-
Joe, 11 & 5
You heard about it, I heard about it and I know Viv and Jen heard about it. New squad numbers were announced by the club and we were all an emotional wreck when we saw Vivianne Miedema’s biggest fan on planet earth aka Katie McCabe get #11. We all know she loves Viv and nobody deserves to wear that number more than her and after all, it is a lefty type number anyway.
I’m also chuffed for Laia Codina getting #5. Not just because it’s a “more serious” number but someone with that squad number you’d expect to be a feature and not a sub and I’m very hopeful that is the case and we see much more or her next season.
There are a few squad numbers available but I’m not smart enough or organized enough to figure out and let you know but the less weird numbers we have the better for my anxiety. 27? 29? GTFO haha.
In much more on the pitch style news I am very, very happy that Joe Montemurro is off to Lyon, only because it might be enough of a thing for Viv to maybe make the switch and sign for them. I do worry that he will try using DVD out of place and when I spoke about anxiety before, nothing has ever given me more anxiety in my life when I see my favorite player played out of position.
Either way, the idea of a potential reunion of viv and dvd, with those two geniuses teaming up again is just about the most exciting things I could ever imagine as a fan of Viv, of DvD and of course of The Netherlands.
Gotta run but if you can please watch The Highbury Squad’s tribute to Kevin Campbell in a couple of hours which you can watch HERE
d ❤
THAT ARSENAL WOMEN PODCAST on:
You can listen to my music HEREAlessia Russo, arsenal, arsenal blog, Arsenal Football Club, arsenal podcast, arsenal women, arsenal women blog, Arsenal Women FC, arsenal women football club, Arsenal women podcast, AWFC, AWFC podcast, beth mead, blog about arsenal women, blogs about arsenal women, Emily Fox, FIFA WWC, Katie mccabe, Kim little, Laia Codina, Leah williamson, lia walti, Steph catley, Stina Blackstenius, that arsenal women podcast, the matildas, UWCL, Vivianne Miedema, women’s football podcast, woso, Woso podcast, WSL podcast -
what we need is a world class manager
Five more sleeps… maybe more, maybe less but the transfer window will be open or will have been opened for a few hours a week from today, or is it a week from yesterday? I clearly don’t know but what I do know is that every single year I love and dread this time and I’m beyond a shadow of a doubt ready and terrified.
What is tricky about this transfer window is that we can’t predict or rationalize the decisions that the current manager will make, so even if we buy player X, I don’t know if he’ll get the best out of them and I don’t even know which position we will try to fill in for.
Like, everyone is obsessed with LWM and with the idea of Leah playing in midfield. I am neither. If anything I would love to see LWM as a right back or even a LB from time to time and I think she would be an absolute monster in a defensive midfield situation because she has a lot of the attributes.
With that said I would go for a central defender, in theory, BUT Lotte was fantastic and deserves to play and with Laia and of course Amanda, it will provide us with enough options, first, second and third of which are Leah Williamson.
What we need are world class players, in every position. We have tons of them actually already, as you well know, but if we’re gonna buy a midfielder it has to be Keira status, if we’re gonna buy a defender it has to be Greenwood status… you get the drift.
I love Cloe and I would love to see her get more minutes but if the options are her and Caitlin on the left, we certainly need more competition and we need players that can swap wings with Beth like Hemp does and how Chloe Kelly does, unless that player is Caldentey who has no option but to have the biggest season possible given the fact that optically she is “replacing Vivianne Miedema.” and goddamn do I hate the sound of that.
For the record I am not over and will never be over that manager and the club doing what they did and how they did it to Viv. Never ever and I promise you I won’t let you forget it either because I will talk about it whenever I can.
But going back to “needing world class players” what we actually need is a world class manager, who would get the absolute best out of all the players on and off the pitch. Someone who the players would die for and play for, not someone with soundbites who pushes players, literally, and is rewarded with a new contract for not winning.
