Arsenal Women Arsecast Episode 155: February Mailbag    

0:13Tim: Hello and welcome to the Arsenal Women Ask Cast on Askblog.com with me your host Tim Stillman with a March International Break mailbag edition. apologies that we haven't had um an episode for a couple of weeks um brighton the game didn't happen so we didn't really feel like doing an hour and a bit on the pitch inspection which i did see live in the stadium the first time i've ever seen one to be fair and with the bristol city game um we didn't do we didn't kind of revert to our usual programming and do a monday podcast because there was no way for jamie to see the game since it wasn't broadcast um well not just overseas but anywhere and we'll talk a little bit about that at the top of the show but before we do let me introduce our co-host Jamie Spanger.

0:58Tim: Jamie how are you doing?

1:00Jamie: I'm good Tim I'm good I miss chatting football with you Tim it feels like this international break usually we're quite relieved for these breaks as a national fan and reporter but this one feels a little bit ill-timed I feel like we're finally getting into groove you know we love we love playing good football in the back end of a season when stuff maybe doesn't matter as much. Very good results across the board in the cup competitions. And yeah, a lot to speak about. So yeah, excited to get into it.

1:25Tim: And, you know, Asian Cup coming up. Excited for that one. How do you rate the Matildas chances on home soil? And I mean, one of the things I actually listened to Joe Montemoro this week and, you know, he was talking about how this Matildas team that's been together for eons hasn't won a trophy actually, which feels given that quite a lot of these players are going into their 30s feels strange. How do you rate the Matildas chances of bringing it home on home soil?

1:58Jamie: Yeah, to be honest, I'm so excited for this tournament. It's going to be amazing. I'm heading up to Sydney for the final, which should be great, no matter who is in it, but obviously hoping it's green and gold. This tournament will be interesting because, yeah, the Matildas aren't always the best performers when it comes to the Asian Cup. We only qualified for the World Cup because this is our World Cup qualifiers. We only qualified for the one in 2023 because we were the home nation. We crashed out in the quarterfinals of the last tournament. So it's not a tournament that we're usually very well pronounced in.

2:26Jamie: And like you said, Tim, it's interesting because this golden generation is almost fading. It feels like this is the last chance. But then you're in a weird middle ground now where there's a lot of newer players coming and being integrated into this national team. and having a big role in this national team as well. So I'm excited. I think it's more of a difficult group that people may let on. South Korea and Philippines have some great players in there, and then obviously Iran as well. I'm very interested to see how we go. However, I think there is the looming threat of Japan and the Japanese national team because over the last step at the She Believes Cup, at the Olympics, they've beaten some absolute giants in world football.

3:01Jamie: So I think, yeah, Japan are probably the favourites for this tournament. I'm very scared. I look at their playing list. Obviously, if you're a WSL fan, we watch them every week. There's 15 or 16 Japanese international players in the WSL. So we're familiar with a lot of the talent and I think they're a lot more well integrated and there's a core playing group there and less transition. So I am scared of them. However, hopefully we both top our group. So that's not until the semifinals. And in 2023, the Aussies did a lot on home soil and that made a massive difference. So hopefully it makes a difference this time and actually maybe some silverware.

3:33Jamie: But no, I'm so excited for the tournament and really excited for it to kick off.

3:38Tim: Yeah. And I should say as well, our videographer, Jason, is an Aussie of Filipino descent. So double reason for him to be excited about this tournament. I know he'll be following it. So let's kind of, and sorry, I should say, really good luck, especially to the three Arsenal players, Kyra, Steph and Caitlin, really hope they go far and they bring it home as well. I think it'd be really nice first and foremost for them. I think it'd be really good for Arsenal as well, actually, if we had three players coming back with that kind of wind in their sails, hopefully into a Champions League quarterfinal with Chelsea.

4:16Tim: We referenced at the top, Jamie, that you weren't able to watch the Bristol City game, well, at least not until the day after anyway. First question, because this is a mailbag episode, and the majority of the questions have been submitted on Blue Sky, but we've got one from our Ask Blog Discord, which you get access to if you're a patreon member of arseblog and it's from arse arse baby um and i mean this is the arse cast the site's called arseblog we can't really be quivering with that as a username um anything to say besides shame shame shame about the game versus bristol not being televised now i can probably give a bit of perspective in a minute about why that's the case in the UK I have to say I can't give a good reason it's the case overseas I mean is that I don't know how much of a tee up of this of a question this is but is that a surprise to you that um we're in I mean it's all happened so quickly I really remember WSL games not being watchable but we so quickly got to a stage where everything was on it does feel a bit surprising that there was no way to watch this.

5:27Jamie: Yeah, it's a bit of both, Tim. And I think, like you'll speak on the UK perspective, and I obviously know that there's a model that they're trying to follow that's been successful in the men's game and the paywall. I can understand that. I also think the women's game is at a point yet where we can't be doing that because I do think it stunts the growth and the potential that we have left to grow. In terms of international broadcast, I don't really, I don't understand why. I don't know why those rights can't be sold. I don't know if there was any effort for those rights to be sold. I really am.

5:57Jamie: The reason I say I'm not surprised and the reason I say it's a little bit of both is like the WSL rights were announced the day of the first opening game of this season. So there's clearly a bit of like a lackluster intention. And that's not just that's not from the FA. That's from international partners and broadcasters that want to stream it as well. So I don't know behind the scenes if there was an effort to sell those rights. However, it is increasingly disappointing because, yeah, the FA Cup is like the pinnacle of football. and I understand it's the pinnacle of English football and it's what the game's about.

6:24Jamie: That's why we love the game. However, yeah, people overseas want to watch it too and obviously when there's a massive international game now in women's football, there's so many internationals playing all over the world, it is disappointing. So like I said, I'm not sure if there was a behind-the-scenes effort and that fell through or whether there just wasn't effort at all. But yeah, I think we're at a stage with the women's game internationally where it's just not good enough to not have these teams available to watch and yeah, really, really poor and a bit of a damning outlook on that perspective as a whole.

