Even with Galton, who I found less impressive than most post winter break, and Heath, United simply have the least impressive wingers and full backs when it comes to offense in the top 4. That cross from Mead for Miedema's goal today, the form of Kirby, Kelly, and Hemp, etc. I've been very impressed with Batlle offensively and defensively, but she hasn't directly created much up to this point on the left or right. You can't really expect offense from Thorisdottir, Harris, and Smith. Look at McCabe this season including today. I know she's a natural forward, but still. Chelsea have Andersson and Mjelde; City has Bronze. I wonder if Stoney should have stuck with the Galton at LB experiment leaving Batlle to make a permanent home at RB; Galton had a couple of quality balls from deep vs Arsenal at that position.
Here are Sunday's game videos, on the FA Player: Aston Villa v Arsenal | Full Match | Barclays FA WSL Tottenham Hotspur v Everton | Full Match Birmingham City v Manchester City | Full Match
Camera work sucked at Man City vs Birmingham. Couldn't see who was who. Only 1 camera and no zooming in.
Table: 📊 How the #BarclaysFAWSL table looks after today's games 👇 pic.twitter.com/j6AcMOOO9z— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) February 28, 2021 City now in the driving seat in the title race with their game in hand. Arsenal cut the United lead to six points before their head to head game on March 18. At the bottom of the table, Bristol and West Ham are fighting to avoid the relegation spot. Momentum is with Bristol right now.
The FA Women's Cup is back : First round – 31 March 2021 Second round – 4 April 2021 Third round – 11 April 2021 Fourth round – 18 April 2021 FA have done the draw until round 4 actually.
I think I may have been a bit harsh on United fans last season and this season. Fans, definitely including myself, are just very confusing/frustrating a lot of the time. People are justifying Press not squaring to Sigsworth in the 80th minute vs City because of a lack of chemistry? Switch the two players around, and I don't think there's any way Press fans would have given Sigsworth that kind of benefit of the doubt. Edit: You give a reasonable critique of Press' play, and you get labeled as someone who hasn't followed her career. That person must think I'm a United fan and not someone who's been well aware of Press and been a fan of hers since her Stanford days. Regardless, hope Press plays well on Sunday; I want her at LW, but I think she'll be at ST again, especially with Russo still out.
She will definitely play better as a number 7 if only Casey will give her a chance but I gave up hoping for that to happen. I'm done being immeasurably disappointed. Right now I don't think United is a competition for the title anymore but they can still qualify for the CL IF they get their act together because Arsenal is now only a few points behind.
The WSL has its matchday 16, and the Championship is in action today too. This was last week: Tottenham 2 - 3 Everton - (Addison 35’, Davison 57’ / Gauvin 6’p, 18’p, Scott 60’) Well, you're not gonna love their choice of venue for Birmingham-Arsenal this week (St George's Park again...). But, I can assure everyone, the FA is using the best technology that money can buy. Sunday 7 March (GMT times) 12:00 MANCHESTER UNITED VS ASTON VILLA 14:00 MANCHESTER CITY VS EVERTON 14:00 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION VS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 14:00 BIRMINGHAM CITY VS ARSENAL 15:00 WEST HAM UNITED VS CHELSEA Monday 8 March 20:15 BRISTOL CITY VS READING Man City and Everton are both coming off wins last weekend, as the Women's FA Cup finalists clash again today at the Academy Stadium, previewed by HerFootballHub ("City’s title hopes continue as they host Everton"). Scotland's Christie Murray returns from a neck injury for Birmingham v Arsenal, in their matchup on the usually neutral territory of the National Football Centre. No complacency from Chelsea; Emma Hayes says they're preparing for West Ham "like it's the Champions League final", which may indicate that Uefa is about to let 11th-place teams qualify for Europe. It'll be a Monday match for Bristol City, last-placed while trailing the Hammers by 2 points. Bristol captain Jas Matthews has a foot injury and has to spend "weeks" on the sidelines. In division 2, Leicester and Durham are in practice for their crucial 1st v 2nd game next week. Women's Championship (Sun 7 Mar, 14:00) BLACKBURN ROVERS VS DURHAM CHARLTON ATHLETIC VS LEWES COVENTRY UTD VS LONDON CITY LIONESSES CRYSTAL PALACE VS LIVERPOOL LONDON BEES VS LEICESTER CITY Of course, the FA doesn't really film its games with that computerized camera I posted above. Here's the real camera:
Videos on the FA Player: Manchester United v Aston Villa | Full Match | Barclays FA WSL Manchester City v Everton | Full Match | Barclays FA WSL Birmingham City v Arsenal | Full Match | Barclays FA WSL Brighton & Hove Albion v Tottenham Hotspur | Full Match West Ham United v Chelsea | Full Match
Impressive tech to use, but they should also add another camera that zooms in the players, and also add field cameras. I'm sure the technology can be applied when following the ball up close. Right now its just still one camera and doesn't zoom in that much. All they do is set it up and let it roll. Do the same for the other cameras.
