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my super power
As I take a look at the fixtures for the next few weeks, I can’t help but think: things have changed! There was a point, not so long ago, where I would pick out 12 points out of 4 matches, easily, and they would be pretty much guaranteed. This is something I also try to characterize when I say that the times of a second half Lisa Evans hat tricks are gone… and that’s a good thing.
Essentially this all means there are no easy games and it’s one of those things where you can assume things at your own peril. Liverpool proved it, Tottenham reinforced it. Maybe we were that for Chelsea too, but the fact is that for me at least, I cannot assume anymore that any match would be easy.
Except for one variable which to me is virtually omnipotent and that is when, not if, Vivianne Miedema starts playing 90 min, assisting and scoring. If this is happening then I truly believe we can win every single match, always. Simply put: Viv is my super power.
This is not me assuming she will do all this or that I’m expecting her to be even better than before or anything related to standards I want her to keep, this is just about the fact that if she’s fully fit, I have much more confidence and it reduces doubt.
There are players in world football, for men and women, who we feel they always have a mistake in them. I surely feel that way and have felt that way about many players for many teams. Where you just don’t fully “trust” them. Then there are players that you would trust with your life, and if Viv isn’t one of them then idk who is.
The most important thing about her involvement in the squad is just that. She needs to be involved, on the pitch as much as her body allows her to, as she glues everything together and she also terrifies opponents, which is something that I feel we are missing.
Just a couple more days left on the year which to me just means we’re getting closer to the WSL transfer window opening. I’m excited…
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Who is leaving us?
Ah, the good ol’ massive elephant in the room… We just need to talk about the players that might be leaving us either on a transfer or on loan. And I want to make clear that this is just some possibilities based on nothing but speculation. I have opinions but this is not about those. It’s about players that have barely featured.
Also, my opinion on players is rather controversial and because I end up criticizing them, I just don’t want to put any negativity out there, or be perceived as having an agenda. Not vibing with a player is totally ok and I have never been bother when people dislike a player I happen to love, it truly means absolutely nothing what their opinion is, and with love, the same thing happens with some AWFC. Like, I just don’t see it… and I trust myself and my view more than what other people think.
So, what will the club do with Lina, Gio, Naomi, Manu, Sabrina, Laura and Noelle? Anything? Does the club need to do anything? Well, I think so for sure.
Injuries have been absolutely brutal to Lina and it breaks my heart that she has had so few minutes. As a club we might have to be ruthless and let her go and bring in a player that at the very least can stay fit for extended periods of time and, as harsh at this sounds, actually contribute or be counted on. It sucks but I know I’m not the only one that feels its only a matter of time until she’s back in the treatment room and man that sucks. Poor Lina… and I don’t say that out of pity, it comes from a place of empathy. Based on love and kindness alone I’d say keep her but it doesn’t work that way. I’m guessing she’ll be sold but not til the summer? I have no idea why I’m saying that.
Gio is a player whose situation frustrates me because I’m not sure she has been given a fair shot and also hasn’t really impressed me whenever she has come in, but I think there’s something there. I have no idea about who she is as a player, what her best position is and what her future at our club will be. I would bet that she will not be in the squad and will be sold, not sent on loan, but sold to a club that fits her better. I see a lot of potential in her but by the time she comes back and is ready we should have Lauren Hemp or someone of that level.
The GK situation obviously is dependent one person and one person only, that being Mary Earps and if she chooses to come to Arsenal next month. My assumption is that she will be our #1, Manu #2, we keep Naomi as #3 and Sabrina will be sold, with Kayla still on loan and part of the club. I am not ready to say Naomi will leave, even if I have never seen her play, but her being English might have more weight.
I think we would be INSANE to let go of Noelle or Laura… unless we would be getting Ellie Carpenter which is not happening. I have written about the amazing tandem that Noelle and Laura are and this is a hill I’m willing to die on. They are fantastic options on the right and I’m not loving this idea of Katie on the right to be honest. Nothing against KT, more “against” JE.
