Arsenal halt Man City, more uncertainty at Chelsea, and Chloe goes up a wobbly scaffold

0:28Welcome to Upfront, I'm Chloe Morgan. And Everton have sacked Brian Sorensen. Why and why now?

0:38But before we get stuck into all of the drama at the top and the bottom of the table rage, what is your moment of the weekend? We are going to get into this game, but I really enjoyed both of us. We're working this game in different fashions, but actually kind of together. So I was your floor manager slash reporter on the day. I was feeding information. information, yeah, information into the studio from pitch side, from between the dugouts. You were in my ears as co-coms, which was lovely. And you then told me or the people listening who the player of the match was. And then I went and got to interview and present the player of the match with the trophy.

1:15So it was very nice having a little working relationship come off the pod and onto the pitch. Wasn't it lovely, mate? It feels like we don't get enough time together. So moments like that really kind of like, you know, bring us further together as a unit. what I really loved about that particular moment actually it was the fact that I'd chosen Vivienne Essay before she obviously went on to go and score the winner the perfection because at that point they were losing so I'd chosen a player from the losing side because I was like she'd been the spiciest player from both sides all 22 players and I was like she absolutely deserves it like she's been that the work rates phenomenon will definitely go into it but then she pops up and scores Westhouse winning goal and I was like I've never felt validated my entire life so So yeah, that was also a bit of a moment of the weekend for me.

1:58I was delighted because I was chatting to the match manager and I was like, I feel like currently at 60 odd minutes, it's kind of difficult to pick who a player of the match is going to be. It's not often a player on the losing team. More often than not, they go with the goal scorer, especially if the game is a little bit like meh. So I thought, okay, I'm going to have another week where I have to drag poor Maisie Simons into the post-match interview to help me interview Kiko Seca and then make her give her the player of the match award. And the last time I did that was against London City. And she's like, I've had to do this numerous times now this season and I've not gotten the player of the match award, but I have to be the one giving it to Kiko Seike.

2:34And I was like, man, if I have to do that again this week, I'm going to feel so bad. But no, you came in and saved me. You're so, so welcome. I told you, I'll always have your back. Apart from that, my other moment of the weekend was I was privileged enough to host the Football vs Homophobia Awards on Friday night with Football vs Homophobia. funny enough and it was an amazing amazing award i've got to give a massive credit to the organization they do so much amazing stuff in in the space kind of representing uh loads of people from from all across the lgbtq plus communities um it was a lovely night kind of celebrating all the heroes um you know joanie evans was there who's like a she was part of the gay games like she was massive part of the the sort of the starting one of the starting members of the hackney of hackney women and she's done so such amazing things they gave her the lifetime achievement award she did not know it was coming it was a massive surprise and it was just one of those really heartwarming moments there were tears on stage there was a standing ovation and so many lovely people recognized and I think it's um it's such a difficult time at the moment in the LGBTQ plus space um for people generally and it was such a lovely moment to kind of come together and have this like gorgeous night of positivity so um yeah that was definitely my moment I couldn't be there yeah I know mate I thought you're gonna be in the crowd yeah I thought you're going to give me some bartering and bantering and stuff like that but um alas that was done for me anyway so yeah but no it was a really great really great night so congratulations to them as well but we can't dwell because there's a lot to get through uh in this particular weekend let's start at the very very top almost alphabetically if you will um arsenal 1-0 against manchester city this was a very very tasty game um people didn't know kind of what way it was going to go but it kind of assumed the balance was with man city given how their recent run of form has been so amazing they've obviously been on a huge 13 game winning streak uh first wsl game under andre juglers in which city have failed to score so it kind of felt like that's mad the expectation was so high the man city on this amazing run and then all of a sudden arse will bring them crashing back down to earth.

4:41I mean, Rach, what was your kind of initial take on this? I'm glad it delivered and I feel like it did. I feel like it delivered in terms of it being a tactical battle. You know, there was two of the best pressing teams in the league. I think I was really excited to see that midfield go up against each other. And again, tactically, I think Rene got it spot on. And what it kind of reminds me of, I can imagine Arsenal fans being like, you know this is incredible like beat Chelsea beat Man City but and still fourth you know and you're a bit like why didn't you do that at the beginning of the season and it reminds me of when I watch Ireland play rugby and we come along and we beat the All Blacks and these friendlies and it's the most amazing thing and I'm like yeah but do it when it matters do it in a quarterfinal of a World Cup because you can never get past the quarterfinal of the World Cup so yeah I just saw those it's a bit like incredible performances tactically great players playing well and you're Like, why didn't you do that?

5:39Like three months ago, it could have been a very different story. But no, it was, it delivered a bit like the Chelsea-Arsenal game. A really enjoyable watch for the neutral where you just got to enjoy top quality players, tactics, a proper battle out there, a bit of a chess match. And yeah, I just, maybe some more goals would have been nice, but maybe I'm just being greedy. I think it was that. And also because the goal, the first game came so early, you kind of wanted, I thought that was going to initiate kind of a bit of a flower back and forth. I really thought this was going to be a kind of Arsenal score, then Man City equalised, then Arsenal score again, and Man City equalised.

6:11And then it just sort of, well, obviously, it didn't die a death, the game itself. Like, there was a lot going on. There was a lot of transitions, a lot of drama. But it was that initial goal that obviously kicked off proceedings. You have this beautiful Mariona Caldente, incredible through ball from just inside her own half. And then Olivia Smith kind of latching onto that and then sort of rounding the keeper and slotting the ball into the back of the net. I think City are, look, they haven't shown an awful lot of weakness this season. They've been unbelievable up front. You know, we talk a lot about their front players and their midfield, etc.

