WSL2 Promotion Race and Final Standings

This is the Guardian. Hello, I'm not Faye Crothers, I'm Susie Rack, and welcome to The Guardians Women's Football Weekly. Faye's had to step away, so I'm in charge. Brace yourselves. Arsenal move a step closer to defending their Champions League title with an impressive first leg wing over Leon. The Manchester sides have had a miserable trip down south as Manchester City showed there's a chink in their armour, suffering defeat to Brighton, leaving Arsenal in control of whether the title race will go down to the last day of the season. And Manchester City slip up in the race for Champions League football, dropping points at Tottenham. Meanwhile, it's tense at the top of the WSL2 as Birmingham's loss in Charlton's draw means just one point separates Charlton, Birmingham and Crystal Palace going into the final games of the season next weekend. Plus we'll take your questions and that's today's Guardians Women's Football Weekly. We've got a very great panel for you today. Uh producer Sophie is stepping in as Suzy Two Po with Faye out of action. Uh Dog's interrupting you, you're really embracing the role of me today. Yeah, I'm very unfortunately in the south of France. Um so you can hear some birds singing, some dogs barking. Uh but yeah, trick gonna do my best to to do you proud. I'm really, really jealous. Uh ESPN's Emily Keyot is joining us. You've recovered from your extended Iceland adventure. Yes, yeah, back into full swing of things and still just reminiscing being in the blue lagoon and just enjoying myself while I'm working now. I feel like it's prepared us for the like cold spell that keeps returning here. So fingers crossed. Uh, we've got Arsbox Ting Stillman as well, who has an epic Champions League double header ahead racking up the air miles. Yeah, absolutely. In fact, I I'll have been to four games in a row that will all have been Champions League semi finals. So, you know, c can't really complain about that too much, yeah. living the dream. Tell it to like ten year old Tim Stillman and I'm sure he would like Die of joy. On to the Champions League, advantage Arsenal, Renee Sleggers' side earned an impressive first leg lead over Lyon with a two one victory at the Emirates. Uh your brand had the visitors in the lead, but the Gunners responded with an impressive second half performance to turn the toe on its head thanks to an Ingrid Engine O goal. And a finish from Olivia Smith. Um, as the cliche goes, it's only half time, but it was definitely a bit of a statement win from Arsenal, uh, wasn't it, Sophie? What's your reflections on this game? Um, yeah, I think it was as good as a first leg could probably go. Yeah, there were cobwebs in the first half, but to get that result and to take that lead into Lyon, remember they didn't do that last year. They still got it over the line last year, of course. But I think it's always good to have a lead however slender it may be. Yeah, it was a bit slow in the first half. I think the international break it's the first game they've had back. So it probably took a bit of time to clip together. There's not a lot of squad depth at the moment, the Arsenal Clear Kelly was out as well. And Leah Williamson was back for like you know, in in the first f uh sixty five minutes or whatever she played. um after injury. So a few ch changes here and there, but I think they managed it pretty okay defensively. They were pretty strong. There were a few errors but they covered them well. I thought Stand out, Emily Fox and Dr. Woodman Moore, I thought they were brilliant. I also credit to Katie McCabe for once again stepping into that centre back role. She is so versatile and she performs at the highest quality when she is as well. But yeah, I I think the only thing that they'll take away from that second half is that they probably could have been a little bit more comfortable and got a couple more goals. Um 'cause the way that they outpressed and out created Lyon, I think, was very impressive. Yeah, maybe a little bit of a hangover from the international break. I know Arsenal toiled a little bit in that first half, Emily conceded within twenty minutes, thanks to a very nice finish. What did Leon do well in the first forty five to put them under pressure, do you think? In the first half they came out pretty controlled and pretty good in terms of possession and really trying to force us onto the back foot and it did work. But they weren't productive enough in the final third. They only had that one shot on target, which was that first goal. And I just didn't really think I obviously Melchi DeMorna, um, Jonathan Gerald Heralda said post match that she actually wasn't available, but they had quite a lot of reinforcements on the bench. But no one really started incredibly well. And I think when you look at that front throw, you look at the attack they've got, they probably really didn't do enough with what they had, and especially because Arsenal were tie themselves up in knots in that first half. You really expected Leon to capitalize on that and really force Arsenal into more mistakes and try and get a couple more goals to extend their lead. And they just didn't really do that. So I don't know if it was a combination of things where They weren't really expecting Arsenal to come out in the second half with a lot more gumption and really a far better performance. But I just don't think they took their chances either. um and I think that's probably where they they lost control a bit more because had they done that early enough while Arsenal were struggling, it wouldn't have been such an open second half. And I think that's probably ultimately where they'll be kicking themselves today, reflecting on that going really didn't do enough. We love a cliche, don't we? The second half wars a completely different story, game of two halves, like every player said it. Tim, they outperformed Leon offensively in that second half, Arsenal. What do you feel Renee Sleggers and her staff tweaked during the break to that proved so effective after the break? And will they be a little frustrated that they didn't score more? Yeah, I