I know what you mean but peoples personal lives often mean decisions like this have to be “handled”.
I agree, some very good points in your post.It'll be interesting to see if this is addressed by any of those who do go, there's been enough rumour about it and it wouldn't be a huge surprise, but it's been hearsay so far far as I can tell. It'd definitely be harder to explain away Walsh leaving the way it might be for those whose contracts are expiring.
The problem is it's not just one issue though, is it? Taylor hasn't inspired much confidence but even before he came in we fell short a few times and the club didn't seem in a hurry to change things. Cushing was a good coach but he was never at the level of Hayes, management just seem to be happy with stability and a challenge rather than really pushing on like the top sides.
Then there's the recruitment, we're good at bringing through young players, sure, but we've fallen behind Chelsea and Arsenal because they sign top players and integrate them well (Miedema for Arsenal, Kerr/Harder for Chelsea) and our big signings (maybe Mewis excepted?) just don't seem to get going, so we're left relying on younger players to come through and make the difference. That sort of strategy only really works if you're signing your key players to long-term contracts and iterating season after season, but we stick with 2/3 year deals and keep making the same sort of signings.
Really hope we can get it right but not at all convinced we have enough in place on the women's side to evolve the way we would on the men's.
I agree with you overall but not sure last season is the best example of it. Whether it was Taylor's doing or not, we barely dropped any points in the league and only missed out on the title by a couple of points, and got knocked out in the Champions League by the best team in Europe. Lavelle definitely wasn't used well but she struggled to get going for most of the year and the people she was competing with were on fire. That's another example of our recruitment problems though imo, a big signing brought in without a clear role or place for her.I agree, some very good points in your post.
I'm not a big fan of Taylor mainly because he clearly has favourites and freezes out certain players. Biggest issue was last year when we had Mewis and Lavelle - we should have done much better but he refused to play Rose even after a fantastic performance in the CL - she was dropped next game, players don't respond to that kind of thing. Losada even at her age is a fantastic player but needs to play in a better system than just passing back and two across the back before launching 60 yard cross field passes. I hope he can prove me wrong as his quotes towards the end of this season were better but as they say the proof is in the pudding.
I don't think there's anyone seriously suggesting it is just a wage cap issue, unfortunately.I'm no expert on the women's game but if we lose players due to a wage-cap rule, why don't Chelsea or Arsenal lose their star players too? If Stanway and Weir go this season, what's to stop Hemp and Kelly viewing us as a selling club and thinking of leaving next summer?
Not the female Nige! Mrs Ewing taught Keira in her last year in primary school. She's a City fan through and through, like Foden and Esme Morgan. I shall be thoroughly pissed off if she goes.Have you seen the stuff about Walsh possibly leaving too? We could be watching an entirely different team next season, could end up with an even early champs league exit!
Yes me too, irreplaceable as far as I am concerned.Not the female Nige! Mrs Ewing taught Keira in her last year in primary school. She's a City fan through and through, like Foden and Esme Morgan. I shall be thoroughly pissed off if she goes.
Very disappointed tbh but no doubt @Bigga will be pleased, I guess it is one less thing we'll argue about.Sad to see her holding that piece of shit, might as well be a rag shirt.
I thought she came in and steadied the ship when we were really struggling, she looked better than Kennedy at centre half anyway.I thought Jill did well at centre-back, and thought that could have been the future for her with more experience in that position, and it could have lengthened her playing career. It certainly helps having players with her passing ability 'playing out'.
Has Jill Scott left? She went out on loan but her last contract with City included being a coach.I think Jill Scott inferred that all the players hate Taylor or at least a sizeable do when she left, and given city seem loyal to Taylor no matter what some players might be considering options. Could be unrelated I guess but still
Not sure we've been watching the same team if this is what you think she does, from where I sit she's the only one in midfield who can be trusted to be given the ball under pressure, in tight spaces, and keep it going rather than being dispossessed. Weir can do it on her day but hasn't been as consistent this season and likes to go for a dribble anyway which is more risky, Losada has the technique but not the agility, and Stanway falls over. The likes of Coombs etc aren't on the same level and it shows when they try to cover for her.
