A very subjective look into AWFC

I was actually dreading this day. I am so damn bummed that we let Anna Patten go, I truly am. I always thought she was great and a way better option if Leah/Rafa aka our first choice pairing here missing. To me she has the height, the technique and the poise that we need. She is calm, cool, collected, her timing is fantastic too. I will miss her very much especially when, based clearly on hope only, I was assuming she would come back. All things considered I don’t think she’s world class and what we need to reach the highest of levels but I felt she would be a great squad player again.

These types of decisions make no sense to me but that’s why I’m not a football manager. And these are also the kinds of moments that make me doubt Jonas, with all due respect. I of course understand how stupid that sounds but I’m just annoyed.

Now let’s focus on the positives…

This can mean that another defender comes in, maybe someone even better than her and that is of course something I would welcome but I wonder how the fit would be in terms of their attitude and how much someone like Anna was loved by every player it seems. I don’t doubt that it can and will happen, but I’m just curious as to who that person would be.

Another positive, and this is more important, is that I assume that she will be happier at Villa since she will clearly get more minutes than at Arsenal. She deserves to be playing a lot more and I’m happy for her in that sense, for sure. Hopefully she puts in great performances that make Villa get even closer to the top 3, and as a matter of fact I would bet that will finish about Man Utd next season. Of course, if she puts in stellar performances you would only hope that she will get called up for the lionesses. This is something that I personally feel she deserves but like we all know, this is elite sport and sometimes its not about what we deserver but about what actually happens.

As usual all I say is THANK YOU! I’m grateful for everything she did for the club, the smiles she brought to everyone and good times.

In other news, in total opposite ones, we all saw that Viv is progressing and out on the pitch/training.

This is beyond great.

d ❤

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First of all, I hope you are all having a stellar start of your week, and if you aren’t hang in there and hit me up if you need an ear. Secondly, I understand how annoying it can be to read and hear over and over about a lack of commitment and a lack of decision making from me regarding my YouTube channel. I’ve spoken about why I was thinking about stopping and then I spoke about why I would continue.

The reality is that a YouTube channel for That Arsenal Women Podcast, at this point in my life, is not something that I can do consistently, with the quality of content and production that you guys deserve. It might be that it’s hard to create content during the off season. It might also be that the kind of show, production and everything around the making of these videos is not something I can achieve at the moment and I cannot dedicate my life to it because even the videos I make at the moment, take a lot of time for me. My point is that I feel you deserve much better than what I’m currently able to provide. I’m also working on some things that are not congruent with having a YouTube channel, and this should all make sense in a few month’s time.

I like to embrace the fluid nature of life and in terms of priorities, I thought that it was gonna be the YouTube videos, then the podcast and lastly this blog but I have to tell you that this form right here has become probably my favorite thing. It’s tricky because just writing things loses some context and tone etc and it might sound that I’m being harsher than I am and all of that.

I do not and have never wanted to be a “personality” in the Arsenal Women community. I enjoy going on podcasts and YouTube shows to talk about something I am passionate about but I have never implied nor should I ever be seen as an expert of someone who has inside knowledge. I’m very fortunate to have made friends and be in contact with some incredible people that have as direct access to the club as humanly possible and I promise you I never ask them a thing and if I knew something I would never share. That’s not my vibe and I understand the nature of click bait stuff as it relates to inside info but I’m so not that person.

Another aspect, to be totally open, is that i don’t want to depend on anyone to grow a channel just for the sake of growth. Some of the takes on twitter I see are total insanity to me and the thought that I need X person who tweets some hate against one of our players or former players, to follow me and interact with so that I grow my channel? ummm no, thanks. And for what? I am and will always be a musician and that takes over my entire life all day, every day.

So what I envision is the odd podcast here and there, maybe more focused on the Oranjeleeuwinnen during the World Cup and of course, posting here every single day.

Thank you for being supportive even when I’m unsure of what the hell I’m doing.

d ❤

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The idea of “deserving” things in sport, specially in women’s football, is a very tough thing for me. Overall I believe that all of the players in the women’s game deserve happiness, joy, success, trophies and so on. There are so many circumstances in which we can say: “she deserved a goal at least” or things of that nature and even though it’s impossible to gauge, our opinion of who deserves what, since it’s an opinion, can be valid.

But there is one thing that I am completely sure of. Something that nobody could convince me otherwise. Something that can be harsh to hear for some and I hope that most people agree with me: When our players use those Stella McCartney shirts, we will absolutely, unequivocally, completely and thoroughly deserve every single insult, joke and criticism of it.

