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Two misses in a row
AHHHH I thought I would have time to what the match after all but I have a rehearsal to go to and I just cannot miss it. More over, since today I have a really good feeling that its gonna be a electric game.
I’m also leaving my house before I even hear what the lineup is going to be so I can’t even talk about that and I know better than to try to predict what Jonas is gonna do, specially when I have been vocal about not even him knowing.
The next few days are a little trick for me and I’m not quite sure what my blogging or podcasting will be like so I apologize in advance if its on the lighter side of things.
What is not ever light, is the content that my friend Shebahn posts. She’s the best and if you, like me, can’t watch the game live and enjoy watchalongs, please watch her here:
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Villaish
Early afternoon yesterday I saw a WhatsApp message from a good friend of mine saying that he had heard that I went to Singapore. Something like: “a little bird told me you were on this side of the world.” I was super busy and thought little of it and figured I’d reply in a few minutes but it ended up being hours until I did.
As soon as I replied and mentioned when I had gone, because he didn’t know for sure, he replied that he was AT THE SAME CONCERT. We didn’t know… of course we didn’t see each other and we couldn’t believe the other person was being serious. Absolutely insane.
The main emotion was sadness because I would’ve loved nothing more than to see him after soooooooo many years without spending time with such a good friend and someone who was monumental in my career, without whom I would’ve never been able to be a professional musician.
I guess the moral of the story is, if you can, tell people that are nearby x place that you will be there in case they happen to be there too?? Idk… I don’t love announcing every move I make all the time but this kinda bummed me out and made me rethink the way I do things.
What does this have to do with AWFC? Very little. I just wanted to share something random.
Villa next and chances are I will sadly also have to miss this game, but I have a feeling its also gonna be a good one for us. I’m expecting us to make Villa pay for our Chelsea defeat as a matter of fact. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy but I think this is one of those games where the squad says: “F*CK IT” and play out of their minds. Almost as if to prove to the world it’s not THEM but how the manager has set them up.
I’m expecting Katie and Beth to score a couple, if not a couple each.
I just have a really, really good feeling about tomorrow.
It will be a great day and a way for the girls to be energized and empowered for the match against Chelsea next weekend.
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I can’t watch these press conferences
When I tell you that I need to trust my instincts more and not watch pre match or post match press conferences like I normally do, would be accurate. There are reasons why I don’t watch them ever, specially from Jonas, and whatever it is I just watched is proof that I just need to stop.
I get very agitated and emotional and basically shake my head in disapproval alongside with utter disbelief of what I’m hearing and at the same time agreeing with a thing or two, so none of it is enjoyable, specially when I never ever hear any sort of accountability. There’s “we” but I wanna hear “I” and/or “me”
The issue of “maturity” stood out to me, and you need to hear the whole thing but basically it was referring to players being able to adapt to changes and to other teams, and I’m sorry but whenever you throw the word “maturity” as a talking point and you have Kim Little, Lia Walti, Leah Williamson, Miedema, Beth Mead, Steph Catley, Manu, Katie and others on your team, there is something every strange there.
His metaphor about a plane crash… my friend, you’re the pilot. You had a chance to take responsibility and passed on it.
Anyway, days like today I get too critical and I need to stop before I type the manager’s name and a three letter word right after.
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We should sign Putellas
I get that it is way too early to be talking about transfers… but someone’s gotta do it and no I’m not talking about Alex Greenwood although she’s still my dream signing defensively, aside from brining back Dom Janssen.
Watching the CL yesterday, specifically the Barcelona match, and seeing how they brought ALEXIA PUTELLAS at halftime really made me hope that she would come to Arsenal in the summer. There’s no hint of this happening, I haven’t heard anything and if anything else this is the first time I’ve ever thought about it but I’m gonna run with it.
Arsenal would be a great fit for her and it would incredible to see her alongside Kim, Lia, Viv and the rest of the world class squad we have. She fits, her ability fits and furthermore, I don’t think that Barcelona are planning their future with her as much as they would with Aitana. And just to be clear, this is just me speculating.
