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NOt quite a preview preview
Friends, I don’t have a lot of time today (still morning here in LA) and nor do I have a lot of information as it relates to doing a preview for the match vs Watford tomorrow.
What I will say is that I truly hope we win the FA Cup this year. Yes, the WSL is the big thing, without a doubt, but we all know the FA Cup is a step above the Conti Cup so I would see it as progress if we were to win it.
Not to beat a dead horse but being away from Twitter has been amazing and I also have missed out on who knows how much. I definitely do not miss some of the absurd things that would pop on my feed from username: wittycombinationofnamesandsurnamesfromplayersplusawfc
Yesterday I logged in to post the link to my blog and my feed showed me a lineup without Lia Walti and I literally said out loud: NOPE…. Anyway, more than anything I’m excited to see them play and tomorrow can’t come soon enough. As per usual I have no idea where I’ll be able to watch if at all but hoping Arsenal.com show the match.
Looking at my FotMob app which I totally recommend, I can see that we’re unbeaten in 6 home matches, and Watford have not won a match in 7. That has to bode well for our girls and I’m expecting a resounding win. Which is the same thing I truly expected vs Spurs and look how that turned out.
Quick sidetone for my fellow Oranjeleeuwinnen fans: Katja scored 2 as Everton beat Villa! 3-0. Wild.
Nothing is guaranteed!
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Top 100 list, loans and press conferences
Some days I wake up and stare at my computer screen for what feels like hours when I don’t have anything specific to talk about. Then on days like today I feel like what I really should do is take a few things I want to talk about and spread them out into a few blog posts so that the first thing I just mentioned doesn’t happen. But no, I’m not going to do that. Instead, I’m gonna chat about a few things really quick.
As it relates to Jonas’s press conference, like with any/all coaches to me it’s always weird. Its oddly diplomatic and a lot of times just frustrating to hear. And to be clear, this isn’t against Jonas, it’s just in general. So, I’m not gonna go into what he said as it might come off as criticism but what I will say is that why not have 4 specialized full backs and not just 3? I don’t envision Laura playing again this season, so why not have kept Noelle? What am I missing?
Kühl is a player that I rate so, so, so highly. I cannot understand for the life of me how some people don’t see that or how they think other players are much better, when to me she is clearly the future of the midfield at Arsenal, not anyone else. So if Jonas doesn’t see that or does and has a different approach to her development and a loan is what she needs then I’m excited for her. However, the idea of letting her go for good isn’t absolute madness to me and if that ever happens I’ll go mad.
Now, to end this on a much more positive note, I have to tell you that I enjoyed going over the Guardian’s Top 100 Female Footballers list. In case you haven’t you can read it here.
Regardless of what I think of the order of some players (like DVD being outside of the top 50 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAA WHAT!!!!???), the overall incredible amount of talent is out of control. So many players to choose from, with exceptional quality. Truly incredible and I’m so happy that lists like these exist! All the way down to the 90-100 part the players are incredible.
We’re very lucky as fans and may this continue! I also love, speaking selfishly, that a couple of years ago I might’ve been familiar with 1/4 of the names and I might’ve not recognized only 5 or 6 players today. Pretty cool.
I’ll do a little Liverpool preview tomorrow.
Enjoy your weekend and stay safe out there.
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Fox signs, Now what?
An incoming transfer, YAY! So what can we expect? You guessed it…. I have no idea but if one of those things is what I’m afraid might happen then I’m not over the moon about the whole situation. But let’s focus on the positives.
We have signed someone, which is GOOD!
From everything I have read she’s really good, strong and has amazing technique, again, GOOD!
The videos that I was able to find have had her play on the left side a ton, so I don’t know if she’s able to play on both wings or if its one of those thing where people flip the videos so its harder for them to be taken down or whatever, but if this is the case and she can play on both wings then GOOD!
Bringing her own culture, personality and mentality to the squad will also be good and I look forward to watching her play.
