MATCH INFO:

Juventus vs Olympique Lyonnais: UEFA Champions League – Leg 1 – Round of 32

Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy

Kickoff: December 9th, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. EST

The UEFA Champions League is back, with the knockout round beginning this week as 32 of the best teams in Europe gear up to compete for the most prestigious prize in club football.

With the first legs of the Round of 32 matches set to be played on December 9th and 10th, there are several highly anticipated matchups which promise to deliver the usual Champions League fireworks. But no matchup looks to be bigger than that between Juventus and Olympique Lyonnais, the first leg of which will take place in Turin, Italy.

Juve currently tops the Serie A table and has won the league title the last three seasons. That’s a pretty good resume, until you compare it to Lyon’s. The 14-time defending French league champs have won the Champions League title the past five years and seven times overall. They begin their latest title defense looking to cement their status as one of the dynasties the sport has ever seen.

Olympique Lyonnais is considered the best and most successful women’s football club in the world. In the past decade, Lyon has won over 25 trophies, and given the money, resources, and development that the club has put into their current squad and coaching staff, it doesn’t look like their winning ways are stopping anytime soon.

Last year, Juventus was knocked out in the Round of 32 by Barcelona, who made it all the way to the semi-finals. A disappointing result, but for a club that was only founded in 2017, Juventus has made great strides both domestically and in Europe.

When the Champions League comes along, teams dread being drawn against Lyon. For the past five years, it has meant a quick ticket out of the competition. Lyon’s history, experience, and strength on the pitch makes them almost impossible to beat.

If Juventus wants to advance to the Round of 16, the team will likely need to mimic what Paris Saint-Germain did against Lyon in late November of this year. PSG were able to shock Lyon in a Division 1 Féminine match, beating them 1-0.

Lyon’s defeat was more than just a loss to a rival; it was their first league defeat in four years. Before the match, Lyon sat atop the Division 1 Féminine standings, with Paris one point behind them. After the loss, Lyon moved to second, and have stayed behind PSG since.

Juventus not only has a gameplan to mimic, but they can take solace in the fact that Lyon has been playing a full-strength XI every week in hopes of catching up with Paris Saint-Germain. In contrast, Juventus, with nine wins in nine matches played, has been able to rest key players in the build-up to this match.

Fans of both teams will be hoping that they have enough to beat the other, of course, but neutrals will be hoping for a classic matchup that showcases all of the usual drama we’ve come to associate with the UEFA Champions League. Whatever happens during this tie, one of Europe’s best teams will be crashing out in the Round of 32.

Other exciting matchups in this round include Ajax vs Bayern Munich and PSV Eindhoven vs Barcelona. FAWSL teams Chelsea and Manchester City will likewise take on SL Benfica and Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC respectively, while last season’s runner ups, VfL Wolfsburg, will take on ŽFK Spartak Subotica.

MATCH INFO:

Chelsea 3, West Ham 2

Goals: Sam Kerr – 15’, Rachel Daly – 47’, Sam Kerr – 55’, Sam Kerr – 68’, Magdalena Eriksson (OG) – 88’

After a long, two-week international break, the FAWSL returned with a thriller between Chelsea and West Ham at Kingsmeadow. It wasn’t an easy London Derby for Chelsea, the defending league champs, but they were able to finish the job and take away the three points.

The match was also memorable for being the first since March in which a limited number of fans (up to 700) were allowed in the stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Here’s how the action unfolded: 

Early on, both sides had a chance, but Bethany England’s attempted header went wide, and Martha Thomas’ shot was blocked.

The first real chance of the game came in the 9th minute, when Cecilie Redisch Kvamme was able to get into the middle of Chelsea’s box and find enough space to shoot; the shot was on target, but Ann-Katrin Berger managed a save.

West Ham would come to regret that chance, and the couple they had after, as five minutes later, Chelsea scored their first.

The goal started with Ji So-yun pressing West Ham in their own half. Ji, who was celebrating her 100th appearance in the FAWSL (and is the first international player to achieve that feat), managed to rid West Ham’s Cho So-hyun of her possession, allowing Pernille Harder to pick up the loose ball.

Harder then passed it to Fran Kirby, who was playing in her first game back from injury. Kirby then crossed it into the box and found Sam Kerr, who knocked it in from close range.

West Ham reacted almost immediately, with Rachel Daly able to win the ball off of Magdalena Eriksson around the half-way line. Daly then sprinted the whole half the pitch, but was unable to get the ball around Berger in a crucial one-on-one.

The rest of the half was end to end, but Chelsea was unable to up the score, and West Ham was unable to equalize. Going into half-time, Chelsea remained up by a goal.

The speech delivered by interim West Ham managers Billy Stewart and Paul McHugh must have worked, because West Ham equalized minutes after the whistle. Adriana Leon received the ball near the halfway line and was able to sprint to the final third without being challenged. A short pass from Leon across the box to Daly followed, and this time, Daly didn’t waste her chance, scoring the equalizer.

