Above: Tyla-Jay Vlajnic celebrates her winning goal. Image: @wufcofficial
Western United have won their sixth straight game to maintain their perfect record, but they were made to earn it by a well-organized Wellington Phoenix.
Wellington were without Alyssa Whinham and Paige Satchell from their attack. Western United were at close to full strength, with only Chloe Logarzo unavailable. After snatching a draw against the Wanderers last weekend, Phoenix was looking for improvement, Western were returning home after a dramatic 3-2 win away to Perth Glory and just needed to keep the ball rolling at City Vista.
Western United enjoyed the majority of possession for the first half and attacked from the outset. Hannah Keane, Jess McDonald, and Khali Johnson tried to get in behind the defence at every opportunity. They found space out wide, but the attacks were repelled by Wellington’s back four, marshalled well by Mackenzie Barry.
Grace Wisnewski was instrumental for Wellington’s midfield. Although Western United maintained control of the ball, they were unable to pass forward easily. Western are not a side that needs to dominate a match to get a result, but if the Phoenix were to stand any chance, against the league leaders it was important to pressure them and limit the supply.
When Western’s passing and movement did pay off, Brianna Edwards was there to deny them. Keane raced beyond Marisa van der Meer, but Edwards pulled off a terrific close-range save. The defender blocked the follow-up shot, before Edwards was called into action for a third time in seconds.
The young goalkeeper has been thrown into the deep end in the absence of Lily Alfeld, and has improved since Round One. This was by far her best performance of the season, and she was the most decisive player on the field for much of the game.
Emma Robers found space in the second half, bringing the best out of Edwards once again. A goal looked likely from the in-form midfielder, but Edwards raced off her line, reacting instantly to smother the lofted attempt and keep the scores level.
With the game headed towards a 0-0 result, Mark Torcaso looked to his bench. In a crucial move, Khali Johnson was swapped for Tyla-Jay Vlajnic. Normally a fullback, Vlajnic was deployed further forward, giving Western United more creativity behind the attackers and another attacking option in possession.
It paid dividends minutes later when Vlajnic jumped to head home from Melissa Taranto’s free kick.
Vlajnic is known more for her wand of a left foot and would have been the deliverer of the ball in on most occasions in her career. With Wellington’s defence occupied by more obvious targets, Vlajnic was able to power her header home in impressive fashion.
That goal was enough to win it. Aleks Sinclair was brought on to close out the game and Francesca Iermano was introduced to keep the pressure on. Wellington’s bench was not as deep and once Emily Clegg was withdrawn, it felt unlikely an equaliser would be found.
Wellington’s problems are simple enough on paper, they have not adequately replaced the power, presence, and goal-scoring ability of Grace Jale. It is easier said than done though, not many A-League Women’s teams have more than two experienced and reliable strikers.
In Ava Prichard, they have a promising talent with a nose for goal, but without Satchell and Whinham, they needed Western United to make multiple defensive errors to get a result. This was a big ask against a team that has shown no charity so far this season.
Wellington looked impressive, and this was their best performance of this campaign. Their defence and midfield was well organized. They are starting to build a solid foundation, but Wellington had scored three times going into this game, Western United had 13 before Vlajnic added another.
This was a mismatch on paper that they equalised for the most part on the field. That is encouraging.
Speaking after the match, Phoenix head coach Nat Lawrence said: “There’s a lot of feelings, a feeling of pride in how much we’ve improved and how we really took it to them. I asked them to show strength and courage and they did that and they fought right until the end.
“There’s that coupled with just being gutted. Just gutted for them that they didn’t get the result that they deserved, again. If I look at this game and the Adelaide game we deserved points out of it.”
Lawrence went on to express her frustration about what she believed is a substandard pitch at City Vista Reserve: “I look at this field that we played on today and we’ve trained on better fields. I don’t know how this is A-League standard. There’s patches everywhere. You can see that the ball is bobbling…this field was by far the worst (we’ve played on). It doesn’t set a good standard for A-League football I think.”
Western United just keep on winning and have six wins from six games. Sydney FC sit above them on the table, and the two sides face off on Wednesday when the defending premiers are welcomed to City Vista.
There are few questions remaining about Mark Torcaso’s side, one more win could entrench them in finals favoritism.
Teams: WESTERN UNITED (4-3-3): Beall, Papadopoulos, Cummings, Cerne, Medwin, Robers, M Taranto, A Taranto, Johnson, Keane, McDonald Substitutes: Dall’ Oste (GK), Iermano, Dakic, Sinclair, Vlajnic.
Above: Sydney FC celebrate the win over Newcastle Jets. Photo: Sydney FC.
Sydney FC began the new year with a dominant performance over Newcastle Jets on a windy and overcast Saturday afternoon in Newcastle.
The match began in a frenetic fashion, with an action-packed first 10 minutes. The in-form American, Madison Haley, scored the first goal just 20 seconds in after a defensive error from the Jets gave Haley the ball and she ran all the way to the goal and tucked it in past Claire Coelho. It was Haley’s fifth goal of the season. She is now level with Melina Ayres and Rylee Baisden as the league’s top scorer.
A couple of minutes later, the relentless pressure of Sydney FC exposed the frazzled Newcastle defence yet again. Mackenzie Hawkesby hit a smooth ball through to Sarah Hunter who slotted it past the keeper for her third goal of the season.
🔵 WHAT. A. START 🔵@SydneyFC have flown out the gates with TWO GOALS in the first FOUR MINUTES 😱
In the seventh minute, the explosive Cortnee Vine played a beautiful through ball to Hawkesby, who scored her second goal of the season, after converting a penalty against the Western Sydney Wanderers two weeks ago.
Just as the first 10 minutes were about to expire, Lauren Allan made a fantastic break past Sydney’s backline and hit a perfectly waited pass to Adriana Konjarski who tapped it in for Newcastle’s first goal of the match. The goal certainly breathed new life back into the clash.
What is going on in the Hunter?!?!
Four goals in the first 10 MINUTES 🚨@NewcastleJetsFC pull one back via Adriana Konjarski!
Things settled a bit after the first 10 minutes. The Newcastle defensive structure became more solid and reliable, shutting down the visitors’ attempts. Sydney dropped off the attack a little as well. In the 23rd minute, the Jets won a free kick, which Tara Andrews aimed at the top right corner forcing a fantastic diving save from Sydney keeper Katie Offer, who is in for broken finger victim Jada Whyman.
The final 20 minutes of the first half consisted mostly of a midfield skirmish, punctuated by Sydney breaking through the Newcastle backline a few times. Hawkesby, Vine, and Hunter all made good attempts on goal, but Coelho and the Newcastle defence were equal to them.
The second half started off almost as chaotic as the first. Rain had started coming down in sheets and the wind picked up as well. An amazing, high looping corner kick from Cass Davis, in the 48th minute, floated in and was tapped over the line by Andrews, despite frantic efforts from the Sydney defence. Newcastle was now within one goal of Sydney.