There’s a ceiling to the player’s ability to express themselves and that can be the downfall of next season which ultimately be his in the end if the club are smart.
d ❤
THAT ARSENAL WOMEN PODCAST on:
You can listen to my music HEREAlessia Russo, arsenal, arsenal blog, Arsenal Football Club, arsenal podcast, arsenal women, arsenal women blog, Arsenal Women FC, arsenal women football club, Arsenal women podcast, AWFC, AWFC podcast, beth mead, blog about arsenal women, blogs about arsenal women, Cloe Lacasse, Emily Fox, FIFA WWC, Katie mccabe, Kim little, Laia Codina, Laura wienroither, Leah williamson, lia walti, Steph catley, that arsenal women podcast, the matildas, UWCL, Vivianne Miedema, women’s football podcast, woso, Woso podcast, WSL podcast -
Gooner Gossip TV
Hey friends, I will leave the blog post I was writing for tomorrow since I had the absolute joy and blast of appearing on Gooner Gossip TV with Soph aka @TV_GOONER !! She is such a great person and her positivity and optimism is fantastic.
We spoke about lots of different things regarding AWFC, the current manager, the transfer window and more.
I’m also really flattered to have appeared on the same show as Sophie Nicolaou, Sheban Aherne, Laura Woods and Lianne Sanderson, four women who I look up to and admire more than you can imagine.
You can watch the video here:
d ❤
THAT ARSENAL WOMEN PODCAST on:
You can listen to my music HEREAlessia Russo, arsenal, arsenal blog, Arsenal Football Club, arsenal podcast, arsenal women, arsenal women blog, Arsenal Women FC, arsenal women football club, Arsenal women podcast, AWFC, AWFC podcast, beth mead, blog about arsenal women, blogs about arsenal women, Caldentey, Cloe Lacasse, Emily Fox, FIFA WWC, Frida Manuum, Horan, Katie mccabe, Kim Litt, Kim little, Laura wienroither, Leah williamson, lia walti, manu zinsberger, Stina Blackstenius, that arsenal women podcast, the matildas, UWCL, Vivianne Miedema, women’s football podcast, woso, Woso podcast, WSL podcast -
Sign her up
As much as I don’t like talking about rumors this one is particularly jaw dropping and absolutely worth talking about even if it’s just a hypothetical situation. Keira Walsh to Arsenal would be the biggest signing ever maybe until Viv signs for anyone else. I’m talking about the symbolism of the signing and it’s impact, among many other things.
Keira is the best player at her position on planet earth and lots of us think that Lia Walti is a close second if not just as good. On her day, she truly is, or at least that is that I believe, and to have them both in our squad, alongside Kim Little and others would be next level business.
Quite frankly, it’s the midfield a club of our level deserves. I get the love and hope we people have for Pelova and KCC but the reality is that they are nowhere near the level of the best players in the world and if a club is ruthless enough to let Viv go, it should be very much aware that we need better players because there’s a time and place for potential and the core of the midfield might not be it at this time and place.
My friend brought this incredible point up, and I’m paraphrasing but if the club is actually trying to sign her it seems like an admission that the current project is not good enough. So which one is it? Putting our eggs in the youth basket along the lines of selling Viv as an excuse, or are we signing experienced players like Caldentey and Walsh.
It’s gonna be very fun going on twitter and seeing people jump through hoops to justify everything the club does and conveniently forget their own stances on this. Quite funny and predictable and if I had more free time I would be buying popcorn right now.
There is a major concern for me with her singing and anyone else’s for that matter and that boils down to the fact that I have zero belief in the current manager and part of me feels that somehow, someway, if Keira comes to us, she might have one of the softest seasons. But finding out would mean she signs and I’m totally into that.
But if I have to say why this signing rumor makes me very happy is that Leah will have her best friend in the squad and that can have an exponential effect on the club and England.
d ❤
THAT ARSENAL WOMEN PODCAST on:
You can listen to my music HEREAlessia Russo, Amanda Ilestedt, arsenal, arsenal blog, Arsenal Football Club, arsenal podcast, arsenal women, arsenal women blog, Arsenal Women FC, arsenal women football club, Arsenal women podcast, AWFC, AWFC podcast, beth mead, blog about arsenal women, blogs about arsenal women, Caldentey, Cloe Lacasse, Emily Fox, FIFA WWC, Frida Manuum, Katie mccabe, Keira Walsh, Kim little, Laura wienroither, Leah williamson, lia walti, manu zinsberger, Stina Blackstenius, that arsenal women podcast, the matildas, UWCL, Vivianne Miedema, women’s football podcast, woso, Woso podcast, WSL podcast -
Challenge
As you can imagine, I have been very affected by the passing of Kevin Campbell. When the time is right I will share a video that he sent me a while back, but I wanted to pose a challenge to you and I was hoping you would join me.
