Natalia Arroyo leaves Villa, Chelsea knock over Arsenal, and a barn-burner in Birmingham

0:00Your call has been forwarded to an automatic voice message system. A missed call doesn't feel like anything. No red flag, no notifications screaming at you. It just disappears into your call log. And nine times out of ten, that was someone ready to hand you money. That's why today's episode is brought to you by Quo, spelled Q-U-O, the business phone system built so you never miss a call. Here's what I like about it. All your calls, texts, and voicemails live in one place. So anyone on your team can pick up a conversation, see the full history and respond fast. No more, wait, who talked to this customer last?

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2:57Rachel: Welcome to Upfront, I'm Chloe Morgan. And I'm Rachel O'Sullivan. And just like that, we've had our first managerial change of the season. Natalia Arroyo has left Aston Villa after a thrashing from Tottenham. Elsewhere, Chelsea continue their perfect start against an Arsenal side that are still drawing blanks and two promoted sides played out a proper ding dong battle, a six goal thriller. There's lots of unpack here. So, right, let's get started.

3:30Rachel: Bit of an elephant in the room. I am recording from Vietnam. Literally. We will do for the next couple of weeks, just taking some time out to reflect and find my elephant pants and find myself. Is there an elephant in the room? not so far but we are going to try and head a little bit more rural to be fair so yeah we started in the north of vietnam and then we're kind of working our way down to the south ended in like ho chi minh quit pit stop in bangkok and then home for some more women's football drama and back in the studio so bear with me it's completely my fault um that i will be out here on a remote record but um but yeah i appreciate it i can relate given i spent a good chunk of my summer in Southeast Asia as well, where at one point I did have an elephant in my room when it came knocking out the window, looking to be fed in the morning.

4:17So I would recommend ethical, but do, if you can visit an ethical elephant sanctuary, you should definitely do.

4:25Rachel: Lovely. What a lovely, wholesome start to the pod. Right. Moments of the weekend, Race. There was so much going on this weekend, but let me know what you felt was the standout for you. yes there were some really good goals there were some really interesting results I'm actually going to give it to how was Sissoko's tackle on Bunny Shaw in about like maybe the 70th, 80th minute or so of the Charlton versus Manchester City game I thought Sissoko had a great game you know difficult coming up against Manchester City who to be fair had made a number of changes are obviously juggling numerous fixtures so maybe weren't at their absolute firing best but they did bring on bunny shawl which i can only imagine for the charlton team when they're only one nil down going oh my god but uh i thought this was great and and bunny was like bearing down on goal and she timed this tackle absolutely perfectly um and yeah it was it was one of those where i was just like i had to i had to kind of like give a mention to that because i know we're not going into that game today so shout out to her it was a real like resolute performance from charlton and we keep this is kind of like lovely rhetoric around some of these kind of lower league teams that have cropped up and how much kind of frustration I think they're causing with some of the top teams and how well they're doing defensively to keep these teams at bay like keeping a team like Man City at a 1-0 lead feels like a massive win for a team like Charlton especially since their start to the season has not been um it's been turbulent um but I've got to go for a princess from Ipswich Town Princess Adamilieu and her strike 27 minutes into the game it was her first start of the season outside the box, this massive long-range effort.

6:05Rachel: I think she even said afterwards that I didn't even expect it to go in, the players didn't expect it to go in, my teammates were like, yeah, we just thought that was going to go out for a goal kick. Hits the post and then dinks in, and the goalkeeper just stands there like, what the hell has just happened? This thing is an absolute worldie of a goal. I'd be very surprised if that doesn't make the top list for top goals in the BWSL too, but yeah, massive, massive shout out to Princess, because it's been doing the rounds and it's an absolute thing of beauty. So, yeah. Oh, Rach, this is one of those pods where we've had this really fortunate timing to be recording at the outset of a really breaking bit of news.

6:43Rachel: So obviously, we've already mentioned top of the show, Natalia Arroyo has left Aston Villa. The club statement from this morning just moments ago said Aston Villa women can confirm the club as party company with Natalia Arroyo last night. In the interim, Brian Sorensen, women's technical advisor, will take charge of the first team playing affairs and will lead the team on Wednesday when they play Newcastle United Women in the Subway Players Cup at Keyes Park. Everyone at Aston Villa would like to thank Natalia for her efforts and wish her all the best in her future endeavours. I mean, the context of this, obviously, that Villa have had a somewhat tumultuous start to the season, having played four in the WSL so far.

7:21Rachel: They've obviously lost two. They've drawn two. They're 13th, so second from bottom, but they've also had quite a torrid time in terms of the fixtures that they've had really up front. So they've had Chelsea, Man City, Brighton and then Spurs. Chelsea, Man City, obviously, they're a really tough opposition to be facing so early on in the season. Brighton and Spurs, I think, are a more fair game and obviously they didn't fare well in those results. But I mean, it feels like it's early, it's early drawing of blood, I think, for teams to be starting this. And we call it every year this kind of manager merry-go-round where the team aren't performing and you kind of wonder who is pulling the strings here and why aren't managers being given more time to kind of problem solve and get themselves out of what could essentially be bad patches and lack of consistency and be able to work with the team on a more longer term basis.

8:07this yeah it feels quite reactionary and yeah you touched on the the difficult start that they've had and it kind of frustrates me where it's like they've run less than four and you're like yeah but they drew against Chelsea in the opening day I'm not saying they've had a brilliant start to the season or that they've been playing brilliant football but I had seen a bit more consistency about their game across the 90 minutes because they have had a habit in the previous season of you know being really great for a half and then falling apart in another half and you know these things take time to build so the timing of it feels while I'm not hugely surprised because this is often the reaction of a club when things aren't going brilliantly I just feel like even getting to the international window get another you know league cup game under your belt they're playing crystal palace at the weekend you know then maybe see where you are come the break and And, you know, she is a young manager who was brought in to take over.

9:06So she kind of had a full season and a half, if you like. So arguably you don't really get to do much in your kind of half season. So she hasn't had that long to maybe implement the style she wants, the players she wants, etc. And I think there has been a little bit of a struggle around how she wants to play and how her players can deliver what she wants. And maybe finding that balance has taken a little while. But equally, it's not like Villa have spent big. I know they broke a record in the transfer window, but in terms of who they've brought in, they've not necessarily brought in building a squad to challenge the top four.

9:38So part of me is like, what is the ambition? What is the hope that a new manager is going to bring to the squad? Because after four games, they're three points off, what, like eighth? They're a win off pulling themselves back up the table. So it's just the timing. It's really early. I'm kind of sad because I really liked Natalia Arroyo. I thought she played when it went right, some really exciting kind of brand of football when it went right. And she was brilliant with the media and she really understood what her role was when it came to that. And she spoke really well, having been a journalist herself.

10:13So, yeah, I'll be sad to see her go. And it does feel like a very early blow.

