Ahhh, but Bronze is the new Cafu. She's an exceptional player and I think she will still be good for the WC.
The Lionesses | WC quals - v Iceland 12:30 Saturday ITV
- Thread starter Rood
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Bronze is an interesting one. Before the last Euros it felt as if she was part of the same set of "last generation" players that had seen Houghton go and those who were heading into their last tournament like Jill Scott and Ellen White.
Watching her at the end of the tournament it felt like she was ready to go again and she's continued to impress me since. Despite niggling injuries and the idea that managers are now "managing her time".
What it means for Le Tissier of course is that she's got a mountain to climb. Wiegman doesn't see her as a centre back, not even as a fifth choice centre back - so her club stats and form don't matter. If she's viewed as a fullback her lack of playing time in that position means she's at best third choice there.
Watching her at the end of the tournament it felt like she was ready to go again and she's continued to impress me since. Despite niggling injuries and the idea that managers are now "managing her time".
What it means for Le Tissier of course is that she's got a mountain to climb. Wiegman doesn't see her as a centre back, not even as a fifth choice centre back - so her club stats and form don't matter. If she's viewed as a fullback her lack of playing time in that position means she's at best third choice there.
Millie Bright has retired from international football. Potentially good news for MLT.
The thing with that is it brings up that question of how Wiegman sees her and if MLT can change that. In the run up to the Euros and in the tournament itself, Maya wasn't even in the first five chosen/tried players for the centre back role.
I can see why Wiegman might want her to play fullback instead and to get game time there to prepare for that - England are short of fullbacks, but that would make no sense for United. It's hard to see what more MLT can do to convince Sarina. Presumably Wiegman feels there's something missing from Maya's game, but I don't know what the something is.
The England squad for the friendlies against Brazil (Sat 25 Oct at 17:30) and Australia (Tue 28 Oct at 19:00)
"Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), Khiara Keating (Manchester City).
Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Maya le Tissier (Manchester United) Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Taylor Hinds (Arsenal), Katie Reid (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Manchester City), Jess Park (Manchester United), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Keira Walsh (Chelsea), Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Missy Bo Kearns (Aston Villa), Lucia Kendell (Aston Villa).
Forwards: Beth Mead (Arsenal), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Michelle Agyemang (Brighton on loan from Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)."
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/...epers: Hannah Hampton,Alessia Russo (Arsenal).
Wiegman was asked about Maya le Tissier.
I don't know when judgment becomes stubbornness and it's hard to argue with someone with Wiegman's record, but it still feels weird to me.
"Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), Khiara Keating (Manchester City).
Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Maya le Tissier (Manchester United) Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Taylor Hinds (Arsenal), Katie Reid (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Manchester City), Jess Park (Manchester United), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Keira Walsh (Chelsea), Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Missy Bo Kearns (Aston Villa), Lucia Kendell (Aston Villa).
Forwards: Beth Mead (Arsenal), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Michelle Agyemang (Brighton on loan from Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)."
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/...epers: Hannah Hampton,Alessia Russo (Arsenal).
Wiegman was asked about Maya le Tissier.
I don't know when judgment becomes stubbornness and it's hard to argue with someone with Wiegman's record, but it still feels weird to me.
Bright retired too yesterday? You think she was left out of squad so retired from internationals? Would make sense that way. Better time to retire than the last bunch who done it just before the euros.
Lucy Bronze must be bumping up the average age too
Lucy Bronze must be bumping up the average age too
Her stubbornness on MLT’s position is inexplicable. MLT has played more minutes in her favoured position than perhaps any other outfield WSL player over the last few seasons, and has been consistently excellent in that position. And yet Wiegman is utterly unshakeable in her belief that her best position is full back, based on a sporadic handful of appearances for England.
Excellent trolling by the Man United Women admin
I'm surprised it wasnt 104/104 !
I assume the exception was full back
I assume the exception was full back
It’s not necessarily a judgement on what is Le Tissiers objectively best position in any team, though, is it? She’s quoted as saying ‘for us’. There are a number of reasons why any player with a certain profile might fit best in one position based on that coach’s needs, and in another position based on others’. Why not assume that’s the case with Maya and Wiegman?
Forgive the ignorance in the following post as I genuinely don't have much knowledge on women's football - but I really enjoy watching the Women's Super League games when they are on the BBC and of course the internationals.
It's just interesting to see that we have a number of players playing in the NWSL (USA) and I wondered how that compared to the mens game in terms of comparing women's leagues to the men's leagues.
