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Nations League
This past week has been absolutely nuts for me (in a great way) and I have barely had any time at all to sit down and write any original content. Instead I have added value to your lives by reposting videos and articles from actual journalists etc… BUT! I am back today to, for the sake of balance, bring you back to reality and have you read random thoughts. And by the way, I would like to say hello and welcome to my new readers, whoever you may be and wherever, please know I appreciate you coming by, and much love to the OGs too, aside from my mom and dad of course.
In case this is your first time here please know that all of my opinions come from a very passionate, biased place and I don’t pretend to be an expert or legitimate pundit. My goal is to offer something different that what you normally encounter in the AWFC/WOSO space and because I’m a musician, lots of what I say comes from a prism that implies a different perspective than you might expect or be used to as it relates to women’s football. So again, thanks!
The music I’m working on and with the people I’m working with at the moment, is, to put it mildly: NEW. I don’t have much experience playing the type of music I’m playing and I’m not really in my comfort zone but this is actually something I embrace because it streamlines growth and expansion both musically and personally as well. I try to, as much as possible, seek out musical situations that push me and challenge me, but I have to say I also adore just playing what I like, how, when and with whom love. Not everything has to be a challenge and a push forward… sometimes its ok to just ride the waves. However, my days are full of change.
And speaking of change, some of us are familiar with the Nations League on the men’s side but it is here for the women’s game and it starts TODAY. I know how confusing this competition can be and I am not a stranger to this confusion but overall I think it can be a good thing, depending on squad rotation primarily.
Another serious competition will only elevate the standard of the game and it will allow us fans to see much more competitive matches played among some of the best teams in the world very often, with actual things at stake unlike the friendlies most of us disliked with a passion. But let’s be honest, I’m extremely worried about overplaying, traveling, no time to recover and I don’t mean it as it relates to Arsenal only but for these women as a whole and their livelihood, mental health and more.
The WSL hasn’t even started and our girls are already with their nations about to start ANOTHER tournament on the heels of the most watched World Cup ever. They didn’t even have time to rest and get acclimated back in whichever country they play in and have had to travel to who knows where and switch ON the international player mode. I don’t know how I feel about it but like with most changes in life, it’ll take time to get used to or even if it’s just to form an opinion, changes need time.
With that said, there are some incredible matches in group A, but I’m mostly interested in the Sweden vs Spain match. Not sure what to expect, what the swedes will do in support of the spaniards and so on. It’ll be a very interesting thing and it can potentially be a massive show of support and dare I say historic? I can’t wait to see what happens but sadly I cannot watch a single minute because of I need to play a tambourine.
Looking forward to seeing how the lionesses line up vs Scotland, and that fixture, in case you didn’t know, is the oldest rivalry in football and regardless of the level of the competition, age group, gender, etc… it’s always tasty and never ever a “friendly” so this is gonna be a good one for sure.
Gotta run! Have a great weekend and I’ll be writing this weekend and every single day as usual.
d ❤
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KELLY SMITH.
Those are only two words that I need write or mention today. This is MASSIVE for the club. MASSIVE…
And sadly I don’t have time for much more BUT if all goes well I’ll be able to do a podcast at some point late tonight here in LA. In the meantime watch this:
https://www.arsenal.com/news/kelly-smith-returns-assistant-coach
d ❤
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Leah transcends
I really should be writing much more about this and expressing specific things as to why I chose this title but sadly I have no time today. All I can tell you is that I can feel, just like you, that Leah Williamson is very special. There’s something about her and her energy that is unique and more powerful that any one of us can explain. I’m very happy she’s an Arsenal player and the present and future of our club, for as long as she chooses but I’m telling you now, Leah Williamson is going to become the most important player at Arsenal FC, ever.
You’re very lucky and I won’t take much more of your time but if you actually want to read a proper author, writer and journalist, please read THIS by the GOAT Suzy Wrack.
or copy/past this link.
d ❤
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What more could women footballers want???
Can you imagine for a second what it would take to do a 27 hour long podcast? That’s not a typo, I literally mean twenty seven hours. That’s what my friend Gooner Mike did last week! His yearly pod-athon to raise funds to continue the fight against cancer was an utter success and he, alongside so many generous donors, Arsenal FC and more, was able to surpass his yearly goal already and has raised over 30k dollars! This is something so big and incredible and the amount of work that it took to put that together, all the guests, the segments, the topics, the auctions, the items donated, the laughs, THE ARSENAL SPIRIT.
I was lucky enough to be part of this event, on the closing hours as a matter of fact and I got a chance to talk a lot about Arsenal Women. This was not only an honor in and of itself which was only amplified by the fact that among the others guests were Kevin Campbell, Sophie Nicolaou, Alan Smith, Pete Drury, Jim Proudfoot, etc. Absolute madness. It’s all on YouTube and all you have to do is search for Gooners v Cancer.
