A very subjective look into AWFC

This is a very hard post to write because I’m assuming that at one point or another I will be somewhat critical of individuals and you have my word that I will do my best to not do that and to also focus on some things that I see as positives… just stick with me here.

We didn’t get killed, we were absent or neglectful and the girls always put the effort in. That is always an overwhelming positive unlike what we see in a lot of men’s football where the players look like they gave up or aren’t even trying. Not in the women’s game, nope. It wasn’t enough, but they put the effort in.

Another positive thing is the fact that we got this far with a squad who has players that aren’t as good as other squads. Imagine if we had better recruitment and better players in key areas, we would’ve gone to the final so there’s some hope that we get the right players this off season.

Now, what could’ve gone better? I thought Renee’s substitutions weren’t good…

Smilla should’s stayed as a winger, Katie and Mariona should’ve stayed on the pitch in a match of this magnitude and the biggest error for me was the fact that Foord even started this match. I didn’t think I could see her play worse than the previous match and today showed I was wrong. She never hides and always tries, I’ll give her that, but today nothing came off. I value effort and grit and fight. She always shows that.

The penalty we gave away was so, so, so clumsy and if Steph Catley would’ve played this would have never happened. I have said this for months, Leah and Steph need world class players to cover their position. Katie could’ve played there with Hinds at left back.

Don’t get me started on Beth not playing. She would’ve kept Bacha way busier and quieter.

This is on Renee though, and yeah I still trust her with my life.

Lyon were better, at everything basically and just like I feared, Bacha was unreal and Engen/Endler did NOT have poor matches. I also said if they didn’t have all 3 Americans in midfield they would control it and they did, I was wrong in that I expected Damaris to play but other than that, we could see this coming.

Katie needs to stay and if she goes like I’ve said for 3 years now, Bacha is who we need.

So what’s next? The brutal reality that this could’ve been the last CL ever for some of these players at Arsenal and maybe ever, who knows? It breaks my heart and I hope they all are proud of themselves.

Holmberg is the truth. That girl is special.

❤

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