Eco

Haydon Roberts' corners were pretty good

4 minutes ago, shahanshahan said:

https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/smiths-leicester-city-press-conference/

Lauren Smith's press conference has just come out, which mentions that Abi didn't get a call-up due to picking up an ankle injury last week.
She also confirmed that there was an in-house game played last week, which included some academy players.
Also, Sarah Stratigakis is out for this week due to illness, and everyone else still injured (Fran Bentley, Satara Murray, Rachel Furness etc) are still injured

Abi out until after the break. Lauren talked about changing the shape of the side over the season using as an example Megan Connolly moving into midfield. Not sure about that, based on what I saw in the Villa game, think she's a better defender. Embarrassment of riches at centre half with Connolly, Aspin & Layzell.

4 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

At the very least the final will be on free to air as it's a Cat A protected event.

What is TNT Sports though? Is it a foreign operator like DAZN or one of those?

Was BT Sport until recently

23 minutes ago, RoystonFoote'snephew said:

I don't know that Anis was the only player guilty of poor decisions in forward areas but the criticism of him is fair. Over the 90 minutes I would score him a 6.

Surely at least a 7 for his assist? 

3 hours ago, shahanshahan said:

Jamie-Lee Napier, Amy Rodgers & Lisa Evans called up for the latest Scotland squad. Abi Harrison misses out again

 

Abi played against England, thought she did OK when she was on the pitch. Good to see three City players though.

Tony Thorpe?

1 hour ago, shahanshahan said:

Video from Copa 90 featuring Rachel Furness, Satara Murray & Abi Harrison all playing EA Sports FC (FIFA) 24

I'd rather Rachel was on the pitch. Any idea how much longer she'll be out?

2 hours ago, shahanshahan said:

Some photos I took from Saturday. Didn't get round to posting them when I got back home after the game, and didn't feel right to post on Sunday.

 

I like the one about half way down where I think Connolly & Daly had a slight disagreement, Daly had a go at one of our other players later if I recall.

4 hours ago, shahanshahan said:

Interesting article to come out today in the Mirror. Includes quotes from club chairman Gavin Marshall & operations manager Emma Jolliffe

 

Mentions they're not breaking even, I wonder what the losses are? 

19 minutes ago, shahanshahan said:

Remaining fixtures:

Leicester (A) (losing 2-0 to Man City at the moment) - Sunday 18th Feb

Brighton (H) (currently managerless & 11th after losing 2-0 to Man Utd today) (H) - Sunday 3rd March

Man Utd (A) - Sunday 17th Mar

Spurs (H) - Sunday 24th Mar

Arsenal (A) - Sunday 31st Mar

Liverpool (H) - Sat 20th Apr

Man City (H) - Sun 28th Apr

Chelsea (A) - Sun 5th May

Everton (H) - Sat 18th May

My best bet is that we'd have to points from the Leicester & Brighton games, at least

Yep both those games plus nothing to fear from Everton & Liverpool based on the away games. Hopefully we can beat, or not lose, to Leicester & Brighton and hope it's not all over come the Everton match.

Can you work out why our away results are so much better than home?

Somehow got a draw out of that! This team are really fighting for everything, got to admire their spirit. If only we had someone like Jordan Nobbs in midfield we'd save an awful lot of energy.

Carrie Jones what a strike 2-2

1-1 HT

1-0 down early, Thestrup equaliser within a couple of mins.

21 minutes ago, Better Red said:

Could have nicked us a point….

We have been daylight robbery

But he did have a shoot on target that the keeper saved well

True, our only shot on target. Might have gone in if it was a truer connection though.

10 hours ago, TinMan's left peg said:

Don’t know why but I’m more angry about the way the woman’s team are being managed than the mens.  I can at least see some logic on the men’s side.  The people i feel most sorry for are the staff and the long-standing die hard fans ( I’m very much a part time one over recent seasons only for the women).  All that effort to get up, unbelievable progress with crowds and facilities etc just to chuck it all away after a feeble 1 season fling  

Think Lauren Smith gave the game away early in the season when she said we're just little old Bristol City. That appears to be the mindset. 

23 minutes ago, Shelton’s Love Gravy said:

I heard a rumour that she’s off to Villa

Thanks   She was injured today, according to Lauren's pre-match interview just seen. Not sure if Murray was injured when she came off or tactical. She looked a tad rusty.

1 hour ago, Full nelson said:

That was absolutely sh#te, sorry girls but that was crap!! Relegation  is a cert now. 

