A Jumbo 2026/27 WSL Preview

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0:32Rachel: welcome to up front i'm chloe morgan and i'm rachel o'sullivan it's finally here moments away from the wsl season kicking off this weekend and we are here to preview it all all of it the whole thing the whole thing no dark corners where we're shedding light across the whole entire season and this weekend and the clubs yeah strapping because it's going to be a long one we'll be here till Thursday. If you've got a car journey, if you've got, you know, you're sitting down, you're starting to think about your Christmas plans. Yep, I said it. I saw some Christmas chocolate in.

1:03Chloe: No.

1:04Rachel: Yeah, no, I did. If you're starting to wrap your presents and get in there early, then settle down for a nice one and a half hour special for me and Rachel. We're going to be talking title contenders, new faces, new clubs and what we're expecting to see in the 26-27 season. No club is escaping our very watchful beady little eyes.

1:23Chloe: I really hope we have included every team in here.

1:24Rachel: and at the end I'll be like and West Ham okay thank you

1:27Chloe: goodbye

1:31Rachel: before we get stuck into our season preview we've got another episode for you lucky lucky people this week we're never getting out of the studio are we? no okay carry on I live here now these clothes they'll shortly become bedraggled smelly oh my god whatever it is we're also going to be giving our predictions and we're testing ourselves against Opta's supercomputer dun dun dun nice thanks for the sound effects That's right. On Thursday on the Upfront YouTube channel, we'll be dropping a special video where Rachel and I will be giving our predictions for the season. And Louise Borden from Optum will be sharing what their supercomputer has been saying for the WSL this season.

2:06Rachel: Who's winning the title? Who's finishing in the Champions League spots? And who is going down? We're going to see who gets it right. It's me versus Rachel versus the supercomputer. No pressure. Obviously, I'll win. If you're not subscribed already, get over to the Upfront YouTube channel and hit that subscribe button. Do you feel like you're talking like 100 miles an hour?

2:25Chloe: Yeah am I? It feels a bit like that's coming from me as well Really? Yeah I'm just excited to be here Sophie listens to her podcast on 1.25 speed What? Yeah I'm really stressed when I go into the kitchen I can hear her podcast out loud The only one she can't is ours She has to play it at normal speed

2:42Rachel: I mean credit to it She gets you in her ear Yeah all the time Literally 24-7 So she probably just wants to get through it So she can listen to you again No no she plays it at normal speed

2:50Chloe: Oh fine I think if guys were listening, maybe drop us down to like 0.75. And then it will start to feel much more normal in your ears. Rather than us being like... It's been a weird start to our first studio recording.

3:03Rachel: You started talking about your body odour at one point. So we should crack on. Thank you for that. Also, for you who have noticed, I am wearing the AFC Richmond jersey. Add that to your list of teams you support. 100%. I now support 13 out of the 14 teams in the WSL. Plus many other TV shows as well. Who don't you support? Who's the one? Well, you'll find out in this show. When we don't talk about them. Yeah, I just want to show everyone how neutral I'm going to be this season. I know I've said some pretty sus things about Chelsea in particular. And I just want everyone to, you know, take a step back.

3:34Rachel: I'm going to be going into this entire season feeling very neutral, very centred and very, you know, in the middle, you know.

3:40Chloe: I'm so glad we've got that recorded. Can we clip that up so that when Chloe immediately isn't, we can just drop that clip in? Okay, great, great.

3:47Rachel: 100 % of course you can. We hold people to account here. We don't. We should. And that's because I run the show. Right, let's get stuck in. It's going to be a big pod and I really want to start with the title contenders. Let's look at defending champions. We've got to start with who won last year. Obviously, Man City. It took them 10 years. Yeah, but what a season. 100%. It was the season of all season comebacks. You've secured the domestic double. You've absolutely smashed it. Yes, it took you 10 years to win that WSL title again after winning it in 2016. It's because Chelsea were hogging it.

4:18Rachel: But Chelsea were being quite greedy. with it as well. They also this year, though, do have the Champions League to contend with. Rach, obviously you said you had some concerns about the depth and trying to, you know, put out a squad for all of these. What's happened now? Since I said that?

4:33Chloe: Yeah, go on.

4:34Rachel: A lot of people are injured. Right, fine. Well, let's talk about the long injury list then. So, Niamh Charles, Grace Clinton, Jade Rose, Laura Wienreuter and Viv Miedema. So some of the biggies in there.

4:45Chloe: Yeah, but with the greatest respect to Laura Wienreuter, I think she's been injured quite a bit, or to Niamh Charles I've yet to see where she's going to fit in. If they've met him on Jade Rose, that's a big worry.

4:54Rachel: It is. It is a big worry. But I think you look at the squad and kind of...

4:58Chloe: Reports saying she was on crutches.

5:00Rachel: No, but sometimes crutches, they look worse than they are. Sometimes it's just to stop you being weight-bearing and load-bearing for a period of time. So it's just to give you a bit of a rest. Yeah, sometimes it is. Sometimes it's worse, obviously. But I wouldn't take that as like a... Okay, that's good for us to hear. It's an awful situation. Yeah, sometimes you will just do that to kind of take the load off. Calm us down a bit. Yeah, so you can rehab it properly. yeah 100 % she'll be lining out the weekend 100 % I'd be surprised if she wasn't in the starting 11 okay God amazing really weird starts to this episode but this is

5:28Chloe: this was just my worry and I know you know they've got some decent depth in a lot of positions in some positions I don't feel like they do and I just think to be fair they don't have to deal with the Subway League Cup this year so that's a huge weight off their shoulders but yeah we saw with Man United it's that first half of the season where you're kind of laden with fixtures and you know particularly all those Champions League fixtures you add in the travel they got through it to a degree but you wonder how much that impacted their season and stuff as well so it's that kind of concern and in this league you just you can't start slow you start slow and you know and I'm not talking about first game because obviously Man City lost their first game last season won the league but it's just yeah that was the worry for me was the depth and the depth in certain areas with the likes of Miedema God forbid Touchwood if Bunny Shaw got injured you know

6:19Rachel: what are you saying but this is my point

6:21Chloe: there's some really really vital players Jade Rose another one really really important players that if they're out like how much of a knock-on effect could that have so fingers crossed for a speedy recovery for all of them 100 % but that was my concern last week and it's just kind of been elevated a little bit more

6:37Rachel: 100 % but you've still got a lot of experienced heads in that club who despite the fact that you've got these these injury lists you still have Bunny Shaw absolutely fine at the moment obviously Beth Mead arriving Niamh Charles hopefully will get up to speed quite quickly she's an experienced head like once she's rehabbed and got back she should be you know she's not a player who's going to take ages and ages trying to gel and try to understand the WSL and her opponent she's going to get straight into it I also think like I said the first four games that they have if you want injuries to happen at any point in the season and we always say yep 100 % you've got to start fast like you know you can build your point space now for a really strong title end or title contention but you've got Bram, Villa, Liverpool and Charlton.

7:15Rachel: And yes, they could cause an upset, but that's a kind set of fixtures to not have your strongest squad available to you. Yui Hasegawa as well committed her future to Man City also. So I feel like there's, you know, they're obviously trying to defend what they did last season. And I think the expectation on them is going to be super, super high because they did secure that double. But also, I mean, we remember last season, I think they only brought in, was it one or two players in the summer transfer window and then delivered this season. I guess for me

7:42Chloe: what when you know in terms of the clubs that they'll be facing you're right they have a a kinder start to the season is that where you look at where you can target and you know that centre back pairing of Jade Rose and Rebecca Knack unreal now one of them's injured Miedema delivering in midfield like the absolute like puppet master in midfield not there you know there are areas to target and that's the only concern I have but you're right if if God forbid injuries are going to happen this is probably not the worst time for it.

8:11Rachel: 100%. And you've also got another superstar signing, German international Carlotta Wamsa. Do you remember?

8:18Chloe: Left or right back. Sometimes goalkeeper if she's on the line. She might stick her hand up and stop the ball.

