Tractor Girls Talk - WSL 2 Fixtures, new signings and England Lionesses

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0:23Ross Halls:Hello everybody, it's me Roscoe and welcome to the latest Tracker Girls Talk podcast, the show where we cover all things Itchwich Town Women. I'm joined as standard by my co-host Tom Cann, my friend. Thanks very much for joining me again. Thanks everyone for tuning in to another episode. And we're recording this the night after the Lionesses winning the Euros. Back-to-back champions for the Lionesses. Congratulations to them and what an unbelievable final it was. Penalty shootout win and England team winning. Penalty shootout, which is always good to see. Obviously, they had three extra time games, didn't they?

1:01Ross Halls:The England Lionesses. Tom, I hope you're doing well. And yeah, great to sort of record a podcast after England bringing it home. Yeah, brilliant tournament for them. Last two rounds were a little bit hairy. For them to get through Sweden was a real slog. What was it? 2-0 down until the 78th minute or something like that. Managed to bring it back and get thrown penalties. And then Italy, 1-0 down in the 95th minute. Somehow went on to win 2-1. without needing penalties. And last night was, I thought England played really well. Spain played really well. And even with having to retake a penalty, they managed to keep their cool and, as you say, bring it home for the second time running, which is really impressive.

1:59It's also the first trophy that England have won overseas, not on home soil. So really good and really good for the future of women's football as well. I'm sure. As it was 2021, 2022, when they last won and same with 2023, when they reached the World Cup final, inspired millions, you know, to play football. And yeah, congratulations to the Lionesses for doing what everyone wanted the men's team to do. since the Euros started because men's team haven't won the Euros yet. So, yeah, many congratulations to the Lionesses.

2:45Ross Halls:Definitely. And, of course, a lot of people listen to this podcast, I'm sure, watching it, whatever they were. And, yeah, as you mentioned, it's spot on the next generation of women's footballers. And, yeah, incredible scenes. And annoyingly, though, we haven't got a bank holiday. Still haven't got a bank holiday, but it is what it is. But, yeah, great way to sort of record a podcast. This was always planned to be on the Monday anyway, discuss the fixtures, new signings and stuff. But obviously it's sort of lined up well with them winning the Euros last night. And yeah, we're going to discuss all things Itchertown Women though.

3:18Ross Halls:We're going to get right into some new signings, Tom, because last time we recorded, we were just discussing the players who sort of signed new deals and players leaving and other bits and bobs. Obviously, the stadium move. But since we last recorded, Joe Sheehan's side have signed two new players, one making a return and another player signing who's got some experience in the top tiers of women's football. Let's start, though, with Paige Peake, who is a familiar name, a familiar face, because she came through the youth system at Itchristown. Obviously, he played with a club, was part of the team that got promoted to the third tier about a few years ago under Joe Sheehan.

4:00Ross Halls:and left the club to go to Southampton to play in the Championship. She was there for a good couple of years and sort of proved she can play in the second tier. Now she returns, Tom. We're saying off record, you didn't get the opportunity to watch her play, but this is a good signing, you know, a centre-back. And now she's got experience playing in the Championship, WSL 2 now. So, yeah, very good signing for the town. Yeah, very good. Still young as well. She's only 22. who comes with a lot of experience now, having played for Southampton and been part of a squad that has solidified them as a WSL2 team.

4:40And as you say, obviously, second stint now with Ipswich. Really impressed by all accounts during her first spell, making half a century of appearances, scoring 19 goals, which is quite something from a defender. She earned a move to the championship with Southampton, went on to make appearances for England under 23s there, I believe, or England under 21s. Impressed and I believe that she's been at Ipswich, Felix Doe quite a few times, actually, since leaving. Whenever she's been back, she's gone to support the team and watch on from the sidelines. So I'm sure she's one that Jo has kept tabs on over recent windows and wanted to maybe bring to the club.

