The problem is Thomas went out of her way to question or maybe even antagonize Eidevall. He was focused on the ref before she came into the picture wondering what he was upset about. How often do you see that from players to opposition coaches in either the women's game or the men's game? If you sanctioned Eidevall, which fair enough since he went over the top, wouldn't you be setting up a dangerous precedent for players to feel like they can act like Thomas did? Deliberately question why a coach is angry about a poor/very poor challenge you made, act surprised you got a reaction, and then tweet in poor taste about the reaction to your poor challenge that left a player on the ground. Suspend Thomas as well if you suspend Eidevall in my opinion, but of course, that wouldn't go down well. So, no one getting sanctioned (outside of the yellow cards) works for me.
Interesting that you bring up Stanway because she was deservedly sent off for a high studs tackle to Galton's thigh. However, I thought studs are fine as long as they're not to the head according to the vast majority of United reactions I've seen. People defending Thomas have also said she was pulling out of the tackle. (Some are even saying Mead was just trying to get a pity foul; what even is that opinion?) In my opinion, she wasn't; actually pulling out of the tackle involves you doing it before contact with the opposition player and not afterwards. I think Stanway's challenge was worse, but Thomas' wasn't far off it in my opinion. I didn't have a problem with fans going after Stanway following that challenge (except for comments that go too far), but the same applies to Arsenal fans' reactions to Thomas following her challenge and that tweet. I'll try and rest my case as well; agree to disagree.
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/8312200/football-cuthbert-harder-toffs-sex/amp/ HARDER, HARDER, CUTHBERT, HARDER! Football fans left in hysterics as list of goalscorers likened to sound of toffs having sex
From just looking at the Thomas/Mead clip on Twitter I expected a lot more, it looks pretty soft. It looks like Thomas' intent is just to poke the ball away before Mead gets there, which it looks like she does, she pulls her leg back immediately after the ball moves. If her intent was throttling her the leg doesn't come back like that. It's also questionable from that clip if the studs ever come up or stay down. We also have so much body fat between our thighs and shoulders that any impact from that kind of contact shouldn't be a problem. Foul, sure. Yellow, I have no problem either way. More than that, it's a stretch. Coach is a loose cannon.
I have made multiple posts already about how intent shouldn't matter here. Of course, she wasn't intending to hurt Mead; it was still reckless. She went after the ball trying to rectify her own poor touch and showed essentially zero awareness of Mead coming into the picture. If she was aware of Mead and still chose to put her leg all the way up there, then that was just bad. I don't think it's clear she just poked the ball away; I think she could may well have made contact with Mead, which led to Mead moving a bit forward and contacting the ball. Couldn't she have also pulled her leg back immediately as a reflex to making contact with Mead with her studs? At the very least, you can't just catch a player with your studs and your knee on the follow through when making a play where you get your leg that high up. Regarding Stanway's red vs United in the league, she didn't have the intent to hurt Galton in my opinion, her studs were "down", and she caught Galton in the thigh. Any time your leg is that high up, your studs are up in my opinion; Stanway caught Galton with her studs, and she deserved to be sent off. Thomas caught Mead with her studs in my opinion, and I think her being sent off wouldn't have been a stretch by any means. Definitely agree to disagree. Regardless, a sure foul, and a yellow isn't a problem. So, again, what was up with her hand gestures the very moment after her challenge? I'd have stopped playing and immediately checked on Mead. Of course, Eidevall is a loose cannon, but Thomas also inserted herself into the situation. If she hadn't, I seriously think Eidevall would have just solely gone after the ref, and he may well have still received a yellow. Edit: Honestly, if I wasn't aware of the situation from the start, I would have expected a lot more from Eidevall based on the reactions I've seen and heard. That's considered nose to nose? Toone and Zelem ran in there and were arguably equally aggressive. I do recognize that he reacted over the top though; Thomas' lack of awareness of the reckless nature of her attempted challenge plus her completely unnecessary tweet are just so frustrating, but so be it.