8:25Rachel: Iconic. Really good save as well. She's reportedly supposed to be the most expensive Bundesliga transfer, rumoured to be paid €650 ,000 plus bonuses. Wamsa obviously brings a lot of international and domestic experience 14 international caps um yeah she's already saying she had the perfect welcome she feels really good here looking forward to her time in manchester the english league is the best league in the world she said it and she said man city's one of the best clubs in the world and i feel like i need that step for my career to develop she won the third most jewels among the frown bundesliga

8:59Chloe: defenders last season and she also led her team in tackles made tackles one i should say that's

9:05Rachel: the thing you've got a really strong set of defenders there still yes you're kind of you're you're up front line your midfield is looking a little a little bit holy just a couple of holes in that but i do think there's still a really strong squad there and i stand by what i said that man city are for me probably gonna do it again i'd like to see it do it again there is

9:25Chloe: have you spilled no i've already gone against my oh yeah sorry can we clip that up there we'll just drop that in now of Chloe being told nine minutes nine minutes my neutrality lasted for we also have to mention the fact that Carolyn yeah that was weird I did she like not turn up for pre-season or something it was such an awkward out there was a lot of weird things that happened she was great and she was a fan favorite and she was so impactful last season and even when she was injured she was still high up the stats because of what she delivered when she was in the pitch I also think

9:55Rachel: it's a massive loss for a club like Man City because they do have quite a multicultural squad you've obviously got a Brazilian player you've got Brazil next year you want to build and capitalise on the stories that come from within your own squad and you're losing a player like Caroline who was on blind form again like you said fan favourite fans absolutely loved her and then she goes to a club that is literally leaking players but in such an awkward way I just don't get what happened it was a bit iffy it was definitely a bit iffy

10:18Chloe: can I also give Man City huge credit I know it happened at the end of last season but to keep Bunny Shaw unreal it's not a new signing but it may as to be able to do that Might as well be. Yeah, yeah. I mean, the absolute stalwart, like most important player, key, key player for them. So to be able to do that and kind of end the season in the fashion they did and then be like, and we're keeping her. Love that. Absolutely unreal.

10:42Rachel: And I think it feels like, even though obviously they would have done the absolute most to keep her and, you know, they would have put, hopefully a very large sum of money in front of her. I feel like there was something in the way that Bunny announced that she was staying. It kind of felt like that was her preference that she wanted to do that. Yes, obviously other teams came knocking and there's probably some temptation.

10:58Chloe: Do you remember the shit we got? for suggesting she might stay even if she was offered a lot of money. Yeah, but look, we ride it.

11:03Rachel: We ride it.

11:03Chloe: Some saying that like we were going against women's football and trying to hold it back.

11:07Rachel: I was like, or she just really likes it in Manchester. Both of us only been here for two decades, but say what you will. But I feel like there was a real kind of like sense that she actually wanted to stay. I feel like she was, the partnership that she had with the players in the squad, like again, the fan sentiment around her. Everything she said. Top goal scorer. Like she's on flying form. She really is at her absolute peak best at the moment. It'd be weird for her to jump ship at this point. You know, going into the Champions League as well with the team, it would have been a really weird moment, an awkward moment for her to go somewhere else.

11:36Chloe: So may as well be a new signing because they get kudos for that as well.

11:39Rachel: Yeah, why not?

11:41Chloe: Right, we've got to talk about another team. Do we?

11:43Rachel: Is it one you like or are we staying neutral? Yeah, yeah, it's actually one of my... 13. Other clubs in the WSL. Let's turn to last season's runner-up, Arsenal. It's been seven years since their last title. and obviously I said I felt that there was more pressure on Arsenal than Chelsea this year. It's funny because,

12:00Chloe: rewind there Finn, isn't that exactly what Chloe said last season? So is it more pressure than last season now? Has it ramped up?

12:07Rachel: Yes actually, I do think it's ramped up. Because you said the exact same thing,

12:09Chloe: you said there's more pressure on Arsenal than anybody else. Are we going to drop the clip in in this moment here, just here?

12:14Rachel: I think it's that the expectation on Arsenal feels higher than it ever has before. Obviously you have the Champions League win but at the same time with the quality, and we keep saying this, the quality and depth of the Arsenal squad now, you're expecting them to be serious title contenders, go really far if not win the FA Cup and also to obviously have a defend their Champions League crown next year. What are you, the podcast police? What the hell is this? I thought we were on the same page. We are. I think there's more pressure on them because it just feels like they're almost always the bridesmaid, never the bride.

12:44Rachel: Like, and I know 100%, I'm very well aware that they won the Champions League last year. You can't take that away from that. But domestically. But domestically, it feels like they come close and never quite take that moment. And they should, because the calibre of players that they have, and Renee is their manager, who's obviously getting the best out of the players. I think most of the time, there seems to be sort of like a good fan sentiment around her currently, but we know that changes day to day. Like the wind. Literally like the wind. It just feels like they need to do it. They need to win a title.

13:15Rachel: They need to get back to the glory days of like, was it 10 years ago, when they were winning 15 years ago, when they were winning everything.

13:22Chloe: I know they loved a League Cup win, but they haven't done that for a while, A. And B, they're not in it anymore. So you've got two options here, guys. No, I agree. I agree that every season people talk about Arsenal as potential title contenders. And every season... It never feels like they're going to be. Yeah, and I feel like it's always because of their start. Their start kills them. Start of the season and January time seems to be when they have their wobbles. Two consecutively slow starts to the WSL. And within their first five fixtures, they have United, Chelsea and City. you get a good start there.

13:54Rachel: Are you flying?

13:55Chloe: Absolutely flying. So yeah, I think you're right. There is pressure there. I think as well with the signings that they've made this season, they made them early because we have accused them in the past of being slow in the transfer window, of not being like bold enough. I appreciate that some of these signings were still on a free, but they do have a habit of flashing a bit of ankle kind of in January and flirting with the player and be like, hey, we're really interested. And then someone else comes in and swoops in and takes them.

14:19Rachel: So Rach, last week you said this feels like the season that Arsenal finally got the changes that they wanted. And they've, like you said, kind of flirted around with a few things in January, but they've done their business early. They're getting big players signed ASAP. But who do you think out of the signings they've made is going to be the absolute game changer? Because obviously you've got quite a few players departing, about 11, I think, departing. But then you've got Honor coming in, Georgia, Geraldine Rutler, you've got Selena coming in. Lisa Baum. Yeah, Lisa Baum. Who do you think actually is going to be the standout player that's going to be the key to unlocking, hopefully, the title for them this year?

14:49Chloe: I think Georgia Stanway will play a big part in that in terms of the types of players they needed where. I still think there's some work that could be done in the central defence. I'm not sure they've quite got enough depth there. But I think Georgia Stanway could unlock that midfield. She'll take the pressure off Kim Little, for example. Again, a key player that when she's injured, you notice in the Arsenal squad. She'll also allow Mariana Caldente to play in a more natural position higher up the pitch, which could be massive for Arsenal this season, I think. she's a box-to-box midfielder she adds a little bit of physicality in that midfield as well which I think is important and she's just a different profile of midfielder which I think is good for Arsenal to have so I think she could be quite an important player for them and perhaps I wouldn't say got under the radar because everyone was really excited that she was coming back to the WSL but you know they've had some really big names coming in some really exciting youngsters as we said like Lisa Baum so I think maybe got under the radar to a degree but she could really help unlock that midfield I think

15:47Rachel: 100 % I think also like again I don't think you can underestimate the kind of excitement that happens when Georgia Stanway gets on the ball I mean we see it at the Euros it's lovely that she's now come back to the WSL but like the fan sentiment when she gets on the ball and you know that something exciting is going to happen because she's got that drive and like she's I don't know we're going to see a couple of screamers surely a couple of Georgia Stanway that's the other thing

16:07Chloe: she offers is shots from outside the box which Arsenal are terrors for not doing they do too much of this dancing around the other thing you have to factor in she'll have like Aaliyah Williamson behind her and Alessia Russo in front of her she knows that line-up she's had them in her team for England so in terms of settling in I imagine it should be I'm not going to say seamless but you know hopefully she'll really hit the ground running she got a goal didn't she in one of their friendlies from a ridiculous angle I think that might have been more of a keeper error but yeah that's the one for me I think

16:35Rachel: I think also honour 100 % I mean we've seen Arsenal sometimes be a little bit shaky at the back not always consistent and I feel like her coming in with the experience that she's had I feel like she's such a kind of dynamic, but she now has to read the game. She stays cool under pressure. I feel like she's going to be a real asset to the squad. And I'm kind of interested to see how that defensive lineup is going to be now because Renee does have a few options here. Yeah, I think she's just super exciting as a signer. It's lovely to see her back. Weirdly, I bumped into Lucy and Anna just on my lunch break around Farringdon.

