks off, been one of the best goalkeepers in the league this season, kind of be rewarded and brought into that environment at a time when the sort of who is number two behind Mary Earps I think is really up for grabs at the moment.

So that's quite exciting. You know, there's a real opportunity to see players like Maya Letissier in the side for the first time. It's great that Jordan Nobbs has got a late call up and is back in the side and, you know, after scoring the incredible hat-trick. I just hope we see some of the sort of more fringe players in this tournament.

I'd like to see Lauren James. I'd like to see Ebony Salmon I'd like to see Laura Coombs you know I'd like to see some of those players get their chance yeah I think this might be a tournament to see like real like youth development not just in England like yeah I think Lauren James will absolutely sure ball out like this will be her opportunity like she's fully fit for the first time in kind of two seasons or so and I think that we'll see her just drop an absolute madness um but in terms of like Italy they've got their there's teenage midfielder Emma Severini Belgium have got uh Hannah Erlings Italy I always pronounce her name wrong she's not that young

anymore but i remember her during the 2019 women's world cup when she was like 21 at the time manuela rigliano so i think we not just have an opportunity to see kind of youth players put on a showcase for england um and demonstrate like the future of football in that respect but we see it from other players as well in other nations and we've also we've also got the likes like Susie said we've got Jordan Nobbs and so players who perhaps haven't been given a chance in a national team shirt for a while and it'll be great to see Jisoo Young back on English soil I'm really looking forward to seeing her play and just kind of being the incredible representative that she is for Korean and Asian women's football and so I'm quite excited about

seeing those younger players and also the return of some of the players who we love in the women's game. Yeah I think the difference between this Arnold Clark Cup and last Arnold Clark Cup is Serena Vigman was six months into her tenure last time around and was still like trying to find her starting 11 and work that out and now she knows who the starters are she knows who she played at the Europe Rose she knows exactly you know everyone who was in that squad in the summer she knows whether they are in or out of her team probably to a large extent as long as they're fit and playing well for the World Cup so it's about the players that are going to fit into the places that have been left by the departing Jill Scotts and Ellen White or you know the Beth Mead injury whether she is going to be able to get back or not who

are the contenders to fill that spot so I think you as a manager are probably starting to look at the fringe rather than the than the core that you know now a year and a half into the job compared to being you know six months in with a major tournament sort of straight ahead. So what does that mean then for Beth England? Does that mean then that that's, because that was the one for me, I thought, because she's been doing so well at Spurs. And the reason, one of the reasons, I'm speculating, of course, because I don't actually know this officially,

she moved on because obviously she wanted more game time, yes. And to get, you know, feature back more in the England team. So what does that mean, Susie, for her? If we're thinking now that Serena Wigman's pretty much got an idea of what her team is going to look like for the World Cup, is it over now for Beth England? Has she still got a chance? Oh, no, I don't think it's over.

Serena said it herself. Like she said, you know, because obviously Jordan Nobbs wasn't in, Lucy Saniforth wasn't in, in the original squad. You know, she said, oh, it because obviously Jordan Nobbs wasn't in, Lucy Sandeforth wasn't in the original squad. You know, she said, oh, it's great they've made these moves. It's a little bit early for us to be able to say that they, you know, have played enough football for us to be able to say that they're worthy of a call up almost. I think we'll see them in April. I think we'll see them in that April camp. I mean, you know, she knows who Beth England is.

She knows that she can play. I think she's waiting to watch what they do at club level. I mean, for me, Beth has played her way into the squad for me. And I thought that would happen. I've been banging the drum for her to join a team like Spurs for a while because she is such a confidence player, needs game time, needs minutes, and will score. And she's doing that now.

And you can just see it. You can see when she's got the ball of her feet that she genuinely, she believes she's going to do something special with it. Whereas I think there were times where she was playing, coming off the bench or stepping in Chelsea, having not played much, where she did not look confident. And I think that's the real shift in her and I you know I don't think it's over I think we'll see I think we'll see her in the

April camp for sure as long as you know nothing too drastic happens to her I think in a way it's quite good for someone like her to get a little break over uh this international period and do a little bit of work in a team that she's you know just arrived in and yeah kind of get a little bit more working on those connections at Spurs whilst this international break is going on and then hopefully hopefully getting in April. And if anything Serena Wiegmann has shown that her door is always open hasn't she and I think that's really important and she did allude actually when I spoke to her last week to the fact that this will be a kind of tinkering tournament in a way and looking at the more fringe players and you know calling

people like Laura Coombs into the England squad the last time she put an England shirt on was 2015 Phil Neville had called her up in 2020 she's going to hope to get some game time after a fantastic season for Manchester City. Moving on elsewhere and potentially quite important leading into the Women's World Cup as well. The She Believes Cup is taking place over in the States at the same time that the Arnold Clark Cup takes place here. And the Canadian women's national team have raised concerns about Canada soccer. Not for the first time, this is this is much bigger they sat out training on Saturday threatened to boycott the she believes cup all because of

