Bristol City Women - WSL

[Eco]

5 minutes ago, Pippintogg said:

It's going to be a long afternoon.  Like a training game for MU. We drop so deep when they are in possession, their players can play walking football. 

Not too bad after the goal, defensively anyway. Some hefty challenges from Rodgers, Hayles & Napier.  

[Eco]

Hayles hits the post

[Eco]

Started this half really well, can hear the away fans.

[Eco]

0-2 final, game over once Napier was sent off. Glimpses of quality, battled their hearts out as usual but Utd strolled it really.

[Pippintogg]

23 minutes ago, Eco said:

0-2 final, game over once Napier was sent off. Glimpses of quality, battled their hearts out as usual but Utd strolled it really.

Totally agree. The gulf in quality is massive. Thestrup isolated constantly trying to press 3 central defenders. They could just stroll around and find a pass. Setup was about damage limitation, which worked due to poor MU finishing. Still a huge problem holding onto the ball. It's laudable trying to play out from the back, but the players aren't good enough. To many misplaced passes, particularly in midfield. I've said before that there is too much space in the formation of the team. It's too easy for teams to fill these gaps with a press, and force turnovers. Hopefully the players have learnt a lot, not sure about the coaching.  They could struggle in the Championship next season. 

[phantom]

43 minutes ago, Pippintogg said:

Totally agree. The gulf in quality is massive. Thestrup isolated constantly trying to press 3 central defenders. They could just stroll around and find a pass. Setup was about damage limitation, which worked due to poor MU finishing. Still a huge problem holding onto the ball. It's laudable trying to play out from the back, but the players aren't good enough. To many misplaced passes, particularly in midfield. I've said before that there is too much space in the formation of the team. It's too easy for teams to fill these gaps with a press, and force turnovers. Hopefully the players have learnt a lot, not sure about the coaching.  They could struggle in the Championship next season. 

I actually believe that the side has regressed this past year and are a long way off where we were a year ago 

Lauren is as uninspiring as Liam on the touchline and her interviews are just as bad 

Lots of effort but a long way short of being good enough 

[Pippintogg]

7 minutes ago, phantom said:

I actually believe that the side has regressed this past year and are a long way off where we were a year ago 

Lauren is as uninspiring as Liam on the touchline and her interviews are just as bad 

Lots of effort but a long way short of being good enough 

I would agree Phantom. Little flair or personality. 

[Eco]

7 hours ago, Pippintogg said:

Totally agree. The gulf in quality is massive. Thestrup isolated constantly trying to press 3 central defenders. They could just stroll around and find a pass. Setup was about damage limitation, which worked due to poor MU finishing. Still a huge problem holding onto the ball. It's laudable trying to play out from the back, but the players aren't good enough. To many misplaced passes, particularly in midfield. I've said before that there is too much space in the formation of the team. It's too easy for teams to fill these gaps with a press, and force turnovers. Hopefully the players have learnt a lot, not sure about the coaching.  They could struggle in the Championship next season. 

A quality midfielder, or two, is what we've missed all season, Emily Syme is probably the only one who looks comfortable on the ball but her lack of pace is an issue at this level unfortunately. IMO anyway. Not sure we'd struggle next season, depends how many of this season's squad we'd keep I suppose, also there may be talent in the Academy we're not aware of. Signing Thestrup was a stroke of genius but no doubt she'll be off if, or rather when, we go down. 

[phantom]

Possibly too late for most, but a decent discount none the less being advertised by "Her Game Too" 

Hopefully will get wider publicity from the women's social media accounts 

 

[Eco]

15 hours ago, phantom said:

Possibly too late for most, but a decent discount none the less being advertised by "Her Game Too" 

Hopefully will get wider publicity from the women's social media accounts 

 

You'd hope so. Hopefully a decent crowd will turn up, maybe 6-7K for this one.

