Women's Football Thread 2024/2025

[chesterbells]

There's clearly been a directive this season to be as evasive as possible around injury news. I'm not really sure who is behind that decision or why but it goes right back to Shimizu getting her ACL at the olympics last year. I think it took about 6 weeks for the club to confirm that. I know a couple of writers/broadcasters who are pretty well connected in the women's game but they've been completely stonewalled around this kind of stuff at times.

It's a weird one. On one hand, I don't think fans necessarily have a right to know about any individual's medical status, but at the same time it's odd that this only seems to be a thing for our women's side. If anything, I think it's just created quite a destabilising atmosphere around the team.

And it surely can't be because we don't want other teams to have the inside track on our injury news because it's not as if all of these players aren't talking to their friends, international teammates and partners who play for rival sides.

Yes agreed, and thanks for that.

It’s partly that, the club and the league presumably want to increase interest in and profile of the game. Yet when supporters do start to get involved and take a greater interest, there’s not the framework or structure to service that demand for information and interest. All a bit bewildering to be honest.

 

[Mon Autre]

If you control information, you have power.

But like I say, their colleagues in the game and at other clubs have all of that information. It's just left fans feeling frustrated and uncertain if anything. Like I say, I don't think we as fans have a "right" to this information, it just seems a curious choice.

Also information has accidentally leaked at times, which has then just made us not seem very in control. Someone on City TV accidentally let the cat out of the bag about Shimizu in the pre amble to a preseason game and then we've had Wiegman answering questions about Hemp in her press conferences.

 

[better dead than red]

But like I say, their colleagues in the game and at other clubs have all of that information. It's just left fans feeling frustrated and uncertain if anything. Like I say, I don't think we as fans have a "right" to this information, it just seems a curious choice.

Also information has accidentally leaked at times, which has then just made us not seem very in control. Someone on City TV accidentally let the cat out of the bag about Shimizu in the pre amble to a preseason game and then we've had Wiegman answering questions about Hemp in her press conferences.

Yes, the other clubs know. I was thinking more along fans not knowing half the starters are essentially out for the year injured or serving a failed drug test under the guide of injury maybe will keep the casual fan and those curious about the matches attending.

 

[Mon Autre]

Yes, the other clubs know. I was thinking more along fans not knowing half the starters are essentially out for the year injured or serving a failed drug test under the guide of injury maybe will keep the casual fan and those curious about the matches attending.

Hmm going off what a lot of the fans are saying though, I think the perceived lack of transparency has proved frustrating for a lot of them. And it's felt like it's slightly damaged the connection with the fans. I dont think it's made people attend more or fewer games either way, but I think people have just come to fear the worst around injuries now.

 

[born2bblu]

I believe I am not completely wrong thinking that the club deals differently between the men’s and women’s teams. The official website is always loaded with the men team’s news including their injuries and fitness, to the extent of being repetitive and borderline boring. When it comes to the women’s team, the news, including injuries and fitness, are notably limited and mostly ignored. Not sure why women players’ injuries and fitness should be kept a secret, as some keep posting, and not men. It just doesn’t make sense. I also recall that this was not the club’s approach several years ago when the women team’s news were covered equally, or almost equally, to the men team’s news. If this idea is true, it will agree that the club, particularly when Taylor was in charge, considered women’s football a luxury, a decoration, something for PR, and not a serious activity, which also appeared not to be the case before Taylor. I am afraid that letting Taylor in charge for a long time caused a serious negative effect that will require significant efforts to recover from. Time will tell if I am true or wrong. For instance, it will further support my point if we suffer a new exodus in summer.

 

[nmc]

I wonder when we will hear some news re a new manager?

 

[Bridgejunky]

She's the one player I regret us losing, she was capable of all kinds of good stuff, especially shooting when unexpected.