GAME ON in the Hunter 🔥🔥@NewcastleJetsFC have pegged another back to make it 3-2 🍿
Soon after the Jets’ second goal the weather began to dry up a bit, and so did the goals, for a while. But in the 63rd minute, there was a foul on Princess Ibini in the box, which resulted in a penalty kick that Ibini converted easily for her second goal of the season, after the stunning angle goal from last week against Brisbane.
Sydney FC closed out the last half hour of the match without too much difficulty, the defensive line shutting down a few probing attacks from Newcastle.
Sydney’s win made sure they have secured their place in the top four as we approach the midpoint of the season. Hawkesby had a phenomenal game for the Sky Blues once again, scoring one goal, providing an assist, and setting up several more opportunities. Vine had an exceptional game too. Her explosive movement and intent to win the ball and set up her teammates was unrelenting, and she came within an inch of scoring herself. Haley, Ibini, and Hunter also had great games, each providing a goal for their club.
Newcastle Jets captain Cass Davis put in a great shift, calming her team down after falling behind 3-0 and pulling a lot of strings in the midfield to try and orchestrate a comeback. If it wasn’t for Ibini’s penalty the last half hour of the match would have had a completely different intensity. Lauren Allen also had an excellent day at the office, with an assist to her name, as well as creating a couple more chances for her team
Newcastle Jets will take on Canberra United next Saturday and Sydney FC will face the red-hot, undefeated Western United in four days’ time away from home. That highly anticipated clash has the potential of being one of the most exciting matches of the season.
Report by Johnathan Stack. EXCLUSIVE photos from Kieran Chea at AAMI Park.Post-Match reporting by Ben Gilby(6/1/23).
Above: Perth Glory’s Sofia Sakalis looks to beat the Melbourne Victory pair of Alex Chidiac and Nat Tathem. Photo: Kieran Chea for Impetus.
Perth Glory came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory in their A-League Women’s clash at AAMI Park.
The visitors gave a place in the starting line-up to recent signing Izzy Foletta, and local young talent Tijan McKenna was called into the squad for the first time since the end of the 2020/21 season.
Perth was the better side in the opening 20 minutes and had a lot more composure on the ball than Victory but, apart from a pair of early efforts from Cyera Hintzen and Hana Lowry, largely failed to trouble Casey Dumont in the Melbourne goal.
Above: Melbourne Victory celebrate after Paige Zois’ strike. Photo: Kieran Chea for Impetus.
The deadlock was broken by the home side’s starlet Paige Zois who put her side ahead after receiving the ball from Alex Chidiac on the left-hand side and let fly with a powerful strike which went beyond Glory keeper Sarah Langman midway through the first half.
Into the second half, Victory pushed for a second but to no avail as Rikke Madsen dragged one wide.
Substitute Alana Jancevski responded for Perth with a great goal with a quarter of an hour to play. Ella Mastrantonio floated a nice ball over to young magician Jancevski who controlled the ball and stuck it past Dumont to secure a share of the points.
Above: Perth joy after Alana Jancevski’s first goal of the season. Photo: Kieran Chea for Impetus.
The result was marred by a serious knee injury to Glory star forward Rylee Baisden, with the American carried from the field on a stretcher, following an attempted challenge on Kayla Morrison.
Baisden, Glory’s top scorer this season, immediately grabbed her knee and yelled out in agony after the challenge, with players from both sides showing serious concern and visible distress in the aftermath. Morrison who suffered an ACL tear last season temporarily left the field in tears.
The injury put a damper on what was an incredible performance by the Glory, who worked hard to get back into the game after falling behind early doors.
Above: Alana Jancevski prepares to let fly for her equaliser. Photo: Kieran Chea for Impetus.
Next up for Melbourne Victory is the Melbourne derby against City. While Perth Glory have Wellington Phoenix next week.
Post-match opinion:
Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis fears the worst after key attacker Rylee Baisden suffered a sickening-looking injury in his team’s draw at Melbourne Victory, writes Ben Gilby.
“It doesn’t look good. It’s very it’s heartbreaking. You know, you just forget about the game for that moment (when something like that happens). I don’t know 100% yet, but you know, we just got to remain hopeful. But it doesn’t look great.”
During Baisden’s initial treatment, Epakis was able to speak to his players, who along with their opponents were visibly affected: “I just said, as best as we can, just stay focused for the next 25 minutes and try and do something for Rylee. They (our players) were heartbroken because she’s a huge, huge aspect to what we’re doing and we just remain hopeful for as long as we can.”
In the end, the Glory were able to return to Western Australia with a well-earned point after the mercurial talent of Alana Jancevski netted an equaliser. The Perth head coach was overjoyed by his young star getting off the mark for the season.
“It means a lot to her because she was here (at Victory) for a long time. You know, I think when you’ve got a point to prove it means a lot...it just shows how good she can be in moments. I’m happy for her because she’s thriving in an environment at this level and that’s what we need.
“She just needs to keep focused on what she’s doing. You know, she has got some serious technical quality. We’re just going to grow that further and make sure that it’s happening in the right moments and continue to grow her physical and mental side of the game as well.
I love coaching her. She’s a joy to work with and I think she will continue to progress in a really positive direction as well.”
Alex Epakis, Perth Glory head coach on Alana Jancevski.
Reflecting more widely on the match and his team’s performance, the Perth head coach was pleased that his side kept their Finals hopes just about alive by avoiding defeat. “We knew we had to go all in today. And we were very clear about that throughout the week that we needed to get a result just to keep us in the Finals hunt.
“I think that that performance today was a very resilient front-foot base performance. As far as I was concerned, I thought we dominated the chances and we looked really good and I’m very proud. It’s just unfortunate that we don’t have more points to show for it but it’s a really big step in the right direction.”
In terms of adding to the squad in the January transfer window, Epakis revealed that the club are putting in a request to the APL in order to bring in a guest marquee player. This would be major part in the jigsaw puzzle to attack the second half of the season.
“We’ve been proud of our performances this first half of the season, but we just didn’t have enough to show for it. Now we refresh and just restock. We definitely now know that for the second half of the season, we (have to be) all in every game. That’s the message we’ve got internally at the moment. So we know that we’re capable of some really important results and performances like today will see us get the points we need.
Kieran Chea’s EXCLUSIVE photo gallery from AAMI Park for Impetus:
Ben Gilby reports on news from both Melbourne clubs today. City head coach Dario Vidosic offers his thoughts ahead of Sunday’s game with Western Sydney Wanderers, and Victory announce an Irish multi-sport legend as an injury replacement signing (6/1/22)
Melbourne City head coach Dario Vidosic confirmed to the media today that Emina Ekic’s injury means she will not play any further part in the A-League Women season.
With Cote Rojas away with the Chilean national side at present, it means that the Sky Blues go into their game with Western Sydney Wanderers a player light on their roster.
Vidosic highlighted that he does have several options in the short term. “We’ve got Caitlin Caric, we have Dani (Galic), and we’ve looked at a couple of things across the week (to fill the gap).”
However there is some positive injury news with regards to Karly Røstbakken, Hannah Wilkinson and Emma Checker who Vidosic revealed “are all up for squad selection”. He also outlined that Holly McNamara is “about a month away from getting the green light” to return, and is in training, although at present with limited contact.