6:52Tim: Yeah, I mean, from a UK kind of perspective, I get it in that they're protecting the value of this is the first ever broadcast deal that's been for the Women's FA Cup and they're trying to protect the value of that. And if they let clubs just stream their own games, you're not going to grow the audience more widely. And it's the FA Cup, it's their competition. The Football Association has a duty to grow the game all over and they'll kind of mix and match with the kind of games they choose. From this stage on, they'll all be on, I believe. I believe all four quarterfinals will be selected. But I don't get why they can't just whack it on YouTube for an overseas audience unless they just think that VPNs are so common that that threatens them as well.

7:41Tim: Why they can't just stagger the kickoffs a bit more? because it's when a game's running simultaneously with a broadcast game. So I don't understand why they can't just spread the kickoffs out a little bit more so people can watch them. I don't know. I think it was all a little bit last minute getting the deal. So maybe we'll see some of that stuff change as the deal matures. But I do understand they've got to protect the value in the UK if they're paying for it. And it's quite important really for the women's game that that kind of stuff happens and that it doesn't fall through. and that broadcasters are getting return on investment while balancing showing teams like Chatham Town, for example, against Birmingham, like showing that game, giving it an audience and all of that.

8:23Tim: But the overseas part, I don't have a good guess at that. I'd love to hear if someone knows a bit more. How about, do you have a question? What we'll do is we'll do what we usually do in part two of the Ask Cast in terms of we'll pose a question and we'll both have a go at it. do you have a question Jamie?

8:44Jamie: I do let's dive into the thick of it Tim this is a question from Shane Thomas at Token BG as far as making the top three goes what may end up being the trickiest of our remaining WSL games on paper it's probably LCL away or the North London Derby but I'm a little nervous about the rescheduled game away to Brighton what do you think Tim?

9:05Tim: Yeah I think it's a real throwback to last season because at the moment Aston Villa is late April but if Arsenal go through against Chelsea that will get moved to midweek and we're going to have another scenario I think potentially and if that happens that we're going to have games against Brighton and Villa away kind of at the very back end of the season rearranged and again if that happens it will mean Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final and between that that's where I think where the games fall is the biggest thing um for me so yeah LCL away um when we haven't got three very good players um who else he'll be missing uh yeah yeah I think that might be it yeah yeah yeah so yeah yeah so So they will be a bit more affected than they are.

10:00Tim: So yeah, like potentially that's on paper, one of the harder ones. But I share Shane's trepidation about Brighton away just because of when it might fall. If we're not in the Champions League semi-final, not that I don't worry about it, Brighton are a really good team, but I kind of feel like if we are in the Champions League semi-final, those Brighton and Villa away games suddenly look quite difficult. got Liverpool away on the last day. They might have something riding on that. I have to say, I'm not sure there will be because I don't like the look of Leicester and I like the look of Liverpool a bit more, but potentially they could need something from that game.

10:40Tim: But what about you?

10:42Jamie: I'm with you on the rescheduled fixtures. I just think it depends where we are at in that point of the season and what we're prioritising. Because obviously last season, it was the Champions League final and that's what happened. I think if you get a situation where those two Chelsea games don't go the way they want to and we have to throw everything at the WSL and finishing top three, then maybe it's a different situation. Just for a results perspective, I think the North London derby, maybe you keep an eye on that one because I think Martin Ho did a really good job at Brisbane Road in the reverse fixture.

11:11Jamie: I do think Spurs are starting to show a lot more signs of vulnerability though. I think our teams are beginning to figure out the way that they press and maybe figuring out that when they go forward, there's still a lot of room at the back. So I do think that North London derby could be an interesting one. However, I still think it's one that Arsenal will be able to figure out quite comfortably. So I'm going to be that annoying person and say it's results dependent on the Champions League quarterfinals and what happens there. Because I think if we go through right now, we're bouncing back with a thin squad again, because again, there's players that might miss time.

11:39Jamie: Like if Olivia Smith's out or whatever happens with the fitness of the squad, I think we're in a situation where should we beat Chelsea, those Champions League semifinals are really important. And maybe those WSL games will begin to fall off a little bit. So situational is my answer, but the North London derby, I think, will be a closer game than maybe historically other than this season's result.

12:00Tim: Yeah, and the North London derby definitely takes place between the two legs against Chelsea, and that will make it inherently more difficult as well. Just as a side note, I really think it's time to stop having the Champions League semifinals on a weekend. I think that's, I understand why it used to happen years ago. it's quite archaic and I think it just it just causes too much disruption um nowadays how about this one then this is from uh at my spam account on uh on blue sky not my spam account I don't have um unless you consider my main account spam account um favorite goal match player performance

12:41Jamie: of the season so far oh that's an interesting question um favorite goal I'm gonna have to go Olivia Smith first London City on the opening weekend. That was amazing because I think we knew who we signed. We knew that we signed a really young, talented player, but I don't think, I think there's still questions of such a young player when she plays at a club like Liverpool and obviously she's one of the stars. There's questions of, okay, how does that transition get managed into a team like Arsenal where you're not going to be the only star of the team? And that game and that goal in particular, Tim, was kind of like, okay, we've got a player on our hands.

13:14Jamie: I've arrived. Yeah, I've arrived. I can be the star of this team. I will be the star of this team when I want to be. And yeah, just one of those goals that we've spoken about Olivia Smith all season, but just I'm going to do it myself and I'm going to show you exactly who I am. And it just showed the confidence of a player that's not scared of the challenge. She's not scared of the jump to a club like Arsenal. And that goal, I think, was just like, yeah, here we go. And then she does it again a couple more times this season. So I think in terms of a player, I have to say Olivia Smith, she's just impressed me so much this season.

