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Post by bluetornados on May 5, 2024 20:35:18 GMT
Sunday 5th May 2024 - Women's Super League
West Ham United 1 (Ueki 13) Leicester City 1 (S.Howard 36)
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Report by Adam Millington, BBC Sport journalist.Leicester's winless run stretched to seven Women's Super League games after being held by second-bottom West Ham. The Irons started brightly when Riko Ueki sent a low drive past Janina Leitzig after being slipped in by Japanese compatriot Honoka Hayashi to hand them a 13th-minute lead. West Ham had looked vulnerable before taking the lead, which was cancelled out in the 36th minute when Sophie Howard nodded in a powerful header from a Jutta Rantala corner. The result left Leicester 10th in the league, three points ahead of their hosts. Both sides showed promise in an open game, but neither were able to find the cutting edge on the counter-attack. Rantala was Leicester's main catalyst going forward as she spotted chances to open gaps in the West Ham defence and made creative clever runs, but her efforts weren't enough to direct the Foxes to victory. West Ham almost went back in front in the second half when Viviane Asseyi nodded a Jessica Ziu delivery just wide of the post, but it was Leicester who looked the most likely to grab a winner. Janice Cayman bundled a loose ball over the line, but the goal was disallowed as Lena Petermann fouled Hayashi in the build-up. Saori Takarada then had a close-range volley expertly parried away by West Ham goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, while Yuka Momiki also had an effort palmed clear by Arnold. Leicester continued to ramp up the pressure, but could not find a way past the impressive Arnold.
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Post by bluetornados on May 5, 2024 21:00:53 GMT
Furious Liverpool boss Matt Beard sees red but gets last laugh to overtake rivals Man Utd..By Megan Feringa - Football Writer.
i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article32740364.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200d/0_GettyImages-2151561982.jpg Matt Beard was sent off for his disproval of the officialWith less than half an hour gone, Grace Fisk had to be fitted fitted with a Terry-Butcher-esque bandage after a head injury and shortly after Liverpool's Emma Koivisto collided with the advertising hoarding along the touchline after what appeared to be a poor challenge from United defender Gemma Evans. And Beard, visibly incensed by both the challenge and perceived impunity with which Evans was treated, was swiftly handed his marching orders after some apoplectic remonstrations of official Burgin. The sending off means Beard will have to watch Liverpool's final game of the season - away to Leicester City on 18 May - from the stands. Beard was seen sitting in the Prenton Park stands for the duration of the game. And whatever sense of injustice Liverpool felt at the dismissal of their manager only served as fuel as the hosts revelled in yet another set-piece goal after Jenna Clark was left completely unmarked at the back post and swept home Marie Höbinger scuffed effort. i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article32740367.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200e/0_GettyImages-2151558331.jpgThe goal was the least the hosts deserved. United were far from their best and spurned their better chances, only hitting the target three times with efforts which didn't do much to trouble keeper Teagan Micah. While victory over United would not register the same shock as the mid-week triumph over Chelsea, it certainly represents the latest laurel for Beard in a resounding season. Liverpool suffered a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of United last season, but have now recorded successive wins over Skinner's side in the latest sign of both team's respective evolutions. The Reds remain on track to record their best league finish since 2016-17, while United could finish almost 20 points off the league leaders after pushing the Blues to the brink last campaign.
