FA WC Summer 2020 transfer window

The transfer window was open for professional contracts from the 19 June to 10 September 20, non contracted players can move at any time

This week’s transfers
Confirmed transfers
Extended contracts
Possible deals

Liverpool

In  :  Missy Bo Kearns ( end of loan – Blackburn), Rihannon Roberts, Niamh Fahey, Rinsola Babajide, Leigh-Anne Robe, Kirsty Linnett, Amy Rodgers, Rachel Laws ( Reading), Taylor Hinds ( Everton), Amalie Thestrup (AS Roma), Meikeyla Moore ( MSV Duisburg)

Out  : Courtney Sweetman-Kirk (Sheffield United), Anke Preuss ( Vittsjo), Christie Murray (Birmingham), Fran Kitching ( Sheffield), Niamh Charles ( Chelsea), Jemma Purfield ( Bristol)

Sheffield United

In : Katie Wilkinson, Jade Pennock, Maddy Cusack, Kasia Lipka, Alethea Paul and Rhema Lord-Mears, Veatriki Sarri, Chloe Dixon, Rebecca Flaherty, Emily Batty, Naomi Hartley, Leandra Little, Keri Matthews, Lucy Watson, Mel Johnson ( Aston Villa), Eloise Wilson ( London Bees), Sophie Walton ( Nottingham Forest), Nathalie Johnson ( Leicester), Fran Kitching ( Liverpool), Charley Docherty, Ali Johnson, Hannah Coan ( Everton – loan), Olivia Chance ( Bristol), Courtney Sweetman-Kirk ( Liverpool)

Out : Mollie Green ( end of loan – Manchester United), Emily Ramsey ( end of loan – Manchester United), Sophie Barker (Leicester), Izzy Ford ( South Alabama), Samantha Tierney (Leicester), Olivia Fergusson ( Leicester)

Durham Women

In: Emily Roberts, Nicki Gears, Sarah Wilson, Mollie Lambert ( Sunderland), Rebecca Salicki, Beth Hepple, Bridget Galloway ( Sunderland), Ellie Christon, Kathryn Hill, Sarah Robson, Megan Borthwick, Iris Achterhof, Abbie Holmes, Molly Sharpe

Out: Eleanor Dale, Danielle Cox

London City Lionesses

In:  Allison Murphy ( UMF Sefloss), Shae Yanez ( Santa Teresa), Lilly Pursey ( Chelsea), Hailey Nolan, Atlanta Primus ( California State University)

Out: Vyan Sampson ( West Ham – end of loan), Vanessa Susanna, Charlotte Gurr

London Bees:

In: Sarah Quantrill, Megan Alexander, Hayley West, Georgia Roberts, Lauren Pickett, Billie Brooks, Bonnie Horwood, Brooke Nunn, Courtnay Ward-Chambers, Georgina Giddings, Nicola Gibson, Mathilda Finburgh, Mollie Dench, Florence Gamby, Amelia Hazard, Merrick Will, Faye Hazelton, Evie Gane, Millie Constantine, Sophie McLean ( Tottenham), Charlie Estcourt (Reading), Marianne Taho ( Arsenal), Olivia Smith ( West Ham), Melisa Filis ( Arsenal), Nikita Whinnett,

Out:  Eloise Wilson ( Sheffield United), Taylor O’Leary, Connie Forman, Mollie Dench ( QPR -loan)

Leicester City

In: Kirstie Levell ( Everton), Sophie Howard ( Reading), Samantha Tierney ( Sheffield), Esmee de Graaf (West Ham), Remi Allen (Reading), Sophie Barker (Sheffield), Ruesha Littlejohn ( West Ham), Millie Farrow ( Reading), Natasha Flint (Blackburn), Hannah Cain ( Everton), Olivia Fergusson (Sheffield)

Out: Ella Rutherford ( end of loan – Bristol), Lucy Johnson ( Arizone Sun Devils), Scarlett Field ( WBA), Georgia Popple ( Coventry), Natalie Johnson ( Sheffield United)

Blackburn Rovers

In: Saffron Jordan, Ellie Stewart, Natasha Fenton, Kayleigh McDonalds, Chelsey Jukes, Lauren Thomas, Ellie Fletcher, Ria Montgomery, Georgia Walters, Millie Robertson, Hope Knight, Emma Bradley ( Manchester City), Charlotte Newsham ( Huddersfield Town), Alex Brooks ( Birmingham), Emma Doyle ( Everton), Issy Dean ( Everton), Meg Boydell ( Liverpool), Leah Embley ( Fylde), Fran Bentley ( Manchester United – loan), Jade Richards ( Aston Villa), Elise Hughes ( Everton – loan)

Out: Frances Stenson ( end of loan – Arsenal), Missy Bo Kearns ( end of loan – Liverpool), Natasha Flint ( Leicester), Serena Fletcher ( Huddersfield Town)

Crystal Palace

In: Cherelle Khassal, Amy Goddard, Leeta Rutherford, Amber Stobbs, Amber Gaylor, Chloe Morgan (Tottenham), Ffion Morgan ( Coventry), Georgia Clifford ( Oxford), Bianca Baptiste, Ashleigh Goddard ,Andria Georgiou, Leigh Nicol ( unattached), Coral-Jade Haines ( Tottenham)

Out: Hannah McKenzie ( Oxford), Freya Holdaway, Lucy Gillett, Magda Mosengo, Charlie Goad ( Kent football United – loan)

Lewes

In: Fillipa Savva, Charley Boswell, Paula Howells, Samantha Quayle, Rhian Cleverly, Katie Rood, Emma Jones, Emily Donovan, Sophie O’Rourke, Danielle Lane, Ellie Leek, Ellie Noble, Laura Hartley (Brighton), Ellie Hack ( Brighton), Georgia Timms ( Oxford), Hannah Griffin, Sarah Kempson (Portsmouth), Simran Jahmat ( Coventry), Tatiana Saunders ( Thonon-Evian G)