I hope you don't ever get her :-)

I'll be along if we ever do. :)

 

[RiversideBlue]

I believe I am not completely wrong thinking that the club deals differently between the men’s and women’s teams. The official website is always loaded with the men team’s news including their injuries and fitness, to the extent of being repetitive and borderline boring. When it comes to the women’s team, the news, including injuries and fitness, are notably limited and mostly ignored. Not sure why women players’ injuries and fitness should be kept a secret, as some keep posting, and not men. It just doesn’t make sense. I also recall that this was not the club’s approach several years ago when the women team’s news were covered equally, or almost equally, to the men team’s news. If this idea is true, it will agree that the club, particularly when Taylor was in charge, considered women’s football a luxury, a decoration, something for PR, and not a serious activity, which also appeared not to be the case before Taylor. I am afraid that letting Taylor in charge for a long time caused a serious negative effect that will require significant efforts to recover from. Time will tell if I am true or wrong. For instance, it will further support my point if we suffer a new exodus in summer.

I disagree to a degree. I find the website/app very inclusive of the women's team. I would question more the common sense of some of the fixture scheduling where attracting crowds to matches is less important than tv money. For example, last season we had 40,000 to our home derby match with a sensible kick off time. This year a poor crowd for a sunday evening (school night) game. The League cup final played on the same day as the Men's team have a home fixture = piss poor crowd. Why? The future is getting more people into the ground, particularly kids.

 

[Bridgejunky]

Just buy everyone. Already used 49 players this season- you just need another 20 or 30 players. Help yourselves to Hemp, Greenwood and Shaw. You clearly don’t want any competition.

I was gutted we didn't get Hemp when she left Bristol. I attended her penultimate game for Bristol at Stoke Gifford against us. When she walked off the pitch that day everyone knew she was leaving but not where she was going. I don't buy all the claims that Chelsea have dominated the league in recent seasons. Granted, we've won five titles in a row, but we squeaked every one of them. Those titles would have been a lot more comfortable if Hemp had played them in royal blue instead of light blue.

Meanwhile, there are squad limits, so all WSL sides have the same number of players available. If you believe that we have more players of quality than your club does, then your problem is with them not with us. You already know that though.

 

[chesterbells]

I disagree to a degree. I find the website/app very inclusive of the women's team. I would question more the common sense of some of the fixture scheduling where attracting crowds to matches is less important than tv money. For example, last season we had 40,000 to our home derby match with a sensible kick off time. This year a poor crowd for a sunday evening (school night) game. The League cup final played on the same day as the Men's team have a home fixture = piss poor crowd. Why? The future is getting more people into the ground, particularly kids.

Absolutely, all clear common sense. And as for tv, you’d think showing a match with much fuller stands would be a better product for them too.

 

[Mon Autre]

I disagree to a degree. I find the website/app very inclusive of the women's team. I would question more the common sense of some of the fixture scheduling where attracting crowds to matches is less important than tv money. For example, last season we had 40,000 to our home derby match with a sensible kick off time. This year a poor crowd for a sunday evening (school night) game. The League cup final played on the same day as the Men's team have a home fixture = piss poor crowd. Why? The future is getting more people into the ground, particularly kids.

With you on the social media side of things. I think after trying the one club approach the club have now reverted back to using their own dedicated channels with the men's and women's stuff mostly separated out. Even though I follow both I actually prefer it that way.

Regarding scheduling I can't really see much changing on that front as it would require the men's game to co-operate too and be mindful of their own scheduling. Given the powers that be in the men's game have shown little regard for fans and player welfare with their own scheduling, I can't imagine they'll do much to assist the growth of the women's game either.

With Sunday evening fixtures though, I think those are becoming a lot rarer. I was told at the start of the season by someone at the league that that slot was only going to be used as a "last resort" moving forward. And I think that was true as there have been far fewer games in that time slot this season.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Any ideas who's gonna play No9 on Sunday?