I think in the first half they were rushing things a little bit, so clearly They wanted um, you know, Engen and and Renard brilliant, brilliant defenders, but probably not loads of recovery pace. I think they were just rushing it in the first half. They were just too early to try that ball over the top and they kept losing it. I think they were just a little bit more patient. in the second half. They're actually they were playing those through balls a bit lower as well, so that they weren't just looping through to the goalkeeper. I also think there's perhaps something in the fact that Leon possibly aren't used to being put under pressure in the second half of games because they're quite often Games are over for them. You know, I I don't want to say that too confidently, 'cause there is a second leg to come, but I did think there was perhaps something in that as well, but I think overall as well for Arsenal. I think they had one player in Olivia Smith who has under fifty appearances for Arsenal. They've one player under twenty seven, and that was Olivia Smith as well. just think this Arsenal team, they've been together so long. They've got a lot of experience playing together and they've been through these situations before. So I do think there was something in that as well in terms of them just showing their kind of Their IQ, I would say, in this competition and having played this opponent so often in the last couple of years. Yeah, let's talk about uh Leon's defending as well. Uh both of Arsenal's goals came about through pretty calamitous situations involving uh Christiana Endler and Ingrid Engine. Um this is a side that only conceded nine goals in the French top division in twenty games. Were you a little bit surprised at how chaotic they looked at times, Sophie? Yeah, I I think in the first half they were pretty calm, but I think as soon as that mistake came from Enler uh with the equalizer for arsenal. everyone just kind of lost their heads a little bit collectively. Other other than Wendy Renard. I thought Wendy Renard was very, very good throughout. But I think they just got a bit chaotic and as Tim said, they probably haven't been in the in that situation very many times in the last year. Um, I think this is with their second defeat in the whole season. So yeah, I I I think It probably just got into their heads a bit and it just became a calmity. I will say for the second goal though, I think It was a much about Arsenal's press and front footedness and Olivia Smith's desire to get on the end of the shot and to pick herself up out of the heap and and realise there was an opportunity for herself as an a as anything. But yeah, it was a bit of a Calamitous situation. that they'll be hoping to earn out, I imagine, next week. But um the communication just seemed a little bit off between the goalkeeper and the central defender. Yeah, Tim mentioned Olivia Smith as well and her age in the side relative to everyone else in that team. I actually interviewed her on Tuesday, really lovely, and um talked a little bit about how easy she finds it to settle into places because she moves around so quick. So maybe that h has helped a little bit. the young player was the recipient of some rough treatment though throughout for Leon, uh, but came up trumps with the winner, she loves scoring at the Emirates, doesn't she, Emily? Yeah, and I think that just speaks to her character as well, that she can get knocked back in in games and still come out with with a winning goal. I think it you a lot of the times you don't really realise how young she is. I think just the way she plays her football and the way she carries herself, you forget she's what, twenty two, twenty one? And I think like like Tim was saying, she slots into that team so well, and she doesn't look like she's a young player by a couple of years compared to to her teammates. And I think. you know, she is an incredible player and she was an incredible signing for Arsenal. And I think it's been one of the signings of the of the season that they've been able to unlock so much more in her in her because at Liverpool she was a a really, really good talent. But I think she has taken that next step up it at Arsenal. I think that also speaks to the club and how they've really worked with her to harness her strengths, but also work with the team around her. You can see sort of players have shuffled their game to really help her get on the ball in those areas and to really help her game because you know what she can do. And I think that really speaks to Sleggers and and the team of of how well they've been able to to do the season and I think she is going to be really key for them in the second leg, but I think she's also going to be really key going forward in potentially what could end up being a bit of a title race at the back end. We have to see, but these next couple of games in hand, I think she is going to be a a key feature for them as well. Yeah, when I spoke to her on Tuesday, um and didn't make the piece because I didn't have enough space, but um she said some really, really lovely stuff about the work she's done with Renee in particular, uh the confidence that she's been given and the belief in her and the impact that that has had, which was really lovely. And then hearing Renee after that match speak about live in reverse was really, really nice too. I think they've clearly built up quite a quite a good relationship. Thinking back to a year ago and this same fixture ended with the opposite score line, Leon taking a win home, um Arsenal of course able to turn it around in style uh on that occasion. How do they handle the situation being uh different this time around, Tim and Do we think we're gonna see a bit of a different Leon side in this game? Because they'll be very aware of that threat of Arsenal i in their ground. Yeah, I I do think it will be quite different. I mean I th Leon's team was slightly more conservative, largely due to injuries. So usually they'd have Selma Basher at left back, who's not really a left back at all. Uh she'll push up quite a bit more than uh Sophie Svarba, although Svarba had a part in