The Guardian's Women's Football Weekly - Will the WSL title race go down to the final day? – Women’s Football Weekly

Episode Date: March 26, 2024

Faye Carruthers is joined by Suzanne Wrack, Sophie Downey, and Marva Kreel to discuss all the weekend’s WSL action

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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. Women's Football Weekend didn't disappoint with showpiece events around the UK. Manchester is blue with City beating United at the Etihad, but Chelsea stayed top on goal difference after a win over West Ham. Arsenal's week went from bad to worse with another delay,

this time after their boss was stuck in traffic, but they kept in arm's reach of the top two with a win over Aston Villa their third goal though needed some comedic music behind it as controversial refereeing decisions marred some of the weekend's action we'll discuss all that look at the latest in the championship in the National League 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,

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What a panel we have today, starting with the award-winning Susie Rack. Let's not do that every week. I would love to do that every week. For anybody who hasn't seen All Over Socials, Susie won the Women's Sport Journalist Award at the SJA's, which is the Sports Journalist Awards last night, the prestigious awards in our industry and a well-deserved gold for Susie. Congratulations. We were still having a good old chinwag and drink in the early hours, Susie, weren't we? So slightly later recording today. Yeah, just a bit. Be prepared for a slow start to the podcast this morning.

I know I'm trying to channel all of my energy from four hours sleep. Not quite sure I'm fully making it. Marva, it's been a while. How are you doing? I'm well, thanks. I know it's been a long time, it feels like. But yeah, maybe feeling a bit more fresh than you two today. Yes, you are lifting us today, as is producer Sophie, who's still one of our guests, we are delighted to say, and is back on the pod after a few weeks of writing behind the scenes. How are you doing, Soph? I am very good. I've had two days at home, which I've never had in like the last four weeks or something. So I'm very excited. Oh brilliant lovely I'd quite like that a couple of days time when the

international break is over and I might get my life back would be really lovely. Let's get started shall we after weeks of build-up the Barclays WSL's Women's Football Weekend kicked off in style 40,000 packing into the Etihad Stadium to watch the latest edition of the Manchester Derby a fixture that's continued to grow in prestige and drama over the seasons. The stakes were high when these two met in the league back in November, and you'll recall the pictures of Chloe Kelly celebrating wildly in front of the Manchester United fans at Old Trafford as City earned a comfortable victory. Revenge was on the cards, but ultimately not possible. It seems as if little has altered in the trajectory of these two sides since then.

Gareth Taylor's team once again beating their noisy neighbours. It finished Manchester City 3, Manchester United 1. It was all thanks to a first-half brace from Jess Park, who was brilliant and record-breaking strike as well, from Bunny Shaw. Susie, that was Manchester City's 11th successive win in the league, which is quite incredible. One that sent them temporarily top of the table. Gareth Taylor remaining convinced that the title race is going to go down to the final day. What did you make of their performance? Does it make them favourites? Technically, yes.

If you look at the run of games that Chelsea have got versus City, the number of competitions Chelsea are in, everything points towards Chelsea having a slip up somewhere and City winning the league. But I would just never, ever, ever, ever bet against Chelsea in the final third of the season. I just think that's an insane thing to do they are so viciously efficient when they get to the business end of the season they've done it before they know how to do it so even though like you know your kind of head tells you that City have a real real shot here I still don't genuinely think they do because Chelsea just do not, do not take their foot off the gas in the final, in the final third of the season.

So, I mean, great performance and, you know, really solid victory against really a stagnating Man United side. But yeah, I'm not, I'm not quite sure that they are going to win the title just yet.

We know my predictions are terrible though. So, well, they are going to win the title just yet. We know my predictions are terrible though. Well, they are. And I'm glad that you mentioned that. I'm normally right on you on that one. And they are terrible. So Manchester City fans, do not worry. Jess Park, do not worry.

Standout performer, once again cementing her place at the heart of City's midfield. And of course, she is a lifelong City fan, so I was hoping that Susie's wrong. Put away two at the Etihad in front of the watching Serena Wiegmann. They were her first league goals for the club as well, which is brilliant. And Marva, I tell you what, she's been so crucial for them since the new year.

What have you made of her development since her time at Everton? Yeah, so good. I mean, she was very, very good at Everton, which is why I was so upset when she left. And you can see what's happened to our team since she's left. But what's really impressed me is just her development and her maturity now and the other things she's adding to her game. The fact that she's able to muscle Zelim off the ball for that third goal, maybe that says more about Zelim than it does about Park. But I think that just shows,

you know, maybe the kind of questions around her was, can she play that sort of centre midfield role? Can she, you know, she is obviously quite small. So can she bring that physicality

to her game? Which I think she showed there. But I think she also just showed real maturity in her decision making. Like so clinical. Obviously, like an incredible finish for that first goal.

Second goal, big, big questions about the defence. I don't know how she was able to just wander into that box without Blundell realising. But even so, you've got to take your chances and she did. And then for me, I think the most impressive thing was that third goal and how she set it up for Bunny Shaw to just immediately get the ball and just completely know where her players are. But I do also think that says a lot about Sifty and almost polar opposites to Man United in that way, where I think every time City get the ball, they know what they want to do and you can see that. When Hemp has the ball,

she always has an overlap. When Park has the ball, she always has an overlap. There's always Bunny Shaw running in behind, whereas United, when they have the ball, it has an overlap there's always bunny shaw running in behind whereas united when they have the ball it's kind of just like individuals playing whereas i think this system has really allowed parts of flourish and somebody else that's flourished is bunny shaw you mentioned her there 17th goal of the season that one was it was early in the second half a strike that actually made her city's all-time leading goal scorer. 68 goals in 82 appearances is some return. Sophie, you described her as unparalleled in your match report. Is she the best goal scorer in the league, in your opinion?