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Post by bluetornados on May 5, 2024 21:12:09 GMT
Sunday 5th May 2024 - Women's Super League
Chelsea 8 (Reiten 6 pen, 56, 70, 77, Nusken 23, Beever-jones 52, 88, Charles 74) Bristol City 0
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Report by Sam Drury, BBC Sport journalist.Guro Reiten scored four as Chelsea thrashed Bristol City to keep their Women's Super League title hopes alive. In Emma Hayes' last home game in charge, Reiten's sixth-minute penalty put the Blues in front and Sjoeke Nusken bundled the ball in from close range to double the lead. A sweeping team move was finished off by Aggie Beever-Jones early in the second half and a Reiten's fierce 20-yard strike made sure of the points soon after. But with the possibility that the league could be decided by goal difference after Manchester City's loss to Arsenal, Chelsea kept pushing for more goals. Substitute Catarina Macario played in Reiten to complete her hat-trick and Niamh Charles converted from the American's free-kick to make it six. Reiten thumped in her fourth with 13 minutes still remaining and when Beever-Jones headed in her second the Blues gained the edge over City in terms of goal difference, having started the day with a seven-goal deficit. Chelsea are now three points behind City with a game in hand - away at Tottenham on 15 May - as the season heads towards a thrilling conclusion. i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article32741687.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200e/0_GettyImages-2151589353jpgoring.jpgi2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article32741688.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200e/0_GettyImages-2151596664.jpg
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Post by bluetornados on May 8, 2024 18:22:21 GMT
Spurs' Martha Thomas relishing second FA Cup final..by Emma Sanders, BBC Sport journalist.i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article32584174.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200d/0_GettyImages-2148599880jpginne.jpgBefore the ball hit the back of the net in the 118th minute against Leicester City, Martha Thomas experienced a feeling she wants to bottle up for the rest of her football career. The Tottenham striker's dramatic, extra-time header sent her side into their first ever Women's FA Cup final - but she knew she would score. "I just felt 'I need to put the ball in the back of the net' and it sounds cliché but when it popped up in the air and I saw the defender there, I knew I was going to beat her to it," Thomas told BBC Sport. "It would be so nice to get that feeling all the time but it’s not something you can force. "It meant the world. To win that game and get to the final was huge. You could see the pride and emotions on everyone’s faces afterwards." Tottenham's reward for their 2-1 win over Leicester City is a showpiece final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday against Manchester United. There will be a new winner in the competition outside of the Women's Super League's top three - Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City - for the first time since Birmingham City's victory in 2012. Scotland forward Thomas hopes it will be Spurs and her parents, who live in America, are flying over early to be there at Wembley in anticipation. "It would be more than the icing on the cake if we win. It would be so big. We’re so hungry to do it. It’s such an exciting opportunity for us," said Thomas, 27. "When I first came in here, it was a new project. [Manager] Robert Vilahamn wanted to bring his ideas. For the players that were here last year, I’m sure they can feel the jump. "They were fighting relegation and now they’re competing with teams fighting for the top four spots in the league and in an FA Cup final. "It would be such a rewarding statement for the club [if we won]." i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article32584007.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200e/0_GettyImages-2148595313.jpg
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Post by bluetornados on May 9, 2024 6:02:06 GMT
Mary Earps: England keeper receives MBE honour at Windsor Castle..By Greig Watson and PA News, BBC News, East Midlands.www.expressandstar.com/resizer/RTSaNffAOpwRFTBr-4qIsdUmePw=/1200x900/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/mna/YVT4ZGH2EJG27GOKUSGOI7QAPM.jpgEngland goalkeeper Mary Earps has been made an MBE for services to football during a ceremony at Windsor Castle. The Manchester United player, who grew up in Nottingham, received the honour from the Prince of Wales. Earps was a key part of the Lionesses side which won the Women's Euros in 2022 and reached the Women's 2023 World Cup final. She was also crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2023 and said the experience was "incredible". Earps said: "I just think that it's amazing when people want to have a conversation with you and talk about their experience of something that I've done, helped them with or inspired in some way. "But us, as a group of Lionesses, what we stand for - our values - I think is so strong that it resonates with people. "That's a pretty incredible feeling and something that we'll continue to try and do as a team." She described the growth of women's football as "amazing", and said she had gratitude to "stand on the shoulders" of female footballers who came before her. This weekend is the Women's FA Cup final between Manchester United and Tottenham. She said: "I'm very prepared for it, very up for it and really looking forward to it. It's only a few days away so bring it on. "It'll be the highlight of the season, for sure, by a million miles." i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article31712506.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200e/1_BBC-Sports-Personality-of-the-Year-2023-Salford.jpg
