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Players of the year
It’s almost that time… and I say this without having a clue when it’s actually time to vote for/announce who our Player Of The Year is. For me, this is both very difficult to choose and at the same time it’s pretty clear to me.
It’s not that I have issues with choosing only ONE player in general because I understand there has to be one. There are years when it’s quite clear who it is if we look at stats. I’m not really a stats person unless it’s convenient to me but overall the players I have chosen I think have a fair shout, regardless of the order.
The predictable comment is that we don’t really have many to choose from because of the injuries but I totally disagree. Lia, Steph, Frida, Rafaelle and McCabe have been absolutely magnificent in many different ways at many different times. They have all stepped up day in, and day out when it has mattered the most.
If I follow stats I would have to put Frida in the top 3 but if I just go with my heart, my biased opinions and what I see my top 3 are:
3 – Rafaelle
2- Lia
1- Katie McCabe
It’s unfair to pick one and I would be happy if any/all won.
d ❤
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BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!
So, after battling with self doubt, after debating wether or not the lighting was right, after feeling I had to get every little detail absolutely perfectly before doing this, I decided to ignore all that and do it anyway.
That Arsenal Women Podcast is NOW A YOUTUBE SHOW. The regular podcast will still be available on all platforms but I just wanted to do something a little more interactive and simply add another dimension to what I do and also offer something different to YOU.
As ever, please know I wanna know what you think and I promise you I will do my best to never actually say “please subscribe and click on the notification bell” or whatever it is I’m supposed to say.
Much love.
d ❤
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apophenia
I don’t love talking about other teams but what I do love is day when we don’t play any matches and we still get a favorable result. Liverpool beating Man City was a great, needed thing for us in a few ways, and I’ll do my best to explain some of those reasons here.
One of them is the clear and obvious fact that they dropped points. A direct rival for CL spots losing points against a team they should’ve beat could mess with their heads. Another reason is the potential momentum change… they lose, we won, and the respective matches coming up are trickier for them, with the Manchester derby in about a week or so. But the most important reason is that the result gives us the power to control our own destiny. If we win all of our matches we will make the next seasons CL’s qualifying round.
Ironically this is happening in the men’s league but with the teams being in opposite situations sort of. Arsenal were top of the league, dropped points at Liverpool and the momentum changed for a few weeks, and although there’s still some hope, they don’t actually control anything and they very much depend on other teams beating City.
OMG as I’m typing this I’m watching Stranger Things (for the 5th time) and I swear to you this just came up:
Apophenia… the tendency to perceive a connection or meaningful pattern between unrelated or random things
HAHAHAHHAHAHA
I love things like this.
d ❤
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Next, Next season
Just about 3/4 of the season had gone by (I think?!) and I remember talking about how, even though we could still win a trophy or two this season, it seemed like Jonas’s project was going to come to fruition next season. At the time, it make total sense. I remember feeling that yeah it would be awesome to win something but the true vision, the progress, the right system and players, were all going to harmoniously work and we’d basically become invincible.
And then, in a blink of a eye, 4 ACL injuries have sent the future of the club into a very uncertain area. If these weren’t ACL injuries you would think that right after the World Cup, our girls would be recovering and maybe miss just a few weeks, but I’m afraid that this might just change whatever strategy or vision Jonas had. How can you plan for so many injuries? How do you recruit people when 3 of the best players will be out for a while?
As if this weren’t enough, the WC can be a worry for clubs in case players pick up injuries and we know that there will an insane amount of transfers too. And this is key to me. Had things gone to plan maybe Jonas signs X player, sells a few and what not. Maybe during the summer a player like Walti might’ve left but negotiations take on a different tinge now.
I certainly don’t have an answer or a clue as to what would happen. Part of me would like to write a ton and mention players I’d keep and others I’d sell but the past few weeks have made me embrace some of them more and I feel gratitude and debt. I also feel lots of guilt because why would I want players that played vs Wolfsburg and gave it their all to leave? Actually that answer is way easier to give but that’s topic for another blog.
What I guess I’m trying to say is that all things considered I would understand if next season is a transitional one. I’m not saying that I will agree with anything Jonas does (as if me agreeing matters whatsoever). What I’m saying is, to borrow from a previous post, that this isn’t a normal season, the summer won’t be normal and neither will next season.
Before I go! I have a special announcement that I’ll share with you all real soon. Just finalizing a couple of things but I should be able to tell you all about it within 48 hours.
d ❤
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phewwww
This past week I went to visit my sister up in Portland. It’s always an amazing time with her and husband and kids. As you would expect I’ve tried here and there to indoctrinate them and make them into Arsenal fans. They have shirts, a flag and sports cards. I knew there were no games we could all watch together this week so I was a little bummed, but then I remembered the girls played yesterday, aka Friday.
