It is getting even closer at the top of the WSL


We are not that far away from yet another international break so I am soaking up the WSL action as much as possible and with some teams really starting to make good progress in the league is that break going to effect the progress some teams are making or is it going to give other teams the chance to make an impact once the league returns, I guess we will just have to wait and see. Chelsea have found themselves back at the top of the WSL after a close 3-2 victory over Tottenham whilst Manchester United & Arsenal dropped what could be considered 2 crucial points each in their games leaving it all to play for as we hit the second half of the season. With only 3 Champions League spots available Manchester City are now closing in on those spots so every point for those top 4 teams are now becoming crucial and it is making for a very exciting season for us fans. So here how the results looked this weekend...


Leicester City vs Manchester City 

The opening game of the weekend saw Manchester City beat Leicester City 2-0. I managed to watch this game and I have to say Leicester impressed me, they defending quite well at times and although Manchester City were getting plenty of chances they kept them out for quite a while. They had a few chances of their own too but just couldn't find the back of the net. It was nice to see Kelly get her first league goal for Man City at the weekend and of course it was great to see Shaw on the score sheet once again, is she going to win the golden boot this season? Leicester are still bottom of the table however, they are starting to show the potential to pick points it is just a case of who they are going to take them off.

Aston Villa vs Brighton

Brighton held Aston Villa to a 1-1 draw, but there were plenty of chances for Villa to take the full 3 points from what I was hearing on social media. I am quite surprised with this result to be honest as I thought with how Villa had been playing recently they would have taken the 3 points on the day but I guess that just shows that anything can happen on the day in football. 

Manchester United vs Everton

I was really looking forward to going and to be honest I came away disappointed as someone who went to the game with high hopes for Man Utd. Now don't get me wrong United had plenty of chances throughout the game but there was just no way of getting past Everton's goalkeeper Brosnan who had a brilliant game. I would go as far as saying Everton have put in one of the best defensive performances against Man Utd at the LSV so far this season but enough about this game as we have a report coming very soon. 

Tottenham vs Chelsea

Chelsea took the lead in this game with ex Spurs player Jess Carter getting on the score sheet however, just 8 minutes later ex Chelsea player Beth England drew the game level. Not long after though Chelsea regained the lead with a goal from Lauren James before Reiten made it 3-1 to Chelsea, Tottenham never gave up though and pulled a goal back with 2 minutes of normal time left through Karczewska. England is showing us all just how good her transfer to Spurs was as she is making an impact on the squad already, as she settles into the squad even more I am excited to see just how much she helps Tottenham as they look to progress up the WSL table. 

Liverpool vs Reading

Reading are really struggling this season and they are going to have to start picking up points soon if they want to stay clear of the drop, all it takes is for Leicester to win a few more games and Reading are going to find themselves really under pressure. Liverpool came out of this weekends game 2-0 winners and I will be honest Liverpool are one of my big surprise teams this year, I thought they would struggle in their first season back but they have put in some good performances so far and are moving nicely away from the drop zone, granted they have had some poor results too but overall they have been a welcomed edition back into the league. 

West Ham vs Arsenal 

As someone who is wanting Manchester United to do well the 0-0 draw between West Ham and Arsenal was a welcomed result as it keeps Arsenal in 3rd place and still a few points behind United even with them dropping points against Everton. I missed this game however, it sounds like West Ham really put up a fight to keep Arsenal held to the goalless draw although it sounds like Arsenal weren't at their best attacking wise on the day. West Ham have been another surprise team this season and I could see them starting to move up the table in the second half of the season and start picking up the results they deserve as they don't have a bad team at all. 

So there you have it those are this weekends results, we have a few games to go this weekend before the start of the international break where there are going to be plenty of competitions for us to watch including the Arnold Clark cup which as an England fan I am really looking forward to. I have to say though I am really looking forward to the weekends games though as we are finally heading to see Manchester City vs Arsenal, a game we have been waiting to watch since September. 

What do you think to this weekends game results?