17:10Rachel: I thought you were going to say like around Cobham where I was hanging about. No, I was just going for lunch. and I kind of it was one of those like I saw them walking towards Do you say hello? I hate that

17:17Chloe: you know when you have that you're like does it double tech? It's happened to me in the airport sometimes and I'm always like I do not want to bother you look away but then I'm worried I come across like a dick we're not going 100 %

17:27Rachel: well it was like kind of obviously I don't know Lucy super well but we know of each other we recognise each other yeah so it was kind of like a look and then I was kind of like a and then like we both went apart and I kind of I double took I was like and then like she double took us and then we just both just turned around. Because I'm always like, I don't want them thinking, oh my God, they're going to like write about me being here. It's just like... 100%. Like you're allowed to go for your lunch break and a coffee as much as the next person. So yeah, but it was a really surreal moment. You know, bumping into Alexis Boutais in Bromley and bumping into these two around Farringdon has been some of the highlights of this year.

18:00Rachel: Obviously also working alongside you in the pod. So breaking news that we're hearing right now, just this very second, Arsenal have agreed terms with France defender Elise de Amida from PSG. She's expected to join for£550 ,000 before the transfer window shuts on Wednesday.

18:18Chloe: Oh my god, no way.

18:19Rachel: She's iconic.

18:20Chloe: 100%. This is huge. She's an absolute nightmare to be playing against. It's not going to be easy. This kind of makes me think... I mean, it's great for Arsenal, but I just mean, when you're playing against Dalmeida, she is so annoying because she's very good, but also quite versatile. And she mugged me off again because I was saying Arsenal are lacking in that central defence depth, But she can play there. And she can play right back, I think, as well.

18:42Rachel: This gives me a lot to think about for the episode on Thursday and the predictions. Everything I've just said about Arsenal being the bride's made and never the bride. And that's restoring up their defence is giving me a lot of food for thought. Finally, Chelsea. Balanced big exits with big signings. Yeah, it kind of feels like last year was not the year for them. Obviously, it didn't go to plan. It kind of fell apart at the seams a little bit. Sonja Bonprester Sonja Bonprester Sonja Bonprester should we say do we feel like there's quite a little bit of pressure on her to kind of you know everyone's allowed a season that doesn't go to plan well everyone it didn't seem like it not from the Chelsea fans 100 % because the expectation is so high because they're delivered so consistently over years and years and years but everyone is allowed a drop off and they're allowed a rebuild and they're allowed a time to kind of shake themselves down it almost feels like a relief surely that you've kind of had your blip but it needs to be a blip but also I think

19:39Chloe: it was Aaron Cuthbert who said that they'd been privileged to be in such winning positions for so long you know that actually experiencing that hurt really like I don't know what the rest galvanised them well that probably woke them up a bit like you know reminded do you feel like they were complacent in the winning I don't I wouldn't say they were complacent I just think they built this kind of real winning mentality where you know nothing less will do not that that's not the case at the moment but it's almost like they forgot how to not how to lose but how to like suffer a little bit you know what I mean and and you just wonder how to feel shit yeah and how impactful that can be and I mean they did feel it a number of times in the Champions League to be fair but like you just wonder how much that does galvanize and I think with you know there's been players in there's been players out they're probably kind of looking at rebuilding that culture a little bit now with you know different players might be the experienced heads who've been there a while um I think that um uh pre-season break probably helped a lot and yeah I do think there's pressure I think they've had their wobble and fans are going to be like right well what have you learned from last season hopefully a lot and again hit the ground running Aston Villa they kick off with at Stamford Bridge and the fact that Stamford Bridge is their home now

20:47Rachel: they love playing at Stamford Bridge though I mean the record at Stamford Bridge is amazing pretty good yeah I think it's only is it one game I think they might have

20:54Chloe: well there's Champions League games but I think Arsenal last season but you know they do they do love playing at Stanford Bridge LJ loves Stanford Bridge 100 % I feel like she takes on a new level at Stanford Bridge I think Chelsea could be dangerous this season sorry yeah why'd you raise your eyebrows at me like that why does that sound like a wild thing to say no I'm just scared

21:17Rachel: I'm scared for like the resurgence of getting back to a angry beast yeah obviously I'm staying neutral this year it's really really tough with 21 minutes in it's crazy how difficult it's becoming

21:29Chloe: you've failed 10 minutes in

21:30Rachel: but I am very scared I mean you look at kind of also the silence that they brought in we talked about this last part Melvin Mallard your pick Manuka Matsukobu and you think Melvin in that Champions League game well that's the thing isn't it she's already showing that she's not slow to pick up where Chelsea have kind of left off like she is ready she wants to prove herself she wants to go in fly in and

21:53Chloe: what was interesting about that game is Chelsea weren't great the first half I do think Real Sociedad you know, put it up to them and like gave them something to think about. But I also put it down a little bit to their problem solving wasn't as good in the first half because maybe they didn't know each other as well. You had a few players in there that are new, etc. So I kind of put it down to that. I was impressed then with the way they problem solved in the second half. And also, like, they weren't brilliant in the midfield. Vika Kaptein came in, Melvin Mallard came in. Suddenly Chelsea were able to be much more direct and just turned the game on its head.

22:25Chloe: And Melvin looked so dangerous. and she is one of those players that when she's in when she's happy you know she just is like she's so fun to watch I just think back to the World 7s and how fun she was to watch at that she seems to have carried that joy into the start of this season so long may it continue for Chelsea because they need a number 9 who's on fire and form

22:46Rachel: 100 % and I think it's a really interesting little fact here so this is the first time the majority of Chelsea's squad won't have ever played under Emma Hayes this really is the new era, the new on-pasta era of Chelsea. Yeah, I do feel like there's going to be a resurgence. It's just like how big of a resurgence? Is it going to be a return to what they were doing before? Or has everyone else kind of caught up and actually, you know, Man City firing all cylinders, Arsenal. We say this every year. Recruited super well. So hard to call. Yeah, you can't call it. And that's the nice thing actually about this year.

23:22Rachel: I literally cannot call it. Weirdly enough, we're going to try and call it on Thursday's episode. You know how much I love predicting. But you're quite good at it. That's the only compliment you'll get this season. Coming up after this, we take a look at the WSL's newbies.

23:49Rachel: All right, let's discuss the newbies, the new entrance to WSL 1. So we've got Crystal Palace, obviously Birmingham and Charlton being promoted into the league this season. Now, seven out of 14 clubs with Crystal Palace and Charlton are in London now. That is a lot of London-based clubs.

24:08Chloe: Newcastle, we're looking at you. Get promoted.

24:10Rachel: Which obviously, weirdly enough, for people who are trying to cover the WSL, it makes life easier. Because a lot of the games are now based in London. Yeah, which is great. what it doesn't what it kind of the issue that it does create I think is that the fan base is only so big in London and now you've got every single club fighting for these fans but like myself you also do have these like multi-club fans so I think a lot of people will be going to more different games but in the men's game aren't like most

24:38Chloe: of Man United fans from London for example yes

24:41Rachel: yes they are

24:43Chloe: I'm just I'm winding people up what is your point you don't have to be from there you might you know have a long term standing with a club from years ago and you've moved and you can still support them.

24:52Rachel: Yeah, like me with Man United.

24:53Chloe: Think beyond London teams. No, think beyond London as in marketing people. Expand. You can pull in fans from anywhere. That's all I'm saying.

25:00Rachel: There's a lot of people who don't think that actually anything exists outside the M25. Riddle me this. Well, I'm Irish, so I'm not on board that train. Christ, where is that? Right, let's talk about the first club. My former club, Crystal Palace. They went down, didn't they, when you were there? No, they didn't, actually. That is so... That is ridiculous for you. I was like, how dare you? That pause. When I left, we finished on fourth in the season, which is our highest ever finish. Bearing in mind, I wasn't in goal. That was Emily Orman. But it doesn't matter. You're on the sidelines. It's a part of the team.

25:33Rachel: Cheerleading. Anyway, let's talk about Crystal Palace. It's almost like Palace colours, to be fair. It is a bit. A friend of the pod, Molly Bartrip, will shore up their defence. Obviously got a massive coup to get Beth England over the line. And also Joe Potter as an exciting young manager going into the WSL.

25:50Chloe: Well, they only had the one season down, so it feels like they really galvanized and bounced back up. And you'd like to think then they know what it takes to a degree to stay in the WSL. I think you've the benefit of with the three teams that have come up from WSL 2, one of them is definitely staying. It's going to be so interesting to see which one that is. Quite to the death. Quite. So yeah, I think, you know, I'd like to think they've learned from that lack of investment in that first season up.

