Eco

Yep, we'll probably win 4-0.

10 minutes ago, phantom said:

Are they confirmed or your assumption? 

This was a Girls on the Ball tweet, confirmed according to them, bar Sweden away. Now on BBC so official! 

On 07/03/2024 at 14:25, shahanshahan said:

All of England's qualifiers confirmed. All games either on a Friday or Tuesday. KO times & venues to be confirmed

So, Sweden (H) Wembley, Ireland (A) Dublin, France (H) Newcastle,  France (A) St Etienne, Ireland (H) Norwich, Sweden (A) tbc - prob Gothenberg.

7 minutes ago, frenchred said:

It was shocking mate

Absolutely no need for any midfield

Sounded a tad windy on the TV, maybe the conditions weren't ideal?

1 hour ago, shahanshahan said:

Arsenal play Aston Villa in the first Conti-Cup semi-final tonight.

If Arsenal beat Aston Villa, then our away game to Arsenal on Sunday March 31st has to be rescheduled (again) due to the Conti Cup final taking place that day - and will probably take place midweek due to the lack of available weekends for the rest of the season.

 

I'll probably regret this but think it's a given that Arsenal will win tonight!

Just now, GrahamC said:

Tonight was far better than I expected.

Not for the first time this season (under him & Pearson) the paper thin squad cost us.

We only had 7 subs (again) & look at what we had left to come on, a 35 year old, some kids & our reserve left back.

Badly need a couple more available & a positive that Conway is back on the scoresheet.

Yep great header from TC. Slightly bizarre 'celebration'

1 minute ago, archie andrews said:

Whats better from mehmeti? I cant see it.... 

Doing a job defensively, apart from when he switched off just before HT!

2 hours ago, Pippintogg said:

Those 3 were cracking players, all loved a tackle and could have played at a higher level. I worked with them occasionally at U16 level in 1997, 98 then the senior squad. There was a lot of talent but not the opportunity girls have today.

Looks like I got my dates slightly wrong! It was a long time ago to be fair and I appear to have lost the programme. 

1 hour ago, shahanshahan said:

Just wanted to say that I have never seen this photo before, and thanks for sharing.
I understand this is the variation of City Women that eventually dissolved in the 2000s?

This must be '95'ish? Carly Bryant, Heidi Bevan and Michelle Munro ( Ithink) were still playing when I first saw them v Doncaster Belles @ Almondsbury in '97.

3 hours ago, Erithacus said:

Another WSL game at the Gate, another disappointment.

I will accept that there is a good side sat on the treatment tables and today's side is far from first pick all round. However, there also has to be a response that can afford a decent chance of playing against lower-half teams. For too long this afternoon we were uncertain, reserved, stand-offish. Yes, it's inevitable that a makeshift side will struggle but I feel there should have been a little more passion. Starting in a 5-4-1 out is the default formation and designed to prevent being overrun, but it also has the effect of giving players the 'defend first' mindset. It's what we've done all season.

The first 10-15 minutes was encouraging but faded into a fall-back around our own half thereafter. It helps to score the first goal but we didn't defend well enough; both goals both preventable (although well taken in truth). Trying to get forward and opening up the flanks proved difficult; Ella Powell did get a couple of runs going but the invariable outcome was a cross into the box for our only forward to get on the end of it. Too often we offered little threat up front. Ffion Morgan was the other fullback, interestingly, and also tried to get going but, once again, was often found out of position when we lost the ball.

The midfield was finding Vicki Losada a real handful and the Brighton players looked a step quicker in thinking and moving. As the second half started it looked like there had been a stiff halftime talk. The girls were brighter, quicker and had a much more aggressive attitude. Some progress and goals did come from that but it was a Sisyphean task when the defence could not keep it out of the net. Getting back to 3-4 only brought more weak defending and concessions. Lauren Smith might have been a bit more courageous with the substitutions but they didn't really get much joy. The last quarter of an hour had a sense of a desperate all-out gamble that fell short by some margin.