YOU CAN ALSO DONATE HERE
At some point we spoke about, and I’m paraphrasing here, how the game needs to keep growing and growing and how the trolls, the haters, the misogynists, always seem to end up asking this: “what more do women want?” This question is so absurd and it lacks so much common sense and empathy that in my opinion, it has only one answer: TO NOT BE ASKED THAT QUESTION EVER AGAIN. Among the ridiculousness of that question is that these people would never ask that of men. No chance in hell they would. Plus, I just think that if you have someone in your life that asks that question its just about the biggest red flag there can be.
Not a lot of news to chat about today and I’m also knee deep in rehearsals and I’m not sure how I will be able to post this week but I’m trying my best and if I’m able to keep my daily posting streak going I will be very proud of myself haha.
d ❤
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Versatility
This past Saturday I had a gig I will never ever forget. I’m usually behind the drum set or playing percussion but the reason why this gig was so very special was because it was my first one as a bassist. I have been working hard on this instrument for about 5 years and I was finally able to play live. The experience was vastly different than any other performance I’ve ever done.
The pressure was different, my role was different, the place where I was on stage was different, the way I heard the music on stage was different, my interaction with the crowd was different… and at the same time the energy has to be the same, my ear has to be present, my mind as well and all the all encompassing elements have to be there. The respect for the crowd, remembering song structure, etc etc etc. It was very eye opening and allowed me to approach the days before the show, my preparation and my expectations in a completely different way. It felt so fresh and new and different.
On Sunday I taught a bass lesson and I was explaining to my student how it all went and since he’s a young football player I tried making the comparison of a player that has to play in a different position and what the parallels are. That within itself was eye opening, coming from the perspective of someone who had just lived something similar hours prior.
I think we’ve all become so used to the idea of players playing out of position that we have lost sight of just exactly how difficult it actually is. Regardless of the reason… it can be because of an injury or just tactics, but it takes a very special type of person to play well in different positions. Even within the role of a 6 for example… playing as a left 6 or a right 6 are totally different things for most players and it takes a special person to truly succeed, in my opinion.
Most teams, specially in the women’s game, have players that are versatile and can play in many positions and AWFC is not different in that regard and if anything we could be using this to our advantage even more that we currently do, maybe.. maybe not? Maybe we should have the best player possible for every position and not rotate positions but specialized players instead?
I have no idea and that’s why I hit drums for a living.
d ❤
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No CL, No Earps?
When I first read the tweets and heard the rumors about Mary Earps signing for us, I had a mixed bag of emotions. Part of me doesn’t like her, and others absolutely adores her. My first reaction was: is she better than Manu? Do we actually need her? How would she impact the dynamic of the current squad?
I certainly have a very clean opinion about the first question: I’m not sure but yes? I care so much emotionally about Manu that I might be blinded, but judging by the awards, the international success, the plaudits… Mary Earps is the best keeper in the world, although I think Endler is better. So I guess YES.
To try to answer the second question I think sadly it would mean what you already know: that I’m an asshole for not liking some players everyone loves… and maybe because I have seen very little of her I don’t quite rate Sabrina, but this means absolutely nothing. Just because I haven’t seen much of her doesn’t mean that she isn’t good at all and I don’t remember a single moment that she let me down so this kinda answers my question. But if its a matter of a great keeper that hasn’t been doing anything wrong or the best keeper in the world, then you’d think its a no brainer.
BUT
Only if it will affect negatively the overall vibe of the squad and that is very important. Notice I said negatively because it implies it didn’t or wouldn’t work out. Sometimes you need a jolt, a change and s shift and arsenal men are doing it, literally hours ago with David Raya, who replaced Ramsdale for the match at Goodison Park.
My guess is that it would affect the squad in the best of ways. With a MASSIVE personality, and shit housing expert, a top, top, top performer PLUS it will weaken Man Utd, a club that is very unstable at the moment and if we manage to pull this one after Russo, it’ll make up for whatever has happened or will happen between the clubs. Ok not really but kinda?
One thing is for damn sure, these plans have to have been impacted even in the slightest way, by the lack of CL football. We need less rotation, we can use Sabrina for the odd cup matches here and there but it’s tricky to see how this will develop when I feel there’s clear need for a goalkeeper update.
d ❤
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Short one today
Friends, as I was sitting down to write this I was informed that my soundcheck today was moved by a few hours and I basically need to leave right now. But as always, I want to write every single day, without missing one. As an exercise, I’m just gonna write about whatever I come up with as I type this and what is coming to mind is how I have a very clear idea of what I would like the team to be with the current players we have aka no Viv, Laura or Leah.
As it stands I think I would like to see a 4-3-3 … Manu on goal and Steph and Noelle as full backs. I wanna see Amanda and Laia as the CB pairing and right in from of them Lia with Kim and Kyra running the show. McCabe on the left, Caitlin on the right and Russo 9. Yes, no Frida for now.
I totally get people loving the Catley/Foord down the wing thing but I would rather have McCabe start if that means foord on the left.
Sadly I really have to go!!!!!
I’ll write more tomorrow.
d ❤
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Aussies Rule
I know that there were a lot of things to choose from and this is precisely why I feel this is meaningful to me. If you were to ask me for one takeaway from the World Cup I would have to say (excluding DVD and Dom Janssen) The Matildas. They were nothing short of magical, historic and heroic. Among the things I loved about them was how set their team was and how everyone seemed to play at a very high level, with energy, humility and palpable gratitude.