26:21Rachel: It does feel like the investment has come a little bit more, though, because even with the kind of the experience heads like Molly Bartrip and Beth England, you've also got Lexi Lloyd-Smith, Teod Goldie, Fuca Sonoda arriving on loan as well. There's some good quality players. And as well, I would like to give a bit of a shout out to the talent that has been at the club now for quite a few years, even from my playing days. Elyse Hughes, Annabelle Blanchard, Molly Mae Sharp, and then Ashley Vierden, who was after me. But also I thought she was having such a stellar, especially towards the end of the season as well.

26:52Rachel: And I think sometimes when you've got players who have worked together, who have gone through challenges, have come down, have gone back up again and know that they can do that. There's a fight in the players. And Shannon O 'Brien is another one. Shannon O 'Brien as well.

27:02Chloe: Pauline Perry-Manion in on loan, Taya Goldie on loan. Like, you know, there's some experienced enough heads in there. It's still a good blend of youth having Pauline back in the WSL. exciting. So yeah, that could be an interesting, kind of like you say, shore up a little bit like provide that little bit of solidity and I think Bethany England such a coup getting her.

27:22Rachel: Massive.

27:23Chloe: You know, they may find themselves not creating huge amounts of opportunities or getting huge amounts of opportunities particularly against the top sides but having a Bethany England who can kind of turn anything into at least a shot on target is massive.

27:36Rachel: One thing I will say, I think I enjoyed watching them especially like trying to try to do the co-coms on the on the game last season um the last game of the season 3 000 different permutations of how the how that game was going to go and they went down initially went down initially Portsmouth scored a really good early goal that kind of unsettled them a little bit but Palace kind of the resilience they shoot it to like bounce back to get back in the game and then to absolutely pummel Portsmouth but it wasn't just one person doing it it was there was so many multiple um lines of attack there were multiple goal scorers Lola brown had the game of her life um yeah it kind of felt like there was this like i don't know like a belief yeah a belief and a hope in palace i really hope that they kind of take some of the experiences they had last year and go back into the wsl1 with the same kind of um emotion and belief that they can keep themselves there and actually embed themselves as a proper wsl1 club um but obviously it does take time to kind of find a bit of a rhythm but at least they have experience of being in the WSL one not too long ago.

28:33Rachel: So I'm hoping, I'm hoping they stay. And also you're not the only team that's come up.

28:38Chloe: No, not at all. And I feel like that takes a little bit of pressure off you. Yeah. You're not the only promoted side. Like not everyone's going to be looking at you going, oh, we'll definitely beat them. Like I just, I want, it's going to be interesting to see how all three of them get on just with that knowledge in itself.

28:51Rachel: 100%. And they kick off against Everton on Sunday at two o 'clock, which isn't the worst fixture that you can have as your starting fixture. I am not by any, but you could have had a, Man City or Chelsea, to be honest. Yeah, so I think that's going to be a challenge, 100%. But it could have been a lot worse. So let's see what their first game looks like. Famous last words. Right, I was going to try and do a Birmingham. No.

29:14Chloe: Birmingham, Birmingham.

29:15Rachel: Let's go to Birmingham City. After a four-year absence and being founding WSL members, Birmingham City are back. I remember Birmingham with Karen Carney. Oh, God. They were such a difficult team to play against. They were hardy, really hardy. They were like, it was almost like a Reading. Reading in the WSL, you had like Farrell Williams and it was just one of those teams you just did not want to play because the ground was almost a shit show and you just knew you were in for a challenge. You just didn't want to be on the bus on the way to Birmingham or Reading. Either way, I need to get over myself.

29:47Rachel: The club looks to be the most settled off the pitch out of the three promoted sides. The women's team was sold to the club's ownership group in February and they trained at the recently renovated Nighthead Performance Centre. Contrast that with Charlton, whose ownership group, Global Football Partners, that's a great name, put the club up for sale at the start of August. Yeah, it kind of feels like Birmingham City are...

30:10Chloe: They've been on a journey and I think they've obviously improved each year, but I do feel like they've thought about longevity as opposed to like, you know, sometimes just get promoted, we figure it out when we get there. So I agree. I feel like they feel like the most settled. another good young manager Amy Merricks another female which is brilliant and yeah I think they've got a really good group of players again they've done some really good business in the summer getting in like Millie Turner and Lisa Nolsen some good experienced heads who've been in the WSL a couple of youngsters as well I already mentioned Chancel Effa Effa in the previous episode but yeah I think at the same time though they've then shored up with some of the players that they already have a bit like Crystal Palace some new people in but also a good spine so yeah i think they could be i feel like of the three i i feel like birmingham are more likely to stay up i don't know why i just i just feel like that it has felt like that longer term project and and they're just a bit more confident around what

31:10Rachel: they're trying to do well i think because they've been knocking on the door of wsl one promotion for a while now i feel um and it kind of feels like there's a i don't know like i'm going to sort of see them play there's a kind of um again like a resilience and a doggedness that i think actually just permeates through birmingham city as a club um and then you've got the likes of kt startup uh sophie bagley joining as kind of strength in the goalkeeping department um and also i don't think you can underestimate the fact that they were they were wsl2 winners they won it outright they are like they came came from behind like charlton looked like they had sewn up and suddenly birmingham were like 100 44 points that is no mean feat at all in a league that was completely and utterly transformed as being one of the most competitive.

31:52Rachel: And it feels like actually they need to kind of ride on that success, realise that actually the gap between the WSL 1 and WSL 2 isn't that much now, especially with three of those clubs shifting upwards and one coming down. So it kind of feels like there's a, I don't know, a real moment for Birmingham City to kind of like establish themselves, get some of those early points sorted and actually go into re-establish themselves as a WSL 1 star war again. So Birmingham kick off against Manchester City.

32:17Chloe: but then then they face brighton at home yep go on keep going chelsea but and then and then they face crystal palace nice so as a roller coaster of four fixtures that

32:33Rachel: welcome to the wsl yeah but in a way maybe there's something to be i'm just trying now really finding like silver lining to every cloud here um there is a way of kind of like yes you if If you, when you're supposed to be the freshest, it's like your first game of the season. The belief is the highest because you really don't know what the season holds. Okay, so, and you've got a Man City that, again, a bit of an injury list, probably not as strong as they possibly could be. And you can go into those games thinking, we've got a real chance here to upset the league contenders. The pressure is off a little bit.

33:06Rachel: You're not, you haven't expected to win those games. And sometimes that gives you a little bit more like, fucking hell, let's go then, kind of mentality than it does anything else. And it's the first game, you want to put on a show you want to you know take the game to Man City so I wouldn't look we all love a bit of an upset we do and I I'm not ruling it out here so Bering City sort it out get that win get that Champions League spot you know

33:33right

33:33Rachel: moving swiftly on Charlton yes oh Charlton Karen Hills fond fond memories of being shouted at by Karen Hills every day of my life for five years. They've made quite a few new signings, six in total, including Ash Neville.

33:53Chloe: But again, I've kept a good core of the squad that got them up.

33:57Rachel: Yeah, 100%. But I do think Ash Neville, I mean, I had the fortune of playing with her and she was such a, I've seen her grow and grow and grow, a player with so much experience. And she's sort of, she's used to those scrappy battles. She was at Coventry before that. Obviously she was massive in trying to get Spurs promoted and she kind of knows that experience of being a very small fish in a massive massive pond and i think sometimes that you do need someone who just gives you that little bit of like we're gonna have to get stuck in this isn't gonna be pretty this is gonna be quite disgusting actually and we're really gonna have to like grit and grin and bear it for 90 minutes but we will get through it and i think sometimes you need that and obviously she'll be back with karen hills again god he mentioned her name scares me emily von egmont another decent enough sign another bit of experience there 100 and i've got to give a massive shout out they've retained sophie whitehouse um she was absolutely unreal for them and i throw back to our um pod at the match um the last day of the season some amazing saves not across across the game but also in the last kind of dying minutes and also in that penalty shootout which was almost euros-esque in the gravity she's got some presence in the goal 100 %

35:05Chloe: and she makes herself known yeah I heard I saw on Twitter that apparently when they played Arsenal and Arsenal got a penalty that she screamed as the player was coming up to take it

35:19Rachel: I love that look I love shithousery and I think as a goalkeeper you can get away with a lot more of it than normal because everyone thinks you're a bit mental anyway but she's obviously a seasoned pro good at mastering the back she's very vocal so yeah I'm going to enjoy seeing her because she's going to be put to the test like a lot this year

35:35Chloe: my main concern a little bit is up front not us I think we're fine yeah what's the season 5 yeah in the front line of for Charlton you know they scored what 31 goals in WSL 2 last season the least of the top 6 obviously good defensively that game went on forever because nobody could score that final game of the season oh my lord but

35:58Rachel: was it like 96 minutes

36:00Chloe: until we got a 40 I don't know just forever yeah cool so the extra time yeah I just that would be my main concern especially in WSL you know generally might not be creating as many chances and you need someone who can be very very clinical when those chances do come about so that's where my worry is with Charlton well they've only signed one

36:19Rachel: out and out strike with the summer window so Lorena Azaro on loan from Paris FC everything's riding on her so not everything but yeah everything as Rachel said there's no one up front and I said I was concerned about that because they're perhaps not as efficient up front as they could be. Her target this year is 32 goals and we wish her all the best in that. No, I 100 % hear what you're saying. I do think it's quite nice to have sort of those international transfers and Paris FC are, they are known as a bit of a disruptor club. So I suppose maybe this could be Lorena bringing this kind of attitude and energy to Charlton who will be looking to steal points or at least frustrate teams, I think, in the WSL.