Absolutely. I think she was really unlucky last year, wasn't she, when she was going for the Golden Boot race, the top goal scorer race in the WSL, because she was just pipped by Rachel Daly, who was having a ridiculous season herself, and somehow everything that she touched was turning to gold. But she's completely in a league of her own this year, I think, Bunny Shaw. She's added so much to her game as well in the last two seasons with City.

The way that she comes to link the play, she's not just someone who just sits up front and waits for the ball to come to her. She's involved all over the pitch, and she drops deep when she comes to link the play. She's not just someone who just sits up front and waits for the ball to come to her. She's involved all over the pitch and she drops deep when she has to. She links the play, she becomes a provider for the other goal scorers and other attackers in that team as well. And then when she does get on the ball and she has a finish like she has. And I mean, she just drove through the Manchester United defence there like they weren't even there on Saturday. They were trying to trip her up and everything. And she was like, no, I'm still going.

I'm going through and nothing's going to stop me. She was determined to break that record on the Etihad stage. And she's absolutely phenomenal numbers once again. And she will only continue. You know, it's scary that she's got so many years ahead of her as well. Yeah, it is really scary. She's some talent, isn't she? Let's discuss Manchester United though, Marva. Fifth in the table, nine points off Arsenal in third, 15 points off the top two. Just how serious is to be challenging for the title this season.

I think we all kind of saw the dip coming, but I don't think any of us predicted the dip to be this big. I think they finished on about 56 points last season and they're on like 28 and not many games left. That's such a huge drop off. And of course they lost two big players, but it's getting to this point of the season now where when the drop-off is that big you can't just blame it on those two players anymore you know if the problems with just Russo and Bacce which I know contributed a lot to their goals but at this point in the season you can't really just be using those two as an excuse anymore and it's like what I said before it just seemed like they didn't really have any real patterns of play. They do for about 10 minutes or maybe 20 minutes in this case where they press quite well. And then it all just kind of stops.

And you just think, well, if you can do that well for 20 minutes, but you know you can't do that for the rest of the game, then you have to have a backup plan of what's coming next. Or you have to know, you know, maybe for you do that right at the beginning of the second half and you make some changes. Like you have to play to that if you know that, you do that right at the beginning of the second half and you make some changes. Like you have to play to that if you know that you can't continue that for the rest of the game. And I feel like Jaycee's a kind of perfect example of all this sort of mismatched talent.

She's so, I thought she was actually really good at large spells of the game, but she gets the ball and does some incredible stuff, obviously has got incredible footwork, and then doesn't know what to do with it. and while if someone doesn't have that like cutting edge just yet you need to help her and you need to have a structure around her that allows her to flourish in that way at least have someone you know maybe it's mallard in the box that you know that okay your instructions are once you do all your trickery and everything that you're good at

your direct instructions are to cross it into the box or to do this and I don't think she has that structure around her and it's just all kind of looking quite mismatched and I do feel for United fans because even just quite obvious things like you know lads playing in centre mid which they haven't had and that that midfield hasn't really worked for a while and yeah just a lot of kind of glaringly obvious problems that just don't seem to be fixed yet and I don't think that can all be blamed on just Russo and Barchet not being there anymore. Yeah also can't be blamed on VAR necessarily but refereeing errors were a theme of the weekend weren't we we're going to see that throughout the episode. But starting in Manchester on

Saturday, controversy reigning over Parkes opener. Replay showed that Bunny Shaw had clearly strayed offside in the build-up. It was a goal that brought to a halt United's good start, which is why manager Mark Skinner then called for VAR after the game. This is what he had to say. In a derby, it swings the whole game. Is he right, Susie? Is it the reason for his team's defeats or is that too simplistic I mean it's a really great excuse for him isn't it like let's be real I mean I think Marva put it brilliantly a moment ago we've seen this happen with United all too often that they have a really really bright strong spell press really well and then

sort of fade away and and that's the pattern that happened in this game I mean yes you know it's not ideal when you get a a decision um that is impactful particularly around the first goal and could it have changed things maybe like but yeah I think you know the fact that City got three, United scored one. I mean, that says it all really, doesn't it? Like, you know, we saw how brilliant City were once they sort of built into the game and sort of just waited out that Manchester United spell. So, yeah, I mean, it's a good excuse. But, you know, I think it's a little bit of deflection for some of the

bigger issues that they've got going on there but yeah not great to see decisions like that really not across the weekend it's a problem. Yeah it wasn't the first one it continued unfortunately and down in East London where it was Chelsea's turn to play catch up it finished West Ham nil, Chelsea two. The win was bookended by goals for Emma Hayes' side. It was a result that kind of took them back to the, kind of, it did kind of took them back to the table. It did take them back to the table. Top on goal difference, in fact.

Rhian Skinner was left fuming, though, at the performance of the officials. West Ham denied an equaliser when Hanaka Hayashi's effort was wrongly ruled out for offside. This is what she had to say. It's not good enough. The bottom line is, if that's how I operated in my job, I wouldn't be in it. People will say it's because we lost 2-0. It's because it's a frequent occurrence. It's near enough every week. Apologies after the game don't change the outcome. A lot of people talk about VAR and things like that. If this is where we are and that's the argument, we need to start going down in order to get results right. That's what we need to start doing. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Ultimately, the referees still aren't professional in this game. So they're not actually

in a situation where they're solely focusing on these matches. I think that's got to change. The game has still got so much growing up to do. What do you make of her comments there, Sophie? I will first say that I'm really pleased that she was really kind of honest in that interview. You know, you have so many interviews where managers don't really say what they think and she will probably get punished for that.

