WSL 25/26 | United v Chelsea - 19:30 Fri 3 Oct

[Ekeke]

Decent point against the champs but Toone and Park should have made more of their chances to break and clear shooting chances. The shooting and the decision making wasnt there to get the big win today.

Of course Chelsea will feel the same way about the chances they had which were even better.

 

[Eric_the_Red99]

That was a great performance up until the last 10 minutes when it fell apart a bit, but still fully deserved the draw. We’re clearly good enough to go toe-to-toe with Chelsea now. We’ve got to push them all the way in the league.

 

[croadyman]

Gutting. Not sure if we would have won as they are so strong but we should have scored more than one goal

Will have to beat them in their own backyard

 

[croadyman]

Decent point against the champs but Toone and Park should have made more of their chances to break and clear shooting chances. The shooting and the decision making wasnt there to get the big win today.

Of course Chelsea will feel the same way about the chances they had which were even better.

Hard to criticise Park, however frustratingly we just lack that ruthless edge in the games with other 3

 

[TrailMonkey]

Watched it in bursts but was impressed with our overall play. Thought Park looked very good on the ball - lots of energy, looks forward, tidy footwork.

 

[Lightbringer]

Anytime you get a point of Chelsea its almost unreal as they have so much quality, it only takes on single strike from one of their players to win them the game. They subbed in 4 players that cost more to buy than what the entire league spends in 5 years FFS We did well to keep up with them for so long until Chelsea made the subs and Skinner refused to do anything all!

 

[red woppit]

Decent point against the champs but Toone and Park should have made more of their chances to break and clear shooting chances. The shooting and the decision making wasnt there to get the big win today.

Of course Chelsea will feel the same way about the chances they had which were even better.

Malard also. Very impressed with the majority of the game, last 10 minutes we looked tired (subs?), and lost the ball a number of times in midfield and defence.
We certainly had the more clear cut chances.

 

[croadyman]

Anytime you get a point of Chelsea its almost unreal as they have so much quality, it only takes on single strike from one of their players to win them the game. They subbed in 4 players that cost more to buy than what the entire league spends in 5 years FFS We did well to keep up with them for so long until Chelsea made the subs and Skinner refused to do anything all!

Why was he so reluctant to do subs earlier?

 

[top1whoisman]

Why was he so reluctant to do subs earlier?

A question we’ve all had for half a decade now.

 

[red woppit]

Great point to take. Players were good tonight. Skinner was pretty terrible and almost cost us the game keeping tired players on for the entire 94 minutes and leaving competent players not used!

His obsession with keeping Toone on for entire games is reaching Zelem levels. Awujo or Naalsund would have run circles around Toone the last 15-20 minutes.

Thought that was gonna change with Malard coming on for Terland with more than 30 minutes to play, but no.
He has built a good squad now, the football is very good at times, but he doesn't seem very keen to change things. The pitch must have been quite heavy, so the legs were gonna be feeling it, and it showed in the last 10 minutes.

 

[Maestro14]

That was a well earned point. Could’ve been more, could’ve been less, but given our track record against Chelsea I’m delighted with that. I do think Toone had a poor game though. Nothing seemed to come off for her, and she should’ve done better with that chance early in the second half. Park is amazing to watch. She does some amazing things to get out of trouble, and her quick, sharp passes as well to link up with others in midfield. Just think that sometimes the final pass is lacking. She reminds me a bit of Geyse in that sense.

Still, lots to be positive about. We took the game to Chelsea again and this time got some reward for it. This is shaping up to be a really positive season for us.

 

[cletus7]

Wow… what a performance! Guts and quality right the way through to the final 1/4. If that gets better, this is going to be some team.

 

[red woppit]

Will have to beat them in their own backyard

I think we'll do ok at their place.

 

[Infestissumam]

last 10 minutes could have been disastrous. On one side, you have an extremely deep Chelsea team, subbing on several class players for the final stretch ... and on the other side, you have a knackered team and a manager reluctant to use his subs.

Decent result in the end, with both teams probably feeling they could have won this. Lots of positives to take from it.

 

[Scanny]

A question we’ve all had for half a decade now.

Nearly answered exactly the same.

 

[Demon Barber]

Could have won. Could have lost. Really good point.

Park is quality. Next.

 

[bgoodall]

How good was Tulis Joyce today? She seems destined for greatness with the USWNT

 

[Grande]

How good was Tulis Joyce today? She seems destined for greatness with the USWNT

She made one smallish mistake, had two great saves and made an imposing and comfortable figure at the back. So solid in almost everything she does. WOTM along with Jayde Riviere for me.