The gate keeper in me would add the caveat that it depends on if her playing more means Katie McCabe or Steph Catley playing less. At first this is obviously a big NOPE from me but it’s obviously a good thing in terms of squad rotation.
This is the most important thing for me and I need to keep the players’s well being in mind and not every player I love can play 90 min of every single match but that’s one of the struggles I face as a fan and that’s part and parcel of what being emotionally invested is, isn’t it?
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Back on the pitch
I know that I have spoken about similar things in the past but last weekend I lived something very interesting that made me think a lot about injury recovery, mental hurdles and more. Since I hadn’t felt this ever not only did I want to share with you but I also got to thinking about our squad and how incredibly built they are mentally and emotionally, let alone physically.
Ever since I can remember I played football. From the age of 12 til at least 25, not a week would go by when I didn’t play futsal, 7 v 7, 5 v 5, kicking a ball in a park, whatever you can think of. It was part of my life.
It’s very important for you to know that I wasn’t great. I had no ability to defend, and I got tired very easily. When I said I played its mostly with friends and the random league here and there, but nothing serious.
I started as a forward and the older I got and the less I worked on my stamina I kept going farther and farther back on the pitch and ended up in goal, which I loved with all my heart.
The busier I got with music, the less I played football. Then, in a blink of an eye I had gone 2 or 3 years without playing!!! Insane. At that point I just assumed there was no way I should play again anyway because I didn’t want to get hurt as I use all my limbs.
My amazing wife signed me up for a league as a surprise about 8 years ago and I got so excited. I played in goal for a few seasons, also at a futsal league, and would take the odd season off. Then in another blink of an eye I hadn’t played in 5 years. So wild. Even after knowing how incredibly fun it was, I was worried about injuries.
Last year I decided to rejoin, as a keeper again and one random day, you guessed it, I got injured. I almost tore my right bicep and it was the worst pain I’ve ever felt and my soul left my body knowing that I couldn’t play music in who knows how long.
Thankfully I recovered and now, I have re-joined my league but I’m an outfield player. My first match was Saturday and even though we lost 3-2, it was incredible. It hit me that it was the first time in over 10 years that I had played a match NOT on goal.
I was overwhelmed with so many feelings and thoughts. From gratitude to anger that I hadn’t played before… I was proud of myself and also disappointed that I should’ve played better and all these things.
Mentally I had prepared myself for a few weeks, and I felt like a kid again! And physically I had actually started training on my own for a few weeks and things were going amazing BUT 3 weeks before the match I injured my calf. I was gutted and thought I wouldn’t make it.
I took care of myself, iced my leg, used a Thera gun, etc etc etc and mentally I was shot. I was worried, doubting myself and also super confident that I would make it. HOW THE HELL DO PLAYERS DEAL WITH THIS ALL THE TIME!!!!??????????
The anxiety was absurd. The worry, the expectation, the excitement. All of these emotions were crazy and funny enough its what most people think I feel when I perform, but this is quite different.
Naturally I asked myself how Leah deals with this. How Viv does. How do they all do. And not that I need reminders but we do need reminders, you know??
The mental and emotional strength to deal with physical setbacks is not something that is part of my life and I’m very happy that I have lived this at a very small degree because of what it has done for me mentally and emotionally too. Of course I’m also much more mindful of my body the older I get.
Go out there and do what you love doing and makes you happy!
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I feel free
I’ve pointed out in the past couple of posts and also on my podcast how I have been taking somewhat of a break from social media, specifically from Twitter. There are numerous reasons for this, more than I care to talk about but we all know how that site is terrible and has become worse and worse ever since El*n M*sk bought it. It’s not what it used to be.
The level of freedom and reduced anxiety that I have felt as it relates to just AWFC and women’s football is absolutely phenomenal. I’m not seeing people arguing, reading arbitrary opinions, I don’t see any rumors, any hatred towards players either. I don’t see the same bit of “news” reposted by 27 different bot-like accounts with zero verification on the truth of any of it.