6:43I do think they're a backline that can be got at. And I think the likes of London City showed that when they played them in the previous week, previous two weeks ago. You know, so I think Arsenal recognised where they could capitalise. I think they flooded the midfield. They made it really tight and compact. They were so tight, touch tight on players. Miedema was given very little space to operate. I thought Ladawub and Moy was like a sticking plaster to Bunny Shaw. She would not give her any time on the ball. I thought the defence generally played really, really well. And the fact that they were playing Olivia Smith in the nine, like when Sophie messaged me and was like, Olivia Smith in the nine, and I was like, what?

7:21Bit of a surprise. Yeah, so Blackstenius had picked up a knock, I think, on her calf. And again, it was quite a brave decision, much like when Baxtonius and Russo played together against Chelsea you're like right what happens if this plan doesn't work and you've not really got much else on the bench right it was a similar kind of situation where they kind of rolled the dice and went for it early on so the fact they then got the early goal not only validated that decision I guess but then gave the team the confidence in the game plan in that okay this is how we're going to do it we're going to be able to and what I loved about the goal which was very un-Arsenal like was back to front in mere seconds, right?

8:03It was none of this 100 passes around the box, tippy-tappy, going backwards, recycling, try again, send it in, give it back. Like straight to Mariana, Mariana up to Smith, goal. That's it. And it's like, that's what Arsenal need to do more of. And it does help play it against a team where we're going to be a bit more open and expansive against you. But still, it was quite an effective style. Well, didn't you think, I mean, you mentioned there sort of how much kind of Arsenal wanted to play through that middle. And I think Olivia Smith was very integral in that. I think one of the things that I really liked tactically from Rene was how she kind of, she looked at sort of Man City's back line.

8:36Obviously, really, really amazing back line. You can't take the talent out of them. But at the same time, the pace that Olivia Smith, I think it was, it just, I knew that that was going to be an advantage that she had over some of the back line in Man City. And I think that goal in particular kind of was a good example of that. You know, Rebecca Canac, like she was absolutely getting full pelt. But at the same time, it just felt like that, it was a bit redundant because Olivia Smith had just had the pace and had to kind of like put the burners on and just kind of break away. So, yeah, I think that was also a really good tactic there to kind of try something different.

9:05And especially in a game of this gravity where it meant so much to Arsenal. So, yeah, I've really rated that too. And then you've got Viv Moudemar almost scoring after just 11 seconds. Had the ball in the back of the net in the second half too. They're kind of one shot on target. I wouldn't say that Arsenal were being tested and tested and tested. I think when they had good chances, they were good. but I don't think there was a lot of them. Yes, and I think a lot of that was down to Arsenal being very defensively switched on. I think Man City struggled really to penetrate Arsenal's box. I think that's where they'd get forward and then it was kind of flooded.

9:43I think players where you'd kind of pack midfield going forward sometimes, or even when City were coming forward, you'd have sometimes a player would invert and they'd be going direct and it'd just feel really kind of narrow and packed for City to kind of find that space to operate in. and as I said players being touch tight to any of the tackers when they were in the box so the fact that they were able to minimize their creativity so much was quite impressive because that is something that Manchester City have been very good at they've been very good at creating a lot of chances and so yeah the fact that that was that was a big win I suppose for Arsenal I think I do think the early goal boosted the confidence in what they were doing and that what they were doing was right I think if Mita Man scored that one like what 11 seconds or something That was such a statement like, we are here, watch out.

10:31But yeah, it could have been a very different story for sure. 100%. And then it kind of looks like, I mean, one of the opportunities that Man City did have was Lauren Hemp, who kind of felt like she was kind of thrown goal. And then Mariana Caldenti tripping her up just outside the box, probably about a foot, maybe half a foot outside the box. Lauren Hemp obviously visibly upset and frustrated by the referee's decision. I think everyone can agree it was definitely a card and it was definitely a free kick. And I think especially a free kick in such a dangerous area, you don't know what Man City could have done with that.

11:02And I think it's decisions like that that really kind of change the game because it's always those what ifs. And that was such a pivotal moment. I mean, Rachel, yeah, what were you thinking when that happened? They absolutely got away on there. And it wasn't just a card. I think that was a red card. I think Caldente denied a goal scoring opportunity. Yes, there were other defenders along the line, but none in front of her that realistically could have gotten to. And you know Hemp, Hemp would have hit that box and fired, like no questions. So it wasn't a guaranteed goal if that had happened the way it should have and Caldente was sent off.

11:34But it absolutely would have been a free kick in a dangerous area and Arsenal down to 10. So yeah, got away with one there. They could be frustrated about that. I quite like how Jäglert's handled it in the post-match media. He wasn't like angry. He did, you know, many managers would have been like, absolutely, don't know how they missed that. Really annoyed, could have changed the game. and he was like, I haven't seen it, haven't watched it back properly yet. You know, these things happen. It's frustrating. I'm surprised. But, you know, we didn't, I thought Arsenal played really well, blah, blah, blah.

12:02And he kind of recognised that that wasn't the reason they won the game, which I quite liked. Yeah, 100%. And I think, I mean, there was another really good chance just towards the end with Miedema sort of going through a goal. It felt very scrappy. She was trying to get through. There were legs sort of everywhere. He didn't know if a penalty was going to be given. Then Leo Williamson kind of flies out of nowhere and kind of saves the day. So, yeah, there were a couple of good chances from City, but I do think they were relatively rare. I think talking of kind of going back to Arsenal, I think even though they got this win, and obviously it's a really important win for them.

12:33At the same time, I can't help but kind of notice if I'm going to be critical in any way, that even though they won the game, there were so many chances that they could have put the game to bed. I think, you know, the Katie McKay of the long range effort, you had the Alessio Russo toe poke. and I just kind of felt like there were moments that they could have maybe... Caitlin Ford had chances. Caitlin Ford, who looked absolutely incredible. Last few games, I've been super, super impressed with her. But yeah, there were chances there that I think Arsenal could have alleviated that pressure a little bit more.