10:19Rachel: I think it's just one of those things that I, yes, I think you could feel the pressure already from the fans starting to mount up against Natalia Arroyo. We've seen sort of, you know, similar discourse against Rene Slegers now with Arsenal's current run of form. But it does feel like they're, you know, not to even get to October and be in this position where you've had four games, you really haven't kind of ironed out some of the things that you need to from the last season. You've not allowed a manager to fully bed in for. I think sometimes it can take, you know, best part of maybe like two seasons to really start to see the best of a squad where you're getting consistent performances, where you're starting to understand how people play.

10:52Rachel: I mean, when you look at Spurs and kind of the transition they've had from coming up into the WSL, and they're at similar times, I think Aston Villa were just about the year after. And Spurs were so inconsistent for such a long period of time. And then we kind of saw them go through this manager merry-go-round again with Karen and Juan. And then, oh, the name just eluded me. Rhian. Robert. Robert. Robert Villahal. Yeah, good old Robert. And then now they've started to find form because they've got Martin Ho in. And I know he sort of had some quite early success, really. But I do feel like, you know, especially with the players, like it does just take time and I can't stand it because it just unsettles the team.

11:26Rachel: It unsettles the changing room. You know, they've got to learn a completely different approach. They've got to see a new manager in and it's just it's not helpful this early and at least wait until the January transfer window. I think that that would be my my advice always. But we've got a really good question in from Villa fan Ruckus Patrick in the Football Ramble Discord. He said, I think Arroyo going was the right call. The same mistakes have been made since you joined. players giving away the ball in dangerous positions game after game different players too so for me it was an issue with how they were being coached and instructed but who should Villa be considering as her replacement I mean she's not even just left ruckus I mean minutes gone straight into a jumping into the grave if you will who's gonna who's gonna take over but it is exactly where your mind goes I mean you think about all the available managers at the moment.

12:15I mean, gosh, who have you really got?

12:18Rachel: I mean, like you said, Rachel, maybe Mark Skinner jumping into something like that. But I don't know whether the fans will feel like he's the right fit for, you know, where the club are in their turbulence. But he is also, you know, he's a bit of a fighter if there are sort of issues behind the scenes with, you know, Villa not being able to enact things because of the board or the direction of, you know, wanting results more, to see results more quickly. But I don't know. Can I just touch on as well the point they made about the same mistakes? I can understand that. But there is often an impatience with new managers for success.

12:51And I understand it being frustrating watching. I remember watching Brighton when Dario Vyricic first came in and just thinking, why do they insist on playing the ball out from the back every single time? They're losing it in bad areas. They're conceding goals. They're losing games. but I and we spoke to them regularly about this it's about implementing a new style and about how often you have to keep doing the thing they want you to do even when you're under pressure even when you're against top teams where you might want to bank up and just park the bus just so you can try and grind out a result and Dario Vitisic was always very much like we have a style of play we want to implement and it takes time and repetition and failing to try and bed that in but there then there has to be a balance of when it's not working do we need to tweak things do we need to have a plan b if it's not clicking with the players so i can understand the frustration and seeing the same mistakes happening but like in order to to grow a team away from sitting up and banking and actually trying to play football and play out and play with possession and be dangerous on the counter-attack which villa very much were you need to have those frustrating repetitive games where you're making the same mistakes where it starts to click for players because what it felt like with Aston Villa was things would go right for a while in a game and then something would go wrong and they'd just revert back and they'd just be like, oh God, no, okay, we're going to revert back to what we know and what feels more natural for us.

14:12And that's when things kind of fell apart a little bit. So I can understand the frustration, but I do think managers need a little bit of time. You're right, Chloe. It's not like there's a whole host of manager idol just parading around going, choose me. We've got loads of really top class managers. That's what frustrates me about these decisions. they're often made so reactionary and so rashly without any kind of clear idea about what the next step is. We saw it the last time when they sacked the manager. It took a while to bring someone in. At least I've got Brian Sorensen at the helm and I know some people are like, well, that's not the answer.

14:43No, but at least you have a manager in the interim. He's managed to WSL club. Yes, to kind of steady the ship. He is also now assistant manager at Ireland. So welcome. Hey, Mila Fulcher, Brian. But I don't think he'll be able to necessarily then have a full-time managerial role and do that. So it'll be interesting to see who comes in next. I think it'll be a sign of what their ambitions are, who they decide to bring in. Because, and I said this when they sacked Rhiannon at West Ham, like what is the ambition with the sacking? You know, move further up the table. If that's the case, you need to do more than just sack a manager.

15:19You need to invest more in terms of the players on the pitch. And Natalia Arroyo was always a coach who trusted in young players. and we saw Lucia Kendall bloom under her, get her England call up. And I think if you're someone who's allowed to kind of trust and try and invest in young players, then arguably you should be given more time to allow those players to grow, which obviously she hasn't been given.

15:41Rachel: Rach, I think you've hit the nail on the head. I think it is that kind of, you know, you've got a patch where Aston Villa across the last four games haven't been consistent, but within the actual games aren't consistent. They'll sort of do some really great things. I mean, even the start, and we can get stuck into the Aston Villa Spurs game, which kind of felt like the trigger point for obviously this firing. And we won't go into it in too much detail because I feel like we've just discussed what's happening on the manager space. But there were a few flashes of really good things from Villa. I mean, Grant in particular, I think, stood out to me as one of those kind of key players who was, you know, being really direct.

16:12Rachel: She made that really good penetrative run. Spurs kind of backing off did absolutely nothing. And it felt like, again, Villa could have done more in that game, I think, to put themselves on the front foot and kind of get themselves into the game. But like you said, Rach, before the pod started, it feels like they do these great things. They have these flashes of brilliance and then it all just falls apart and all people see is the end result when actually it doesn't reflect the things that you kind of see them like step by step, incrementally improving each week. But I think maybe let's turn tact a little bit because we haven't even discussed Spurs and how well they did at the weekend because it did feel like, you know, a Spurs that are really on firing form, full of confidence, you know, eager to go forward.

16:51Rachel: this really kind of um I don't know Spurs are really finding form under under Martin Ho I mean I mean what did you make of their performance rates because it was just it was just quite clean I felt yeah they're really um they're compact in terms of their defending was used to be an area that Spurs really struggled with I think they've really improved the players they brought in the likes of Tokugawa Amanda Nieldan obviously getting in Dykstra as well they've fortified to that area if you like but it is and I'll always say this they're kind of front six that are just wonderful to watch and they maraud forward in a pack they hunt in packs and they seem to have clicked really well together and there's a really clear identity at Spurs and part of me thinks it's almost as if the fact that it was Spurs that they lost to that was the trigger point and I think people still think of Spurs as that team who were up and down and languishing in and around the bottom and could never be consistent and you know we're like them we're kind of a similar team so to lose 4-0 to them is kind of unacceptable without actually giving Spurs their their dues and their credit for what they've done over the last kind of year plus you know they played very well last season surprised everyone last season in terms of how quickly they adapted to Martin Ho's style but also what's been great is that it's not so far touch wood it's not been one of those like really great seasons and then flop like they've carried on they've strengthened and they're improving so to kind of expect to be at the same level as them without perhaps doing what they've been doing is a bit naive and part of me wonders if because it was Spurs and a team that they might have on paper said oh we should be able to you know challenge was the trigger point you know even like you touched on them playing in terms of in games and where they've looked promising even the Manchester City game like I know it was 4-1 but it was two goals late like they played well they had to go for it then they were 2-1 down and the way they scored their goal against Manchester City was brilliant there was more confidence in terms of being in possession in and around the opposition box it wasn't kind of panicky and yeah it's just like you say flashes of good but not enough of it to I guess keep fans and the board happy 100 % but I think I mean what you touched on there with with Spurs, I think, right, is that it is the front that's really clicking for them.