This meant that at the very least I could watch it with my sister who, even though she doesn’t know much about AWFC she loves to support me and has also done all my logos for anything and everything relating to my AWFC content and ALL my music/albums/EP.
BTW, I released a new EP which can be heard on all streaming platforms.
Anyway, instead of staying at home, we went to The Sports Bra, which is an absolute gem of a bar/restaurant which EXCLUSIVELY show Women’s sports. How great is that? The food as incredible, all the decor was about women’s sports, legends of various sports, and more. Truly lovely day out.
Although the match was wayyyyyy close than all of us would’ve liked, getting the 3 points is all that matters and I’m not really bothered as to how we got it or will get it done.
You hear people talk all the time about how important the style of play is and all of that. And of course I want us to win in style, play well, elegantly and very attack minded but I don’t expect or want that when I can barely predict what the lineup will be due to all the players that are missing. It’s just funny how selective we can be when it is convenient, and I’m super ok with that.
I had hoped for us to run up that goal difference since I don’t see many more options to qualify for next season’s CL with the league table being so tight. Thankfully the next match should be somewhat straightforward (I know, no such thing!!) vs Brighton who aren’t much better than Leicester.
Haven’t read any updates regarding Catley but I hope it’s nothing serious. As much as we need her, I personally rather her be rested for the World Cup campaign.
d ❤
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run up the score
And just like that, the highs and lows of the CL match have to be put away. It’s Leicester in a couple of hours now innit?
I feel this needs to be a proper smashing and you’d say… one of those OG 7-0 matches where we absolutely annihilate the opposition, totally dominate and basically take out our frustration on them.
Assuming that Chelsea and Man Utd will be 1st and 2nd respectively, we have 2 games in hand that, if we win, will have us level on points with Man City at 44 pts. But that’s where the goal difference comes in. We need all the advantages possible and these games are a perfect chance for that.
I am of the belief that we can’t lose faith until it’s mathematically proven we can’t reach X position so until then, I choose to believe. We need it. The club needs it. And as far as the opposition: Leicester has the 2nd worst goal difference in the league so this is just tailor made for our queens to slay.
I tried to figure out what the lineup will be but I have been traveling and haven’t had a moment’s time to do any sort of decent research. I have no updates on players. I have no idea if Caitlin is fit or if Gio is NOT injured. I wouldn’t mind seeing most of the team from the last match, especially Jen Beattie. Wouldn’t mind seeing Teyah getting a few minutes either, same with Kuhl.
d ❤
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Could fans help?!
As the ACL injuries keep coming so do people’s comments. For every announcement by the player or the club, there are hundreds of replies which fall on 2 basic categories: a. Support & good wishes for the player such as: “you got this!” and b. Complaining about how there’s little research and criticizing the pitches.
Neither category actually solves anything. I understand the complaints but its stating the obvious. Yes there’s more research, boots can be better, etc etc etc. I find it hard to believe that the clubs themselves don’t already know what you and I can be tweeting from our own couch. But, although it might seem like I am, I’m not trying to criticize those comments. I get why they are said.
What I’m truly curious about is how, if at all possible, us fans could be part of the solution, and not just complain about the problem. What could we do? What is actually in our power and control? I really don’t know and I’m very curious to know what you would say. If the clubs, squads, and players can’t control them how could we? There’s a part of me that hopes that there might be something we can do.
One thing would be to raise awareness. To start some sort of campaign like people do for a noble cause or activism campaign. But how does that actually get people to do the research? If we were to raise money, for what and how and why?
All of this comes from a point of desperation, not because I just woke up wanting to challenge us all as a community.
d ❤
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About those injury types
Right after the CL semifinal, I jumped in on The Highbury Squad Youtube show to chat about what we had just witnessed. The show is hosted by my friend Sophie Nicolaou and usually features ex-Arsenal legend Super Kevin Campbell. However, for women’s matches and such, I can be often found there talking my face off.
Monday though we had Rachel Newborough come by as a special guest. She’s professional player who currently plays for Charlton in the Championship and is a massive Arsenal fan. She illuminated us with her wisdom, her kindness and empathy. To be fair she said many, many things that were interesting and even though it’s hard to pick ONE thing that stood out. BTW you can listen to the episode here .