13:02It still felt like we were still seeing parts of the old Arsenal and that they're sort of creating these chances but not actually converting them. I think you can look at both teams and say that there were issues. I still think it was a very high quality, enjoyable game. I don't think, you know, no team is infallible. Manchester City have shown that. They can play some unbelievable football, but you need things to be right in the day. You need players to be everything going right in the day for it to work. And so there are going to be issues that Arsenal are still going to have. Manchester City could have exploited them.

13:36And I think, you know, we have a good question here from one of our listeners. What can we put Manchester City's toothlessness down to? Arsenal were solid, but it was also a rare off day for Bunny Shaw. Like, sometimes it's a combination of things. I think tactically Arsenal got it right and you can have players not quite on their game. Some of that can be not having their best day and some of it can be the opposition has kind of forced you into this uncomfortable situation where you feel more under pressure. You've got less time on the ball, you know, and that can then make you look like you're having an off day when it could also be down to the fact that maybe you're just being defended really well.

14:10Or maybe they're double teaming on you and you're not having the same impact that you would like to have. And then when those few chances do come through, your misses are much more glaring because there's been so few opportunities. And suddenly all you're seeing are misses, if that makes sense, as opposed to, say, Bunny Shaw maybe having a game where she has seven shots and she scores two. Unbelievable. But if she's in a game where she's only had three and she misses all three, suddenly that looks worse. Do you know what I mean? Than the five misses in the previous game. So it could be a combination.

14:37I think you'll know as a player, it can be a combination of some off days, but also the other team's tactics just work. Yeah, I 100 % agree with you on that. And I think obviously it depends on what your teammates are doing and how they're playing, because if you're not getting the balls in the first place, you're not able to have that time to kind of develop and kind of grow into the game somewhat. So I think, you know, and Bunny Shaw, I think maybe towards the start of the season, we kind of saw a couple of games where she wasn't fit in firing form. And then literally since then, literally since October, she's been absolutely on it.

15:09And I think there is a kind of expectation. I think the players, once they reach this kind of level, kind of will just operate on exactly the same level every single week, week in, week out, and other factors won't come into it. And it defies belief that you can possibly turn up to work every single day and deliver exactly the same incredible performances week in, week out. We underestimate all the things that need to go right for a good performance. Because when all things are going right, you're just thinking, wow, that's unbelievable. She's unbelievable. And she is. But you have to factor in that she needs to be on her game.

15:39Players around her need to be on their game. You know, ideally not having a defense who's kind of worked out how to minimize your impact. all of those things like need to and you kind of then underappreciate how good it is when they're on such flying form because you're like wow so many things are clicking it's so impressive um so yeah i like you said i wouldn't read hugely into it well talking of things that were clicking we've got a really good question in from tina nutt on x slash twitter she said has the renaissance double pivots of kim and mariona made them both better players um and then we also had a lovely kind of sub-comment in from that with Han Solo saying surely it's the Rene formation.

16:17Oh, this was after me wondering what period came after the Renaissance. Yeah, I don't know, Han Solo, we've had a chat about that. I'm not sure we're going to let that fly, but I appreciate the input so much. Good effort. Yeah, good effort. On that double pivot, listen, if you asked Arsenal fans two months ago if they're enjoying that double pivot and seeing Mariona deeper in the team, they would say absolutely not. So I know things have gone well for them the last couple of games. But Mariana is a much more effective player when she's playing higher up the pitch. So I just, I wouldn't hang my hat entirely on that.

16:51I think it worked really well against City and I think it worked well against Chelsea. But I do think she is a much more effective player in that higher up role. Kim Little is a wonder. She needs to be studied. 399 appearances for Arsenal, which is insane. Silly. And she has. Absolutely. Would you even give a player who has got 400 appearances for a club? Like what are Arsenal going to do? A chair? Have a seat? Take a rest? No, but like to see her operate at that level still and in the biggest games against a Chelsea, against a Manchester City is incredible. I think, you know, we all were sad when she retired from Scotland.

17:31We thought she had more in her for Scotland, but actually I think that's done her the world a good. It gives her more time for recovery. They always, you know, managers and players talk about how professional she is and not only the way she turns up to work, but how she looks after herself off the pitch as well. And that's obviously doing wonders for her because she has put in some unbelievable performances. And that tackle on Mirama is a prime example of what she's got in her locker still. So maybe Kim has stepped up even more this season. I'm not sure if that's even possible. but I still think Mariana will be more effective higher up but she's settling into that role, I suppose.

18:07Definitely. I think it's the maturity that both players have and their ability to read the game is absolutely unmatched and I think that's what makes them individually incredible players. I think, you know, together having that kind of double pivot, I think there is an understanding that you can see between them both of how they both like to play and I think there was the freedom and flexibility to do that but at the same time, I've got to agree with you. I mean, you know, the goal in itself like the Arsenal score at the weekend came from Mariona kind of driving forwards and being more forward and forward thinking.

18:35So, yeah, for sure. I think it's not outside the realm of possibility. Like, obviously, it's not a combination that doesn't work. But yeah, it's that kind of it's the game management for me that I see them kind of being able to control that kind of like the almost like the midsection, I suppose. But so because of this result, Arsenal have come out of the other side of a bonkers month of fixtures, relatively unscathed and in a pretty bloody good shape. there was a defeat obviously to Manchester United in the Subway Cup but in the last month they've beaten Chelsea and Man City and won the global champion of the world title for themselves the new little gold badge on the front of their shirt Chloe are you going to be getting yourself a new shirt updated first yeah maybe I will actually maybe I'll wait for some kind of hospitality box to just have one of those can I just say though you're saying they've come out the other side of a crazy month they still have the qualifiers in the Champions League that they need to get through, which is against Leuven, who they did beat.