19:08Rachel: When you look at kind of the calibre of players they now have, like Olivia Holt, you've obviously got Victoria Plova, who had an absolutely incredible worldy of a game. Kirstie Hansen, who has continued the brilliance that she had at Aston Villa, and obviously Tanberg as well. It kind of feels like them four, they just, I know they haven't all worked together for a very long period of time, but you kind of feel like they're all reading each other super well. They all know exactly where to be. And there's this kind of, I don't know, I'm seeing a couple of these partnerships across the WSL, to be honest.

19:34Rachel: like even Ellie Carpenter and Melvin Mallard. And then you've got Lex Lloyd-Smith pairing up with Annabelle Blanchard too. I feel like these new partnerships that are happening very, very quickly, almost like naturally in a way. But yeah, Spurs, I feel like, you know, this result is a massive, massive thing for them because this would have been, you know, a result a couple of years or a couple of seasons back that could have been a bit more of a, you know, a nil-nil, one nil, maybe a bit of a scrappy one. But this kind of felt like a Spurs that's really escalating into the top echelons of the WSL and looking to stay there if not push for Champions League football, I think, next year, if I'm allowed to go there.

20:10Rachel: I mean, you look at that now, sort of where they are on the table, obviously second, they're above Chelsea on goal difference, and then they play London City Lionesses next week, which I feel will be a very interesting challenge to be facing. I feel really gutted, actually, and I won't mention this to Florence, that I'm in Vietnam for this game because it feels like it's one of those, like, really kind of like, you just can't call it, you cannot go which way this is going to go. And then you've got Alexi Puteas, obviously, this week, getting her first WSL goal for Brighton. She potentially now finding her sort of, I don't know, shooting boots, like that's super exciting.

20:41Rachel: What is she going to, what kind of challenges is she going to present to Spurs? So yeah, it's an exciting time. I feel excited actually, especially having been a part of Spurs for its kind of initial history. And then it kind of lost its way for about four or five years under different managers and different players. And now it feels like actually, this is a club that really should be fighting for, yeah, being top four at the very, very least it's nice to see that progress is happening and that it has taken time and actually it's just patient sometimes and and it will click eventually yeah I mean there's also the element of not getting lucky with a manager but you know getting in a Martin Ho who has a very clear style and identity that he wants to play allowing him to get the players in that he wants to allow him to play that style of play and having players that can really understand and get on with um that kind of style is really beneficial because that like and we make it seem so easy like you just tell the players how to play football you give them your tactics job done and actually as we're seeing it's really difficult sometimes to to balance what you want what your players can give you um how much time you're allowed to try and embed that idea versus the pressure that you're under to get results like it is it is a difficult challenge so to see him come in martin to come in and flourish the way he has has been really nice to see.

21:57I think the London City game, super interesting. I actually managed to capture with my camera, Alexi Porteus' first goal, which I was delighted about. But I think that game could actually come down to the defence because we know both teams can score and have got exciting front lines. I actually think who can handle the pressure defensively will be the telling because I do think London City can get got at and it could be a super interesting game.

22:24Rachel: I think this is a flagpole in the sand type moment. What are we saying? Who's taking away the points? Don't say a draw either. I'm not having you sitting on the fence in that way. I'm going to say Tottenham. Really? Yeah. That makes me just automatically want to go London City Lionesses. But in my heart, I think I know... At least one of us will be right. Yeah. But in my heart, I do actually feel like Spurs, has just given the momentum that they've had in the start to the season and the confidence that I feel like is within the squad so yeah I think logically I'm saying Spurs in my heart and maybe just to counteract you London City Lions is yeah no sitting on the fence there Chloe yeah exactly I've just done exactly what I asked you not to um coming up after this Chelsea do a job on Arsenal

23:23Your call has been forwarded to an automatic voice message system. A missed call doesn't feel like anything. No red flag, no notifications screaming at you. It just disappears into your call log. And nine times out of ten, that was someone ready to hand you money. That's why today's episode is brought to you by Quo, spelled Q-U-O, the business phone system built so you never miss a call. Here's what I like about it. All your calls, texts, and voicemails live in one place, so anyone on your team can pick up a conversation, see the full history, and respond fast. No more, wait, who talked to this customer last?

23:59And if you're worried about after-hours leads slipping through, Quo's optional built-in AI agent can answer questions and even book appointments while your team's offline. It's the number one rated business phone system on G2, and over 90 ,000 businesses already trust it to stay reachable. Money is on the line. Always say hello with Quo. Try Quo for free. Plus get 20 % off your first six months when you go to Quo.com slash tech. That's Q-U-O dot com slash tech. Therapy's biggest impact doesn't show up in some dramatic breakthrough. It shows up in the smallest moments. You bite your tongue instead of escalating.

24:36You put your phone down instead of firing off that text. You say what you actually mean instead of what would hurt someone else the most. Nobody applauds those moments, but they quietly change your life. That's what growing feels like. And that's exactly what Grow Therapy is here for. Grow is therapy that works, covered by insurance. Sessions average$21 with insurance, and some pay as little as$0, depending on their plan. There are no subscriptions, no long-term commitments. You just pay per session. Grow connects you with thousands of high-quality, licensed therapists across the U.S., offering both virtual and in-person sessions, nights and weekends.

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26:23Rachel: Well, I feel like we time and time again on this pod keep talking about Arsenal's fortunes and what they can't do, which is hit the back of the net. So I'm going to change tact a little bit on this one and start with Chelsea because I feel like they deserve their dues for a very hard fought battle at Stamford Bridge I think there was about 19 ,000 people at the stadium or so it was an absolute I don't actually know how to describe this one it was like a battle of the titans there was so much hype around the game with all these people going you know like there's the head-to-head you've got the Katie McCabe drama you've got all these kind of things kind of manifesting at the bridge I definitely want to give a little bit of a shout out to Chelsea because this run of form that they're now having, three on the bounce, obviously after being held to the draw with Aston Villa on the opening weekend.