I thought it couldn’t be worse than the previous one but they have outdone themselves.

If you think I’m going to post a picture of it here you’re absolutely wrong because I would never do that to you. You can just go on twitter and find it for yourself but it’s pretty terrible.

I get the idea of it being a collector’s items or even a warm up situation but to play matches in?? I hope this is not the case because it would make it very difficult to watch.

Also, I’m not only talking about the colors and design but the pattern itself makes me eyes bug out and its not pleasant.

Happy Sunday though!!!

d ❤

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Hey friends!

Sorry but I don’t have time to write anything long today, but to keep with my daily posts, no matter what, here’s a lovely interview that Shebahn did with Beth.

d ❤

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In case this is the very first time you come across me, probably the main thing you should know about is that I love the orange leeuwinnen. They are the reason why I love women’s football and they are the reason why I love Arsenal Women. DVD, Viv, Dom Janssen, Van Veenendaal and last but not least, Jill Roord.

I loved watching Jill at Arsenal, I was really bothered by the fact that Joe never used her properly but he rarely used DVD properly so it shows ummm something. Anyway, as you all know Jill moved on to Wolfsburg to follow her dreams of wining the Champions League. However after a few years, where she won plenty, she couldn’t achieve that specific goal. A goal which is basically most footballer’s goals, and a goal that dew people get to achieve. So, why the f*ck is she getting so much criticism over that? Ah… it’s because people need that because it’s easier to criticize someone that look in the mirror and audit their own life status, I suspect.

She has now come back to the WSL to play for Manchester City. A team that is not in the Champions League, but she still signed for them. Yet people have the ovaries to hate on her and make fun on her? Umm like what the hell?? She is joining an elite team, with incredible players, who will no doubt be in contention for trophies. What else do you want her to do? Why do you care? Why do her choices matter to you? Why do you get pleasure from her “failing”? What do you know about success? What do you know about overcoming failure?

I have zero issues with her whatsoever. I like her a lot, always have and always will. I even saw someone say that she “never felt the arsenal colors” hahahaha what a load of nonsense. It’s silly and laughable.

She’s stellar, she’s won more trophies than most people who criticize her have kicked a ball in their entire bloody lives. Jill Roord doesn’t owe anything to any AWFC fans. Get over yourselves. No player ever has to justify x decision just to please you. They are elite and have designed their lives to make whichever decision fits them. When was the last time you spoke to her? Also, would you ever say anything like what you tweet to her face?

I wanna see these so called journalists that would interview her back in the day call her what they’re tweeting about to her face. But we all know it won’t happen.

d ❤

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This whole Alessia Russo transfer situation has been very interesting on many fronts and in my opinion not necessarily for good reasons. I’m not talking about her transfer in literal terms, there’s nothing uninteresting about that at all, it’s massive in every which way. What I’m talking about though, is what awfc and woso twitter had become recently and specially this notion that people had about having some sort of inside info… Where to being with this?

Everyone claimed to know what was happening and when. I find it extremely funny and silly that people were going on about this transfer as if it wasn’t the most well know, worst kept secret… EVERYBODY KNEW SHE WAS SIGNING right? I mean, we almost got her in December and it was a thing that most people knew. For the record I’m not actually saying that I personally knew for a fact, my point is that it would’ve been more of a surprise if she didn’t sign. I was totally convinced it was only a matter of time.

Some people were tweeting about it as if it was a long shot, or a crazy idea that they championed above other people… and sorry but nope. You didn’t come up with this theory, it was a well known thing. A lot of people are taking what some personalities adjacent to the club say and not only do they believe it, which I don’t blame them for, but they behave as if the person they got the info from doesn’t have a massive following on social media. It’s madness.

It is very possible that people have inside info… I have known about Declan Rice for months, but that doesn’t mean that my info was correct… I just had a very reliable source and it just so happened to become a reality. But imagine how silly I would’ve sounded if I said something like: I’m hearing some rumors about Declan Rice to Arsenal…etc” Yeah… no shit!!!! That’s been a thing for MONTHS. I understand people trying to feel some sort of power or relevance on Twitter but let me tell you now, that platform is basically dead and you have to realize that at the end of the day, social media or not, you are you and your integrity and professionalism need to be there with you.

There are tons of accounts and bloggers that are very irresponsible. They know they have a following and treat them like minions to spread their message around and people buy into it hook, line, and sinker. They don’t question them, they just believe it all.