19:32And then if they do get through that, they face Chelsea in the quarterfinals. So there's still, you think you've reached the highest bit of the mountain. You're like, we did it. And then you look up and you're like, God damn it, there's more to go. Why? That just feels like the whole season for everyone until May. But wishing them all the best at this second massive, huge stage of the season. Coming up after this, Chelsea get a much needed win

20:12Rach a huge and very very crucial and very important win for Chelsea this weekend Madonna was in attendance at the game before we even get stuck into So what actually happened in the game, Madonna, the actual singer, you know, like the actual singer, Madonna, like one name, Madonna. So it was a day after her 13 year old twin, Stella and Astaire had appeared for Tottenham's under 14 side. I've got to admit, I did I did know about this prior to this becoming mainstream news. I can't reveal my sources, but I was aware that there was going to be at some point a very big revelation coming out of the Spurs camp that they were affiliated to one of the biggest singers.

20:54on the planet. Obviously, that got a lot of attention. I can see some of the Academy staff behind. There was so many people kind of like, every time they panned over to it, there was another person asking for a selfie. And I was like, you know what? I've got to write it. The amount of news story. Like, I know some of my colleagues in the media were writing about this game and they all had to be asked, we've got to get a Madonna pun. Can we put it in the headline? Can we make it the thing? And they were like, no, we want to write about the match. The match is what we want to write about. We don't want Chelsea's got back into the groove.

21:22I don't know how many times I've heard that. And so, yeah, I think, you know, the journalists are a bit frustrated because they were like, we want to write about the match. We don't want to put another Madonna pun in our piece. Please leave us alone. From my editorial head, I'm thinking that is a click. That's a click. That is a click. That kind of headline all day. I'm reading it. But, yeah, I mean, obviously it was amazing to have someone of that kind of the gravity of it, her being at the Spurs Stadium. Yeah, I've got to rate it. I should have asked for a stealthy with Alexi Piteas when I saw it at the London City game and it still haunts me now.

21:55So I rate the energy that people had just sort of taken that opportunity. Anyway, before kickoff, Spurs were just one point behind Chelsea. A remarkable situation given they finished last season 40 points, 4-0 points apart. Spurs had plenty of shots in the game. 15 in total, just one less than Chelsea, but they just couldn't find the back of the net. This was a super frustrating game for me because I, and I, you know, Spurs are a team that I have a very love-hate relationship with, but I've got to admit that in the first. Love them when they're winning. Could become one of my fifth teams this year.

22:33I don't know. That space is still up for grabs. But there were so many situations in the first kind of opening 20, 25 minutes or so where Tottenham took the game to Chelsea. And I really think on balance, Tottenham could have been a couple of goals up. I mean, they live a whole effort, you know. So, and again, it kind of exposed the weaknesses that we've seen in previous games with Chelsea. As soon as they're hit on the counter, it feels like Chelsea have committed so many bodies up. They're kind of leaving a kind of 3v2, 2v2 situations. And teams who are quick to counter can really capitalise on how disorganised Chelsea are looking at the back at the moment.

23:09Passive. Very passive and kind of just not like they've got their heads all there. I think Tottenham can be frustrated after that game, which I think says a lot about them, because they can be, you know, they can be, sounds weird to say happy to be frustrated, but to come away from that and say, we actually could have got something out of that game. 100%. Particularly in the first half. I know they had 15 shots, only the four of them on target will be frustrating. But yeah, I just am so impressed with how that front line and midfield have clicked very quickly together. and I saw flashes of it when they were playing against Leicester and had a number of new players in from the January transfer window.

23:49And there were moments where I was kind of like, wow, they're playing some really lovely, quick 1-2 football. Look like they've been playing together for years. That was on display again against Chelsea. And against Chelsea, of all teams, to be doing that. When they counter-attack, they flood forward in a pack, which I think is so impressive and I imagine quite daunting for a defence who might be running back frantically, looking at six players coming at you at speed, zipping the ball around each other. And you could see that in the Olivia Holt chance. You know, should she have passed? Maybe, but the fact she hit the crossbar, she really wasn't far off the actual chance.

24:25Such a rocket. Yeah, so I think they'd be really frustrated, particularly about the first half, to not at least have gotten at least a goal. Second half, because of the timings of the goals, you know, just before first, I think, 39th minute for Keira Walsh, And then the 49th maybe for Alyssa Thompson, quite close either side to the half time. They just looked a little bit deflated for a little while, I think, in the second half. But that didn't mean they didn't create. Again, they definitely could have gotten a goal, I think around the 60th minute or so. That would have maybe put the cat amongst the pigeons a little bit, bring it back to 2-1, boosted their confidence.