36:59Rachel: So yeah, thoughts and prayers for Charlton. I think it's going to be an absolute toughie. I think out of the three that have gone up this year, I feel like Charlton might have the biggest battle just in terms of their squad depth and kind of the quality of players that we've seen them bring in so far in the transfer window.

37:16Chloe: But maybe that will light a fire up with them and they'll be like, we're going to show everybody.

37:20Rachel: Yep, that's one way of looking at it. Coming up after this, we're breaking down the rest of the league.

37:28Rachel: All right, listeners. This is going to be a chunky section. I'm going to tell you up front how it is. We're going to be covering the rest of the league in this section. I think we should start with Brighton, actually, because there's been... Mugged us off for our first pod back last week. Timing of news is absolutely critical in the world of women's football media. For anyone who has been living under a rock for the last week or so, Dario Videsic left the club on Friday. He's a leading candidate to take over Angel City in the NWSL. what yeah obviously i mean it it it has been obviously quite an emotional uh year for him having lost his his father um this season and it kind of felt like but this was kind of it felt like there was a brighton there was a project yeah on the build and they were doing well in that

38:15Chloe: project and players i feel like he'd really set out the way he wants to play players had bought into that you know he'd convinced some players to stay he's brought in some experienced heads like I feel like people would have come to Brighton because of Dario and because of the style of football they're playing and because of what they're trying to do a week before the season starts.

38:35Rachel: The timing of that is killer. Really poor. It's absolutely killer. And I can't help but think like maybe he would. It strikes that there's something not quite being right about the timing of that because normally you'd have a manager that would probably leave at the end of the season, sort of around like May, maybe early June time. But this feels like too, I'd be annoyed as a player if this was the case. Especially if you're someone who's just come in. Things are starting to click. but also you don't know what's going on in people's personal lives and you know it could have just been quite a difficult you know club to be a part of given the history and what happened for sort of family wise as well so hope everything's okay but obviously leaves the players in quite a difficult sticky situation then bringing in Arturo Ruiz as their new manager hours later he's only 29 years old but he's already taken Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad to third in

39:17Chloe: Liga F people might recognize him from the sideline of the Chelsea Real Sociedad game last weekend were the people in the crowd from Brighton being like, hey, we might have a role you're interested in. Do you want to have a chat after this game? Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. And then he just never went back. Imagine leaving your team halfway through.

39:36Rachel: Good luck, guys. 5-2. You'll be all right. Literally at half time. Bye. On the bus, on the way over to Brighton. Obviously, I mean, Brighton, like you said, they were a club on the build. Now they've got to cope with a new manager coming in. Last year, seventh place finish. But that doesn't feel like it tells the whole story about how the season had gone because I actually thought they put in some really good... They got to a bloody FA Cup final. Well, this is the thing. They produced some really big results against Man City and Arsenal. I feel like they've kind of addressed some of the biggest weaknesses in the transfer window, adding a bit of depth with Leo Volte, Gabby George.

40:07Rachel: And it kind of feels like they're a squad that's a bit better now to kind of deal with injuries and rotations in the WSL.

40:13Chloe: And they're like for any team, an annoying team to come up against.

40:16Rachel: 100%. You actually don't know. If you said the first game of the season is Brighton-Man City, I'd be like, I actually can't call that because it feels like Brighton are a team that could pull a result out of a bag. Brighton Arsenal's the first game

40:26Chloe: of the season.

40:26Rachel: Yeah, well.

40:27Chloe: Arsenal hate playing away to Brighton.

40:28Rachel: We've seen that the last two seasons. 100%. Yeah, I do feel like there's a, I just don't, I don't want this to shake the story and how it was developing and how it was evolving. Or, best case scenario, Ruiz comes in and actually continues this progress that they've been making and takes them forward. That's what I'd love to know a bit more about,

40:46Chloe: I guess, because the greatest respect, Brighton haven't had brilliant history in bringing in managers. and Dario was a great like bucked that trend and was a great manager that came in we didn't know much about him at the time and he's really proven himself he obviously left quite late or quite just before the season started and Arturo has come in almost immediately how long has that process taken have they been kind of eyeing him up for a while is he expected to come in and like carry on what Dario was doing or is he going to come in and try and play a completely different style of football like I mean yeah like you say for the players that must be difficult I suppose are you going to kind of the first couple of games go let's just crack on with what you've been doing or is it like actually like tear that up we're starting again it's just becoming the same as

41:32Rachel: before you know guys um what you're doing last year do you remember that game you played against Arsenal last time at home same again do that yeah but uh and the next game after that just just do that again yeah yeah solid um they do still lack an out and out center forward though we were speculating about the return for Michelle Adjeman but we obviously don't know whether she would go back to Arsenal although it seems like with Arsenal's signings at the moment maybe there's not that place for her right now but also coming back from comes back from a long-term injury coming back from ACL as well like you want to be somewhere where you're getting regular minutes 100 % and she was on flying form with Brighton and so much so that she was picked for the Euros off the back of the performances that she had with with Brighton and it kind of felt like she was enjoying her football she was making a real impact she's not far from arsenal anyway 100 % she's got plenty of clubs to choose from in london definitely and i think for michelle i think she can make a bigger impact going possibly back to brighton and looking to kind of you know get back to fighting fitness so that she's in contention hopefully touch wood uh for the world cup coming up next year so yeah but that would be an absolute massive kit that would that could be a bit of a

42:33Chloe: game-changing like i think brighton need her as much as she would need brighton i think it's a perfect match come on come on

42:40Rachel: get back get back get back she was knighted wasn't she knighted Sir Michelle Ajiman she was given like an OBE or an MBE or a whatever BE I'm pretty sure and I said I said in my predictions let me just let me just 100 % check this MBE she was given an MBE and I 100 % called for it the king was listening that's crazy can we like narrow down

43:03Chloe: where people listen to it like is how many listeners do we have in Westminster or more notably Buckingham Palace. You never know, we could listen to it anywhere. You could listen to it up in Scotland.

43:12Rachel: There's at least like seven of them. So it'd be like the, it'd be the King, Camilla. Name more, go on. Charlotte, obviously she's a massive sports fan. Don't name the one that's not there anymore. Catherine, William, Hazza's back in the country. Yeah, Megan maybe likes football. Yeah, she's all into like women's empowerment and stuff. That's seven straight off the bat. Yeah. Christ. They definitely don't live in Buckingham Palace, those two. Anyway, moving on to reality. let's turn let's turn to the teams we expect to be pushing for the top four Spurs first of all yeah no no no I was going to say no yeah I couldn't work out what your what your forehead was doing with that one sorry

43:48Chloe: I have Botox now you can't tell what I'm doing no I'm joking yeah for me I am thinking Tottenham might get that fourth spot do you reckon yeah

43:59Rachel: really that's where I'm putting my flag I mean to be fair obviously finished fifth last season 36 points equaling their best ever WSL finish um now they've obviously added quite a good small collection of really impressive really good players of really impressive players um Kirstie Hansen obviously that feels like almost the signing of the summer for me out of all the signings and I know we've had some big ones with you know Honor and Alexia and Georgia Stanway coming back but Kirstie Hansen is someone that we have repeatedly talked about last season as doing absolute wonders at Villa and now it feels like there's a real chance for her to shine at Spurs um also Victoria Pilova Alice Sombath um that youngster that you mentioned last week

