A very subjective look into AWFC

Players have always had infinite amounts of pressure on them. They have always had unreal expectations thrown at them, and they have had to deal with people’s assumptions as far as how to perform and why. It has to be so mentally challenging and that is why few people end up being professional footballers in the WSL.

This pressure though is to a degree universal, in my opinion, and this is felt also by people in lower leagues or “weaker” leagues, because as women it’s always going to be difficult and they are never going to be good enough for some. How stupid that? Anyway… that’s not my point today.

I was just thinking how as fan we tend to glorify injured players’s returns. Starting from a positive situation, we all want them to thrive and expect them to be happy and perform well but the measuring stick is very different for each and us as fans need to manage our expectations.

What does Laura have to do now to get the plaudits? How much pressure are we putting on her? Beth is scoring, Viv is not scoring, Leah assisted… you see what I’m getting at? Anything less will be hard to post online about as it relates to ONE moment.

For arguments sake, it would be a much bigger deal for Laura to take over Emily Fox than any worldie that Beth or Viv can score. Emily is playing really well so THAT’S the objective right? To get back on the squad, then start regularly.

The reality is that Beth, Viv and Leah didn’t have anyone else better than them that might truly actually worry fans about their comeback. There simply weren’t. They are among the best on planet earth and I have no clue who we could’ve signed that are better than them. I wouldn’t have any other 3 players.

But Laura isn’t considered world class yet but they way she has endeared herself with us fans speaks louder than just ability, and let’s face it: she was doing GREAT. Her passion, grit and power were outstanding and we definitely miss her.

Can’t wait for her to come back and I hope we all support just as much, if not more, than what we have done for the other girls.