13:43Jamie: I think last season there was a little matter of, OK, is she good? Is she good at servicing the ball? Can she be like a productive winger? Is she more of an attacking, like do it myself winger? I think she showed glimpses of all of that in her game. And I think a couple more seasons at the highest level and Olivia Smith really rounds off herself as a player. So I'm going to go her for goal and player in terms of performance. I really liked what Frieda Mornem has done in the Champions League in recent games. I think that it's, I love all those memes. It's like of 2008 Barcelona men's team and it's like Frieda Mornem when she hears that European music.

14:15Jamie: So I think that you get a different sense of a player like Frida. And it's almost similar to the men's team for those that watch. It's in the Champions League teams, maybe sit off. Sorry, they don't want to sit back as much. They want to attack the ball. And I think that really opens up Frida's skillset because she's not as good against a low block. She's good when the game's open. She's good when the game's in transition and when it's flowing. And I think you kind of get reminded of the player that she is in games like that. So in terms of performances, I'll go Frida in the later stages of the most recent Champions League games out in Loven.

14:43Jamie: And then the goal and player, I'll go Smith.

14:47Tim: Yeah, I had Olivia Smith versus LCL. Could equally have had a Liverpool goal as well. But I'll say for goal, I mean, first off, I'll say Chloe Kelly v Man City. Robbed a little bit because we didn't win. Mariana v Bayern robbed a little bit because we didn't win. We've had some bangers and some defeats. But in which case, I will go for Russo at West Ham. People cast their minds back to the second game of the season where she smashes it in from the edge of the box into the top corner. Match, I can't look past Chelsea away. I think you win at Chelsea away, that's probably always going to be match of the season.

15:25Tim: But I think, you know, we didn't scam that. We deserve to win that. I thought that was a really, really strong performance as well at a ground where we've had some scar tissue and we hadn't won before. In terms of player performance of the season, so far I kind of cheated here so my player season so far is Kim um but um in terms of like player performance I've cheated here a bit and said Kim and Mariana versus Man City just just because I mean I could cheat even more and throw the centre-backs in because what what that game really crystallized for me is that all the concerns we had about Arsenal being too open last season we played with exactly the same players no personnel change in there no signing in there Kim and Mariana and on this occasion it was Lotta and Steph Catley playing against the team who have been by miles the best attack in the WSL and really restricting them to very very little as long as we ignore the fact that Mariana probably should have been sent off but generally I think that just speaks to a really good coaching job from the coaching staff to, to kind of sort that problem out without necessarily doing it by buying players.

16:47Tim: But yeah, I just felt in that game, both going forward and, and, you know, Mariana makes the goal for Olivia Smith in that game as well. Like we really see both sides of, of their game and yeah, it's, it's kind of funny because I think we've kind of, as a fan base gone up and down on the Kim and Mariana pivot. it works. It really works, I think. But obviously the age of both the players as well causes us to kind of look forward. So that's, that's those are mine. It's your turn for a question, isn't it?

17:21Jamie: This one is from at Ani 25. Our scoring goals, midfield and defence both seem very settled, but once again, it happens too late in the season to have a go for the title. Tim, tell me how we can avoid this next season.

17:36Tim: Yeah, well, Annie's very helpfully put in brackets. Early transfers, yeah, that would help. No international tournament in the summer. Definitely think that that would be very helpful as well. Mindset, yeah, maybe. I kind of think that the thing is potentially the team's going to look quite different at the beginning of the season. Potentially we've got quite a big summer coming and there are going to be lots of long-serving players who aren't there anymore, which means you have to reset the culture and it could be a reasonably new look team as well so um i do think that that that might come with that might come with a wrinkle or two i do think the league is i don't feel the league nowadays is as much like if you lose one game it's over or if you lose two games it's over like i do think there is a bit of an equaling out in the league and i I think it'll also be really interesting, like who misses out on the Champions League next year.

18:39Tim: If that's one of Arsenal or Chelsea, I think they become favourites next season. Basically, I wouldn't quite go there with United if they're the ones that don't qualify, but I'd certainly have them to compete for it. Like it's such an interesting dynamic at the moment that one of those teams every year is not going to be in it. And that's going to be a bit of an advantage. um not that i'm sorry i don't think that's the only reason man city are running away with it by the way arsenal have not been in the champions league before and not competed for the title like i don't think it's a given but definitely early transfer business i think that's that's going to be a very very big thing and a good solid pre-season like i don't know at the moment what their pre-season plans are like going away or whatever but whatever they do i think pre-season is just going to be so, so important.

19:34Tim: I do think the fact that René's got a long contract kind of helps as well, because everyone knows where they stand. And perhaps there are a few situations at the moment where players came into this season thinking, am I going to be here next season? Yes, no, don't, no, maybe. So I think clarity will help. But at the same time, at the risk of getting my excuses in early, I do think if there is a bit of turnover, I would hope for a gentle opening four or five games. I think the fixture list might decide that as well. What do you reckon?

20:09Jamie: Yeah, I think the turnover point is something that really needs to be recognised. However, I think we've said this in earlier pods, the best time for this turnover to happen, this mass turnover, if it does happen, is in a non-major tournament summer because it just gives the squad time to reset. I think the reason Arsenal have fallen off in the last couple of years in the league and maybe like last season we've had to prioritize the Champions League finals so drop points away to Villa and Brighton is like the second squad isn't ready to play the role because it still doesn't feel like they have a role in the squad.

20:41Jamie: And I feel like that's maybe one of Renee's faults during her time at Arsenal is sometimes players are just thrown in and they're told to do a job but they're not actually sure about what that role that they have to play is. And I think Clarity in the Summer awards that and also Time in the Summer awards that. There needs to be a situation where it's not even a talent of depth because I think there's arguments for, oh, maybe our depth isn't as great as Chelsea's, but there's also arguments for, sometimes I look at our bench when we're fully fit and I think there's so much talent on this bench to come on and play the second role.