Be someone who questions, who debates, who has their own opinion. Some are not only taking their word fully but they retweet the same things, post the same general idea… we see you.

d ❤

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This post kinda feels like a continuation of the last 2, and even though I’m not trying to beat a dead horse 🐴 ☠️, I am certainly here to talk about it simply because it hasn’t been addressed, but my friends, I’m very concerned if I’m being totally honest. Obviously this is just my opinion and I totally understand if few people agree with me, but let me explain.

What the girls achieved last season with that depleted squad was absolutely insane and it was heroic. I couldn’t have been more proud. I also believe that the reason they outperformed all expectations was precisely because the squad was depleted. In other words, some of the players had the added pressure and motivation because they had to stick together and overcome adversity and the unfair nature of life. They did it.

I just don’t think its sustainable in the short/medium/long/any term to have a CB partnership without Leah Williamson and Rafa, which is clearly impossible now. We are buying strikers, but we need more defenders, for sure. In other words, there’s no way anyone can convince me that we stand a true chance with any permutation that doesn’t include Leah, Jen, Steph or Lia. I know many people love LWM but I don’t think she is anywhere near being our best defender, but I do think she can be our Xhaka in a way, as in a different position might suit her very, very well. Like I’ve said many times, I think she would be better used in midfield than as CB.

If Amanda is our new Rafa, we need someone to cover for Leah still. I haven’t heard rumors but I truly hope this position is addressed. I still want players like Alex Greenwood. Do I think it will happen? I have no idea. I’m not a journalist and I have no inside info. And btw this is a topic that I will have to address at some point. The madness around the Russo signing and how twitter has become this mad place where people claim to have inside info when they have all been following one of two accounts and repeat what they say and do. It’s pretty wild actually and kinda silly all at the same time.

Anyway, gotta go!

No podcast this week and I’m pretty sure I am quitting YouTube after all.

xo

d ❤

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Hi.

Yes, she signed. Duh. The most known about and worst kept secret is out of the bag. Awesome.

But one thing I wanted to talk about today has only a little bit to do about her. This is something that I’ve wondered for a long time and I would love to know your opinion about it because I care about what you have to say.

One of the best sources for anything and everything Arsenal Women related, are these accounts that do video edits. We all know them, we all love them, and live for them. The oranje leeuwinnen have them, the Matildas have them, and so on and so forth. The amount of work these people do to find the videos, download them to their devices, edit them, post them, share them and all that its absolutely insane to me. Not only because of the amount of work that it takes but the selfless attitude behind them as they really don’t get anything from this, actually. I mean, yeah their accounts are well known and that might be enough but what I mean is that there isn’t any financial gain.

So again, I love them, they keep me informed and it’s lovely.

My questions is, how is any of this a thing? That footage doesn’t belong to them and there are clear rules and regulations. Now, its important that I explain that I am not implying that it shouldn’t be allowed. That’s not what I’m saying at all. My shock is that they aren’t shut down quicker. I’m glad they aren’t, trust me!I also feel that all their hard work and effort can just be taken away at any moment and there’s no really way to back up all the following. Plus Twitter is basically crashing and burning and that’s like THE place for the woso community. It’s helped It grow so much, precisely because of accounts like the ones I’m talking about.

If you are one of those accounts: thank you.

I also understand why clubs and leagues shut them down. It’s all weird.

d ❤

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I cannot believe that in what seems like a blink of an eye, I have posted 100 blogs. Of course, this is only and exclusively thanks to you, kind, smart, good looking reader. I truly appreciate you being on this journey with me. And honestly, one hundred. posts seems insane. You have put up with my subjective opinions, my redundant thoughts, my love for players that aren’t at Arsenal anymore, like 5 posts about McCabe and much more.

I was kinda hoping that to celebrate the milestone we would have concrete news about Alessia signing for the club and since that’s not happening today, I don’t think, we’ll just have to wait. Seems like it will likely happen this week, not because I have sources but because that’s what virtually every single journo and outlet is saying. This will be a massive, massive moment for Arsenal and I am so ready.

Another thing that I’m ready for the season to start, Jesus Christ. 😂 I’m not even kidding.

I do look forward to the World Cup and I’m gonna be talking about the dutch squad a lot because of the 3 former Arsenal players that will be involved.

The thought of thinking and speculating about who plays where is pretty nerve wracking but what the hell, here’s how I would line them up as on now, if they were all fit:

Manu

Noelle. Leah. Amanda Steph

Kim Lia

Beth Viv McCabe

Russo

I mean, this seems like the easiest and safest bet but who the hell knows what will happen.

Have an amazing week.

d ❤

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