A very subjective look into AWFC

There is something I have talked about here and have had numerous conversations off line about, something that worries me and something that I feel is a bit of a dark cloud around AWFC and woso, and I’m gonna try to explain myself, so please bear with me. Of course, I will say as a disclaimer that this is very Arsenal Women centric and it’s more of a theory than a prediction, if that makes any sense.

If we don’t win the CL or the WSL, I’m afraid we are staring at the beginning of the end for the relevance and influence we have in world football. We have so much pull and so much attendance but people will not come out if we don’t win. Maybe at borehamwood that felt differently but at The Emirates? Sorry but 24k for a season opener isn’t the best of attendances is it?

Given the fact that so many young fans follow players and not clubs, there is a very real danger of thousands of people not supporting AWFC through tough times. They don’t see the reward and they don’t have the patience, and that is typical of youth and that’s fine, I’m not criticizing it, I’m just saying that is a thing that I don’t think the club fully look at or at least not in the way I see it.

WOSO depends a lot on Arsenal, on the eyes they get, the turnout they produce, the merch they sell, the popularity/look of the players, the history, recent European success, etc so if that is gone or not realistic, then there is a chance a lot of people will just tune out and not watch.

The product is always good, I always wanna watch women’s football, I’m not talking about ability or the quality of the players, if talking about the act of winning trophies, which could be related of course, but I’m focusing on the binary reality of it all: you win trophies or you don’t.

At the end of the day it all rests on the manager. Her substitutions were absolutely not good, every player that came in was ineffective. Reuteler and Cerci were bought to do what? Would be nice to see them on the pitch, same with Holmberg.

IDK guys, 30 shots on target and no goals? wtf. Maybe last year we would’ve lost it? Also Stanway has been great imho…

We were ruthless in the transfers with the wrong players. Today we needed a McCabe or a Beth.

Anyway, I don’t have an answer.

I do think this is beyond a make or break season for Renee, to me this is a make or break season for AWFC. Just look at the abuse and vitriol fans spew online, look at the insults, how they shamelessly minimize and call player names and these people “love” the club and follow the players on social media.

It’s all absolutely insane.

❤

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