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Shocked…
This is a very hard post to write because I’m assuming that at one point or another I will be somewhat critical of individuals and you have my word that I will do my best to not do that and to also focus on some things that I see as positives… just stick with me here.
We didn’t get killed, we were absent or neglectful and the girls always put the effort in. That is always an overwhelming positive unlike what we see in a lot of men’s football where the players look like they gave up or aren’t even trying. Not in the women’s game, nope. It wasn’t enough, but they put the effort in.
Another positive thing is the fact that we got this far with a squad who has players that aren’t as good as other squads. Imagine if we had better recruitment and better players in key areas, we would’ve gone to the final so there’s some hope that we get the right players this off season.
Now, what could’ve gone better? I thought Renee’s substitutions weren’t good…
Smilla should’s stayed as a winger, Katie and Mariona should’ve stayed on the pitch in a match of this magnitude and the biggest error for me was the fact that Foord even started this match. I didn’t think I could see her play worse than the previous match and today showed I was wrong. She never hides and always tries, I’ll give her that, but today nothing came off. I value effort and grit and fight. She always shows that.
The penalty we gave away was so, so, so clumsy and if Steph Catley would’ve played this would have never happened. I have said this for months, Leah and Steph need world class players to cover their position. Katie could’ve played there with Hinds at left back.
Don’t get me started on Beth not playing. She would’ve kept Bacha way busier and quieter.
This is on Renee though, and yeah I still trust her with my life.
Lyon were better, at everything basically and just like I feared, Bacha was unreal and Engen/Endler did NOT have poor matches. I also said if they didn’t have all 3 Americans in midfield they would control it and they did, I was wrong in that I expected Damaris to play but other than that, we could see this coming.
Katie needs to stay and if she goes like I’ve said for 3 years now, Bacha is who we need.
So what’s next? The brutal reality that this could’ve been the last CL ever for some of these players at Arsenal and maybe ever, who knows? It breaks my heart and I hope they all are proud of themselves.
Holmberg is the truth. That girl is special.
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Lyon
One of the best things about living in Los Angeles and being a football fan is the time difference. You might think I’m insane because that implies waking up at 4am most weekends to watch the girls play and sometimes it’s both days if the men also play. Truth be told I watch an average of 6 matches per weekend and my days start very. I love all of this because I have the entire day ahead of me and I don’t need to worry a lot for those previous hours that are normally filled with anxiety… I’m sleeping at that point and I skip all the nerves, usually.
Also, it’s a very intense situation in that I wake up, check my notifications and read about a transfer or contract renewal or better yet: a series of messages on WhatsApp groups that can be either news breaking or totally unrelated banter. It’s amazing.
The match of the season is less than 24 hours away and I feel a combination of confidence and also apprehension. I’m confident because we have beat them already last week, we exposed some of their flaws, and their manager left some people on the bench that allow us to beat them. Ironically I’m apprehensive about the same things… not sure we can beat this team twice in a row, or that Ada would be that quiet 2 matches consecutively, nor do I think Engen and Endler would ever make mistakes like that again, let alone ever again.
One thing that does give me confidence is if they play their “American midfield 3.” They are good, sure but they are a way more balanced team with Damaris playing there and this is not based on stats but just my eyes and opinion. Egurrola is one of the best defensive midfielders in world football and same with some of our players, if she’s not on the pitch, any team is weaker.
Even as a half american I don’t particularly care about USWNT players, only if they play for AWFC. But I will absolutely miss seeing Lindsey Heap play in Europe. What an absolute monster of a player, and a big Arsenal fan. I wish we would’ve signed her at some point but it wasn’t meant to be.
I’m having this vision of Katie scoring a banger and I hope I’m able to manifest that. Seems like she hasn’t scored in a very, very long time and this is the kind of match that she excels at and my wish is for her to remind everyone and their mother what an Rolls Royce of a player she is and will continue being for years to come.