Leon's goal as well. And listen. as an Arsenal man, I I was delighted not to see DeMornay. on the team she she scored three goals against Arsenal in the last three games, I think. And Jonathan Geraldez says that she'll be back for the second leg, which scares me a bit, I'm not gonna lie. I think that was a significant loss for them. I I think she's up there as the best player in the world and someone who's just so, so devastating and so difficult to defend against. And obviously it being in Leon as well, I do expect it to be quite different. At the same time, I think Arsenal can take heart from the fact that first of all Leon will leave space. and Arsenal have seen that in their last two games uh in that stadium. They've won five one and four one. I think the other bit of heart that Arsenal should take from the second leg, if you look at the goals I'm gonna say it that Leon have given to Arsenal in the last few times that the teams have met, even the second leg last year. Can I'm just not sure how used to being put under pressure. Leon R, particularly when it comes to a high press. I'm not sure that many teams in their domestic league do that to them. And if I were Arsenal, I'd kind of say, Yep, let's be solid. Let's keep our shape. But There's something for us here on the counterattack and if we can press them and get after them. we've seen over a few games that the goalkeeper or one of the centre backs might give you something. Yeah, and teams struggle when Arsenal uh problem solve on the pitch as well, when they're, you know, not play particularly well like in that first half or you know kind of things aren't clicking quite so well. Um, you know, and they start to work it out and you can see them find the rhythm of the game a little bit and they can find the openings and the second half looks very different, partly for that reason. I think teams really struggle with a team that kind of starts to figure them out mid-match. don't necessarily have a response to that, too. In the other semi-final, ten player by Munich and a draw against Barcelona at the Allianz Arena, uh Francisca Kett cancelled out Eva Payor's early opener to ensure they remained in the tie going into next week's game at the Camp New. Conceding early is always a concern, particularly against a side that you lost seven one to earlier in the campaign. How impressed were you with Bayern's response to manage to grind out a draw uh so? Yeah, I I will be honest, I was really worried for them when that goal went in in eight minutes. I was like the one thing you do not want to do. The one thing the manager would have told them would not don't concede early against this Barcelona team because once they get going Once they get motoring, you really fear for the opposition. But they never really did that. And I think Bayern were really brave in their response. They really stepped up. They put their you know, a lot of teams and it's worked in in to some degree, like when we saw Arsenal play in Lisbon last year, you know, set up really structurally well. I don't think Bayern have as much defensively about them. I think that's their main worry this season is is that the defence is a bit all over the place. But they went on the front foot a bit and they started finding the spaces and they started taking the game to Barcelona and Finding the width and Cat had a brilliant game until the instant where she was sent off. Panella Hardow, of course, she's a champion, right? And she really led by example. Yeah, I think they can take a lot of heart. I think the second half will be a bit of a disappointment for them. Just because um they sat off a bit more in the second half and kind of protected that draw. maybe they just didn't have the energy or the legs to really take it to Barcelona. It's a lot of you know, you're doing a lot of work without the ball, aren't you? You're doing a lot of running. um and maybe they just ran out of steam and to take a a draw into the Camp New is is really vital. But I think they'll look at that second half as an opportunity, maybe a little bit missed, to really take an advantage. No Bom Matti as well, so they've got a real opportunity there, which uh maybe Arsenal had in that first leg with no de Mornay as well. We'd have to talk about a flashpoint in the game when Francisca Kett went from hero to zero seeing Red after pulling Salma Paraloelo's hair. It's sparked a lot of conversation in the aftermath. What did you make of the incident, Emily? I mean, it's the second time we've seen it in the competition in quite a short space of time with obviously uh Casey McCabe and Lissa Thompson. And I think I mean they're two completely different incidents. And I think uh one thing that was sort of coming out that I was looking at with analysts was sort of the positioning of the hand and sort of one when you're going for the shirt, if your hand is sort of I'm doing you won't be able to see if you're listening, but I am doing the hand movements. That depending on where your hand positioning is, it kind of shows your intent. And I think with her it was slightly susceptible that she might have been going for her, I don't wanna make I don't know what her intention was, but I think that's quite a big thing at the minute of looking at what is the actual intention in it. And I do think, you know It's a red card. I don't think there's any any squabbling about it. I think what I found interesting was some of the comments after the game from other players sort of saying, you know, maybe this rule needs to be reviewed. And I don't think that's something we should be going down and looking at as a potential eradication of that, because I think it's still a very needed uh rule in in the game. I just think that a lot of it is is now sort of a back and forth depending on which team you're from. And it was similar with the Chelsea Arstall one again, wasn't it? That depending on which team you're supporting, depended sort of where you sat on, what you thought should happen. So I think it it's just a shame that we've seen it quite a lot in quite a short space of time. And I remember we were sort of talking about is that