Studs up is facing the player or the ball. Her hand gestures were if you think that was intent or reckless you're baked and/or did anger management class get out early today?
It looks like her studs and not the top or side of her foot contacted Mead to me. That's all that matters. Anyone who thinks that was reckless must be baked? You've got to be kidding me. Again, who puts their foot up that high when someone is in clear position to make the far more routine chest control? She was always going to catch Mead initially or on the follow through in my opinion, and therefore, it was reckless to even go up with her foot there. In my opinion, Thomas should have allowed Mead to get in but then be right there to pressure her on the ball. Thomas must have gotten out of her tact class early what with her tweet that not only mocked Eidevall but made light of her reckless challenge that did hurt Mead regardless of people having so much body fat. Let's just agree to disagree; we're not ever coming to a resolution here.
I just want to say I am very impressed with ManUnited right now. Good timing to start playing great. I hope they carry on for added drama and excitement for that elusive top 3. Tottenham as I predicted will collapse and they are starting to.
I don't actually think United were all that good today, especially Ladd and Zelem in spite of their goal contributions, but United are indeed in a great run of form results wise with some good/great performances.
I know some people like to criticize the eye test for not being objective or too biased, but I'm going to go on a bit of rant on FotMob's ratings. (This applies to other providers like InStat.) Zelem's definitely been playing better lately, but as I've mentioned, she still regularly has her dangerous misplays. Tottenham's two good/great chances at goal in the second half came about thanks to a poor Zelem backpass and a Zelem mishit clearance. Yet, FotMob still has her as the POTM at 8.2 because those two misplays just count statistically as two incomplete passes. (FBref does have an "Errors" stat, but I'm not sure if Zelem will be determined to have made an error on either of those plays.) Then, there's her 6 chances created stat. Great ball in for Boe Risa's goal, but apart from that, I can only recall deliveries for headers that Thorisdottir and Mannion were never going to get on target. Groenen got a 6.6 rating vs Birmingham away. Yet, she was inches away from a high quality curler from outside of the box, and Toone couldn't get around Ramsey for an open goal chance off of Groenen's top drawer through ball, one of the best passes I've seen in the FA WSL this season so far. If she had picked up a goal and an assist there, which could have easily happened any other day, I think FotMob would have given her a +8.0 rating. Why does a matter of inches on both the shot and Toone taking a better touch make such a rating difference stats algorithm wise but not eye test wise? There's also the whole questionable accuracy about duels won/lost; stats and eye test can fairly often give different impressions there in my opinion. I'd still be frustrated but I'd be less so if a lot of people didn't so often treat these stats providers' ratings as gospel. I've had disagreements with people about how good or critical some players have been lately, but I'd assign more value to concrete examples and specific stats in combination compared to general words like defensive stability/balance and algorithm ratings from stat providers.
Table after Matchday 13 The current #BarclaysFAWSL standings 👀 pic.twitter.com/sf5txoSydC— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) January 23, 2022 Quite funny that the only teams that have played all their games so far are the bottom two teams. All the other teams have 1,2 or 3 games on hand. Six teams are fighting right now for the 3 champions League places and two for the relegation place. Birmingham and Leicester have improved since they have sacked their respective managers. And the Conti-cup semi-finals schedule Dates for your diaries 📆The #ContiCup semi-finals are locked in 🔒 pic.twitter.com/s6fHadodeJ— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) January 24, 2022
The transfer window will close on Thursday evening for the FA WSL. I will have the update on Friday, what we saw is many teams have loaned youngsters from their Academy teams.