It's not been great watching us this season. There is a clear separation at the foot of the table and it doesn't look like it will be closed yet. We have a decent squad but lack real talent in depth. The girls don't deserve this but the WSL is no place for charity. The champagne from last season's promotion party has dried up, and it's painful seeing hopes and dreams being dashed. The bottom line is we can't defend well enough and can't score enough - plain and simple.

Conceding seven to a side that was averaging less than one a game is embarrassing. All season the players have played to their limits, and I admire them hugely for that, but they always seem to be stretching and in the past couple of games I think the effort has caught up with them. Agree about the players missing, today Layzell being out was a big blow as Ella for all her effort doesn't possess a left foot and some of her riight footed crossing was wayward. Lisa Evans had a great chance first half but badly fluffed it.

We really had the momentum at 3-4 and the crowd were as animated as I've heard at AG for the women but sadly it petered out.

3 hours ago, When the river runs said:

look how packed out the ground was today, for a very important match.

Would have been better at the HPC 

Can we get 3500 at the HPC?

6 minutes ago, lenred said:

Still think we already have enough points as we are but that’s not a defence of the ******* shitshow being served up. 

I hope so but, sounds obvious, we need  goals and no sign in the past two home games.

1 hour ago, shahanshahan said:

According to when Girls on the Ball asked the U23s coach, this was apparently a precaution. I can assume she'll be fine for Sunday. Lauren didn't say anything in today's press conference to suggest otherwise
 

 

Cheers, hope so. Hope Connolly is back in defence for Brighton. Just listening to Lauren's press conference, she said the defence performed poorly v Leicester, possibly due to Megan not there to organise?

Naomi was pulled out of the U23 game v Netherlands due to tight hamstring in the warm up. Slightly worrying.

4 hours ago, shahanshahan said:

Having this song in my head while travelling up...

 

Excellent choice, a very good song by one of the best groups of all time. 

22 hours ago, shahanshahan said:

Naomi Layzell started in the friendly between England U23s & Spain U23s this morning. Unfortunately, it was a 3-1 loss, but at some point this week did give this interview Sky Sports
 

 

Also a good piece on the BBC website headed 'Naomi Layzell: The England teenager on Sarina Wiegman's radar'  

Naomi Layzell was playing in the Women's Championship and for England's youth teams two years ago - but on Wednesday she was training with the European champions.

The opportunity took Layzell by surprise as the 19-year-old became the latest youngster to reap benefits from Sarina Wiegman's interest in England's next generation.

Emma Coates' under-23 squad are on a warm-weather training camp in Spain alongside England's senior players for the first time and it has given the youngsters a taste of what could come their way in the future.

They will hope to follow in the footsteps of recent senior call-ups Grace Clinton, Khiara Keating and Jess Park.

Bristol City centre-back Layzell was told by Coates she would be training with Wiegman's senior team on the evening they arrived in Marbella - and the former under-18 international jumped at the chance.

"It was really exciting. Nerve-racking obviously, but I was really happy with the opportunity," said Layzell.

"It doesn't come around every day and to play and train with some of the best players in the world, you're going to snatch at that chance if you can get it."

Layzell was straight on the phone to her parents to tell them the news.

"I was told after dinner and just thought 'OK, make sure you get a good night's sleep, you've got training tomorrow, try not to be too nervous'. I was trying not to shake.

"Sarina had a quick chat with me and then spoke to me after training as well. I called my parents [but] because I hadn't spoken to them since arriving, they were just trying to get all the details of the flight and everything.

"I was like: 'I've got something to tell you.' They said they knew some people would get the opportunity and they're so proud of me and all the work I've done."

The future Lionesses - why England's under-23s are thriving

'You never know where we could be'

Layzell started as the England Under-23s fell to a 3-1 defeat by Spain at the Marbella Football Centre on Thursday but has already used the camp to demonstrate her skills to Wiegman.

A major review of England's youth teams took place in 2018 and the FA, with Wiegman's support, have worked to make the under-23s more closely aligned to the first team.

It means Coates regularly communicates with Wiegman as the under-23s' style, tactics and philosophy look to mirror those of the senior squad.