Kevin always said that we had to tell me people that we loved them. To drop a message, to send a text, a DM, a phone call… anything. I will include sending a tweet as well.
So, if you would join me, please do one of each to someone you love.
Call someone and tell them you love them
Text someone and tell them you love them
DM someone and tell them you love them
Tweet at someone and tell them you love them.
It might make their day, it might rekindle a friendship, and they might need you more than you know.
If reaching out to someone you know is too emotional, take a chance and reach out to an AWFC player that you admire and tell them you love them. Show love and positivity and support.
Life is too short.
AWFC must always be equated with love… other emotions too, but the football club of your heart must overwhelmingly evoke love in you. But that implies the love we give to it as well, not just buying the latest line of merch but online support and also checking them when they aren’t doing things right. Don’t get it twisted.
Let me know how it felt to reach out to your people!
d ❤
THAT ARSENAL WOMEN PODCAST on:
You can listen to my music HEREarsenal, arsenal blog, Arsenal Football Club, arsenal podcast, arsenal women, arsenal women blog, Arsenal Women FC, arsenal women football club, Arsenal women podcast, AWFC, AWFC podcast, beth mead, blog about arsenal women, blogs about arsenal women, Caldentey, Cloe Lacasse, Emily Fox, FIFA WWC, Katie mccabe, Kim little, Laia Codina, Leah williamson, lia walti, Matildas, Stina Blackstenius, that arsenal women podcast, the matildas, UWCL, Vivianne Miedema, women’s football podcast, woso, Woso podcast, WSL podcast -
RIP Super Kev ❤
It is with great sadness that I write this post. Kevin Campbell, one of the kindest and most loving humans I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting and speaking to, has passed away. The entirety of the Arsenal community is in mourning and I join them in this with a heavy heart.
I loved Kevin. So much. He will always be an Arsenal legend but beyond that he was a great father, a great friend and loved our Arsenal so much.
Podcasting with him was one of the honors of my footballing adjacent life and I will never ever forget a clip he sent me when I was getting ready to host an Arsenal Women show for The Highbury Squad.
One of the things Kevin always said was: tell people you love them
Please do that, always.
He knew we loved him, he knew I loved him.
Rest in peace my friend and hope you know we all love you and we’re proud of you.
I don’t deal well with grief and I don’t see a proper way of coping with this loss either.
Love you all.
d ❤
THAT ARSENAL WOMEN PODCAST on:
You can listen to my music HEREAlessia Russo, arsenal, arsenal blog, Arsenal Football Club, arsenal podcast, arsenal women, arsenal women blog, Arsenal Women FC, arsenal women football club, Arsenal women podcast, AWFC, AWFC podcast, beth mead, blog about arsenal women, blogs about arsenal women, Caldentey, Cloe Lacasse, Emily Fox, FIFA WWC, Frida Manuum, Katie mccabe, Kim little, Laia Codina, Leah williamson, lia walti, manu zinsberger, Stina Blackstenius, that arsenal women podcast, the matildas, UWCL, Vivianne Miedema, women’s football podcast, woso, Woso podcast, WSL podcast -
Big season for Frida
If I am to focus on and continue to be critical of the lack of depth in our squad and the poor rotation by the current manager, I would basically spend too much time and spiral into anxiety and negativity. So, for the sake of optimism I want to chat briefly about a player that I believe can have a very impact in the upcoming season and that player is Frida.
Admitting what I’m about to admit might tough to read or even write and since I try to always be open and honest with you I will go ahead and say that I have not had much faith in her for a while. Something seems to have been off with her, and this has nothing to do with her collapsing. I just don’t feel that the current manager is getting the best out of her, as with most of the squad.
Among the things I like about her are her height, her power and most of all her confidence to shoot. It’s something that is need and we miss it. Katie did it more, Jordan did it often and when Frida doesn’t play it seems that there is a lot of hesitation by midfielders like Pelova and KCC.
The injury to the former clearly shouts for new signings and I will be the first one to scream off the top of my lungs that we need at least 2 world class midfielders, but there is something to be said about involving Frida more, in a more effective way and I of course have no idea what that would be.