Above: Melbourne City head coach Dario Vidosic revealed that Holly McNamara is about a month away from playing competitive football again after 11 months on the sidelines with an ACL injury. Photo: Football Australia.
The City boss bemoaned his side’s schedule which sees them having to play three games in six days, which involves a flights from Melbourne to Sydney, across to Adelaide and back to Melbourne again ahead of a big derby against Victory. “We have a plan, it becomes a risk with injury coming much higher. We have travel as well, not only do you have to recover from a match, you need to recover from travel too.”
Above: Sarah Rowe in action for Shelbourne. Photo: Connaught Telegraph,
Melbourne Victory today announced the signing of Republic of Ireland international and multi-sport athlete, Sarah Rowe on an injury replacement contract.
The 27-year-old joins from AFLW side Collingwood where she has spent the past five seasons competing in the Australian Rules Football competition.
Rowe’s roots in football lead back to her time in Ireland where she represented her country at youth and senior international level before adding Gaelic football to her repertoire, representing Dublin City University at club level and Mayo at inter-county level.
Between her Gaelic and AFLW career, Rowe returned to football in 2021 to play for Shelbourne in the top flight of the Irish domestic league before returning to Collingwood to play in the latest AFLW season.
Above: Sarah Rowe in action for Collingwood in the AFLW. Photo: Sydney Morning Herald.
Melbourne Victory Head Coach, Jeff Hopkins said he was excited to see Rowe’s return to football in the A-League Women’s. “We’re incredibly pleased to have an athlete like Sarah join the Club and we’re excited to see what a natural talent like her can bring to our squad.
“Sarah has been trialing with us and we’ve been impressed with her level and what she has to offer so we’re looking to see her hit the ground running at Victory.”
Rowe was also looking forward to testing herself at A-League Women’s level. “I’m thrilled to be able to join Melbourne Victory and be back playing football with Jeff and the team here at Victory,” Rowe said. “There is no doubt this group wants to achieve the ultimate success this season and I’m looking forward to contributing to their success any way I can.”
Rowe will be an injury replacement player for Melina Ayres who is set for a period on the sidelines with a hamstring injury and will be available for Friday’s contest with Perth Glory at AAMI Park.
Ben Gilby sets the scene for three of this weekend’s Round Nine matches with reports from the media conferences with additional reporting by Ryan Miller-Woods on Wellington Phoenix’s events (5/1/23).
Adelaide United v Canberra United
Above: Dylan Holmes speaking to the media today. The Adelaide United midfielder is looking for an improved showing from her side this weekend. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Adelaide United.
Adelaide United’s Dylan Holmes made clear to the media today that her team need to get back to their best on Saturday if they are to get anything from their match against Canberra United.
Reflecting on the South Australian side’s defeat at Newcastle Jets last weekend, the midfielder said: “It was very disappointing. Those are games that internally we are expecting to win and we’re very disappointed not to get three points. Overall it wasn’t our best performance as a collective despite dominating possession, Newcastle were able to take advantage of their opportunities and we were not.
“Collectively we still have some work to do. Until I feel like we’re winning games convincingly and putting in strong performances and dominating games…We’ve had a good start to the season but we can get better.”
Holmes believes that the capital city side are one of several teams in the competition whose points on the board do not match their potential. “Canberra are a really great team. If you look at their results, I don’t think they are indicative of the quality they have or how they have performed in those games. Their forward line is incredibly dangerous, and as a defensive line, we need to be strong.”
Above: Learning lots from some of the best – Canberra United’s Ellen Gett. Photo: Canberra Times.
Canberra United defender Ellen Gett is certain that her team’s season is about to click as the capital city side look to push towards the top half of the table in the coming weeks.
Speaking to the media yesterday, the 19-year-old defender said: “We’re working well together. We’ve had a few of those games where you feel like you should have won, but the result doesn’t show. I feel very soon the results and the performances will align and we’ll be very dangerous.”
Gett is progressing well this season at such a young age and recognises how fortunate she is to have so many experienced players around her to take tips from.
“I’m learning a lot from all of them – the players and the staff. Michelle (Heyman) leads from up top which is awesome to have. In the midfield Grace Maher, and (at the back) Brushy (Ellie Brush), making sure that everyone is in place and in order. Me stepping into centre back alongside her, she communicates well, and learning off her is amazing.”
Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory
Above: Melbourne Victory head coach Jeff Hopkins told the media Perth Glory pose a “dangerous” threat to his side. Image: Melbourne Victory.
Melbourne Victory head coach Jeff Hopkins has emphasised that he recognises that Perth Glory will present a serious test of his team’s Finals credentials when the two sides face off on Friday.
Despite the Western Australian side currently sitting third bottom with only five points, Hopkins is “wary”.
“It’s a dangerous game for us, this one. We’re approaching it very seriously. It is a game we have to really work hard in…History shows when we play teams a second time within a short period of time (the two teams met previously in Perth on 11th December) we’ve struggled a little bit.
“We’ve tried to do things a little bit different this week, focusing more around our physical preparation; to work hard, to be cohesive as a team without the ball. If we can get that right, the other side of the game, I’m hoping will take care of itself. We have a lot of quality when we have the ball, we just need to match Perth in the physical side.”
Hopkins knows that Alex Epakis is more than capable of setting his Perth team up to come away with something from AAMI Park, and suspects that there will be extra determination from the Western Australians as another loss will likely result in the Glory’s Finals dreams being shattered: “If I was in that position, I know what I would be expecting from my team, and we’re expecting that (from them). They came here last year and put in a good performance. They can come here and beat us – they did so in the recent past (last season). We’ll be doing everything we can to put in a strong, tough, hard-working performance. If we can do that, I’m confident we can match it with any team.”
The Victory head coach knows that his team will have to put on a better display than the one they showed against Canberra United last weekend when the defending champions needed a sensational performance from goalkeeper Casey Dumont to ensure they ran out 1-0 winners. Hopkins admitted that his players “are very conscious of a number of things about the game that weren’t good enough.”
Above: Casey Dumont, whose superb form helped her team overcome Canberra United last time out. Photo: 7 Sport.
One of the major positives for Victory this season is the continued development of their Young Matildas starlet Paige Zois (this week’s Midweek Dub interviewee – to read Kieran Yap’s feature with her, click on this link: https://impetusfootball.org/2023/01/04/paige-zois-the-world-at-her-feet-and-the-ball-on-a-string/ ). The champions’ boss was effusive in his praise of her and her flexibility as a player.
“Paige’s growth – what shows more is the way that she’s been thrown into a real strange position, one she’s never played before. She has really taken it in her stride. She has taken the ball inside and brought others into the game. She is a very bright player, wants to learn and listen, and her attitude is ‘I don’t care where I play, I just want to play.’ It’s great.”
As the season is now a third over, the league is starting to see the top four or five sides starting to pull away from the rest. Hopkins sees the next couple of weeks crucial for those lower down the ladder to start putting runs together.