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Post by bluetornados on May 11, 2024 5:44:36 GMT
'I would go home and cry but have not let anything stop me'..by Emma Smith, BBC Sport journalist.media.guim.co.uk/29743c2fbb663c1670928556d189d7ff2a1fbfbe/0_148_5298_3179/1000.jpgWhen Sophie Dennington told a school referee "I could be a better ref than you", she would not have expected to have started a chain of events that would take her to the FA Cup final at Wembley. The 23-year-old will serve as an assistant referee on Sunday when Manchester United face Tottenham at a sold-out final. Her path to Wembley began when the referee told her PE teacher at the Grange School in Aylesbury that Dennington, then 15, would make a good official and should be encouraged on her journey. The school paid for her training course, with Dennington paying them back by officiating boys' matches after classes. She is now a national refereeing manager with the Football Association, running the line in Women's Super League and Champions League matches – and now the FA Cup final. Dennington's story spread this week after a proud Instagram post from her mum, external Shelly went viral. She is dyslexic, and at the age of 13 was told she had the reading and spelling of a seven-year-old. "I didn't get diagnosed until year eight," she said. "In year five I used to cry because I used to get the words the wrong way around. I had to go to year three to do spellings. One day they had to bring my mum in because I was so distraught. "My Spanish teacher sat me down, and said: 'I have dyslexia, and I'm a teacher.' She was so relatable. "Nothing was really done, then I changed school into year eight and they did some tests. When I got diagnosed, my family realised I wasn't just lazy. I think they felt a bit guilty in not being able to support me in the correct way." She says she was initially "a little bit embarrassed" by her mum's post on social media. "My mum didn't tell me she was going to post it, so when my phone blew up I wondered what was going on," Dennington said. "When I started to read the comments, I realised how people were relating to it. "It has been amazing. I didn't want to do any media, but I did want to say: 'Yes I did have a reading age of a seven-year-old at 13, but now I have a degree.' "There were people at school who told me not to go for sixth form, but I wrote a 10,000-word dissertation - who are you to tell me what to do?" This will not be Dennington’s first experience of the FA Cup final, having been the reserve assistant last year. It means she is ready for the pressures of officiating at Wembley and of working with the video assistant referee system, which is not used in the WSL but was in play for last year’s final and will be again this Sunday. Dennington hopes she will be able to inspire other neurodivergent people when she forms part of an all-female on-pitch officiating team at the cup final, alongside referee Abi Byrne and fellow assistant Nicoleta Bria, with Kirsty Dowle the fourth official. She certainly hopes to be the role model she did not have as a 13-year-old left feeling bereft by her diagnosis, and got emotional when asked what message she would send to her childhood self. "Don't be as hard on yourself," she said. "I would go home and cry, not understanding why I'm not like anybody else. "I hope they just see a 23-year-old running the line at Wembley who has not let anything stop her. “I think for a female game to be sold out, and an all-female refereeing team, hopefully they can relate to that, and follow their passion."
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Post by bluetornados on May 11, 2024 6:01:07 GMT
Willie Kirk regrets relationship that led to Leicester sacking..i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/11/84701775-13403643-image-a-22_1715337909290.jpgWillie Kirk says he regrets his decision to have a relationship with a player that led to his dismissal as Leicester manager. The 45-year-old was sacked by the Women's Super League club in March after an internal investigation. Leicester said Kirk had breached the club's code of conduct to such an extent that his position was "untenable". "I’ve made a mistake and I’ve been punished for my mistake. I take responsibility for that," he told the Daily Mail, external. Kirk was initially suspended to "assist with an internal process" after a complaint was lodged with the club about an alleged current relationship between the Scot and a player. He missed three games before being sacked after the conclusion of an investigation. "I regret the timing of it and my decision to have a relationship with a current player," he said. "It’s a line that we know, in elite level sport, should not be crossed." Personal relationships between players and coaches in women's football have been criticised for potentially creating a power imbalance in a squad. They are not illegal as long as no minors are involved, albeit they can breach codes of conduct. Codes of conduct among players and managers are a condition of clubs getting a WSL licence, and every club must have a safeguarding officer in place. Former Everton manager Kirk joined Leicester in the summer of 2022, initially as a director of football before succeeding Lydia Bedford as boss that November. Last season he guided Leicester from the bottom of the WSL to safety. They were seventh in the table this season when he was suspended and are now 10th with one game remaining. i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/11/84701761-13403643-image-a-21_1715337904499.jpg
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Post by bluetornados on May 13, 2024 16:52:28 GMT
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Post by bluetornados on May 13, 2024 17:09:45 GMT
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Post by bluetornados on May 13, 2024 17:21:23 GMT
All that was said afterwards....
ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/5/12/519ca055-a2b1-4173-870b-7808f34b55ad.jpg Manchester United boss Marc Skinner speaking to BBC One:On the timing of the first goal: "In all honesty I felt that first half was just frustration because we didn't score, I thought we offered more of a threat, we controlled most of their threat. As much as I am exhausted now it is a magical feeling. Tooney scored one of those goals at Leicester but it is another thing to do it at Wembley. I told her on the podium you have to feel it, remember it because it comes and goes too quick, and that is what she did. Congratulations to her and the team, we are FA Cup winners. On the season overall: "We are obviously not where we want in the league right? But we are history makers for Manchester United. I didn't need to remind the owners of that, they know. There is a lot of support and love for our team and the growth. "We want to compete for titles but you all know how important adding that first piece of silverware is. We've got nothing but growth ahead. More from Manchester United boss Marc Skinner speaking to BBC One:On contract situations for players: "That is a decision to be made later, it is not a conversation for now. I'm sure it does help but me and Mary have a great relationship. Of course I would love her to stay. She is an FA Cup winner. "Me too! I got a bit of jip for throwing away my runners up medal last year, but I think I will keep this one around my neck. On his jumper: "It is marino wool, so it is very airy. I can't stress that enough. There was a belly shot earlier though which I'm sure wasn't great. I'm sure I will pay for it later when I am exhausted in bed. On Spurs: "Credit to Tottenham, this is a big moment for their growth as well. They have been great all season. On the pitch it is never easy against them, and we prepared for what they have got. We ere ready and from start to finish today we thoroughly deserve our success." Mpre from Manchester United boss Marc Skinner speaking to BBC One:How far off the top three are United? : "From my perspective we need depth in experience combined with young, hungry players. This is my third season now and you've got to go through reinvention a little bit. "We finished second last year but won nothing and didn't get past the qualification round of the Champions League. It took a toll. There was a lot that happened that was out of my control but we took it back today. "I know we can challenge but we need to invest. I am sure we will, INEOS has been a breath of fresh air since they've come in, a real invigorating moment. I hope that can help us push forward next season." ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/5/12/8b0e8651-43b1-4695-9970-33e3592a9170.jpgManchester United's Rachel Williams, speaking on BBC One: "It was a shock yesterday morning sitting there in analysis to see the team go up and I was little like 'oh I might have to do something this weekend'. We knew Tottenham would make it hard having played them a few weeks ago. Today it was about being in control and taking the game to them to get the win." Impact of Ella Toone's goal: "Ella scored and we knew Tottenham would fly out. It was about gaining momentum as quick as we could to control the game. We got in the changing room and conversations changed quickly at half-time to what they would be. So happy for the team today." How she prepared from being a substitute to starting: "I prepared like I was going to come on and be a sub! I was very much thinking like the semi-finals that at 70 or 80 minutes come on and do what you do. But my mindest has always been there whether I start or am a sub. I just want to be a leader on the day." Putting a different reflection on the season: "It does. We don't like to admit it but it does mask over the issues we've had. We have had some ups and downs this year. That's for Marc [Skinner] and the backroom staff to be like 'right this is what we have to do in the summer'. We are going to have change things next year. We have had some injuries, three of four ACLs, at the start of the season. That's football, teams go through transition. You have a good year, you have a dip. Next year we might just come back bigger, better and stronger and who knows we might just be lifting the league." ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/5/12/83c074ac-c9a5-4bf4-8df0-8015004acc5d.jpgTottenham captain Beth England speaking to BBC Sport: "Obviously devastated. There were a lot of tears out there after the final whistle, we worked so hard to get here and it felt like we deserved a better performance. The fans deserved more. "The heat was ridiculous. It's not an excuse, it was the same for both teams, but it made it really tough. Regardless I am just so proud. We have gone from a relegation battle this year to an FA Cup final. "What I told the girls at the end was wear those runners up medals with pride because not everyone gets to come to Wembley and play in an FA Cup final. To play in front of 76,000 people. We fell short but Manchester United were here in the same position last year, they know the heartache and they grew from it. That's exactly what we're going to do." On the club's journey: "Something very special is going on here. They have been in the professional league for just five years, which is very small. There is so much room to grow. You can see the impact from last season to this season on and off the pitch and the only way is up from here. On bouncing back v Chelsea: "I think that is the beauty of football. We can't dwell on this game and this performance, we have to dust ourselves off and go again on Wednesday. Whatever happens happens, we can only control what we can control and the title race is for others to worry about." ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/5/12/19025b2a-c996-48de-a066-36b0f9f2fe52.jpgTottenham boss Robert Vilahamn speaking to BBC Sport: "Disappointed of course. We wanted to fight to the end and we didn’t fight to the end. We had a good first half, they scored a goal and the second half we couldn’t really battle with them. We are at Wembley, we have done a great season so you need to look at it in two ways I would say." On conceding right before and after half-time: "We tried when we came back in the second half but they scored two goals quite quickly and we were trying to change things but they were too good. They were really good." On Spurs being at the beginning of their journey: "If you take away the feelings right now, you need to look at these players doing some incredible things this year. We are at Wembley playing in front of our fans and they are actually enjoying it and staying and supporting us after. We got a good experience today and we are learning how to play at Wembley more times. We need to look at it that way because the players are amazing." On the upcoming WSL game against Chelsea: "I think it is good there is a game coming up quite close because we want to play again and make sure we do better than today. A home game against Chelsea is a good game so we are going to make sure we are competing in that game as well." ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/5/12/21e1425c-0db2-4c55-bf45-73ee6c6e5add.jpgManchester United goalscorer Ella Toone speaking to BBC Sport: "It feels amazing. We came here last year and saw what it takes to win an FA Cup. We fell short then and we knew this time that we were hungrier than ever to get a result. We put on a great performance today and I am buzzing we managed to get the win." On her goal: "I've been practising every day in training, those types of shots from outside the box, the girls will tell you. As soon as I hit it it felt like one of them that I knew instantly was going in. For us it was a great time to score, just ahead of half time, it is always nice to get a goal then and come out for the second half a goal up. Then as soon as the second one went in we felt comfortable." On Wembley: "I don't know! I wish I could play here every week! It is a great stadium, the home of football and it is a place every young player dreams of playing at. I've managed to do it a few times now and get some good goals, but I love it and playing in front of the fans. Having all my family and friends here too meant so much. "I'm sorry Vick [Hope] I didn't do the celebration. My head was all over the place and I forgot what was going on. Maya nearly tripped me up on the way past too. I was also desperate for a drink because it was so hot out there. I think it was her music that made me score that today." Celebrations: "I don't know but I am partying tonight. I'm not asking the manager! It has been a tough season for us and we have ended it with a trophy. I've been here six years and that is all I've ever wanted. We did that today and we deserved it, so I am definitely partying!" ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/5/12/3d572f43-3511-44fc-aff5-b00a1806cd44.jpgPlayer of the Match Lucia Garcia speaking to BBC One: "I'm so happy. It was a tough match and we deserve that, we fought until the end. It has been a tough season for us, and we deserved this win, we are so happy. On scoring twice: "It is something I can't explain in words. I am so happy, we are so happy to bring this trophy home and yes we are buzzing. On if she has family in the stadium: "I have my dad and five friends. I can't wait to see them and celebrate with them and be with them. On celebrations: "I can't explain in words but it will be a good night for us. We are so happy, so let's go with the fans and celebrate with them."
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Post by bluetornados on May 13, 2024 20:40:55 GMT
Rebecca Welch to referee Women's Champions League final..i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/23/21/79291457-12897173-image-a-31_1703365759027.jpgEnglish referee Rebecca Welch has been appointed to take charge of the Women’s Champions League final between Barcelona and Lyon. The 40-year-old made history earlier this season when becoming the first woman to referee a Premier League game - Burnley's 2-0 victory over Fulham in December. Welch has refereed six Women’s Champions League matches this season and was the fourth official at last year's final. She has been an international referee since 2015 and went full-time in 2019. Welch's assistants for the 25th May final at San Mames in Bilbao will be her English compatriots Natalie Aspinall and Emily Carney, with Stuart Attwell named by Uefa as the lead video assistant referee (VAR). Slovenia's Slavko Vincic will take charge of the men's Champions League final at Wembley between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund on 1st June.