because it's become more prominent or is it becoming a bit more of a tactic to try and go for the shirt and maybe get away with a hairball? I'm not entirely sure, but following the red card at the Euros and now a couple in the Champions League. I wouldn't be surprised if UEFA was to review how this is handled and and depending what the outcomes will be from this. But at the end of the day, it was a red card. She she made a silly decision and she'll miss the the next game and that's going to be a big loss for them because I'm I think Pinella Hard is also suspended. So I think that's going to be a big for them that they're going to be without those two players. And I think Barcelona said they could get Bom Mati back for the second leg, which would be an even worse sort of side to the coin if you lost two of your best players and then get one of the world's best players in the other side. So I think, yeah, they're going to have to really fight for For a win at uh Campney. God. Bye bye bye. Um That's a bit harsh. Uh it's a difficult task with all of those thrown in. Um I agree with you on the hair pulling. Like for me, I don't think you can start even you know, kind of questioning whether something is intentional or not in that circumstance. Players love a loophole, they'll find a way, you know, when you look at goalkeeper going down, uh for sort of tactical timeouts and things, like they love finding a loophole. So if you make some kind of rule where the intention is taken into account and you're trying to work that out, I think it becomes too grey and it just has to be hair, Paul is red cards. Like I mean that's just what it has to be, intentional or not. So yeah, it'd be interesting to see where where that goes coming up. Going to get a result of the Camp New is a phenomenal challenge for any side, as we've just uh touched on. What are Bayern gonna have to do to prevent Barcelona heading into yet another final? Yeah, they're gonna have to be a mixture of perfect and lucky, I think is the the way I'd put it. You know, even in this first leg, Barsa have seventy three percent of the ball, they have twenty one shots. You know, Britz hits the post. You know, they they have chances in this game and ultimately they were probably pretty lucky to come away from this with a one one, even if their their goal was very nicely worked. I think without harder as well, that I think that's just such a big miss and and really, really tips it, particularly with what she can offer on the counter attack 'cause That's the way you get Barca, right? You you can kind of they do leave space if you can get the ball off them for Ten seconds and harder is possibly the best counterattacking player in the world, I think, when it comes to that kind of situation. So that's such a huge loss away from home. Like I think with Barsa You know, very much like with Spain, I think in one game. you might be able to hold them off like this. I think over a hundred and eighty minutes it's so tough, as as I think Chelsea have found. For example, in the past where Chelsea may be have got like a decent result in one leg, but over a hundred and eighty minutes, it just really, really tells. I have to say I just can't see anything other than a Barsa win here. the reason why Arsenal did well against them in the final. It's one one game. Same as Leon when they got the better of them a few years back in the final. One game much easier to handle than across two legs. So that is it for part one of the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. In part two we'll catch up on a very eventful weekend in the WSL as the season enters its closing stages. Welcome back to part two of the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. There was an upset on the cards in Crawley as Brighton came from behind to beat Manchester City. A huge victory for Dario Vidacic and his Brighton team. Was this one of the upsets of the season, so? I think so. I don't think anyone was particularly expecting it. I think it was a great result for Brighton and to do that back to back, you know, against Arsenal in the Cup and then come after the international break and back that up with a big win against Manchester City. Just shows a lot to Dario about his team, I think, and how they're progressing this season. I have to say I've been a bit concerned about them at times. I think they had a really poor run in in February. Where they didn't quite, you know get the results that they wanted or get on a run of form. and you never know where it's gonna tail off at that point or whether they're gonna be able to pick up. But they've got such a big final block this season against big teams, they're facing Arsenal again. They've got obviously this FA Cup semi final as well, a big opportunity to get to a final. Um so there's so much to play for and I think you can see that within the team. They really struggled in the first half. But they the way that they came back, the character that they showed, the energy that they had and I mean Frank Herbie. I mean she's absolute magic. I understand why Madison Haley got the player of the match 'cause of her two goals and she was brilliant. Fran Kirby is the the piece that makes everything tick uh offensively for that uh that Brighton team. She's so intelligent. so experienced, she knows what to do in those moments. And I hope she never retires. Me too, 'cause it'll make me feel very old. It's like Kim Little, right? You just want them to keep playing forever. Wonderful, wonderful player. The the pass for the sector was just so beautifully placed and you know, kind of away from where you think she's gonna play it into feet. I just To me, summed up Fran, and also hugely impressive. their sort of runner form at this part of the season and as you say, they had that block where they kind of weren't weren't as strong. Uh and huge credit for them getting back to the swing of things after Dario has come back in following the death of his dad after a bit of time away. I think that ruptured their momentum quite a bit. And obviously that takes an emotional toll as well. Rado was also a coach at the uh the club too. So it's uh