25:00They created more. and yeah I think there was definitely a step up from Spurs but equally some of the issues that we've seen with Chelsea were kind of there again and it's that pacificity in defence and kind of dropping off and not engaging players higher up the pitch and whether it's a fear of losing the ball too high up I don't know but it's just not something you're really used to seeing from Chelsea and factor in you know I think I'm right in saying that they're the team that have had the most changes in their starting XI this season and I think you kind of see that inconsistency maybe causing some of the problems you look at a new skin who many have called for and asked why is she not getting more game time gets the game time gets player of the match you know you've got like a weapon in there of a player and the fact that someone like that isn't getting in the team regularly does make you wonder why especially given things have been so inconsistent i think with chelsea so an interesting game chelsea essentially won't care because they got three points they'll get back to winning ways it gave them the confidence they played more you know chests out they looked kind of more confident in the second half which maybe we haven't seen so um yeah it was definitely an interesting one it was to me though it was it was it was shaking I think it was disappointing on a Chelsea perspective because it was we've seen these kind of issues start to creep in over the last two three weeks and it doesn't feel like Chelsea have really recognized that and are doing anything to kind of adapt that and kind of make sure that you know because teams are going to be looking at kind of where the vulnerabilities are with Chelsea and where the weaknesses are and the back line is becoming one of them and I don't with me that in terms of the player quality there that that's all fine but in terms like the organization you know not doing the basics they're ball watching they're kind of committing bodies forward they're not providing cover at the back I mean these are all things that you don't expect from a Chelsea you know five six time kind of champion winning side this is these are like basic level things so that was super disappointing for me and I feel like that's something that Chelsea need to rectify very very quickly and they got this win but I don't think that negates the fact that you know they still weren't doing those things I think um I feel disappointed from a Spurs perspective because it kind of feels like they were doing the right things they were creating chances they were just either kind of a little bit off or they were just a little bit unlucky and you know the ball not just being a little bit lower or whatever it was but then at the same time you've got like the Kira Walsh goal for example I mean it came to her it the annoying thing is it had the whole reason that that that happened in the first place was because the corner came off the defender in the first place and you kind of think it was a it was a an unprompted error that kind of led to the corner and then you've got this corner where you know Spurs do a really good job of clearing it out but then they they aren't picking up someone like Kira Walsh at the edge of the box who is you know as soon as that second phase as soon as you've cleared the ball it doesn't it isn't a proper proper clearance it goes to Kira Walsh what is she going to do you know she's got an absolute strike on her you know that from that distance like that ball is is is going to go in the back of the net you've got loads of bodies in front keeper can't see a thing and all the three defenders who came out to try and negate that threat of kira was doing that strike came out in exactly the same line so no one was provided any kind of defensive variation they all came at her pretty much like that so you're only protecting one path one route of the ball and like for me it kind of feels like spurs are doing the right things but they're being unstuck by really silly moments that i think um then let themselves down and i think that is why you start to see that kind of like almost like a little bit of deflation start to creep in that mentality of oh god we've conceded the goal to chelsea it's going to be a real battle now particularly given waltz i think was the one who scored when they played each other last time in the reverse leg when they lost 1-0 i agree that yes they come down to silly mistakes but the other side of me thinks there's been so much improvement in spurs in a short space of time definitely not everything's right yeah not everything's going to be right all the time there's going to be those you know inexperienced moments that we see.

28:47And a lot of this team are, you know, there are quite young players in this team or players who've just come in. And, you know, add to that the occasion of playing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which was the first time this season and the first time for many of these players. Madonna's bloody watching. Like, you need a frigging prayer if you're going to be coming up against Chelsea. So, yes, there are going to be frustrating moments. But I think, for me, there's way too many positives because, you know, that's bouncing around. Spurs' record is 13 defeats in 13 matches played against Chelsea in the WSL.

29:17Worst run of any one team against another in England's top flight. You know I hate stats without context. And it's like looking at a team's results and just go, oh, they're shit. And it's like, well, you're not watching the matches. You're not seeing the improvement. You're not seeing the moments of brilliance. You're not seeing the opportunities that an inch either side maybe could have been a goal. And I think that's important when you're looking at how Spurs are playing this season. If they're playing like that against the current champions, and I know Chelsea haven't been at their best, which is fair.

29:45And they can come away from a game like that going, do you know what? We actually could have won that. You know, you look at the bloody game against Man United. You know, they were up so much and then they come back and they draw that game. So I think they are moments that relatively new teams, the new manager need to experience in order to learn. It's so cliche, mistakes are the stepping stones to knowledge, but like you don't mess up, you don't learn. And I think they'll come away from that and go, actually we could have done this this and this if we hadn't done that we probably could have won that game and that's so much better than getting spying to 7-0 so actually we've got a listener question in from nikki do you think spurs have a mental block against chelsea the first time we ever played against chelsea was at stanford bridge and it was like a real record game because it was a record um attendance and the sun was out and it was like the first game that spurs had ever played in the wsl and it was against chelsea like that whoever drew those that it was just cruel because we'd only just made it up and I remember it was um it was 1-0 Becky Spence was in goal so thankfully I was on the bench um but it was one of those moments that at that point that game it was so close there was so much kind of passion and energy and there was a real belief in the Spurs camp that we were actually going to do it that we were actually going to win this game against Chelsea in the opening game and I think it was one of the first times they'd played at Stamford Bridge at that time but it kind of feels like there is this kind of like I don't know like a Chelsea boogeyman on Spurs' back that they just need to shake off in a way.

31:08I don't know. I think if they were going out, beating Man City, beating Man United, beating Arsenal, and they just couldn't get Chelsea, maybe you could say that, but they're not there yet. They're still struggling against the top teams, and they're getting better against the top teams. It's not like Man United, who struggled for a long time against Chelsea. They eventually got a win over them in the FA Cup semifinal, and that's still a bit of a block for them I think I know they've done it once but that kind of you could see being a block because they'd taken scalps before and they'd made it life difficult for top teams and they'd beaten them before so if Spurs were at that level then yeah maybe you could say it's a mental block but I think until they get there this is just they're going to struggle against top teams and actually if they're getting better each week on the other day they could have come away with a draw if not won that game so I do think there's improvement and I wouldn't completely put it down to a mental block I can certainly say Martin Howell wouldn't feel like there's a mental block against them no I think I don't want to sort of take away any credit from where the team has got to because I definitely think this is one of the best seasons that I've ever seen in Spurs play and Spurs play consistently but I do think there is something around I don't know maybe I think it's like how to all teams feel like playing against Chelsea that I think it's like that kind of um like the final boss on a game it kind of feels like once you've defeated them like they're it opens up endless possibilities I think on a player perspective if you're really going to think about it it there is something there and i can't you shouldn't feel that way you shouldn't feel intimidated you shouldn't feel like you know you've got this to any teams kind of got the bear the bear the better over you but i think there are some teams i've definitely gone into games thinking yeah christ you feel nervous you feel scared going into games whether you like to admit it or not um talking of some big chelsea news uh they announced on friday before the game that Sonia Bonpasta has signed a new contract or contract extension until 2030.

32:58I love this. I really, really love this. I love a club that gets behind a manager where things aren't going to plan, but they can appreciate what the manager's trying to build, the previous success that the manager has had, their ability to kind of get people together, to create a positive working environment. Like those things can't be unmatched. And I really love the fact that they've kind of put pen to paper and given Sonia Bapasta a little bit of breathing space to kind of really bed in. I think we forget sometimes that she's only been here minutes in the scheme of Chelsea and everything that Emma Hayes tried to build.

