That's brilliant. Congrats to them all.
WSL chat - but mostly United misc
- Thread starter Lightbringer
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That's brilliant. Congrats to them all.
Well deserved.
If accurate that would be a huge escalation in transfer fees by London. Corrales is a very talented young player, but she's not an obvious exceptional talent like Lauren James for example. She spent last year out on loan and she's still very much unproven.
It feels like a planted story - whether by London Lionesses, Barca or her own agent I don't know - but all three would have their own reasons to like the rumour.
Some good news: Emily Heaslip will officiate Chelsea’s WSL opener against Man City at Stamford Bridge on Friday.
It will make for a spicy game even more spicy! Is it true btw that Heaslip is a Chelsea fan?
It will make for a spicy game even more spicy! Is it true btw that Heaslip is a Chelsea fan?
I would say with a 99% degree of certainty that it is not true. Referees are required to declare their sporting allegiances and are then actively not called upon to officiate games including their teams.
Thank you, thats good to know. Actually I have rewatched the game she has been called out for giving out too many bookings and in fairness to her I think most of them were correct bookings. I think that game set off a mob against her and thus also the accusations of her being a Chelsea fan. Obviously I have no idea what team she is a fan of, but in general its not hard to connect the dots :-)
Tbh Chelsea will always get favorable reffing at home so probably wont matter anyways whos in charge of the game!
London City Lionesses have triggered Lucia Corrales' release clause.
I'd assumed the suggestion that they were willing to pay the clause was just the start of the negotiation, turns out LCL really were that keen. It's a huge price escalation for the women's game though - this is the kind of fee that has typically meant you're buying "proven top talent" not taking a gamble on potential.
A statement of intent for sure and London making sure everyone knows they're interested in more than just surviving.
I'd assumed the suggestion that they were willing to pay the clause was just the start of the negotiation, turns out LCL really were that keen. It's a huge price escalation for the women's game though - this is the kind of fee that has typically meant you're buying "proven top talent" not taking a gamble on potential.
A statement of intent for sure and London making sure everyone knows they're interested in more than just surviving.
Everywhere I see people be super excited about LCL's ascendancy. All I can think is that it's like Chelsea when Abramovic first took over. LCL will win the WSL before we do, I am certain of that. It's not sustainable and will wind up ruining other clubs as they attempt to compete (or simply cannot afford to)
Just to put some context on transfer fees in the women's game and where that £430k fee sits.
The fourth most expensive transfer in WSL history. The eighth most expensive in the world.
Until someone goes shopping again?
The fourth most expensive transfer in WSL history. The eighth most expensive in the world.
Until someone goes shopping again?
100% this. I wonder what Chelsea and Arsenal fans will be saying if this happens:
WSL champions:
2026-27 London Lionesses
2027-28 London Lionesses
2028-29 London Lionesses
2029-30 London Lionesses
2030-31 London Lionesses
i already see some Arsenal fans wanting a strict financial fair play cap on the WSL ASAP to avoid this. The window of introducing a cap and stopping London would the next 1-2 years before they can manage to invest endless amounts of money. Kind of like if restrictions had been put in the WSL in 2007 - Chelsea would gone nowhere for example.
Chelsea cant cay anything as they used financial doping and cheating themselves to get where they are. I can respect Arsenal fans speaking up though.
Whats likely to happen is it will require even more investment from Chelsea and Arsenal and will increase the gap between the big 5 and the rest of the league. I think it will cause a ripple effect where Chelsea and Arsenal (and possibly City) go banzai even more and leave others in the dust!
As for United, with the current state of the club there is not much we can do about it. Our last straw is probably to kick on right now and overtake Man City for 3rd place and hope that London does not turn into a powerhouse that quickly!
I have predicted Arsenal to take over as the top club overtaking Chelsea, but if London spends money as its peanuts I am not sure who can stop them, and they are not held down by financial fair play United and Arsenal are.
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I think that is now 14 players that London City have signed this window, and they are still pushing hard for Geyoro from PSG.