it's great that they're having this great finish to the season. Man City started really brightly, Emily, probably should have had four before half time. Where did the game get away from them, do you think? I always don't like to say things like complacency, but I think they sort of assume they were gonna have a lot more opportunities to keep getting more goals. And they have, you know, if you look at their stats this season, they've had most chances created, most goals. You'd expect them to have multiple opportunities to have changed and and scored more. But I think they sort of rested a little bit on their laurels and was a bit like, oh, we'll have more opportunities and you know, it's okay. Whereas actually they had to take those chances and it was their mistake for not doing it. Because then once Brighton settled and got into the game, it was a different story. And then City on the back foot. and suddenly those chances become fewer and harder to get. So I think they probably, like we said before, didn't really expect Brighton to come out so well and so strongly. And I think that is you've you've seen what Brighton can do when they need to to get results. I think you look back at I'm sure Tim won't want to remember the Brighton game last season. Um, but you know what they can do when they have an opportunity to get a team, and I think they saw an opportunity to get a City. on the weekend and they did. So I just think City was slightly too slow to react to the fact that similar I guess how we're talking about Leon and Arsenal, I don't think they really expected teams to put them under such pressure and then force them into errors and and reduce their ability to score goals. And I think that's what Brighton did. And I don't think City were expecting it. So they they've done enough City to have given themselves a good enough cushion that this one loss doesn't actually mean huge amounts, but it does put pressure on on Arsenal that if they can win their games in hand and City slip up against Liverpool, then we've got a different story. So it has put a bit of pressure on them, but Fun that it's being mixed up a little bit at the end, though. Uh the title race remains very much in their hands, as you said, uh Emily. Andre Yegalut's side needed five points from the remaining two games against Liverpool and West Ham. Alex Greenwood said post match that these were the moments for their character to show. I think she also said that, you know, this is two cup finals for them now. Will there be any concern amongst their ranks, do you think, Tim? Yeah, possibly, particularly because of the way they lost the title two seasons ago. Um, again, speaking as an Arsenal man, maybe I recognize this a little bit when you get a bit of a lead in the title race and you've not done it for a while, and it gets it gets starts to get a bit nervy when it's in sight. So yeah, I I think there will be. I think um listen, in this game City should have won this. They had seventeen shots and only six of them were on target. Brighton had nine and put seven of them on target. That's where the game is decided here. And by Frank Kirby as well. And and by the way, I I think the other great thing about Fran Kirby is maybe four or five years ago she's running on to some of those through balls. But now she's playing them and that's that's what great players do. They kind of evolve. over time in in accordance with their kind of physical capabilities, but I think my my slight complaint here as well is just how lopsided the league schedule has been. Arsenal V Leicester, which was, you know, originally set for January, we knew from the second the schedule was put together that game could not be played at that time because of the FIFA Champions Cup. it should have been arranged much earlier in the season. So we don't have this situation where we don't really know if we have a title race at the moment. Like just because Arsenal are so many games behind. Obviously the Champions League semi finals, that that changes the picture a little bit. But I mean ultimately, even at the end, City could have got this back. uh for a point. I mean Yamashita nearly scores an equaliser at the end. She'd connected with with her head on that, I think. I think she might have. Um, so on on one hand, City could probably write this off as a bit of an unlucky game, but I do think there'll be Nurbs there, but they've got Liverpool and West Ham. I think left. Th they really ought to get that over the line, I think. Yeah, and let's not forget that Arsenal after their Champions League semi final at the weekend have Brighton and Aston Villa up next, two teams that were big banana skins for them uh at the end of last season as they were racing towards that Champions League final. So that's gonna be interesting. Chelsea put in an eye catching second half performance to earn a comfortable uh win over Everton at Goodison Park. Sonia Bon Pastor's side one four one thanks to a brace from Sam Kerr and goals from Ellie Carpenter and Aaron Cuthbert. Bom Pastor said beforehand that every game is a must win if they're to secure Champions League football. How pleased will she be with the way her side got this final block of games underway, so Yeah, I think very pleased, especially against the opposition, they did it, you remember back in just before the winter break when Everton undid Chelsea, I think that really undid the momentum by winning at Kings Meadow and ending that kind of long winning streak, unbeaten streak that they had. I think this was really one as much for the points as for the pride as well, and to show that they could get it done against a team who will sit back and will try and defend and you know, Everton had something like I think in the first half it was like twenty five percent possession again. And there may have been a bit of concern when, you know, Mimiki goes off and equalises and and it's uh You're starting to think oh no. this is happening to us again. But I think they really turned it on in the second half. Samka is proving herself Um, but I think across the team it was just really important to get this block underway. There are