44:42Chloe: Shakira Martinez sorry I know you forgot because she's 25 I think

44:48Rachel: but I feel like Spurs have really done probably the most strategic um transfers out of any club

44:54Chloe: in the WSL and I really like the business they've done yeah I mean you really are pitting them then

44:58Rachel: to be part of the champions i know it's going against everyone who's saying competitive that

45:03Chloe: lcl are gonna do it and that's what i'm gonna do i'm gonna say tottenham but then i feel like i should really we should learn from every other season when someone does well or better than expected that they then have a rocky season so i'm like i don't want to put the pressure on tottenham or kirstie hansen but i just think she could really enjoy the football that tottenham play when you think about the players that they have the way that they kind of i always use the word maraud when I think about their kind of they're like front six, their midfield and their forwards, when they get to pick up the ball and go forward, they go forward as a pack and I just think Kirstie Hansen has been the type of player who, for Villa was unreal at picking up the ball deep and just at least getting a shot off at the end of it

45:44Rachel: With Shakira Martinez, I kind of see that being like a, almost like a tag team of like destructive force

45:50Chloe: But like Signic upset, like you add in the other players that are in that team it's just like, it's sprinkling a little bit of magic on top of what was already a squad that was coming together really really nicely i'm intrigued to see how they get on defensive wise they've obviously brought in um caitlin dykstra as well but claire hunt will be back from injury she was a big loss ella morris was finding her feet again after injury toka koga was unreal and you know drew spence is their new captain as well they've got some real experience in midfield and i just think up front with you know some of the players that were olivia Holt, Signe Gobsett, Victoria Pilova, you add them in, Katinka Tamberg.

46:27Rachel: Olivia Holt, some of the goals that she's got, you know we were at the WSL end of season awards and you have a look at some of the absolute screamers that she scored and you're like how? As in like physically, physics, how? Yeah, I'm excited about them and I hope

46:40Chloe: it clicks for them because I think there's a huge amount of potential there.

46:44Rachel: And I also feel like it was a season in which we saw for one of the first times I think a manager get the best out of the players. Obviously Tottenham have been through quite a few managers since they got up into the WSL and it feels like Martin Ho finally was able to unlock this kind of consistency to some extent with Spurs and now he's been with them a year he's built up that experience built that relationship with them and then going into the second year now feels like actually I think they should be I mean if you're finishing fifth last season the next noticeable push should be fourth if not third but also we have to be

47:15Chloe: realistic in terms of you know we all I feel clubs think that once their team finishes in a spot like that that suddenly they've set a benchmark and anything less than that's failure and that's not

47:26Rachel: the case which is kind of I feel like it should be a little bit for Spurs though they've been in the WSL long enough that you shouldn't be going back I'm all for a bit of a dip but I feel like Spurs have been kind of constantly on the rise a little bit on the rise a little bit down well

47:39Chloe: it happened with Robert Villaham right didn't they come six and then they came like 11th or

47:42Rachel: something yeah so I kind of I think now Spurs don't I feel like they've been in the WSL long enough they shouldn't be happening actually they should be finding consistency and especially now with the players that they've got in, I feel like the reasons for not doing as well or going further are less acceptable. We've got in a really good question now. Moving to a second London-based club from Shelby on Instagram. Welcome back, Shelby. We absolutely love your questions. Please keep them coming in this season. We love knowing what you're going to challenge us with. And challenge you will. Will London City line us his challenge for the top four?

48:16Rachel: We kind of discussed this a little bit last week. Rach, you said that six would be an achievement. This is like what I just said there.

48:23Chloe: To set a benchmark of sixth after your first season in WSL and then expect it to do it again, that's a hard thing to do. So for me, I want to give them that little bit of leeway. But then again, I appreciate you've brought in Deani. We've brought in Penteas, like Mappy Leon, Mary Earps. You've brought in some absolute top quality. But equally, they all have to play together and play together well and get used to playing together and gel. And you've got all the other players in and around them that got them to that sixth spot. But I do also think that there is going to be pressure and expectation, not just from fans, but everybody in the media is like pipping them for fourth.

48:58Chloe: I'd love to be wrong. But I just want to take the pressure off a little bit purely because I think we've done it before. We were like, oh, you've signed loads of new players. You're immediately going to be amazing. And I think they should be happy if they stay in the top six. They should be happy. And then again, next season, right, we absolutely have to be challenging. it's just giving them a little bit more time that remember like it's the first season the WSL

49:22Rachel: I think it's also the second season that they've had to contend with a massive business yeah uh a massive transfer business in in the summer window it feels like every single well for the past two years they've essentially revamped their entire squad and I feel like the players trying to catch up with it especially the ones who have been there and like managed to actually get through these transitions it's a lot to kind of learn how to play the different styles you're also bringing players from different parts of the world who have been playing in established clubs for you know a few alexi putea's decades mary erps a couple years over in paris obviously she's actually a little bit more and you're from germany but yeah you're bringing in all these international players all this international experience that doesn't france that doesn't mean they're all going to gel together if you'd have had a look at this this squad list and you'd have been playing that on ea sports you'd be like yeah we're gonna we're gonna we're gonna win win the league but actually trying to get those players to all fit and and sing from the same hinge be happy be happy enough minutes Contend with the personalities, the big personalities, and also look at squad rotations as you look at the Subway League Cup, the FA Cup, and the league as well.

50:23Rachel: I think it's still... And also, you've got a fairly new manager. He only came in January. So I feel like there's still a little bit of... There should be a little bit of flexibility and leeway and a bit of a grace period, because whilst you do have this extreme talent, it's not just going to flow. And now, saying this, they're going to be first by Christmas, aren't they? I can feel it in my... Unreal. Unreal. I mean, they're kicking off against... They'll have steamed away. Most points that a WSL team has ever made in half a season, I'll be eating my words. I can feel it already. They're kicking off against Manchester United.

50:55Chloe: They are kicking off the season.

50:57Rachel: And Manchester United,

50:58Chloe: who are probably in the weakest position that they possibly have been. What a time to face United. Yeah, absolutely. And you could look at that and say, yeah, it's a difficult game. And it is a difficult game to start with. But what a time to play Manchester United. And then the next week they play West Ham. So if they got points against United, I got a win, you know, that's a real it also just gives them that confidence as well I just think that could be it's going to be such an exciting match 100 % well we might as well talk about Manchester United

51:22Rachel: since they are the first game of the season for London City Lionesses and we talked about them quite extensively on the last pod so we won't delve into them too much they've obviously finished in the top four in four of the past five seasons but do we feel like that's kind of under threat because I think we talked about kind of the lack of signings this kind of over-reliance on youth players coming through a massive change of management losing some big players Melvin Mallard just being one of those um and also just the general aura around Manchester United that feels quite negative because we all know that the um the investors and kind of the the upper echelons of the club aren't particularly they've never treated the women's side favorably they don't really care thank you for I was trying to beat around the bush a little bit there and I'm not entirely sure why um investment has obviously been super poor but they do look close to signing Rebecca Burnall from Washington Spirit but that kind of feels like yep okay but

52:12Chloe: and they also brought in Josu Ba as well from Hecken yeah but yeah it's good that they're starting to sign a few more players there's a few more days left it's not the most inspiring I guess fans are kind of wondering a little bit about the direction you know Mark Skinner's gone you just you want someone to kind of go okay here's the situation here's what we're going to do like compare that say to Brighton they have a I know Dario's gone but they've had this very clear path and direction so I guess the question for fans there is are we continuing on that path with United it's just a bit like where no but you're not like okay we got to Champions League for the first time got to the quarterfinals unbelievable it doesn't feel like you're building on to that no that's what I think concerns fan and it's that kind of bit of a lack of identity bit of a lack of direction that's concerning for them um that being said you know and i tried to be positive last week you did you best that maybe you know and you know people said well eva olid is coming from scotland a scottish league and it's not the most inspiring hiring or signing if you like if you sign a manager um but sometimes for players you just need that newness that freshness you maybe didn't like the old system you know you've maybe a manager who can get the best out of players sometimes it's just unlocking a player or giving them a little bit of freedom to be creative and we saw how good Manchester United were at World Sevens when they were creative when the shackles were off a little bit gorgeous so I'm trying to put a little sprinkling of positivity on it maybe players will feel happier a little bit but yeah concerned about the depth and the direction generally

53:48Rachel: it makes me wince talking about Manchester United at the moment I don't feel like there's this um I don't know I'm struggling to be positive about them and normally I mean Manchester United were my actual first club that I supported weirdly enough um obviously it's expanded now quite

54:03Chloe: significantly but there are ways though to kind of try and address those concerns and even if it's just doing a bit of media putting out a bit of content speaking directly to the fans and it just feels like it's been a little bit of a silent yeah yeah that's not ideal it feels low um moving

54:18Rachel: swiftly on then we've got a really good question in from Ali uh why are people not talking about Liverpool. Dark horses for progression. Taylor said it was a three-year rebuild. They are on target. Rach, we kind of briefly discussed this before the pod kicked off and you had some very, very strong choice words that you wanted to say in response to this question. So prepare and brace yourself.