Of course our girls shined.. Steph and Caitlin were as reliable as it gets and both had stellar competitions, just like the majority of their fellow starting 11, and maybe with the exception of Ellie Carpenter, it’s my humble and biased opinion that Cooney-Cross was the standout player. She pulled strings, she tackled, she NEVER STOPPED RUNNING. I think she’s the exact type of player and the exact player we could use. I think she’s gonna compliment the team extremely well, bringing different qualities that I feel are only going to add value to Kim, Lia and Frida. She has great ball control and her decision making and football IQ is closer to Kim/Lia than I think people expect. She’s the real deal.
Having a few players of any one nation has always been cool in my book. Different cultures, different experiences and dare I say different eras wink wink, since it’ll continuously change. There was a time when Dutchies were click, so to speak, and these Aussies, aside from just being from Australia duh, these players have lived something unique that doesn’t come along often and that bond can only benefit us as a club like I mentioned yesterday.
Would’ve loved to see Mary Earps but things seem to point at that being a reality real soon and that’s way sooner than I thought. Usually the windows feel farther apart than they are but I’ve never wanted a transfer window to start sooner than this one in 3 months time.
October 1st can’t come soon enough.
d ❤
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How good was our transfer activity?
The summer transfer window is closing in a few hours and if I had to summarize our transfers during this summer I’d grade it as 7/10. If I take a look back at my summer transfer wishlist, none of the players I wanted were bought, which doesn’t mean anything at all. I was hoping for Mapi Leon or Alex Greenwood because I thought they would be unreal additions to the team beyond their ability on the ball. I thought we should get Beth England as a forward option and as far as our midfield I would’ve loved to have seen Deyna Castellanos or my #1 transfer wish: Denise O’Sullivan.
Jonas clearly doesn’t read my blog. Although I did mention loving the idea of Russo and we got her. And that brings me to the overall assessment that we did really well. Not getting the players I thought I wanted is totally irrelevant. The 3 players that come in, and a potential 4th, are massive every way you look at it. Two of the best defenders in the World Cup, one of the best forwards on the planet, who is so young still…
I do think we need a world class keeper to rival Manu and another midfielder. Without Viv or Leah, just having Lia, Kim and Frida as solid, established options might be too lite. Kuhl is the future but as far as the present I think the potential of KCC is incredible. I have read the tweets but nothing has been confirmed as I’m typing this. Just like the rest of the world, I thought she was phenomenal at the World Cup and she would be a great addition, especially with Caitlin and Steph already her and both whom I suspect will have a massive part to play this season due to their acquired experience this summer. Their lives changed forever and I feel Arsenal will benefit beyond words.
To be fair, the lack of European football means less matches and it might be a way of coping still, but I’m fully embracing just focusing on the WSL and the domestic cups. I have come to terms with that reality and I am fully behind this team in any competitions they’re in.
Thanks for listening to the podcast! The latest episode has been one of the most downloaded to date!! Pretty cool!
d ❤
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BARBIE FC
After months of trying to but not being able to, I finally had time to actually go to a movie theater for the first time since well before covid. Typing that sounds absolutely insane but I don’t remember the last time I had done it. My wife and I had talked about going to the movies for a while but we wanted to wait for a perfect time/movie/occasion. Like most of you, I have been surrounded by Barbie reviews, comments, tweets, posters, ads etc. I have loved everything I had heard about it, it was intriguing and I just couldn’t wait to watch it. But I have to admit that at first I didn’t want to watch it on the big screen, just because I assumed that it was better so heard loud explosions or basically John Wick or The Equalizer, but OMG i’m SO happy that I opened my mind.
The movie was incredible. It surpassed any expectations I had. It was insightful, powerful, funny, beautiful to look at, amazing music and how can I not mention my favorite band HAIM having a song in the movie? Everything about it was phenomenal. And… you guessed it, I thought about Arsenal Women. And before you assume that all I do is try to fit AWFC into everything I do, which is not wrong, I need you to know that I look for inspiration in them to be a better person, to grow, to expand and to be as empathetic as I can.
Barbie had so many lessons and I think a lot of men should watch it and if they don’t like it, they should. I consider myself to be very sensitive and sensible and I was so awakened by the messages, the insights and my wife’s reactions. Also loved my conversations with her when it was over and how we saw many things the same way and also how we can’t possibly see it how the other one see’s it. And this is what made me think of Arsenal Women. The fact that no matter how much I try I could never understand what its like to be a female footballer, with as much hate as the sports gets, with as much adversity and negativity, and sexism and misogyny in 2023 when it’s supposed to be the best it’s ever been.
Anyway… the videos and images from the camp over in Germany look amazing. Smiles all around and I absolutely love that. What I would also love is a couple of signings and they need to happen as soon as possible so they integrate in the team and we can focus on the WSL that can’t start soon enough!
d ❤
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A very subjective look into AWFC 