Women's CL Semi-final v Lyon

[squirtyflower]

As good as Bronze is, I don’t think one player should have made such a huge difference, in particularly a right back.

I think Cushing has a refreshment job coming up from this summer because this team looks a little stale for me now. The big problem is that until the FA WSL allows the likes of City and Chelsea to attract some of the players Lyon can by offering similar wages we will be left behind at the very top.

I think you forgot we lost Duggan too

 

[cadds92]

I think you forgot we lost Duggan too

Agreed, but Duggan barely played during the spring series because Carli Lloyd came in.

Duggan, Lloyd and Bronze left us with a loss of quality definitely.

If the FA dropped the wage cap we could obliterate the Lyon pay structure and not bat an eyelid because the cost of running a women’s team for a PL side is peanuts.

 

[squirtyflower]

Agreed, but Duggan barely played during the spring series because Carli Lloyd came in.

Duggan, Lloyd and Bronze left us with a loss of quality definitely.

If the FA dropped the wage cap we could obliterate the Lyon pay structure and not bat an eyelid because the cost of running a women’s team for a PL side is peanuts.

They need to let clubs invest in the future and get the game on the map, they won’t do that with lower quality players

 

[cadds92]

Finished 1-0

Not even a shot on target from us.

Lyon had 24 attempts to our 3.

 

[waspish]

Watched bits of this game in between watching the men’s game seems we didn’t even have a go or even try to lump it in the box reminded me of our semi final in champs league against Madrid.

 

[Dhruv1]

Unlucky MCWFC, pretty cruel way to exit. Wish we didn't have to lose Lucy.

 

[cleavers]

Despite the negativity above, I thought we played pretty well, and we only needed the one chance to go through, right until the death.

Lyon are the better side clearly, but over 2 games, to only lose 1-0 to the best team in europe is not a bad effort, especially when you look at the number of goals they score.

 

[Nelly's Left Foot]

We are definitely a level below Lyon and to only lose by one goal , a special one too , is a good effort. The problem is that we are technically way behind the best teams in Europe like Lyon and Wolfsburg and probably Barca. Lucy Bronze isn't necessarily technically brilliant but i such a driving force from full back she just makes things happen and of course scores some key goals. many a time when City had been struggling it was Lucy who went into overdrive to create something with her energy and driving runs.

I enjoy watching the team play but I do get frustrated when they mess up making a simple pass or miss control a pass or don't see an opening or whatever.Often basic stuff but we are still the best or close to it in England. I feel the same watching England play as well. Decent team but just lacking the quality in the final third which is so oftendown to that touch or final pass.

Losing Toni Duggan might be considered a blow but nothing like Lucy imo. yes she scores a worldie or two a season but overall she was much like the rest with messing things up in the final third. Now we have Georgia Stanway very capable of scoring the great goals. She too doesn't have the best technical quality through her game but she is very young still and learning and developing nicely. Hopefully she stays with us.

But plenty of work for Nick Cushing and his team to improve the basics of the players we have but also to recruit well to improve the team especiall in creating and scoring.

 

[Bigga]

Despite the negativity above, I thought we played pretty well, and we only needed the one chance to go through, right until the death.

Lyon are the better side clearly, but over 2 games, to only lose 1-0 to the best team in europe is not a bad effort, especially when you look at the number of goals they score.

Actually this was an error by Cushing.

If we were going to lose, we were going to lose. Do so, by trying to attack than trying not to lose.

If we were more on the front foot, I believe Lyon would have become desperate but, instead, we invited them on.

Drive them back, let them be nervous. What did we have to lose, playing the purported 'best team in Europe'?

Big error there for me.

 

[cleavers]

Actually this was an error by Cushing.

If we were going to lose, we were going to lose. Do so, by trying to attack than trying not to lose.

If we were more on the front foot, I believe Lyon would have become desperate but, instead, we invited them on.

Drive them back, let them be nervous. What did we have to lose, playing the purported 'best team in Europe'?

Big error there for me.

I don't agree, if we'd gone there at 0-0 and then tried to attack, we'd have been well out of it before half time, but we were still in with a chance into injury time, and we had one chance to do it, which was poorly executed. Cushing is not Pep, and he doesn't have Pep's squad, so he has to do it his way, the last time Lyon lost was against City at the same stage last year, but we were pretty much dead and buried then from "having a go" in the home leg.