21:09Jamie: So I just think it's about, okay, how do we make sure that every single player in this squad has a role? Because so often it feels like Arsenal fall short because we don't have the inability to rotate like City do and Chelsea do. And I think that's what Andre Yegler has figured out at Man City this year, that Gareth Taylor didn't have. Gareth Taylor didn't know how to not rely on these stars when he had to bring someone off or when he had injuries, the players behind those players didn't know what to do when they came on the pitch and it didn't feel like they were with the, how do we play the football that he wants us to play?

21:38Jamie: Andre Yeglerc has got a team now where they make changes all the time. Like granted, they played Sheffield United in the FA Cup, but he completely changed most of the defence in the midfield and he brought Hasegar out the pivot. And it's not even a talent thing. It just feels like every player knows what their role is. And I think that's something that Arsenal really need to improve on. I'm hoping time in the summer really does that as well as just making a cohesive squad where everyone can be a starter and it's not just a talent thing it's just a this is what we need you to do and this is the kind of player we need you to be and that just that just helps pad things in the league because if you need to go away and play a midweek champions league game it doesn't affect your away day to I don't know Aston Villa Brighton whatever yeah so I think yeah just a bit more clarity on the squad and that comes with turnover you you bring in players that you know are buying into the system and this is who Rene wants to be in the team.

22:26Jamie: So it comes with turnover, but yeah, I just think clarity and just building that foundation. And I'm really excited that there's no major tournament this summer. As much as it sucks to not have football, I think it's a great opportunity for Arsenal to just reset and reapply everything.

22:39Tim: Yeah, and I think fitness comes into that as well. We came into this season, Leah Williamson, I think completely understandably kind of knew that the Euros final was going to knack her for a couple of months. So I think every player takes that decision, just like Lucy Bronze did at Chelsea. You know, Van Domslaar came into the season not really, we kind of came into the season without a fit goalkeeper as well, really. So that stuff comes into it as well. But like you say, the fact that there's no, like there's not even like an Olympics or anything, the Asian Cup will be done. So yeah, before we go to a break, let's go with this one from Alex at Alex Lodge UK.

23:21Tim: In a couple of recent press conferences, Rene Slagas has singled out Victoria Pilova for praise without any real prompting from the question. What are your thoughts on Pilova's performances in this block? Do you think this signals a change in attitude from the manager towards the player?

23:38Jamie: Yeah, Pilova's been an interesting one. I still don't think this block has been like a standout block because I still don't think she's been given the game time. Like she's kind of been giving junk game time in games that maybe don't pose as much threat. and obviously the FA Cup against Bristol City, European away days and things like that. But it doesn't feel like she's still being prioritised in those massive games. And that even entails 10, 15 minutes off the bench. So I think it's an interesting block for Victoria Plover because we've seen more of her, but we've still not seen more of her in maybe where she wants to be playing and when she wants to be playing.

24:08Jamie: So yeah, this is a player that I think is in a precarious position. In terms of Renee singling her out, I'm not sure. I'm not sure what the intention is behind that. I think Renee obviously really rates her as a player. and she obviously worked with Victoria Pulova while she was the assistant coach and this is a player that we've seen at her best and it's just someone that's not integrated after ACL and it's disappointing as an Arsenal fan because you look at her and you look at how amazing she was in that one season, her and Lota Wobben-Moi were just absolutely levels above and heads above the rest of the crowd.

24:38Jamie: So yeah, I think Tim, this is a block that I don't look at and think, okay, this is a resurgence of form for Victoria Pulova because I still don't think she's being prioritised in the games where it matters and I still think players in that midfield and maybe outshining her. So, yeah, I think it's a grey area, Tim, but I'm interested to hear your thoughts on it.

24:54Tim: Yeah, I agree with you. I think, first of all, the Kim and Mariana pivot is difficult to get past that at the moment. I think we have, I asked Renee about this after the Bristol City game about, you know, the fact that we have seen, like, increased use of the squad. And what I meant by that is we haven't got, like, dead players who are un-new sub, un-new sub, un-new sub every week. Like we're seeing Laia Kadina, we're seeing Victoria pull over. You know, we didn't really see those players earlier in the season or Kyra Kunicross or Lota were just un-new sub every week. And part of that is circumstance just because we've had Lurvin twice where we've been able to rotate.

25:36Tim: We've had a couple of cup games where we've been able to rotate. But something Renee said was that she just thinks that generally there's a lot more players performing well than there were earlier in the season so i think in terms of uh pulova alex is absolutely right she has mentioned her without prompting and i do think that's a bit deliberate and i think part of that is she knows she's going to need her in the next block basically because kyra's not going to be there still don't really know about beth and we saw pulova go over to the right a little bit she might be needed there as well which might mean like Adina's needed in midfield for, you know, for minutes, not necessarily to start.

26:17Tim: So I think there's an element there to which probably the player's future is decided, but she's going to be an important player for the next couple of games and she's going to be involved. And I do think Rene seems to have the sense that she's got more players at the moment in that Jenna Nyswonger's not here anymore, looking sad in a tracksuit. Kyra Cooney-Cross, Lotta Wubhamoy, Victoria Pilova aren't like cutting halftime oranges. Like Smilla Holmberg's there. It feels like more players are involved, and I think she's keen to kind of keep that going. And I think she's keen to, you know, maybe build Victoria Pilova up a bit because we're going to have to see her quite a bit before the end of the season.

27:08Tim: why don't we take a break there and we will come back in a minute with part two and more of your questions right after this okay welcome back to the arsenal women ask cast on askblog.com march international break mailbag edition um i believe it's your turn for a question jamie

27:32Jamie: okay Tim we're going a few weeks in the future here this one is from LexiM1987 if we play Chelsea leg one with the Aussies still away so there's a situation that's on the 25th the Asia Cup does finish on the 21st depending on whether the Matildas make the final or not Lexi asks do you think that's an advantage to us as it's time to pounce as they will be without Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter And then another side question here is, do you think Olivia Smith as a nine in that game for pace? But what would you, who would go to the wing? Thoughts on that lineup, Tim, but also thoughts on the prospect of maybe who loses out more in a situation, maybe likely situation where five Aussies are missing from that game.