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Post by bluetornados on May 13, 2024 20:44:42 GMT
Striker Vivianne Miedema will leave Arsenal at the end of the season after seven years, the club have announced...i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/13/12/84794067-13411995-image-a-56_1715598724754.jpgThe Netherlands international joined the Gunners from Bayern Munich in 2017 and has scored 125 goals and provided 50 assists in 172 appearances. BBC Sport understands Arsenal made the decision not to renew Miedema's contract, with Manchester City interested in signing the 27-year-old once she becomes a free agent. In a video posted on Instagram,, external Miedema said it was time for her journey with the Gunners to come to an end. She said: "To have represented a club like this, with so much history and tradition, has been an absolute honour. "So above all else, I would like to say thank you for making this chapter of my life so memorable." In a letter titled 'So long, Arsenal' posted on the club's Instagram, external, Miedema wrote: "Being part of this group of players over the years has always inspired me to be the best I can be." Miedema won the Women's Super League title in 2018-19 and three Women's League Cups during her time in north London. She is the all-time top-scorer in the WSL with 79 goals and has lifted the Golden Boot - the award for the most goals scored in a single season - twice. After rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in December 2022, Miedema spent 10 months on the sidelines, returning in October 2023. She then underwent minor knee surgery in March which has limited her playing time to just 13 games this campaign. Arsenal sporting director Edu said Miedema's performances have been of the "highest quality" and she "has created so many wonderful memories". i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/13/11/84794059-0-image-a-54_1715597154985.jpg
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Post by bluetornados on May 13, 2024 20:50:21 GMT
Arsenal are eyeing a move for Barcelona forward Mariona Caldentey when her contract expires at the end of the season...by Emma Sanders, BBC Sport journalist.estaticos-cdn.prensaiberica.es/clip/7de8ea6d-e918-458a-bc20-155c695310c1_16-9-aspect-ratio_default_0_x536y390.jpgArsenal are eyeing a move for Barcelona forward Mariona Caldentey when her contract expires at the end of the season. Caldentey, 28, won the World Cup with Spain in 2023 and is a two-time Women's Champions League winner with Barca. Contract talks have stalled with the Spanish champions and it is understood Arsenal's interest has increased in recent weeks. There is unlikely to be any developments until after Barcelona's appearance in the Women's Champions League final, when they face Lyon on 25 May. On Monday, Arsenal confirmed Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema will leave the club having not been offered a new contract, with rivals Manchester City set to make a move for her. Caldentey would be seen as a strong replacement for Miedema and it could be a busy summer for Arsenal who are also preparing to make an offer for Aston Villa goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar. It is also believed Arsenal spoke with representatives of England forward Fran Kirby this week but will not be pursuing her as a free agent when her Chelsea contract expires in June.
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Post by bluetornados on May 14, 2024 19:23:31 GMT
Emirates to be Arsenal women's main home next season..i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/15/82367033-0-image-a-70_1710255961790.jpgArsenal women will use Emirates Stadium as their main home ground from the start of next season's Women's Super League. The north London venue will stage eight WSL matches and three group games in the Women's Champions League if Arsenal reach that stage. Should Arsenal progress to the knockout stages of the European competition, those matches would also be played at the Emirates, the club announced on Tuesday. The WSL team's other matches, including domestic cup games, will be played at Meadow Park, which has been their longstanding home. Arsenal recorded an average attendance of 52,029, which included two sell-outs and three WSL attendance records, across six women's matches at the 60,704-capacity Emirates Stadium this season. Arsenal sporting director Edu said: "There's great passion for our women's team right across our club. "We are one club, with a vision to win major trophies across our men's and women's teams. "This move supports this ambition and we can't wait to continue this amazing journey with our supporters."