West Ham would have to cut its celebrations short, however, as a relentless Chelsea attack followed. The Blues won multiple freekicks and had several opportune chances before a breakthrough came in the 55th minute. West Ham keeper Mackenzie Arnold got a hand on a cross from Harder into the box, but she spilled the ball at Kerr’s feet, leaving the Australian with an easy shot on an open net.

Thirteen minutes later, Kerr completed her hattrick, with Kirby again assisting on the goal. The sequence once more started with Chelsea pressing West Ham, leading to some quick interplay between Kirby and Kerr, which ended with Kerr easily tapping in the score.

At 3-1, it was all Chelsea. West Ham did not give up per se, but Chelsea, with the fans backing them, and with the two-goal cushion, felt comfortable and confident. They even had multiple chances in which they could have extended their lead.

Things got interesting near the end, however, when Eriksson scored an own goal in the 88th minute. With the score now at 3-2, West Ham tried to push for a final equalizer in the last minutes of the second half and the seven minutes of extra-time, but they were unsuccessful.

With her three goals, Kerr moved up to third in the FAWSL top scorers of the season, behind Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema and Jill Roord.

Chelsea sits in 3rd place, with 17 points, three behind league leader Manchester United and two behind Arsenal, though they have a game in hand.

The Blues will be taking a break from the FAWSL for their next match, as they will be facing Benfica in the Champions League.

West Ham currently sits in 10th, but an away match against Chelsea was always going to be a tough match for them to win. The goal for West Ham this season is to avoid relegation, and their next match against Bristol City, who are bottom of the table, will be the perfect opportunity to give them some cushion so as to avoid playing in the FA Women’s Championship next season.

Back in 2017, Liverpool F.C. announced that it would be expanding its academy training ground in Kirkby so that the men’s first team would train alongside the reserves. The men’s first team, who at the time trained at Melwood, would be welcomed to the AXA Training Centre after a £50 million 9,200 square metre building was added which included ultramodern facilities: full-size gyms, a swimming pool, sports rehabilitation suites for those recovering from injuries, a tennis court, press conference facilities, in-house television studios, and more.

The original plan was to have the first team move to the new training ground before the start of the 2020/21 season, but the delays in construction due to the pandemic pushed back the move date to November.

The men’s first team had their first training session on November 17th. Based on videos, pictures, and quotes from head coach Jürgen Klopp, other members of the coaching staff, and the players, it has exceeded all their expectations, not only regarding the amenities but simply the sheer size of the training centre.

Jurgen Klopp on The AXA Training Centre: "Itu2019s very exciting. Yesterday [Wednesday] we had three power cuts in training and the managersu2019 meeting! You know how it is when something is new. But it is outstanding." #awlfc [mail] pic.twitter.com/tihtaWJLVZ

— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) November 20, 2020

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You’d think that with all its unique features, The AXA Training Centre, which is considered by many, one of the best training centers for a football club in the world, would have enough room for the women’s team. Unfortunately, the club deemed that the women’s team would stay put at their current training ground. The Campus, as it’s called, is shared with Tranmere Rovers’ men’s team, a team that now plays in League Two, the fourth tier of men’s football in England. Liverpool’s women’s team likewise plays their home matches at Prenton Park, the home ground of Tranmere’s men’s team. It seems that Tranmere Rovers are doing more for Liverpool’s women team than Liverpool themselves.

A lack of effort being put into its women’s team isn’t something new for Liverpool. The team remains significantly underfunded, and multiple players have left the club in recent years saying they hope to rediscover the joy of football.

Back in 2018, Siobhan Chamberlain left the club after the end of her contract. In her goodbye message, she stated “It’s important to me that I’m in an environment that challenges me every day and one where I can enjoy playing football. I also want to know I am part of a project that’s doing the most it can to develop the women’s game.”

Chamberlain was just the first of many players who felt a lack of support from the club. Once Casey Stoney, a former Liverpool player, became manager of Manchester United, she was able to attract Chamberlain, as well as six other Liverpool players to United: Alex Greenwood, Martha Harris, Naomi Hartley, Emily Ramsey, Lucy Roberts, and Amy Turner. For that many players to leave a club in the FAWSL for a club then in the FA Women’s Championship further confirmed that things were not going well for Liverpool.

Flash forward to 2020, and many players have left the club echoing the words of Chamberlain. Christie Murray stated that she wanted to work in an environment that challenges her and that she wanted to enjoy doing what she loved again.

Fran Kitching stated that she couldn’t wait to enjoy the game that she loved again and truly be happy.

Courtney Sweetman-Kirk wanted a new environment that challenged her as a person and a player, and a new club that would allow her to have a smile on her face.

Sweetman-Kirk expanded on this in an interview with Sky Sports, stating that “There has been a slow but definite decline in terms of maybe the investment that the club is getting [in comparison] from the men’s side,” and that she felt that “how you make people feel and what your place is within the club as a whole hasn’t been fantastic.”