From a male perspective, obviously the MSL is where European top players go to retire and make a final decent salary and any decent male american footballer will leave that league to play at a higher standard in Europe or elsewhere.
I also know that the US women's football team was the golden standard for women's football for decades before, but Europe has now caught up and you could argue Spain / England as a National team don't fear the Americans like we did and are a match for them. With the women's champions league squads full of americans, is the European league now better than the NWSL or is the NWSL on par with the European women's champions league?
It's just interesting to see that we have a number of players playing in the NWSL (USA) and I wondered how that compared to the mens game in terms of comparing women's leagues to the men's leagues.
From a male perspective, obviously the MSL is where European top players go to retire and make a final decent salary and any decent male american footballer will leave that league to play at a higher standard in Europe or elsewhere.
I also know that the US women's football team was the golden standard for women's football for decades before, but Europe has now caught up and you could argue Spain / England as a National team don't fear the Americans like we did and are a match for them. With the women's champions league squads full of americans, is the European league now better than the NWSL or is the NWSL on par with the European women's champions league?
With no Leah Williamson I think this is the perfect opportunity for Maya to play in her normal position. It's all very well Wiegman stating that she sees her as a RB, but she doesn't play her there either.
Lucy Bronze has literally played a few minutes since the Euros but not doubt will start.
In another case of bizarre scheduling in women's football, Lionesses next match Vs Brazil is Saturday 5:30pm
Exact same time at the Sky PL game of the day - United Vs BHA
Also strange that Old Trafford & the Etihad will be in use at the exact same time - traffic and metrolink will be worse than ever on Saturday
Exact same time at the Sky PL game of the day - United Vs BHA
Also strange that Old Trafford & the Etihad will be in use at the exact same time - traffic and metrolink will be worse than ever on Saturday
Yep. Really annoying - it's not the first time we've had a direct timing clash but usually the kickoffs are at least staggered by half an hour or something.
I know the policing issues are rightly seen as much lighter when dealing with the women's match. I do wonder how much oversight went into the transport and security implications of running the matches simultaneously though.
Perhaps it has happened before but I've never known both grounds to be in use at the same time
I don't know how many tickets have been sold for Lionesses, but a lot have been handed out to local grassroots teams (our club alone got 50 tickets) so hopefully a decent turnout
I'd have gone to both if they didn't clash - as it is I'll be at Old Trafford with my daughter heading to the other
Ex-United Sophie Baggaley has replaced Hampton in the squad.
Wubben-Moy has also gone home ill. Surely Maya has to start now - in her correct position.
I doubt it since Sarina is doubling down on the Maya thing and Wubben-Moy is low down the pecking order anyway
There is a good chance she starts at right back though since Bronze is not fully fit
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Maya LT starts at right back. Wiegman says she's looking forward to seeing her play there. Ella Toone starts as well. Jess Park is back with United, still going through the concussion protocol.
England XI: Keating, Le Tissier, Carter, Morgan, Greenwood, Walsh, Stanway, Mead, Toone, Kelly, Russo.
Subs: Bronze, Moorhouse, Kendall, Charles, Beever-Jones, Agyemang, Kearns, Naz, Blindkilde-Brown, Baggaley, Fisk, Hinds.
Keating takes over in goal in place of Hampton who's injured.
England XI: Keating, Le Tissier, Carter, Morgan, Greenwood, Walsh, Stanway, Mead, Toone, Kelly, Russo.
Subs: Bronze, Moorhouse, Kendall, Charles, Beever-Jones, Agyemang, Kearns, Naz, Blindkilde-Brown, Baggaley, Fisk, Hinds.
Keating takes over in goal in place of Hampton who's injured.
I didn't see England's match - for obvious reasons. From the sounds of it, I didn't miss much.
England 1-2 Brazil. Brazil had a player sent off after twenty minutes which makes the scoreline sound worse.
It's very reminiscent of what happened after the last Euros, when Brazil also beat England despite being the underdogs. A disappointing series of England results followed - hopefully history won't repeat itself too exactly, because they were a poor team to watch during that period.
At any rate, there's another friendly tonight and it's another one that's very winnable but against a team that's capable of putting up a fight. Last time we played them was in the WWC semifinal in Australia - England won that match 3-1.
England 1-2 Brazil. Brazil had a player sent off after twenty minutes which makes the scoreline sound worse.
It's very reminiscent of what happened after the last Euros, when Brazil also beat England despite being the underdogs. A disappointing series of England results followed - hopefully history won't repeat itself too exactly, because they were a poor team to watch during that period.
