It's early days, but I really like Batlle so far. She provides a real threat on the left, and been good defensively too.
WSL 20/21 | Birmingham v United | Sun 13th Sept - FAPlayer has match and highlights
- Thread starter jojojo
- Start date
2-2 at halftime. Some flatfooted defending from us, hopefully just early season rustiness. We've probably had more of the ball and the better structured play but we're not turning that into actual chances.
Given who's not playing we aren't doing badly. But not badly gets you nothing in the WSL. A draw here would be a bad result for us - the big three drop very few points, except to each other
Given who's not playing we aren't doing badly. But not badly gets you nothing in the WSL. A draw here would be a bad result for us - the big three drop very few points, except to each other
Just watching the Arsenal highlights as well, they are absolutely ruthless in front of goal. Hopefully the new signings can add some of that.
Alessia Russo, Amy Turner on for Ross and McManus.
Ross, Toone and McManus are replaced by Russo, Ladd and Amy Turner.
EDIT: Zelem was replaced, not Toone
EDIT: Zelem was replaced, not Toone
Wasn't an avid watcher last season, but whenever I watched Amy Turner seemed to be a real rock back there. Any idea why she's been benched?
Zelem off for Hayley Ladd as well.
I've put a link on the opening post, it's available as an app for Android/ iPhone as well. You do need to register with an email address but it's free and it works with Chromecast if you've got one.
Ella Toone puts us back in front 2-3
Thanks.
Ella Toone scores. 2-3.
Fantastic ball by Groenen to Hanson to set up Toone's goal!
Groenen is crazy good.
4-2! Lovely feet by Groenen in the box before finding Hanson.
Groenen nice move then Hanson scores. Hanson having a really good match today. 2-4 to United
I'm looking the look of Russo. I know she comes very highly rated by people who watch US college football. Could be a key signing for us.
Will be a good win if we can hold on. Like you say, @jojojo the big three only really drop points to each other so we need to improve on that front. Last season we drew away to Brighton and Reading and lost at home to Bristol City and away to West Ham (and that is not including the losses away to Chelsea and City and at home to Arsenal). Arsenal lost to just Chelsea (twice) and City away. City lost away to Arsenal, away to Chelsea and drew at home to Chelsea too. Funnily enough, the champions Chelsea dropped points twice against non-big three teams (drew away to Brighton and Liverpool) but made up for it by just drawing away to City.
Ridiculous consistency from those sides.
Ridiculous consistency from those sides.
They have deep quality squads, looks like we are starting to build something similar, so can only be good.
Russo sets up Hanson for an easy finish. 5-2
Russo to Hanson and that's our fifth.
Kirsty scores. 2-5.
I figured MUTV would telecast this live. Seems I was mistaken.
Dominant second half, that.
Comfortable in the end. Again, like in the game against Chelsea, we showed more intensity in the second half and Birmingham couldn't live with it. Russo looked very energetic when she came on. Hanson and Groenen were excellent.
Fantastic second half. Really great pressing, didn’t give blues a moment on the ball and some well taken goals. Russo looks a top signing, hungry for a goal too!
Starting now on MUTV. Better late than never I suppose 
Good result for us in the end, not our best game. Battile looks very good. Very comfortable on the ball. Groenan is very good also. Russo made a nice appearance, can’t wait to see press and heath come in now, will give us more of a killer instinct.
also great to see city drop two points against a team outside of top 4
also great to see city drop two points against a team outside of top 4
On at 4.00 p.m.
Think we will see Jackie at her best this season.
Caught bits of the game and liked the press even in the second half. Two good results now, with the 2 Americans to come in bodes well for the season.
Russo looks decent. If she’d scored that outside of the boot swerved effort that would have been some goal.
Sloppy first half but again like last weekend we showed up and just upped the intensity in the 2nd half. Hanson is an absolute weapon as well. @jojojo where do Heath and Press actually play? Wide forwards? Or central.
Sloppy first half but again like last weekend we showed up and just upped the intensity in the 2nd half. Hanson is an absolute weapon as well. @jojojo where do Heath and Press actually play? Wide forwards? Or central.
Press can play through through the middle, Heath plays wider - Hanson today was demonstrating she wont let her job go without a fight which was great to see.
The pattern seemed very similar to last weekend, a decent start, followed by a flat period where we seemed to lack focus and intensity. Followed by a good second half, where we looked that bit sharper. I don't know if all the subs were tactical, but the changes worked.
Russo looks like a class act, I was hoping she'd score, she deserved it, but she did get an assist. Batlle (not Battle like the commentator kept saying) is going to be a real boost to the team as well, and it was interesting to see her switch position when Okvist came on. And we've still got Staniforth, Press, Heath to come and Lauren James to get back. It could be a fun season.
Nice to see City draw - especially with the fawning over Bronze and Greenwood this week - unfortunately they won't drop a lot of points like that. Chelsea and Arsenal looking ruthless today though. I do worry about what's going to happen if goal difference looks like being decisive, some teams are going to have a miserable season. I wouldn't be surprised to see it switch to head to head next season if it does get bad.
Nobody complaining that the left-back was right footed, which is nice.
Anyho, some Mourinho style Management from Casey at half-time, two of the nailed on starters hooked, Zelem for being caught in possession in the build-up to their first goal, and McManus who made a mess of her clearances from a free-kick for their 2nd.
