...and yet in this year's Champions' League's campaign they barely grabbed a 3-3 draw at the last minute vs a Wolfsburg team that was hindered by many absences in the first match-day and they've only beaten Servette by 1-0 in the last match-day. How many chances you give, guys, to Juventus on Wednesday? According to what you all write it would look like they can't even hope to get a draw...
I think when you beat them 7-0 the week before your motivation is pretty low. It will be interesting because to knock out Wolfsburg and reach the quarters Juventus need a result and can only defend and counter for so long as the game clock ticks on.
I’ve caught the full replay of United-Leicester on the FA Player. (Was it actually streamed live?) I didn’t think Boe Risa was a good physical/defensive presence, but I’ll give full credit to her for a great passing performance. Ladd and Toone are both just rated too highly by a lot of United fans in my opinion, but the whole team did have their struggles vs Leicester.
Wow: I wasn't surprised that Chelsea beat Arsenal yesterday--but I was shocked at how bad Arsenal was. The team was disorganized, caught out by numerous Chelsea counters--their stock in trade--and had no idea how to break through its rival's defensive pressure; I don't think the Gunners had a single shot on goal. The 3-0 score actually flattered Arsenal, as it could have been much worse. Kerr missed at least three gold-plated chances in the first half--and then came back in the 2nd and scored twice on chances that were more difficult than the ones she muffed in the first half. Typical Kerr. Harder didn't even play. Arsenal's centerbacks, Beattie and Wubben-Moye, were terrible in the first 30 minutes of the game--Beattie just too slow for a team like Chelsea and Wubben-Moye, whom I think has the potential to be a very good center-half, was often out of position, late reacting and played nervously. The Arsenal midfield was poor as well---Walti and Maanum were not good. Not exactly a confidence builder with Barca coming to town. Arsenal was completely bossed by Barca in the first tie, and I can't see the next match being much different.
Interesting happenings in the Champion's league. https://sports.yahoo.com/chelseas-s...r-to-turf-gets-punished-for-it-013918013.html It was not Sam Kerr's finest moment but it was very understandable given that the security forces did nothing at all before she clobbered the extremely stupid fan. I actually think she should receive a reward and not the yellow card the stupid official brandished. Pitch invasions should be handled much more harshly than they usually are. Maybe arming the players would be a good idea but I am reminded of a scene in the horrible movie "The Last Boy Scout." If you have not seen that movie that one scene almost makes it worthwhile; but not quite. It was truly a horrible movie. It was probably the worst movie Mel Gibson has ever been in.
Any male dumb enough to run onto a field during a match absolutely deserves a body slam. It's probably not a good precedent for a player to set--as we don't want players, say, punching pitch invaders or doing anything that could serious hurt one of these dopes--but a simple shoulder knockdown? Hey, it was just what the guy needed.
I wrote something along those lines on the referee sub-forum, where how the situation should have been handled withing the rules of the game it's being discussed, but everyone basically agrees that the dumb goon deserved the body slam from Kerr. Meanwhile, despite a 66%-34% possession for Chelsea and 26 shots to 2, it looks like Juventus managed to bring home the result they wanted: Chelsea could have scored any moment and an outstanding performance from GK Peyraud-Magnin was needed, but the incredible happened anyway...
Absolutely made my day. Both the video and your take. I understand why you have to card it, because the precedent is dangerous. But she should also receive a reward, an award, etc. Men who disrupt women's athletics seriously need their head checked, not their bodies.
Man United vs Brighton I thought Boe Risa was very wasteful today, but she finally got a good finish for United’s second goal. Zelem still doesn’t work for me, but she did make two quality passes for decent chances that weren’t put away. A bit annoyed by the revisionist history that’s being put out regarding Ladd immediately bringing stability back (before today, 12 goals conceded in 757 non Ladd minutes vs 6 goals conceded in 233 Ladd minutes in WSL/Conti Cup this season), but she was indeed great today. Brighton did play through United easily at times, but they seriously lacked good end product. Quality, deserved win for United. Edit: There are a lot of fans saying Boe Risa scoring was a statement against Skinner not playing her more. I think scoring two or three times, which she arguably should have done, would have been a stronger statement. Kerr was mocked for this kind of performance despite scoring by United fans in the 1-1 LSV draw last season, but so be it.