"They work a lot together and they definitely talk about styles of play and trying to get us to play in similar ways," said Layzell.

"The under-23s' players are so talented and we definitely know a lot of the people could train up and just fit in that [senior] environment.

"I came away thinking I gave a good account of myself. I probably wasn't the best player on the pitch, naturally, but I came away thinking 'they're not going to think I'm rubbish'. That was the main thing.

"There were times when I was tackled, there were probably times when I got beaten, but it's just about being up against these players. It's the only way you're going to learn and get better - by challenging yourself.

"All of those players have probably been in a similar position to me. It's testament to them how far they've gone.

"It just shows that, people like me in the under-23s, if we keep working at it, we're persistent and keep taking these opportunities, then you never know where we could be in a few years' time."

German lessons and volunteering at a school

Layzell was playing for England at under-18 and under-19 level when the Lionesses won the Euros in 2022.

She was a regular for Bristol City in the Women's Championship, helping them earn promotion to the Women's Super League for the 2023-24 season, which has helped propel her on to Wiegman's radar.

"If you asked me [in 2022], if I could see where I was now, I would never say that I could have had this opportunity," said Layzell.

"Being in the WSL with Bristol City and getting promoted has really given me a chance to show myself and challenge myself. The under-23s is a stepping stone and you just have to rise to the challenge.

"You always aspire to get to the top and to be involved with the senior team, but it's hard to put a timeline on it because everyone grows at different rates."

Mature beyond her years, Layzell spoke impressively to media on Wednesday, showed leadership on the pitch on Thursday and spends her free time in Bristol regularly volunteering at a local school.

She gave an insight into her personality by explaining how she chooses to spend her time.

"I'm learning a new language - German. I did it at GCSE so it keeps me interested," said Layzell.

"I go on walks a lot. I try and do volunteering here and there as well. I help with reading with children at a local school near where I live in Bristol. The chaplain at Bristol City pointed me towards it because she knew I wanted to do something.

"None of the kids know that I play football, and I quite like that, because it means you can get to know them on a level. It's nice to know you're helping out and making an impact."

5 hours ago, shahanshahan said:

England senior squad & U23 squad are both out in Spain right now. Naomi Layzell joined with the senior squad in training. Don't know if she'll get a senior call up with the friendlies that England have in the next few days...

 

Congrats to Naomi, I think she's been fab this season. Hope she'll stay with us regardless of the outcome at end of season but destined for better things no doubt

On 19/02/2024 at 12:12, shahanshahan said:

May be an injury replacement, but the top goalscorer for the team this season finally gets a call up to the Denmark squad

 

We'd already be down without Amalie's goals this season. Her goals per shots ratio must be excellent.

12 minutes ago, Full nelson said:

Not a chance. The squad is poor and will struggle next season in the championship 

Probably our best chance of a win is Brighton, they're almost as bad defensively as us. It would be nice to witness a W at home as can't see that happening in the other home games, maybe Everton. Hope today's result hasn't knocked the stuffing out of the squad.

8 minutes ago, phantom said:

Awful display, nowhere near good enough 

Not impressed with Smith sat on the bench as the last subs were being made 

She looks defeated and sending the completely wrong message to the team 

Why Lauren thinks Megan Connolly is a midfielder I have no idea. Depressing defeat, could have been worse. Hope we can pull out a result v Brighton 

1 minute ago, Sleepy1968 said:

I know I'm a not a big spender, but I just put 22p on them at 7-1 for a draw.

That's 22p you now won't get back 

3 minutes ago, Sleepy1968 said:

At least they're still 'giving it a go' I suppose. I do feel sorry for them, and I don't for one minute think they'll find it quite as easy next season back in the Championship as they did before. So well done all involved in 'investing' in our women's team. I don't really think it will be any different if the men's team ever get promoted.

They've given it a go all season, so admirable, but don't have the quality sadly. I live in hope they'll snatch an equaliser in this game.

Thestrup again!

1-2, terrible defending sadly. Get Connolly back in defence.

The keeper will have to play another blinder again but we can definitely get something out of this match.