5:35And now seems a perfect time. Now WSL2 brings that experience, brings that loyalty with Ipswich back. And, yeah, I think she's a really good signing. Obviously, as you say, I didn't really watch her first time round. you obviously did you must have been really impressed with her whenever you watched her play

6:00Ross Halls:Yeah of course she was part of that sort of that crop of players who got given the chance to go in the first team on the joke because she was part of the town number 21 set up with the likes of Sophie Peskitt and Maria Boswell and stuff like that Maddie Biggs and players like that who obviously have left the club in recent years but yeah Pace sort of stood out straight away for me you know she was just she was tall you know for that even at age as a centre-back she had a very good delivery with corners and free kicks. She scored some very notable free kicks, scored a very good free kick against Norwich in her debut season, and also scored a lot of indirect free kicks, corners, sorry, where she would just, yeah, just cross the ball in and it would just go in the back end there.

6:41Ross Halls:She scored a few of those. But yeah, as you mentioned, 19 goals for a centre-back is pretty impressive. But yeah, a lot of those were free kicks, corners or penalties. She's also very good at the penalty spots. So, yeah, very good bit of business from Joe and co. And, yeah, it's just great to sort of see a player come home. And she obviously will know some of the players in the team. She'll obviously know Lauren Phillips, the assistant coach at the town as well. Worked with her at Southampton because she was there. But, yeah, very classy player, very good on the ball. More than a day centre-back.

7:21Ross Halls:and yeah, she's going to be I'm sure on the set pieces straight away I assume, so very good signing I'm sure a lot of Town fans are happy as well there's a lot of Town fans who obviously watched her win in her first spell there'll be new fans out there looking to see Paige for the first time as well, so she'll obviously wear the number 24 shirt, I'm sure that's what she sort of wore when she broke through and she kept that at Southampton and I'm sure she'll wear it again so the first signing of the summer pretty good business signing a player with Championship Experience Tom and then the next player was Paige Peake's teammate at Southampton who's got experience not in just the Championship but also in the Super League and that is Rihanna Dean same name as my favourite singer Rihanna I actually had to ask you off record Tom how do you say a name?

8:09Ross Halls:It's not even that difficult to say but sometimes you can sort of pronounce it different ways but yeah Rihanna Dean striker came through the youth system at Arsenal played for the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool during her career as well yeah scored nine goals last year in 18 games which is pretty good scratch that, the last two seasons she scored nine goals in 18 games in the Championship and League games but yeah this is a pretty impressive signing Tom for Joe's team, bringing in someone who's got that experience, we needed a new striker as well, we've got Natasha Thomas but she was the only striker we had so sort of adding that competition up front?

8:47Yeah, very much so. I think since I've started covering the team, you've had Holly Turner, who was there for half a season. Lucy Watson was there half a season. You haven't really had a permanent player to challenge Natasha Thomas up top for that starting striker role. Now there is one Rihanna Dean Comes with, as you say, an awful lot of experience At top level and second tier level Another one from Southampton Can really challenge Tash For that number nine role I know that Rihanna Dean has already been given the number nine But figurative number nine role Which will only be good for both players to have that competition.

9:45Nine goals in 18 games over two seasons is not a bad return at all. It's two goals, no, one goal every two games. So I think it's a very good signing. Someone with a lot of experience, someone who can offer that competition up top. It's great for one of them to come off the bench as well. You know that you've got a solid backup, whoever that might be, whether Joe's going to mix and match those two starting games or whether he's going to pick one and stick with them and the other one will come on and be impact. but it's a really good signing and someone that will I'm sure be raring to get going and make that striker spot hers and start as many games as possible and score as many goals as possible as well.

10:39Ross Halls:Yeah good for Tash to have that competition and yeah Tash loves the number seven shirt so she's always giving the number seven but yeah as you mentioned Rihanna Dean has got the number nine shirt and it's good to see. I'm sort of going to throw you a question, so I'm going to put you on the spot here. What do you reckon is next for town in terms of positions? We're signing centre-back now. We're signing a striker. We've seen a few players leave. We'll get onto that shortly, where they've gone. Where else do you think they need a strength fitting? How many signings do you reckon they'll make? I reckon they'll make three or four more.