“The usual suspects are up there, although the league is starting to open up into two halves now, with the length of the season and extra games, it’s too early to put your finger on the top six. Teams need to be aware now in this next period of games that it can open up if teams at the top lose a couple of games.
The Victory boss also revealed that Matildas star Elise Kellond-Knight is back in regular training after sickness and could play some part in Friday’s match.
Above: Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis knows that his players’ focusing on their own strengths and game plan can bring rewards. Image: Perth Glory.
Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis believes his team will benefit from having such a short turnaround between their home game with Western United on Sunday and Friday’s trip to Melbourne Victory.
Despite Perth having yet another trip to Victoria to face an in-form opponent, the Glory boss feels that his players are determined to put recent frustrating results behind them: “When you have a loss, the first thing you want to do is get back on the field and put it right, and that’s where we’re at as a group.
“We did play really well (against Western United). That sort of performance against 80% of teams in the competition we’d walk away with a result and to walk away with nothing is probably the most disappointing thing. We just want to have more to show on the board at the moment.
“Because we’ve had three matches in quick succession (Melbourne City away, Western United at home, and now Melbourne Victory away) with travel in between, we’ve had a lot of time together as a team to decompress and debrief where we’re currently at.”
Above: Perth Glory’s in-form attacker Rylee Baisden will be a key member of the Western Australian’s squad travelling to Melbourne Victory. Photo: Keep Up.
That time together and discussions between players and coaching staff has enabled Epakis to look carefully at selection for Friday’s game. “We will freshen up and bring a couple of new characters in. It’s important when you have a squad to utilise different players’ strengths, and that’s where we’re at.”
It’s another tough assignment for a Perth side who have only five points to their name so far this season. The Western Australians will need to be defensively sound from the start and ensure their attacking talents click and maintain momentum across the 90 minutes to come away from AAMI Park with something.
Consequently, the Glory boss believes that regardless of the significant threats that Melbourne Victory pose, his team need to focus on their own game. “We have to make sure our house is in order and perform the best we can and the fixtures will take care of themselves.”
Western United v Wellington Phoenix
Above: Tyla-Jay Vlajnic – back for Western United this weekend. Photo: Western United.
Western United have announced that defender Tyla-Jay Vlajnic will return from injury for their first home game since Round One when Wellington Phoenix visit this weekend.
The game comes too soon for Jaclyn Sawicki whose knee injury is not quite healed. Harriet Withers is still out and new signing Danielle Steer is not available yet. Francesca Iermano comes in.
Above: Milly Clegg talking to the media today. Image: Wellington Phoenix.
Wellington Phoenix youngster Milly Clegg revealed that she was well prepared for her A-League Women debut last week at the age of just 17, writes Ryan Miller-Woods.
Speaking to the media today, Clegg said: “I think the experience from 20s (the New Zealand U20s) has been amazing because I’d say similar to the standard to that so that’s really helped me prepare for this and playing on the weekend I didn’t feel was a huge step up, I felt like I could compete and do quite well. It was hard but it wasn’t insane the step up.”
With Wellington finally getting their first point of the season against Western Sydney Wanderers, Clegg believes that this could be the launching pad of the Phoenix’s season:
“Yeah I really hope so, it was awesome to get a point, obviously we wanted the win because that’s like a game we targeted to try and get lots of points from but I think it’s good building the confidence and then hopefully getting a lot more points to come.”
Above: Michaela Robertson was all smiles when discussing her first A-League Women goal with the media today. Image: Wellington Phoenix.
Phoenix’s goal scorer last time out Michaela Robertson also spoke to the media ahead of her side’s tough trip to Western United, as Ryan Miller-Woods reports.
Her goal against Western Sydney Wanderers was the first time that the Wellington-born player has been on target for her side. Reflecting on that feeling, Robertson said: “It was incredible. I’ve been manifesting that moment for a long time and to have scored my first goal (in the A-League Women), I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that much adrenaline in a game before. It was an incredible moment and hopefully many more to come.”
With this being her first season as a professional footballer, Robertson was asked about how the step up has been for her in the A-League Women: “Yeah it’s been a challenge but I think a good one for me just to know where I’m at physically, playing with the boys before this and then going into women it was good to know that the jump isn’t as big as it seemed initially and I can compete at this level.”
Whilst Phoenix got their first point at the weekend, Robertson knows that it could, and indeed should have been more. “You know we gained a point but we also lost two, I think in that game we could have got three (points) that was our target game but it’s a building block, we’re on our way up. 2023 we’ve got goals going into this year and I think three points are still up for grabs.”
Above: Jordan Nobbs’ arrival is a huge signing for Aston Villa. Photo: Arsenal Women.
Aston Villa have sensationally announce the signing of Jordan Nobbs on a permanent deal, subject to FA approval.
The England international joins the club from Arsenal on an 18-month contract, with an option to extend.
Nobbs adds serious pedigree to Villa’s ranks having won the Barclays WSL (x3), Vitality Women’s FA Cup (x4) and FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup (x5) in her time with the Gunners.
The 30-year-old midfielder has almost 70 international caps to her name and will hope to hit the ground running in claret & blue.
Manager Carla Ward said: “This is a big signing for us and Jordan is one of the country’s most decorated footballers.”
“She’s a winner and will bring a wealth of experience that her new teammates will thrive off.”
“We’re delighted to secure her signature and we hope this move can help the football club as well as cement her place back in the international set-up.”
For this week’s interview in our Midweek Dub series, Melbourne Victory’s Paige Zois speaks exclusively to Impetus’ Kieran Yap about her remarkable 12 months, her style of play, and a promising future(4/1/23).
Above:Paige Zoiscelebrates Victory’s 2021/22 Championship with Alana Murphy. Photo: Melbourne Victory
It was deep into injury time, and Melbourne Victory had just clawed back two goals to be level with Sydney FC in 2021/22. It had been a tense and high-quality game, and Sydney FC were on the move. Rachel Lowe had the ball, but it turned into Paige Zois’s moment.
The Victory substitute got a toe-in to win possession. Then she produced a moment of magic. While shielding the ball, Zois performed a quick step-over, then a change of direction to send Lowe stumbling.
Victory did not find a winning goal, but they had rescued a point that would end up vital when the top four was decided months later.
That is Paige Zois in a microcosm. The work rate to win the ball, the skill to pull off the unexpected, and the courage to attempt it with the game on the line. It is what makes her a favourite of the Victory fans who regularly shout from the sidelines that she be brought on the pitch if she is not already.
Paige Zois’s highlights as a Junior Matilda in 2018
“I’m so appreciative of the support they give to the team and myself,” Zois said of the Victory Vikings Active supporters.
“As a young player finding their feet in the professional game, it’s so nice to have people supporting you, I’m so lucky!”
Zois had been at Victory for three years now. She made her debut in the AFC Women’s Club Championship as a 16-year-old after coming through the Elite Girls Program at the club. In Victoria’s NPLW she first gained attention at South Melbourne FC and has been dominant with the Bulleen Lions.