My prediction is another 2-1 and I’m hoping it finishes after 90 mins because I’m playing pickleball and can’t watch extra time 😦
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Steph: AWFC Legend
This has been a Catley stan account since day 1 and I’m happy beyond words that she has extended her contract at AWFC and her life in England. She is beloved by her teammates, fans, Australia and basically world football. Nobody has a bad word to say about her. We have had an absolute gem in our club and I am so relieved to know she will continue being part of us, someone who has already cemented legendary status
Assuming Leah also signs an extension, means one thing and one thing only: we will continue having the best CB partnership in world football. Nobody comes close. They have showed time and time and again how reliable, fierce, composed and technically gifted they are.
Screenshot This also continues to, in my mind, put pressure on AWFC to keep doing the right thing, meaning signing Katie and Beth to longer deals asap and like I said yesterday if they don’t, they should go to City, make lots of money. Also, if they do go to city, they will win 2 CLs in a row and the WSL too. So, basically we need them in our team. Look at the difference Viv has made. Anyway, let’s sort this out.
Regarding the Leicester match today I don’t have a doubt we will win and I have just seen the starting lineups and it seems like a very “rest our players” type of a match. Happy to see that honestly and I love Codina getting some playing time and also Holmberg. Potentially one of the last matches Pelova plays for us too and I hope the fans show her some love too.
I will miss this match because I have a tee time and I will also miss the men’s match vs Atletico. I’ll watch both later tonight but I’m hoping me not watching actually helps the teams haha.
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What are they waiting for?
Rumors are rumors and people will literally make stuff up and run with it. One of those rumors is that City are in, not just for Beth, but for McCabe as well. This has me very torn and I’m gonna try to express my feelings one way or another on here. Thanks for coming along for the bumpy ride.
On one hand I think it’s an absolute disgrace that the club hasn’t renewed them or offered them a new contract, from what we know, of course. How the fuck do you not secure Katie McCabe and Beth Mead? Is the board not aware of who they are? Have they not seen their cultural and sporting impact? It is nothing short of historic by every metric imaginable. It’s just ridiculous, my friends. This pair has done so much for our club, they are modern day architects.
We saw the club move on from Jordan Nobbs, Lia Walti, Jill Roord, DVD, Viv and more… none of them were “done” … they were all fantastic footballers and they still are, I will die on that hill.
Now you might be thinking that they aren’t getting any younger. Tell me any single person who has ever gotten younger. It’s all about expectations and assumptions and at the end of the day it all depends on the manager’s plans and who executes it. I will never understand playing Mariona and Kim as a double 6, never ever. But we won a CL like that, so in the words of my boss: “what the fuck do I know?”
I want and need them to be happy and if that means them going to a club that values them, respects them and also PAYS them, then I’m all for it, I don’t really mind. They could sign for spurs, Chelsea or whichever team and I will still support and love them. Ok I would hate it if it were Chelsea, specially because I don’t see them dominating like they once did, not based on the current table but the overall state of that club.
Also worth noting that sooner or later Man City will be held responsible for 115 rule breaches and things can take a weird turn, hopefully the women’s side is more of a stand alone arm.
So what is the club waiting for? what is the play? I have no idea and nothing makes sense but if we aren’t going to sign them up and show them the love and respect they deserve then we don’t deserve them. I’m also sick and tired of the social media discourse about them and if affects me, then just imagine what it can do to them.
Whatever happens, I just need to know soon.
More importantly, if you were them… what are you waiting for? in terms of a new contract or to make your decision? This is not a loaded question nor is it meant to make you feel a certain way. I’m just curious as to how these things truly work.
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Lucky Sunday
It’s been about an hour since our girls beat Lyon and to say that it was an interesting game would be an understatement. This game had a LOT in it and I’m gonna do my best to chat about a few things, and as usual I’d like to remind you that if you’re looking for match analysis and tactics, this is NOT the blog for that.
The first thing I’ll say is that I was gutted to know about Beth missing for personal reasons. Not sure what that’s all about but I send her, like you, all my love and support. We also learned that Steph wasn’t going to be a part of the squad. These two absences simultaneously made me think we had very little chance to get a result vs Lyon and once again I was proven wrong.