11:15They certainly need a bit more experience. at the level. I imagine they'll be going, as with the men's team, for centre midfield. I think that's where they'll put an awful lot of attention. Obviously, Ruby Doe has gone back to, well, I think she's without a club at the moment. So, I mean, they might be looking at bringing her back for, you know, a permanent spell with the club after having two loan spells. But obviously, with her leaving, you've got Kyra Robertson you need a partner for her in centre midfield so I'm sure that that's somewhere where they're looking probably looking for another winger as well obviously we'll come on to the players that have signed contracts and will be with the squad next season we'll come on to that in a bit but I'm sure they'll be looking there maybe another fullback to replace that Maisie Barker role of someone that could play both sides, right and left back.

12:19Someone to come in there. I think goalkeepers, I think they're fine. I think I can't see Natalia Negri losing her spot and Laura Hartley is more than capable of being a good backup and obviously Nina Miolo as well, whether she's sent out on loan, but that is three quite competent goalkeepers at the club. So I think goalkeeping is fine. I think the other positions they'll be looking to strengthen, but I'd imagine centre mid is probably where their focus is more aimed towards at the moment.

12:52Ross Halls:Yeah, definitely. And, yeah, obviously Charlotte Fleming is just coming back from an ACL injury, just in case there's people shouting. There's also Charlotte who can play midfield, but she's recently just come back from an ACL injury. And she is sort of back now, training and doing some running and on the ball. So that's great. But you've got to give her some time as well, because that's her second ACL injury she's had. So, but yeah, you need just competition all over the pitch. So I saw echo what you said, Tom, there. And yeah, we shall see what Joe does. But yeah, let's talk quickly about those players, Tom, who has left.

13:21Ross Halls:We're also going to discuss, well, actually, no, we'll discuss basically the 14 players who have signed new deals. All of them obviously got, most of them got offered new contracts and they've all signed them. So we've got pretty much now, how many of that? So 16, 16 players will have now registered? yes 16 I think registered the 14 who were part of the promotion winning team last year but yeah as you mentioned Maisie she's signed for Oxford as we spoke on the last pod Grace Garros gone to Watford so she'll be playing in the third tier again next year against Maisie Evie as we were recording and we stopped recording we mentioned oh it'll be interesting where she'll go she's also now signed for Norwich, where she technically, that's where she started her career.

14:11Ross Halls:She links up with Eloise King at Norwich City. So obviously they're in the fourth tier. Angela Anderson has signed on the same day as we basically published the podcast. She's signed for Durham who play in the same league as Towns. So she'll be coming up against a former team. And also Izzy Bryant, who was on loan at Oxford last year, for the second half of last year has signed for Real Bedford, who are playing in the fourth tier, who will come up against Norwich. So she'll play against Evie and Eloise King. And Ella Rodford at the moment is without a club. So she's the last one to sort of find a club.

14:47Ross Halls:But it sort of proves, Tom, these players were a bit muck about. They signed for clubs very quickly. Yeah. And I mean, it just shows how much clubs sort of wanted them to act this quickly, to try and get them over the line. And as you say, Angela Ellison is the only one to sort of move up a level and sign for a club now at Ipswich's level. But it just shows Norwich's effort to get into the Southern Premier Division, you know, signing two promotion, well, one promotion winner in EV from that division. and also Raul Bedford's attempt as well, signing Izzy Bryant. So, yeah, it's really good that they've found clubs so quickly and they can get to work and start training with their new teammates and help them in whichever way the club wants to go.

15:51Ross Halls:Very much so. And we're now going to segue, Tom, on we're going to now tick another box. So we've sort of ticked with, you know, players retained, new signings. Now it's all about the fixtures, which got released on Friday last week. I was in Scotland when they got released. I was just in my hotel room and I went, oh, fixtures came out. And I was able to sort of plan our season ahead. You know, you never know if things can change. All subject to change, the fixtures. I'm going to bring it up. And, yeah, we sort of bring back an old rivalry to start the season, Tom, with Southampton. And obviously, we're signing two players from Southampton.