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Match Report : Manchester United hit Liverpool for six

 

After what feels like the longest festive break ever the WSL finally returned this weekend and it was a chance for us to head to Leigh Sports Village to watch Manchester United take on fairly local rivals Liverpool. This was always going to be a big game as it was between the two rival sides and it showed with a new record attendance being set for a WSL game at Leigh Sports Village, it was great to see a packed out stadium. The game was made even bigger though with the earlier game between Arsenal & Chelsea ending in a draw, a win for United meant they could end the weekend in second place in the league and it is safe to say they got that win and the scoreline has probably helped them out for if the league positioning does end up coming down to goal difference, which I think this season could definitely happen with how the results are going. 

United came out fighting from the get go and after 90 minutes they finished the game with a fantastic 6-0 victory, a scoreline I don't think many of us in that stadium actually expected. The win means Man Utd have leapfrogged Arsenal into second place on goal difference and when you actually look at the table that goal difference at the moment loos great in United's favour. 

Marc Skinner's side came out fighting from the get go and were working the ball around the pitch well getting into some great attacking positions and it didn't take long for them to get their first goal. The goal came after some great play down United's right and Garcia found the back of the net with a bit of a deflection from the Liverpool defence but in the end the goal was awarded to Garcia and it was great to see her on the score sheet.  After the first goal United just kept on pushing and were determined to get that second goal. The second goal came in the 24th minute and of course it was Alessia Russo who got herself on the score sheet. The build up to Russo's goal was absolutely fantastic with the team lining up well and moving the ball brilliantly before eventually slipping it through to Russo who calmly placed the ball in the back of the net, she definitely seemed to slip through the Liverpool defence a bit too easily but the finish was very well taken. Even after going 2-0 up you could see United were hungry for more goals and they just wouldn't let Liverpool get into the game whilst they tried to increase their lead. They finally got their 3rd goal of the game in the 41st minute when a brilliant cross was put into the box and found the head of Hayley Ladd, in all honesty we both thought this would be saved or at least cleared as the ball seemed to go in slow motion with little power on it however, it beat everyone and found the bottom corner. 

With 3 goals in the first half United went in at the break having performed really well and looking like they could very easily increase their lead further which eventually they did. Liverpool made their first change of the game at half time with Kearns entering the field and the change seemed to do the trick. United restarted the game very slow and Liverpool looked like the team on top for a while as they made a few threatening chances but they just couldn't find the back of the net. Throughout the start of the second half though Liverpool looked like a much better side than they did in the first half although it was short lived when United managed to grab their 4th goal of the game. It was in the 63rd minute when from our view at the opposite end of the stadium it looked like Liverpool were unable to clear their lines after another fantastic ball into the box, just like everyone else in the stadium we thought it was Millie Turner who had got her head to the ball and found the back of the net however, it looks like it has been given as an own goal against Koivisto, this 4th goal though was definitely against the run of play but it seems to be just what United needed to get them going again like they did in the first half. In the 72nd minute they got their 5th goal of the day with substitute Martha Thomas getting in on the scoring action. Thomas got herself into a fantastic position and hit the ball home brilliantly it just looked like such a composed goal from where we were sat. The 6th and final goal came from yet another substitute however, this time it was Rachel Williams who got on the score sheet. Her 84th minute goal wrapped up United's goal scoring for the day and it was a brilliant headed goal from yet another great ball into the box. Williams seems to be a bit of a super sub for United and she is one of the players I am really enjoying watching this season as she can get the goals but also get stuck in defending when needed too. 

The game was definitely a stand out performance for United and the fact that once again all 6 goals were shared between 6 different scorers just shows how versatile the squad is and how even if the 'star' player is having an off day they still have other players on hand to get the goals. There were some scrappy plays throughout the game for both sides with the ball being lost however, looking at the pitch at times it wasn't in the best condition and the downpour pre-game definitely won't have helped the conditions. Even when United did lose the ball though they seemed to win it back very quickly by not giving up and really piling on the pressure on Liverpool. I love how Skinner still made attacking changes even with the team winning by quite a large margin, I am not sure if it was the fact he had that goal difference in mind or if he just knew the team were capable of getting more goals but those substitutes came on and kept the momentum going for United and we saw them extend the scoreline even further. The fact that they can bring on the likes of Thomas, Leon, Williams and Boe Risa on whether they are winning or losing just goes to show the depth United currently have in their squad, something they are going to need if they want to really challenge for that top 3 finish for the remainder of the season.  