I didn’t expect Leah to be fit either, so when I saw her in the lineup I was beyond happy. She is so goddamned good. I thought she played very, very well and you can just see the class and poise she oozes every time she’s on the ball or makes a tackle. Elegance personified. We are just so used to her being so good that sometimes I think it can be taken for granted.
Someone who I thought had a tragic game was Foord. I don’t think she makes the right decisions basically ever and I cannot believe she wasn’t subbed at halftime, maybe because we have no attacking options “in her position” which is mental. She hasn’t been at the level our club needs and deserves, in my opinion. She should’ve scored 2, she should’ve passed way more times and she should’ve gotten a yellow card for a clumsy tackle/grab situation.
I am not fully loving the Stina / Russo thing but I also don’t dislike it right now. I love the thought of having them both on the pitch but would much rather see Mariona farther up the pitch and have more of a creating role. She also didn’t have the best of matches today.
Lyon were poor. This is BY FAR the worst Lyon team I’ve seen in a CL match ever and they left some stellar players on the bench too and who knows what that was about. I thought Ada would destroy LWM but she didn’t, which is surprising. Lotte did ok btw, nothing stellar unlike Fox who I thought was our actual player of the match.
Sophia got the POTM but I didn’t think she was particularly great, but good for the Canadian for continuing her run and pressuring Endler and Engen to make yet another mistake which sounds wild to say.
I still think we got a little lucky. They have enough talented attacking players to make life for us very difficult in France next week but I have full confidence we can get a result, specially if Steph and Leah are back on the pitch together. I trust those two with my life, my music career, my taxes, my health and my mental stability as well.
Foord had to score those two chances and I really hope that doesn’t come back to haunt us.
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AWFC > AFC x infinity
I am not in the business of comparing men to women, specially in an arena where there is no comparison. Arsenal Women have accomplished more than Arsenal men, in a considerably shorter amount of time, including TWO Champions Leagues, so to compare them would be insulting to our women’s historic side and to Vic Akers too, who was also an integral part of the men’s history too, but that’s a whole different story.
There was a post I did a few days ago called “Matriarchal” I which I spoke how about how I didn’t think that Arteta had the humility to go over to Renee’s office and ask her what it takes to win a CL and to be a winner. How to motivate players beyond their wildest dreams to the point where they beat the 2 best teams maybe ever assembled, back to back and win a European Trophy.
However I think I feel like I placed a lot of blame on the manager and not enough on the male players. You cannot convince me that these guys go to Katie, Stina, Steph or Alessia and ask them what it takes to win a CL or the euros for that matter. A club that takes pride in being “a family” and they sell you merch line after merch line, yet there is a clear divide in the lack of mutual support, a visible one, and it’s alarming, only because I think it could be extremely empowering for everyone, including the fans.
When was the last time you saw a single men’s squad member attend a women’s game? Wrighty definitely doesn’t count and honestly I don’t remember the cameras showing him at a game for who knows how long. This is not a dig whatsoever, just an observation. And honestly, we saw the women’s team show up to many, many matches and it never seems reciprocated so if I were them, I wouldn’t go see the men, I wouldn’t post about it, I would frankly not care and if they bottle the league I would be ashamed.
But let’s forget about the men’s squad which have thrown away the premier league, and let’s chat briefly about the usual tension that is the end of the season/transfer situation…
What I will say is what I always say during this time… you are not alone! haha. This is all super traumatic for a lot of us and I still haven’t gotten over DVD, Viv, Jill and Dom leaving us, and I’m sure my heart is still not ready for the imminent departures, regardless of who comes in. Don’t get me started on Lia Walti…
We could have Bonmati, Putellas and Pajor but I’ll take Catley, McCabe and Beth. Yes, I would. Why? Because the latter three, among a few others, are part of the DNA that makes Arsenal, THE ARSENAL, something to be proud of. They are the NOW, not “the past” and they did the goddamned thing and whatever success and trophies comes next will be thanks to them, just like with Alex Scott and Emma Byrne and co.