At any rate, there's another friendly tonight and it's another one that's very winnable but against a team that's capable of putting up a fight. Last time we played them was in the WWC semifinal in Australia - England won that match 3-1.
Also tonight, nation's league - group A/B playoffs:
Belgium v Ireland (Ireland lead 4-2 after the 1st leg)
Iceland v Northern Ireland (Iceland lead 2-0)
Friendlies
Scotland v Poland
Wales v Switzerland
Belgium v Ireland (Ireland lead 4-2 after the 1st leg)
Iceland v Northern Ireland (Iceland lead 2-0)
Friendlies
Scotland v Poland
Wales v Switzerland
CB partnership of Carter & Morgan did nothing to quieten calls for MLT - at least she got a start I suppose
Yes, definitely. She was moved to CB against Brazil late on. Interesting times.
Aussie player sent off for pulling back Russo as she was about to get in to the penalty area. Feels harsh giving it as a dogso red in a friendly but not actually wrong.
England hit the wall with the subsequent freekick but Aggie Beever Jones scores with the follow up shot. 1-0 to England and we've seen very little of Australia so far.
England hit the wall with the subsequent freekick but Aggie Beever Jones scores with the follow up shot. 1-0 to England and we've seen very little of Australia so far.
Neat cutback from Ella Toone and Lucy Bronze scores - England lead 2-0
Maya didn't put a foot wrong. She had little actual defending to do though. Her touch is sublime.
Match ended 3-0 with England getting a late penalty. England always looked like the better team but the red card (and the England goal from the resultant freekick) pretty much ended the contest.
Hard to know what more she could have done to demonstrate that she has to be high on the options list at centre back.
Agyemang was stretchered off in the second half with what looked worryingly like a potentially serious knee injury.
Hard to know what more she could have done to demonstrate that she has to be high on the options list at centre back.
Agyemang was stretchered off in the second half with what looked worryingly like a potentially serious knee injury.
Ireland lost 2-1 tonight but won their qualifier 5-4 on aggregate. They were 2-0 down for a long time but scored in the last minute to avoid extra time and penalties. The added bonus of being one of the A group teams this year is that A teams who fall to qualify through the normal WWC qualifiers get added to a knockoff competition to decide the final places.
NI match postponed due to bad weather in Iceland. They're hoping to play it tomorrow evening instead.
Scotland lost 3-4 to Switzerland.
Wales lost 2-5 to Poland.
Shame for her.
Is it me, or do the women seem to be suffering from ACLs more frequently than you see in the men's game?
I wonder if fitness science for women is not caught up to the increased loads they are putting on their bodies with more games, more intensity and more running.
Is it me, or do the women seem to be suffering from ACLs more frequently than you see in the men's game?
I wonder if fitness science for women is not caught up to the increased loads they are putting on their bodies with more games, more intensity and more running.
It's at least three times as common in the women's game. There are a lot of theories about why and there is research going on but no one's found a satisfactory explanation (let alone a solution) as yet.
Lots of questions though, because of course most of the fitness and conditioning stuff was written with male players in mind and based on years of experience looking after them. As Emma Hayes phrased it - "women aren't small men."
At present we don't even really know if it's how the women are training now or how they were trained as teenagers that matters, or if the match calendar really has grown too fast. There's a lot of circumstantial evidence about players getting more injuries around the time when they switch between club football (and training) and internationals - but that could just as well be related to players overdoing it to try and prove themselves to an international boss or whatever.
International friendlies this week.
Sat 29 Nov - 17:30 England v China Wembley (ITV)
Tues 2 Dec - 19:00 England v Ghana (ITV4)
United have Ella Toone, Jess Park and Maya le Tissier in the squad.
Sat 29 Nov - 17:30 England v China Wembley (ITV)
Tues 2 Dec - 19:00 England v Ghana (ITV4)
United have Ella Toone, Jess Park and Maya le Tissier in the squad.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have put in a joint bid to host the Women's World Cup in 2035.
The number of teams involved (48) and the requirement for 14 venues, with minimum 20k capacity will limit the number of countries who can bid for it.
United are on the venue list as OT using either the existing stadium or a new one. Birmingham and Chelsea get mentions as possible new or revised stadiums. Wrexham's stadium will need some work to make it suitable.
The new Everton stadium is already listed there of course.
Belfast will require some development work, but there is supposed to be money promised for any necessary upgrades. So it shouldn't fall off the list this time, unlike the way it fell off the Euros 28 list.
It could be years before we know if the bid has been successful. The last couple of WWCs didn't get confirmed until two years before the finals. Given the scale of the event and the number of venues, you'd hope this one gets a bit more time. Currently it's described as the only valid bid for 2035.