28:18Tim: Yeah. So I do think, I think Ellie Carpenter would certainly be a miss for Chelsea. what I'm kind of I wonder if that means that Sonia Bonpastor is less likely to go with wingbacks if she doesn't have Ellie Carpenter and you'd assume Lucy Bronze would therefore play it right back and does that mean she's more likely to play a back four um because you know Chelsea did that back five against this last time I really don't think that's it's that system works for Chelsea so I kind of want them to play it to be honest not taking anything for granted because I still think there's definitely a world where they play a back five and win anyway and I think the thing is about Arsenal-Chelsea they're such like a seesaw I find one team wins the other team loses they learn something they adapt and I think there's so much of that at play so with Ellie Carpenter yeah, that could be yeah, that could be like a disadvantage to us even though she's a really good player I am I would be glad if they didn't have Sam Kerr just because I don't think she'd start anyway, but Chelsea are kind of struggling for goals and Chelsea are going through a quite understandable thing at the moment where Sam Kerr is there, but it's not the Sam Kerr before the ACL injury.

29:52Tim: At the moment, she might come back to that. Definitely not there at the moment. Kind of doesn't sound like Chelsea are going to renew her contract either, which is up at the end of the season. So it feels like they're trying to transition away from her, but they don't have that player in the squad. Like if they want to replace Sam Kerr, they've got to go and buy that player, I think. So I'd be glad for her not to be there just because I think they'd put her on and we all know what Sam Kerr can do in those situations and she's done it recently. So I think though I'd prefer for everyone to be available because it's three players for us.

30:33Tim: I think we need every player we can get. And to be honest, I do think that they would all be involved, maybe from the bench, but in a scenario where the Matildas have gone to the final, I suspect they'd all find their way into the squad, maybe not starting. What do you reckon on that?

30:51Jamie: Yeah, I think it's a bit of an eye for an eye because I think you lose Steph Catley in this lineup. However, I think Lotta and Leah, granted they both get away from that international break unscathed because historically you have no idea. I think Leah is doing an individual program right now at the Lionesses as well. So yeah, watch that space. However, I do think there's enough solidity. They have enough time together that you make that work. Caitlin Ford's obviously a depth issue when you lose a winger like Caitlin Ford because Beth Mead, we don't know what her timeline is. But I do think in terms of the importance to the squad, I think Chelsea lose out a little bit more because Ellie Carpenter just offers, I think, more on the attack.

31:28Jamie: And Sonia Bonpastor has just started playing this style of football where Sam Kerr's losing out. They're obviously without Mario Ramirez, but they're not playing a traditional number nine. They're playing Lauren James at the nine and she's dropping back and they're really just relying on the long ball for Alyssa Thompson and Johanna Ridd and Kanarid. And to be honest, it's very boring football to watch. I don't think Chelsea have ever been the most exciting football. Emma Hayes refused to play through a midfield. So I'm sure football purists didn't love that, but she got the job done. So I think right now Sam Kerr is in such a precarious position in this squad team.

31:58Jamie: Like you said, like what is her role? However, she's still the top scorer across all competitions for Chelsea right now. So she clearly has a role to play and that role is off the bench. And you saw what she did against Manchester United in the FA Cup. She doesn't need to start to be able to get into games. So I think in a situation where they all come back and Sam Kerr's fit, she can still do that role off the bench. She can still play that role. And that's a little bit daunting. So in terms of a lineup, I do think Chelsea lose out the most, but I think they've got players that can make the impact on tired legs coming back from a tournament, whereas you can't really bring on Steph Catley in the 80th minute and expect her to make a world of a difference.

32:32Jamie: So I'm glad it's the first leg. I'm annoyed that it's at home, however, because we love to be the comeback in second halves and whatever you call us, especially across two legs. So I do think, yeah, like a bit of a jumbled answer. I think Chelsea lose out the most, but I still think they hold the most threat in the fact that those players can still come back and pose a bit of a threat. In terms of line-up, I think, I agree. I think the Olivia Smith proposition's interesting. For this game, though, I think you just need to get Alessio Russo as involved as possible. And maybe that is in the 10, because that really worked against the Chelsea midfield last time.

33:04Jamie: So I think it just depends on fitness. It depends on the Asian Cup. There's a lot of hypotheticals here. But yeah, like I said, Chelsea, those two players in particular, scamby no matter what no matter how tired they are yeah I think more widely as well because

33:16Tim: Olivia Smith playing as a nine has been a bit of a feature certainly since last time we recorded as well like it's happened twice more um and I appreciate Steiner hasn't been fit to start those games but it really looks like an option but for me the the teachable thing with Liv being able to play up front I think it's an option um I think it's definitely another option that we can keep in the back pocket but the the teachable thing there is get Liv Smith close to goal basically whether she's playing out wide or playing up front I really see her like you know 2022 Beth Mead who wasn't a striker but was pretty much Arsenal's main kind of threat in terms of a final output and for me it's just about getting her close to goal wherever she's playing um that was your question wasn't it now obviously we've got loads of well we've got quite a few questions kind of looking ahead to the summer um this one let's deal with this one from at biased arsenal chicago stars who's at by a biased arse ball chi sometimes it's felt recently like players who'll be out of contract this summer having stellar performance after stellar performance Are they doing so because of the contract year phenomenon or should Arsenal extend them based on these performances?

34:41Tim: So I kind of think there we're talking, aren't we, really like Steph Catley, Beth Mead, Caitlin Ford. Emily Fox is not out of contract, by the way. I believe she's in contract till 2027. so I think those and Victoria Plover as well but I think it's the kind of Beth Mead, Caitlin Ford, Steph Catley you know those are the players that are really involved quite a lot I guess Leah Williamson as well at the moment while that contract remains unsigned what what do you reckon do you think there's anything in that in terms of like the contract performance as it were which I I think in NFL, they call it, you know, a player having the contract year.