16:34Ross Halls:That's obviously the first game of the season away. We obviously battled them in the third tier many times. And, yeah, your thoughts on that, Tom? You know, we're playing a team we sort of know of a little bit. They'll obviously have different players. And I think they've got different coaching staff now. but Paige Peake and Rihanna I'm sure they'll have a little bit of insight a little bit but yeah Southampton first up my friend I think it's a good match up to get first I think Joe will be happy with getting them maybe it would have been better to get them at home but I'm sure that they'll be ready for them away finished 8th last season in the Championship which is further towards the bottom of the table so certainly a team that can really test how Ipswich are doing, see what level they're at and a chance for Ipswich to get some points on the board early doors as well.

17:33You know, look at the first four or five fixtures and it's quite a favourable start, actually. It's not, it could have been an awful lot worse and an awful lot tougher for them. But yeah, Southampton first game, obviously, as you say, It's got that little bit more bite now with Paige and Rihanna and Lauren Phillips as well. Also coming from Southampton, they've taken players from us. We've taken players from them. So it'll be a good match-up. It's one that I think will be an interesting game to get the season started with. And they're an established team in that league. It'll be good to see how we switch match up against them.

18:16Ross Halls:and especially the game will be on the 6th Saturday, 6th of September and that's actually during the first international break for the men's team so good opportunity for town fans if they want to get their football fix and travel to Southampton they can get a good away and sort of bouncing there then we'll be facing another newly promoted team in Northampton Forest, the first home game at the Colchester Stadium of course, the Job Serve Community Stadium for the first ever home game in the second tier. Obviously, they're going to be on a high as well after just getting promoted. But I don't know if I like that or not, Tom, playing a newly promoted team just like us, early doors.

18:59Ross Halls:I don't know if I'd rather wait to play them later on to see how they were doing. You just don't know. Obviously, we played Nottingham Forest in pre-season before, but there will be a team that will be interesting, really. But yeah, thoughts on that as the second game of the season? I don't mind it. I don't mind it at all. I think it's a good chance for both sides to see where they're at. Both sides will have made signings and improvements to the squad. Obviously, they'll have played in the Northern Premier Division. We're in the Southern. It's a good chance to see how the teams differ

19:39and how each team is prepped for the season ahead. Obviously, that's the benefit of doing it the second game is which one is best poised in the league, which one is most ready. I don't mind it at all. And I think it's two games that Ipswich could really get some points early doors, which I think they're going to they're going to need in the first month is points to kickstart their season. I don't think I could think of a better team to really do that against other than Nottingham Forest at home.

20:16Ross Halls:Yeah, very much so. And we're not going to go through every game because that would just be stupid. But yeah, obviously, the fixtures are out there, ladies and gentlemen, to see. But we're going to go through the sort of the key dates. We're going to do the first four, but that's always interesting. Obviously, the first four games in September after the Nottingham Forest game is a trip to Cholton, who have played a few times in pre-season in the FA Cup. Then also we've got another class with an old, I won't say enemy, but an old team that we had battles with in Portsmouth at home. So if you really look on that, on paper, I know football's played on grass and all that.

20:53Ross Halls:But yes, as you mentioned a little bit earlier, a bit favourite, some good sort of ties to start the season with. Yeah, Portsmouth obviously stayed up last year. Charlton were in mid-tail-ish. But yeah, Charlton-Portsmouth, thoughts on those games? Yeah, good. I think Charlton are going to be tough. I think their home stadium is the Valley. So they play all their home games there. So that will be a tough one for Joe and the team. I think they actually finished third last season. So yeah, pretty good. Sorry. I think they were quite far away from Birmingham and London City Lionesses, to be fair.

21:36But yeah, third and they'll be a tough opponent. But then Portsmouth finished below Southampton. I think they were ninth or tenth. So another chance to get points. And it's at home as well, which is much better than having to go away down south to them. So I think it's a real opportunity. Then I am just going to mention the fifth fixture as well, which is against Sheffield United, which is a really big opportunity to get some points at home. They were relegated last season, but were saved because Blackburn Rovers' owners didn't do their jobs. So they only got seven points last season. That's a really big opportunity because they really need to get some points because the four fixtures after that are really tough.

22:29So it's a favourable start to the season for Ipswich. And I think Charlton is the only sort of one in there that you look at and you think they're all going to be tough. But that one is the only one that you can look at and think that's going to be the first massive test for Joe and his side.