She spoke about ACL injuries and said how that fear of “when” and not “if” is creeping in and how players talk about it often. That really stood out in my mind and as much as I have thought about that in the past, hearing it directly from a professional player is pretty overwhelming in itself, so imagine how they feel!
I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to have this constant fear of an injury and how it affects your livelihood, your sense of belonging and your identity. And if I try to related to anything similar in my life as a drummer I don’t exactly know where to start. I guess maaaaaaaybe potentially dealing with tendinitis? I think that might be closest thing and that is laughable in comparison.
Now, I’m not downplaying that injury/condition but to me the only thing comparable would be if ACL injuries were commonplace among drummers and percussionists but they aren’t so its very difficult to relate, other than via empathy.
There is absolutely NO WAY FOR ME TO ACTUALLY COMPARE IT, but one of the ways I can attempt to compare the ACL situation in music world, would be in the intention/commitment dimension. A pillar of drumming is having good sound and hitting the drums in a precise, consistent and confident way. The more commitment and confidence you hit the drum with, the better it usually sounds. Whenever we are lacking commitment and confidence, when self doubt and insecurities creep in, we don’t hit the drums well and we sound weak and unsure. However, you can focus on the sound itself, hit the drums hard and you’ll SOUND like you’re confident and that you know what you’re doing, even if your mind isn’t in harmony with your body. This is one of the best parts of being a drummer. You can sort of bypass your doubts and fears.
I’m not quite sure how players do this. To be clear, what I’m trying to express is quite literally that I am not sure how they do it, I’m NOT saying that I don’t think they are capable. I just don’t know and I’m very interested in how it compares or if it even compares at all. My guess is that because the stakes are so much higher in sport, the potential fear of injury is magnified exponentially and that is something that is very scary.
d ❤
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folklore
I’m currently thousands of feet in the air, sitting on this airplane chair and staring at my computer hoping that I will be super inspired to write about what we all saw yesterday. For the sake of consistency to this blog and, more importantly, commitment to YOU, i’m gonna force myself to write down some of my takeaways in whichever capacity. And come to think of it, its rather funny that I don’t have a lot to say, given the occassion and given that I clearly like the sound of my own voice too much, as per my podcasts, lol.
I just think that I’m having a hard time processing it all. It just wasn’t a normal match, it wasn’t a normal day, it wasn’t a normal performance, it wasn’t a normal scoreline, etc etc etc. Nothing normal about it, and that’s so glorious within itself. Because it wasn’t normal for me, i’m finding it hard to cope with it and understand what happened in the normal way.
I mentioned this on my podcast but I will talk about it here in case you haven’t heard or prefer to read it:
Among the things that stand out in my mind is how extremely happy I am for Jenn Beattie. I bloody love her and I’m so happy to see her get minutes and to have scored THAT goal at THAT TIME of the match was unreal and she deserves to live this moment that i’m sure she will remember FOREVER, just as we will. I think she has proven she still has what it takes to play at a very high level and I rather see her on the pitch that other defenders, to be honest. I understand she has featured more because of injuries but if there ever was a pecking order, she should be above whatever she was.
Pelova and LWM had very good games. Probably Lotte’s best game ever for Arsenal??? I mean… hat’s off to her after that solid, strong and virtually perfect performance. I feel so bad for her because she didn’t deserve to make that mistake, but nobody did. It sucks that it happened to the team and somehow this feels “less painful” than losing on penalties.
Another thing that makes it feel less painful is who we lost against. I make zero apologies and I am here to tell you I love Dom Janssen and Jill Roord with a passion. They are 2 of the players that made me fall in love with women’s football and with Arsenal, so to watch them have amazing matches made me very happy, for them, for the oranjeleeuwinnen.
The biggest thing that stands in my mind is how history will reward this team, or what’s left of it, with love and admiration. Be it arsenal people/fans or football fans overall. I think how us that got to watch the Invincibles know the lineup by heart, we will remember this starting 11 +. They are, in my mind, part of Arsenal Folklore. You know how you learn about historic teams that did X thing against X team? That’s what I mean… The Quadruple winners, the Invincibles, and now them, among many other teams. How lucky are we as a club?
I’m proud to be a gooner and there’s nothing anyone can take way from us as a fan base. Not endless pockets, not a run of a good 5 seasons. We are much more. We are not normal.
Nobody normal ever made history.
d ❤
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Football augmented
Hi.
I have had a crazy day and cannot write as much as I would like, or anything at really, but I was actually able to record a podcast.
I will be on a plane in a few hours and should have time to write much more about the match.
thank you.
d ❤
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A very subjective look into AWFC 