As for the player of the match for this game I think it has to go to United's Ona Batlle, she is really becoming a standout name this season and is slowly becoming one of our favourite players due to us absolutely loving her style of play. She had yet another fantastic game on the weekend and helped get United into some fantastic position and put some great balls into the box to create some fantastic chances for the team. She really does cause problems down the right hand side for the opposition and even defensively she is brilliant, if she loses the ball she is straight in there winning it back or tracking back well to put in some much needed tackles to stop the opposition attacks. Against Liverpool she just never seemed to stop and throughout the full game she was either providing opportunities or stopping Liverpool.

United are really showing us what they are capable of this season and they are such a great team to watch, they face Reading on Sunday, will we see another big scoreline or will Reading come to cause problems? I can't wait to see how this game plays out and see how the league table looks after next weekends fixtures.

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Match Preview : Manchester United vs Liverpool

 

Finally the WSL  returns this weekend after the Christmas break and I can honestly say I am looking forward to being able to watch a few games on the TV however, I am more excited to be heading over to Leigh Sports Village to watch Manchester United vs Liverpool. It feels like it has been too long since we were last at LSV and this game should be a good one as with big fixtures elsewhere in the league this weekend Manchester United have a good chance to close that gap at the top of the table. With the London derby clash between Arsenal and Chelsea this weekend their is going to points dropped from either one or both of those top 2 teams which means if United get a result from their game against Liverpool they will really be narrowing the gap at the top. 

Manchester United are going into this game after a good warm weather training camp where they beat Birkirkara 10-0 in a friendly with players really putting a good effort in after the festive period showing just what they were capable of. United are doing really well this season and we are seeing some top performances from the whole team, there isn't just one player scoring for the team there is a nice mixture and everyone is having an impact which is definitely going to help them as they try to secure Champions League football next season which they are more than capable of doing. United have won 3 of their last 5 games, one was that huge victory over Arsenal at the Emirates and the other was the big victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford, the third was a nice 3-0 victory over Everton, United definitely have the goals in them but how many are we going to see on Sunday? With only 1 game lost this season so fan United fans have been spoilt with brilliant performances and this weekend has the potential to be no different.

You can't write Liverpool off too soon though the side might be newly promoted however, they have the potential to cause an upset. They certainly caused that upset in their first game back in the league when they beat league holders Chelsea, something I don't think any of us expected to see, they are definitely showing the rest of the league they are not to be underestimated too as they have drawn 2 of their last 5 games with both those games being 3-3 draws, they have the goals in them so are we going to see a few from them this weekend to upset United or are United going to prove to be too strong? I can't wait to see how the game goes. Liverpool are definitely doing better than I expected this season, I thought they would struggle to get going in the top flight again but that hasn't been the case due to the strong team they entered the league with and this transfer window we have already seen them bring in 2 new signings, one of them being Gemma Bonner who is returning to the WSL after a spell Stateside. Bonner is a fantastic player and adding her to the defensive line up is definitely going to strengthen that area and help keep the opposition at bay. If she gets some game time on Sunday she could be a really beneficial addition and could really help stop those United attacks. 

In terms of ones to watch in this game for United a key player is going to be right back Ona Batlle, who is having a fantastic season so far and is really showing WSL fans just what she is capable. The young Spanish right back is key in creating chances for United with the ability to attack and track back quickly putting in some great challenges to stop the opposition in their tracks. She is also great at getting the ball into the box for her teammates to attack but watch out as she has a goal in her too as we saw against Aston Villa. As for Liverpool the one to watch for me is certainly Katie Stengel, I used to love watching Katie in the NWSL and I am looking forward to actually getting to watch her play properly. The forward can really trouble the opposition which we have seen plenty of times already this season and I think she has the potential to cause problems for the United this weekend, as much as I would love to see United win I would also love to see Stengel on the score sheet. 