22:49Ross Halls:Yeah, especially with the, you know, it's only going to be 22 games in the league and you just got to get those points early door so you sort of know where you are. Because, yeah, it can be so tight down there. But I'm sure Joe's team, they want to compete. They want to be, you know, fighting the team. Maybe back-to-back promotions, do a Keira McKenna's team. That'd be very good. No pressure. But, yeah, as I said, we're not going to go for every game. But I want to sort of highlight two games in December, Tom, because a lot of travelling in December. Durham away, the 7th of December, and then Sunderland away before Christmas.

23:24Ross Halls:So two long trips up to the North East. Yeah, they're not fun at all. Thankfully, there's a couple of weeks in between them. However, I was just looking and the FA Cup third round, which Ipswich come into, is played that weekend in between those two. So pray that the gods of whoever does the draw gives it such a home tie and doesn't make them travel to Exeter, Plymouth, Cardiff, anywhere like that, because that would just be an awful, awful month. But yeah, Durham, tough. Sunderland, tough. Both away. Helped a little bit by the fact that in January they got two home games, but it's not a good month, December, and they really, really need a home tie in that FA Cup, or at least an away tie that's really close because they can't.

24:24That's just... It's going to be really tough if they get a really far away game for that middle weekend as well.

24:34Ross Halls:That's the only problem with WSL too. Obviously, there's a lot of teams that are far away. Not many local ones. Obviously, there is Charlton and Crystal Palace who are in London. But yeah, you've got the likes of Newcastle they've got to go to, Bristol City, Birmingham, Sheffield United, Portsmouth Southampton so yeah, some long trips but they just have to get used to it unfortunately mention about COP competitions Tom obviously the Blues will also be involved in the Subway Women's League Cup group stage which will play across the first half of the season, the opponents dates will be confirmed shortly so we won't know yet about that But we could potentially play.

25:18Ross Halls:I think how it works is you do play, obviously, teams in WSL or Super League in general, so that we could come up against some big teams. Yeah. Yeah, I think it's five games that they have to play in the first half of the season, which is actually quite a lot to try and cram into all that, which I think is a big difference to what they have been doing in the Southern Premier Division. You know, we'd wait sometimes a month, over a month for a game because of postponements and cancellations and all that. So it's a lot to fit in. Could come up against some really good sides, London-based WSL teams.

26:02I mean, we have to wait and see as to who the opponents are and when they'll be played. Hopefully no midweek games. I'm sure there might be one or two. but we'll wait and see who they get in that competition. I'm sure that Joe will want to give his all in every competition that they play in so I'm sure they're eagerly awaiting their opponents for the Subway Women's League Cup.

26:30Ross Halls:Yes, indeed. Private Subway, Tom, if you do go to Subway, what would you go for? I don't know I haven't actually had a subway for a while because I think it's overpriced but I think if I do I don't I don't mind their salad boxes because you can actually just choose what you want in it I'm weird and I don't like tomatoes or you know people who start throwing feta on a salad and all that rubbish so I don't mind it when I get to actually pick what goes on so um yeah i don't mind i don't mind a salad but again that's like seven quid um which is ridiculous i'd rather just pick tomatoes out for the two pound salad from tesco um so i don't go there what about you but yeah subway if you are listening we would mind if you want to sponsor the podcast that'd be nice um but yeah i'm a hearty italian bread man you know the bread you can pick i have that and then i've changed it up you know i sometimes go chicken sometimes i go ham a bit of cheese.

27:34Ross Halls:Obviously, I don't mind tomatoes, so I love tomatoes, I love lettuce and stuff. But yeah, I haven't had one for a while, so maybe just for this inspiring myself on this, maybe I'll have one today. Just go out and get a Subway and then next time we do a podcast, by the way, this is my Subway order. I just thought, I'll chuck out there. But anybody who's listening, your Subway order, let us know. I do like their cookies though. I do like their cookies. Pretty solid cookies. I don't know how to segue this. We're just going to segue into the running because that's always the important part of the fixtures as well.