27:07Rachel: But do we feel like actually this is the mentality monsters? This is exactly what, you know, I mean, even the reaction from Sonia Bonpasta after the game, it was like she'd won a cup final. It was like she came up to Kate McKay, patted her on the back. There was these smiles. There was these hugs. There was this like grit and kind of like anger that like she'd achieved this like massive thing. And it is a massive thing. And I think you should appreciate like you know big wins at you know pivotal times in the season especially when you're trying to get back on form so I love the fact that she had that kind of passion and I feel like that is coming through with the players but Rach how much you think this how important do we think this game is in the terms of of Chelsea's season do we feel like this is actually Chelsea back on form fully like the consistency's there they're back to it consistency yes I wouldn't say they're like back to their best form necessarily um you know I'll be honest the Katie McCabe narrative was you were hit over the head with it the whole way through the game my god every bit of social media from every outlet every line I don't know how many times they mentioned Katie McCabe getting red carded the Alyssa Thompson hair pull Jesus like there was other stuff to be talking about so I'm glad it's done and hopefully that won't have to be um the narrative again um although I doubt that's gonna happen I doubt it's gonna go away but no I think it was a really important win for Chelsea I think both teams were under pressure different levels of pressure um you know Chelsea haven't been at their best but as you say that mentality monster kind of vibe is coming back into the squad again I think that kind of you know getting the win I know fans haven't been super happy with their performances particularly in front of goal the Asta Villa game you look at that Austria-Vian game midweek my god they were lucky to get out of that with three points they've got Leon coming up so these games all really matter in terms of the mentality side of things yes everything hasn't clicked quite yet there's still teething problems there's still things for them to work out and the same could be you know if you look at Man City for example didn't play their best against Charlton the main thing is come away with the three points to come away with the three points against Arsenal in a derby is huge and they should celebrate those moments because all of that just gives you the confidence going into Lyon next week which is going to be a very difficult game and no English team looked great in Europe last week so I think yeah you celebrate those wins and it's good to see it wasn't the best London derby I have to say I've definitely seen better.

29:27But I think for Chelsea, big win, celebrate it, get focused on their midweek task.

29:33Rachel: I think what I'm really loving to see about Chelsea is this, and I mentioned it on the previous section, sort of like these little partnerships that are developing. And what I absolutely love, I mean, Melvin Mallard, I think for me, has been a key, key player for Chelsea. She's almost like the Chelsea player that you didn't realise you wanted to see in a blue shirt. It's just like the energy that she has and her ability to take on players and the dribble and the close footwork. And then the link-up that she now has with Ellie Carpenter, I just think them two just seem to read each other in a way that I just feel like they've been playing together for years.

30:05Rachel: And then also Vika Kaptean, you've got obviously Lauren James as well. I think she had a really, really spicy game. But yeah, I just, I love that partnership. And I love this kind of like development almost of a, you know, we've got a Bunny Shaw and a Viv Mead. I feel like we're starting to see inklings of that developing. Or am I getting carried away? It's early doors. No, I think you're right. I think Melvin offers them a different profile of striker as well. When she came on in their early Champions League round games, they needed something different and she offered something different. She offered them a more central option and a more direct option.

30:38And having that ability to have a different profile of strikers is really, really important. But equally, I want to shout out Keira Walsh and Lexi Potter. I think they both had great games and their partnership is flourishing massively. And I think that should be really exciting for Chelsea fans. Lexi Potter is such a young player who looks so chill, so cool, calm and collected, you know, a bit like a Chloe Sarwee. Like they're so relaxed in high pressure environments. And I think for her to come back off loan from last season, to be coming back in, to be starting big games, to be playing in Champions League, to be starting a London Derby at Stamford Bridge and playing the way she is, is super exciting.

31:13So that partnership is amazing, given it's a relatively young one. So, yeah, things are definitely clicking. There's more work for them to do. Chelsea fans will admit that but at the moment if you're getting the wins at the end of the day particularly over your biggest rivals then happy days definitely and I think I mean overall I feel

31:32Rachel: like it was well deserved I think the intensity that Chelsea showed was way over and above what I saw from Arsenal and I think you know one of the things I think Chelsea would have seen from previous games watching Arsenal against different opposition is this kind of this press and this kind of how easily I think Arsenal come in unstuck when you kind of adopt this very kind of high line and take the game to them because I mean even from the 39th minute goal you've kind of got this situation where the ball is intercepted and it comes kind of a little bit from like a almost like a switch off or miscommunication or other players not you know allowing I think other players also not communicating the dangers around their team there has to be that connectedness that if you've not seen something your teammate will shout that there is a danger or something is happening you don't see that and then you get Alyssa Thompson then kind of converting that goal And it kind of felt like the Arsenal defence, and let's get into Arsenal now because we can't avoid it.

32:21Rachel: The Arsenal defence, it just feels like it's just not sticking together. It kind of feels like, I don't know, it feels holy. It feels like there's players who don't fully know where they're supposed to be. It feels like there's a lack of communication. It feels, I don't know, it just doesn't feel like it's set. And it's an experienced back line. And these are players who have played together for multiple seasons. So, again, it feels like there's kind of almost two issues emerging now, that you've got kind of one end of the pitch, they're not putting the ball in the back of the net, and the other end of the pitch, there just seems to be kind of like silly mistakes being made, leading to sloppy goals that then obviously result in losing points in big moments, in big games.

33:02Rachel: And I don't really know what more to say about Arsenal not getting things right. I disagree slightly in terms of them being super sloppy at the back. I think the two goals, they've only conceded two goals this season and both of them have felt a little bit like switch-offs. But I also think it's because, and I disagree slightly, I think the opening 25 minutes, I thought it was all Arsenal. Chelsea were completely pegged back. I think they did a really good job of absolutely putting Chelsea under pressure and the key part was Chelsea were able to ride that pressure and they knew the longer that Arsenal went on without scoring, the less likely they were to score.

33:38and they were able to kind of switch that momentum and turn the heat up then on Arsenal, which I think they did really well. But I do think they get so focused on going, oh my God, we need to go forward again. We've got to get a goal. We're not scoring goals. So sometimes they're like, oh shit, yeah. Oh, it's a goal. And they've conceded. And it's almost like they're so hyper-focused on getting forward that that can happen, that they switch off a little bit. They're just so slow with the possession that they have. and they kind of, you know, I think 44 % of the opening 25, 30 minutes was spent in Chelsea's defensive third.

34:13You know, they were camped in there. And I think Arsenal's biggest problem, which it shouldn't be because they've got quick players, is they play so slow. They get forward and then they turn around, they recycle the ball and pass it around and do a little tip-tap-tap. And it's like, by that stage, everyone's gotten back and gotten into position and they're covering the free player and nobody's got a free ball in. And I don't feel like there's enough people who are good with the ball in closed spaces to actually do something with it. So the lack of speed and intensity, while it was intense in terms of where Arsenal were and the pressure that was on, just the ball isn't moving quick enough for them.