Can’t you see? These players are what those players were. Imagine reading on a social media app that Rachel Yankey wasn’t good enough. Absolutely insane.
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Stina, Gratitude & Ona
Much love to all the new readers! Yesterday’s post got a lot of traction and I want to give you the warmest of welcomes. I so very much appreciate your energy and your time to read not just that post but all the other ones that you have. Also, in case you haven’t and you’re wondering who the hell I am and why I write about AWFC let me give you a quick intro, and feel free to skip this next paragraph.
I’m a musician living in Los Angeles. I play drums and percussion for a living and have been lucky enough to work with some of the biggest names in pop. However, nothing I have done comes close to the joy I feel when I watch/talk about/write about/ AWFC and specially a few players that have a special place in my heart, both former ones and current ones. I am NOT an analyst, and I’m not a football expert but I have been watching this sport since I was born in Venezuela and have been obsessed with Arsenal and The Netherlands since I could walk. I don’t claim to know about tactics the same way that so many others do and I purposely stayed away from YouTube (I tried but fell out of love with it) because I just don’t vibe with so many of the shows from fans and people that are hungry for access, don’t get me started. All this to say my views are mine, they’re weird, they’re based on my biased opinions and always through a music/social prism that allow me to talk about whatever I want and I have ZERO fear about what the club thinks about me or what I can “get out of it.” So, if you’re looking for random shit and things that are MY truth and you agree or not, you’re very welcome.
I woke up to the news that Stina had renewed and I’m chuffed for her. She’s a special player and from everything I have heard she’s an outstanding professional. Furthermore I think she shows very little ego… she signs a contract at a club that basically tells her: “you’ll always be behind Russo in the pecking order, you cool w that?” This shows love for the club, awareness and also confidence because I truly doubt that she’s “ok” with being #2. She knows more than anyone what she can do.
Also there’s something to be said about this idea of having Russo “at 10” and don’t get me started on that. But either way, this is good news and we need that. Would I like more center forwards? yes only because I thought she was leaving but I’m happy she’s staying and she always delivers when it matters the most. Forever grateful to her and I know you are as well!
Now, apparently it’s a done deal and we’re getting Ona Batlle this summer. Of course I want Ona to be at Arsenal and I have “asked” for her signing for about 3 years. I think she’s the top a top 3 right back in the world. What I cannot understand for the life of me is the idea of signing ANOTHER right back when what we need is cover for Katie McCabe. Let’s say KT does leave… ok we now have 3 right backs and one will play at LB at some point… how the hell does a club as big as ours have to do this? It makes no sense to me.
The time for farewells is getting close and as I wrote a few days about we only have about 8-11 matches left to see some of these players wear an Arsenal shirt so if you’re one of the lucky ones that gets to attend in person please enjoy every moment and realize how fortunate you are to see those historic women wear our shirt for possibly the last time ever.
In the following days I will chat about transfers a bit more but if Katie leaves, ugh, we need Selma Bacha.
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Worst Take Ever
Morning…
In all my years of watching football… I all my years as a musician… in all my years as someone interested in pop culture… etc etc etc I cannot think of a worst take, of any topic, in any era, of any sport and metaphorical arena than when people say that Beth Mead isn’t good enough for Arsenal. For someone like me who defends opinions and how an opinion is never wrong or right, I’m here to tell you that I make an exception and if you think Beth isn’t good enough for us or for any team, you’re absolutely wrong and you have no idea what you’re talking about. Happy Monday!!!
I have a theory as to why there has been a massive rise in criticism against her and many players that for many of us seems insane, unwarranted and disrespectful, and I will emphasize the last word in a bit. It boils down to the players doing that do themselves, not on purpose. How? Why? Because of how good they are, ironically.
Before the 2022 Eurocup life was different and players were considerably more approachable because very few people, all things considered, went to matches. They could take pictures, chat, have tea with fans, etc. It was a whole different thing… but you need outgoing, outreaching players to represent the club, to gain organic traction and that could be reduced to, and this is overly simplified, but to sense of humor and kindness. These are descriptors for her, if you’ve ever been lucky enough to speak with her.