Rumors drive me insane and I try to not read anything let alone read into anything that’s out there. It’s fun but it also drives my anxiety through the roof.
How about you? What do you feel during these transfer windows? Drop a line in the comments!
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Transfer Window Guilt
One thing I learned really quickly when I became a women’s football fan, espclifically a WSL fan, is that the transfer market can be absolutely brutal, they can make zero sense at all, and it challenges us in terms of supporting a player, team loyalties and more.
If you are anything like me, you spend an embarrassingly large amount of time thinking about potential transfers this season. I have no shame in admitting that it’s constantly on my mind and it sometimes feels very strangle because it implies that, by wanting players to come to the club, others will have to leave.
So more than talking about the inevitability of players coming in and others leaving, I just wanted to point out this particular dynamic that I go through which I assume some of you go through as well and how I deal with it because even though I don’t think I’ve figured it out, I believe that maybe talking about it or in your case reading about it, might help put things in perspective.
From time to time I compare football squads to bands. We all have bands we like and follow and love their lineup. For some of us, that lineup is massive to enjoying the band, or not. So, band member changes usually mean a whole new beginning in a way, or a period of adaptation as a fan, let alone if you’re in the actual band.
Even if the band stays the same and you add ONE musician to the mix, the whole thing changes to a degree and some people might like it more, some might like it less. And one of the potential things that can happen is that the band fundamentally changes depending on the influence and impact that one member has.
When we talk about members fundamentally changing state of a band it can make sense if you think of how small a band is compared to a football squad. But as we have seen in the past, ONE player can change the whole team, if not change it’s DNA, at least impact it.
I really can’t come up with an example in the women’s game at the moment, so blame it on my ignorance, but look at RVP when he left us to join United. He won them that league.
But one player coming in isn’t the only way a team changes, of course. I believe we haven’t been the same since DVD left. There are many examples of this for sure and I don’t need to give any more, you get the picture.
So what will happen at Arsenal? Which player will help change us for the better? Who will leave that we will look back and feel it hurt us?
Hate to say it but only time will tell. And in the words of one of my favorite bands, who changed drummers and I have felt they are not the same (Blind Guardian):
“Time, what is time?”
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HIghlight of 2023???
I was thinking about doing some sort of countdown and being all clever and keeping people in suspense and then I was overcome with anxiety to get the right moments in a proper order and almost had a heart attack, so I’m just gonna go with the first thing that popped into my mind… and it’s not an AWFC moment.
When I look back, the thing that pops out to me the most was the magnitude of the World Cup. I truly believe this was a before/after moment in the women’s sport. The viewers, attendance, quality, drama, results, etc etc etc.
Seeing our Steph Catley and Katie McCabe captain their respective nations was one of the most impactful moments I have ever experienced as a football fan, and I’m 41 now and have been following this sport my entire life.
The amount of pride, admiration and respect for them is simply impossible to express and of course the same goes for Louise Quinn, Foord and anyone adjacent to Arsenal. I definitely cried.
I just was overwhelmed by the thoughts and emotions of what that moment must have meant for them and the reality is that it’s absolutely impossible forma to even come close to understanding 1/100th of what they were experiencing.
Don’t get me wrong, of course seeing Beth assist Alessia for THAT goal against Aston Villa in person was absolutely epic and there were lots of other things that were important to ME, but when I think of the most important moments for the players I just think of this image.
Look at their smiles!!!
ps: if you thought I wasn’t going to mention DVD playing unreal football vs the USWNT you don’t know me. She was magnificent as usual.
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Emo December
We all know how incredible and also sad holidays can be. Without getting way into the details as to why this time of the year can be tough for a lot of people, I wanted to focus on just one aspect that I think lots of footballers deal with and that is home sickness.
At AWFC we have so many players that aren’t from England. Off the top of my head only Lotte, Teyah, Leah, Russo, Beth and Naomi are English, and by that I also mean that they have the ability to see their family very often. Even if we add Scottish and Irish players there’s still a majority of players that, to put it in perspective, don’t have their parents or relatives very close.