Players are not the only ones speaking out. Neil Redfearn, who was hired in early June of 2018 to rebuild the team, quit in September of the same year, after just one game in charge. It’s also been heavily reported that Liverpool are understaffed when it comes to the women’s team. In 2019, only ten people were listed as full time workers, with the rest of the coaching staff and players only listed as part-time workers. Liverpool is one of the most successful clubs in England, and with success comes revenue and profit. Enough to pay everyone full-time salaries.

These problems have affected performances on the pitch; earlier this year, while the men’s team was celebrating their first Premier League title in 30 years, the women’s team, who won the league back to back in 2013 and 2014, was relegated to the FA Women’s Championship. They currently sit 4th in the table, and it is unlikely that they’ll be promoted back to the FAWSL for the 2021/2o22 season.

It further hurts to see Liverpool in this position when other clubs in both the FAWSL and the FA Women’s Championship are drastically upping their support of their women’s sides. Most of these teams either have their women’s teams train in the same facilities as the men’s team or they have an equally impressive training ground separate for them. These teams have put in the investment, and their progress has shown on the pitch.

Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City are now the ‘Big Three’ in the FAWSL, having alternated league titles since Liverpool last won in 2014. They have some of the best players and coaches in the world, all of whom are on full-time contracts. Everton and Manchester United have recently put more investment in their respective women’s teams as well, and this season, they’re giving the ‘Big Three’ their first real competition in years, with United currently sitting first in the table, and Everton in fourth, ahead of Manchester City.

LFC have maintained the ethos “Two teams, one club” when discussing the relationship between the men’s and women’s team, but their actions fail to show that is the case. It’s easy to preach the words “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” but in practice, that’s exactly what the Liverpool women have been forced to do.

On Friday, the Netherlands took on the United States in a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final. The Dutch have had several matches over the past couple international breaks as they have been competing for a spot at the 2022 UEFA European Women’s Championship. On October 23rd, they were able to secure qualification after a 7-0 win over Estonia.

Unlike their opponents, the USWNT have not had an abundance of opportunities to play together in 2020. Their last match was back in March; a 3-1 win against Japan in the SheBelieves Cup — the final football tournament to be held in America before all professional sports across the country shut down due to the pandemic.

Even though the USWNT have not played in eight months, they outclassed the Dutch in pretty much every department, with scores from Rose Lavelle and Kristie Mewis leading to a 2-0 win. (You can read a full recap of the game here.)

The match revealed quite a bit about the current state of both teams, and what to expect as they move into the new year.

Here are three things that we learned from the USWNT’s win.

1. The USWNT are still the best team in the world 

With all the time off, especially compared to their opponents, it would have been expected for the USWNT to be rusty. Moreover, this was only head coach Vlatko Andonovski’s 11th game in charge after Jill Ellis stepped down following five years in charge.

However, the team were comfortably able to outmatch and compete against an almost full-strength Dutch team.

It took some time for the USWNT to find fluidity in their attack, but the press was relentless, and the Dutch barely had a say in the happenings of the match. Once the first 20 minutes seemed to pass, the American attack appeared to gain confidence, and after Lavelle finally opened up the scoring in the 41st minute, it looked like the Netherlands were in for a long night, despite only being down one at the half. The USWNT would go on to register 11 shots throughout the match, with six of them being on target.

It isn’t just their attack that makes America the best team in the world. Defensively, the Dutch barely got a sniff, despite having proven goal-scorers in Barcelona’s Lieke Martens and Arsenal’s Jill Roord in the starting eleven, and VfL Wolfsburg’s Shanice van de Sanden coming off the bench. The back four of Crystal Dunn, Becky Sauerbrunn, Abby Dahlkemper, and Kelley O’Hara excelled in limiting the chances and shots of their opponents, but more on the Dutch’s lackluster attack in a second.

In terms of the midfield, the trio of Sam Mewis, Lavelle, and Julie Ertz have constantly shown up and performed for the national team, and this match was no different. They are the perfect trio in terms of versatility, with each of them having a distinct role to play. Ertz did her part as a defensive midfielder, sniffing out any attacking threat from the Netherlands, which gave Mewis and Lavelle the freedom to bomb forward and threaten Netherland’s defense alongside the USWNT’s front three.

Finally, what makes the USWNT the best team in the world today is their depth. With players like Kristie Mewis, Alex Morgan, Midge Purce, and Sophia Smith (in her first appearance for the team) coming off the bench and immediately contributing, the U.S. can rest assured that that if they ever have injury problems, or just need a new gameplan, there is little to no drop off in the quality of their substitutes.

Kristie Mewis punctuated this point when she came off the bench to score the second goal of the night.

2. The Dutch desperately missed Vivianne Miedema

Despite the USWNT going into this match as the clear favorites, the Dutch are no team to scoff at. They were runner-ups at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and were the 2017 champions of the UEFA Women’s Euro’s. And though they lost 2-0 against the USWNT in the World Cup final as well, that match was much more balanced then the one that took place on Friday.