some nerves at Chelsea. I know they should be okay if they're Champions League, but it's not done yet, and they will w have wanted to they w especially going to FA Cup semi final as well. you know, you you need momentum, you need form and this will help help them massively for that. Interesting to see players who are coming towards the end of their contract, like putting performances that imply that they maybe shouldn't be leaving their clubs. The lights of Katie McKay, the lights of Sam Kerr, like it's uh It's an interesting summer ahead. Speaking of Kurt, her two goals put her level with Frank Kirby in Chelsea's all time WSL scoring record, she was denied the outright record and a hat trick when the referee deemed the ball hadn't crossed the line. Replays showed that it definitely did, and you could see the fury uh in her uh when it when it didn't cross was the judge to have not crossed the line. There's a lot of talk about her future, Emily. Did this feel like a bit of a statement from her? I think yeah, I think the thing with Sam is that she was out for twenty two months and that's a really long time to be away from football. And I think there was a slight wrong expectation from fans that it's gonna take her weeks or a couple of months to get back to that form that she had before she got injured, 'cause she is still one of the best strikers in the world. And I think there was this sort of expectation that she was gonna come back. having been away for such a long time and start scoring left, right, and centre. And it takes time. It takes time for players to come back and build. It takes time for them to find momentum, even to come over, you know, muscle weaknesses and things that you have having been out, you know, she was out for an ACL, but everything else isn't working in those twenty two months. You're not playing football. So it can take a lot of time to find rhythm again. And I'm really pleased that she is starting to find that again. I think it is the quality that she has and it has taken a really long time for her to find her feet again do from that from before that ACL. And it's just nice for a player, I think, to to really be coming back into their own. I can imagine it's a really long time when you're a footballer to not play football and then not be playing football to the level that you know you can play at. So I think mentally it's a really positive thing before the end of the season that she's coming back into gear now. And yeah, she definitely deserves all of the records. I think she's been such a an important player for the club through so many years. I think I I hear toss ups from fans of whether she should stay or whether she should go. And I think that probably speaks to the level of quality that she has that the fan base has torn whether or not she should stay or or go, because she is getting older. And the club do need to bring in younger strikers and and more options. They haven't really had a an a the number nine pretty much all season. Everyone's sort of been carrying injuries or m manage minutes. But then at the same time, she's a player that you will back to score in every game at any point, especially when you need a goal. So she is an incredible player. And I do think it's it's a really tough decision, uh, whether she she stays or goes on on both sides of it. But yeah, I am just really glad for her as a player that that she's finding this form. And I think it raises that. conversation about goal line technology. I think everyone is, you know, VAR. We've seen VAR not really working well. It hasn't been used where we've needed it to be used in the Champions League. But I don't think there is any reason to not have goal line. I don't know of a valid argument to not have goaling technology at this point in the league. So I think again that brings up that question and it's somewhat disappointing that some of the narrative around that game is about the technology, once again, but I think we're getting to a point where there aren't any real reason to argue against having goal line. VAR's a different story, but goal line, I think we do need it in the game. Yeah, exactly, not consequential in this game in the end, but when you look at, say, England against Spain at Wemberley, it's goal line technology that gives that goal. You know, that's qualification for the World Cup, uh, in the balance, right? Like there's big uh big things at stake. It does feel like an easy win for the WSL. On to Manchester United, uh they faltered once again in their quest for Champions League football after being held to a goalless draw by Spurs at the Tottenham Hospital Stadium. Mark's gonna side are very much second best in this one, Tim. Where did it go wrong for them? How frustrated will Spurs be that they couldn't take more from that encounter? Yeah, I mean Spurs have twenty two shots in this game, and again only five of them on target. And actually some of the ones that were on target, for example, Gunning Williams goes through at the end. pretty much one on one and it's a pretty tame effort. So from Tottenham's point of view, they created a lot of threat. Uh, they created threat from set pieces as well. I think Fallantalis Joyce is a great goalkeeper, but perhaps that's a bit of a weakness. They identified and they missed some real sitters, but only getting five on target. that's really the only reason United get any points here and United to me They just they look shocked. to me and and I I don't think it's a huge surprise given, you know, the qualifiers they went through. They played the first half of the season with about thirteen players. Really, and I and they were just really kind of scrappy. I think Spurs get eighty six percent pass accuracy, eighty percent for United. giving the ball away far too often. um, particularly on, you know, this should have been a nicer game for United on a bigger pitch than than um it would have been at Orient, for example. But Spurs actually seem to take to that much, much better than United and To me, United just look like they're waiting for the season to end. But for Tottenham, particularly with some of the attacking additions