Women's Team Thread 2023/2024

[Gray]

So there’s no chance it could be moved to the Etihad stadium?

Better a packed smaller stadium than a 2/3's empty huge stadium.

 

[tonyfc]

I can't make my mind up whether it's GT who has found the elixir or that the players have individually and collectively found their mojos. Bunny has been a phenomenal goal machine, Lauren Hemp continues with her input, and Jess Park has begun to shine! And the defenxe has been pretty rock solid. I think I'll put it down to a team and coaching staff masterclass. (Can I say 'masterclass' in women's footy?)

Mistressclass

 

[citizen_maine]

Better a packed smaller stadium than a 2/3's empty huge stadium.

Not if you're trying to grow the game and people can't get tickets

 

[Mon Autre]

Better a packed smaller stadium than a 2/3's empty huge stadium.

This is the thing though, if they'd have planned ahead and advertised it properly it needn't have been that way. This is our biggest league game in years and also Steph Houghton's last home game. There's easily scope to surpass the 40k who attended the derby earlier in the season. This feels like a missed opportunity.

Our attendances have been falling behind that of not just our rivals, but also less well established teams. The club have done a lot to address a lot of the areas we were falling behind in of late, I hope attendances/drumming up more support if next on the list.

 

[BringBackSwales]

You know what, seeing how Hayes and Eidevall have behaved fairly regularly this season, makes me appreciate Taylor a bit more. He's always been dignified when representing the club and comes across well, unlike them. I've had doubts about his ability, but if success comes then I'm really pleased for him.

Fair comment. I said after the defeats against real and spurs in the same week that I’d not go again while GT was in charge, so I guess it’s karma that I tried to get a couple of tickets last night and it was sold out. He definitely seems to have turned things round, which I did not expect. Still 2 tricky fixtures to navigate

 

[Mon Autre]

Fair comment. I said after the defeats against real and spurs in the same week that I’d not go again while GT was in charge, so I guess it’s karma that I tried to get a couple of tickets last night and it was sold out. He definitely seems to have turned things round, which I did not expect. Still 2 tricky fixtures to navigate

It's impossible to not give him credit. We've been on a phenomenal run this season and played some great football. That said, i do think there are a couple of slight caveats.

We have been very lucky with injuries compared to our rivals. Losing a player as talismanic as Roord was huge but aside from that we've been incredibly fortunate. I think question marks remain around Taylor's ability to change things up in-game when needed and the fact the team have stayed so injury free has meant he hasn't had to change his starting 11 too much.

I think we looked very blunted without Shaw against Bristol City and if that injury had happened earlier in the season and she'd missed more games, I'm not sure whether or not he would have been able to find an answer for that.

The way Jess Park has performed since filling in for Roord has been incredible. On the flipside though, you could ask why she was getting so few minutes before that. She got in the team because he was forced to play her. Credit it to him to have got her playing so well in a new position though.

There's no doubt he's turned things around this season, and having the support of Nielsen has clearly rejuvenated things behind the scenes. I'm still not convinced how he would cope with the need to be more dynamic and creative with his tactics/lineups, but i can only judge him on the hand he's been dealt this season and he's done really well.

 

[mattcity5]

Not if you're trying to grow the game and people can't get tickets

Definitely a shame if people want to go and can't. I wonder if we're prioritising playing the game at the team's 'home' venue? A more familiar setting for the players, Arsenal women may raise their game playing at the Etihad etc.

 

[mattcity5]

This is the thing though, if they'd have planned ahead and advertised it properly it needn't have been that way. This is our biggest league game in years and also Steph Houghton's last home game. There's easily scope to surpass the 40k who attended the derby earlier in the season. This feels like a missed opportunity.

Our attendances have been falling behind that of not just our rivals, but also less well established teams. The club have done a lot to address a lot of the areas we were falling behind in of late, I hope attendances/drumming up more support if next on the list.

I hope there's consideration for increasing the capacity at the Joie in years to come. Not making it huge, but potentially moving it up to 15k or something like that?

Maybe not needed right now, but if the game continues to grow then it feels like in maybe 5 years that needs could be realistic.

 

[Nellie]

Definitely a shame if people want to go and can't. I wonder if we're prioritising playing the game at the team's 'home' venue? A more familiar setting for the players, Arsenal women may raise their game playing at the Etihad etc.

Are we contracted to play a minimum number of home WSL games at the Joie stadium as part of the sponsorship agreement with the company?