I'm not sure what to make of it all really.
Who owns them and where are they getting all the money from?
"The London City Lionesses are owned by American businesswoman Michele Kang, who acquired the club in December 2023. Kang also owns the Washington Spirit, an American soccer team, and is the majority owner of Olympique Lyonnais Féminin in France, as part of her growing portfolio of women's football clubs."
So has quite a bit of money, I see she is a billionaire.
Yes, she has.
You also have to take in consideration many womens football fans are feminists that would see this kind of investment as a FU** YOU to mens football and men in general. Meaning they would gladly approve of artificial new clubs with insane financial backing overtaking classic clubs as it would be seen as good for the feminist movement!
Basically many womens football fans that hate what money has done to mens football would be happy to see the same thing happening to womens football, as it would benefit women overall. Womens football is not just about sports for many womens following it, its about a gender fight!
We even have women saying that they dont care if for example Chelsea cheats financial fair play or care about it as they invest money into womens football making them heroes. They dont care about sporting fairness for that reason!
So the dynamics here are rather complex! The new WSL owners of the league will probably just shake the hand of whos bringing most money into the league, so I would not predict any major changes with a salary cap or financial fair play in the near future.
Very true. The more investment the more it will improve and the more fans it will attract. In a way that must scare mens football, if you ended up with a situation that even more women and families end up preferring to go to women's games.
I think people are getting a bit ahead of themselves with talk of LCL winning the league
Interesting times to see a stand alone Women's team trying to compete with the big names though
Interesting times to see a stand alone Women's team trying to compete with the big names though
I mean, its not good for us but it must be good for thw womens game for more money to be put into it. It'll end up with the women having higher wages and a bit more interest in the league, maybe more advertising too
No surprise with the statement and I'm guessing different people will read that in different ways.
I think she's saying United aren't as ambitious as she is and she doesn't want to wait on the off chance that will change. Your mileage may vary.
Said it in the other thread but it's sad that most of these players don't see enough ambition at United. I could blame them but they are much more in the know than we will ever be.
Meanwhile over in France, L'équipe is reporting that the Geyero to London City deal was done before the deadline.
https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Act...grace-geyoro-a-london-city-c-est-fait/1590614
Fee €1.65 million that's around £1.3m. Gulp.
The other expensive late deal was Chelsea buying Alyssa Thompson from Angel City for £1.1m - that was (for a few minutes at least) the highest ever transfer fee in the women's game.
https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Act...grace-geyoro-a-london-city-c-est-fait/1590614
Fee €1.65 million that's around £1.3m. Gulp.
The other expensive late deal was Chelsea buying Alyssa Thompson from Angel City for £1.1m - that was (for a few minutes at least) the highest ever transfer fee in the women's game.
The wage to even tempt her from PSG must be eye watering as well.
So that's 3 teams in the league that have broken the £1m mark, and another that just took one of our best players.
Lizbeth Ovalle signed for Orlando Pride for $1.5m (£1.1m) earlier this month.
London City Lionesses looked very vulnerable defensively against Arsenal despite a great start going ahead. Not too surprising with all the new players. If they still look that vulnerable at the back after 5 games it'll probably stop them pushing for the top 4.
I thought they worked really hard without having an identity, which is understandable. They have skillful players but I think Arsenal were always going to be too strong for them.
Yeah Arsenal quality told in the end
Everything is not about money & easiest way to titles. The United womens team needs legends like Neville, Scholes & Giggs.
Also, the details on the new home jersey is amazing, it does not get enough credit!
Also, the details on the new home jersey is amazing, it does not get enough credit!
I'm confused ... United are due to play Brighton at home on Saturday 25th of October. England have just announced a friendly against Brazil at the Etihad on the same day. What's going on?
Isn't that the men playing Brighton?
Oh. I googled United Women fixtures and that is what came up on the United App. I didn't bother to check. As you were ...
I just watched Arsenal against West Ham and have a question for everyone: Is Alessia Russo the best player on the planet right now?
No, that's Ella!