54:41Chloe: It's almost like an accusation of why has nobody talked about Liverpool? Never ask a question on this podcast again. I mean, they finished 11th last season. That's probably why no one's talking about them that much. And also like they're on target like what is that being measured against if you know what I mean like what is is it the new signings that are making you think they're on target or is it the fact that we're a year through three years so therefore it's on target I think I agree that Liverpool are dark horses to a degree I think they'll definitely do better than last season without question I think they they won't be in and around that kind of relegation chat I don't think yeah I think they've made some good signings they had is that only because of the WSL 2 clubs coming

55:20Rachel: up that gives them a bit of a buffer zone it does to a degree but I also think of their own right

55:25Chloe: they had possibly the worst start to a season they could have had both on and off the pitch and there was a lot of factors in and around the difficulties they had in the first three four months of the WSL last season you've got some really good established players in there who had some unbelievable performances Kerry Holland I'm looking at you and they've made some shrewd signings I think getting in Kiara Keating and goal after Yennefer Folk obviously was there on loan I think that's great signing for her great signing for Liverpool so yeah like I do think they're on a journey but the idea that we're not talking about like when we talk about the league we're talking about like your top threes who's breaking into the fourth who's going to get relegated it's probably why not many people are talking about Liverpool but I do think they will 100 % progress from last season I think Gareth Taylor has more time now to kind of do what he wants to do has another window under his belt of players coming in so yes i think they'll they'll progress i mean

56:21Rachel: i mean the only way is up to progress unless you're relegated so why is nobody talking about them well i think we we did talk about them but it was obviously in the in the sense of why is this why is it not clicking why are they not before because i you know i i was doing some co-comps on some of the liverpool games and it just looked like there were moments where they'd go one nil down where they were still sort of comfortably in the game but it just felt like there was a they struggled to put 90 minutes together yeah 100 and they just kind of lost their heads when there was any kind of sense of the game isn't going to plan instead of challenging that and trying to problem solve and game manage in the moment it just kind of felt like there was a kind of a slump a gray dark cloud over them over the players that they weren't enjoying actually being on the pitch i did get that sense especially towards the end of the season but i do think they

57:04Chloe: they had to go through a lot both physically and mentally last season 100 and when a game gets away from you you're like again we have to dig again and that's a really hard thing to expect from people you also have to factor in they had some significant injuries to key players during the season yeah so then the squad got thin so when they almost got through the difficult part of the opening few months they're hit with injuries and they're suddenly trying to juggle that so there's an element of that too you know they've got you forget like beada olsen for example and chillag was a great signing for them uh mia enderby started having some pretty good games Sophie Roman-Hogue was the one who got injured hopefully she'll be back to fly in form so they do have some exciting players there but yeah as Ali said they are on a journey which is good and as you said Chloe the only way is up

57:50Rachel: I am really excited and buoyed by the fact that Kiara Keaton is going to be maybe between the sticks for them I feel like she is such a and I know she's obviously had a kind of up and down I think seasons with Man City where she was in and out yeah the number one and then kind of that was road back and then she kind of came in for a few games and she sort of became an FA Cup keeper and then she's kind of just been a little bit all over the place and obviously also I think at the same time you know going up into the England senior squad kind of then going back down to junior so I feel like she's they're trying to place her and she's trying to get the most amount of experience and I think it's a really good move for her to come to a club like Liverpool where I'm expecting that she'll get a lot more a lot more minutes a lot more experience under her belt she'll obviously still be peppered with shots she'll get a lot of experience in kind of dealing with quite a challenging situation whereas yes she still had that at Man City but the defence at Man City was obviously you know incredibly strong but it feels like I'm really excited to kind of see her like back in action minutes and time under her belt and trying to look at like what her next steps look like domestically but also I don't know trying to push to get back into the senior squad so yeah I'm just excited like she's a good player and I know that she still has to iron out a few of those kinks like she does have the odd game I feel like where it just doesn't go to plan and like something silly will happen and then it kind of

59:04Chloe: but you need consistency to iron that out

59:06Rachel: 100 you have to play to iron out those mistakes and to get older and to also deal with those because mistakes are gonna happen every level doesn't matter if you're you know playing in the euros doesn't matter if you're playing it at grassroots level stupid mistakes where you've trained and trained and trained and you would do this in your sleep in a training session but it would just not happen on the day that's fine but it's getting back to that uh but getting back to quality performance asap and i yeah i'm just really excited to see her back in action because she's just also like a great personality like she's a great human really really bubbly really energetic really positive character by nature um so yeah just excited to to see her back between the sticks again so come on come on keaton uh aston villa this is something this is the team that i feel like you've really wanted to get stuck into rach um natalia arroyo has obviously been very busy nine signings this summer but obviously losing kirstie hansen to spurs massive massive blow she was responsible for nearly 43 of the team's goals last season plus you've got rachel daly back to full fitness.

1:00:04Rachel: They finished ninth last season, but it kind of felt like, again, a little bit more, a little bit less further on maybe than a Brighton, but it kind of, you got the sense that their squad is trying to, it's beginning to really take shape under Natalia and it feels like there's a momentum behind them, I think.

1:00:18Chloe: It's one of those, when you can see what a team, a manager is trying to do and how they're trying to play and you get sparks of that. You get a half of football where they're playing like that and then it just falls apart and that's the frustration and it's like how much time does a club give a manager who's trying to implement a very clear style and it is getting better and look again they had injuries to deal with as well throughout the season you have to factor that in and Kirsty Hansen is a massive massive loss they've brought in some good players which I think is important they've Imran from London City Lioness is delighted that she's gone to Aston Villa she was such an exciting player to watch at London City last season and I can't wait to see her in the Villa squad.

1:01:03Chloe: But yeah, it's that kind of, Natalia plays an exciting style of football and it's getting the balance between what her squad can deliver in terms of what she wants versus how much she's willing to compromise the way she wants to play. And, you know, sometimes you have a squad or a manager who's like, plan A, Gareth, I'm looking at you. And if they don't have a plan A, things are a problem. So it's how much a manager is willing to go, okay, we're going to really try and invest in the way I want to play and you get to a point where you're like, okay, it's just not going to work with the squad I have.

1:01:33Chloe: Maybe we have to make a few changes. And I think it's just taking Natalya a little while to figure out how much of her style she can implement versus how much her squad can actually deliver. So another couple of windows under her belt. We always say this, they need like multiple windows to actually try and get what they want in a squad. It takes a while and it's just that managers aren't given a lot of time. So I really hope that there is an improvement this season because they do play a nice style of football when it's going well.

1:01:59Rachel: I've enjoyed watching them towards the back end of the season it kind of it still felt like really inconsistent but it felt like there was something happening but I think maybe that was because of Kirsty Hansen I think to a certain degree I feel like especially like the last three or four games all we did was talk about Kirsty Hansen so I'm really interested to see how Aston Villa are going to kind of not rebuild but like build around that massive hole that's been created

1:02:25Chloe: they were terrors for playing a great half of football and then fallen apart like a wet cake. Like you think about that opening game against Chelsea. They were so dangerous. They were so unlucky not to be ahead, like well ahead. And then it all fell apart at the end. And I just think it's learning from that. Like you have to learn from that. You have to learn how to, West Ham were a bit like that. You play a good half of football. If it's going to go awry in the second half, shore up, stay solid, stay firm. And I think at times they would just lose their heads a little bit and they were completely exploited.

1:02:56Chloe: So, yeah, please settle in.

1:02:58Rachel: Park the bus. It's not pretty. Sometimes you have to just get it done. Everton, they finished a solidly mid-table last season after Scott Phelan took interim charge. He's now permanent head coach. Who would have thought? Can I just take issue with that ever so slightly?

1:03:12Chloe: Of course you can. People saying how last season they were solid and that, you know, they were all right, Everton, last season. Blah, blah, blah. Because Brian Sorensen was so terrible. And look at Scott Phelan. He's great. Everton also finished eighth the previous season with more points and less goals conceded. And I'm just going to say that. I just found the narrative was real. Like once Brian was gone, I was like, everything's great now and they're doing so much better. And it's like, it's the same.