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bluetornados
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Post by bluetornados on May 14, 2024 19:27:12 GMT
Millie Bright says Emma Hayes' support 'massive' and admits career doubts..by Emma Sanders, BBC Sport journalist.i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/24/13/78199211-12787543-image-m-83_1700833940774.jpgMillie Bright went from leading England in a World Cup final to missing over five months of the Women's Super League season with a knee injury. Bright says it "hurts" she has missed most of manager Emma Hayes' final campaign at Chelsea, while her team-mates have suffered disappointment in the Women's Champions League and domestic cup competitions. Footballers experience the highs and lows of everyday life, as well as the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with the game. For Mental Health Awareness Week - which runs until 19th May - Bright has discussed how injury setbacks led to her questioning whether her "career was done". "There's been ups and downs. Most people probably won't ever know about the downs. I should probably be a little bit more open about those," Bright told BBC Sport when asked about her mental health experiences. "I don't want to accept that I've been injured and I've missed most of the last season under Emma. That's been really hard to take. I've not been able to contribute to the team when I can see they have been struggling. "This season more than ever has been extremely difficult. I’ve had plenty of moments where I'm like: 'Eurgh, shall I just call the season and have a break and not try any more?' "I've even thought: 'Is that my career done? Shall I just call it a day?' "I've not really told anyone that to be honest. It's tough." Bright, 30, joined Chelsea in 2014 and has played under Hayes for a decade. The Blues captain - who led the Lionesses at last year's World Cup - says Hayes has been a "massive" support for her whenever she has needed to talk through problems - and it is reciprocated. "I have this thing where I feel I need to protect the ones around me," said Bright. "As athletes, I think we're driven into being thick-skinned and being tough on the outside - so we don't show emotions. "I let my walls down, but only with people like Levi [her fiance], my family or Emma Hayes. She knows when I feel like I'm about to explode. "She's like, 'It's written on your face, I can see it. Tell me what's wrong.' "It annoys me that she knows even when I've not said anything! But it's been massive."
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bluetornados
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Post by bluetornados on May 14, 2024 19:32:54 GMT
World Cup captain Millie Bright has been recalled to the England squad for the first time since October after recovering from a knee injury.i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article31520339.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200d/1_GettyImages-1772220291.jpgBright, 30, who led England to the World Cup final last summer, has missed over five months of the season but is named in manager Sarina Wiegman’s 24-player squad for their Euro 2025 qualifiers. She is joined in the squad by uncapped Chelsea team-mate Aggie Beever-Jones, 20, who comes in for striker Rachel Daly after she announced her retirement from international football in April. Beever-Jones has had a breakout season for Chelsea, scoring 11 goals in 15 Women’s Super League matches. The England Under-23 forward earned a call-up to the senior squad as a late replacement for the injured Chloe Kelly for February’s 7-2 friendly victory over Austria but did not play. Wiegman has also named a standby list which includes Manchester United's Maya le Tissier, Liverpool's Missy Bo Kearns, Southampton's Kayla Rendell and Tottenham's Jess Naz. The Lionesses, who are hoping to defend their European title in Switzerland next year, host France at St James’ Park on 31st May before travelling to Saint-Etienne on 4th June. Wiegman will take the same squad to Norwich to play the Republic of Ireland on 12th July, before heading to Sweden on 16th July. England squad:Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating Defenders: Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, Millie Turner, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy Midfielders: Grace Clinton, Fran Kirby, Jess Park, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead, Alessia Russo Standby: Kayla Rendell, Maya le Tissier, Missy Bo Kearns, Jess Naz
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Post by bluetornados on May 14, 2024 19:36:44 GMT
I want to enjoy this week as much as possible - Emma Hayes..by Ellie Thomason, BBC Sport Senior Journalist.i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article31252874.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200d/1_GettyImages-1736876120jp.jpgChelsea boss Emma Hayes wants to "enjoy this week as much as possible" as she prepares to bid farewell to the club. The Blues face Tottenham in the Women's Super League on Wednesday in a match you can watch live on BBC Four from 19:00 BST, before travelling to Old Trafford to play Manchester United in their season finale on Saturday. Hayes' side are second behind Manchester City but will head into the final day top of the WSL if they win their game in hand at Spurs. "I’m going to enjoy being in this position," Hayes said when asked about the emotion heading into her penultimate game in charge of the club where she has spent the last 12 years. "You don’t often get into a position where you are competing for a title going into the last two games of a season. For those of us who have won titles, we know how hard it is. "I’m happy to be in the position we’re in. I know we have two tough games but I’m looking forward to them." i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article31361259.