You don’t need me to be condescending (even though I got pretty heated in that first paragraph) and point out that things have changed drastically since the Euros. You know well that things have changed. Not overnight as people often say. The way football exploded has been a product of historic, brave, fearless women over 100 years and the Euros was just another monumental moment in the young history of the sport. But if we zoom in on that tournament and we put aside emotion and the reality that it is a team sport, one player basically did the damn thing and that player is Beth Mead. No need to bring up other names from other teams, but the reality is that Meado fucking killed it, in every way, by every stat and measure and by all the intangibles… the work rate, the goals, the celebrations, her personality, she has always been the cultural glue of a team full stars and her kindness, selflessness and undeniable ability set her apart from anyone in the whole damn tournament.
So, she kills it, they kill it… They become household names, a project that actually intentionally started 5 years prior in a very thought out, strategic way, but thankfully the lionesses did the business and made it a reality along with the support they got from the FA, former players like Kaz Carney, etc… anyway, they become role models for a whole knew generation. Those fans were fed the best football they could watch, with emotions of an entire nation and beyond at an insane high and when those expectations aren’t met, my guess is a lot of them become frustrated.
The people watching are not the same ones that are on twitter all the time, or it is all the way around? Point being that there’s no way in hell that for those accounts that are so vocal about Beth not being good, are essentially old enough to have watched football for long enough to have an opinion based on anything other than whatever the hell they think they know…. simply put: they don’t know ball. Beth IS football and if they can’t see that, we cannot change their mind
Our algorithm is being flooded by people that flood the algorithm, not by truth. Youth is a wonderful thing and it brings with it immaturity, a sense of knowing it all and hubris where people argue with people that know considerably more than them… The issue is not about football but about the inability to admit they are wrong. And by the way, this also can be seen with AWFC’s favorite “journalists” who tell you they are the authority and said people refuse to stand up and be counted when it matters. And btw some of these people argue with Beth’s dad, hahahahahah are you fucking kidding me??? Do you know how stupid that is? Talk about no respect.
And that’s I think a point I wanna make… having an opinion about any player is totally fine. Trust me, I have very strong opinions on LWM, Foord and Pelova and as much as I have voiced them, I have never been abusive. Some people might think I’ve been disrespectful and that has never been my intention but abusive? Never.
When we insult and abuse players we are disrespecting ourselves. We are showing an ugly side of us and the best way to counteract that is gratitude. Few players are owed as much gratitude by world football than Beth and there’s not enough to go around, frankly. What she has done is not going to be understood by a 13 year old girl in the favelas in Caracas, a boy in Whitby kicking a ball in the pier, or a football academy in the most affluent of places in Zurich, but her impact will be and is being felt. They will get it later on, when they grow and mature and develop a sense of gratitude and more empathy.
And that’s the crux of it all, isn’t it? Empathy. She has given everything to our club, everything. When she starts, off the bench… are these people forgetting that without her we wouldn’t have won the Champions League?
Her accolades are unfuckablewith. She’s the truth. If the noise, the very loud noise, cannot be quieted by her past or her future then that’s not on her. She has nothing to prove, this is all on those people that cannot see, cannot hear and cannot feel football truth or the truth in football.
I know where I stand and I will always have her back.
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Pelova
I woke up today to the news that Victoria Pelova is essentially on her way out of Arsenal. I know a lot of fans love her and this might come as really bad news for them and for her as well and as someone who has been vocal about not being a fan, I’m actually here today to stand up for her… you’re shocked aren’t you?
As I’ve said before, I’ve never been a fan and I truly don’t see what others see in her. I think the pressure on her and the expectations put on her by god knows who, has been absolutely unfair, specially when she is her own player and hasn’t found her best position yet. Imagine being told you’re the next Van de Donk? Are you fucking kidding me? There’s nobody close to DvD. Imagine then being told maybe you’re the next Kim Little. What? The next Lia Walti? You are having an absolute laugh. I never saw her as that, not because she couldn’t be the next “them” but purely because nobody could be any of those other players.