34:45And there's a real lack of confidence, as we've touched on, with anyone taking a shot. Everyone is taking an extra touch. And in my head, I'm like, right, you take an extra touch and you've missed the opportunity. So going forward, the message just needs to be to Arsenal, take the shot, take the shot early. You might miss, but you're already missing anyway by taking the extra touch just take the shot like so many times you're like why did you take an extra touch there like you had the opportunity you're already missing right and you're already getting stressed about not scoring goals so what's the worst that could happen if you start taking the early chances so that's where I'm like just a bit more intensity you saw in the final 10 minutes against Manchester United you're like oh fucking hell like where has this been and Arsenal are guilty of that on numerous occasions where it's almost waiting until the backs are against the wall before they decide to really put their foot in the gas and I don't know I don't know how fans watch them regularly when me as someone who's not an Arsenal fan is getting frustrated by it it must be 10 times worse for an Arsenal fan um but I again I just think Chelsea it's almost like they not that they knew how the game was going to go but they they did know they'd have to ride an early wave and they'd have to ride pressure and that the longer Arsenal didn't score happy days like it and it just meant that they were able to as I said swing that momentum that pressure back the other direction and keep control of the game I think it's um I think you're right

36:03Rachel: that there definitely were spells of Arsenal having um more dominance but it always to me felt like the intensity wasn't there I think maybe I've got into this mindset and maybe it's just my bias I suppose in a way that when I know that Arsenal are going to get into the final third I almost know they're not going to score so it feels like the fire's there the fire's been lit but nothing's cooking and I'm just like I don't and then I think you're I think you're right like it's kind of kiss once thank you mate it's finding myself in vietnam that's what it is it's like eating all this like pho and like banh mi it's uh it's doing things to my psyche um pho that's how they pronounce it right oh sorry yeah no i thought you said pho france keeps saying pho anyway she's absolutely dummy dirty there but it kind of feels like i don't ever expect that arsenal are gonna really take the game to opposition even when they do go through patches of it it doesn't feel like it's it's got any like teeth behind it but you know we talk about the stats time and time again it's like you've got 18 shots on this game two on target zero goals despite you feeling like they sort of dominated the first half me feeling like oh it just feels like another arsenal game they've now scored just two goals in that opening four WSL fixtures and then on top of that we then kind of have this um almost like confusion there's a lot of controversy around sort of where the players are even supposed to be playing which feels like a really fundamental issue to be sorting out in one of the biggest fixtures of your first opening couple of months in the WSL.

37:28Rachel: So you've got Mariona Kildenti starting on the left with the Arsenal midfield made up of Georgia Stanway, Kim Little and then Cara Cooney-Cross. And then it kind of feels like there's this narrative evolving around some of the confusion around some of the players and Rene Sleggers' substitutions. And even like you're looking on the pitch and you're kind of seeing the players go, well, I don't really know where I'm supposed to. And it looks a bit embarrassing and a bit uh a bit grassroots I think yeah if I'm being absolutely savage I didn't think that was that big of a deal I I think literally a player had gone off or I think it was when Emily Fox was it when Emily Fox was basically there was a brief moment where someone had to step into a position that they weren't normally supposed to be in to kind of hold the force a little bit and then they reorganized I don't I think this has been blown out of proportion a little bit in my opinion but I feel like you know things weren't going the way they wanted and Renee was a bit like we need to roll the dice right so maybe this wasn't necessarily in the game plan which isn't great because you want to have plan A, B, C and D but I don't actually think that it was just because the bench is right next to where the press box is so I imagine people heard someone saying am I in the six or where am I supposed to be and I do think it was just while they were reshuffling I didn't think it was that indicative of what's going on at Arsenal, to be totally honest.

38:46What I like about Renee is that she is very much about trying to take the pressure off the players and to be like, this is on me, put the pressure on me. And I, you know, that's really important when they're going through a patch like this because they all know what's wrong. They all know what they need to do. They all know it's not working. No one seems to know why it's not working. 80 shots and two goals, like, they don't need to be told that that's a problem and it's going to cause significant damage to whatever title hopes they have. You know, so I respect a manager who kind of tries to take that away from the players.

39:18It's a difficult thing to do. But yeah, I just, that wasn't, I didn't find that that concerning, but maybe that's just me.

39:25Rachel: Oh, no, to me, it kind of looks like, and maybe because I was watching it from home or from Vietnam, it kind of felt like the camera maybe panned in, maybe to give it more drama than it needed to. But it looked like, maybe they were looking at the players when they had confused faces on, but it kind of felt like there was at least two or three players in the midfield section and were kind of like, and like looking over at the bench in this kind of, I don't know, kind of manner. But yeah, maybe it was a bit more dramatic than it actually was for the players themselves. But what it doesn't take away from is that Arsenal are now seven points behind leaders at Man City.

39:56Rachel: They're on five points after four games, the same record that Jonas Eideville had when he resigned in 2024. There are a few kind of more increasing calls about Renee Slegers and kind of what she's able to get from the team and what she's achieving with the current Arsenal squad. And I think the pressure is, I think, maybe developing because the players and the calibre of players is so bloody high. It's like, well, how are you not squeezing the best from the best talent? But we've got a really good question in from Stephen on YouTube, who's asked, is Arsenal's title charge already over? And I think we talk time and time again about how many points a team can drop and still be in contention for the title.

40:35Rachel: I mean, before, I think it was two games. You could drop two games. You could lose two games and still be a title winner. But anything more than that was kind of the cutoff point for looking at looking at being title holders. However, I do think with the current table, the introduction, obviously, of two new teams and obviously the calibre of the kind of middle section that's now developing, even your kind of London City, Liverpool, Everton, Crystal Palace as well. I feel like these teams are kind of taking games to the top tier teams and squeezing points or frustrating draws out of them to such an extent that I do feel like that isn't the case.

41:11Rachel: I've kind of gone in a wrong-rounded way here in saying I don't think the title race is fully over for Arsenal, but I do think the gap between where Man City are at at the moment and where Arsenal is at at the moment does feel slightly too wild. And it does rely, I think, heavily on Man City dropping form to allow the door to open back up for Arsenal. And even if we put Arsenal to one side, they're seventh. Title holders, we should be thinking about Tottenham in contention, Chelsea, London City may be in contention, Arsenal right now. I don't think they're anywhere near the picture for me unless something dramatically and drastically changes.

