WSL 24/25 | Everton v United - 2pm Sun 29 Sept

[RORY65]

It looks uninspired and incoherent as it did for much of last year, multiple players playing in positions that clearly don't suit them because Skinner isn't willing to make the big decisions (Toone or Clinton or both need to be in the middle rather than having Toone on the left, Galton at left back will be an issue against better sides and Janssen probably is more suited to being in the defence than holding in midfield). It's concerning that after such a disappointing season last year in terms of performances and a summer where they have talked about trying different things that it's basically the same system but just more unbalanced.

He might hang around because the women's team won't be the priority of the club but it feels similar to the men that everyone kind of knows the manager isn't good enough and although the team isn't elite it feels like it could be better and play better football with someone else in charge.

 

[Lobster11]

Based on an admittedly small sample size, so far I'm liking Malard over Terland and Bizet over Geyse.

Last year I thought Malard and Geyse were exciting signings, but neither seemed to ever develop good connections with teammates on the pitch. Malard was starting to hook up well with Toone by the end of the season, but Geyse always seemed like she was on an island, trying to do to much one-on-one and seemingly unaware of where her teammates were most of the time. I remember hearing it suggested somewhere that this might have been in part a language problem as neither spoke any or much English, but don't know if that's true or not. In two appearances this year Malard has looked much more dangerous to me in her limited minutes than Terland -- who, granted, might need more time to settle in -- but Geyse looks to me so far like the same player we saw last year. I'm hopeful that Clinton might be able to help integrate her into the offense. (You'd think Clinton would need a little time settle in and develop on-field connections to, but evidently not!)

 

[Demon Barber]

Based on an admittedly small sample size, so far I'm liking Malard over Terland and Bizet over Geyse.

Last year I thought Malard and Geyse were exciting signings, but neither seemed to ever develop good connections with teammates on the pitch. Malard was starting to hook up well with Toone by the end of the season, but Geyse always seemed like she was on an island, trying to do to much one-on-one and seemingly unaware of where her teammates were most of the time. I remember hearing it suggested somewhere that this might have been in part a language problem as neither spoke any or much English, but don't know if that's true or not. In two appearances this year Malard has looked much more dangerous to me in her limited minutes than Terland -- who, granted, might need more time to settle in -- but Geyse looks to me so far like the same player we saw last year. I'm hopeful that Clinton might be able to help integrate her into the offense. (You'd think Clinton would need a little time settle in and develop on-field connections to, but evidently not!)

I pretty much agree with most of this, especially regarding Geyse. She is skillful, yes, but also very, very wasteful. We have also signed Malard on a permanent, so for goodness sake use her.

George should start against Liverpool on Wednesday, Bizet in for Geyse. I thought Toone was pretty anonymous today but she will start.

So, same starting XI it is.

 

[Grande]

Either way, it’s better to win 1-0 than too lose 0-3.

Looking like we have several good players, but the game isn’t really flowing still.

 

[Lobster11]

I thought Toone was pretty anonymous today but she will start.

When Tooney appears to be "anonymous," IMO it is almost always because her teammates just aren't getting the ball to her. If you watch her off-the-ball movement (to the extent you can on TV or stream), you'll see that she is still finding open spaces and making her usual well-timed runs -- and numerous attacks end with her standing in an acre of open space, holding out her arms with palms up, as if to say "What? Am I invisible?" I think the offense is most dynamic when it goes through her, but too often it seems to go around her.

 

[Demon Barber]

When Tooney appears to be "anonymous," IMO it is almost always because her teammates just aren't getting the ball to her. If you watch her off-the-ball movement (to the extent you can on TV or stream), you'll see that she is still finding open spaces and making her usual well-timed runs -- and numerous attacks end with her standing in an acre of open space, holding out her arms with palms up, as if to say "What? Am I invisible?" I think the offense is most dynamic when it goes through her, but too often it seems to go around her.

Very fair points. Watching the match on my phone probably did not do her justice. As you say, she was bypassed. I wonder if that is poor decision making by the rest of the team, or poor tactics?

 

[Lobster11]

Very fair points. Watching the match on my phone probably did not do her justice. As you say, she was bypassed. I wonder if that is poor decision making by the rest of the team, or poor tactics?

It certainly could be partly due to tactics. As I recall, a lot of the attack in the first match went down the left side, with Galton frequently overlapping Toone, whereas the focus of attack in the second match seemed to be mainly on the opposite side. However, this was a common issue last year -- so much so that Goal.com ran a piece at one point titled "What's up with Ella Toone?" My impression at the time was simply that too many players were too busy watching the ball and/or their own feet. As I said before, there are just too many times when a play ends with Toone standing alone in an acre of space while someone attempts a hopeless shot or pass elsewhere.

So, I don't really know the answer, but as an admitted ET7 fanboy I find it very frustrating, especially when she's the one who gets criticized for it.