The glaring omission in the friendly was the absence of Vivianne Miedema, who had to pull out of international duty due to a hip injury.

Miedema is considered one of the best players in the world, and a taliswoman for her country. For Arsenal this season in the FAWSL, she’s had 12 goal contributions (10 goals, and 2 assists), and on October 18th, became the first to score 50 WSL goals, overtaking Nikita Parris’ all-time league record of 49.

The Netherlands were missing a superstar playing at the peak of her powers, and it showed. Against the U.S., the Dutch only registered two shots on goal, and both were off the target.

Despite having more possession (62% vs 38%), the Dutch really struggled to get the ball into the box, and while credit to the USWNT’s defence is due, without Miedema, Holland lost their main target and their best finisher. They were unable to form coherent attacking plays, and were often stuck with the ball in their own half, or on the flanks of the pitch in the final third.

It is unclear how serious Miedema’s hip injury is, and the hope for the Dutch is that it is not a long term injury that keeps her out for the upcoming 2021 Olympics.

3. The competition within the USWNT is at an all-time high — and big names will be cut for the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo

The Olympics are set to start on July 23rd, 2021, after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, unlike the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which has a limit of 23 players per final squad, the Olympics has a cap of 18. As mentioned before, the USWNT has amazing strength in their depth, and that means that several players who may be deserving of a call-up won’t get one.

There have not yet been any set USWNT matches scheduled from now until the Olympics, but with a training camp scheduled in January, the SheBelieves Cup in February, as well as some friendlies expected to happen, Andonovski will have lots of time to narrow down a selection. This USWNT squad is so talented, it’s only inevitable that big names and fan favorites will have to be cut in order to fit the 18-player limit.

On November 25th, FIFA announced the nominees for their annual Football Awards, which will take place on December 17th 2020. It will be the first awards held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The window to be considered is based on what was done between July 8th, 2019 to October 8th, 2020, which eliminates any performances from the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Below are the nominees for player of the year and a summary of their accomplishments.

 

THE BEST FIFA WOMEN’S PLAYER
1. Lucy Bronze – England – Olympique Lyonnais & Manchester City

Lucy Bronze won the UEFA Champions League with Lyon, helping the club win its fifth consecutive Champions League. Bronze also won the Division 1 Féminine league title and the Coupe de France with Lyon before returning to Manchester City, where she is now an integral part of their starting XI.


2. Delphine Cascarino – France – Olympique Lyonnais

Delphine Cascarino won the treble with Olympique Lyon — the Champions League, the Division 1 Féminine, and the Coupe de France. She was named Player of the Match in the Champions League Final, as she controlled the game by setting up the first two goals that Lyon scored.

3. Caroline Graham Hansen – Norway – Barcelona

Caroline Graham Hansen won two trophies with Barcelona, winning the Primera División and the very first edition of the Supercopa de España Femenina. Hansen also helped lead Barcelona to the semifinals of the Champions League and was included as part of UEFA’s Squad of the Season.


4. Pernille Harder – Denmark – VfL Wolfsburg & Chelsea

Pernille Harder led VfL Wolfsburg to the Champions League Final, and she won the UEFA Champions League Forward of the Season title due to her efforts throughout the competition. She won the Women’s Footballer of the Year in Germany after winning both the Frauen-Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal Frauen with Wolfsburg, serving as the team’s top scorer with 38 goals in 33 appearances. Harder joined Chelsea earlier this year after signing a contract for a world-record fee for a women’s player.

5. Jennifer Hermoso – Spain – Barcelona 

Jennifer Hermoso won the double with Barcelona in her first year at the club – the Primera División and the Supercopa de España Femenina. She was also the Primera División’s top goalscorer during the 2019/20 season, winning the award for the second consecutive year and for the fourth time in her career.


6. Ji So-yun – South Korea – Chelsea

Ji So-yun won two trophies with Chelsea, the FAWSL league title and the FA Women’s League Cup, bringing her tally to eight trophies won with the club since signing in 2014. Ji was also part of the PFA Team of the Year and was a finalist for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year.

7. Sam Kerr – Australia – Chelsea 

Sam Kerr managed to win her third consecutive NWSL Golden Boot in her last season at Chicago Red Stars, with 18 goals scored, an NWSL record. She was also named the league’s Most Valuable Player. Her move to England saw her win the double with Chelsea in her first season at the club.

8. Saki Kumagai – Japan – Olympique Lyon

Saki Kumagai was a part of Olympique Lyon’s treble-winning team, winning the Division 1 Féminine, the Coupe de France, and the Champions League. Her efforts in the Champions League, including a goal in the final against VfL Wolfsburg, led her to be named to UEFA’s Squad of the Season. Her efforts at both the club and international level also saw her win the Asian Women’s Footballer of the Year in December 2019.