Combine the cameras view with this. This one locks on and zoom in the players should be on the pitch up close. Players wear GPS. Can easily switch on to them.
Top four teams won, so no change at the top. At the bottom of the table, Bristol can overtake West Ham if they beat Reading tonight. 📊 Here is the current #BarclaysFAWSL table!Wins for the top four keep it tight at the top! 👀 pic.twitter.com/ge2MhSqbvC— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) March 7, 2021
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.da...roadcasting-deal-BBC-Womens-Super-League.html “The FA have agreed a groundbreaking new broadcasting deal for the Women’s Super League that will see matches screened on terrestrial television for the first time next season. The historic agreement also marks the first time the WSL has attracted a rights fee — Sky Sports will share live coverage of the competition with the BBC, who have committed to showing games on their main network channels.” “In a major boost for the profile of the women’s game, some matches will be on BBC1 and BBC2 — live coverage is currently restricted to the red button. In addition to a multi-million-pound rights fee, though largely funded by Sky, the BBC are confident of delivering large audiences to their Women’s Football Show, which averages over 500,000 viewers per week, despite being condemned to a graveyard slot on Sunday nights.” That’s impressive 500k viewers avg.
According to FBref, Bristol significantly outperformed their xG vs Brighton and Reading, and they equaled it vs West Ham. Their much better finishing has been critical to them getting a massive 7 points from their last 4 matches.
Just caught up with the Bristol City match! Brilliant win for them: Bristol City 3 - 2 Reading Wellings 24', Purfield 58', Salmon 79' / Harries 13', Rowe 73' - Match report: "Bristol City 3-2 Reading: Ebony Salmon winner lifts home side off bottom" (BBC Sport) / Full match on the FA Player Jemma Purfield: "It was fantastic to give the fans at at home an entertaining game on International Women's Day - it was probably even exciting for the neutrals. We have got to keep our feet on the ground. This is the first three points and we have still got a big two months to go". The club even awarded Matt Beard his own advert. Tottenham Hotspur Women have a big-stadium game this month, at the main Tottenham Hotspur stadium, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It'll be their second match at the new Spurs venue - the first (also vs Arsenal) set a WPL/WSL crowd record. That derby game was just last season, less than 18 months ago. Feels like 18 years...
So, Hege Riise seems kind of suspect at player management. Within two hours of kickoff of Birmingham vs Everton, Hampton was informed that she didn't make the Team GB shortlist. She had to be consoled, and Ward says the news impacted Hampton's performance. Hard to argue with that given Hampton's clear mistake on Emslie's goal, and given her form this season, I think Hampton without that bad news could well have saved Scott's goal. Apparently two Everton players received good news and two Everton players received bad news before the match today as well. Factor in Riise's ill advised words (in my opinion) on Beth Mead's initial omission from call ups for the last camp, and I don't think she's making a great impression. That being said, I think Wiegman's quite good at player management, so this shouldn't be an issue post Olympics.
This was handled poorly. I don't know how anyone could think that informing players--just before a match--that they wouldn't be on the Team GB shortlist would be a wise thing to do. Very unwise and insensitive. I don't know if Riise was responsible or somebody at the FA. That said, the overall reaction to Riise from players and the FA seems to be quite favorable--see attached article on Bronze. GB could be formidable at the Olympics, though I'm not sold on its centerbacks. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/12/lucy-bronze-its-taken-a-while-for-coaches-to-real
I was wondering the same thing, if it was an administrative function. If she was someone who knew all the players very well coming in it could easily have been a phone call by her. But coming in green with little context of such a large pool of players, it may not have even been Riise who made the decision. She may have just rubber stamped it, in which case I would doubt it was her making contact. [Edit] Just read it was an email, and was sent by the FA.
Remaining league matches: Bristol City have: Man City Tottenham Birmingham Arsenal Aston Villa Man United Brighton & Hove West Ham have: Birmingham Man United Reading Everton Aston Villa Man City Removing the matches against the same teams they each play: Bristol City have: Tottenham Arsenal Brighton & Hove West Ham have: Reading Everton So Bristol have #4, #8 and #10 And WHU have #5 and #6 So the edge to Bristol City. In most relegation battles the motivation of your game-day opponents is a significant factor - are they competing for a placement or will they just use their remaining games to evaluate youth, etc. There's usually as much random as science.
West Ham also still have Arsenal, and they play Villa twice. Bristol City have: Tottenham Brighton & Hove Albion West Ham have: Everton Reading Aston Villa Bristol have #7 and #8, and West Ham have #5, #6, and #10. That additional West Ham vs Villa match is big, and who knows what Reading will show up vs West Ham? I don't think Villa and Birmingham are quite out of the picture yet either.
Blaze at Everton women's football team stadium started deliberately. https://t.co/ESNhpHhSEp— Liverpool Echo (@LivEchonews) March 12, 2021