I guess there will be a fine coming. That's generally the case, isn't it, when you criticise the referees. But I think she's got a real point you know she brought up the three games this season where there have been goals that have stood against them and then she just gets an apology after the game and as she says there it doesn't matter apologies don't change outcomes do they you can say sorry all you like and you can really mean it but it doesn't mean the points go back on the board or you know West Ham are sitting 11th in the table at the moment they they don't climb up the table because of an apology um I think I mean we'll go on to it but I think um they had their

chances so it probably didn't necessarily change the entire outcome of the game but when you look at West Ham's first half and how much energy and effort they put into and how much they got their game plan right against a really strong Chelsea team. And I think Rhian Skinner was just really hurt by the fact that they weren't rewarded for that in that first half. It doesn't mean the outcome changes necessarily in the game, but you've got to be getting those decisions right. And I do agree with her about VAR. You know, VAR brings its own problems. I do think we're a bit away from that in terms of especially the investment. And we need to get referees full time.

They're professional, but they're not full time. And they need to be given all of the resources that they can. And I'll say it again and again, to be able to do their job to the best of their ability. And at the moment, when they're not full-time referees they can't they just can't do that because they're doing other things during the week or whatever so um I think she has a real good point there yeah I mean even the ones that are full-time are which is about 50% of WSL referees so we're not talking about lines people here at all you know although they sort of jump between the roles a little bit is that yeah 50 are full-time professionals but they

are like that is they're not they're not like on a full-time contract is that they've been found enough bits of work to make up enough to have them working solely on refereeing so it's it's not even as simple as you know they're on one contract that season through they're on a few different bits that that piece together the equivalent of a full-time salary for what they do, which is, it's not really good enough. And they sort of need the professional standards of refereeing to be raised alongside the demands where we're expecting of players in the game, which is getting, you know, significantly more investment than refereeing is, which is a real shame.

But there's a lot of really good work being done refereeing-wise. I went up to the PGA MOL last camp and was really impressed with the stuff that's being done, but decisions, as I was watching this game, decisions were really, really poor. I mean, that really impacted that game. I mean, we said that the decisions in the Man United game,

you know, probably didn't swing things too significantly. But here I think they potentially did. You know, this was really critical moments of the game. And, you know, it was two bad offside calls. And West Ham were playing really, really well. And I just think that it's a problem. Ironic, though, that it's West Ham that playing really really well and I just think that it's a problem ironic though that it's West Ham that are speaking out and then adding in the call for VAR when they're the ones

who don't play in their main stadium which would help the argument for having VAR because they're you know they have the capacity to do it the big stadiums but not the small ones and they're one of the the only teams not to play at their main stadium at all. Yeah, it's difficult, isn't it? There's kind of stages that need to happen, like has happened in the men's game in terms of goal line technology perhaps coming in first. And then if you can get the offside technology in there, you wouldn't necessarily need the full VAR set up

in terms of so many people at Stockley Park etc etc but it's really difficult and I know the hard work that's going on behind the scenes at PGMOL and and the work that Bibi Steinhaus-Webb is doing who's head of head of officials in the women's game but unfortunately if you don't give people full pay and time and effort, I think it's something that Newco in particular have to really focus on when they take over. I think it has to be a priority. Talking about the rest of the game, Marva, West Ham did have the best of the first half. Obviously, they conceded early, but they were wasteful in front of goal as well. Vivian Assay missing a hat-tricker chances.

Kirstie Smith turning a shot wide from an unmarked position and Rico Wecky, who was brilliant, hit the crossbar as well, which was probably, you know, adding to Rhian Skinner's frustrations, really. Yeah, I mean, it was a kind of crazy first half in that it could have been sort of 4-2 to West Ham by halftime. And as early as the Chelsea goal was, West Ham could have scored even before that in the first 20 seconds it was a really

impressive performance from them and it just kind of seemed like they just ran out of energy and ran out of legs by the second half which is understandable

but I think Sae and Uweki particularly have been really really strong for them all season especially when they've struggled at the back

particularly at the back particularly at the beginning of the season and to have that type of talent and technical ability that can then just go off and get you some goals is so so important obviously yesterday they weren't too not even yesterday Sunday obviously Sunday they weren't too clinical but um I think it's a good sign of progress they have made throughout the season it was looking really worrying for them for a bit whereas I do think they'll be okay and not only just be okay but I think they're actually building something that they can build off on even more they've got quite a good spine now I think and yeah some really

exciting talent as well. Sophie that was Chelsea's sixth game in March. Just as a bit of a comparison, West Ham have played three, obviously Chelsea in Champions League action, but they looked really tired, didn't they? And it wasn't their best performance, but as Susie said earlier on when we were talking about Manchester City, it's kind of what Chelsea do best at this time of year, isn't it? This is the time that they thrive, as Susie kind of said earlier. Yes, they're playing a lot, a lot of football.