41:50I think the fact that Manchester City is the next game for Arsenal will be really telling. Now, Manchester City lost three games last season. Arsenal lost one. And they still didn't win the title. So I'm kind of bored of that. You can't lose this many games, otherwise you're not going to win the title narrative I think it changes every season now and I think look it will be a lot more damning I think next week if Arsenal lose to Manchester City if they don't they're four points off City which suddenly doesn't seem so wild given we're five we would be five games into the season and there are two additional games for two additional games to be played two additional games anyway more games to be played this season with the addition um of the the extra teams so there is more to play for in terms of picking up points there is also more games where other teams can drop points um but I do think the Manchester City game could be damning in terms of Arsenal's title hopes if they lose to Manchester City I think yeah that that title hope is going to be a little bit out of reach which seems crazy because it's literally three points if they win it I feel like you know they could still maybe claw their way back if they don't it's over it just seems really damning but you know a huge game and I can't call it I mean Manchester City are in when I say great form they're winning all of their games um you know they fought back midweek against Bayern um so there's a grit about them that I think and we we talked about this last season their mentality shift where even when they're not playing well they're figuring out how to win and I think for Arsenal when they're playing with most of the possession and most of the chances they still can't figure out how to win and that's that's

43:33Rachel: the concern I okay so you're pitching everything well not everything but you're pitching Arsenal's contention for the title on the next game I mean it completely makes sense if you've got Man City running away the points there'd be 15 points and Arsenal would be five a 10 point gap and we'd just be into October would be absolutely I mean unless it was unless it ended up being just one of these wild seasons where Man City just don't fight or that you know they struggle with all the you know the Champions League fixtures or whatever it is I don't I just don't see that being a recoverable one but Stephen let us know what you think because you've asked the question but we'd love to know your thoughts um first up obviously there is more Champions League football this week we've got Arsenal traveling to Paris FC which is always a fun and spicy fixture I love a Paris FC fixture I feel like I've always had that season in my head where they just cause like a shit ton of like disruption and just like there was this chaotic Paris FC run that everyone loved Man City have Real Madrid and Chelsea are up against Lyon um before we go to a break there's obviously been a lot of talk about the new Champions League coverage on Disney Plus in the first broadcast last week there was an unscheduled ad break in the middle of the Arsenal game uh there's obviously been a lot of talk about the show and sort of the inclusion of this um lovely Labrador dog um and loads of other different things uh going on with this with this format But yeah, what are your thoughts?

44:56Rachel: Because it kind of felt like it was a lot of people felt, I think, disappointed about the sort of format of the show and how it was portraying football and kind of the style that it was adopting. Yeah. But what was your take on it, Rach? I understand people trying new things. I do think we need to do that. But I also think you need to be comfortable with getting it wrong. And if you get it wrong, that's OK. And you carry on and you learn from it. at the end of the day the new things you are trying are for the people who are watching your coverage so who else but the people who are watching your coverage to tell you whether they like it or not I think that's absolutely fine I don't know why it's kind of blown up into this like we shouldn't be criticising each other and we've gone over the top if people are paying for a service which they are being asked to do to watch the Champions League and they don't like it they have every right to voice that they don't like it you know me I don't like the toxicity and I do think people go too far and stuff but we are allowed to criticize things if we don't like them we are allowed to criticize coverage or whatever that might be you know yes we want the women's game to grow but that doesn't mean we just say thank you for every bit of coverage and regardless of whether it's hit the right notes or not I think it's absolutely fine for people to chat about it and you know it's not necessarily about the people on it it's Disney and it's it's those people that are that should be listening they're the ones making these decisions and they're the ones that fans are telling whether they like it or what they don't like or like or whatever I don't know what the issue with the dog is I think the main thing was everyone was like why is the dog there who's the dog it just never got mentioned like you know instead of like being like oh this is you know whatever um yeah so I do think it's been really interesting seeing the fallout and the reaction to the fallout and like it's fine like if we're consumers and if we're paying for a service and people don't like it they're gonna say and it's all right and I think the main takeaway from this should be having the right people in the room making the decisions if you're stepping into the women's game to cover something great we want more coverage brilliant make sure you've got the right people in the room helping you decide the best way to explore it and be all right with failing if you get something wrong it's fine it'll blow over listen and show that you're listening and carry on because no one's going to get something right straight away and that's okay it's how you respond to it and how you react to it and i think if you've got the right people in the room which i don't know if all of these organizations necessarily do you are then less likely to make mistakes or errors or whatever I think in terms of like the technical stuff you know saying it was a technical error it happened more than once about across both games doing it when your people are speaking and just cutting them off with ad breaks stuff like that like that's just more you expect a company who does coverage and tv to know how to do that like that's you know that's nothing to do with the people in the room or in the studio so yeah I think people are allowed to voice their concerns we don't need to be toxic and it doesn't need to be some kind of you know damning thing on women's football it's it's not like it's fine it's just a show I think people are like it's fine it's like whatever no 100 % and I think what I find frustrating sometimes I think there's sometimes a kind of tendency for there to be this kind of pile on or intensity of criticism that I don't think is always best levied in the way that it is.

48:12Rachel: I think, you know, we've seen similar things with sort of Sky and Halo. And I appreciate, you know, that that wasn't the right format. And they took it down and sort of a bit of a refresh. But I think like you, Rach, I absolutely love innovation. I love, you know, platforms and broadcasters trying to do something different to engage this audience fan base. And we know working in women's sports media that the fan base is really hard to get right, because there's so many different sections of it. You've got your data heads, you've got people who are interested in it, because, you know, family tradition, or people have come over from the men's side or people have been diehard og women's fans since day dot or some people have come into it for fashion music or just you know wanting to show up at arsenal because it's cool it's cool vibes and they love leah williamson like all of these fan bases exist so it's really hard trying to come up with a product that kind of fits and caters for all of these kind of different bases so i think i'm kind of leaning more into the criticism that i've seen around kind of it kind of infantilizing women's sport or kind of you know making it a bit too jolly or a bit too jovial and you know but what I think is is important is that brands kind of been given this opportunity like you said Rach to kind of make mistakes and kind of learn from them but I think sometimes that also there needs to be a bit more of a kind of understanding of how these decisions have been made because we saw the same thing with Sky and Halo and people like plowed into them they were like this must have been a man's decision they must not have done any research and actually it transpired that it was a female team that had come up with this idea and that they had tried to take it out to a panel and that panel had said it was a great idea and they'd rolled it out so i think we pile into these kind of ideas not knowing actually understanding you know how these things have been formulated and and you look at the the good decisions that they made i mean the people that are on the the disney plus show you've got tyra mills you've got leanne sanderson alex scott alex bayless as well like all credible valid great voices in the space you know the dog um two of them have obviously played at the very highest level and then two who are you know really valid comments and tyra mills is part of the england scouting setup and Alex Bayliss has been in women's media for for years and years and years and has played herself so it feels like the the foundations of the show are really good I just sometimes struggle with kind of the intensity and the velocity I think sometimes of the the backlash that occurs from people trying to do things differently that that I think sometimes I do find it um and maybe because I've experienced it myself when I when you're trying to do things right and you want brands to innovate and you want brands to invest and I think what I don't want to then is brands being scared to do that or scared to try new concepts because everyone just sort of like piles on in them as almost like a cancelable offense when actually in the scheme of things it's not that deep and you're sort of looking at these different formats that exist and you've got shows like the BBC WSL show being completely taken off air and that was very kind of like data insights led very kind of like strategy and you know the sort of big names in the game kind of talking through things that's been taken off so okay well where does the shows exist and because you only have a very limited kind of space for women's football shows at the moment.