This weekend has the makings of being a big weekend in the WSL and I am looking forward to seeing how the table stands after all the games are played as we could see a bit of movement in the positioning by the end of Sunday. Now get me to LSV as I can't wait to watch this Man Utd vs Liverpool game, lets hope it is a good one and the weather doesn't effect the game in anyway. 

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It is safe to say we are loving getting to see more of the WSL

 


I can happily say that this season has been the season where we have finally got to watch more WSL games than we previously have. This is down to a fair few factors however, the main one is definitely that the women's game is slowly becoming more and more accessible. I can now go onto Sky or the BBC and will most weekends find a women's game available to watch or even on the iPlayer, I just have to hit that red button on the BBC and I can often find a game and on the website they have some games to catch up on which is great. Not only that but finally our internet is strong enough to run the FAPlayer with minimal buffering so I can watch from anywhere in the house and funnily enough I am usually watching a game on one PC screen whilst working on content for the site on the other screen. I have even been known to be sat in the car on a Sunday on the way to my own match glued to my phone screen as I have been watching a game on the FAPlayer, it just seems like I can't get enough of the WSL this year and as I say I am loving it. I do just wish that the likes Sky & BBC would mix up the teams they show as it seems to only be the top teams at time where as us fans want to see more teams competing especially in a season like this one.

When we first got back into the women's game and started going to watch live games we were in Manchester a fair few times each season to watch Manchester City however, as we started Edge of the Area we got into going and watching the FAWNL a lot more due to our connections with Bradford City, then when Covid hit it was just so much easier to go watch local than travel to games when restrictions started to lift. During the Euros though things changed and we sat down to talk about the direction we wanted to go in for the website and we wanted to try get to FAWNL still however, we really wanted to get back into going and watching the WSL as we knew we missed it. On the way home from Wembley we actually sat in the back of the car planning what games we wanted to go see and we ended up getting tickets for Manchester City vs Arsenal & the Manchester derby at the Etihad whilst stuck in traffic trying to get home from the Euros final, there was no stopping us and we were determined to go see more live WSL games. Liam then announced he was a Manchester United Women fan whilst I decided I didn't want to follow just one team as it makes reporting harder, I said I would rather just support my favourite players which I seem to have ended up doing. 

We actually ended up getting Man Utd Women season tickets for the season as with Liam being a fan and being happy to drive to Leigh after our trip there in the Euros we just wanted to go watch more live football. Looking back if I had signed up to play football again first we probably wouldn't have given the season tickets a thought but as playing came after we had the season tickets ready and raring to go and even juggling playing we aim to attend every Man Utd home game. I will be honest though I am still quite shocked that these only cost us £39 each I really did think they would be over £50 but the £39 really does make it a bargain especially with the quality of games we are able to see. I love waking up on game day knowing that we are off to see United play and I don't think that gameday feeling is ever going to get old. 



It will seem funny to some as we have the Man Utd season tickets however, we also get tickets to Man City games as they were the original team we started watching and a lot of my favourite players still play for the club. Obviously thanks to our season tickets we were guaranteed one of the Manchester derby's this season however, that wasn't enough so we got tickets to the one at the Etihad too. We also got tickets for the season opener Man City vs Arsenal which unfortunately ended up rearranged for February but I guess that is just something else to look forward to even if most of our favourite Arsenal players are injured or have left. I just couldn't resist going back to the blue side of Manchester as I have really enjoyed watching them for so long, I don't think Liam could ever get me to change to just United. 

Going to the live games has been absolutely fantastic as during the pandemic we definitely missed them however, even just being at home watching multiple games a weekend is absolutely fantastic and is helping open our eyes to just how much talent is currently in the league and how much the league has progressed since we started going to watch it. The league is 100% more competitive these days especially at the top as it is all to play for and just one bad result can really shake up the league, it really does make it more interesting for us fans and I can't get enough. Looking at the table after each weekend is great as anything can happen and the competition for the European spots is a lot tighter and unpredictable, just how the league should be. 