⬤ Ireland: The WNL is one of the most unpredictable leagues in Europe and had a dramatic finish to its 2021 season. Shelbourne became the champions and may get the rich reward of a 90-minute Champions League campaign, thanks Uefa. The title was decided on the last day by 2 games in County Dublin. Live TV cameras were at Greenogue, expecting Peamount to win the league for the 3rd year in a row, but United couldn't do it. Needing one point, they went 2-0 up (Áine O'Gorman was the WNL's top scorer with 16 goals). But 5th-placed Galway, who lost more than they won in 2021, ruined the party with a great fightback. Peamount United 2 - 5 Galway WFC www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7GuA-oPcHA Shelbourne needed to beat the No.3 club Wexford and rely on a defeat for Peamount, and it all fell into place: Shels won it, their first title since 2016. Goals by Jessie Stapleton (2) and Noelle Murray (1 pen). - (FAI matchday report) There was more unpredictability earlier - "the 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Peamount in September could have ended Shelbourne’s title hopes. That was the biggest test of their collective spirit and they bounced back by going unbeaten all the way to the end." And just to show that you never know, Wexford beat the new champions the next week, and won their 4th FAI Cup in 7 years. The Irish league will gain a tenth club in 2022, Sligo Rovers. ⬤ Northern Ireland: Featuring many members of the national team who qualified for the Euros in 2021, Glentoran kept the Women's Premiership title by the barest margin. The winning goal by Kerry Beattie secured a 3-2 result in the penultimate match vs Cliftonville, who were unlucky to finish runners-up, 3 points behind. The four-time champions Linfield have lost some star power, and fell to 5th in the 6-team division. Glentoran made it a double, with a Challenge Cup final win (2-0 vs Crusaders) - and Glens are the first team to get the league's new trophy: much, much larger than before, and as wide as the centre circle. Impractical imo - Women's Premiership: Glentoran retain title with home win over Cliftonville in thriller - (BBC Sport NI / Archive)
Chelsea 2 West Ham 0 It's getting tight at the 🔝!Who will win the #BarclaysFAWSL this season? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/0itrwaawoB— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) January 26, 2022 Also milestone for Bethany England with 50 FA WSL goals The newest member of the #BarclaysFAWSL 5️⃣0️⃣ club: @Bethany_Eng15! 💃 pic.twitter.com/Rinv3Bw65J— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) January 26, 2022 Nobbs and Parris are on 49 and could reach the milestone tonight against Brighton.
I read that Miedema or her agent is supposedly in talks with PSG and Barcelona. Then Miedema herself wrote in the last day or two that she is weighing her options, looking to see if there is a good comfort level with a new team, and that she hasn't closed the door on resigning with Arsenal. She also said she wants to win the Champions League. If that is her goal, she will probably sign with Barca--not to mention the fact that both Barca and PSG will probably offer her more money than Arsenal will. I'd be very curious to know if Arsenal has made her a new offer and, if so, what it is. I assume they have. On the other hand, Barca signing Miedema would seem like overkill, no? That team bosses everybody now--including the best teams from the WSL. It doesn't need another top player--and I doubt PSG does, either--but we know that these monster wealthy clubs have long had a habit of stockpiling talent on the men's side and it seems that instinct has infiltrated the women's side as well. I doubt that Arsenal can win the CL in the next, say, 3 years, and I suspect Miedema realizes that as well--especially after getting embarrassed by Barca twice and Chelsea in their last match. Arsenal have made some new signings that should help improve the squad, but by how much? And then Miedema must wonder how exactly she and Blackstenius can play together and be effective. Does she want to move back and help provide service to Blackstenius? She is good about coming out to create space for others, etc.--but she's not a 10 and I suspect she has questions about whether she and Blackstenius can work well together on the pitch. Miedema is good at scoring goals--ha--and I can't imagine that she's eager to play second fiddle to Blackstenius. All in all, I'd say the odds are pretty high that she will leave the Gunners.
PSG? I don't see that squad winning CL anytime soon. Barcelona and Llyon are currently the best teams if her main objective is to win that elusive trophy.
Today, United were like a student who procrastinates until the last day and still puts out good work. Moore is a bit of a luxury depth signing, but there's nothing wrong with that. Caldwell's a much needed depth signing given Turner's health issues. The big name signing of course is Bruun. I think United probably needed to sign another winger more, but I also think they couldn't have signed a better, higher name attacker this window. Bruun-Russo with a diamond midfield of Toone-Boe Risa-Groenen-Ladd behind them and wide support from Blundell/Galton and Batlle is a potentially great lineup option.