And I think that's what makes people maybe stand up and think Manchester City have the easier running. But actually, I think Chelsea really love this time of year. Yes, they look tired at times. Yes, they're playing every three or four days, but they are in a momentum flow

and they keep getting results. And the more that they win, the more that confidence builds into the next game. So you're less tired in three days' time after you've just won. So it's what they do. I think they also have the squad to be able to bring in fresh legs. I think that's what turned it in that second half. You know, bringing on Cat Macario and Mera Ramirez in that second half, that was just like Macario and Mira Ramirez in that second half that was just like the last thing West Ham wanted to see when they were tied because they're two

world-class quality players who can come on and change games and bring fresh energy and both of them have haven't played that much football in recent weeks so they are coming back fresh from injury which is good for them and it gives Chelsea different options to play with and we know that Emma Hayes is a bit of a chameleon when it comes to her tactics she can change things up very very quickly and you saw that in the last few games so she's got options and I just wouldn't bet against them at this time of year in anything personally. Yeah Agibiv Jones said it as well um afterwards um that you know it wasn't their best performance that we weren't up to scratch today we weren't up to standard but we have games every three days so we're happy with it and we got the job done we're champions

of england we want to be in all four competitions it creates opportunities for us to get fresh legs off the bench i think that like sums it up? Like they're just brutally efficient at this point and they know what they've got to do to get it done. And I thought it was like a really mature performance from her who's, you know, dipping in and out of the team and grabbing those opportunities when she gets them because of all these games. And like a really, really good interview with her post-match

where she sort of, you know, kind of basically told it how it was really, really accurately. Ultimately, you don't remember the performances. Do you remember the results at the end of the day? And it actually doesn't matter how they get it over the line. If they're scrappy in a few games, who cares? If they're winning trophies, that's what matters. Yes, we'll see come the end of the season.

There was another hiccup for Arsenal, though. They've not had the greatest of preparations the last two weeks for their matches, have they? This time, caught in traffic on the way to Birmingham, delaying the evening kick-off by 45 minutes. To be fair to them, although Sockgate was obviously amusing at times, but probably stressful for them, I'm not sure that they can actually be blamed for the unpredictability of the M1. But it was another disruption for them that they had to deal with, which have been frustrating but they handled things a lot better than they did last week against Chelsea overcoming a slow start to eventually win 3-1 it was a result that put them eight points clear of fourth place to Liverpool so much needed breathing space

in the race for Champions League qualification so Aston won, Arsenal 3 was the final result and academy product Ebony Salmon delighted the home fans when she opened the scoring but goals from Victoria Palova, Lotta Vuben Moy and Stina Black-Stenius managed to turn the game around for Jonas Eidevall's side. At the first half kind of seemed like the same old problem actually for them. They've struggled really with low defensive blocks all season and the hosts were happy to absorb that pressure, picking their moment to attack. The second half though, Sophie, was a bit of a different story with Arsenal dominating. What kind of changed for them after half-time? I think they were able to solve problems a lot better in this game and they were facing a Villa side who were set up really compact.

They were in a 5-3-2 formation, making it really, really hard for Arsenal to get through. And they were just waiting for that moment to pick Arsenal off in that first half. And Arsenal were just not intense enough. I think they gave themselves a big talking to at the break and they shifted a few things around. They became so much more intense in the press so they were really pressuring the Villa back line whenever they had the ball which wasn't happening in the first half and it created turnovers and possession and mistakes from from that defensive area and then they were also trying to pull the Villas midfield around a bit

because I think it was too static in the first half and they were just allowed to stay in that in that solid line whereas actually in the second half they started attacking from different focal points which meant the Villa got a bit more confused a bit more frayed in their structure so I think yeah I think they there was a few tactical things that they solved I think it was actually really interesting because it was kind of the first time really I've seen that Arsenal fixed that kind of problem, there was a Leicester game early in the season, but it wasn't quite the same playing against a low block team. Leicester weren't low block that day, but they have failed to problem solve in games recently against those kind of sides who want to just sit low and defend. So it was

quite, I think, maybe a turning point for them in terms of finding those solutions to those problems and finding that intensity that they needed to find the goal. And you felt in the second half it could have been, you know, six goals. But for Anneliette in goal and the woodwork a couple of times, it could have been a much heavier scoreline. So, yeah, they found the solutions this time. Yeah, it was another disappointing result for Carla Ward, wasn't it? Still aiming for a top six finish, Susie. Her side's been decimated by illness and injury

in recent weeks. She actually said pre-match. She only had 12 players in training. I mean, that's just so difficult to prepare for a game. We've had this email from Luke. He said, Is it time for Aston Villa to part ways with Carla Ward

and start fresh next season with a brand new coach? He brings up losing several high-profile players and a lack of game plays. But what do you think, Susie? I mean, I wouldn't write Carla Ward off. Whether she wants to stay at Aston Villa or not is another thing. Like, who knows?

But, you know, I think she's an extremely talented manager and I think a lot of clubs will notice that she's, you know, not necessarily having the best time of it at Aston Villa at the moment, just, you know, in terms of results and personnel around her and things like that, in terms of like, yeah, holding on to their players and stuff, whether they can keep some of the big players that they signed last summer happy when they're, you know, kind of down in the middle of the table to the bottom half of the big players that they signed last summer happy when they when they you know kind

of down in the middle of the table to the bottom half of the table is a big big question so I don't think you should ever write a manager off in this league after a season um I mean obviously there's exceptions to the rule but I think that we're getting a little bit too short-termism you know all of these teams are relatively new to high-level professional football. And that takes time. And you're not going to just break into the top three after one good season.

It's just not going to happen. And I think until we're a little bit more realistic about that and stick with managers through, you know, quite difficult dips in form while they're building and you can see some kind of, like, identity and projects there, through quite difficult dips in form while they're building, and you can see some kind of identity and projects there, then I wouldn't be getting rid of managers over blips. There's just so many examples of where that doesn't end well.