financial mismanagement and continuing gender disparities between the men's and women's teams but Canada soccer warned of legal action so the players have had to return to training and they will actually play in the she believes cup this is what their captain christine sinclair said to be clear we're being forced back to work for the short time this isn't over we'll continue to fight for everything we deserve and we will win the she believes is actually being played in protest look there's been long-standing tension suzy hasn't there, between Canada soccer and the women's team? Yes, I'm absolutely disgusted by this whole situation, to be honest. I mean, the idea that they have no right to strike and they're being forced to play and threatened with legal action to force them back to the pitch and threaten with legal action to you know kind of claim damages off

them if they don't play is outrageous this is a olympic winning team right who have really done that against the odds they don't have a professional league although there is one being set up in the sort of near to mid future and have really overachieved for the support that has gone into the side have clearly asked for a little bit more from the table and have been like have been stamped on like brutally stamped on in um you know kind of like bucking the the trend internationally of investment and support at a time when women's football is growing exponentially and money is pouring in and there's real opportunity for it to to start making money as well as just being a loss loss making business and yeah i just you know the idea that the the one little bit of power

that that anyone has in any industry um the right to strike and withdraw your labour in protest at your conditions, your pay, whatever it may be, is being clamped down on legally. Just outrageous. I'm so angry for them. And I really, really hope that the other teams, obviously, particularly the US Women's National Team on home soil, really show them a bit of support in these games. And obviously, they play very closely together, a lot of the in these games and uh you know obviously they they play very closely together a lot of the players in the nwsl and really stand shoulder to shoulder with them i'm just i'm staggered that they're being forced to play these games in the way that they are and yeah just absolutely fuming for them and i think the whole of women's football should be up

in arms and really putting pressure on canada soccer to step up to the plate. For me, Canada soccer clearly needs a complete overhaul. They just don't get it. And a lot of heads need to roll within that organisation for me, for the way these players are being treated. Yeah, absolutely. Very well said, Susie. Amy, we've seen more and more players using their platforms to call for better conditions. And as as Susie said hopefully the US national team will do something around this tournament but sometimes it feels as if you know it's still an uphill battle and they're not actually getting very far yeah and you can understand why that might discourage some players some teams from not taking a stand mean, the fact that their human rights,

their basic work rights are being completely thrown out the window, like Susie said, is more than disrespectful. It's disgusting. The Canada Soccer Federation does need a serious overhaul. We saw before the men's World Cup,

the men protest in terms of pay in regards to the prize pot. So it's an organisation that is just poorly run just doesn't get it and from a women's football point of view this is really really sad uh this day and age to see the likes of Christine Sinclair you know holds the record for international goals in the men's and women's game having to come out and say I'm'm really sorry, but we can't do this because we cannot afford the risk. Like it blows my mind. I think what's also really important to highlight is that this isn't just a

pay equity question. I think a lot of people look at situations like this and they think, well, if they're talking about money, they don't bring in the same amount of money. They don't create the same revenue. I mean, we can have like a basic economics class in terms of like speculate to accumulate but we'll let those individuals sort that out for themselves i think you know they not only cut camp days they cut total camps they had to reduce the number of staff and players attending those camps which drastically affects the development of that squad they've seen youth team activities and provision cut even further and they were already fairly limited it seems that they just don't have any concept of what the future of Canadian football ought to be or look like like

this Susie said that this is an Olympic winning squad. They have so much potential and they have done incredibly well with what limitations they have or within the limitations that they have or they've been placed. If they were properly supported and invested in and the infrastructure was there and the individuals are there to kind of support and guide, this team, let's call them what they are, they could potentially be World Cup contenders. It blows my mind. I think I'm fairly confident, especially in the US Women's National Team, that they will, well, Alex Morgan has already come out and backed the Canadian women's soccer team.

They have her full support. I think we will see that team rally around their Northern American compatriots. I think we will. I think we will see that team rally around their northern American compatriots I think we will I think we'll see more be said next week and I think we have a responsibility like we're doing now to talk about these issues so this isn't just a Canadian soccer problem this is a global issue that needs to be spoken about as much as possible they have our full support I just really hope that it gets resolved and that federation gets a complete overhaul. Yeah, it's absolutely needed and vital

leading into the Women's World Cup. And I'm sure it's not the last time that we'll talk about it, unfortunately. Right. Happy Valentine's Day, everyone. I'm off to make some pancakes. Lovely to chat. We'll be back at the start of March

after the international break in the FA Cup fifth round. The Guardian Women's Football Weekly is produced by Lucy Oliver and Jesse Parker-Humphrey's. Music composition was by Laura Iredale. Our executive producer is Sal Ahmet. This is The Guardian. profession is risk-free. Without insurance, your assets are at risk from major financial losses,

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