Certainly they're expecting to confirm a US, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica bid for the 2031 WWC at the FIFA 2026 conference. There's a possibility that they'll confirm the 2035 hosts at the same time.
The number of teams involved (48) and the requirement for 14 venues, with minimum 20k capacity will limit the number of countries who can bid for it.
United are on the venue list as OT using either the existing stadium or a new one. Birmingham and Chelsea get mentions as possible new or revised stadiums. Wrexham's stadium will need some work to make it suitable.
The new Everton stadium is already listed there of course.
Belfast will require some development work, but there is supposed to be money promised for any necessary upgrades. So it shouldn't fall off the list this time, unlike the way it fell off the Euros 28 list.
It could be years before we know if the bid has been successful. The last couple of WWCs didn't get confirmed until two years before the finals. Given the scale of the event and the number of venues, you'd hope this one gets a bit more time. Currently it's described as the only valid bid for 2035.
Certainly they're expecting to confirm a US, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica bid for the 2031 WWC at the FIFA 2026 conference. There's a possibility that they'll confirm the 2035 hosts at the same time.
Just thinking about how things changed for women's football from 2005-2015, and 2015 to now. It's very possible, maybe inevitable, that it will once again have undergone a truly dramatic change by the time this rolls around.
Exciting to think about and possibly somewhat scary for those whose enjoyment of the women's game is partially down to how it differs from the men's. I think both as a sport and a culture, those differences only get smaller and whilst I'd say that's definitely overall a good thing there's plenty of the not so good that comes with the ever expanding professionalism, money and attention.
Exciting to think about and possibly somewhat scary for those whose enjoyment of the women's game is partially down to how it differs from the men's. I think both as a sport and a culture, those differences only get smaller and whilst I'd say that's definitely overall a good thing there's plenty of the not so good that comes with the ever expanding professionalism, money and attention.
I'm a bit in the "running before you can walk" camp when it comes to some of it. It feels way too early for the expansion to 48 teams for example - essentially FIFA will need to bankroll a lot of teams to allow them to show up at all.
That's not a bad thing in itself, but it may have zero impact on grassroots and youth football in the countries involved. If it inspires more people to play/watch and helps local clubs offer more opportunities then great, but I'm cynical about FIFA and the national FAs.
It feels like a "made for TV" product with the stadium crowd just a thing to add a bit of colour/noise to the occasion. Women's football hasn't got to the point where you can sell tickets off the tournament name and forget the actual teams involved and the quality and competitiveness of the matches.
We aren't just talking about amateurs/semipros against pros - we're talking about some national teams built with the players who don't play regular competitive football at all.
That said, given the success of the last WWC and the Euros in building matchgoing, ticket buying crowds maybe I'm being unduly pessimistic. Still, attempts to clone the men's game just feel another way to add to that sensation of football overload. In the end you risk devaluing the product rather than developing it.
I hope they don't play much, international friendlies are a waste of time!
I guess Maya and Jess will be desperate to be involved though since they are fringe players at the moment
Bit weird that they start listing us as 'Trafford' rather than ManchesterEngland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have put in a joint bid to host the Women's World Cup in 2035.
The number of teams involved (48) and the requirement for 14 venues, with minimum 20k capacity will limit the number of countries who can bid for it.
United are on the venue list as OT using either the existing stadium or a new one. Birmingham and Chelsea get mentions as possible new or revised stadiums. Wrexham's stadium will need some work to make it suitable.
The new Everton stadium is already listed there of course.
Belfast will require some development work, but there is supposed to be money promised for any necessary upgrades. So it shouldn't fall off the list this time, unlike the way it fell off the Euros 28 list.
It could be years before we know if the bid has been successful. The last couple of WWCs didn't get confirmed until two years before the finals. Given the scale of the event and the number of venues, you'd hope this one gets a bit more time. Currently it's described as the only valid bid for 2035.
Certainly they're expecting to confirm a US, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica bid for the 2031 WWC at the FIFA 2026 conference. There's a possibility that they'll confirm the 2035 hosts at the same time.
Le Tissier and Toone start. Park on the bench. Esme Morgan and Maya le Tissier as centre backs.
Hampton and Keiting are injured so Moorhouse makes her debut as keeper. She's 30 now so she'd probably accepted life on the bench with England, so it's a big night for her. She played for United girls team as a kid.
I expect to see a couple of the younger players like Godfrey come on in the second half.
Beth Mead puts England 1-0. It's been all England so far.