I feel so free. Disconnected, but free and I’m totally ok with that. Of course I’m also disconnected with politics and with random but necessary things that have ultimately been very distracting and I don’t think there’s any coincidence as to why I have gotten some things done that I’ve been putting off and I have also been trying a slightly different daily routine and I feel very, very good.
Letting go has been very beneficial and I keep thinking about how the players feel, knowing that there are hundreds if not thousands of people writing about them. I’m guilty of that for sure, I literally talk about players every single day, so I guess I’m not helping.
I second guess this blog and my podcast all the time. The idea of being on the other side and seeing some random dude in LA talk about ME would be horrific so don’t be surprised if one day I just totally shut it down.
Trying to be respectful and also add content and help the game grow in my own way is something that is not only interesting but the main fuel. Doesn’t always come out that way but my intention isn’t to talk about people but the adjacent stuff.
Anyway, here’s the latest episode of That Arsenal Women Podcast
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What will our defense look like?
Isn’t it the best to start the week off with lots of uncertainty and anxiety about how our backline is going to look? Happy Monday to. you too!
I was very rattled, and still am, about Noelle leaving without any cover, up until we saw those pictures of Emily Fox training. A player who I have zero knowledge of and I don’t even know if I have seen her play. Maybe she had some minutes at the WC? I have no idea.
What I do know is that if Jonas wanted to have Katie there instead of Noelle, then Emily has to be much better than Noelle, and I just don’t see how that’s a thing. Let me explain what I mean because that sounds rude: of course Emily can be better than Noelle, but what I question is how much better is she really to then take over the RB role and Jonas then play McCabe somewhere else.
We have 2 amazing LBs, we have 2 amazing RBs, well now we have none that are around/fit but we have no choice but to trust that whomever comes in will do so soon and will adapt.
To me the clearest, smartest, most logical partnership at CB has to be Leah and Amanda. And I know what you’re all thinking, but I will die on the hill that LWM is a right back or a CDM. But I might be wrong. Leah and Amanda might clash, and maybe it’s Leah and Laia.
The truth is I have no idea and I’m not sure the people that should, do either, only because of Leah’s injury and there’s just no data to back anything up. What I think is hard is that we need to try these things during the tail end of the season when usually it’s at the start until we find what works.
Lotte has been playing better than ever and I’m very happy for her and for the club. I feel she’s extremely versatile and because we don’t have many RBs to me it’s a no brainer that we could use her there. No sure how versatile the other defenders are but they have to be to be at that level.
Maybe Teyah is the answer for Jonas and for us. Either way I’m excited, not anxious, to see how we do line up and what the response to a crappy end of the year will be. Only a few more days!
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Love to Sam Kerr
As I’ve mentioned to you a few times, I have made it a point to stay away from social media as much as possible. I only log on to twitter to post the link to these blogs as this is where most of my traffic comes from. However, I woke up this morning and something told me to check it before I posted and that’s when I found out about Sam Kerr and her ACL injury. Absolutely horrible news for her, for her team, for Australia, for her relationship with Emma Hayes and more.
I’ve been meaning to actually talk about Chelsea and why I dislike the club, but I haven’t and it’s worth mentioning that its 100% because of their men’s team and former owner. So to be honest, I actually do like Emma Hayes and Sam and many of the players that have caused me so much pain and suffering, and nobody has been more clinical and deadly against us than Sam, who has to be one of the best players ever surely.
So no, I’m not happy that she’s suffering and that Chelsea are not counting on her for the rest of the season. I wanted us to beat them to the title with full strength sides, always. Her absence will impact the WSL negatively, I’m afraid.
The other side of the coin, as far as how it affects us in a “good way” will be ignored out of respect for her at the moment.
We know how tough these situations are, more than anyone. So this is a perfect opportunity to be empathetic and show some support in any way we can, or at the very least not put out negative content.
The thing that stands out to me at the moment is how her and Emma Hayes played one of if not the last game together ever. Imagine being robbed out of a true farewell or an emotional last few matches under your coach and wanting to give her a send off in the best of ways but this is how it has to end?