First half yes, they played like they'd only just met each other, 2nd half much better. I live in hope it'll all gel at some point. Missed Layzell today, injured presumably.

On 25/01/2024 at 21:44, Hamdon Mart said:

I wonder if the idea is to push Ffion Morgan further forward into attack so that Lisa Evans slots in to right midfield. 

In her interview Lisa says she's a winger who likes to go past defenders.

1 hour ago, phantom said:

I was surprised at how low this was 

Not a bad crowd I thought. There'll be double that at least for the league fixture.

2 minutes ago, Sleepy1968 said:

I see we lost 1-0, to Liverpool's only shot on target.

Will we ever win at home?

A goal would also be nice. Hopefully we'll win in a couple of weeks! 

2 minutes ago, shahanshahan said:

With all this talk of players coming in, one has headed out. On loan, anyway...

 

Surely they have to bring in an outfielder or three now! I was hoping they'd sign Rachel Rowe after Reading went down, maybe she could now come on loan from Rangers, barring injury as she doesn't appear to have played much for them so far this season.

16 minutes ago, Lanterne Rouge said:

We could get off the bottom if Everton can win at West Ham.  0-0 just after half time.

Everton 1-0 up 24 mins to go, we're off the bottom at this moment in time

3 minutes ago, old_eastender said:

HT 0-0. 

We may end up losing this game, but that was easily the best opening 45 mins we have had this season. Took the game to Liverpool from the off and have competed really well.

Syme, Napier & Morgan the pick of the bunch but almost all played well, just Harrison who has seemed a little sluggish,

 

Yep, Syme is doing a great unfussy job. 

2 hours ago, Erithacus said:

The main thing I'll take away today is the feeling that this team is slowly starting to get to grips with the system Lauren Smith has put in place and that they are up to WSL level. It's taken a little longer than desired but it is becoming the standard we need now. For the first half we kept United at bay and were more than up for a tussle. It was in no way the battering that some were whispering - and I think this will be the way forwards from here on.

It was somewhat of a shock to see the Dolman Stand so full (more so than the previous day?), as well as a smattering of fans in the South Stand. I imagine United brought quite a few but it is clear that Bristol has more Lioness fans than City fans.

No surprise to see a 5-4-1 out formation, but the burden really fell on the midfield once again. Without Furness, I did wonder how we would cope with the jewellery of United's international set, but I was encouraged to see the way the players were focussed on the gameplan and applied themselves so strongly. No-one was starstruck; everyone got stuck in. Some superstars didn't get the sort of reception they thought they would. More, please!

Liv CLark in goal has attracted some criticism lately but I thought she had a much improved game and was blameless for the two conceded. Her shot-stopping was first rate and frustrated the attacks well. Defensively, we worked well as a back 5 and the central defenders were usually in control of things. With the few chances that United did fashion, there were solid blocks and tight marking across the line. Considering the array of talent up against them, our girls showed no fear. Meg Connolly organised thoroughly, but the second-minute injury to Brooke Aspin was a big worry. Despite treatment the problem only got worse and she had to be stretchered off eventually. Hopefully it's not a serious knock. Chloe Mustaki came into the left of the line, with Layzell switching over to right. Even with the reshuffle, the defence stayed pretty solid.

In the middle of the park Napier, Rodgers and Morgan grafted hard all game, often in a defensive mode but were also able to stride forwards on the odd occasion and City created worthwhile attacks of their own. Although those chances were limited United weren't having it all their own way by any means. Abi Harrison started out wide left but soon came more into the middle to offer an outlet, as well as prompting play forwards. Thestrup was at times a lone figure but with Harrison linking up more as the game went on we looked a threat that meant United could not relax. Carrie Jones was always in the thick of things, often outshoning her more illustrious opponents and I'd give her the top rating today. The ongoing battle between Ella Toone and Jamie-Lee Napier was absorbing.

However, the bottom line is: we lost. A results business and all that. But there is a lot of mitigation, as we have matched one of Europe's top clubs and gavin them a game. More importantly, we showed more of what we are capable of and the team shows signs of improvement. Considering the absence of players like Furness, Murray, Hayles and so on, it was a gritty and determined performance today. If we can keep this momentum and build on it we will give ourselves more than a hope of survival this season. All in all, it was a heartening display from the Robins.

Agree with pretty much everything you say. Amy Jones was fantastic, Struck looked good when she came on. Sounds like Aspin is OK, not sure how she didn't get a yellow for that challenge though. Feel so proud of our players really, they're playing their socks off for little old Bristol City. We were good against Everton who won at Villa today so all is definitely not lost.