Her control of the Lions midfield helped drive the team to a Grand Final in 2022 and earned her a call-up to youth national team camps.
“My season at Bulleen was very enjoyable,” Zois told Impetus. “I felt like I grew a lot during the season. It’s definitely given me more confidence going into the A-League Women’s where I’m excited to put in some good performances.”
Above: Paige Zois in action for Bulleen Lions during the NPLW Victoria. Photo: Bulleen Lions.
That confidence was evident in her first start of the campaign. In a close contest with Canberra United, it was Zois’s through ball that set up Alex Chidiac for the only goal of the game. Her quick passing and decision-making was on full display as she helped launch attacks, sometimes with a single touch.
“I’m happy to play anywhere that my team needs me,” said Zois. “I quite enjoy the challenge of trying new positions out, whether it be a more defensive or attacking position.
“My preference is obviously somewhere in midfield, I don’t mind where. Some days I prefer switching and controlling the game and sometimes I’d rather dribble and shoot, I guess it’s dependent on what the team needs most from me.”
As someone able to play almost any position, Zois has looked for role models throughout the sport. “There’s not really a single player I model my game off,” she said.
“I admire different elements from different players for example Steph Catley’s composure under really high pressure is something I try to bring into my game just in a different spot on the field. Kyra Cooney-Cross’s acceleration and ball control is something to admire as well.
“As a youngster during my first season at Victory, I used to chase around Christine Nairn at training and I really admired her distribution. So, I’m basically taking elements from different players to try and mold my own game.”
Paige Zois joined us post-game to discuss her first start of the season, which saw a match-winning assist and change of position! 👊 pic.twitter.com/9lU0BKloeP
At the Bulleen Lions, she appears central to the game plan. In a side stacked with A-League talent including Rebekah Stott, Tyla-Jay Vlajnic, and Alana Jancevski, Zois was the conductor of Caitlin Friend’s midfield.
In a deeper role, she linked midfield and attack, while also showing that she is capable of the spectacular from set pieces.
Her easy adaptation to the A-League Women has been helped by Victory influence at Bulleen. She was among three players at the club last season, plus the returning Gabby Garton who was a member of the 2020/21 Championship side.
“We definitely have lots of victory presence at Bulleen, which means I’m surrounded by quality players during both seasons.
“Players like Tiff (Eliadis), Lia (Privitelli), and Kayla (Morrison) have always been so supportive throughout my time at Bulleen and Victory.
“It’s nice having really good friends to share the field with and learn from. More importantly, I have a mentor in Caity Friend who is my coach at Bulleen and assistant coach at Victory which has been extremely helpful in my development and I’m lucky to learn from a great coach who has also played for Victory as a youngster like me.”
Image: Victory Vikings
In 2022, her obvious potential and impressive NPL form was rewarded by the national team coaches. She was selected in the Under 23 side for the AFF Championships in The Philippines. Following that, Leah Blayney included Zois in the squad for the Under 20 World Cup in Costa Rica.
It has made for an impressive 12 months, and it feels like the start of an exciting career. “I’m just trying to keep the momentum from all those experiences,” she reflects. “I was exposed to new training environments, coaches, and teammates which taught me so much. I had a small break after the NPL Final before getting stuck into preseason for ALW which was nice to reflect and appreciate.
“I was immersed with talented players and coaches. So, every day I learnt so many new things, whether it be about looking after my body, working in the gym, or learning things on the field, there was genuinely so much.
“I even keep a list on my phone, which sounds crazy, but I honestly just tried to be a sponge and soak in as much information as possible.”
Above: Paige Zois with Sarah Hunter (centre) and the Young Matildas. Photo: Football Australia.
The learning opportunities have not stopped. Zois might not be an automatic starter just yet, but she is training and playing with some of Australia’s best midfielders like Matildas star Elise Kellond-Knight and Victory legend Amy Jackson.
“KK and AJ are both great players in their own right,” says Zois. “I’m lucky to learn from experienced players like them. KK has only been at Victory with me for a short amount of time and I feel as though I’ve already learnt so much from her, she’s insightful and great to speak to.”
This is a promising thing for the futures of Zois, Victory, and national team selectors. One of Australia’s most promising midfielders is under the tutelage of some all-time greats, improving every year, and making an impact with every appearance.
Paige Zois. Remember the name or go to a Victory game and hear it being chanted.
Artwork: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.
Above: New Western United signing Danielle Steer in action in Canada. Photo: University of British Columbia.
Canadian attacker Danielle Steer will add further potency to Western United’s A-League Women attack after joining the club for the remainder of the 2022/23 season.
Steer has been a dominant force for the University of British Columbia putting together 71 combined goals and assists in five years, breaking the Canada West conference record which previously stood at 65.
The 2022 Canada West Women’s Soccer Player of the Year said she is delighted to now begin her professional journey in Australia.
“I’m very excited to be starting my professional career at Western United. Not only am I walking into a team that is already in great form on the field, off the field the girls have created a positive and welcoming environment that I’m proud to now be part of,” she said.
“I’m a hard-working player and as an attacker, I’m hoping to create a dangerous presence up front and around the goal.”
Above: Western United’s head coach Mark Torcaso is delighted at bringing in another quality player into his unbeaten side. Photo: Western United.
Western United Head Coach Mark Torcaso said Steer’s quality was clear and that she will have a strong impact on the group from the outset.
“I’m really pleased to be able to bring Dani into our team and I’m confident that she will add a great deal to our attack,” he said.
“We’ve seen her numbers and her quality throughout her college career and I’m really excited to see her bring that into our side now. I’m looking forward to seeing her bring her goals and assists into our league.
Above: Danielle Steer’s excellent goalscoring record in Canada can make her a real threat in the A-League Women. Photo: University of British Columbia,
“Putting her alongside our brilliant attacking options adds to our significant depth up front and it’s comforting to know that we have so many weapons capable of causing danger to the opposition.”
While this will be Steer’s first venture into Australian football, she is no stranger to Australia and Australian sports culture – Steer’s mother is born and bred in Sydney and is the niece of swimming legend and four-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Fraser.
The 23-year-old will fit right into United’s attack, which currently ranks equal second in the Liberty A-League, and will be available leading into a busy period of matches in the new year.
In the second part of her analysis of Tottenham Hotspur’s start to the WSL season, Rachel Lara Cohen considers the influence of the club’s summer signings (3/1/23).
Above: Drew Spence – one of Spurs’ key signings during the summer celebrates a goal with Molly Bartrip against Leicester City. Photo: Sky Sports.
They’ve been at the club for half a season now, enough time to evaluate what Tottenham’s summer signings have brought to the squad.
In an end of year review of the first half of the season I suggested that the seven signings Spurs made in summer 2022 have strengthened the squad, and bench, but have not wholly filled the gaps that were left by departing (or absent) starters (Maeva Clemaron, Ria Percival and Rachel Williams; as well as the hopefully soon-returning Kit Graham).
This article focuses on what each of the club’s summer signings (Drew Spence, Angharad James, Amy Turner, Celin Bizet, Nikola Karczewska, Ellie Brazil, and Ramona Petzelberger) has brought to the team and how each has done in the first part of the season.