I would also just say I think she got her game plan spot on in that first half particularly. She knew exactly what Arsenal's weaknesses were this season. Aston Villa knew what their weaknesses were this season. They knew how they had to set up to play against them. The problem for Villa is that they didn't have options off the bench to change things when they needed to. And because their squad is so slim at the moment with the sale of Blinkiel de Brown to Manchester City in the window, plus the injuries to Staniforth and Lucy Parker. It just means the options are really low.

Like Jordan Nobbs was playing as a defensive midfielder. That's where they've got to with this because of those options. And the only striker she could bring on was Georgia Mullet. Yes, Alicia Lehman was on the bench, but Georgia Mullet is a young girl coming through the academy system and getting her first sprinklings of senior football. So it just means those options are low. So when you're trying to change things up and things start not going your way,

it just makes it a lot harder. But I do think that game plan in the first half was absolutely perfect. It's what they needed to do against Arsenal. The stats, though, are hilarious, right? Like, it's 66% possession to Arsenal and then 37 shots to one, 13 shots on targets to one, 11 corners to none and seven fouls to one.

Like it's really funny, you know, when you get the chart where all the bars are across, like in colour showing how much a team has dominated and there's basically no Aston Villa on there it's really good well not for Carla Ward it's not she's probably looking at that from a just amusing point of view yes from an Arsenal fan point of view I'm more thinking listen a couple of things to focus on we have to talk about Arsenal's last goal, don't we, Marva? It was a bit of a comedy of errors. Ended up with the ball in the back of the net. I'll give you a bit

of a picture of it if I can describe it properly. Stina Blackstenius played through. The assistant missed that she was offside. She broke into the box and as she cut inside to shoot, she then slipped. She fell on the ball, handling the ball in the process got back up to her feet then nutmegged three Aston Villa players to send the ball into the back of the net I mean I don't understand how the officials missed that Marva the mistakes happen but this was quite a big one yeah that is like unforgivable in that sense if If she's, I mean, an offside, you know, we see that all the time across every league in the world. But when someone falls on the ball,

I don't know how that cannot be a handball. It's like, it's more likely that it's a handball than not. So how you miss that, I don't know. But I do just love that if anyone was new to the WSL and wanted a five-second summary of what Stina Blakstenius' season has been like or what she's like as a player, I think just show those five seconds

because that perfectly encapsulates her as a player in terms of just running in behind, which is what she's great at, doesn't always get it right in terms of timing, then slips over, but then somehow not makes three players. I think it's just the perfect, perfect summary of her. I did just want to touch as well on that back line of Arsenal, because I think obviously, you know, Leo Ellison coming back in wasn't the

best game for her against Chelsea, but Fox, I think, has been so, so good since she's joined. And I was looking at that back four, and once that gets a bit more settled, especially with Moise had such a good season, that back four of Fox, Williamson, Wubbamoy and McCabe, that's such a ridiculous back four in terms of ball playing ability and attacking ability. Like you could move those four up into the midfield and that would be a great midfield. So to have that as your four starting defenders as well, it's just really, really impressive. And I think if that starts to, you know,

Leah coming back and she gets into it a little bit more and they settle down, I think that's a really, really dangerous back four and maybe starting to see some problems being solved. But I wouldn't go too far too quickly with Arsenal because we know what they can be like. Well, impressive back four, but just a really quick one for you, Susie.

And it's really difficult highlighting a player like this, but Ryan has sent us a message on social media saying, could it cost Jonas Eidevall in the long run if he keeps persisting with Manuela Zinsberger as his number one? I'm not saying she should be permanently dropped, but at least taken out of the firing line for a few games. I mean, obviously she wasn't tested this weekend,

but we know that she's not been at her best this season uh D'Angelo has proven she's more than capable and we also signed eight times Champions League winner Sarah Bouhadi in January and she's not had a look in yet yeah and she's on her way out um she put a sort of goodbye message on uh social media yesterday or day before I think you know Sarah Buhadi is uh you know was a great keeper but I think she's firmly at the end of her career and that was a like a little bit of a desperate signing when they were really struggling with D'Angelo away at the gold cup so you know I don't think she is you know definitely well she's definitely not the solution because she's not going to be there but um it's a hard one isn't it right like you want to show faith in your number one

and you withdraw a goalkeeper and the risk is is that you shatter their confidence right like that's the difficulty balancing two goalkeepers and rotating them in and out is it does it work sometimes yes sometimes no like we've seen the sort of to in and throwing on it on the Arsenal men's side as well like there's not a you know well there's a clearer number one there and the quality of the goalkeepers is much much higher but do Arsenal need a new goalkeeper a really really top world class one arguably yes should they be ditching Zinsberg before the end of the season I'm not totally convinced I'm not D'Angelo's good but I'm not sure she's the like long-term answer so then what are you thinking

it's a tough one it's a tough one because yeah goalkeepers thrive on on playing regularly as well and confidence and you you drop one so

close to the end of the season and you risk shattering any confidence that she does have it's not yeah not an easy question not an easy answer

no it's not but it's a great question Ryan thank you for that right that's it for part one in part two we'll round up the rest of the weekend's WSL results and we'll take a look at the latest FA Women's Football Weekly. Let's take you through the rest of the weekend's WSL results. Fans at King Power Stadium were treated to a five-goal thriller on Sunday afternoon. It finished Leicester City 2, Brighton 3,