I'm not sure what more you're looking for in terms of moving forward when she's playing at the base of midfield distributing it to virtually everyone (backwards, sideways and forward) from deep and getting assists. It'd be like criticising Fernandinho for not making KDB-style passes a few years ago or pumping it forward, it's just not part of the job. If they wanted to replace her, they'd either need to change style massively or throw money at someone like Lia Waelti.
I don't entirely disagree with you about tempo being an issue fwiw, but that's that's a team issue, not a Walsh issue, - Alanna Kennedy passing it between herself and Alex Greenwood, the wingers refusing to hit crosses early, strikers holding up the ball rather than facing goal etc. That's where the coaching comes in though, we've never had a top coach and it shows.
Beckie and Stanway gone. Who's next? These are two players that any team should be hanging on to! Top scorer off to pastures new. Is it money or is there summat else goin' on at The Academy. The women's team always seem to be under the radar when 'ins 'n outs' are on the move! Very disappointed that Georgia has gone. I wonder if all that buggering about at full back tipped the balance.
On a positive note the team had to evolve as the core were getting a little stale. Seems to be happening at other clubs too. I have to hope that they have a plan which they stick to. Further recruitment will be key and the two players rumoured from Atletico look decent but Taylor has to get more out of the players he already brought in. Losada, Raso, Mace, Shaw, Blackstad & Angeldhal are good players but he didn't use them enough or in the right positions. Losada for example is more than capable of running a midfield just make sure she has the right parts around her. She was unlucky to get injured but when he put her in, the system due to other injuries, was all wrong as were the tactics - I do hope she stays fit next year.
The way he used Lavelle and Beckie didn't sit well with me - I just hope he's learn't from that and will play a more attacking possession based football rather than the slow build up, low risk stuff we saw at times this year. No denying they went on a great run but still some of his tactics were a tad questionable.
I'm not surprised both Stanway & Weir are going to try overseas football and this maybe a little controversial but I actually think both were great scorers but often the choice of final pass they made was wrong or delayed. Wish them the best of luck but we move on.
The club have seemingly chosen to stick with Taylor and I guess he just about deserves a chance to build the team but it must be on a short leash. It will be interesting to see if he can get the best out of both the newish and new players.
Very disappointed tbh but no doubt @Bigga will be pleased, I guess it is one less thing we'll argue about.
Don't agree with all of that but it sounds like we agree on more than I thought from your first post!Thank you for the response. It's quite interesting those stats for Walsh's distribution during the Chelsea game. Admittedly, I had the game on screen screen two, but was concentrating on the West Ham game.
However, that didn't stop me noticing the odd time Walsh getting pressed and overrun in midfield. Not a fair verdict of the game, admittedly, but noticeable.
That doesn't take away from her game control in other matches, which is quite negative depending on the efficiency of the press from the opposition. Most give Walsh time, but safety first is still the approach, not progressive through the lanes.
Saying that, I think Weir is a terrible partner for her and doesn't bring out the attacking flair Walsh has for the national team.
Interesting that you bring up Ferna, knowing that they both play similar roles for the team. Walsh/ Ferna/ Rodri are the bassline of the team, which means the Women must have a Bernardo/ Gundogan as the rhythm, which is definitely not Weir but, ironically, could have been Stanway with the crazy tackling taken out of her game!
Other than those semantics, I agree the coaching is an issue and they're limiting the Women.
Zinchenko counts is lucky stars every single day of his life, deep down he would love to play AM/MC for City but he is getting a great wage and a great football life at City winning loads of trophies he probably never expected to win.Mate, I can't see that being the issue.
The men fill in to the best f their abilities and as long as a player plays to the best of their ability, what's the issue?
Non City fan, Zinny could have walked ages ago, based on that theory.