In all seriousness, Russo is very, very good. Top 10 for sure, maybe even top 5. I wouldn't want want to call best in the world though? I'm sure there is an obvious stand out above the rest of the pack like the men's game had Messi and Ronaldo for so long.
Pre-financing costs and tax 2023-2024 WSL SEASON results:
Manchester United Women 0.4£ million PROFIT
Arsenal - broke even
Manchester City - 3.2£ million loss
Chelsea - 8.4£ million loss
Expenditure:
Chelsea 20.2£
Arsenal: 15.4£
Manchester City: 10.1£
Manchester United: 9.4£ million
If you consider the financial data from the last 3-4 years, Arsenal would be the team absolutely under performing if they had not managed to win the Champions League last season they would have a terrible record if counting how much they spent. I still think they have under performed regardless of that. Obviously they will start to dominate the WSL from now as I have predicted since like 1.5 years ago. So they will make up for it.
Seems Man United is the club that has done best in terms of spending and results actually!
Manchester United Women 0.4£ million PROFIT
Arsenal - broke even
Manchester City - 3.2£ million loss
Chelsea - 8.4£ million loss
Expenditure:
Chelsea 20.2£
Arsenal: 15.4£
Manchester City: 10.1£
Manchester United: 9.4£ million
If you consider the financial data from the last 3-4 years, Arsenal would be the team absolutely under performing if they had not managed to win the Champions League last season they would have a terrible record if counting how much they spent. I still think they have under performed regardless of that. Obviously they will start to dominate the WSL from now as I have predicted since like 1.5 years ago. So they will make up for it.
Seems Man United is the club that has done best in terms of spending and results actually!
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I don't think it's reasonable to describe a team that just won the CL as "underperforming." It took them 3 or 4 years to build a team capable of accomplishing that, and they did. I don't think it's fair to hold it against them that they haven't (yet) unseated Chelsea as WSL champs. Given how much Chelsea have spent, maybe they could be regarded as "underperforming" since they haven't won the CL?
Yes, you are right. In retrospect it's funny that I said what I said, because I'm not generally a fan of "best of" lists. For starters, there are usually just too many apples-and-oranges comparisons: For example, how do you compare a striker vs. a midfielder vs. a goalkeeper? I posted that message shortly after watching Arsenal's last match, in which Russo's performance totally blew me away. (Tequila might or might not have been involved.)
That said, the reasons I think of her as "the best," if not one of the best, over the last few years is that she seems to be a "complete" player: Her work rate is second to none; her holdup play is often the key to her team transitioning from defense to offense; she pull defenses out of shape with her off-the ball movements to create opportunities for other attackers; she is relentless in the high press, and is a ruthless defender elsewhere on the pitch; etc. What struck me on that particular day, and which motivated my message, was that in that match she did all of those things AND had two goals and an assist.
P.S. For what it's worth, Tooney is still my favorite player.
Beth Mead with an early dive of the season candidate
Why cant the league issue yellow cards for dissent for obvious cheating like this after the game?
I have to give Mead credit, she fakes a head injury and immediately snaps out of the act when the whistle for free kick is blown - A+ acting
I did notice this when watching the game live, but never realized how blatant it was until watching the replay of the game!
You can see United players rushing to the ref, but Mead had the ref properly duped!
This is 37 second clip the incident:
https://www.youtube.com/clip/Ugkx2TM54B6ZDD88zIyVtDOOjWmmrArW0Sig
I have to give Mead credit, she fakes a head injury and immediately snaps out of the act when the whistle for free kick is blown - A+ acting
I did notice this when watching the game live, but never realized how blatant it was until watching the replay of the game!
You can see United players rushing to the ref, but Mead had the ref properly duped!
This is 37 second clip the incident:
https://www.youtube.com/clip/Ugkx2TM54B6ZDD88zIyVtDOOjWmmrArW0Sig
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I completely missed the fact that there were Group Games in the Women's League Cup tonight. There are no real surprise results so far.
We don't join until the QF - which is nice.
We don't join until the QF - which is nice.