It also includes first impressions of four young players that have had their senior Spurs debuts this season: Gracie Pearse; Lenna Gunning-Williams, Ella-Rose Houghton, and Kayleigh Stead.
Before starting, it’s worth pointing out that Spurs’ biggest problem this season has been a lack of connection across the team. This makes it hard to score players – whether to pinpoint individual culprits or identify individual potential. That’s contributed to a set of scores (out of 10) that are quite middling.
Above: Drew Spence. Photo: Girls on the Ball
Drew Spence 7/10
Spence has contributed more WSL goals (three) than the rest of Spurs’ newbies put together, and that’s not to be sniffed at. She provides glimmers of quality and her close ball control shines through. Moreover, she appears to have taken to heart head coach Rehanne Skinner’s command that the team shoots more – she has taken 26 shots in the league (about 3 per game).
There have been moments when she has linked up well, most obviously with Ash Neville (for her two goals against Brighton), but also with Jess Naz. However, despite her pedigree, the former Chelsea star has not yet been able to stamp her mark on games, even against weaker opposition. And when things are going less well she can disappear a little, and can appear deflated when she loses the ball.
Clearly, it’s an adjustment to go from combining with Sam Kerr and Pernille Harder to Roselle Ayane and Nikola Karczewska, but hopefully in 2023 (especially if rumours are to be believed and she is re-combined with her ex-teammate Beth England) Tottenham fans will see a new Spence, one consistently in sync with teammates and able to drive a coherent and creative attacking frontline. Until then she gets a decent, but slightly under-whelming seven.
Above: Angharad James. Photo: Uncredited by author.
Angharad James 6.5/10
There have been games (or at least halves) when James seems able to hunt down opposition players, take the ball and thread a pass with ease. A sign of her progressive play is that despite playing less than seven full games (of the nine so far in the WSL) she has produced 17 shot-creating actions (second only to Ash Neville). Her contribution is perhaps most obvious in so far that Spurs’ control of midfield declines when she is not on the pitch.
However, like most of the team, James has been inconsistent. On the one hand, arguably the best of the team’s holding midfielders, but on the other, she has several times left opposition players in space on the edge of the box, resulting in relatively free shots on goal. Additionally, (playing alongside Eveliina Summanen) she has struggled to provide reliable cover for the defence and securely transition the ball forwards.
More positively, she is emerging as a leader on the pitch – and has taken the captain’s armband in the couple of Conti Cup games in which Shelina Zadorsky has been absent. James also seems to have quickly created bonds with teammates – special mention here for the dances she and Nikola Karczewska have performed after Karczewska’s goals. Clearly a useful addition to the team and a definite starter (among currently available players), but not yet a complete Maeva Clemaron replacement.
Amy Turner 5.5/10
Things haven’t been easy for Amy Turner at Spurs. A lot of that is not her fault. She is a centre-back, who has played most games at right-back, thereby freeing up Ash Neville to play further forward.
At right-back Turner has put in important tackles and goal-area clearances but has frequently looked uneasy and been caught out of position. Topping off what’s surely been a frustrating start to the season was a horror own-goal away at Reading. That said, on the rare occasions that Turner has been given an opportunity to play at centre-back (against Coventry United, and in the dying minutes against West Ham), she has seemed more assured. And her attitude has been impressive – following the own-goal debacle Turner was a demon for the rest of the Reading game, charging down opponents; consistently first to balls.
Off the pitch, her straight-talking after the recent loss to Everton was much-needed. Which is to say I like having Turner at Spurs and as a centre-back (rotating with Molly Bartrip and Shelina Zadorsky) or even as part of a back-three she is a decent option, but the score of 5.5 is because she’s yet to convince in the position in which she’s being played: right-back.
Above: Amy Turner scores an own goal against Reading. Photo: Uncredited by author.
Celin Bizet 6/10
Celin Bizet is a young player who was not getting minutes at PSG. But she was also the first player (or perhaps second, after Asmita Ale) whose contract Spurs bought out. With that pedigree, expectations were a mixture of crazy-high (obvious potential) and moderated (barely had any game time).
It’s probably fair to say that she’s pretty much hit both of those: showing plenty of creative energy and skill down the wing, with a penchant for dribbling, hugging the sideline, before cleverly cutting inside and beating players one-on-one; but she has at times tried to do too much or misjudged opponents, giving the ball away and in the first few games seemed to be adjusting to the pace of the league – and her team-mates.
Overall, Bizet has shown more than enough to suggest she will grow into an interesting player and fan favourite. To fulfil that promise and get more end product is going to require her being part of a team that can benefit from and set loose her creativity. Spurs are not (yet) that team. I hope they become it.
Above: Celin Bizet. Photo: Girls on the Ball
Niki Karczewska 6.5/10
I’m going to preface this by saying that I love Niki Karczewska. She does so much well, especially for a player of her age (just turned 23). She is big and awkward for defenders to manage, backing into opposition players in a Harry Kane-esq manner. She can hold the ball up and bring in other players. And she has scored in the WSL (one) and Conti Cup (two).
None of her goals were beautiful, but they were the kind of messy goal we want to see from a penalty box striker, whose sole priority is getting the ball across the line: one involved her getting on the end of a rebound, one was poached from the goalkeeper and the final one (the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Southampton) involved her pushing the ball into the goal with her body.
What’s undermining all those positives is that Karczewska has been plagued by a series of minor injuries that have meant she’s rarely played more than a half of football (racking up just 252 minutes across the nine WSL games so far this season). The fact that Spurs have missed her when she’s not on the pitch is a sign that Karczewska is easily the best option currently available at centre-forward (at least until a Beth England transfer comes to pass).
But how she (and Spurs) do, may depend on whether she finds a way to maintain her fitness and health so that she gets a decent run in the team. Hopefully, if she does, and even if a more senior striker is brought in, Karczewska will continue to get minutes because she has masses of potential.
Ellie Brazil 6/10
Ellie Brazil played just 94 minutes across the first three games of the season before sustaining an ACL injury whilst closing down on the goalkeeper in a period of play against Manchester City at home when she was looking good.
Spurs fans had seen enough of Brazil (fast breaks down the wing; a willingness to win the ball back) in games against Leicester City and Liverpool that her absence is a loss. But they haven’t really seen how she’d settle into the team. This is her second serious injury and she’s spoken about how difficult she found it was to come back from her previous one. So it’s really sad to see her out again.
Ramona Petzleberger N/A
Ramona Petzleberger played the last 28 minutes of the North London Derby and that is it. She was an unused substitute the preceding game (at Leicester) and had minutes in most of the pre-season friendlies (in the US and against Chelsea). The club has made no statement about her three-month absence. Whatever it is, hope she is okay and able to return to the team soon. Until then, it’s impossible to judge her – so we may as well fantasise that she’ll transform the team when she does return.
Above: Ramona Petzleberger has been missing from the team for almost the whole season so far. Photo: Uncredited by author.