Moment of the match, Groenen doing her best van de Beek impression setting up the 4th for Hanson.
Anyho, some Mourinho style Management from Casey at half-time, two of the nailed on starters hooked, Zelem for being caught in possession in the build-up to their first goal, and McManus who made a mess of her clearances from a free-kick for their 2nd.
Moment of the match, Groenen doing her best van de Beek impression setting up the 4th for Hanson.
I guess it’s Donny who’s trying to emulate Jackie, not the other way around. I mean, she is a couple years his senior and alteady has a European Championship title and a WC final to her name.
Putting five over a decent Bitmingham team is quite something, and with two world champions watching on the sideline eager to join the party ...
I guess it’s Donny who’s trying to emulate Jackie, not the other way around. I mean, she is a couple years his senior and alteady has a European Championship title and a WC final to her name.
Putting five over a decent Bitmingham team is quite something, and with two world champions watching on the sideline eager to join the party ...
It's a hell of a squad Casey has put together, and in a short space of time as well, if everybody is fit there's going to be some quality players not even making the bench some weeks which can only be good for the club, though not for the youngsters who are coming through the system who won't unless there is an injury crisis get a look in.
I thought Casey got the lineup wrong in the first half. Not starting Ladd, who is the only DM in the squad just didn't work. Zelem played that deep role by herself and got caught in possession a couple of times, one of which led to a goal. Good changes at half time though and gutsy to make three changes in one go. Sends a strong message to the squad right there.
Defence:
The CBs made a few mistakes here and there, the own goal was one obviously. McManus made some nice crisp passes between the lines. M Turner lacks a bit of vision with her passing. Really needed to find Batlle more often. She was pushing up the pitch a bit and in space but the ball out from the LCB was either too slow or did not come her way at all. A Turner was fantastic with the long passes though. Excellent at engaging the front line.
Batlle looked quality at times on the ball and seamlessly shifted to RB later in the game, and Smith had a decent game.
Midfield:
Hanson was immense and clearly fighting for her place. She tracked back quite a bit in the first half and helped out her fullback, but also got forward nicely and got the goals and an assist as well. Top performance.
Zelem played quite well apart from the mistakes but she clearly needed Ladd alongside her. Interesting that she got subbed at half time. Hope she responds well in the next game.
Groenen is an AM and plays a bit like VBD, drifting forwards into those spaces all the time, so whoever partners her in CM has to find her in order to push the game further up the pitch. She had a great game though and created a lot of chances with her passing. Lots of pace off the ball as well, but she's just not a CM.
Toone was hardworking and scored a good goal.
Galton had a tough game and did a lot of running without getting on the end of anything. She plays more like a wing forward and needs service to thrive. Her skills are more prominent further up the pitch. At times she needed to play deeper and help Batll out, but that's not her natural game.
Ladd didn't do anything special when she came on, but showed why we clearly need a DM in the team. I'm surprised we didn't strengthen this area with a transfer.
Attack
Apart from the goal, I thought Ross was ineffective. She dropped deep as the first half wore on to try and get on the ball more.
Russo was fantastic when she came on. Strong, quick, hard-working and she has a bit of quality when on the ball. Can see why she's an England international.
Defence:
The CBs made a few mistakes here and there, the own goal was one obviously. McManus made some nice crisp passes between the lines. M Turner lacks a bit of vision with her passing. Really needed to find Batlle more often. She was pushing up the pitch a bit and in space but the ball out from the LCB was either too slow or did not come her way at all. A Turner was fantastic with the long passes though. Excellent at engaging the front line.
Batlle looked quality at times on the ball and seamlessly shifted to RB later in the game, and Smith had a decent game.
Midfield:
Hanson was immense and clearly fighting for her place. She tracked back quite a bit in the first half and helped out her fullback, but also got forward nicely and got the goals and an assist as well. Top performance.
Zelem played quite well apart from the mistakes but she clearly needed Ladd alongside her. Interesting that she got subbed at half time. Hope she responds well in the next game.
Groenen is an AM and plays a bit like VBD, drifting forwards into those spaces all the time, so whoever partners her in CM has to find her in order to push the game further up the pitch. She had a great game though and created a lot of chances with her passing. Lots of pace off the ball as well, but she's just not a CM.
Toone was hardworking and scored a good goal.
Galton had a tough game and did a lot of running without getting on the end of anything. She plays more like a wing forward and needs service to thrive. Her skills are more prominent further up the pitch. At times she needed to play deeper and help Batll out, but that's not her natural game.
Ladd didn't do anything special when she came on, but showed why we clearly need a DM in the team. I'm surprised we didn't strengthen this area with a transfer.
Attack
Apart from the goal, I thought Ross was ineffective. She dropped deep as the first half wore on to try and get on the ball more.
Russo was fantastic when she came on. Strong, quick, hard-working and she has a bit of quality when on the ball. Can see why she's an England international.
The extended highlights are now available on FA Player:
https://faplayer.thefa.com/video/MF...lM0ZwYWdlJTNEYXJjaGl2ZS1wYWdlJTdDYXJjaGl2ZS0x
The full match is on the player as well. I think access should be available in most countries and it's free to view, though you do need to register.
https://faplayer.thefa.com/video/MF...lM0ZwYWdlJTNEYXJjaGl2ZS1wYWdlJTdDYXJjaGl2ZS0x
The full match is on the player as well. I think access should be available in most countries and it's free to view, though you do need to register.