 

[citizen_maine]

Are we contracted to play a minimum number of home WSL games at the Joie stadium as part of the sponsorship agreement with the company?

I'd imagine that has a lot to do with it. They won't be too keen on us playing the big games away from the ground they're sponsoring

 

[mattcity5]

Are we contracted to play a minimum number of home WSL games at the Joie stadium as part of the sponsorship agreement with the company?

Don't know about this, but can see it making sense from the sponsors point of view to have something like that included in the deal.

 

[cleavers]

Plus that corrupt officiating at ours early this season with the joke sending off and time added on to the already hefty time added on for them to score.

If we do it after that load of crap, its quite remarkable. It'd be done now without that travesty of refereeing.

 

[cleavers]

It won't happen at this stage now. They've had plenty of lead time to make it happen but have chosen not to. It's a shame when you have Arsenal getting 42k for a dead rubber against Leicester last week to not see City maximising opportunities to get more fans through the gates and give our attendances a much needed boost.

I think it's probably down to logistics with fixture issues/TV.

With both teams home this weekend, there would have been doubt about the mens game, given we were still in europe 2 weeks ago, so both fixtures might have had to be moved at short notice, and quite possible had to be played at the same time.

It's a shame, but it is what it is.

The most important thing is to get the points we need.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I think it's probably down to logistics with fixture issues/TV.

With both teams home this weekend, there would have been doubt about the mens game, given we were still in europe 2 weeks ago, so both fixtures might have had to be moved at short notice, and quite possible had to be played at the same time.

It's a shame, but it is what it is.

The most important thing is to get the points wee need.

I think it could be a positive as they need to win a big game and the risk of doing that in front of 53k adding more pressure.

We will never know, but it all being as familiar as it can could be the best way forwards.

 

[Mon Autre]

I think it's probably down to logistics with fixture issues/TV.

With both teams home this weekend, there would have been doubt about the mens game, given we were still in europe 2 weeks ago, so both fixtures might have had to be moved at short notice, and quite possible had to be played at the same time.

It's a shame, but it is what it is.

The most important thing is to get the points wee need.

I think this might be a generous reading of things though. Arsenal managed to commit to 6 games at the Emirates at the start of the season and their men's team were in the same boat as us i.e. in the champions league and likely title contenders.

FWIW I don't think there's as much of a pressing need to bring City women's fixtures to the men's stadium compared to other teams, as we have great fit for purpose stadium already and it's in the same locations as the men's (as opposed to other teams playing well out of town and being less accessible). BUT we should be identifying where the opportunities are to grow our crowds and give our players the opportunity to play on the biggest stages. If other teams can make it work we should be able to as well. This kind of thing will also start factoring into the mindsets of big players when choosing who to sign for in future. Obviously money and trophies will come into the argument, but once Arsenal have permanently moved to the Emirates, the opportunity to play to huge crowd every home game (and the commercial opportunities that brings) will be a huge lure.

 

[Mon Autre]

I think it could be a positive as they need to win a big game and the risk of doing that in front of 53k adding more pressure.

We will never know, but it all being as familiar as it can could be the best way forwards.

I think there are definitely some pros to playing in a sell out Joie stadium but i very much doubt that they are the reason why this game hasn't happened at the Etihad. And I think the players would absolutely thrive playing in front of 53k. Don't think anything will ever eclipse the pressure that came playing in a sold out Wembley in the Euros final for the likes of Greenwood, Kelly and Hemp. They love it.

 

[cleavers]

I think this might be a generous reading of things though.

It might just be City's readong of it.

I hope we never morph into arsenal at any level, they report "sold out" at the emirates, and "record" crowds, yet when you watch it it's usually less than half full in reality. I suspect many of their tickets are given away, not sold, and people apply for them, then can't be arsed turning up if its raining or cold.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

It might just be City's readong of it.

I hope we never morph into arsenal at any level, they report "sold out" at the emirates, and "record" crowds, yet when you watch it it's usually less than half full in reality. I suspect many of their tickets are given away, not sold, and people apply for them, then can't be arsed turning up if its raining or cold.

It also would have been the first weekend of clashing with concerts.

 

[nmc]

Might be a business case in the future to expand the womens stadium - add another 10k by expanding the ends ? For Sundays game the Joie Stadium is too small and the Etihad too big.

 

[mattcity5]

Might be a business case in the future to expand the womens stadium - add another 10k by expanding the ends ? For Sundays game the Joie Stadium is too small and the Etihad too big.

Yeah I said something like this earlier, I hope the club are planning it in. In five years the current set up could be too small.