33:34So I think, yeah, it was welcome news to me and I think it was welcome news to fans. I don't think it was a reaction to the games. I find it hard to believe that they'd have sorted that out after the Arsenal game and the Man City game. I imagine that was something that was already in the pipeline. Oh, yeah, 100%, of course. No, but I've seen some fans say that they think it's like a reaction to, but that's not. They don't just suddenly go, oh shit, here's a contract. We want to show you that. We believe in you. Yeah, I think it's interesting. You know, I know Chelsea love a long contract. They certainly do in the men's game.

34:08I think it is a good sign for Sonia to feel like she has the backing of the club. Kind of puts to bed probably a lot of, I wouldn't even say a lot, but some of the kind of calls for her head and nastiness we've seen on social media. And it's been weird because it's like a lot of the media have been kind of backing up Sonia and saying these things happen, taking over dynasty is hard, you're going to have bumps in the road, et cetera, et cetera. You know, it's not actually for once the media saying, oh, is she in trouble? Should we be blah, blah, blah? So, yeah, and I think even Sonia herself kind of backed herself in the post-match press conference as well.

34:44So, yeah, a little bit of turbulence. I think having that kind of confirmed consistency behind the scenes will help. 2030 seems so far away. It's not, but it feels so far away. It feels, you know, I think 2030 is like, you know, we're all going to be flying and, you know, driving flying cars and stuff. And actually it's just four years away. Yeah, don't. The fact that I was born in the 80s actually starts to scare me a little bit now when we talk about the 30s. Don't say that out loud. Yeah, that's crazy. More news also from the Chelsea gam. So yesterday, Paul Green left his role as Chelsea head of women's football after 13 years.

35:20Obviously a massive part of the club's success under Emma Hayes. And I think it did come as a bit of a shock. And I think maybe more so because of the timing of it. You know, Chelsea not doing too well. A lot of people, you know, what I think wrongly calling for Sonia Pompasta's head. It kind of feels like, again, sort of such an integral part of the team also leaving. being one of the backroom staff who's been a massive part of building the machine that Chelsea is. Yeah, it just feels like an unusual one. Unusual timing as well, halfway through a season, appearing to kind of come out of nowhere.

35:54Yeah, I'd love to know where he's going next to kind of give us an idea of whether it was kind of always in the pipeline or whether it's a sign of something more. Is it a USA play? Is it an MHA? He's giving Paul a ring, saying, look, we've got a really important competition coming up in 2027. You did a great job at Chelsea. I think you could do something special here. You know, we've already got an Olympic title. We're looking for the World Cup. Paul, what are we saying? I think we'll see in terms of how long it takes to find out where he's going next. Because if it's like within the next week, nothing can be sorted that quickly.

36:28If it's a bit longer, then, you know, he could be out kind of looking for something. So it'll be interesting. But like he's had a massive, massive role in that Chelsea team and their success. You can see it just from the players, Sam Kerr, Lauren James, Agui Beaver-Jones, all posting on their Instagram and thanking him for everything he's done. He's that kind of behind-the-scenes, silent partner, if you like, but very much Emma Hayes' right-hand man through that 10-year period of turning Chelsea into the machine that they are today. So it's a huge loss. It'll be interesting to see if he goes to another club or if he's maybe not allowed to go to another club.

37:03I don't know what would have been in the stipulations might be. maybe we'll go to international football I don't know but um definitely a big loss and I'm just it's one of those watch this space type things could it be a sign of something more concerning behind the scenes at Chelsea um or could it just be a natural kind of progression and move on I think it's hard you know when someone's been at a club for 13 years they've obviously been a massive part of like someone's dynasty like Emma Hayes's reign there obviously Sonia's come in she's got her own ideals of how she wants things to run and kind of you know what she wants to the direction she wants to take the club essentially for well at least the next four four years or so and I think um yeah it'd be it'd be interesting to see sort of how Paul fit into that or whether there was just sort of um a difference in values in a really like you know that that just happens type of way but I think sometimes you just get not not bored of it but like bored of the same I don't know club ethos you know wanting to get a different challenge wanting to go yeah maybe international and kind of try try a different system a different setup a different type of players.

38:03So yeah, I think, yeah, wish him the best of luck. He's obviously done a massive thing at Chelsea and a massive congratulations should be given to his career. He's, yeah, done quite a lot of stuff at Chelsea. So yeah, credit to him. Coming up after this, we have a proper relegation battle on our hands.

38:29oh this was a very interesting game and i have to admit early doors i wasn't expecting to say that um so i turned up to chigwell construction stadium i was on co-coms i had the absolute delight of bumping into rach who is the match manager of the day i'm sitting there in my little press box kind of wondering where the rest of the team are it's getting to like 20 minutes before the game i'm starting to have a panic rachel's coming along like chloe who you with and i was like oh i'm supposed to be doing co-com she was like oh no and ports literally to the other side of the stadium there's a massive i don't know if anyone's been to the chickpea construction stadium there is a huge bit of scaffolding that's like erected really shakily on top of a very kind of like a corrugated iron stand looks like it would blow away if you sneeze type vibes and rachel's like no you've got to get on top of that it's like 20 30 feet in the air and i'm thinking in fuck um so make my way over there with about two minutes to spare to start the co-coms and sat down to what was actually a pretty fucking enjoyable game um west ham produced an amazing comeback from two nil down against bryson to win a three two um i've got to say i mean this is one of these results raised we keep talking about west ham and how actually they're what they do is quite impressive on the field but they never come away with the result they're always kind of like you You see really positive signs in West Ham, but they always, the result kind of overtakes like anything they've actually done that's positive on the pitch.

