WSL 20/21 | United v Chelsea | Sun 6th Sept at 14:30 - BT Sport

[jojojo]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

We lost to them away in the League last year, and again at home in LC SF - both games ended 1-0, and in both games it felt like a more clinical finisher could have changed the result. They are now the WSL league champions (awarded to them on a points per game basis, when the season got halted) and this is a tough way to start the season. They brought in some top reinforcements as well, so they should be even stronger this year.

There's a good chance we'll see some (at least) of our new signings in action. Ona Batlle is likely to start at fullback, Lucy Staniforth may start in midfield. I've only seen Ivana Fuso, our new young forward, in the odd highlight video and some training footage - but she looks great in those, so hopefully we'll see her in action soon even if not as an immediate starter.

Our two USWNT potential signings (Christen Press/Tobin Heath) are still unconfirmed, and are probably still in the US. Hopefully they'll be in self isolation/quarantine, somewhere in Greater Manchester, by the time we play Chelsea.

 

[Grande]

A guess at our opening line up?

Mary Earps in goal.

Kirsty Smith and Ona Batlle for the backs, McManus and Turner as CBs, a three of Hayley Ladd, Katie Zelem and Jackie Groenen, and Leah Galton and Kirsty Hanson flanking Jess Sigsworth up top?

Does one of Lauren James, Ella Toone or Ivana Fuso get a start? Han how about Jane Ross?

How good is Luci Staniforth compared to our present midfielders?

 

[jojojo]

A guess at our opening line up?

Mary Earps in goal.

Kirsty Smith and Ona Batlle for the backs, McManus and Turner as CBs, a three of Hayley Ladd, Katie Zelem and Jackie Groenen, and Leah Galton and Kirsty Hanson flanking Jess Sigsworth up top?

Does one of Lauren James, Ella Toone or Ivana Fuso get a start? Han how about Jane Ross?

How good is Luci Staniforth compared to our present midfielders?

You could well be right about the team, but...

It's hard to know quite where we stand, because it's so long since we last saw the team. We're not even getting official pre-season match reports or highlights - just snippets of training drills etc. Lotta may join Ona at fullback for example. I could see Lucy joining last year's threesome to make a midfield 4, if Casey decides to go that way in tough games - she's probably comparable to Katie in terms of quality (with Katie better on her best days!) so our best three, if they're all fit, may be a question of form, and who the opponent is.

Forward wise, I'm expecting to see Leah but I don't know who else. Lauren if she's had a good summer? Ivana looks good on the training videos? Jess is 100% reliable though, a worker with a good touch and she's generous - I think she'll start but maybe on the wing (potentially squeezing out Kirsty) with Lauren up top, or as part of a two if we go 4 in the middle.

In other words I'm clueless but I am going to guess that we'll play 4 in the middle, because it's Chelsea, and Jackie/Lucy will be told to help the attack when they can.

 

[Grande]

You could well be right about the team, but...

It's hard to know quite where we stand, because it's so long since we last saw the team. We're not even getting official pre-season match reports or highlights - just snippets of training drills etc. Lotta may join Ona at fullback for example. I could see Lucy joining last year's threesome to make a midfield 4, if Casey decides to go that way in tough games - she's probably comparable to Katie in terms of quality (with Katie better on her best days!) so our best three, if they're all fit, may be a question of form, and who the opponent is.

Forward wise, I'm expecting to see Leah but I don't know who else. Lauren if she's had a good summer? Ivana looks good on the training videos? Jess is 100% reliable though, a worker with a good touch and she's generous - I think she'll start but maybe on the wing (potentially squeezing out Kirsty) with Lauren up top, or as part of a two if we go 4 in the middle.

In other words I'm clueless but I am going to guess that we'll play 4 in the middle, because it's Chelsea, and Jackie/Luci will be told to help the attack when they can.

semi qualified guesswork is the name of theforum game!

 

[jojojo]

A couple of bits of preseason news, that may impact the team for Sunday. United haven't been saying much about their closed doors friendlies, nor have they posted video footage from the games. However they do admit that we drew 0-0 with Liverpool this week, and it's believed that we beat Aston Villa 4-1 last week.

Lauren James posted on Twitter that the Liverpool match was her first game since she got injured 6 months ago. So, pretty safe bet that Lauren won't be a starter this week.

 

[jojojo]

The Barmy Army got permission from LSV and United to go in and dress the stadium for the match. Nice idea.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[jojojo]

A guess at our opening line up?

Mary Earps in goal.

Kirsty Smith and Ona Batlle for the backs, McManus and Turner as CBs, a three of Hayley Ladd, Katie Zelem and Jackie Groenen, and Leah Galton and Kirsty Hanson flanking Jess Sigsworth up top?

Does one of Lauren James, Ella Toone or Ivana Fuso get a start? Han how about Jane Ross?

How good is Luci Staniforth compared to our present midfielders?

A bit more team news.

Lucy is injured, but as she's serving a one match suspension from last season, she wouldn't have played anyway. New signing, Ivana Fuso has picked up a minor injury in training, so won't play. Which means you are probably pretty close to the starting lineup.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Himannv]

Really keen on watching this one. Watched the Continental Cup game just now and it was a cracker even though we lost. Gronen was immense and Zelem's delivery from set pieces was always good. Lots of energy and pressing and we pushed them all the way and never let them settle. They're a strong team and I think they come into this as favourites this season as well. If we play like we did in the cup fixture I think we'll always be in with a chance.

 

[Maestro14]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Starting line ups.

 

[jojojo]

We already knew Lauren was still injured at the start of preseason, so it's good that she's at least on the bench. Ross starting and Groenen on the bench. No Sigsworth. Hmmm, not sure what that means, maybe Jess is injured.

Hopefully Jane Ross has her scoring boots on! A defensive looking 442 maybe? I guess we'll soon see.