9. Dzsenifer Marozsán – Germany – Olympique Lyon

Dzsenifer Marozsán was also an integral part of Lyon’s treble-winning season. After the Champions League Final, she was awarded UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season. She also won the 2020 Algarve Cup with Germany.

10. Vivianne Miedema – Netherlands – Arsenal

Vivianne Miedema has taken Arsenal to the next level with her goal-scoring prowess. Despite Arsenal only reaching the quarter-finals in the Champions League, Miedema finished as the competition’s top scorer with ten goals. She was also the FAWSL’s top goalscorer during the 2019/20 season with 16 goals. Miedema was integral in Arsenal’s 11-1 win against Bristol City in December 2019, which was the largest victory in the history of the league. During the match, Miedema was involved in ten of Arsenal’s 11 goals with six goals and four assists.

11. Wendie Renard – France – Olympique Lyon

Wendie Renard’s leadership in her central defender role was a massive part of why Olympique Lyon was able to win the treble, so much so that she was named the UEFA Champions League Defender of the Season. The three trophies Renard won this year with Lyon upped her total number of trophies won with the club to 33.

FIFA also shortlisted six goalkeepers for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award and seven coaches for The Best FIFA Women’s coach.

Three finalists from each category will be announced on December 11th, one week before the awards ceremony, with voting open to the public until December 9th.

Vote here.

The halfway point of the FAWSL season is approaching, and while the players are away on international duty, coaching staffs are working on their plans for the second half of the season.

Each club has its own goals for the season, whether it is winning the league or simply avoiding relegation. For a team just promoted from the FA Women’s Championship, there are typically two objectives for their first season in the FAWSL: number one, don’t get relegated. Number two, build a team with a strong foundation—so you don’t get relegated in the years to come.

A tough challenge for any coach, but even more so for Gemma Davies, the FAWSL’s youngest manager. Aston Villa steamrolled the Championship last season with Davies at the helm, winning 13 matches and drawing one during their 14 game season, and finishing six points ahead of second-placed Sheffield United. Watching Villa dominate last season made it easy to forget how much the club once struggled, a testament to the work that Davies has done since she joined the club back in 2018.

The FAWSL is proving to be a new challenge for Davies and the team; they currently sit in 10th place with three points, having registered one win and four losses. The good news is that they are not in the relegation zone, nor are they in eleventh, just above relegation. Their one win against Brighton Hove & Albion back in early November has secured their spot above both Bristol City and Tottenham Hotspur. Furthermore, Villa have played one less game than Bristol City and two less than Tottenham, putting Villa in a position where they have the advantage.

Outside of the league, Villa have made positive strides in the Conti Cup, having topped their group after beating Durham 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. They advanced to the knockout rounds, which will see the top eight teams compete for the cup.

The season is a marathon, not a sprint, but Villa’s upcoming four matches in the league may make or break their season. First, they host league leaders, Manchester United, and while Villa goes into the game as massive underdogs, their mentality regarding the match is vital.

Back in 2018, the same fixture occurred, with United beating Villa 12-0. Both teams were still in the Championship back then, and it was one of Davies’ first matches in charge of Aston Villa. The match was the biggest away win of the season and the highest-scoring match of the season for United.

That blowout is now considered a turning point in the recent history of Aston Villa. Davies herself said it was a “stark awakening” which shaped how she approached managing the team. Davies now has a chance to show her growth, with the same fixture two years on from that twelve-goal defeat.

After United, Villa takes on Bristol City and Tottehnham Hotspur in the league. These two matches are of critical importance given that both teams are below Villa in the table; this is an opportunity for Villa to pull further away from the relegation zone. Both their opponents are in poor form, and while it is important that Villa doesn’t get complacent, the team should go into both matches with confidence.

Villa’s fourth match in December will be against West Ham. At the time of writing, West Ham are one point ahead of Villa in the table. This is yet another opportunity for Villa to gain some more points.

Currently, West Ham have lost four of their last five, and they’ve just lost Matt Beard as head coach, who left the club by mutual consent. It remains to be seen as to whether West Ham will have hired a new permanent head coach by then, but even if they do, it takes time for a team to gel under a new manager. The Villa players will have the upper hand in large part because they know their manager’s system so well.

It’s always fascinating to see how promoted teams do in their first season in the top flight. By simply looking at the league table, it would seem like Aston Villa is massively struggling. But the Villans have a string of winnable games, and if those go their way, then Gemma Davies and her team are on their way to becoming a steady presence in the FAWSL.

The FAWSL may be on hold for a couple of weeks while players are away on international duty, but that doesn’t mean clubs have been shy about trying to improve before the second half of the season begins. Two have made major managerial decisions that are sure to have an impact on how the rest of the year unfolds.

West Ham United announced early on November 19th that head coach Matt Beard would be leaving the club, a decision that has been publicly disclosed as mutual.

Later that day, Tottenham Hotspur announced that co-managers Karen Hills and Juan Amoros have been released of their duties with immediate effect.