The transfer window is closed. Clubs might have done more business but decided not to announce those. Deadline day deals in bold. Arsenal In: Stina Blackstenius (Hacken), Laura Wienroither (Hoffenheim), Rafaelle Souza (Changchun Zhuoyue) Out: Anna Patten (Aston Villa – loan), Halle Houssein (West-Ham – loan), Teyah Goldie (Watford –loan), Natalia Negri (Charlton – loan), Daisy Ackerman (Bridgewater – loan), Viki Schnaderbeck ( Tottenham – loan), Malin Gut (Grasshopper Zurich) Chelsea In: Alsu Abdullina (Lokomotiv Moscow) Out: Jorja Fox (Charlton – loan), Carly Telford (San Diego Wave) Tottenham In: Eveliina Summanen (Kristianstads) Out: Morgan Rogers (Watford – loan) Man United In: Diane Caldwell (NC Courage), Jade Moore (Orlando Pride), Signe Bruun ( Olympique Lyonnais – loan) Out: Brighton In: Emma Kullberg (BK Hacken), Julia Zigiotti Olme (BK Hacken) Out: Rinsola Babajide ( end of loan – Liverpool), Josie Longhurst (Lewes - loan), Lea Cordier ( Lewes – loan), Katie Robinson ( Charlton - loan) Man City In: Julie Blakstad (Rosenborg) Out: Jill Scott (Aston Villa – loan), Maria Francis- Jones ( Blackburn- loan) West Ham In: Emma Snerle (Fortuna Hjorring). Emily Moore (UBC Thunderbirds), Halle Houssein (Arsenal - loan) Out: Reading In: Saane Troelsgaard (Rosengard), Out: Jeon Ga-Eul Everton In: Out: Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir (Bayern Munich - loan) Aston Villa In: Anna Patten (Arsenal – loan), Jill Scott (Man City – loan), Rachel Corsie (KC Current) Out: Gemma Davison, Dearna Goodwin (Leicester – loan), Freya Gregory (Leicester – loan), Natalie Haigh ( Coventry – loan), Emily Syme, Elisha N’Dow (Coventry - loan) Leicester In: Dearna Goodwin (Aston Villa – loan), Freya Gregory (Aston Villa – loan) Out: Abbi Grant (Glasgow City – loan) Birmingham In: Out:
Bayern is certainly a team that would benefit from having Miedema--as would, IMO, Wolfsburg (Dutch coach, other Dutch players and Popp again out with knee trouble and she's also fairly old) and Manchester United. (ManU was said to be very interested in signing Blackstenius.) But then does Miedema think that she could fit with any of these teams and win a CL with any of them? I certainly think she could--but of course her chances would be much higher with Barcelona or PSG, except that those teams already have more than enough talent. Miedema previously played for Bayern (as a late teen, I think)--it was either her first pro team or first non-Dutch pro team--and she has said that it wasn't a great experience. She didn't like the team's style of play, so that might work against Bayern.
German coach who used to coach in the Eredivisie? There is some Dutch connection, yes? I could see her fitting well with Wolfsburg. I mean, joining Barcelona would just be Barca overkill!
FA Cup results: All the results from the Fourth Round of the 2021-22 @Vitality_UK #WomensFACup 🏆What a round! 😅 pic.twitter.com/lH2l3ryWyb— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) January 30, 2022 One upset with third tier Southampton beating second tier Bristol.
And the draw with a Manchester derby! Plus a third tier team will reach the quarter-finals as Ipswich v Southampton between the best two teams in the third division. ICYMI: The #WomensFACup Fifth Round fixtures are IN. Which match is catching your eye? 👀 pic.twitter.com/NZFTO71hNS— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) February 1, 2022