1:03:36Rachel: So like... Look, people don't like a manager to stay in for too long, okay? Clearly. We know this, you know. But it's just funny how expectations change.

1:03:42Chloe: Remember they got rid of Jocelyn Prashur and they were sixth and then they finished sixth. So anyway. Don't talk to me about it. Don't trigger me with Jocelyn.

1:03:51Rachel: You know how I feel about that. Obviously, they finished eighth last season, like you said. They've been kind of busy reshaping the squad. Holly McNamara, Hannah Kane. Some good signings.

1:03:59Chloe: Some exciting signings. Can't wait. I think Everton have done a good job of pilfering some players from Leicester. As you touched on, Hannah Kane has come in. Naomi Mouchon. I'm excited for her. She was in and out Mouchon due to injury and then never really got a good firm footing at Leicester. I think it's really exciting to have her in. And yes, I'm like a Jutta Rantala. Great player. again had some good seasons but then struggled to really find her feet last season and have the same kind of impact so I think they've made some shrewd signings they don't have a huge budget they've obviously lost the likes of Kelly Gago Tony Payne and some are saying that they're huge losses I would argue they had to manage without Kelly Gago for a bit of time last season whether it be literally on the pitch or mentally on the pitch given she was struggling a little bit um under Sorensen.

1:04:48Chloe: So I think her being gone is a loss, but perhaps not a huge one. Tony Payne, again, another great player, brilliant pace, but at times lacked end product. And I think the likes of Holly McNamara coming in, very exciting player. And then the experience of a Hannah Kane. Naomi Lezel. Ima Gabarro back from injury. Yeah, Lezel, a great signing. And Ornella Vignola, she had a great start. Yuki Mimiki, like there's some good players in there for them to be challenging in and around that mid table. and Aurora Galley is back as well from injury so it's a good experience

1:05:17Rachel: what a great player also they've got and Meg Finnegan

1:05:21Chloe: bloody hell this could actually be a bit of a season

1:05:24Rachel: for them I think it's only just like clicked for me now that we've kind of run through like a few of these silences I'm actually and the best goalkeeper between the sticks oh don't courts

1:05:32Chloe: Roslin I think that kind of I mean I know it doesn't mean anything because it's mid table but that mid table that's another like A hard to call the top three really hard to call mid table with the way some of these teams are making some shrewd signings.

1:05:47Rachel: I agree. Plus, Everton could have a very good start to the season. They've got some quite kind fixtures to kick them off as you've got Crystal Palace away and then Charlton at home, which is quite a good couple of fixtures to get your teeth into. 100%. That you need to take advantage of.

1:06:03Chloe: Because they have a habit of not getting points early on. And then it gets in their heads that they're like, they haven't got the win. When are they going to get their first win? So getting an early win under their belt, I think could be really key for them. then they face West Ham that'll be an intriguing one and then Liverpool like there's some nice fixtures Birmingham next they could find themselves picking up points picking up wins here and there not Everton top of the table by October okay I thought you said London City but alright

1:06:26Rachel: right last but not least by any means West Ham this will obviously be Rita Greena's first full season in charge of the club they've had a very busy window they've done a little bit of business

1:06:39Chloe: West Ham

1:06:39Rachel: nine arrivals nine departures they obviously finished 10th last season but have responded kind of with this rebuild Rach I mean what have you made of this summer I'm a little bit excited again

1:06:51Chloe: I don't see Everton or West Ham like knocking on the door of fourth but I just think you know they could cause some problems to teams up above and in and around and obviously they got Katie Zellum in now permanently they've also got a Stelkaskarino in permanently really good experience signings Kelly Gago what a signing Ebony Salmon Laika Dina Nadine Rison Alessia Russo's twin I just think Kelly Gago obviously struggled a bit at Everton towards the latter stages of the season but when she started for them when she was happy she was bloody performing and she's that kind of player that reminds me of a bit of a Melvin Mallard like plays with a smile on her face when things are going well and she's just like unstoppable almost and when you think about West Ham's start last season I was so frustrated with the amount of chances they were creating and they just couldn't put the damn ball in the back of the net no matter what they tried and I just think Kelly Gago up front add her in there with Vivian Asai, Rika Uweki, Ebony Salmon Speed.

1:07:45Chloe: Like that's kind of a frightening front line I think could be quite exciting.

1:07:48Rachel: I definitely feel, I mean, I've always kind of had this like little glimmer of excitement with West Ham. I think because I was, I actually went to go and see them play quite a few times.

1:07:56Chloe: You commentated on them once and you came in because I've been not singing their praises, but I was like you gotta watch, like you can see what they're trying to do. It's just not clicking. And then you went and saw a game and you're like, oh my God, I see it. Yeah, 100%.

1:08:07Rachel: I see the vision. I see that everything is there and the results just aren't reflecting actually what they're doing on the pitch because they're creating quite a lot of problems for some really top level clubs.

1:08:16Chloe: I think Katrina Gorey is a loss in that kind of dragging the team by the scruff of the neck when things aren't going well. You know, get that kind of dogged fight. We might be down, but this isn't the end kind of vibe.

1:08:29Rachel: And Shakira Martinez as well. Yeah, yeah.

1:08:31Chloe: So, you know, they are losses. King Hashemek no longer in goal as well. So they are losses. They are big losses and it'll be interesting to see how they manage without them. But like I said, some of these signings are quite exciting.

1:08:45Rachel: I think it almost feels like a London City Lionesses issue is that they've got so many good signings that have come in. Like how quickly can you get them all to gel for the start of the season? Obviously experience, really experience like good heads here, but how quickly can you actually make that happen? But yeah, again, I continue to kind of just be excited about what West Ham could do, the potential of West Ham.

1:09:04Chloe: Well, guess who they kick off against? Oh, go on. Shakira Martinez and Tottenham. Orcs!

1:09:08Rachel: That would be a great fixture. Then they face London City. Two clubs that have done quite a decent bit of business in the transfer window. I feel like could be quite evenly matched. I feel like this could be a really good game, to be fair. Exciting. Rach, we've done it. We did it. We've absolutely done it. An hour and 11 minutes in. Thank you so much for getting to this. Let's see you trim that, Finn. Yeah, 100%. Good luck on the edit. I really enjoyed that little run through. It's got me excited. It's got me pumped for the start of the season. Rach, what game are you going to? Where will you be?

1:09:37Rachel: What games? I'm doing London City Lionesses

1:09:39Chloe: Man United floor manager for that and then I'm going to Poland for the under 20s to do England versus Canada lovely and then Sophie is coming back to do Crystal Palace versus Everton

1:09:50Rachel: lovely

1:09:51Chloe: and then we'll be back the following weekend for the rest of it but it's so great that the under 20s and the WSL kick off in the same weekend

1:09:57Rachel: it just feels like I'm actually looking forward now to football starting again do you know what I mean it kind of felt like towards the end of last season it was like it was a slog oh gosh god there's another game there's another tournament.

1:10:08Chloe: What else can we say about West Ham?

1:10:09Rachel: Literally, how many takes can you have? We know City are going to win it. What do we say this week? 100%. Thanks for asking, Rach, but I will be away this weekend. Gosh, that is such a surprise. I didn't expect that. That is crazy.

1:10:24Chloe: I did think you were going to say you'd be in a box somewhere, but didn't get the invite.

1:10:26Rachel: Funny you should say that, actually. I did get the invite for hospitality for London City, Lionesses and Man United. At Bromley. Yeah, at Bromley. Do they have hospitality there?

1:10:35Chloe: They have a different section where you sit that's just above the normal section. Same seats, but just a little bit higher. A little bit elevated. Look, I'll take it.

1:10:44Rachel: Yeah, I know what I mean. An invite's an invite. But I can't take it because it is Florence's 31st birthday. So I will be in Leicester this weekend celebrating. Can't wait for you guys to be at my anniversary party next month as well. Oh my God, I can't wait. Celebrate your 25 years married. Thank you so much for listening to Upfront. Find us on Instagram and X slash Twitter. I'm at Morgie underscore 89 Rach is at Girls on the Ball and we are at Upfront underscore pod you can also find us on YouTube at Upfront pod we'll also see you on the Upfront YouTube channel on Thursday for our predictions otherwise we'll see you next week

1:11:37Rachel: Upfront is a Stack production and part of the Acast Creator Network.