[shahanshahan]

https://www.bcfc.co.uk/city-women-news/new-date-for-arsenal-trip/

Arsenal away now rescheduled for Sunday April 14th (Women's FA Cup semi-finals weekend), with a KO of 6.45pm as it's still going to be televised.
Supporter coach details to be fully confirmed soon.
Anyone that booked a coach ticket but can no longer make the rescheduled game should contact Supporter Services for a refund.
Arsenal Fan Services have emailed everyone that has bought match tickets (as they were selling tickets directly), and in that link is an email for anyone to claim a refund if they can no longer make the rescheduled fixture.

[Bobby girl]

On 17/03/2024 at 15:36, Pippintogg said:

I would agree Phantom. Little flair or personality. 

perhaps she is missing NP and his encouragement, just like us fans.

[shahanshahan]

Naomi Layzell is up for Young Football Player of the Year in the Women's Football Awards. The only Bristol City-related nomination I can see

https://womensfootballawards.com/voting/

 

[shahanshahan]

Belated upload from Sunday. My first time to Leigh Sports Village. Initially built (and still used) for rugby league, so there's a lot of references at the ground. Decent enough crowd of 4,254, considering it was United's first game at home in over a month. Probably could have been more if United men weren't at Old Trafford later that day.

Still a great performance compared to previous ones. Shame there were no City goals...
 

[Eco]

11 minutes ago, shahanshahan said:

Belated upload from Sunday. My first time to Leigh Sports Village. Initially built (and still used) for rugby league, so there's a lot of references at the ground. Decent enough crowd of 4,254, considering it was United's first game at home in over a month. Probably could have been more if United men weren't at Old Trafford later that day.

Still a great performance compared to previous ones. Shame there were no City goals...
 

Great stuff. If only Shania's shot had gone in or we'd made more use of the corners. Ah well.

[shahanshahan]

Press conference from today.

Some key points:

Smith pleased with Man Utd performance, acknowledges the away support but still wants that home win. Has praise for former City loanee Grace Clinton & Spurs manager Robert Vilahamn.

Jamie-Lee Napier suspended again after being sent off (one match ban I assume as she had two bookings), Carrie Jones has damaged ligaments in her ankle & won't be available for Sunday or probably for Wales in next international break.

Kudos to the journalist who asked about the fans forum that was postponed for no reason that was made public, and Smith replied that it's likely to be held before end of season

 

[phantom]

29 minutes ago, shahanshahan said:

Press conference from today.

Some key points:

Smith pleased with Man Utd performance, acknowledges the away support but still wants that home win. Has praise for former City loanee Grace Clinton & Spurs manager Robert Vilahamn.

Jamie-Lee Napier suspended again after being sent off (one match ban I assume as she had two bookings), Carrie Jones has damaged ligaments in her ankle & won't be available for Sunday or probably for Wales in next international break.

Kudos to the journalist who asked about the fans forum that was postponed for no reason that was made public, and Smith replied that it's likely to be held before end of season

 

Was there ever an official reason given for the Q&A being postponed? 

I'd have thought a longer ban as it was the second red card of the season 

[Eco]

1 hour ago, shahanshahan said:

Press conference from today.

Some key points:

Smith pleased with Man Utd performance, acknowledges the away support but still wants that home win. Has praise for former City loanee Grace Clinton & Spurs manager Robert Vilahamn.

Jamie-Lee Napier suspended again after being sent off (one match ban I assume as she had two bookings), Carrie Jones has damaged ligaments in her ankle & won't be available for Sunday or probably for Wales in next international break.

Kudos to the journalist who asked about the fans forum that was postponed for no reason that was made public, and Smith replied that it's likely to be held before end of season

 

Wonder who'll replace Napier? Ward did pretty well tracking back after she came on, plus she's quick. I'd go with her. 

[shahanshahan]

13 hours ago, phantom said:

Was there ever an official reason given for the Q&A being postponed? 

I'd have thought a longer ban as it was the second red card of the season 

None given by the club other than "unforeseen circumstances". However as it was the day before the Arms Fair took place, one theory is that questions about that could have been asked, and/or those against it could have turned up & disrupted it. Also, the team lost at home 7-3 the day before it was due to take place, which could have made things interesting if it went ahead on it's scheduled date.