 

[rowarta]

Mary Fowler fitness update

Manchester City can confirm Mary Fowler has suffered a rupture to her anterior cruciate ligament.

www.mancity.com

Manchester City can confirm Mary Fowler has suffered a rupture to her anterior cruciate ligament.
The Australia international suffered the injury during the Blues’ Adobe Women’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United on Sunday 13 April.

Mary will remain under the care of the Club’s medical team and start her rehabilitation.

Everyone at City wishes Mary all the best on a full and speedy recovery.

 

[Alex6691]

The club have confirmed Mary has ruptured her ACL. Gutted for her and for us. She has had a great season and really grown into the team

 

[Lee the Blue]

The amount of injuries this team has suffered this season is ridiculous and unsurvivable. Terrible news for her and City - by my count thats Greenwood, Knaak, Roord, Hemp, Blinkilde-Brown, Miedema, Shaw, Fujino & Fowler all out injured - 9 first Team players, 7 of whom constitute being certain starters in our first XI. That situation is just not viable for any chances of winning games.

 

[Bridgejunky]

Gutted for Mary Fowler. The injury brings her best ever season to a premature end and starts the speculation as to how long she will be out. Has to be odds on that she'll miss the whole of next season. I'm glad they are researching possible causes for this tsunami of ACLs in women's football. If there is a traceable cause I hope they find it soon.

City are going to need to have a great summer. They have to get the right coach (I have no idea who that would be mind you) then they have to play a blinder in the transfer market, both in terms of recruitment and retaining existing stars.

It feels like the club could do with a big injection positivity. I was confidently predicting a City title win this season, and my certainty that you would beat Barcelona in that opening Champions League game proved to be justified. There are enough great players in the squad to produce a great team but the group seems to need an injection of luck and belief.

 

[JRockBlues]

I think we all expected the news on Mary's injury but it's sickening for her all the same. The way she walked off afterwards gave me a little bit of hope that it wasn't what it looked like though the slow motion replay of the incident was pretty indicative. Really feel for her and wish her the best for her treatment and recovery.

 

[Mon Autre]

Hiya folks. Just wanted to say a quick goodbye to some of you as I've decided to leave the forum. There's a few areas of it I'm finding difficult at the moment so I think it's best I step back l. I'm not a prolific poster anyway so it's no huge loss, but I've really enjoyed chatting to a lot of you in this part of the forum about the women's team (follow both of our team but it's much easier to chat about the women's football on the Internet than it is men's ha).

Anyway, all the best everyone and maybe i'll bump into some of you unknowingly at games in the future. Here's hoping for a restful summer, a decent new manager and we go again next year. Take care x

 

[Alex6691]

Hiya folks. Just wanted to say a quick goodbye to some of you as I've decided to leave the forum. There's a few areas of it I'm finding difficult at the moment so I think it's best I step back l. I'm not a prolific poster anyway so it's no huge loss, but I've really enjoyed chatting to a lot of you in this part of the forum about the women's team (follow both of our team but it's much easier to chat about the women's football on the Internet than it is men's ha).

Anyway, all the best everyone and maybe i'll bump into some of you unknowingly at games in the future. Here's hoping for a restful summer, a decent new manager and we go again next year. Take care x

That’s a shame mate. You’re a great poster here who adds a lot of value to the womens team forum.

All the best and hopefully you’ll be back soon.

 

[normskih]

Hiya folks. Just wanted to say a quick goodbye to some of you as I've decided to leave the forum. There's a few areas of it I'm finding difficult at the moment so I think it's best I step back l. I'm not a prolific poster anyway so it's no huge loss, but I've really enjoyed chatting to a lot of you in this part of the forum about the women's team (follow both of our team but it's much easier to chat about the women's football on the Internet than it is men's ha).

Anyway, all the best everyone and maybe i'll bump into some of you unknowingly at games in the future. Here's hoping for a restful summer, a decent new manager and we go again next year. Take care x

All the best x