35:25Jamie: I think this is the psychology of football. And this is just like from a fan's perspective, not just a player's perspective. I think we're in a situation now where like all in all, my opinion is that the squad needs a refresh. And regardless of how well these players are performing, you need to look at the future. You need to future-proof this team. You need to look at the age of this team. Regardless of how well they're performing, you need to raise the consistency. And there needs to be a future-proof plan. So that's my take on that. But what I think on fans' perspective on, oh, these players are performing, I think you're in a situation where you see that these players might be leaving and now we're beginning to appreciate them again.

35:58Jamie: Because I think a player like Steph Catley, for example, didn't put a foot wrong last season. She was fantastic. Maybe now that there's a threat of maybe her departing in the summer.

36:07Tim: I've seen no change in her performances whatsoever. I think the last 18 months she's been one of Arsenal's best and probably Arsenal's most consistent player with Kim.

36:15Jamie: Exactly. I think that's just like life, though. You don't really know what you have until it's so to speak gone. So I think fans are just maybe saying, oh, there's the threat. Oh, Steph Kelly's been really good recently. Like she's planning for a contract. She's actually been good like for a year and a half now. So I think that's the situation. I also think it's similar to Beth Mead. I think maybe I fight on her behalf a little bit too much and I don't think people love it. But I think Beth Mead continues to be a very undervalued player in this Arsenal team. Last season specifically, like we talk about her attacking attributes and how great she was at Euro 2022.

36:46Jamie: that bar is so high like I've really across men's and women's football in my time of being a fan I've not seen a player take a team like that and just be like I'm gonna lead us to victory and Beth Mead for England in 2022 was just that it was insane and I feel it's so hard to replicate that but for Arsenal since then as well since the ACL obviously our attacking output has never been the same and there are underperformances but I think defensively I think the way that she's working with Emily Fox she still remains undervalued in this team and there's again a threat of oh she might be leaving like she's playing really well though like can we feel that same with Katie McCabe like she's been fantastic but you still need to upgrade in that position you still need to get a younger player you need to future proof the squad so I think a lot of it comes as it's the psychology of football I think it's for so many of these players fans just forget that they've actually been playing at this level for a long time and it's not just a recent thing but at the same time player contract the contract year of course that's going to play on a player they're going to want to go prove themselves and they're going to want to perform but like I said the players you listed Tim the players out of contract I think they've been great for Arsenal and especially especially of late so a bit of both but yeah maybe we just value them until the end

37:52Tim: yeah I haven't seen a huge change in the performances I'd say like in Beth's case she's fought her way back in because we saw at the end of last season that she was generally not preferred now some of that was I think it's down to Chloe Kelly being injured as well and not being fully fit at the beginning of the season. But I think something with Beth, Beth is one of those people who's really motivated by a challenge, I think. And that whole build-up to the Euro 22 performance and all of that all came on the back of being left out of the Olympic squad in 2021. And, you know, that really lit a fire under her to go and prove people wrong.

38:33Tim: She was very nearly out the door last summer. and the club were willing to facilitate that. But she decided not to go and she's just doing what she pretty much always does, which is just give it everything she's got and really fight her way back in and remind everyone what a great player she is. Caitlin, I never see any difference really in her performances. She just scraps with everything she has, her end products up and down, but I don't see too much difference there. And then you've got Katie where I kind of think the decision is made and she's still playing brilliantly. But in her case, obviously, she's still playing for her next contract.

39:16Tim: It's just probably not with Arsenal. And so there is a need to kind of perform to play for your next contract. But again, with Katie, I don't think I've ever seen Katie anything below 100 % intensity anyway. So your turn for a question.

39:36Jamie: Okay. Now don't get angry at the first half of this question. Tim, I want to focus on the second half. This one is from at AWFC321221. Kim Little is the best midfielder in the league at the moment, in my opinion. How long can she continue with this excellent form? And at what point do Arsenal start phasing her out of the starting 11? Now don't get mad. The next part is something I am interested in because obviously there's been reported interest from yourself and many other journalists about George Stanway. And the question here is, I assume George Stanway is seen as a long-term successor for Kim.

40:11Jamie: So Tim, what do you think about that? Is that the case? And yeah, just Kim Little's place in the squad, but also George Stanway and maybe the role?

40:19Tim: Yeah, I'm not entirely sure on that. I think in terms of like, look, you know, time is undefeated, right? There are no 50 and 60-year-olds playing. It comes for you eventually, right? So it will come for Kim, like it comes for every single player that has ever existed. And history kind of shows us that that might be quite soon. However, again, you look in the men's game, and actually not just in men's football, but you look at someone like Tom Brady. I think he won the Super Bowl at 43. or something like that there is a sense and um my mind's gone completely blank i'm not steph curry um uh another basketball player um lebron james yes lebron james i was thinking steph curry kobe bryant lebron james yeah i think he's 40 41 like there is like a bit of a trend at the moment for athletes like the the elite athletes which kim little is like going a bit older um than they did so you know that will be dictated by performances um basically and there's there's no drop off at the moment but obviously they they still do look after her physically um as much as they can and like her minutes have reduced so they try and get her off the pitch when the game's won and spare her certain games.

41:48Tim: So it's kind of already started in that respect. As for Georgia's role, I don't know. Assuming that signing goes through and everything, I'd imagine you'd have Kim, Georgia with Mariano ahead of them next season. I think whether Georgia Stanway is a long-term replacement, Kim Little may be. But because we've said this many times before, there isn't another Kim Little, you have to go another way because that player just doesn't exist, basically. And if they do exist, you can't buy them, basically. So you kind of have to do something else and go another way. So I would imagine that, you know, that signing goes through first game of next season, fitness permitting.

42:36Tim: I'd expect to see Kim Little, George Stamway, Mariana as the midfield. And then, like, things just develop from there and the team presents itself to you through performances. What do you reckon on that one?