As far as I'm aware, Napier has only been sent off once. She served one ban (the Brighton game) for getting five yellow cards

[phantom]

14 minutes ago, shahanshahan said:

None given by the club other than "unforeseen circumstances". However as it was the day before the Arms Fair took place, one theory is that questions about that could have been asked, and/or those against it could have turned up & disrupted it. Also, the team lost at home 7-3 the day before it was due to take place, which could have made things interesting if it went ahead on it's scheduled date.

As far as I'm aware, Napier has only been sent off once. She served one ban (the Brighton game) for getting five yellow cards

Ahh, I misunderstood, I wrongly assumed the suspension was for a previous red

[phantom]

On 16/03/2024 at 16:12, Barrs Court Red said:

Anyone have an idea when they usually announce if the P&R is running for matches? 

Confirmed not running for the Spurs fixture 

 

[GrahamC]

There could not be a greater example of the false equivalence that goes on in the local media than the fact that both City & Rovers’ women’s teams are at home today.

City play Spurs, Rovers play Liskeard.

Bet the chasm in standard doesn’t get pointed out once.

[Erithacus]

I understand the Gas Girls are already promoted (as of last week's other results) and have sold over 1,000 tickets for their game at the Mem. Could this be a new rivalry in the making?

Meanwhile, in today's game against Spurs it is an imperative that we win. No other result is of any use. We simply cannot go without a victory, what with the remaining fixtures. I will hope that the girls will have it in them to produce the performance that they are capable of and emerge with renewed confidence. However, an adverse outcome will be a nail in the coffin, I fear.

Given that the other teams at the wrong end are not expected to have any fortune today, it may be that that we could do ourselves a huge favour in winning. I'll also hope that there is a big crowd too. It's getting late in the season and we need everything to go our way now.

COYR!

[Super]

One down 

[Coach]

What a way to treat the goalkeepers. Gets Shae in from America, plays several games and does little wrong, gets dropped for Liv Clark (who herself had played consistently well for City and Wales before getting replaced) for the biggest game of the season against Brighton. Shae gets put back in for one game, again does little wrong, and is now dropped for Fran, who presumably won't want to stick around when we get relegated. Crazy selection process.

[Pippintogg]

31 minutes ago, Super said:

One down 

Same problems as usual. Early goal  conceding possession through poor passing, getting hurried in possession. Better press when spurs keeper has the ball, but should be 2 down. Poor miss from spurs.

[Eco]

Brilliant cut back by Thestrup to where Thestrup should be. Still 1-0 Spurs aren't brilliant.

[redkev]

Not a massive follower of the women’s team but do like to keep an eye on results as tbf it’s Bristol city and anything Bristol city catches my eye , but every time I look at a result or match stats we have nearly always lost and the match stats are always pretty much veryone sided , are we really that bad in this division I know the women’s game has grown massively are we that far behind the game line and is it simpley , funding 

[Roger Red Hat]

HPC for the women's team again next season then. Without the correct investment yo-yo ing is going to be best it gets for them, if they're lucky.

[Pippintogg]

1 minute ago, redkev said:

Not a massive follower of the women’s team but do like to keep an eye on results as tbf it’s Bristol city and anything Bristol city catches my eye , but every time I look at a result or match stats we have nearly always lost and the match stats are always pretty much veryone sided , are we really that bad in this division I know the women’s game has grown massively are we that far behind the game line and is it simpley , funding 

We are a long way behind the top teams in the PL. It's all about funding now the big clubs have decided the women's game is worth investing in. Like the men's team we can't compete unless we invest. Although it's a lot more affordable in the WPL. However, the best players are always going to be attracted by the big name clubs. I'm not sure about the pathway for younger players to progress, but would hope that it can follow the model of the men's team. Apart from selling our best players! I think the coaching has been poor this season, very little plan B and performances have been predictable.