Why not though? Why couldn’t/shouldn’t we sign her? She would only add depth and quality to the squad. I get that she is still recovering from an injury but she’s such an exceptional talent. She might need a change of scenery, a new club, a new culture and a new challenge.
Someone is gonna get her.
Sounds nuts but again: why not?
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Torn
Only a few of you would get why I chose that title as it relates to Australia. If you don’t: that’s ok! and if you do, I love you.
I really feel like this trip to Australia, where the girls will play some A-League all star team, is a terrible idea. This is due to fixture congestion, flying, jet lag, lack of sleep, and everything in between. There are no breaks. They won’t get any time off and they will meet with their national teams like 6 days later.
It’s pretty wild.
We keep talking about how the biggest problem is the amount of games the teams play and then the powers that be book these types of matches which to a degree obligate them to play star players so that ticket sales are boosted or attendance is higher.
On the flip side this is a genius thing. Taking advantage of the fact that we have amazing Australian players and the brand is there to be expanded upon and all that smart marketing situation that the club is a master of.
So as usual: WTF do I know?
Asking the players would be great.
I wonder if you had an anonymous survey sent out to them… what would they say? Would they wanna go?
My guess is that it would be a huge NO.
As a fan here in the USA I actually never ever go see when Arsenal men play here. It’s my way of protesting what I consider to be an overplaying problem and I don’t want to be part of the issue. However, if the girls came to play anywhere in the USA I would most likely fly to see them… So to say I’m biased, confused and a hypocrite would be accurate.
What do YOU think? Is this trip good idea?
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Should the Conti Cup exist?
In a landscape where footballers are playing way too many minutes and ACL injuries happen all the time, there’s a part of me that thinks it should be scrapped completely. But is that fair to other clubs? I don’t think so.
The only true, valid and real answer to the question is that it is definitely not for me to decide. All I can say is that my opinion is just that: an opinion, and if I wasn’t an Arsenal fan I probably would think the answer is YES IT SHOULD EXIST.
The Conti Cup is a great competition but it’s very convenient to say that. I’m basing it on the fact that it’s the only trophy we could win this season so yeah, it’s important and great and hard to win haha. Winning it last year was incredible to me as a fan who has only seen ONE trophy being won since I’ve been a supporter, so that particular competition is special for me but for totally selfish reasons, as you can tell.
You all know this but not every fan supports a huge club that gets 60k people a couple of weekends in a row. So, as privileged as we are and can afford to play one competition less, other teams can’t and other players shouldn’t miss out either. For some players this is the shopping window they need to be seen at. It’s their chance to make a big impression on a top manager or scout and who knows who else. So part of me feels this is a competition that has to stay put.
One of the tenants of sports that I am a champion of is the idea that “success breeds success” and every trophy/cup win is massive. It adds to the history of the club, to the pedigree of the players, to their self esteem, and that can translate into longevity, relevance, gigs outside of the pitch when they retire, etc etc etc. A trophy is a very big deal.
With that said, yes I want to win the Conti Cup but if we were top of the league and playing the quarters of the CL and that meant we would’ve been knocked out of the Conti I would take it in a heartbeat. I bet you would too.
Winning trophies is what Arsenal do, it’s part of our DNA and if we are truthful and admit that it hasn’t been our recent present, with the players we have, then there’s something missing. Yet, winning 2 trophies in a row can be a start to something new, and it can help us find something whatever that is.
I think I know 😉
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If you have to ask…
The one question we cannot be asking ourselves with so few games left is the one which we haven’t gotten an answer to, and quite frankly I feel our manager hasn’t/can’t answer. It’s the most basic of questions, that beyond being subjective and dependent on the overplaying of players, we don’t seem to know. Oddly enough, the lack of the answer of that question brings up this question: WHAT THE ACTUAL F*CK?
The question is: what is our best XI? Do you know? I have an idea of what it is FOR ME, but the manager hasn’t ever played it and we won’t be able to because of Amanda being out for the next few months, Viv out possibly for the season, etc.
But isn’t it wild that we don’t know? Every single team deals with injuries and absences and we just don’t seem to cope the same way. Chelsea didn’t have Millie Bright, Sam Kerr & Kirby and still destroyed us. Emma has figured out, if not her best XI, a way to go from match to match with the right team. Why can’t we?