I am of the belief that when the manager is the right one, players will not only be willing to play anywhere but they would be willing to progress and excel at whichever position is asked of them and if Friday needs to play a big deeper with Kim and Lia and be better than what she has show, then that’s what we need and a manager should be able to get that out of her. With that said, I still reinforce my opinion that I believe a midfield of Lia, Kim and Katie is the answer and has been for a long time. I will die on this hill.
There were loud rumors about her moving on this summer and I have no idea what will happen but if she is to stay I believe and hope that she will have a massive season for us, because that’s what she deserves and that’s what the club deserves.
d ❤
THAT ARSENAL WOMEN PODCAST on:
You can listen to my music HEREAlessia Russo, arsenal, arsenal blog, Arsenal Football Club, arsenal podcast, arsenal women, arsenal women blog, Arsenal Women FC, arsenal women football club, Arsenal women podcast, AWFC, AWFC podcast, beth mead, blog about arsenal women, blogs about arsenal women, Cloe Lacasse, Emily Fox, FIFA WWC, Frida Manuum, Katie mccabe, Kim little, Laia Codina, Leah williamson, lia walti, Steph catley, that arsenal women podcast, UWCL, Vivianne Miedema, woso -
Who is to blame?
When dealing with such high levels of emotion as I am doing at the moment, it’s really hard to not point a finger and blame people for what happened to Victoria, but I am here to maybe do just that.
It has been clear that the current AWFC manager opted to play the living daylights out of her. The amount of minutes she was played was unacceptable. He played her in matches she didn’t have to play and certainly left her on the pitch for way longer than he should’ve, for fitness or performance reasons it’s irrelevant. Like, even if she’s killing it and we’re winning, take her off FFS.
Arsenal should’ve never allowed her or others to travel to Australia and play those matches. It’s absolutely insane to me and this is exactly why I don’t plan on going to the match in the USA, simply because I don’t want to be a part of fixture congestion. The players aren’t just objects for my entertainment. I care about them and their well being and this is just getting ridiculous.
There is also some responsibility and accountability that lands on the dutch and Andries Jonker. He didn’t have to play her as much as she has been playing. So it’s everyone’s fault really. It’s a sum of things, not just a silly tackle she should’ve never made… that was a tired mind and a tired body.
Sooner or later it’ll come out that she had been injured for months because this is a fact, whether you choose to believe it or not. She has been injured and was still overplayed.
For Arsenal as a club and business, if they are ruthless as we’ve seen with Viv, I expect nothing less than to look ahead. It’s absurd and naive to think that KCC or Khul are the answers, when Pelova herself wasn’t. We need to sign someone like Horan, Stanway or Lena Obedorf, which is the caliber of player we should have always had to begin with. Players like that will be so beneficial for Victoria on her way to recovery just as Kim and Lia and the rest of the squad can and will be.
d ❤
THAT ARSENAL WOMEN PODCAST on:
You can listen to my music HEREAlessia Russo, arsenal, arsenal blog, Arsenal Football Club, arsenal podcast, arsenal women, arsenal women blog, Arsenal Women FC, arsenal women football club, Arsenal women podcast, AWFC, AWFC podcast, beth mead, blog about arsenal women, blogs about arsenal women, Caldentey, Cloe Lacasse, Emily Fox, FIFA WWC, Katie mccabe, Kim little, Laia Codina, Leah williamson, lia walti, Matildas, Steph catley, that arsenal women podcast, UWCL, Vivianne Miedema, women’s football podcast, woso, Woso podcast, WSL podcast -
Unreal
I am so, so gutted for Victoria Pelova and for the squad. The news of her ACL injury must be devastating for her, for her family, her team (management, agents, etc) and of course her teammates for both club and country. I’m afraid we all knew this is what the injury was. We all had a feeling, we saw the play, we saw her knee, we saw her reaction.
So, beyond pointing any fingers and putting blame on anyone, let’s focus on her and what we can do as a fan base to help her get through this terrible period. I personally don’t know what to do, the same way that I didn’t know what to do with other players, but yet another ACL in jury is absolutely mental.
Of course its hard to think of many positives but I will try, just for the sake of perspective… She has seen how recovery goes. She has been there for Viv and the rest when they needed HER and she will have people around her for HER too. She also knows the struggles both mental and physical so this injury is not a complete unknown for her and might be “easier” to deal with than if she has no idea what to expect.