Had Toone/Terland/Malard had their day or Park had a shot on her, we’d have beat Chelsea yesterday.

 

[Lightbringer]

Thought that was gonna change with Malard coming on for Terland with more than 30 minutes to play, but no.
He has built a good squad now, the football is very good at times, but he doesn't seem very keen to change things. The pitch must have been quite heavy, so the legs were gonna be feeling it, and it showed in the last 10 minutes.

Indeed. Toone should have been subbed off the same time Rolfö was subbed. What is Skinner going to do Vs Vålerenga? Start with the entire bench? My strategy would be to sub players in the 60-65th minute each game and thus keeping fresh legs on the pitch for the most part of the game while also reducing the load on key players when we play 2 games a week!

I am not sure if Skinner is afraid to piss of Toone by subbing her or whats going on, but playing Ella game in and game out is not going to help her or the club in the end, even more so with the short summer break Ella had. Its not just about Ella of course, Skinner has had Galton on for 90+ minutes standing on the same side of hers where everyone could see she had no legs left and yet no sub was made.

 

[Demon Barber]

Indeed. Toone should have been subbed off the same time Rolfö was subbed. What is Skinner going to do Vs Vålerenga? Start with the entire bench? My strategy would be to sub players in the 60-65th minute each game and thus keeping fresh legs on the pitch for the most part of the game while also reducing the load on key players when we play 2 games a week!

I am not sure if Skinner is afraid to piss of Toone by subbing her or whats going on, but playing Ella game in and game out is not going to help her or the club in the end, even more so with the short summer break Ella had. Its not just about Ella of course, Skinner has had Galton on for 90+ minutes standing on the same side of hers where everyone could see she had no legs left and yet no sub was made.

You do realise that EPTS is used? It's not a question of "oh, she looks tired."

Skinner set the team up to not lose. We didn't.

 

[Lightbringer]

You do realise that EPTS is used? It's not a question of "oh, she looks tired."

Skinner set the team up to not lose. We didn't.

If EPTS said Toone was fresh or fit I would not trust it as you could see that she was struggling to run, her legs were gone. An observation shared by most neutrals watching the game judging from the comments as well :-) Her legs looked like she had been doing a 90 degrees exercise pretty much

 

[Redlambs]

She clearly had heavy legs and gave the ball away a couple of times/couldn't make a challenge towards the end. It's not a shocking thing to say

Decent result, 2-1 either way wouldn't have been arguable. That pathetic interview with their assistant as the game is going on, and the constant fawning over Chelsea can get to feck though.

 

[EricsCollarUp]

For God's sake give Ella Toone a week off! She looked off the pace back at the arsenal game and even more so last night.

 

[Lobster11]

For God's sake give Ella Toone a week off! She looked off the pace back at the arsenal game and even more so last night.

I thought Tooney played better yesterday than many others seem to think, but I totally agree that we're asking too much from her.

The question is, who do you replace her with? Personally, I'd like to try Park at the 10, which would allow Bizet to start on the wing, but I'm open to other ideas. I'm eager to see Awujo get more minutes but I think she's a better like-for-like sub for Zigiotti than for Toone.

 

[jojojo]

I thought Tooney played better yesterday than many others seem to think, but I totally agree that we're asking too much from her.

The question is, who do you replace her with? Personally, I'd like to try Park at the 10, which would allow Bizet to start on the wing, but I'm open to other ideas. I'm eager to see Awujo get more minutes but I think she's a better like-for-like sub for Zigiotti than for Toone.

I'd be hesitant about routinely Park playing Toone's job in the middle. City tried to use her in a similar role and it seemed to take a lot of the good stuff out of her play without necessarily adding much back. As a sub option of course it could work.

I would mind seeing Awujo there, she'd bring a different energy and style but she's an unknown of course when it comes to game management tasks. Naalsund perhaps in a game where we're concerned about control?

 

[Lobster11]

I'd be hesitant about routinely Park playing Toone's job in the middle. City tried to use her in a similar role and it seemed to take a lot of the good stuff out of her play without necessarily adding much back. As a sub option of course it could work.

I would mind seeing Awujo there, she'd bring a different energy and style but she's an unknown of course when it comes to game management tasks. Naalsund perhaps in a game where we're concerned about control?

When Tooney needs a break -- and I think most of us think she does -- I think Park would be great at the 10. That evidently didn't bring out her best at City, but this is a different team. This would also make room for Bizet, who otherwise seems to be competing for the same spot. I think Awujo is better subbing for Zigiotti than for Toone.