they've made, perhaps if Beth England uh had been able to feature in this game one of those Chances might have gone in. Um, but they create a lot of threat spurs, but they need to be more clinical, basically. But United, I think, quite fortunate to come out of this with a point. team that were clinical was London City. I think this was their biggest scoring game. Leicester City's problems deepened even further, though, as a result of the five one defeat to to London City. Parsmall cut a very frustrated figure after the game, admitted this team weren't good enough in the way they let the game get away from them. They now sit seven points off West Ham. Is it over for them so f In terms of the league, yes, but I think they still have to try and find themselves um something to build on ahead of that playoff because they have a real opportunity. They have a second stab at staying in the division. against the third place WSL Two side and they need to find something in these last few games. It's a really tricky run of games. They've got Arsenal and Chelsea, if I'm not wrong, next. So that that's gonna be tricky, but you just need to find something to hang on to, I think, and some level of performance. You can kind of Except the result is probably not gonna go your way. But I think they just need to find That little bit that they can go, we we've got this, we can prove ourselves against this WSL two team. Um, I think it's really unf fortunate I was interviewing Rick Parswell after the game and He was very disappointed about I think just the way that they didn't come out in the second half at all. done so well in the first half. They got their goal. They took the lead. And then they conceded within like two minutes of of taking the lead. And it's managing those moments and that's just a sign of where they're at as a team, I think, at the moment, that kind of confidence being low. Just not being able to manage. those highs and those lows and just kind of Making rough their own back a little bit. I mean Rip Pa Posmore's a trooper. Um he um has said that, you know, they just have to keep enjoying Playing football in this league, and it's a privilege to play for the football club, and they need to hold on to that. And he will keep fighting to the very end. And I'm no doubt his players were. Will too. I think they were also really, really harmed by injury. Um they have a depleted squad. They were without Lightsee, who got a hand injury in training. They were w without Emily Van Egman, who also got a hand injury in training. bug in the camp all week, you know, when you're thinking about Lock. it was definitely not on their side either in the build up. So hopefully that can change around in the last few weeks of the season. Yeah, I was saying uh at the start of the season I thought the team that finishes bottom is a shoe in for uh winning that playoff. But increasingly when you look at W S L two, I don't think that is even as, you know, kind of written as many people probably would have thought uh w when that game was announced. So it's a really interesting spot to be in and, you know, very, very difficult for them to Dick themselves out of that hole with the games they've got next as well. Finally, West Ham and a one nil victory on their travels to Liverpool thanks to an early uh own goal from Cornelia Kapux, a big performance from Rita Griena's side. They came under pressure from Liverpool but managed to protect that early lead. How relieved will they be that To have all but secured their safety, Emily. I think hugely, I think when you look back at sort of the the seasons that Liverpool and West Ham have have had, I think they've done really well to sort of bring themselves back up and get some of those key games. And, you know, it's one of those things that Leicester, unfortunately, have sort of given themselves too much of a gap to really overcome. I think when you look at it and you look at the games left, like Soth said, it's pretty much done. for them, unfortunately, but that doesn't mean that West Ham and Liverpool are gonna take their feet off the gas. We know what can happen in the back end of the season. And it's not a wise decision to sort of rest on that. So I think it's a a really positive thing from both teams that they they did come out fighting. And I think it's a huge boost for West Ham because they haven't had a great season. There's not a lot they're gonna look back on this season and go, we're really proud of that. It sounds hars to say, but when you look at the results, you look at the games that they probably should have taken points from that they didn't. There's not a lot that I think you look back on and go it's been a good season so to sort of end it, like so said with a with a bit of a positivity at the back end, it it's it's super important that going into a a big season. And obviously we look at it from from the perspective of this was a season where you kind of expected teams to have invested a bit more because of that risk of relegation was so narrow. And I was skeptical that it would maybe do the the opposite and teams would sort of rest a little bit and use it as an excuse maybe not to invest so much. And I think you could argue both sides for many, many teams at the minute, especially when you look at the championship. They've definitely invested to to get themselves those top three teams to try and get themselves into WSL. But I think it was probably slightly a missed opportunity for West Ham and Liverpool. Obviously Liverpool did invest really well in January, but I think when you look at it, this was probably a bit of a missed opportunity to really use this season to try and climb the table a bit more. But they were outdone really by the slow starts that they both had to the season. So there was little they could really do now. to change their positioning, but I think it's a a super big, big win for them. And I think especially going into the to next season when uh Garina will have a full season in charge, I think it's super important to pick up these points now just to sort of give a boost and also to sort of re inject a bit of belief into the