with Brighton coming from behind to leapfrog Leicester in the table. It was a competitive but goalless first half, but the game burst into life in the second when Jutta Rantala scored her sixth goal of the season to give the Foxes the lead. Madison Haley equalised for the Seagulls in fortunate circumstances before Katie Robinson broke through to put them ahead. Lena Peterman then equalised for the hosts,

but Elizabeth Turland struck just a minute later to make sure Mikey Harris' team took home all three points. And Sophie Brighton have had a couple of heavy results recently, but they will have been buoyed by the way they fought back in this one. How important will this win be for them in the home run? Yeah, I think it's super important. And I think the positive from it is they look creative on Sunday, which I don't think they've looked particularly creative

in the last couple of games. So I think that will give them a lot of confidence going forward I think the fact that their scoring goals is big as well they really capitalized on Leicester's some like kind of creaky defense especially in transition Katie Robinson's goal and Turlin's goal were both scored on that kind of counter-attack and they just basically blitzed through the Leicester midfield and defence. And I think they will get the confidence from that. I'm still not sure what the entire plan is with Brighton, to be honest. Some people have said they've really improved. I haven't seen the stark improvements since the rest of the season.

The results are still a bit dodgy apart from this one. But they are pretty safe, aren't they? So I think it's about getting to the end of the season, working out a plan for a new coach coming in because Mikey Harris is interim. I don't think he will be made permanent or I'm pretty sure he won't be. So I think they will be looking for a long-term solution

in the summer and it's just about getting to that point with this squad right now. Yeah, back-to-back defeats now for Leicester as well under Jem Foster. They face a tough trip to Aston Villa ahead of their FA Cup semi-final as well. Should they be worried about their form in these last two games, Susie?

I mean, yes. They've got a really, really tough run. That's what I'm most worried about. Are they safe? Potentially. There's a 10-point gap between them and Bristol City at the bottom. But they've got a really, really, really difficult run.

I mean, obviously they've got Villa next, but then they've got Spurs, Arsenal, Man United before West Ham and Liverpool. They're really tricky games. They're not going to get many points from that, so they're going to have to really, really hope that the others around them don't do too well either. But you would hope that they've done enough

across the course of the season to have just about protected them against this tricky running. But yeah, I mean, it's a tough, tough way to lose. Yep, certainly is. Nobody lost over on Merseyside, though. Everton hosted Liverpool at Goodison Park and it finished Everton nil, Liverpool nil. It kind of promised a lot this game, didn't it? But just offered very little in terms of excitement, ultimately. Bit of a story of two halves.

Liverpool edging the first, Everton the better in the second. Marva, your side did create chances after the break. Competed hard, but kind of lacked that clinical edge again, which seems to be the story of your season, doesn't it? But the good news is you welcomed back Katrina Vea and Karen Holmgaard from long-term injury. But what did you make of the performance overall? Yeah, it wasn't a classic. Definitely wasn't a Manuside Derby classic. There was a point

where I just wanted to peer Montiel, not even because we particularly needed her, but I just wanted a bit of fight and aggression and just someone to cause some bit of push and shoving. Yeah, it wasn't the best, but I think for Everton's point of view, we needed to not lose that more than anything. So I think we did that, which is good. We've been a bit disappointing, particularly in the beginning of the season in terms of leaking goals. And I think in the last few games, we've seemed to have done a little bit better than that,

other than the villa game but even that i still don't think we were particularly that bad but like you said it's our clinical edge which has just been the problem all season you could probably clip up everything i've said on the pod for this whole season and just repeat it because it's literally the same all i would say is that this game we didn't particularly create that many chances and whereas other games we've like I've had my head in my hands like how have we not scored that whereas this game was more just a you know the closest we got was that Lucy Hope strike which is just a great strike but it wasn't one that you're like how did she not score that if it goes in you go oh my god how did she score that so I don't know

if that's an improvement I don't think that maybe is worse I don't know but that's an improvement. I don't think that maybe is worse. I don't know. But yeah, it was just a bit nothing in terms of the whole game. But I think we'll be the happier team with that. And I did quite like how Matt Beard seemed to have taken a leaf out of the Jurgen Klopp playbook, which is after a good and disappointing draw, he blamed it on the long grass,

which Jurgen Klopp has once blamed it on the wind so I think they're learning something there over on the other side of Merseyside but we'll take that. Yeah the game itself was a bit meh wasn't it but the comments this is exactly what he said Matt Beard because he was pretty frustrated wasn't he on the sideline they've been so good this season but this game was a little bit lacklustre. So this is what he said about the Goodison pitch. The pitch was dry. The grass was long.

It slowed a lot down. And then he said it didn't feel like a derby. What did you make of his comments, Sophie? Classic deflection, I think. I mean, has he seen Prenton Park and that pitch? I know they went to Goodison Park so you expect more of a guess I guess Premier League standard pitch but it's not kind of the excuse I didn't actually notice it being that slow to be honest um the game was really stopped to

start anyway there was a lot of like injury niggles and people going down all the time so it just had no rhythm to it I think the whole game um and I think Matt Beard he was just getting increasingly frustrated you could see him on the touchline. Every time there was a, he thought, was a foul, he'd turn around to the fourth visual and have a little word. And he was just like throwing his arms up in the air. And at one point he had a, he was about to shout and then he decided better of it. So he went to take a water out of the cooler just to calm himself down. I think, yeah, he was just frustrated by the fact that it was a real chance, I think, for Liverpool to open up a bit more of a gap over Manchester United and to make that fourth place their own and they didn't take it. And he would have felt that given on their seasons that they

should have beaten Everton. I will say though, I'm so happy, I'm so pleased for Everton at the moment because yes, it's not going all their way. But the way that they're competing every single game, I just think it's kudos to the way that the players are going about their football because it's been hard. They've had basically no players at some points in the season. You've got Aurora Ghali still playing it right back. She's not a right back. She's a midfielder.