Another reason why I am loving getting to watch the WSL more is that it has helped me realise just what direction I want to take this website in. I will be honest at the end of last season I was struggling I didn't really know what to do with the content and what content I actually wanted to make however, since the Euros and since we have started to get more and more into the English top flight our minds are a bit clearer and we know where we want to head in the future and how to get there. We have started doing match reports for the games we attend and those reports are going to increase as we are also going to do them for the games we watch on TV, I love writing a match report so this is going to be perfect. It has also given us the idea to do game previews, each week of the season there is going to be a match preview going forward and I am looking forward to making a start on these and making little predictions on how the game might end, I think we might do polls on social media too to see which games people would love previews of and reports of especially if it is a weekend where we have access to plenty of games. The interactions we get from WSL fans is brilliant and honestly chatting to other fans has been great and can give you an insight to other teams and players. It has also helped us create Instagram content ideas which we will be putting into action this year and is making us excited for what the future holds... that podcast is definitely coming in time for next season too, maybe a little early if we can get things in place.

I am really looking forward to seeing just how many more games from the WSL that we will be able to watch live either in the stadium for the remainder of the season and I have to say I am really looking forward to seeing how that top of the table looks by the end of the season as those 3 Champions League spots really could go to anyone, it really is all to play for. I am sure this season isn't going to be a one off either as fingers crossed in the 2023/24 season we can get season tickets to United again whilst also travelling the country a bit more to go to plenty of other games and mix up the teams we are seeing weekly, although it is a case of juggling watching, playing and writing these days but with just how much I am loving the women's game it is a small issue that will soon balance out I am sure. 

This season so far has been all about falling back in love with the top flight of the women's game and I can 100% say that has happened and I am really looking forward to seeing just how much that love grows and how this site grows thanks to the love of the game growing more than I thought it could. 

Are you enjoying watching even more WSL this season?

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I think I bought a few too many football shirts in 2022...

I can't seem to stop buying football shirts and in 2022 I bought a lot more shirts than I usual would, there were a few shirts purchased in support of the men's game however, my main priority for 2022 was definitely shirts in support of the women's game. I ended up with 16 new shirts throughout the year some purchased by myself but a few were actually gifts from Liam who seems to be totally on board with my love for football shirts these days. So here are the shirts I added to my collection in 2022...


I started the year with my first Manchester United shirt in a few years, I think my United shirt before this was back in 2018/19. I knew when Ronaldo came back to the club I wanted the shirt with his name on the back, although now I am a bit disappointed by my choice but that is something to talk about in another post. I actually really like how simple this shirt is and I am glad I actually made the purchase after delaying it into 2022.


During the Euro's I said if England won I would get the club shirt of the winning goal scorer's name on the back which got a lot of laughs as it could literally have been anyone and it could have been a shirt of a club I really don't like (Chelsea is the only one I really wouldn't have wanted). Luckily for me though it was one of my favourite Man City players who got the winner and Liam ended up getting me the Man City away shirt I wanted with her name on the back of it. This was my first Puma Man City shirt however, I am a bit annoyed as the stitching is starting to become undone and for the price that really shouldn't be happening.


Liam also got me a Man City home shirt for my birthday and this time he opted for my favourite current Man City player's name on the back... Lauren Hemp. Lauren Hemp really stood out to me in 2022 and she very quickly became a player I always kept an eye on and followed closely, to say she is so young she is such a good player and out of all the City players it had to be her name on the back of my shirt.


Any other time I would avoid goalkeeper shirts as I have never been a fan of them however, I had to get this Mary Earps one (now the nephew wants matching too as she is his favourite player). I mainly got this as we got a Man Utd season ticket and Earps was a stand out player from the Euros for me, I was never bothered about 'keepers in the past but she really has changed my mind about that plus this is a pretty good looking shirt.


As soon as it was announced I knew I wanted the Man Utd home shirt as it has a collar and we all know I love a good collar on a football shirt. One of my favourite female players has to be Lucy Staniforth, she is such an under rated player who can control a game really well. Once we started going to the United games I knew I needed a shirt with her name on so I made it into a reward for my weight loss journey, when I needed a smaller shirt I was allowed to buy a Staniforth one which as you can see worked well for me as I managed to get it in 2022.