Beard has had an abundance of FAWSL experience, to say the least. He was Chelsea’s very first manager when they became a part of the FAWSL back in 2011, having been their manager for a year prior when the club was a part of the FA Premier League National Division. Once the team joined the FAWSL, Beard was a great success both in the league and in the cup competitions. He led Chelsea to its first-ever FA Cup Final in 2012, but after losing the final to Birmingham, he resigned.

A month later, he joined his next FAWSL team — Liverpool. Beard was at the helm of the club when massive changes were made to the team both on the pitch (big, high-profile signings were made after the club finished bottom of the table), and off the pitch (Liverpool became the first English club to offer all their players full-time, professional contracts). These changes lead to Liverpool’s first FAWSL title in 2013, and a second in 2014.

Beard left Liverpool in 2015, and after a short stint with the now-defunct NWSL team the Boston Breakers and a break from managing, Beard returned to the FAWSL to manage West Ham in 2018. Beard managed another FA Cup final appearance with his new club back in 2019. In his two full seasons at the club, Beard managed to finish in 7th and 8th place respectively.

However this season, West Ham are in 9th place and are four points behind 8th place Brighton & Hove Albion.

Beard is a fantastic coach — there is no doubt about it. But it has not seemed to be clicking for him at West Ham as of late. The team is massively underperforming and has not been consistent in their performances since at least the beginning of 2020.

West Ham have not announced a replacement yet, and it’ll be interesting to see who they bring in. Beard is one of the biggest names in women’s football, and the club will be hoping to bring in someone with a similar pedigree who can re-energize the squad. As of right now, goalkeeping coach Billy Steward and first-team coach Paul McHugh will act as interim coaches until a permanent replacement is announced.

Karen Hills has been at Tottenham Hotspur for over a decade, taking over as head coach in 2009. Juan Amoros joined the club in 2011 as co-head coach. The two were pivotal in bringing the club up from the amateur leagues to the FAWSL, having won the Championship play-offs in the 2016/17 season, and securing a promotion spot to the FAWSL in 2019. They also won the FA Women’s National League Cup back to back in 2016 and 2017.

Last season, during their first year in the FAWSL, Tottenham Hotspur finished in 7th place — a strong finish for a newly-promoted side. However, this season, Tottenham have yet to win a match in the league as they currently sit in 11th place with three points. Hills and Amoros’ sacking makes a lot of sense — the Spurs have a real chance of being relegated this season, and something must change if they are to avoid dropping down.

Unlike West Ham, the Spurs have a replacement lined up. They announced later on Thursday that Rehanne Skinner will take charge at the club on a contract through the 2022/2023 season.

Skinner will leave her role as England’s assistant coach, where she worked alongside Phil Neville starting in September of this year. Prior to that, she was head coach of England’s U21 team. She also previously worked with Tottenham’s North London rivals Arsenal, where she was part of the coaching staff that won six trophies, including two FAWSL titles.

It is clear that Tottenham have been working on this appointment for a while, with it being announced mere hours after the sacking of the previous managers. It’s no question that Amoros and especially Hills have cemented themselves in Tottenham’s legacy book, but it’s also clear that a fresh change is needed at the club if they want to build on last year’s 7th place finish and avoid relegation.

To say that Rose Lavelle shone in 2019 would be an understatement. The breakout star of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup not only won the tournament along with the rest of U.S. women’s national team, but she scored a scintillating goal in the final to seal the USWNT’s win against the Netherlands.

Lavelle’s efforts in the final, as well as in the other five matches she started in the tournament, led to her being awarded the Bronze Ball as the third-most outstanding player in the tournament. Later in the year, she was named the sixth-best player in the world at The Best FIFA Football Awards and was also named as part of the starting eleven in the 2019 FIFA FIFPro World XI.

At only 25, Lavelle is expected to be one of the faces of the USWNT for years to come, specifically when some of the older players of this Golden Generation start to bow out of international duty.

So it’s no wonder that her fall signing with Manchester City, along with USWNT teammate Sam Mewis, generated as much excitement as it did. City, and in turn, the entire FAWSL, was getting two superstars.

But with excitement comes expectations. Mewis has hit the ground running at Manchester City. Lavelle has not.

It’s not entirely or even mostly the young USWNT star’s fault. A few months into her Man City stint, it’s clear that coach Gareth Taylor does not know how to utilize Lavelle on his team. Not only has this diminished Lavelle’s playing time and impact, but it’s hurt City’s chances as a team.

The biggest problem stems from Taylor playing Lavelle out of position during her limited chances. Lavelle primarily plays as an advanced central midfielder in the #10 role. In theory, Lavelle’s job is to provide an attacking drive from midfield against the opposition’s backline, which will then often lead to one of two scenarios: she is either able to use her linkup play to create a chance for a teammate or give herself a shot on goal (as she did in the World Cup final).