39:51This kind of felt like a bit of a validating moment for West Ham because they, what they did was absolutely amazing. I think I was really impressed by the defensive structure. They had three at the back, but it kind of like, it really felt like a solid block of five. As soon as Brighton were on the ball, they were kind of quite happy for Brighton to kind of like set up camp in the middle of the pitch. They weren't allowing them any routes through. It felt like Brighton were getting stuck. as soon as they hit midfield, it'd come out from the back. As soon as they hit the defence, there was a couple of passes along the back line and then they kind of really struggled to kind of make any kind of leeway into West Ham's final third.

40:25And that was because West Ham had set up so solidly, which I absolutely rated. And then they had a couple of really, really good chances. You know, Viviana Saeed looked amazing. They had the Shakira Martinez chance where there was a gorgeous little cutback, Shakira Martinez on the line. I don't know whether the ball just like bounced or bounced awkwardly. It kind of hit a shin. and the ball came underneath her and I thought, is this just going to be a sign of one of those games where West Ham are doing the right things and not converting their chances? And then you've got Kiko Seike's goal. That came out of nowhere.

40:58I was just like... Nadozi to defender. Defender lobbed it forward, which, do you know what, actually, for a team like Brighton who so love to play out from the back even when they're being hammered, and I have to say, what West Ham are really intense, really aggressive pressing high you know you don't often see that from a West Ham start I thought they started super well they just went over the top and it worked Kiko Seca took it down and lobbed the keeper from I don't know 30 yards out and to be fair I can kind of understand why Shemmick didn't expect it because I don't think anyone expected it you know like I know you were doing cons and Sonny was like oh it's a goal like so yeah I do feel like Brighton's goals kind of came out of nowhere a little bit against the run of play completely against the run of play yeah yeah And, you know, despite having less possession, I just thought West Ham, the way they'd set up, as you said, really kind of forced Brighton into kind of silly mistakes, a little bit sloppy in possession.

41:50They were off. They weren't on their day. They weren't playing like they did against London City Lionesses. Yet they lost that game against London City. And I thought, you know, as I'm glad you elevated me to match manager. I was floor manager, which is slightly different, but I was prepping my questions for post-match from about like 60, 70 minutes. I'm starting to think what I'm going to ask the managers and the players. And, you know, I was going to ask Chris Roberts about the fact that, you know, last week played great. All over them didn't win. This week, not so great. Won the match. You know, WTF kind of.

42:18I wouldn't have said that, but you get the drink. And then like West Ham. And I'm so glad you picked a save for player of the match because she was wearing the captain's armband on the day. And she just encapsulated the kind of energy and fight that West Ham had maybe lacked a little bit. And there were moments where, like there was a moment right in front of me, because I'm pitch side, you know, Shakira Martinez kind of lost possession, dropped her shoulders, stopped running, frustrated. I say absolutely not. Chase down the defender with the ball, like had that passion, that drive, lifts the team, chases down everything, deservedly ended up being the player who got the winning goal in injury time.

42:56Like they scored all three goals in 10 minutes from between the 81st and 91st minute. Absolutely ridiculous. So yeah, that energy was really good to see. And I think a West Ham of old who played well but didn't get the goals would have dropped their heads a little bit. And I just think that was a really good sign for West Ham. And I've never been in the tunnel before a West Ham game before. And I was this time. And I don't know if this is something that Rita Guarino has brought in or if it's something that West Ham have always done. Maybe a West Ham player can confirm or deny for us. But what I liked was that all of the staff line the corridor.

43:32So the tunnel is kind of like a T and then they go out the tunnel. So down their side, all the staff are lining, standing against the wall because we're at that point now where the players are starting to come out. The subs are going up to the bench, et cetera, et cetera. And every single time a player came out of the locker room, the changing room, everyone started going, big claps, big whoops. Come on, come on, let's go, let's go. And high five every single staff member as they walked out and went down. And then as the players line up, every single player, there's so much noise and hype in the tunnel.

44:00I was like looking across to Brighton who were just kind of like normally walking out. Other side is like, come on, let's go. High five, high five, high five. So I'd love to know if that's something that's been brought in or whether it's something that they've always done. But they definitely, a lot of the players just felt hyped going out onto the pitch. And you could see that they were really fighting for each other right to the end. Yeah, definitely. And I think, I mean, a big part of that was the fans as well. They did fall a little bit flat when the game naturally got a little bit flatter around the sort of 50, 60, 70 minutes.

44:29But also I've got to give a big shout out to Fionn Morgan as well. Came in and around the 70th minute, drives down the wing. And then just again, it kind of felt like everything, every single goal was against them on a play. Like when Brighton kind of, you know, seemed like they were on the front foot a little bit more dominant, West Ham would score. And when West Ham were on the front foot, Brighton would score. And I just, I could not keep up. but this Fionn Morgan goal it was like one of those like fluky kind of like crosses into the box a little bit probing and then and Dozier kind of gets a hand to it but it kind of I think the pace of it maybe just sort of takes her backwards or she's a little bit sort of unsettled at her feet takes it backwards and it's in and I think that goal really kind of triggered this kind of I don't know the feeling of belief and hope that West Ham might actually get something out of the game The crowd changed I mean even Fionn 100 % the mentality around it and I've got to say I mean, the Brighton fans really brought a lot of energy.

45:21They had a woman dressed up as a seagull. Always there. Great costume. But there was a really good, like, strong Brighton contingent that kind of made a lot of noise. So it kind of felt a little bit on occasion like it was. Yeah. They put on transport for them. It's great. It felt like Brighton's ground. But I think what I really want to take away from this is, like, yes, 100%, West Ham have got some much-needed points. But I think it was, like, they can do it when the confidence is there and that belief is there that they have to fight until the final minutes. It's like it might not come. It might not be the prettiest game.

45:50They might not get everything right. But there were so many positives that I saw in that game. Yes, I say, Shakira Martinez was amazing. Yeah, I just think there's a lot of positives I think they can build on with that. And I think it's, I'm hoping that it's just like the confidence. And like they, even at the end, they had kind of one of the staff members kind of like doing a little dance in the circle afterwards. And there was all like, it felt like they kind of won a cup. It was like that kind of mentality. And I really rated it. I think Guarino went through every single emotion on that touchline.