When United were playing at Old Trafford I made sure we got to the stadium early enough to go buy a new shirt and get it printed as there was one specific one I had wanted for a while. Leah Galton is one of those players that for many slips under the radar however, I have been a big fan since her days in the NWSL and now with us going to the United games I though it was time to get one of the best under rated players in the league's name on the back of the shirt. Plus this seasons United away shirt looks so nice and simple so I wanted it in my collection.


I never thought I would own an Arsenal shirt but they are one of the teams I have followed closely this past season or so as two of my top 5 WSL players are a part of the team... Jordan Nobbs and Leah Williamson. Liam purchased this seasons Arsenal shirt for Christmas with Williamson on the back and I am really pleased with having a Williamson shirt in my collection at last. I can honestly say this isn't going to be the only Arsenal shirt in my collection.


Bradford City changed their shirt supplier this season and with us having season tickets still it was time to get a new shirt for the season. The second this home shirt was announced I knew it was going to be purchased as it has a collar and I love the BCAFC detail on the back of the shirt. My only issue with this one is that it is on the tight side due to the manufacturer sizing, it is my favourite home shirt in a while though.


Liam treated me to the away shirt for City too and although a lot of fans aren't keen on this shirt I actually love it. Granted it does look like a Newcastle shirt but it is different to what we are used to and I think that Macron has pulled off a great design with it. The fit is a bit more forgiving than the home shirt too. Now I just need to purchase the 3rd shirt in 2023.


For far too long now I have wanted an Orlando City shirt but haven't managed to find one however, that changed in July 2022. Before the Euro final we headed to the outlets at Wembley and I more or less sprinted to see if they had this in my size. Luckily they did and for £35 I finally had an Orlando City shirt, this is one of my favourites of theirs in recent years too so I am really glad I finally have it in my collection.


Liam started getting some mystery shirt boxes in 2022 and he got me one as a surprise. To be honest I think he was a bit jealous of the one I got though as his wasn't as rare as this one. I ended up with a Strongest FC shirt, a team I had never heard of but the shirt looks amazing and I am sure I will be wearing this a lot. I think in 2023 we will be getting a few more of these mystery boxes so keep an eye on our social media to see if we do buy a few more or not.


As some of you will be aware I do a bit of writing for Since 71 alongside writing for my own website. When they said they were bringing out this Southampton Women's shirt with Kit & Bone I knew I was going to purchase one to support all those involved. I love how simple this shirt is and it is a nice little addition to the collection and a shirt I probably would never have purchased in the past.


If you followed my content throughout the Euro's you will know I had a soft spot for Sweden, I had my nails in their colours and I saw them play 3 times overall. Going into the tournament I said I would be supporting them as long as they weren't playing England so when we went to our first Sweden game I decided to get the shirt. In the build up to the tournament I had this shirt in my basket on the Adidas site but never bought it so once we arrived at Bramall Lane I went straight over to purchase it. The shirt is so simple yet looks great.


We were lucky enough to have tickets to the France vs Netherlands game in the Euros and a few days before the game me and Liam said we would get the France shirt if they had it. This shirt was one we both wanted as the design is absolutely fantastic and a stand out without being too in your face. Looking back we actually got a lot of Euro shirts as Liam also got the Netherlands one, we should really have tried getting one for each team we watched live.


Finally two of my favourites of the year, I got laughed at before the Euros as I got both England shirts but they came in handy when Liam wanted to borrow one for the semi final and final as he didn't bother getting one of his own. The orange one is definitely my favourite as it is such a standout shirt but the white one looks amazing with the pattern worked into the shirt. With England winning the Euros I think owning both these shirts just makes it feel that bit more special and they will be staying in my collection forever as they hold so many memories.

So there you go 2022 involved adding 16 new football shirts into the collection and they are all shirts I had my eye on for a while or some great surprises like that Strongest FC one from the Mystery box. If I managed to get 16 new shirts in what I thought was a slow year in terms of football purchases I wonder how many I will pick up in 2023? There are already a few shirts I am looking at picking up then add in the upcoming Women's World Cup, I wonder if we will top those 16 shirts?

What was your favourite football shirt purchase in 2022?

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