I can certainly relate to the investment of time, of energy and money that you have to make to pursue your dreams. And one of these investments, that people often see as sacrifice, is leaving your home aka not spending massively important dates with your loved ones. Not just Xmas and NYE but weddings, births of family members, etc etc etc. I’ve written about this before, I know, and I apologize for being redundant.
I think the difference between what us musicians have had to go through vs what these trailblazing women of through (among an infinity of things!!!!) is that there’s technically no “losing” in the arts or music specifically, so when we would need a hug, support, words of encouragement, they might need that more? Not here to compare but say after a huge defeat at a final or something, being with family seems much more of a sustenance provider than anything I can imagine.
I really don’t know where I’m going with this. Just trying to be empathetic. If nothing else I think sometimes us fans can easily forget all the things that these players go through that some people take for granted, or the same people minimize some sort of suffering or complaint the players might have just because they make money from it or because “they’re famous” or “they signed up for it!”
Hope you have a great week!
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Your gift
As I stumbled down to the bed where I’m sleeping here at my sister’s house, having just eaten much more than I should have, I wanted to drop a quick line of gratitude because it’s basically the least I can do.
I want to thank YOU, yes YOU. For reading every day, once a week, once a month or once since I started this blog. I truly want to thank you for your presence, your energy, your time, your feedback and for being part of this blog and podcast that have brought me so much joy.
Even during tough times or after difficult losses, being involved with AWFC with the pod and the blog has been some of the most rewarding things ever because it has allowed me to see/feel things from a slightly different perspective.
I’m watching matches differently because of this, I’m experiencing what it’s like being a fan in a different way. I have, maybe without realizing at first, put on some pressure on myself as it relates to what I say, how I say it, and whom I say it about that has actually allowed me to censor myself and think a few times about what I say, and this is something that I really value and can always be better at.
I always encourage people to add their own content to the AWFC/Women’s Football ecosystem and I tell you from experience, it’s been incredible. I would recommend it but also will encourage you to know what you’re getting yourself into.
I struggle some days where I just stare at my laptop and I’m terrified of writing something that isn’t good at all or that I think people won’t like etc. But I write it anyway because there might be ONE person that finds it interesting and if I can help distract or make someone laugh, just one person then my job is done.
Merry Xmas!!!!
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Head scratcher…
On my latest podcast I had mentioned to you that I would be writing as normal even during the next couple of days. It was my intention, I promise you. But a couple of things have come up and I came to visit my sister, her husband and her kids, so my usual writing routine will be interrupted, in the very best of ways.
That means that I will spare you today and tomorrow of anything deep or a long read, not that you would stop by during the holidays, BUT, if you, not only am I here to say thanks but I will do my best do continue to continue.
This morning for instance, one thing that crossed my mind was WTF are we going to do with Noelle. I say KEEP HER.
Another thing that crossed my mind was how during the NLD we had Katie play right back, I guess this is related to my previous point, but when other players weren’t making passes or taking absurd shots, the one player you need doing that is her, and I just don’t get this thing of having her play so far back.
Some situations make me scratch my head and others make me want to bang my head into a wall because the concussion will somehow help me make sense as to what the hell is going on.
This dynamic, albeit fascinating, it’s terrible and also fantastic and its one of the reasons we all love football so much, because much like love itself, its weird, unexplainable, logical and also irrational.
This last thing not only applies to football but all sports, family dynamic, holidays and so much more…
I will stop now and got to bed haha.
Merry Xmas!
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If you only read one thing today
Guardian columnist Mariana Hyde wrote this incredible piece titled: So, what is it about the brilliant, victorious sportswoman Mary Earps that bovine men just can’t abide?
This of course isn’t directly related to AWFC but if you’re new here (thanks btw) please know that sometimes I post things that are related to women’s football and transcend a team, and this article is the perfect example.
One of her paragraphs is better than anything I could ever write, ever so please read below.