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200e/0_GettyImages-1490100896.jpgIt wasn't long ago that Chelsea were fighting on four fronts and hoping to win a WSL, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup quadruple. But with disappointment and exits in all three cup competitions, winning silverware in her final campaign hinges on the league and a potential seventh domestic title. "You can’t win everything all of the time," said Hayes, who is leaving Chelsea to manage the United States women's national team. "But to be in a position to compete for our fifth title in five years, I’d like to see another team do that over the next five years. The reason I say that is nobody really understands how hard that is to keep winning. "To be in a position to compete for that, that’s all I wanted the team to be in. I just want them to enjoy the next two games." Hayes previously said the WSL title race was "done" after her side suffered a shock 4-3 defeat by Liverpool. But after Manchester City slipped up by losing 2-1 to Arsenal in their last game, just hours before Chelsea hammered Bristol City 8-0, Hayes said Gareth Taylor's side "opened the door for us again". "If you ask Man City they know they were in a commanding position," she added. "They just had to get a result at home and they didn’t. A week is a long time in football." i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article32793177.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200d/0_GettyImages-2152056692.jpgSpurs boss Robert Vilahamn praised Hayes as a "a big role model for women's football" when speaking in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. But there is no room for sentiment and, after a 4-0 defeat by Manchester United in Sunday's FA Cup final, Vilahamn sees this as the perfect game for his players to bounce back in. "I like that this game comes now," he said. "I like that we can bounce back, hopefully play some really good football and make sure we finish in a good way. "In one way it’s good that we get this game so close to the other game. Sometimes you want to play and see if you can get back on the tracks. It’s Chelsea and it’s a big game for us." Chelsea were 2-1 winners when the sides met in October's reverse fixture and Vilahamn believes his side are closing the gap between the WSL's top sides. While Wednesday's game will have no bearing on Spurs' league position having already secured a sixth-placed finish, Vilahamn is hungry to beat his London rivals. He said: "When we get a chance to play against Chelsea and we can play without any pressure, in one way because we already know where we are going to end up in the table, that makes me even more brave to play the way we want to play. "But we want to win this game, we want to compete and do everything we can."
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Post by bluetornados on May 15, 2024 16:50:54 GMT
Aston Villa captain Rachel Corsie signs contract extension..i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article29600429.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200d/1_GettyImages-1471440703.jpgAston Villa captain Rachel Corsie has signed a contract extension with the Women's Super League club. The Scotland international, 34, has extended her stay until June 2025. Since arriving in 2022 from NWSL side Kansas City Current, Corsie has made 54 appearances for the club, scoring twice. Villa boss Carla Ward said: "Rachel is someone I’d previously worked with before her arrival at Aston Villa, and she has become a prominent figure within the playing squad ever since she joined us a couple of seasons ago. "Her experience and leadership has played a hugely important part in our success in recent years and that will remain invaluable."
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Post by bluetornados on May 15, 2024 16:53:38 GMT
'Shocking decision' for Arsenal to let Vivianne Miedema go - Ellen White..i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article32798987.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200d/0_GettyImages-2149535542.jpgArsenal's decision not to renew Vivianne Miedema's contract is "absolutely shocking", according to former Gunners forward Ellen White. The club announced on Monday that the Netherlands international will leave at the end of the season after seven years. The 27-year-old is the all-time top-scorer in the Women's Super League with 79 goals and has scored 125 in total and provided 50 assists in 172 appearances for Arsenal. "I think it’s an absolutely shocking decision by the club to be honest," White told BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly. "To not offer her a new contract, to not show her love and desire to keep her at the club, to not build a team around Vivianne Miedema." Miedema won the Women's Super League title in 2018-19 and three Women's League Cups during her time in north London. She has also lifted the Golden Boot - the award for the most goals scored in a single season - twice. "I just think it’s shocking that they haven’t shown her the love to want to keep her at the club," added White. "If she does want to go to someone else in the WSL, I hope she goes to that team and sticks two fingers up at Arsenal and scores a few goals and celebrates hard. "She is 27. If she wants to continue to play she could play for a number of years and she still has records to break. It’s just outrageous. "She is not going to be short of offers. I hope she has got loads of offers. Her being on a free you would hope she would then get the contract that she deserves."
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Post by bluetornados on May 15, 2024 20:33:34 GMT
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