50:56Rachel: It's very far and few between the broadcasts are giving shows and slots to women's football. It kind of feels like sometimes the shows have to deliver everything for everyone. And I think maybe that's the challenge that we have. Yeah, I would also say that there is a huge focus on Gen Z, which I understand. and it is a growing demographic but it is a demographic it's not the demographic and I think sometimes there's such a desperation to grow grow grow grow grow and focus on Gen Z that you forget about everybody else and I think that's not just Disney I think a lot of organizations who are currently working in women's football do that you forget about the people who've been here watching football for a long time who are interested in the game who are spending their money you know I of don't know how many Gen Z's can afford to pay for Sky for example so I do think there's a frustration sometimes with people where you're like when something has gone completely the other direction and you think okay this isn't for me for example Champions League coverage where else can I go because all I meant football where you've got all different types of uh coverage that if you're like well I don't really like this I'm going to watch a match of the day I don't love match of the day I'm going to follow such and such on YouTube we don't have that option so the difficulty as you say is when you've got a single outlet doing it is that they're trying to be all things for all people and sometimes I think when you're when you're coming into a space you need to make sure you're doing the basics well and then innovate off that and I think that's what maybe frustrates people when they're like I'm trying to watch a football match and there's an outbreak in it like seriously how is that you know that's the basic bit that people want right and I think if you can get that bit right they'll be more open to the innovation side of things but when the fundamental bit is being disrupted that's where people are then like they're at a different level then when you start trying to innovate and they're like what what's this now do you know what I mean so it is a difficult balance but I will say if you're someone coming into the sport and you think you can absolutely nail it first time and if you if you're not willing to fail you know there's there's not many industries where you're going to come in and absolutely smash it first time it's not isolated to women's football you need to be willing to fail you need to be able to hold your hands up and go do you know what got that wrong we hear you let's change it instead of like you know getting your backs up and being like well fine I'm not going to invest in women's football because it's it happens everywhere and I think innovating and growing requires you to fail mistakes and stepping stones to knowledge and hopefully it will improve 100 % I think both of us are we having worked in women's sport media we've all had you know things that we've put on our platforms or even the podcast where we've had you know shows that haven't been our best shows and we've kind of had to adapt and move on.

53:41Rachel: The podcast itself has changed over the last five years that we've been running it. So yeah, I think it is one of those kind of, you do adapt and grow, but I think I just don't ever want the criticism to be such that it feels like brands are just scared and people who are working with those brands as well, the individuals who are involved in this, because it's not nice for them as people too to kind of see that they're getting this. Yeah, they're the face of what is essentially some of these issues, obviously, with technical issues that Disney are facing, but these people are trying to do their best and they're just trying to put on a good show.

54:10Rachel: So, yeah, I think that's my only concern. I'm not asking for it to be kind of a happy, clappy environment and that everyone should just sort of like say how positive it is that we even have shows in the first place and we should all be so grateful. That's not my take. But I do feel like sometimes it's a case of kind of being a bit more constructive and trying to find out all the information first before sort of laying in too hard. But criticism and feedback, all for it. But, yeah, it's going to be interesting to see now how they develop this and hopefully resolving those technical issues and making sure that at least those are at bay and as far as i'd quite like to see the dog back that's my own personal take on it it's so funny the dog was like they became everyone's like no we're fine with the dog we just happened to mention it was there it's not like no one's complaining about the dog we're just like wondering why it's there are you going to talk to the dog are you going to pet it are you going to maybe tell it before you rotate the stage because that scared the shit out of it and it like ran away so that well done for everyone who mentioned the dog because it's now it's now about the dog's home so well done to you all God, stop.

55:08What's wrong with that? I used to work there.

55:12Rachel: Right, back on track with football. Coming up after this, an absolute barn burner in Birmingham. Birmingham City, 3-3 with Crystal Palace this weekend. Six huge goals and a couple of beauties, both from Oceana Ertrey. A goalkeeping error and a last ditch equaliser. This game had everything. let's also have a moment for Ertzar Rach you called her insane and also her goals super super special she repeatedly week in week out is kind of showing herself as one of the most promising and versatile goal scorers in the WSL I mean what are you making of her performances so far because this was I think one of the quickest if not the quickest goal to be scored in the WSL well definitely this season it just feels like a I don't know she's having a shining moment a lot of people for a lot of people I don't think she was on their radar and I feel like this season all of a sudden she's really come to like super powered status making her way up the WSL top goal scorer chart she's she's definitely becoming one to watch well firstly I didn't realize the group chat was going to be exposed on here when I called her goals insane um but I was floor manager for that game so I was right in the in the dugouts in between the dugouts watching it um and you know I try and like remain neutral when I'm pitch side it's hard because I'm into the game so you know sometimes I've had someone from one team say to my match manager oh is she a fan of the other team and he was like no she's she's doing this for like every guy like live it when I'm watching on the sideline and when she scored that goal because of my angle I just watched as the ball was I you knew it was a goal as soon as Ligo Min picked it up and it's another goal scored from a high turnover from Birmingham because their press is really quite effective and watching her take it on the outside of her the audacity so early on in the game to take it on the outside of the boot like I think I did I was just like oh my god and then I was like I have a job to do I had to go tell the studio that like we have a goal and who scored it and stuff like that absolutely the curl on it defied physics it defied physics it didn't make sense and then speaking of physics the second goal that she scored was more audacious than the first and I did the post-match player of the match interview with her and I was like you know basically like what the hell was that like how did you score from such a tight angle and she just thought she was just like I didn't really have a choice that's my only option our only option was to put it in from like the most insane ridiculous tight angle possible so I did and I think we're all so like blown away understandably by her technique, like her ability on the ball, like her goal scoring prowess.

57:54She is so physically robust for such a small player because she literally has like people hanging off her trying to stop her because she's such a difficult player to take, to stop with the ball. They either take her down or try and grab her. And she's just so good at like shirking off whoever's trying to get in her way. And she does that for the second goal. So yeah, those two goals were difficult to kind of not react to on the sideline. and I was just like, oh my God, sorry. Yes, that's a goal for Luciana Verte. Like, ridiculous.

58:24Rachel: I think the probability of both those goals going in can't have been more than one or 2 % maximum, especially that second goal. I was like, there must be a hole in the side netting for that to have gone in because it just doesn't make sense because it was so frigging narrow, inches in it. It didn't feel like there was enough space for the ball to actually physically get through. But I feel like she is someone, I think, Birmingham are now kind of looking at as a bit of a kind of a hero type player. I mean, she's obviously their main attacking outlet. And then we saw her kind of previously in the game against Brighton.

58:54Rachel: She scored and obviously had the assist. She now has the same amount of goals as Bunny Short. And I know it's really early doors in the season, but it kind of feels like this is where you're kind of pitting yourself against the best of the best. It just feels like she's on firing form. And I feel like she's the kind of, you know, the Kirstie Hansen that we were talking about last season, that she's just is one player who will keep on ticking on the radar I just think she's so so impressive but this was a game where it kind of felt like I don't know who's going to come out on top I kind of thought there would be a winner I thought we would end on kind of like a decisive goal but it kind of felt very fair that it ended the way it did because it felt like both sides kind of had their moments where they were kind of really edging into it and then dropping off I mean we had the Beth England chance kind of missing in the first half and then sort of obviously finding the goal in the back of the net for the second to make it 2-2.