Spurs’ other new players
As well as their seven summer signings, debuts for some of Spurs’ younger /academy players have been seen across the season to date. None of these players have yet played enough minutes (or faced tough enough opposition) to give ratings. But the following are first impressions:
Gracie Pearse: Came on when Spurs were 7-0 up against Brighton and looked assured on the right wing, demonstrating a nice touch, good passing skills, and a willingness to get forward. Since then she has started in two Conti Cup games: against the Championship pair of Coventry United and Southampton, playing at centre-back both times. Despite a few slightly wobbly moments early on, Pearse grew into these games. She seems to be a good prospect and a solid backup for our main centre-back pairing.
Lenna-Gunning Williams: The young striker made a dream debut against Coventry United in the Conti Cup. Came on at 73 minutes and scored a powerful header in injury time to take the score to 5-1. Her confidence and willingness to take shots was again in evidence when she came on to the field in the 70th minute in another Conti Cup game against Southampton, although she did not find the back of the net this time, she showed herself able to find good positions in attack (less perfect: Williams barged into a player just outside Spurs’ penalty box but luckily this was not called). For a club short on goalscorers, Williams is an especially exciting young player and I look forward to seeing more of her.
Ella-Rose Houghton: The defensive midfielder was on the bench for both the Coventry United and Southampton Conti Cup games, coming onto the field for her debut against Coventry at half-time. In a game that Spurs won comfortably, she was relatively untroubled, but was perhaps overly cautious with the ball, rarely passing forward. As such, she did not make mistakes but also did not progress play as effectively as she might. I expect that this is a confidence issue and something that will improve over time.
Kayleigh Stead: Came on in the 78th minute as a right-sided attacking midfielder against Southampton. Again, there wasn’t a lot of time to see what she could offer. But she made a couple of good passes and took on players in the final third as well as getting back in defense. Stead won a couple of free kicks and also conceded a few, two of which came shortly after having been dispossessed. In the limited minutes, she showed potential although clearly is not yet the finished article.
Above: Kayleigh Stead, Ella-Rose Houghton, and Lenna-Gunning Williams before the Conti Cup game against Coventry United. Photo: @SpursWomen
In the first in a series of two articles reviewing Tottenham Hotspur’s start to the WSL season, Rachel Lara Cohen reviews what’s happened and what needs to be done to ensure 2023 starts better than 2022 ended(2/1/23).
Above: Kerys Harrop’s return after long term injury has been a positive for Tottenham Hotspur. Photo: Football.London.
It’s the end of the year and time to reflect on the first ‘half’ of the season.
They have conceded 17 goals. To put that in perspective last season they conceded just six more (23) across the entire season.
At the other end, Tottenham have scored 11, eight of those coming in the victory over Brighton. That means they’ve managed just three goals across their other eight games, and have not got the ball in the net in a WSL game since Halloween. The grimness of that picture is marginally alleviated by two Conti Cup wins against lower-league opposition (Coventry and Southampton): 5-1 and 1-0 respectively.
Above: Happier Days: Drew Spence and Ash Neville after scoring in the rout of Brighton. Photo: @SpursWomen
What does it mean for Spurs?
In the first six games of the season there seemed to be a pattern. Spurs arguably, lost to better teams and beat (and played better than) teams who we expected would finish lower than them in the league: beating Leicester, Liverpool, and then Brighton and losing to Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea. So long as that remained the pattern it could be argued that Spurs were punching at their weight.
But the three most recent losses – to Reading (a tight 1-0), West Ham (a frustrating 2-0), and Everton (a 3-0 capitulation) – have been more worrying. The final two especially so, because they suggested not just that Spurs are struggling for goals, but also that the team has lost the ability to defend or work together as a team with a plethora of problems all over the pitch: errors borne out of miscommunication; poorly-weighted passes; a lack of competitiveness in winning loose balls; and a sense that no-one knows exactly what anyone else is doing.
Above: Kerys Harrop and Shelina Zadorsky defend West Ham’s Dagny Brynjarsdóttir. Photo: Girls on the Ball
In terms of what that means for the league, the picture is less grim than the above suggests. Tottenham finished the 2021-2 season in fifth (outside the traditional Top Four, but ‘best of the rest’). It is still feasible that Spurs can repeat that this year. West Ham who are currently in fifth have played a game more (10 to our 9) and are on 15 points and both Everton and Aston Villa (occupying 6th and 7th) are on 12 points (having played the same number of games as Spurs). That means that a consistent spell could see the North London side moving up.
Moreover, there are teams below us, most obviously Leicester on zero points, who seem more likely than us to take the single relegation spot. In other words, our recent results notwithstanding, there is not massive jeopardy, and still time to turn things around. Meanwhile, in beating Reading, Coventry United, and Southampton the team have finished top of its Conti-Cup group and will be progressing – albeit to a very tricky tie against Chelsea in the Quarter-Finals.
However, for a club that claimed to want to build on last year’s finish and that has ambitions to achieve Champions League football within a few seasons, the first half of this season has clearly been a disappointment and the fact that both the outcomes and Spurs style of play have worsened rather than improved as the season has gone on, means the winter break is sorely needed.
So what’s going on?
There are a bunch of possible explanations, so let’s go through a few of them.
1. It’s not us it’s them
Perhaps Spurs are not going backwards but are being overtaken. After all, the teams around them are also trying to make up ground. Everton significantly underperformed last season, have a squad of elite players, including a couple of excellent loanees, and have picked up where many commentators thought they would be this time last year.
West Ham, like Spurs, had a good season last year and despite the departure of their coach and a few players, were able to retain core players and recruited a couple of game-changers, while Aston Villa, in a summer coup, brought in the goal-scoring machine that is Rachel Daly. All three of these teams are clearly stronger – whether in personnel or coherence – than they were last year.
Even below that level, there are teams like Reading and Liverpool (and perhaps now Brighton) who are showing that they can do what Spurs specialised in last year – being competitive and hard to beat. Meanwhile, the top four have gone up a level with incredible strength in depth and are pulling away from the rest of the league. In this context it isn’t enough to reach the levels of last season, rather Spurs have to improve to stand still.
Above: Ash Neville battles against Arsenal’s Beth Mead. Photo: Girls on the Ball
2. It’s the injuries
Spurs have been hit with a lot of injuries. Like so many clubs we have had players out with ACL injuries (four currently – two new this season; two from last season). Of the players brought in in the summer to strengthen and/or provide cover, two have been absent for most of the season (Ellie Brazil and Ramona Petzelberger) and Spurs are yet to see Kit Graham’s return, after she was injured in November 2021.
The widespread and pervasive nature of injuries in the squad has probably exacerbated the impact of this, slowing players return to full fitness. If there are so many players out that other players are brought back or given minutes a little early it may contribute to ongoing niggles and, indeed, in lots of games we have seen late notice of players unable to play or on limited minutes, in addition to the players known to be out with long-term issues.
Most critically squad injuries have meant that there have not been players available in key positions (#9 most obviously). They have also meant a lot of chopping and changing, which has probably extended the period needed for new members of the team to gel and made it more difficult to gain on-pitch familiarity and familiar passing patterns.