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What happens? hypothetically speaking…
I have no reason to believe that Mary Earps isn’t coming to AWFC… and I also have no reason to believe she isn’t going to sign for any other team. This rumor actually makes sense to me though and I have a strong belief that we will sign her. Based on what? Based on VIBESSSSSS.
I had written a few weeks if not months ago about how I thought that Mary would want, and deserves Champions League football. Yes, I know we can’t offer that this season, but we’re more likely to qualify than Man Utd, and it’s basically because of her, ironically.
The only universe in which Man Utd beat us to an CL spot would be because of how Mary Earps plays, and the chances of us making the CL and even winning the WSL would grow exponentially if she were to join us. I have no doubt about it.
Manu is fantastic and I’m very appreciative of what she has done for our club. She has had incredible saves and I love how vocal and encouraging she is. This is why I think she should remain in the club and work with Mary as our #1’s a la Arteta. Which is absurd because I can’t stand what he is doing with Ramsdale and Raya, but we’re talking about Mary fucking Earps here, not an average keeper.
Whether you love her or not, Mary is a historic keeper. She just is. She will go down in history for her awards, both individual and collective and that’s a no brainer. Also, I know many people that know her and they all, without fail, say that she is just about the nicest human they have ever met.
I’d like to think that this goes for Manu, Sabrina and Naomi and I would never judge that or compare people just because one got an award and another didn’t. I just think that for AWFC to break the mold and reclaim the top club in the WSL, some ruthless decisions need to be made and that implies upgrades.
To Manu’s defense, amid lots of criticism, I think that a few of the goals scored against her have been of the unsavevable kind if that makes any sense. Her not diving vs Spurs is not something that bothers me one bit. I’ve played GK at an exponentially much lower level and I even I can tell you with some shots you know there’s not even a point on courtesy diving.
My assumption is that Mary would be open to competing against someone like Manu and I would bet my house that the last thing Earps thinks is that she’s gonna come into our club and just start because of who she is. I’m telling you now that you don’t get to that level by expecting anything except EARNING her spot.
I really don’t know what’s gonna happen with Naomi, Sabrina, Gio, Lina, Noelle and a few others, to be completely honest with you but I guess we’ll see when we see.
Not to toot my own horn but I knew about Declan Rice weeks before we announced him and I’m telling now that this is not the same and I know absolutely nothing about anything but, if it were up to me, I would sign her TODAY.
I would also sign Jill Roord, Alex Greenwood, Denise O’Sullivan and I’d bring back DVD, so take what it say however you choose.
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So happy there’s a break
A lot of the tours I have done have been split in two or three legs. Let’s just say that you spent a month in the USA, then a couple of weeks off and you do a short run in South America, come back for a few days and then go to Europe for a few shows too.
The days in between are precious because you can sleep in your own bed, handle whatever errand needs to be handled and of course: REST. You need to recover right? But I’ve always felt that the rest is not to recover per se, but to prep for the next leg. I usually promise myself to do nothing and rest and clear my mind but I always end up working on the material, practicing and staying sharp.
Normally, as it relates to football, I would write and/or speak about how desperate I am for the season to resume. I would make a “funny” comment about how it’s unfair and ask WTF am I supposed to do with my life while there’s a long break in the WSL season.
Don’t let me horribly under par comedic attempt confuse you. There’s absolutely nothing negative about this break and as a matter of fact I wish it was longer, I truly do.
The break is not only need for the year that was, but if women’s football follows the predicted path, then this break will be needed for what’s to come. More and more football matches, more competitions and more injuries, drama, emotional toll, etc etc etc. Not a good thing necessarily, is it?
I totally understand the Nation’s League, for example. Yet now I kinda miss friendly matches where at the very least, there might have not been that mental exhaustion of every single match counting, all the time. Like that has to be brutal in every way.
Yeah in music every gig counts but it’s not like if you don’t have an amazing gig the next leg of the tour is suspended. It’s wild to me that the stakes are so high, all the time, every day. AAAAAND add to that the grueling training, studying, etc.
Never not admiring these women.
A very subjective look into AWFC 