 

[Rolandofgilead]

Our movement in the final third has been atrocious. You can't keep playing the ball long.

EDIT: Punished.

 

[jojojo]

25 minutes in and Sam Kerr scores for Chelsea. She had a chance a few minutes earlier, but other than that not much going on in front of goal for either team.

We're relying on breaking fast and giving the wingers something to chase - not quite getting there at the moment.

 

[Rolandofgilead]

25 minutes in and Sam Kerr scores for Chelsea. She had a chance a few minutes earlier, but other than that not much going on in front of goal for either team.

We're relying on breaking fast and giving the wingers something to chase - not quite getting there at the moment.

We have been ok until we get to the final third and then its up there with the worst I've seen us play.

Stoney needs to give them a very stinging talking to at the break.

 

[jojojo]

Our movement in the final third has been atrocious. You can't keep playing the ball long.

EDIT: Punished.

Yeah, we're playing like underdogs (which we are) but we've not quite got the bite for it.

Chelsea just had one disallowed, and then Sam Kerr missed again - they're all over us at the moment.

 

[Rolandofgilead]

Yeah, we're playing like underdogs (which we are) but we've not quite got the bite for it.

Chelsea just had one disallowed, and then Sam Kerr missed again - they're all over us at the moment.

Kerr looked offside for their goal by the way. BT never mentioned it, but she was ahead of both ball and defender when it was played across the box.

 

[jojojo]

Kerr looked offside for their goal by the way. BT never mentioned it, but she was ahead of both ball and defender when it was played across the box.

I wondered about that - but they really don't do much dissection on BT (and they hardly ever do replays on the FA player when or match is on there). It may be a deliberate policy - a bit brutal to go after amateur refs on tight calls.

 

[jojojo]

Good save from Earps there. We've been struggling since they scored really. I'm just hoping we make it to halftime without them scoring again. We need a shakeup.

Decent cross from Galton, but not close enough to Ross for it to work.

 

[Rolandofgilead]

I wondered about that - but they really don't do much dissection on BT (and they hardly ever do replays on the FA player when or match is on there). It may be a deliberate policy - a bit brutal to go after amateur refs on tight calls.

Yeah I agree, and it was very tight.

I've been really disappointed in united so far, really disappointed.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Our passing just seems so sloppy. Chelsea just look like a far more assured and far better quality when passing.

Get James on the pitch.

 

[Rolandofgilead]

Better from united there.

 

[MichaelRed]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Starting line ups.

Are we allowed to play with a Ladd on our team?

I'll show myself out..

 

[jojojo]

Galton header hits the bar just on the stroke of halftime.

United 0-1 Chelsea at HT

We've got to improve in the second half. Looking very uninspired at the moment. Let's hope Casey can shake things up.

 

[Rolandofgilead]

Galton header hits the bar just on the stroke of halftime.

United 0-1 Chelsea at HT

We've got to improve in the second half. Looking very uninspired at the moment. Let's hope Casey can shake things up.

We just need to find some confidence in the final third, thats all.

 

[jojojo]

Decent start to the half from us. Toone getting more involved in the attacks as well.

 

[NieThePiet]

Chelsea missed some big chances and United scored the equalizer.

 

[jojojo]

Groenen with a lovely low cross and Galton puts it in from the 6 yard box. 1-1

 

[jojojo]

Chelsea missed some big chances and United scored the equalizer.

We've missed a few as well. Been a much better half from us this.

Going to be a tough last ten minutes. Pernille Harder on now for Chelsea. Wow, what a squad Chelsea have built.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

It’s remarkable how much more restrained and civilised this thread is compared to the men’s team matchday thread.

 

[Gordon S]

Would be awesome to get a win here, we got decent momentum

 

[DomesticTadpole]

We've missed a few as well. Been a much better half from us this.

Going to be a tough last ten minutes. Pernile Harder on now for Chelsea. Wow, what a squad Chelsea have built.

Just curious. The top three seem to be packed with goals, we were devastating when we started in the championship as you would expect, but do you think we should be looking for a world class striker to bring in now we are in the Super League, say for next season.

 

[Rolandofgilead]

What a difference a half time break makes. Superb second half from united. Delighted with a point.

 

[PoTMS]

England, Harder, Kerr, Kirby, Cuthbert. This Chelsea forward lineup isn't fair.

 

[Maestro14]

Great result in the end! Fantastic performance in the second half to cause Chelsea problems.

 

[jojojo]

And it ends 1-1. Great result, especially with some good players out. Excellent second half performance from us.

 

[Gordon S]

Proud of the team, they fully deserved the draw In the end. Hope we can keep this up!

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Happy with that result. Good confidence booster.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

That second half was great to watch. Batlle I felt a bit suspect in that first half given that seemed to be Kirby causing us issues getting lots of space but 2nd half she was awesome. Looked great going forward and was pretty good defending.

some looked knackered last 20 mins mind but great result. Hopefully can build on it as they showed last season they could go toe to toe with anyone, only a matter of time before they take a big scalp.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Katie Zelem POTM.

 

[Maestro14]

Really impressed with Batlle on her debut. Had it difficult against Kirby, but showed some real talent in the second half.

 

[jojojo]

Just curious. The top three seem to be packed with goals, we were devastating when we started in the championship as you would expect, but do you think we should be looking for a world class striker to bring in now we are in the Super League, say for next season.

It depends.

If Lauren and Ivana come on well this season, I'd be happy to see us stick to our "we're developing a team" principles. I'm hoping that signing Tobin Heath / Christen Press for a year will do enough to take the pressure off the youngsters for this season.

But yeah, as much as I like Jess Sigsworth, when it comes to the crunch I don't think her or Jane Ross is a good enough goalscorer to turn us into champions.