3. It’s the players
The players on the pitch are clearly better than their current performances. I have repeatedly celebrated the rare joy of Ash. But she’s not alone. Molly Bartrip and Shelina Zadorsky had a fantastically solid partnership last season. Asmita Ali is an emerging talent, with the game intelligence and insight to make critical interceptions. Kerys Harrop is a born leader and one of the best readers of the game – as well as being an occasional master of the dark arts (in the best way). Drew Spence is wonderfully skilled on the ball and has played in league-winning squads. Celin BizetIldhusøy is huge fun to watch on the wing.
Jess Naz was the team’s leading provider of assists last season and is great at running at opponents with the ball. Eveliina Summanen has a massive engine. Angharad James can thread a pass. Niki Karczewska is ‘a handful’ for defenders and has an eye for goal. Tinja-Riikka Korpea and Becky Spencer have made game-winning saves for club and country.
But there is a negative spiral going on. In game after game there are ‘mistakes’. And when mistakes keep happening they are no longer mistakes, but rather a feature of the way the team is playing. It is up to the team to change that. That means better tuning into one another’s wavelengths, not losing focus, and each taking responsibility for playing to their own strengths. This is something that Amy Turner highlighted in a refreshingly honest interview after defeat to Everton in the last WSL game of the year.
4. It’s the manager
This time last season Rehanne Skinner was winning plaudits for what she’d done to develop and make competitive a squad that had not been highly rated pre-season. Her focus on fitness, playing to the final whistle, and smart positioning, as well as inculcating an environment in which players covered for one another, made Spurs a very hard team to beat.
Anyone watching last season would have said that there were, however, cracks. As the squad thinned through injury and other absences in the spring, the team’s resilience and creativity dropped and Skinner did not seem to be able to find ways to make effective in-game changes and we were too often conceding in the final minutes. But since in large part that was due to a weak bench it was hoped that she would resolve these issues this season.
Instead, those cracks have widened and some of the strengths from last season seem to have evaporated. It’s not entirely clear why. We still hear reports of a positive environment and that things are going well in training. And of course injuries and a thinner-than-expected squad have made it difficult to make effective in-game changes.
But there seems to be a few things that could be worked on. First, there are issues relating to fitness both fitness oriented to preventing future injury, but also fitness that relates to stamina and strength that will allow players to out-run and out-jump opponents and retain concentration for the full 90.
Both of these are about tailored training. Second, it’s not clear why players are making basic ball control and passing errors and whether this relates to skill or concentration. If the former, a focus on the fundamentals might help, if the latter then it’s perhaps about altering on-pitch communication and leadership.
That said, given the amount of positive work that Skinner has done at Spurs, she needs to be given the leeway to work out these issues – alongside those other problems, which she is far better placed to identify than I. That includes being backed by the club if she wants to bring in players to fill identified gaps.
5. It’s the club
Unlike Aston Villa (who signed Rachel Daly) Spurs did not make a marquee signing in the summer. Moreover, and unlike the top four WSL clubs, who are typically able to retain starting players, we lost two key players in the summer transfer window, with both Rachel Williams and Maeva Clemaron, ever-present parts of the 2021-22 team going to pastures new (otherwise known as the Manchester United bench; and Swiss team, Servette, and a blossoming Architecture career). We also knew that Ria Percival, who had played every minute prior to her May 2022 injury, would be out for the season. That meant that last summer the club needed to replace three key players to break even, even before starting to build the team.
Key Players Spurs lost at the end of 2021-22 Season • Ria Percival (box-to-box, hard-tackling, adaptability), • Maeva Clemaron (defensive cover, breaking up play, ball progression), • Rachel Williams (goal-scoring, winning aerials, hold-up play).
The strategy that Spurs adopted was to recruit young players with potential, who had not yet fully broken through (Ellie Brazil, Nikola Karczewska, Celin Bizet) alongside players with big team experience who were no longer regular starters, for whatever reason (Drew Spence, Amy Turner, Angharad James).
The emphasis on youth dovetails with Rehanne Skinner’s experience in working with young players in England and other club set-ups. It is also a relatively cheap option – undoubtedly a consideration for a club that has not previously spent heavily on the women’s team. But it is risky because there is less evidence of how players will perform nor whether they will be at the needed standard.
In short, the roster of players recruited (both younger and more experienced) were never very likely to radically transform a team in the way that Daly has done at Villa (and yes, I’m still bitter we didn’t find a way to get her to Spurs). But there are not many players who can do that. And that doesn’t mean that the strategy that Spurs adopted was bad. It does require, however, that spaces be created for younger players to learn, and that line-ups balance youth and experience. In Spurs’ case injuries (to Kyah Simon and Ellie Brazil) meant that it unravelled a little, with the club suddenly over-reliant on Niki Karczewska as the only pure #9 in the squad, but also a young player, new to the WSL who has struggled to remain fit.
Above: Summer signing, Celin Bizet, on the ball.Photo: Girls on the Ball
This is not to criticise the recruitment strategy per se. Rather, if we step back, it is undoubtedly the case that Spurs now have a deeper squad of good players and a bench that is stronger than their bench was last year (when substitutes included Angela Addison, Jiali Tang and Josie Green).
It is, however, less clear that the gaps left by Maeva Clemaron, Rachel Williams, and Ria Percival have been wholly filled. And we have the strange situation of Amy Turner (a centre-back) starting every game at right-back, initially with Ashleigh Neville at left-back, but more recently, with Asmita Ale and Kerys Harrop alternating in the left-back position and Neville in attack (indeed Neville has been Tottenham’s most incisive attacking force, with three goals and two assists in the league). Tactically moving Neville forward has worked, at least in some games, but if the club wanted a new full-back, why buy a centre-back?
This is to say that if Spurs are entering the transfer window this January – and they need to – it’s crucial that the focus is now on strenthening the starting 11, rather than building depth. That means recruiting a few top-quality players in key positions, most obviously striker, defensive midfield, and fullback (assuming that Kit Graham is nearly ready to return as a creative midfield option).
Recruiting these players is not an easy task. With a smaller pool of top talent than in the men’s game and without the promise of Champions League football or significant (bank-breaking) money on the table it is going to be an uphill strategy to get game-changers to Spurs (though fingers crossed a deal for Beth England is proving this wrong as I write it.)
Onwards and Upwards into 2023
Clearly, it’s some of all of the above – it’s other teams, it’s injuries, it’s the players, it’s the manager and it’s the club. And probably it’s a little bit of bad luck and bad weather and the Queen dying and waterlogged pitches causing postponements. And a bunch of other stuff.
The good news is a lot of those things are past or can be changed. And with a month off between the last game of 2022 and the first game of 2023 (away to Aston Villa) there’s plenty of time to address them. So here’s to the squad settling down a little, developing fitness, no more injuries, new players bringing in new energy and skills, and a shed-load of goals (and clean sheets) from this point forward.
This article was originally published on The Spurs Women blog, run by Rachel Lara Cohen. Click on this link to visit the site: https://spurswomen.uk/
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