So I think they have to be given credit for the amount of effort they do put into every game even if it's not coming off every time. With that as well I loved I love that we had Ben Hovendorp playing as that

Millie Bright centre forward at the end so she's played centre mid centre back and centre forward in like the last few games it's just like they can do what we have.

I did love the last five minutes where he just was like I think Everton were just like they were so structured all the way through the game the last five minutes where he just was like, I think Everton were just like, they were so structured all the way through the game. The last five minutes they were like, we're just going to go for this. And I was like, what are you doing? They said Van Haven up front,

all of the structure just disappeared before your eyes. And Liverpool just were able to burst through them for the first time in the game. So yeah, it was quite funny. Brilliant. I tell you what though, Matt Beard shouldn't be too disappointed because that result actually saw them

leap above Manchester United into fourth. But as you say, they'd quite like to cement that fourth spot, I would expect. Final game to talk through in the WSL. Finished Bristol City nil. Tottenham Hotspur won a narrow victory for Spurs.

Bethany England, though, has been really hampered by injury, had to undergo hip surgery at the start of the campaign, which saw her miss a large part of this season, was on the score sheet after just two minutes. And there was understandable delight for that, Susie. First league goal of the season, a cool finish off a trademark team move. And actually, the 70th WSL goal for the Tottenham captain making her only the second player to have reached that tally behind Vivian Miedema.

I mean she's had such an impact on the league and on this Tottenham side despite this season barely playing. Yeah like it's been a it's been a tough season for her and I imagine tough to watch from the bench when Spurs have struggled a little bit here and there. And arguably, when she's come on, she's not looked her best. But great to see her come on. Great to see her start, get a goal, and be the game changer again. Because I think that was what was missing from her. That said, I've been really impressed with Spurs this season.

And they should have got more from this game. They should have put it to bed very, very early on for me. But yeah, I mean, they won't be sad about three points, will they? They're doing really well. Yeah, they are doing really well. But things look a little bit bleak for Bristol City. Six points adrift at the bottom of the table now, Marva. Lauren Smith once again praising her side's resilience,

but she said she was gutted they conceded so early. But I'll tell you the biggest problem for them. There's a bit of a lack of creativity, it feels, from a team who've actually, in this game, only produced one shot on target, which is just not good enough, really. No, but you can kind of see what they're trying to do. And they have sort of managed to pull it off in the few times they have in the sense of, you know, they are a very low block team. Then they kind of counter with very direct football, which is enjoyable to watch, you know, when they do pull it off and they're kind of working with what they have. I don't think they really have that talent to be able to, you know, play possession football, especially against the sides that we have in the WSL. So you can see the thinking behind it of let's be a bit pragmatic with it. But I think when you're playing like that, then you do need that clinical edge. And

it's a risky game because especially if you concede early like that, and then you're forced to push up and try something else. And when you're not used to that, this game could have been about 4-0 by the end of it. But I have been impressed with Bristol and how they have managed to sort of stick to that game plan and sometimes pull it off. And I think, you know, we've seen before, you know, teams who have been promoted

get absolutely battered constantly and they're not a team that have done that. But like you said, it's just the other end of the pitch that's cost them really. Yeah, certainly has. Right. the Barclays Women's Championship OMG this league every single week entering its final furlong continued to throw up the drama again on Sunday here's what happened Sunderland continued their superb form staying. They held off successive Durham comebacks to win 5-3 in an absolutely thrilling derby.

Crystal Palace kept pace with a comfortable win over Watford in front of a record crowd at Selhurst Park, while Birmingham capped off a strong week with a 2-0 victory over Lewis to move into third place. Not such good news for Charlton though. They dropped down after conceding two late goals against Remy Allen's London City Lionesses, while Southampton also

slipped up with defeat to Blackburn. Sheffield United, meanwhile, cruised past Reading, leaving the Royals firmly in the fight for survival along with Lewis and Watford. It's just the gift that keeps on giving this league, Sophie, isn't it? It is. I was actually rather disappointed that there was only one real upset this week

because every weekend you're expecting all of the results to go a little bit crazy. But it's going to be an exciting final four games, I think, of the season. I think that's what's left. So four or three cup finals left for each team. Everything to play for. There's something like six points separating the top five or something so it's that is absolutely tight as anything um anything can happen in these last few games i think we'll see lots of changes in those last three games as well because nothing is ever predictable and it will go down to the final game of the season oh i love it i love it well i don't love it that much going down to the final game of the season it gives me palpitations as a Luton Town fan.

Actually, and that's where we're going to next, Kenilworth Road. Because Hashtag United lifted the first piece of silverware of the FA Women's National League season, beating Newcastle United 2-1 in the League Cup at the mighty Kenilworth Road. And Hashtag United have a bit of a unique story, Susie, don't they? And they were definitely the underdogs going into Sunday's final. How big a victory was this for them? Oh, huge. I mean, yeah, really, like, relatively new team.