59:45Rachel: First for Palace, which is amazing, it's kind of seeing her on the score sheet this season. But it kind of feels like this is the kind of the, not bottom of the table, but the WSL 2 team table clash. And it kind of felt like a good result that reflects where both the clubs are at the moment. And it was a really interesting game. But you were there, FRAH. How did it feel for you kind of being there and witnessing these two sides go to battle? It was a really fun game to watch for the neutral and produced some really lovely football. And it felt like, you know, you know, when we talk about when an Arsenal had a Chelsea meeting, it's like two gladiators kind of taking swings.

1:00:24It felt a bit like that. And both sides can understand and be frustrated that they didn't come away with the three points, but equally both sides can be glad that they got the draw out of it. You know, Joe Potter said to me post-match, you know, there were moments in that game where she would have taken a draw if you told her she was going to come away with a point from it but then equally to get yourselves back up to be in the lead to 3-2 and then to you know allow the other team back into it you can be frustrated so it says a lot about the game I thought Birmingham started really well I watched the kind of opening 15-20 minutes thought okay Birmingham are going to run away with this and then the momentum just shifted in the second half like after that um the Palace goal went in and then Birmingham got back in front again really quickly afterwards but second half whatever Joe Potter said really seemed to work and it felt a bit like Birmingham sat back a little bit allowed Crystal Palace to get back into the game and and yeah when then when Palace went ahead I was like oh my god they're going to come away with all three points but then Birmingham like absolutely pushing and pushing and pushing and I think they hit the post as well like towards the end so yeah it was a really enjoyable game difficult when you're a floor manager when you've got a goal in the first minute a goal nearly at the death you've got substitutions happen at the same time as goals you're like oh my god um but it was a really yeah a really high octane enjoyable afternoon at St Andrews

1:01:40Rachel: it honestly felt like it it was a bit of a battle of the titans and we talked about some of the key players in the Birmingham squad obviously with Urtra kind of being you know the standout for both of us but then we've got to speak on the Palace side about you know Lexi Lloyd-Smith and her composure earlier in the season this goal here feels like another great example of that kind of strength of her and being able to read the game and kind of see where the potential dangers and opportunities are going to be because the ball that she wins I mean this is the 77th 78th minute she picks it up from a kind of a bit of sloppiness from Birmingham really runs almost entire length of the pitch a little bit I would say no you think that's because I'm fair she slipped Levesseur had the ball she was playing it out and she literally like completely slipped lost her footing and ended up on the floor and yeah Lex Lloyd pounced it but it was amazing to see that she was kind of reading the game kind of almost anticipating that you know not mistakes but things like that are kind of almost going to happen and that's the best that's the best strikers I mean they can kind of read a dead almost a dead ball situation or their out of possession situation and kind of see the potential in it and her run you know that the close contact that she has with the ball you know keeping the ball at her feet making sure the goalkeeper couldn't come out and try and smother that and then she slots it in the bottom right caller as she's and then she's almost falling it kind of felt like there's a real kind of enjoyment that I see to kind of watching Lexi Lloyd-Smith and kind of, I don't know, her coming into her own and her finding her feet and enjoying time in the WSL with the rest of the squad and how much it also means to these squads to be able to kind of put on a performance like that and draw out results and score some absolutely incredible worldies in the meantime.

1:03:12Rachel: So, yeah, it was, I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed it as a game. Yeah, I was gutted again not to be there. Watching, when I saw her slip and Lexi Lloyd-Smith pounced, I just thought she's going to score. like you just she had that I don't know calmness and confidence about her as she bared down on goal making sure she angled her run to get the perfect opportunity on she didn't kind of allow herself to be pushed wide or anything like that I thought yeah and then to slot home under that pressure as well like 2-2 you're coming towards the latter stages of the game you have got to score this opportunity you've just not you but your team have just missed some sitters oh it was such a cool finish um so yeah i was delighted for him these youngsters are just it's the talent i just feel is unbelievable but it's been it's been so lovely to see kind of these players like really come into their own this season um before we go we also have another big bit of breaking news being dropped uh the latest lionesses squad has just gone live england are playing greece in their playoff with the players in the world cup next year at stake uh so these are obviously two massive massive games We thought they were going to wrap it up earlier.

1:04:19Rachel: They didn't. They fell at the last hurdle. It was all very stressful. But now the second chance has come round and we are relying on Lexi Potter getting her first senior call up. Do you reckon we can kind of see her being tried out alongside Walsh in an England shirt? She's kind of proving herself a lot this year, this season even. I would love to see that. I think because these are two-legged games, there is a potential opportunity to see that. It very much depends on how the first one goes. But yeah, delighted for her. Not surprised though. No, definitely not surprised. I feel like she's been like knocking on the door and I feel like her past performances over the last couple of weeks have like started to like really embed that she deserves this call up.

1:05:01Rachel: And then you've got Erica Meg Parkinson, also back in the squad after her first call up in April. Leah Willimson, obviously back after missing the June fixtures but she's not joined by her Arsenal teammate Lota Ruben Moy the forward line is super super interesting though so we've got Fred Godfrey in no call up for Agui Beaver Jones Chloe Kelly or Ella Toon so interesting forward line there but I mean Fred Godfrey what a massive massive thing for her to achieve and kind of I feel like she's also a player a young young player doing the absolute most at London City Lionesses last year and also this year as well.

1:05:39Rachel: And yeah, it's so nice to kind of see these youngsters like step up and have the confidence to do that and be given this opportunity so early on in their careers. It's, yeah, it's lovely. I just think that's this new wave of England that's coming in. It's especially weird given Serena only ever picks her favourites. So it's so strange. And like you look at that midfield, Laura Blake-Hilda Brown, Lucia Kendall, Erica Meg Parkinson, Lexi Potter, Georgia Stanley, Kira Watt. Like that's exciting. you know, It's a whole new squad. Yeah, well, ahead of a potential major tournament, still going to qualify.

1:06:12This is just the first round. It is exciting to have the opportunity to bring those youngsters in and hopefully see them. They're going to have to get minutes. I mean, you look at that midfield, there's, you know, they've got to get minutes. So, it's exciting stuff. Bold choices as well from Serena. And I think kind of showing that she does make them if she has to. So, some big names left out, but she may very well be vindicated in that decision.

1:06:36Rachel: Well, we will wait and see. Obviously, we will be covering the games when they happen. It feels like it's quite nice in a way to kind of get that break and go back into international fixtures again. I kind of almost miss it, dare I say. Anyway, thank you so much for listening to this episode of Upfront. You can find us on Instagram and x slash Twitter. I'm at morgy underscore 89. Rach is at girls on the ball and we are at Upfront underscore pod. You can also find us on the YouTube at Upfront pod. See you next. Way!

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