Heartbreaking to say the least.
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Thank you, Noelle!
I’m actually shocked at the news. Like, I had heard rumors but this transfer makes absolutely no sense to me, from where I stand and based on nothing but assumptions. I doubt that unless someone sits me down and explains to me why the club would ever let this incredible, solid, reliable, talented player is beyond me. Noelle is one of our best defenders and I’m sorry if this is a tough thing for her.
I’m temped to compare her to other players but the reality is that there’s nobody like her in out team. She has never disappointed and is as consistent as they come. Even when Laura was playing more than her I always felt it was a matter of time until Noelle turned it up again and made that right back position her own.
When we talk about the sport getting stronger I personally don’t mean selling our best players to teams in the same league, for crying out loud.
But on to the positives. I’m happy that she’s gonna get to play and do so often. Villa are a great club and have signed amazing players and Noelle fits that profile for sure. She will be a star there and we will miss her so very much.
She’s the closest thing to Katie in terms of fire/bite/tenacity and I cannot for the life of me comprehend why she wouldn’t be kept, like I said before. Its not like we have several RBs either.
Again, I don’t want to compare but she’s so much better than a few of the players that seem to have a bit of a cult following and this is a perfect example of us as a fan base not realizing what we had.
Maritz is a GEM of a player and I’m much less confident we’re going to win a trophy this year without her, and that’s just what I believe deeply. Of course, the pragmatic part of me would say that it depends on who comes in to replace her but if they’re going to be anywhere near her level that’s a very, very high standard.
Also bothers me that Lia won’t have her Swiss teammate alongside and I truly feel this will disrupt a lot about the team, from where I stand of course which I get means nothing to anyone haha.
Much love to you NM for everything you’ve done and it was an absolute pleasure watching you beat Villa, of all teams, in person a few months ago.
THANK YOU
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Twelve?!!
Hey friends!
I just had a few things come up and have to leave the house for the rest of the day which means I don’t have any time at all to write BUT I wanted to stop by and drop a line really quick.
Last night I was waiting for a phone call and wanted to check out the schedule to be reminded of the path that is ahead for the girls, where we would pick up points, where we would potentially lose them and was absolutely shocked.
There are only 12 matches left. ONLY TWELVE. What?
Seems like the season just got started and also 12 seem like nothing. At the same time, glad it’s only 12 for the sake of the players and their health. In a way we wish there were more with CL matches and getting farther and farther in the cup competitions but just a dozen matches for the competition we want the most is just wild.
Not sure exactly in which way but it hit me this morning.
Gotta go!
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I had no idea about Kayla
Maybe I’ve been poor at keeping up with every single piece of news, but I honestly had no idea that Kayla Marckese had injured her ACL back in November. I feel very bad for her and I also know that if I was aware of this situation I would’ve said something about it sooner.
From what I just read she just ended her loan spell at Bristol City and she’s doing her rehab at Arsenal, where we know things are going to be great for her and she will have all the support that she needs and deserves.
For the past few months I’ve been trying to spend less and less time on social media but moments like these make me feel guilty that I missed big news. I should’ve know or at least I should’ve done some research when I was talking about the keeper situation at AWFC but I just assumed she was on loan and was playing and everything was ok.
So, where does this leave us in terms of the keeper situation mentioned above? Well I certainly have no idea and can’t even come up with a scenario because I just don’t know how any of this works. Does that injury have any impact on us getting a new Keeper?
My guess is not at all because the keeper we’re after is basically the best in world, but if we were going for a number 2 then I would imagine this would have a deeper impact.
However, the main and only concern is Kayla’s health and mental well being. I know that our club will do everything in their power to support and help her and I have all the confidence that she is right where she needs to be to overcome this.
Like I mentioned, I’m sorta taking time away from social media but I will continue not only to post here every day but my pod returns next week. Took the holidays off but I’m working on some things that are making me have to postpone a new episode, but all for amazingly good reasons.
Get well soon Kayla!
A very subjective look into AWFC 