We'll see how close I get with this guess, but I wouldn't be surprised if FBref will have Toone and Boe Risa at 3.5 xG between just them. (I don't expect the total xG from all other United players to be that much.) Now, two of Toone's big chances did come off of Boe Risa misses, but still, just the one goal between them is the one negative from this match for United. (Great run and effort from Boe Risa, but it's now actually looking to me like it may well have been an own goal without her touching the ball.)
I've slowed Boe Risa's goal to 0.25x speed on reasonable quality. I seriously think a Dubious Goals Committee (if there was one for the FA WSL) would possibly change it to an own goal. At the very least, that would not have been a goal without the touch/deflection from Bowman in my opinion. Supreme efficiency from Maanum. Pretty clear cut red card for Purfield in my opinion.
Wow, didn’t expect to be off by that much. I think FBref gave a lower xG for some of the chances than they’ve given in the past. How does Ladd finish with 0.4 xG (I don’t think that was that easy of a finish) while Boe Risa and Toone both finish with 1.0 xG and 0.7 xG respectively? I think both still significantly underperformed finishing expectations, but clearly, I was way off with my FBref xG prediction.
FA Cup Fourth round draw: Southampton v Bristol City Newcastle United v Ipswich Town Plymouth Argyle v Gillingham or Charlton Athletic Liverpool v Lincoln City Brighton & Hove Albion v Reading Nottingham Forest v Manchester City Aston Villa v Chelsea Billericay Town v Coventry United Durham v Blackburn Rovers West Bromwich Albion v Southampton Women’s or Exeter City Sheffield United v West Ham United Birmingham City v Sunderland Bridgwater United v Manchester United Huddersfield Town v Everton Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City Arsenal v London City Lionesses
It's a good idea, also makes it sound as if the committee is dubious itself. So, it has my full support
Thought Zelem benefitted from a favorable ref on a couple of her challenges vs Everton today, but she had a good game out there. Honestly, I think Toone is the United midfielder least deserving of a starting spot right now. She definitely had good/great moments today, but she was also often loose with possession.
I don't know if he learned from Pien Meulensteen or someone else, but thank you to the MUTV co-commentator for today's match vs Everton for correctly pronouncing Groenen's last name.
As a followup to my earlier post about the pitch invader it turns out that the "punishment" will be greatly reduced. U.S. national team still appealing for equal pay, as UK pitch invader meanwhile won’t be fined thanks to archaic law https://deadspin.com/u-s-national-team-still-appealing-for-equal-pay-as-uk-1848219786 Maybe he can be charged with assault for hitting Kerr's shoulder so hard with his chest. I apologize for so much in that link that is outside this thread's intent.
FA WSL Continental Cup group stage ended yesterday Group A: Liverpool Group B: Man Utd or Man City Group C: Tottenham Group D: Bristol Group E: West Ham Others: Arsenal, Chelsea Best runner-up: Man Utd/Man City/Leicester / Charlton Group B is not finished yet as Leicester v City was postponed due to many Covid-19 positive test. Draw is on Monday
Yeah that was a stinker all right. Wish I could say it was comedic defending (which it was) but another flat performance the other direction. Still think they are on paper the best team there is, and not unusual to see the best teams not win. God how many world cups or euros is that on the men's side. I remember sitting at Ullevi watching Denmark win one they didn't even qualify for. Hayes clearly isn't getting the best out of what they have. Simple solution.
I'm not really sure what to make of Toone's play over the last six or so games in all competitions, including today's match vs Villa. I didn't think she was particularly great again in her overall play; however, she scored twice, so she's now back to getting a lot of praise. On the other hand, Russo didn't score or assist, but she was my POTM. (Hanson also did well off the bench.) United pressed well as a whole vs Villa, but I'm not sure how much Villa's poor play out from the back actually had to do with United's press. Arguably one of the least impressive routs I've ever watched, but United will have been happy to see better finishing today.
Correction: Not a noteworthy pass (winning the ball back was noteworthy), but Russo did assist Staniforth's goal.
First transfer of the winter window. Reading with a big signing. Welcome to Reading Women Football Club, Sanne Troelsgaard🤝We are delighted to announce the signing of Danish midfielder Sanne Troelsgaard, who signs on a two-and-a-half-year deal until June 2023.#SanneSigns pic.twitter.com/AxdRJ0G81x— Reading FC Women (@ReadingFCWomen) December 21, 2021
Continental Cup draw: West Ham United v Chelsea Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool Charlton Athletic, Leicester City or Manchester City v Bristol City Arsenal v Manchester United The venue for this season’s final was also announced, with AFC Wimbledon’s new Plough Lane ground playing host on 5 March, kick off 5,30pm