We are Arsenal FC and we have world class players that at the moment haven’t been put in winning positions figuratively and literally. You might think that’s harsh or that it’s just my opinion, and I don’t think you’re wrong but it’s also factual. It falls on the manager.
I saw a thread on Twitter regarding our stats this year and it was pretty alarming but I’m not surprised because of who has been missing.
Are you really surprised that we have had a poor season without Leah fully fit and without Rafa? You’re talking about perhaps the most dominating partnership we’ve had in years. Are you surprised when speed and sentimentality weigh more than intelligence and experience? AKA you don’t let Jen Beattie leave the club. You give her a fucking statue.
When something is wrong, you try to fix it. You don’t just expect things to click one day and that’s it. That’s what I feel the manager is doing. Something is off and part of that is his team selection, beyond the tactics.
I’m exhausted of beating the same drum and I also don’t wanna be an a*hole more than I already am but we need different players in different positions or the same players in different positions and I just don’t see it changing under Jonas because things would’ve changed already.
Anyway, I gotta run to a rehearsal and don’t think I can record a podcast til tomorrow maybe.
Have a great week
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A woman would fix this
I understand how this blog title could imply that I would like to see Sonia take over now, but that is not the case. However, the summer would be a great time to do so. I also get how it can seem like I’m calling for Jonas to be fired but its not that. It’s more about who comes next, whenever that is.
To me, and most people, the clear choice would be Sonia Bonpastor. I mean DUH. But more than us getting her for our progress, it would mean that Chelsea or Man Utd don’t get her. That is crucial and very, very important.
What seems like the reality to me is that our manager doesn’t have a clear plan and there is also no adjusting and what I perceive as a lack of versatility which has us carrying out the poorest of seasons since I’ve been following this team.
It makes me very sad for the girls. It truly does. And also it makes me sad for people like Viv who know they could be making such a difference but they can’t. It makes me sad for Leah who is only coming back from injury and we’re all putting so much pressure on her.
But it’s the literal job of the manager to fix this and if he hasn’t done it by now, I don’t have much confidence that he will. Like, what would need to happen?
I would say the same thing after winning the Conti Cup too. It’s the least the girls deserve but as you all know, this sport is not about deserving because all women deserve all the trophies in the game. That’s not an issue.
I’m a firm believer that a female manager is the only option for Arsenal. I’ve heard some rumors but none more scary than Bonpastor to Chelsea. That cannot happen…
But it will, won’t it?
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What’s with the gum chewing?
Friends, I’m an absolute mess today and I cannot even look at a screen for the time being. I don’t feel well enough to try to write and concentrate and all of that and I am sorry. But I’m gonna try to at least express a couple of thoughts.
I know Singapore has some crazy laws and one of them is how you cannot chew gum. Boy, did I wish that was the case during Jonas’s post match press conference. As petty as it sounds, I felt the chewing was pretty arrogant and disrespectful, but maybe it’s just me.
I do believe this was a perfect opportunity for him to take some accountability but instead he referred to “the manager” in the third person and I just left feeling yucky after that whole thing. The game yesterday was very bizarre and to be totally open and honest, I am so disappointed in our manager that if I were to write today, most of it would be a criticism towards him and that’s not constructive.
I do feel there’s a positive in all this.
Most people believed the WSL was just not within our reach, but this match provides us with a blueprint as to what NOT to do against this Chelsea team when we meet them in 2 weeks time. That’s better than seeing this version of their team in the final and losing this way would’ve been tragic in a cup final.
There was fight, determination and will and that’s I could ever ask for as a fan. The winning and losing is secondary honestly but with that said, I really hope we turn up for the Conti Cup final aka our only chance at silverware.
But frankly, that’s the least we should be winning, with this squad.
It only falls on one person: “THE MANAGER”
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Taylor Swift, Grieving & Babies
A brand new episode of That Arsenal Women Podcast is out now and you can listen below.
d ❤
THAT ARSENAL WOMEN PODCAST on:
APPLE PODCASTS
SPOTIFY
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A very subjective look into AWFC 