She has an incredible medical team in the NL squad and of course Arsenal have a ton of experience with this type of injury, sadly.
It’s hard to just think that Beth, Viv or Leah can return to their super high level, but with Vic, being younger and with many more years ahead of her, I am actually very confident that she will not only recover, but be even stronger and better than she was. I would bet on it.
I have the same feeling with her as I did with Laura. It might take some time but I think both of these players have what it takes to come back and be a better version of themselves.
I’ll talk about her work load, that manager and options for the future. For now I will do my best to respect this moment and respect her because it is the least that she deserves.
Vic is a player that gives her all every single minute of every single match and that level of enthusiasm and drive is hard to come by. She reminds me of some singers I’ve worked with when they don’t have an off switch. They know they should be marking the vocals aka not singing full out, but they can’t help themselves and they should belt every moment they can.
d ❤
THAT ARSENAL WOMEN PODCAST on:
You can listen to my music HEREACL, ACL Injury, Alessia Russo, arsenal, arsenal blog, Arsenal Football Club, arsenal podcast, arsenal women, arsenal women blog, Arsenal Women FC, arsenal women football club, Arsenal women podcast, AWFC, AWFC podcast, beth mead, blog about arsenal women, blogs about arsenal women, Caldentey, Emily Fox, FIFA WWC, Katie mccabe, Kim little, lia walti, Matildas, Steph catley, Stina Blackstenius, that arsenal women podcast, UWCL, Victoria Pelova, Vivianne Miedema, women’s football podcast, woso, Woso podcast, WSL podcast -
Laura, calm and no Vic
Extending Laura’s is very good news. It’s good news for her, it’s good news for the fans, it’s good news for the club, and there is absolutely no downside to this whatsoever. This is a bit of business that I am 100% fully behind and I really hope that the short term future involves a very competitive and active tandem of right backs in Laura and Emily.
I don’t have kids but have been around them tons, and this signing kinda feels like when you clean up a kid’s play room. A few minutes before there’s just stuff everywhere, nothing makes sense, you can find anything from chocolate pieces to things that look like chocolate pieces but aren’t chocolate. The latter is kinda what that manager has created in our club, so to see Laura extend, coupled with Leah as well, is like cleaning stuff and putting things in their assigned place. Most of them anyway.
In other non news and the apparent calm that is around the fan base is more like the burning home meme where the little dog is drinking coffee and saying to himself: I’m fine. And of course I’m talking about the lack of news regarding Pelova.
Why have we not been told? There is no way it takes this long to figure out what the injury is or at least for the club to say something about it. There are different protocols for the releasing of news regarding things such as injuries or personal time off in/for the Netherlands so we’ll just have to wait and see but I am not hopeful at all. I am convinced this is a really bad injury. I feel really bad for her and that wasn’t a good tackle to make but the way she landed after was catastrophic and I would be surprised if she isn’t ready for the start of the season, if that.
Once the news are confirmed I will talk more about it but if you’re read this blog for the past 2 or 3 months you would have read that I have felt she has been injured. I have seen her play so many matches and she didn’t seem to be running the same way.
I am not a stats person but I can pretty much guarantee there has been a considerable drop-off in her performances, assists and goals. She had a good 3 or 4 months and then probably around the time she got injured or started with some issues, it all went south and I know it’s very hard for some fans to see and admit it but she hasn’t been the same player you all love for a while. She seems hesitant in decision making and things like that be affected when we don’t feel our body is there perfectly sound.
She doesn’t deserve this injury, she doesn’t deserve any injury ever and neither do any of the players. The fans will have an absolute meltdown and the club better be lining up midfielders which we need anyway.
d ❤
THAT ARSENAL WOMEN PODCAST on:
You can listen to my music HEREarsenal, arsenal blog, Arsenal Football Club, arsenal podcast, arsenal women, arsenal women blog, Arsenal Women FC, arsenal women football club, Arsenal women podcast, AWFC, AWFC podcast, beth mead, blog about arsenal women, blogs about arsenal women, Caldentey, Cloe Lacasse, Emily Fox, FIFA WWC, Katie mccabe, Kim little, Laura wienroither, Leah williamson, lia walti, Steph catley, that arsenal women podcast, the matildas, UWCL, Victoria Pelova, Vivianne Miedema, women’s football podcast, woso, Woso podcast, WSL podcast
A very subjective look into AWFC 