manager from the team because I can imagine it's really tough when you change managers halfway through a season. And then don't get all the results that you maybe she may gonna get under any manager. So uh positive all around for West Ham, but I don't think it's either the end of the world for Liverpool either. I was just gonna add in that I think Gareth Taylor has the opportunity to really fire up his squad and himself for the Sunday's game. I was gonna say it when we were talking about Manchester City earlier, but we all know the history and um if he can devise a way to get any kind of result out of that game, I think it would be a massive, like, confidence boost for himself. Um and a bit of a you know, assigned to City that he wasn't quite done with that team. And yeah, I I think it could be quite a narrative come Sunday. And then Chloe Kelly can lift the league title at Anfield on the final day and the the narrative spiral will be complete. I I think the teams need to deliver to this narrative, uh putting my completely unbiased hat on. Um so moving Down a little bit to the top of uh the Barclays WSL2, where it's also quite exciting, probably a little bit more exciting than what is likely a foreclusion at the top of the Barclays WSL. Uh the penultimate weekend of WSL2 continue to throw up a surprise after surprise. with it all to play for going into the last match day. Uh matters at the other end of the table, however, have already been decided. Defeat to Nottingham Forest confirmed Portsmouth's relegation from the division. Ipswich Town put three past frontrunners Birmingham City to no reply in the first shock of the afternoon. It was a result that guaranteed the Tractor girls their safety while also having massive ramifications at the top. Birmingham's advantage gone, Charlton knew that victory to Southampton would put them back in the driving seat for the title. They thought they had done it when Emma Bizzle scored from the spot in the ninety second minute. The Saints had other ideas, however, leverelling in the 94th minute to ensure the points were shared. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, remained very much in the conversation with an impressive two one win away to Sunderland. It means that going into the last day, Charlton sit on forty-two points, with Birmingham and Palace behind on one point. Birmingham have the best goal difference of the three by some margin. They travel to the valley on Saturday for a winner takes it all game while Palace hosts Portsmouth. Can you call it Tim? Well, what's really interesting and I I'd be interested to know how deliberate this is. This is the second uh WSL two season in a row. We're getting a straight shootout on the final day, 'cause it was L C L V Birmingham. last year and I th the WSL too, I'm I'm tempted to say on one hand that this kind of the new kind of promotion model has kinda really kick things up again and as really, you know, some of those teams around the edges of promotion have really gone for it. But to be fair It's n this is not a unique season in the WSL2. This does seem to happen quite a bit. There do seem to be You know, two or three teams who could come up. I find that so difficult to call. I mean, to be fair. Charlton have kind of collapsed quite significantly over the last four to five games, the pressure. seems to have told on them, but at the same time, Birmingham losing three nil to Ipswich doesn't suggest that they're managing the pressure either. It kind of feels like you know, the again, uh you know, talking about this with Man City, like the enormity of the prize when it comes into view. it really kind of increases that pressure quite a bit. And so I'd say don't be surprised if Palace sneak in on the final day on that basis. gonna be thrilling. It's gonna be a thrilling end to the season. And couple that with Champions League football, the City Liverpool game, it's all to play for, it's very exciting. Gonna be a big weekend. The uh FAA Women's National League also concluded uh on Sunday. Burnley secured the Northern Premier League title on the final day of the season, while Watford had already won the Southern Premier. Both will be promoted automatically to the WSL Two. Wolves and Plymouth Argyle finished second in their respective divisions and will take part in the playoffs for a spot in WSL Two on Monday, the 4th of May. Halifax, Sporting Calza, Gualia United and Bilarki Town have been relegated to Division One. Huddersfield Town, North Peterbrook. United, Midlands, Fulham, South East, and Swindon Town South West are the four Division One champions, and they will all play in the premier division next year. There are also two playoffs for the two final promotion places in Baldmore St Michaels will take on Sheadletown stingers on Saturday, the second of may, and Norwich City will then face moneyfields on the following day. Doncaster Bells, Blackburn Rovers, Storbridge, Lincoln United. AFC, Sudbury, Chesham United, Portishead Town and Worthing have all been relegated into the regional leagues. I loved doing that little bit. That was really fun. I felt like I was on telly. Uh That's it for this week's episode. Thank God Faye will be back next week and we can all settle back into normal proceedings again. Uh Emily, thanks for coming on and uh joining me through this unusual ride of a episode. Thank you. No, you're very, very good. Very good. Tim see you on Wednesday night? Uh yes, yeah. Uh and my pleasure as always, thank you. And so if enjoy the sun. Is it sunny? It is very sunny and I'm gonna go and eat this massive It's huge, it's huge for the viewers stereotypical. The listeners even. The viewers can see, the listeners can't. Keep having your say by sending in your questions via X or emailing us at women's footballweekly at thegardian.com. Until then, this is also your regular reminder to sign up for our biweekly women's football newsletter. All you need to do is search Moving the Gold Posts sign up. The Guardian Women's Foot Weekly is produced by Sophie Downey and Silas Gray. Music composition was by Laura Iadell. Our executive producer is Joel Grove. This is the Guardian.