Taylor, however, seems adamant on playing Lavelle elsewhere. She has played on the left quite a bit, whether as a left midfielder or as a left winger, and Taylor has also shoehorned her in as a centre-forward this season. Playing out of position has handicapped Lavelle. And because she hasn’t been able to show her true potential, she’s been benched. Against Manchester United, she didn’t even step foot on the field.

It’s a frustrating cycle to witness. And what’s even more frustrating is that Manchester City could really use someone like Lavelle.

City are known as one of the FAWSL’s ‘Big Three’ along with Arsenal and Chelsea. The three have been interchangeable at the top of the league since 2014.

Things might change this season with both Manchester United and Everton starting off strong. Both are ahead of City, who sit in fifth place right now. City’s rocky start has come down to inconsistent performances. They either blow teams away or are stagnant in their attack.

A pivotal moment for City was the recent Manchester Derby. It was a chance to advance higher than fifth in the table and to take off points from their league-leading rival. City was cruising by halftime, up two goals thanks to Chloe Kelly and Laura Coombs, but United mounted a comeback, and by the seventy-fifth minute, the match was tied 2-2. City had over 15 minutes to push for a late winner, but Lavelle, a player whose specialty is unlocking tight defenses, remained on the bench as an unused substitute while her teammates struggled against United’s robust defensive line.

The match ended with both teams getting a point a piece, and the question still standing: Why is Lavelle not playing?

City remains in fifth now, and while it is still only halfway through the season, there is a good chance that they do not finish in the top three and are unable to qualify for a Champions League spot, something that has become somewhat of a standard for Manchester City.

It is unclear as to why Lavelle is being mismanaged by Taylor. The good news is that the answer to City’s problems is sitting on their bench. Fans need to hope that Taylor understands that. He’ll have a chance to show he does when Manchester City and Manchester United collide once more in Thursday’s Conti Cup match.

MATCH INFO:

Manchester United 2, Manchester City 2 (Highlights)

Goals: Chloe Kelly – 8’, Laura Coombs – 45+1’, Tobin Heath – 54’, Kirsty Hanson – 74’

A game of two halves would be the best description of the Manchester Derby, with Manchester City dominating the first half against Manchester United, and then the two flipping roles in the second. With a two-goal lead at halftime, City seemed to take their foot off the gas, and their FAWSL rivals capitalized. Having fixed their tactical errors from the first half, United were able to tie up the game with a pair of goals. And while both teams went home with a point apiece, Manchester City will obviously feel more frustrated with the result.

Here’s how the action unfolded:

Manchester United went into the match at the top of the table after beating Arsenal last week, and Manchester City were two points within them in fifth place after an 8-1 thrashing against Bristol City.

The match started quickly with both sides getting a couple of early chances, but it was City who capitalized first. Mary Earps’ loose pass allowed City to win the first corner of the match, and after some scrambling in the box from United’s defense, who could not clear the ball properly, it was City’s Chloe Kelly that gave her side the lead.

From then United seemed to capitulate in defense, and City had chance after chance.

In particular, United struggled immensely with Georgia Stanway, with Ona Batlle having a tough time in her 1v1 matchup. Batlle would often play well into Manchester City’s half when her team was in possession and would press high when United were out of possession. The problem was that City, despite their flaws, are one of the best teams in the league when it comes to transitioning from defense to attack. United were unable to cope with these transitions, and Stanway would often receive the ball in wide-open space with Batlle still running back.

United’s lack of agility during these transitions allowed City numerous shots, including a second goal scored by Laura Coombs, which came after Sam Mewis’ initial shot was blocked. The ball landed at Coombs’ feet, where she took a touch to create space and scored from outside the box.

By halftime, City’s tactic of quickly getting in behind and using the transitions was clearly advantageous in their favor, with 14 shots to United’s two. A significant lead at the time, but in hindsight, they should have been kicking themselves for not extending it.

In the second half, Manchester United rectified their mistakes and were much tighter in the back. A half-time substitute saw Jessica Sigsworth come off for Kirsty Hanson. In the first half, Sigsworth was doing little to help out Batlle defensively. It’s clear that Casey Stoney saw that Hanson could offer more on both ends of the pitch.

United were not only tighter in the back, but much more aggressive while attacking. Unlike the first half, they were not giving away cheap opportunities for City to press them. In fact, it was almost as if both teams switched their style of play. Manchester United’s first goal came from Lucy Bronze’s sloppy passing from the back. Tobin Heath was able to intercept the ball and hit a searing strike into the back of the net.

United’s second came from the substitute, Hanson. A corner rebounded straight into her path, and despite the clustered penalty area, Hansen was able to get the shot off for the equalizer.

Hanson was the epitome of a super-sub for Manchester United. Not only did she score the goal, but she was able to stabilize the right side of the defense that United struggled with in the first half.

Gareth Taylor did not make a substitution until United’s second goal, which was part of the reason his team lost a lot of their momentum in the second half. As much as United improved in the second half, City helped them by not matching the intensity they showcased in the first. Earlier substitutes could have prevented United from getting back into the game.

