WCL 25/26 | United v Lyon - 8pm Wed 10 Dec

jojojo

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Two matches to go and one way or another we already know that we'll be playing European football after Christmas. Top 4 gives us direct access to the QF stage. Lyon are currently second, level with Barcelona, on 10 points. United are fourth, level on 9 points with Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich.

5-12 gives us a place in a playoff phase. The playoffs are two leg matches and they'll take place in February. 5-8 are seeded. So we can get to the QFs the quick way or the tougher way or the even tougher way.

Lyon then. The most successful women's club in Europe. The most titles in the CL, most recently in 2022. The most French Ligue titles, including the last four. At any rate, they've got the past pedigree and the current players.

Match is live on Disney+
 
Skinner went strong for West Ham, I imagine one of Terland or Malard will be dropped for Rolfo
 
AmarilloMike said:
I can see it being Terland on the bench - Malard and Rolfo can't help but score in Champions League (proper) at the moment.
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Agreed, and I like it because I think Malard is more dangerous in the middle than on the wing.

Given the short turnaround, playing at home and not having to travel could prove to be an important advantage. (I hope we can get a bigger crowd than we did on the weekend, though.)

We can do this. I trust our defense, especially with PTJ back between the sticks, but we'll need to have our shooting boots on to take advantage of whatever scoring opportunities we're able to create.

On an unrelated topic, Chelsea lost yesterday. I realize, of course, that everybody knows this by now, but I just wanted to say it "out loud" because it feels so good!
 
Lobster11 said:
(I hope we can get a bigger crowd than we did on the weekend, though.)


On an unrelated topic, Chelsea lost yesterday. I realize, of course, that everybody knows this by now, but I just wanted to say it "out loud" because it feels so good!
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Unlikely to your first point, the North Stand is closed with season ticket holders moved elsewhere. That said, it would be pretty embarassing if Lyon bring more away fans to LSV than West Ham did (I counted 12 to our our left).

If Chelsea are beatable by Everton, then Lyon are beatable by United!!
 
Too bad about Teri, but fortunately I don't think any of us expected her to play a lot of minutes today. Would be great to have her available for fresh legs late, but it is what it is. I'm hoping that Malard still has plenty left in the tank after Sunday, but I'm looking mainly to Rolfo to be the one to step up and have a big game tonight.

Hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst....
 
I think a draw would be a good result. Obviously I hope we play for a win and achieve it. But given that they beat Arsenal earlier in the competition and have so much experience in the competition and a good squad this is like a semi final match. After Wolfsburg I am a little concerned about conceding a lot of goals even with Tullis-Joyce back but I'm hopeful Malard and Rolfo continue to get goals and Tullis-Joyce is the highest rated goalkeeper in the competition on fotmob so hopefully she has a stormer too
 
As fans I don't think we should expect anything from this game at all. A draw would be an incredible result and would be punching well above our weight.

That said, behind the scenes I hope Skinner is preparing a game plan with a win in mind. I'll be watching Champions League Frido hoping for another goal from her. Our chances will be limited, we must take them.
 
jojojo said:
Two matches to go and one way or another we already know that we'll be playing European football after Christmas. Top 4 gives us direct access to the QF stage. Lyon are currently second, level with Barcelona, on 10 points. United are fourth, level on 9 points with Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich.

5-12 gives us a place in a playoff phase. The playoffs are two leg matches and they'll take place in February. 5-8 are seeded. So we can get to the QFs the quick way or the tougher way or the even tougher way.

Lyon then. The most successful women's club in Europe. The most titles in the CL, most recently in 2022. The most French Ligue titles, including the last four. At any rate, they've got the past pedigree and the current players.

Match is live on Disney+
Click to expand...
just disney+? not on mutv or anywhere else? or is there a youtube channel that shows replays of champions league matches like the wsl so i could watch it later?
 
Multiple changes tonight.

Toone, Park, Janssen, Zigiotti all on the bench.

 
That line up is...bold. We've been crying out for rotation, and on balance given we're already through Spurs on Sunday is the more important game buuuut.... Mentally preparing for a hiding here!
 
I'm thinking that the game plan here is to rely on our defense to keep it close for 60 minutes, and then bring in some "big guns" late if that's successful.
 
AmarilloMike said:
That line up is...bold. We've been crying out for rotation, and on balance given we're already through Spurs on Sunday is the more important game buuuut.... Mentally preparing for a hiding here!
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Yeah. I fear you might be right but Spurs is more important at this stage of the season.
 
The lineup suggests its a throw away match, but I'm still slightly hopeful that the players brought in are up for it and put in great performances. I will say that lineup makes me think we'll be playing for a 0-0 or a 1-0 smash and grab
 
Ekeke said:
The lineup suggests its a throw away match, but I'm still slightly hopeful that the players brought in are up for it and put in great performances. I will say that lineup makes me think we'll be playing for a 0-0 or a 1-0 smash and grab
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I'm sure we will see Toone, Park and Zigi by 90 mins
 
Ok. The lineup then. I think there's a definite element of prioritisation. The Spurs game is more winnable and it's also a worse match to lose.

Once you go down that track though, there's an interesting problem - tweak it in a minimal way where you and your opposition know you're a bit weaker but that you will still look basically the same. Or change it in a bigger way that might surprise your rival with one that potentially impacts your playing style and energy as well as your personnel.

At any rate, I think it adds a bit of spice to the occasion. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
 
I think Skinner needs a reaction in the league and to regain momentum there. We are already guaranteed to the next round of the CL so the changes are fair enough for me
 
1-0 down it had been coming from the start, some great defending by Riviere before. But we need to show a bit more coming forward or they'll get more
 
Scanny said:
PTJ should have stopped that shouldn’t she?
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The whole defence should, but Phallon won't be pleased to get beaten like that, though it's a good header. MLT not looking her usual solid self tonight, which is more of a worry.
 
If we're still in the game in the second half I'd consider subbing Williams for Park and moving Malard to 9.
 
All told I'm pretty happy so far, given that we're up against a superior team with some of our key players on the bench. As I said before, I think the game plan is just to keep it close for 60 minutes or so and then bring in the cavalry, and although 0-0 would've been better I think we're doing about as well as we could reasonably expect.
 
The best thing I can say for it is that there's only one goal in it and that means the second half is still up for grabs.

Beyond that? The swap outs are having a tough night, as you'd expect. Naalsund isn't staking a claim for a starter role for example, she's even making Miyazawa look clumsy. Williams is currently missing in action, which seems a shocking thing to say but probably tells you more about how our midfield is performing than it does about her.

I'm not writing us off but I'm not seeing much quality from us either. We're riding our luck and that seldom works for 90 minutes.
 
Zigiotti, Park and Toone on for Awujo, Williams and Naalsund.
 
jojojo said:
Zigiotti, Park and Toone on for Awujo, Williams and Naalsund.
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Those are the changes I would have made. Surprised Skinner has gone for it, definitely a statement of intent for the second half.
 
Malard should have scored our only chance. Better since the changes we should get at least 1 more chance
 
We're looking better now. Tempting fate saying that, I know.
 
Such a difference the subs have made. Lyon are actually having to defend now.
 
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