We’re talking about truly historic players who shaped modern day football and very few players fit that mold. It’s not her fault. She is also not responsible for being in the same national team as DvD, Viv, Jill, Jackie, Damaris, Sherida in the positions she was touted to play. All of them are considerably farther into their journey and have been given a path, through merit, to excel at club level and for their country as well. Vic truly hasn’t and I feel for her.
A lot of the discourse and love came from fans who basically just loved her and her vibes and her partnership with KCC was gonna be “the next Kim and Lia” and I remember fans saying they were better already. I get people wanting to have favorites and find them cool off the pitch and all the social media, how she is loved by players and all of that.
I think we’re talking about a very misunderstood player, and nobody understands her less than me. And I don’t mean that in a wrong way, I mean that I don’t think we have been rewarded, and neither has she, with a long enough run of matches to truly know what her best position is as she’s very versatile and apparently she’s a very, very intelligent woman.
Even though she is not a star, I think she is a player you can build your team around. Let her be free and have players around her to help her shine. She’s not one to take over a match singlehandedly and absolutely boss it. She has the potential but if the coaches she has had haven’t gotten the best out of her, it might not be her that it’s the issue. It might be the system and the squads she plays.
Obviously her ACL injury was tragic and there was a bit of dip of form as expected but I think she has handled it quite well and she just isn’t fitting in Renee’s team. Some people wish she did but she just might not.
I would love to know what position she likes the most and how she would like to play football. I want her to shine and thrive and be the happiest person she can and if it’s not at AWFC then so be it but she needs to do what’s best for HER.
My respect for her has always been there and now even more so when she spoke about how she felt and how this is challenging for her mentally. This is not easy to own up to and to be so vulnerable and open is something I admire and I truly wish her success. There’s a universe where she shines.
In her defense I also think that Kim and Mariona have been playing way too many matches and she has deserved to be included more often than she has. If not for a tactical reason, at least to give other players a break and then she could have a chance to prove herself. But these things are always tricky because she can’t control the future and cannot just make the choice to just be great whenever she wishes.
She’s actually playing pretty well for the dutch vs France right now and she did well also last match. And btw I will be posting about the oranjeleeuwinnen on my next post. Really excited by what I’m seeing.
Victoria deserves to be happy and feel fulfilled in every way possible. Maybe staying in London is the move but either way one of my biggest wishes for her is whatever happens she makes as much money as possible. Plus she also mentioned she misses her family and that resonates with me, I just don’t think going back to The Netherlands is the right move for her.
Wherever she goes she will be loved by fans and her teammates and I love that for her.
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Abhorrent
My friends, as you all know this blog is centered around WOSO. As a musician, a Venezuelan-American with a dutch obsessed heart and just a human overall I am also compelled from time to time to talk about many different adjacent topics, and let’s face it some posts are incredibly random and based only on my opinions and not facts. I enjoy chatting about the parallels between football and music, about empathy, about former players I will love forever, and sometimes I talk about politics, injustice and social causes.
Today I am only briefly going to talk about a story that shook me to my core and I am bringing it up because I feel duty bound, as someone who loves women’s football and the woso community, and this has without a doubt affected one of you directly or indirectly. It’s disgusting, it’s abhorrent, it’s unforgivable and I’m sorry that this is a thing.
TRIGGER WARNING ‼️ ⚠️ ⛔️
CNN published an article (here) about how an investigation essentially uncovered a r*ape academy… a site that was visited 62 MILLION times from men all over the world who learned how to drug, abuse and hurt their wives, filmed it and shared it… they all exchanged info as to how to not get caught, they took directions from the highest bidder and every disgusting thing you can imagine as their partners were drugged and unconscious and of course never consented to any of it.
To put it in perspective, in the same month 50 million people visited Google. That’s 12 million MORE people. I just cannot begin to wrap my head around any of it. These men need to be held accountable and I truly hope that you haven’t been affected by anything similar and same goes for anyone you know.
I am really sorry to be talking about these things here but since this is a space dedicated to women footballers, they are women and people above anything else.
I don’t know what else to say for now.
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