42:52Jamie: I think, yeah, I kind of just echo everything you said, Tim. I think you need to have, like I speak about, I bang on about future-proofing the squad and there needs to be a succession plan there because it's also injuries. Like we've been in a very fortunate position, touch every wood in your house right now, that Kim hasn't had like a big stint out this season and maybe historically in the last couple of seasons she has, especially two or three seasons ago.

43:14Tim: When she was out this year, that little four-game period, the results stunk, frankly.

43:21Jamie: Exactly. So that's what I mean. There needs to be a future-proofing immediately, regardless of the fact she's going to play five, six seasons, 10 years more at her highest level. That has to happen now. And I think, again, something that we've relied on too much at Arsenal over the last 10 years since we've won the league is just relying on players to play at their highest level and not expecting something to go wrong. And look, that's what happened in the Champions League last season. Everything went right for us. Like we didn't have those long-term injuries. Like we had a really like big underdog narrative, but we were lucky with fitness and we were lucky with who we had available.

43:55Jamie: And that sometimes happens in football, but sometimes it doesn't. So with Kim Little, I think the plan needs to be like, who is her replacement? And you're not going to get a world-class player. And that's the issue. You can't get someone to sit behind her until she no longer can play at her highest level, but just a contingency plan. And I think Georgia Stanway is an interesting one because they're not similar in profile. And I think Arsenal need a player like Georgia Stanway. And I think Victoria Plova was almost growing to be that player. Just like get the ball. She wants to get the ball. She wants to split the lines.

44:23Jamie: Like she's a very aggressive midfielder. And I don't think Kim Little is that player. So it might be a direct swap. It's just you're not going to get the same playing profile in Georgia Stanway as you are in Kim Little. She's just Kim Little's the most composed player. She's so calm on the ball. Whereas Georgia Stanway, like if you, like she's going to replace Katie McCabe in that kind of personality, like you need those players in your team, but she's not the Kim Little replacement by any means. And that's not to say it's a bad thing, but yeah. So if you're bringing that into the squad, I think they're not similar.

44:51Jamie: And if you're going to play that kind of relaxed pivot, Georgia Stanway is going to be a player that she'll pop up at right wing. She's going to, she's going to do random things. It will win you games, but then you also need a player behind her. That's going to be that Kim Little kite player. So whether it means Mariona comes up to the 10, they play in a pivot like that. Don't know, but I don't think she's the Kim Little replacement. I do think she's a great midfielder and a fantastic addition, should we sign her. But, yeah, not the direct replacement. I don't think you can replace Kim Little.

45:17Jamie: However, like I said, we need to rely on the fact that maybe the football gods won't be as nice as they should be to Kim Little and the fact that we should probably have a look at who we need to fill those gaps. So, yeah, in short, yes. However, Georgia Stanway, not the direct replacement, still a fantastic addition.

45:34Tim: yeah and i'd added here as well like a couple of years ago we kind of started doing the kim contingency like kyra victoria plover and katherine cool who came in two transfer windows i think and like kim's seen them all off basically i kyra's still there and i think she'll still be there next week but you know i mean like like katherine cool's been and gone in fact she's She's her second club since Arsenal and Kim's still starting for Arsenal and still one of the best players. Victoria Polova's contract, I believe, is about to expire. And she's just seen them off when Arsenal already tried to do the contingency a couple of years ago.

46:13Tim: It's extraordinary. This is another question, actually, from AWFC321221. Interesting one. Now that it's been a couple of months and many good results since the article posted by The Athletic. This is the one that was talking about dressing room unrest and things like that. What are your thoughts on it? Do you guys still think there is unrest in the dressing room? And do the players still think Slagers is bad at player management as said in the article? What do you reckon on that one?

46:50Jamie: Unfortunately, I'm not in the dressing room. I'm not sure if said unrest was ever there. I'm also not sure if it's still going. Maybe they shook hands. In terms of player management, in terms of just Arsenal's results, I think look like great results have papered over things for years at football clubs and that is the case at Arsenal. I think we saw that with the Champions League win as well. So I don't think we can take the good results as a big uptick that there's been a massive change in culture. What I will say though is since the article, I do think we've got a situation where Arsenal are really taking it seriously.

47:23Jamie: Obviously, Jodie Taylor has been appointed in a new role. It feels like Renee Slagers has got more support. The club have backed her with the contract extension. So clearly here there's, okay, maybe there is dressing room unrest, but I think the club are very clear in how they want to tackle that. And that is with the coach that they currently have. They want more support for the coach. They've brought in Jodie Taylor and in a higher, more responsible role, working alongside Claire Wheatley. So I think the club's answer to that is if this unrest is there, we're going to solve it in a way that we're going to trust and we're going to back what we believe to be the most successful route to this club's future.

47:58Jamie: And maybe that means in the summer there'll be more change elsewhere to kind of solve those problems. So I don't think that there's been like, I don't know. I don't know about the unrest. I don't know if that's been solved. And I don't know if the results mean anything in terms of the culture of the dressing room because we've seen Arsenal go on these runs every season and apparently the unrest reportedly has been going on for a while. So I wouldn't take that. I'd take that with a very small pinch of salt. However, I will say that I think the club have a clear cut direction and it's good to see that there's more support.

48:26Jamie: Slagers has got an extension before the transfer window and just things seem to be a little bit more clear. Tim, what do you think?

48:33Tim: Yeah, I'd say first, you know, to frame the article, like, you know, I don't think like the players or people inside the club would recognize like a properly like warring dressing room. Do you know what I mean? Where everyone hates each other and everything. The squad's been together a long time. A lot of kind of big senior voices in there. It's all like totally natural. As I've said many times before, it's not because anyone's like a bad person or, you know, intentionally disruptive. It just happens that way sometimes. But I think you're spot on in terms of they back the manager. I think it's actually really significant Chelsea have done that with Bon Pastor when they didn't have to.