46:21She was fascinated to watch. And she's Italian, so she's given it socks. And just watching her go through the frustration of going 2-0 down when they're playing well, to getting one back, to getting another one back, to getting ahead. Like it was, yeah, I really enjoy being pitch side as form manager because you get to see so much. You could see it from the stands if you wanted, but you just get to see the passion from the managers and how they live through like every kick of the ball sometimes. Yeah, it was brilliant. I definitely, I'm going to go down to the Chigua Construction Stadium again because I really just hope they continue this kind of run of form and this starts like a positive momentum towards the end of the season as they're fighting in this very long, very spicy relegation battle.

47:01Talking of which, Liverpool's position obviously has improved. They are piling the pressure on West Ham. They picked up another big and very convincing win against Aston Villa at 4-1 to move off the bottom spot for the very first time in a very long time. We were trying to figure out before the pod when Liverpool weren't at the bottom of the table this season. And I think we just came to the conclusion that it was the first week and that's only because they aren't alphabetically going to be at the bottom of the table. So congratulations to them. They've now scored nine goals in their last five WSL matches.

47:37So yeah, a lot of positive things happening. It kind of feels like there's a few teams here that are kind of gathering momentum. Yes, haven't had the greatest start to the season, but are finding some confidence and kind of getting a bit more of a foothold. So yeah, really, really lovely to see. And then Everton won their first game under interim head coach Scott Phelan, a 1-0 win away at London City Lionesses. This of course came after they'd announced the sacking of Brian Sorensen last week, ended almost four years on Merseyside. Rach, what did you kind of make of the news? because I'm just not a fan of January sacking and especially where you've got a club that isn't fully investing as much as you want to in their side.

48:18I just think it's a hands behind your back type situation every time. I'm surprised and I'm not. Like I feel like I, like you, I don't like the sacking so quickly. I know some fans are calling for it. And again, I think without the context, it's pretty unfair. I think, you know, they've gone through a lot Everton over the number of years that Brian has been there and he's been building a lot both on the pitch behind the scenes as well. But when you know the WSL, like we've been following it for a number of years, you know when a manager is in a situation where a club might go, right, pull the plug because that way it looks like, you know, we're doing something.

48:53And it's been interesting watching some of the mental gymnastics that some Everton fans have been doing online where they won that game against London City. And we're like, see, you can just see we're so much better than we were under Brian and everything's different and we're attacking and we're this and we're that. And I'm like, your goalkeeper got player of the match. Like, let's not pretend like you were playing some really super attacking football. I thought they kind of had a similar defiance in the way that they did against Chelsea a little bit, where they were just making life difficult for London City.

49:22But equally, Courtney Brosnan, again, was unreal. So I think a bit more time for Scott to see how he's able to change things, because a number of the backroom staff went as well, which must be quite disruptive, I think, for a team. but I feel like this Everton team as a unit, as players we've heard it from Aurora, from Yaya they're a very kind of cohesive group that really fight for each other and back each other and that will probably help them ride out this kind of tricky time Well as you said there Rach obviously the news came just three days after Everton got their first home victory of the season against Villa So the club's chief executive Angus Kinnear says Sunday's first win of the season at Goodison Park was important, but it has become evident that a change of direction is necessary to ensure the progression on the pitch we are all striving for.

50:12Yeah, you don't have another manager lined up. So, you know, you want a change of direction, but that change of direction is just going to be somewhat rudderless for a little while while we get a new manager. Just the timing was weird, you know, like could have done it out of the international window. I don't know. It was unexpected in that respect. I didn't expect it then. And personally, I always had time for Brian Sorensen as a manager. He was always very chatty and gave a lot when you interviewed him one-on-one, maybe less so on press conferences because he would often just be spending time telling you how many players were injured in his squad.

50:48So yeah, I'm sad to see him go because I thought he was a nice guy. Also, when you have the post-match conferences and you're kind of speaking to managers who actually give you something and kind of tell them a little bit, tell you a little bit about what they've been thinking in this particular moment or what's actually been happening. There's some truth and honesty and what they're saying. And it's not just like media trained fluff. Like you always kind of, yeah, you miss the managers who give you something of real value. A hundred percent. And I was going to say managers that are willing to speak on stuff, like when things happen in the game and you can at a press conference, ask them about it and they're willing to like, you know, they've thought about the situation and it's something they care about.

51:23And Emma Hayes was one of the greats. I think Rhianne Skinner is very good at it. Carla Ward was very good at it. Jonas Idevel too. A number of managers who are willing to kind of, and Robert Villaham, you know, they're prepared and prepped for those kind of conversations because they know something like that is important to the overall growth of the game and that they should have an opinion on it and like I really rate managers that are willing to do that. Oh mate, well, another manager fallen to the, yeah, to the manager merry-go-round of the WSL. No one's safe, even those that have signed contracts for 2030.

51:56So be careful, Sonia. Thoughts and prayers. Thank you for listening to Upfront. Rach, where are you headed for this week's Champions League games. I am off to Belgium and then to Madrid. So doing both the Man United and Arsenal games this week. Love that, mate. I wish you all the safest of travels. Thank you. Yeah, I can't wait to catch up with you next week. We'll be back next Tuesday to look back at all of the biggest stories from another packed week of football. In the meantime, you can find us on Instagram and x slash Twitter. I'm at morgy underscore 89. Rachel's at girls on the ball. and we are at upfront underscore pod.

52:32You can also find us on YouTube at upfront pod. See you next week.

52:50I'm just going to go check on the cats because I think they're killing each other and Sophie's on another press. Christ. Oh my God. They're all right. there's just fluff everywhere oh Christ give it a fucking rest have you been beating it up again not cool man not cool you're licking your lips with all the fur in your mouth oh Christ up front is a stack production and part of the Acast Creator Network