You know, it's only a few years old that Hashtag United formed a women's team and invested, like, fairly well, but nothing in comparison to the investment that is happening at Newcastle at the moment, which, you know, I have my own opinions on. But, you know, they've got full-time players really pushing for you know rapid rise up the leagues via promotion so yeah really like exciting for for the neutral to see the journey not go completely smooth sailing I think as well you know like it takes time to establish a team that can that can challenge and compete in in multiple competitions and um you know yes you can go professional but that doesn't necessarily

make a team in and of itself um there's going to be slip-ups along the way and yeah I think it's good for the game that it was hashtag united getting the win and probably actually good for Newcastle in the long run to have you know they've had it pretty smooth sailing so far but you know a little blip on the road will will help make them stronger too. Yeah you've part answered Nag's question actually there Susie. Sophie to follow up on it they want to know how important it is for the game as a whole but also will we see more clubs in tier three following Newcastle and going professional? It's important because we don't want to see one team dominate. So I think it's important that you can have parity in the league even when there is a financial resource and resources gap

between two teams and that they can still compete on that stage on their day. I would hope so with tier three, but the problem with tier 3 is it is, you know, it's kind of an amateur semi-pro league at the moment. And until there is more pathway up into the championship and like a real like fluid movement process between the two, it's going to be a few years yet until we see more clubs invest that fully in it. Just because if you can't get out of that league,

what is the incentive necessarily in terms of putting a ton of money behind them? So Newcastle did it with a really specific aim to get up to the championship. And then I presume the WSL is what they're hoping for eventually in Champions League football. And I think other clubs might try it, but I think it's really hard

when the options of moving up are so slim at the moment. Yeah, listen, it was a brilliant weekend in general across the FA Women's National League. 35,000 in attendance across the leagues, over 10,000 turning up to watch Ipswich Town beat Chatham Town at Portman Road as well. And in the actual football in the table itself, things are really hotting up.

We're at the business end, obviously. Newcastle and Portsmouth comfortably leading the way in the Northern and Southern Premier Divisions, respectively, both favourites for promotion. It is the first year that both league winners will secure a move into the championship, which makes perfect sense. And I don't know why it didn't happen before. But how important is that pathway for the future of the pyramid, Marva?

Yeah, really important. It's just so important to grow all levels. I think there's such a big gap at the moment. And I say even with sort of friends playing sort of tier six, tier seven, tier five, you kind of have this problem of people who have all this talent and they're choosing not to play the higher levels because there's no incentive as Sophie was saying which means that a lot of the talent is just getting lost because there's no reason for them to why would you go and travel you know all the way up and down the country when you could just travel up and down London and just for the sake of it. So with no actual real incentive.

So the more we grow those levels, we're going to see that hopefully, you know, not see what we do in the men's game of kind of it all just focused in one area. And hopefully we see that across the board and just more opportunities for women to play football in a way that actually benefits them and isn't just sort of taking out of their pockets and having to travel all up and down the country for nothing.

Yeah, hear, hear. Just to wrap up here, unfortunately, London Bees and Chatham Town both had relegation to Tier 4 confirmed, and that's actually going to get really tight coming into the last couple of months. But there was sad news as Selsey's relegation was confirmed this weekend. Graham on X has asked if we can give the club an honourable mention. Here's what he had to say. They've had a torrid time every game, but they turn up and play their hearts out

and deserve huge props for sticking with it. So big up to Chelsea. Finally, the quarterfinals of the UEFA Women's Champions League conclude this week. Chelsea bring a 3-0 lead over Ajax back to Stamford Bridge, but things are finally poised elsewhere. Barcelona host Bran, Lyon entertain Benfica, and Hakan travel to PSG. Any surprises we can expect, Sophie? We kind of wrote them off last week, didn't we?

Logic would say that the favourites will go through, especially since they're all playing at home. But I do think the performances from that first leg were really impressive from the likes of, I mean, all of those games other than the Chelsea's one ended 2-1 to the favourites. So every team put up a big fight. Bran, I was so, like, that was absolutely magical,

the Bran game against Barcelona and the reaction of Cavani when she scores she looks like she just doesn't know what's happened to her she's um she's just scored against Barcelona and she's just like I don't know what on earth is going on with me but um I think it's um I'm just really happy that they competed really hard in those games and it's not as clear-cut as we probably expected it to be from that first leg. And, you know, it's football. Anything can happen on a day. You know, one of these teams

could have a really bad day and, you know, a brand or a hacking could have a really good day and take advantage of that. So I think it's exciting that it's all to play for in this second leg. Yep, it is.

And we'll bring you all the reaction from the results next week, of course, as well. Right, it is. And we'll bring you all the reaction from the results next week, of course, as well. Right, we got through it. Susie Rack, how are you feeling? Are you going back to bed? I wish, I wish.

I've got another podcast to do and like a meeting and then a personal training session and I'm going to die. Goodbye. Yes, I mean, listen, the fact that you arranged

a personal training session a day after winning gold at the SJA is quite incredible and also absolutely bonkers. Idiotic. Yes, yeah, totally. Sophie, pleasure as always. Thanks for having me. Marva, see you soon.

See you soon, thank you. Thank you all, as ever as well. Keep having your say by sending in your questions via X or emailing us at womensfootballweeklyattheguardian.com. So we'll bring you all the news from the Champions League next week as well. Serena Wiegmann names her England squad as well for the upcoming internationals. We'll go through all of her decisions next week as well. As ever, your weekly reminder too to sign up for our bi-weekly

women's football newsletter. All you need to do is search moving the goalposts sign up. This is what we have in store for you this week. In Tuesday's edition, Alex Ibaseta sits down with Barcelona's Caroline Graham-Hanson

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