49:13Tim: Because I think because they've got the athletic long read now about things. And we should say as well, like with the Athletic, like they do a lot of this style of articles, kind of op-ed. They do it on the men's side a lot as well because they have so much journalistic resource. And so they have so many contacts. They can really put together these big kind of, you'll see it like, just go on there. Anytime a Premier League manager is sacked, within three days, you'll get a big athletic article by three or four journalists that's like inside the last days of Ruben Amarim or whatever, because they've just got so much resource and so many excellent journalists with so many contacts and stuff like that.

49:55Tim: They can put stuff like that together. And it's, I think, a quite clear editorial direction they've taken because I see so many of these articles because they can do them. I can't do something like that on Arsenal because I'm one person. Whereas, you know, the Athletic can throw like Megan and Charlotte and they've got Arsenal correspondence, they can throw so much at it. I'd say I was never hugely worried about it, just in terms of like I say, the playing squad's going to look different. It is going to get refreshed and they've backed the manager. And I think Jodie Taylor as well, being like a similar age to Rene and a similar age to the players, I think that that's quite a deliberate kind of, you know, really helping Rene on the playing side as well.

50:48Tim: So, yeah, I'm not hugely worried about it. I always felt that it would all probably resolve. And like once the manager's given a new contract, you know, it's kind of like that makes everyone's decision for them, doesn't it? Like I look at Chelsea and someone like Nushkin, for example, and you kind of think she's probably sitting there thinking oh well things aren't going how i want here but maybe the manager goes oh no new contract okay that brings me clarity probably the same as someone like victoria pilova at arsenal it's a bit like i'm not saying she's responsible for any dressing room unrest or anything like that i'm talking about her future you might be sitting there going not getting a look in under this manager but maybe the manager will change and things will change oh no new contract okay that's you know manager contracts generally if a manager is rubbish they get sacked regardless of the contract but what manager contracts often do is they set that line in the sand and say like right this is the manager this is the staff these are the people that are responsible you know for the next iteration of this squad so i I kind of think this is all actually just quite natural and organic, to be honest.

52:04Tim: Should we do one more? And it's your turn.

52:08Jamie: Okay. This is a really important one. This is one that you should really lock in on. This is from Katie Mixtinius. Sorry, Katina Mixtinius, Laguna Beach. Why did the FIFA Champions Cup winner's badge change from obnoxious gold with white lettering to less obnoxious white with gold lettering huge downgrade in my opinion

52:31Tim: yeah i i don't know um i will ask the kit man about that i'll ask one of the kit guys what do you prefer i i preferred the obnoxious gold i've i've got to say it's clunky it just looks like a circle from far do you know what it kind of looks like actually the white it kind of looks like um it was the gold but it got put in the washing machine on the wrong temperature and it's all kind of like fallen off i i i think like if you're going to go bling go bling um basically like i'm much prefer and particularly on like because it stands out more on the kind of red and white shirt whereas like on a red and white shirt the white yeah it just kind of looks like there was something there that's come off in the wash or something or something you can't quite see whereas i i think it should be obnoxious and and bright gold um to be honest i'm speaking as a man with a pink paisley guitar um so like i'm you know i when i say obnoxious and garish i say it knowingly as a fan of obnoxious and garish um but i will ask i will ask the kit man about that about why that changed do you like i mean because there's i'm not sure whether it's clear yet how long we're going to wear it for whether it's going to be for like three years or four years like do you do you like the idea of having that on the show because it because it's big as well like it's not like i loved the idea like i don't please put two stars above the badge yeah please do that um but like do you like the idea of having like a big gold or white

54:10Jamie: tire on the shirt for four years so your tone tells me that you're disapproving of the idea Tim, can I be honest? When Chelsea men were wearing it, I was like, that's awful. Get it off. It's horrible. You're not even champions of the world. It's not even a real competition. Like, get it out. You're actually like, where did you finish in the Premier League? When we won it, I won one on my shirt. But no, I do think it's actually horrendous. If they could make it a little bit more, I don't know. Why is it so big? Like the design, I understand it's the plate. Like it has to look like that. But why is it so big?

54:42Jamie: It's bigger than the badge. I don't know. I'm not big on it being a permanent thing, but I also want people to know that we are indeed champions of the world. So I'm stuck, Tim.

54:51Tim: Yeah, I'd like a detail on the shirt, but maybe slightly smaller. Yeah, yeah, like a little, I don't know, like maybe under the badge or something. I'm rubbish at conceptualizing stuff like that, like graphic design and stuff like that. My brain does not work that way. I work with words on page type thing. But yeah, I think there should be something on the shirt, but maybe not like what kind of looks like a massive medallion that all the players are wearing. But on the other hand, I do really like the idea of supporters having that on their shirt. Because supporters should really be obnoxious and brag about that stuff.

55:39Tim: like it does feel like it should be a bit in your face so I like I almost like the idea of I guess a limited edition shirt that you can buy that has that on it but like for the players to have maybe like a smaller and slightly more subtle detail that's what I'd go with maybe on the sleeve or

55:58Jamie: something I'm with you on that any graphic designers want to do a little mock-up and send

56:02Tim: it across to Arsenal that'd be great absolutely but I'll ask the question officially on that um That's just under an hour. I think that will do for this week.

56:12Jamie: Unreal, Tim. Thank you so much. That was great fun.

56:15Tim: No, no, thank you. And I don't know yet because it's such a long international break. Maybe I'll do another episode, maybe try and get a guest or something like that. I've got some like half ideas on that just so we don't go completely silent for two and a half weeks or whatever. Maybe we'll do something towards the end of the international break. you know maybe something on the Asian Cup or something like that I don't know but we'll bottom line we'll probably do an episode before the LCL game and then resume with our usual programming thanks so much for listening as ever thanks so much for all your questions both on discord and on blue sky and we will speak to you again very very soon

57:06Thank you.