United were almost able to grab the winner right at the 90th minute, but Demi Stokes was able to clear it off the line despite it getting past the hands of Earps. A fortunate break for Manchester City.

The derby came to an end with both sides earning a point. The good news is that viewers won’t have to wait long for a rematch, as the two sides are up against each other again in the Conti Cup this Thursday. For now, both teams remain in first and fifth in the table respectively.

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE FA WSL:

 

December 5th 

Aston Villa vs. Manchester United @ 7:30 a.m. EST

December 6th 

Everton vs. Manchester City @ 8:00 a.m. EST

Arsenal vs. Birmingham City @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Chelsea vs. West Ham @  9:00 a.m. EST

Tottenham vs. Brighton & Hove Albion @ 9:00 a.m. EST

Reading F.C. vs. Bristol City @ 9:00 a.m. EST

December 12th

Bristol City vs. Aston Villa @ 2:30 p.m. EST

MATCH INFO:

Manchester United vs Manchester City

Leigh Sports Village, Leigh, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom

Kickoff: November 14th, 2020, at 7:30 a.m. EST

WHERE TO WATCH: NBCSN

Week 7 of the FAWSL is upon us, and it is shaping up to be a cracking weekend with four of the top five set to face off. The start of the action on Saturday will see league leaders Manchester United host fifth-place Manchester City. Both teams are coming off of statement-making wins, with United claiming victory over previous league-leaders Arsenal, and City thrashing Bristol City 8-1. If the historic rivalry of the Manchester Derby is not enough to entice viewers to watch the match, the great form of both teams should draw any casual football fan.

Manchester United went into the match against Arsenal last weekend in third place, below both their North London opponents, who were in first at the time, and Everton in second. Chelsea had done United a favour earlier in the day by beating Everton 4-0, and United capitalized with Ella Toone scoring the only goal late on in their win against Arsenal.

The day before, Manchester City hosted Bristol City and dominated them for the full 90 minutes. Bristol City went into the match as massive underdogs, with five of their first-team players unavailable due to one of them developing COVID-19 symptoms the night before, and four other players having to isolate due to living in shared housing with the player in question. Manchester City would have felt aggravated to have briefly allowed Bristol City back into the match, with the score being 1-1 up until the 39th minute, but a three goal blitz in the back end of the first half, as well as four more goals in the second half, led to an easy win for Manchester City.

Manchester United have improved as the season has gone on, and they’ve learned the ability to see out matches. They have not scored the most goals this season (Arsenal has 29, compared to United’s 15), nor have they conceded the least amount of goals (Chelsea have conceded only two goals this season, compared to United’s five), but what sets them apart is their balance of attacking and defensive tactics, a balance that was fully on display against Arsenal.

Unlike Arsenal, United were quite patient while attacking. They did not rush any of their possessions, despite it still being 0-0 well into the second half. This can be showcased by where both teams took their shots. United, who attempted 23 shots, waited until Arsenal’s defense started showing holes. Out of those 23 shots, five were on target, and 13 were taken inside the penalty box. Arsenal, on the hand, were quite erratic and impatient when shooting. Out of their nine shots, only three were in the penalty box.

Arsenal would often rush their play, taking low quality shots from small chances, which Manchester United would then capitalize on. This composure from United led to their lone goal, and they were able to remain tight defensively for the rest of the match.

While United are a team that are tactically patient, Manchester City are erratic, but in the best way. As mentioned before, Bristol City were massive underdogs going into last weekend’s fixture, but not many teams would have been able to score eight past them. City likes to blitz teams using their speed to overload all areas of the pitch. They successfully suffocate teams in their own half, and take chance after chance until they score. It is not a coincidence that Manchester City have had multiple high-scoring games this season —their style is boom or bust.

This aggressiveness can also be their downfall. City’s 3-1 loss against Chelsea earlier in the season showcased the limits of their high-risk, high-reward style of play. Manchester City’s high press created defensive gaps which Chelsea was happy to exploit. Manchester United will look to do the same.

The upcoming derby will also see two USWNT duos go head to head with United’s Tobin Heath and Christen Press facing off against City’s Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis. Both duos came to the WSL with a lot of pressure, with all eyes watching to see if their talent could translate into a brand new league for them.

They haven’t disappointed thus far, with both duos certainly making their marks on their respective teams. Now, we’ll get to see which American pair can claim FAWSL supremacy.

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE FA WSL:

 

November 14th 

Manchester United vs. Manchester City @ 7:30 a.m. EST

Aston Villa vs. Birmingham City @ 9:30 a.m. EST

Everton vs. Reading FC @ 11:30 a.m. EST

Bristol City vs. Tottenham @ 1:30 p.m. EST

November 15th

West Ham vs. Brighton & Hove Albion @ 7:30 a.m. EST

Arsenal vs. Chelsea @ 9:30 a.m. EST