Out: Sophie Harris ( end of loan- Brighton), Faye Baker, Caitlin Hayes ( Celtic ), Ella Powell (Charlton), Annie Timoney, Jess King ( Charlton)

Coventry United

In: Katy Morris, Helen Dermody, Amber Hughes, Shannon O’ Brien, Susan Wood, Nikki Miles, Georgia Popple ( Leicester), Jenna Roberts, Olivia Clark ( Huddersfield), Alice Hassall ( Aston Villa), Phoebe Warner ( Aston Villa), Ashlee Brown (Aston Villa), Holly Chandler, Alanah Mann, Jodie Whiteman, Maz Gauntlett, Rebecca Anderson, Chelsea Weston, Amy Wathan

Out: Ffion Morgan (Crystal Palace), Simran Jhamat ( Lewes), Sian Johnson

Charlton Women

In: Grace Coombs, Lilli Mapple, Alice Griffiths, Rachel Newborough, Charley Clifford, Ellie Dorey, Ella Powell ( Lewes), Jess King ( Lewes), Jenna Legg, Ciara Watling, Jamie Gotch, Beth Lumsden ( Enfield Town), Rea Laudat, Eartha Cumings ( Bristol), Shauna Vassell ( Arsenal), Ella Rutherford ( Bristol), Bethan Roe ( Charlton – loan)

Out: Charlie Estcourt ( end of loan – Reading), Lily Woodham ( end of loan – Reading), Katie Startup ( Brighton), Riva Casley, Lise Janbu Eide (AAfk Fortuna), Sara Eggesvik, Georgia Evans (Yeovil), Pernille Gardien, Maddie Phillips

Analysing the FA WSL 2019/20 rules

The FA have finally published the FA WSL/FA WC 2019/20 rules. Quite late to be honest as we are now in February and the League started in September. Obviously, the clubs had copies of the regulations but the general public was blocked from seeing them until now.

So it is time for my annual review of the regulations. The first thing you note when you download the file on the FA website is that is called CLEAN as in the FA have cleaned some of rules. This is bizarre to name a file this way.

Something that is not new but with the Brexit now done, the EU players no longer have the freedom of movement do the rulemaker can decide what to do next when the transition period is finished.

2.1 The ownership, organisation, control and management of the Competitions and any rights associated with them of any nature shall be vested entirely and exclusively in The FA.

Unlike the men’s Premier League where the FA cannot dictate the competition rules, the FA WSL and FA WC are totally controlled by the governing body. We will see how the EU players will be treated next season.

The first interesting bit that was not there in last season rules I think  is the fact that the FA have soften their stance on Welsh clubs in the FA WSL/FA WC. It was bizarre to see them in men’s football elite Leagues but forbidden to do the same in Women’s football. This injustice has now been repaired.

2.5 The geographic area covered by the Competitions shall be England and Wales.

Then there is the usual paragraph on the Board and the Executive Operational Committee. Nothing special there.

The ground regulations have some interesting paragraphs:

7.1.3 A Club’s Ground shall be available for all home Competitions Matches which a Club
is due to participate in.

I am quite sure, it does not always happen actually. Certainly in the past there were availability problems.

7.1.4 Each Club shall register its Ground and its Pitch dimensions, with the Executive
Operational Committee prior to the start of each Playing Season. It will be
misconduct on the part of a Club to alter its Pitch dimensions during a Playing
Season unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Executive Operational
Committee. The Executive Operational Committee may at any time require a Club,
at its own cost, to submit a report from a qualified independent source certifying the
Pitch dimensions. 

Clubs are now allowed to change the pitch’s side depending on the opposition they are facing. That’s a funny one. I am quite sure, it could happen in certain places.

7.1.9 No alcohol shall be consumed in view of the Pitch before, during or after a
Competition Match. Glasses, glass bottles and cans containing alcohol must not be
brought into the Ground or taken into any area of the Ground in view of the pitch.

I bet this rule has been breached in corporate areas at big grounds.

There is a subject that has been brought in recently due to the pitches at Southport and Prenton Park, the alternative grounds

7.2 Alternative grounds

7.2.1 If at any point the Ground is or will not be available for home Competition Matches,
inspection or falls below the standards required in the Ground Regulations or Club
Licence (including in relation to usage), the Club must immediately submit to the
Board in writing its proposal for a ground at which its home Competition Matches are
to be played (“Alternative Proposal”).

7.2.2 The Alternative Proposal must contain documentary evidence in support of any
ground sharing arrangements and evidence that the proposed Ground is
demonstrably suitable for the Competitions and Competition Matches and that it
satisfies the standards set out in the Ground Regulations and Club Licence.

7.2.3 The Alternative Proposal shall be considered by the Board at the earliest
opportunity and, if it is considered suitable by the Board, the Board shall notify the
Club that the Alternative Proposal is approved. The Board may attach any
conditions to such approval as it considers appropriate.

7.2.4 Unless the Board considers it appropriate in the circumstances to waive any of the
foregoing, any approval of the Alternative Proposal will be subject to the Board
being satisfied that the ground in the Alternative Proposal complies with the Club
Licence and meets the standards required in the Ground Regulations. The Board
will use reasonable endeavours to ensure a person nominated by it inspects such
ground after receiving the Alternative Proposal and prior to the Board meeting
where it is considered, but if it is unable to do so, any approval of the Alternative
Proposal will be subject to the Board being satisfied that the ground in the
Alternative Proposal complies with the Club Licence and meets the standards
required in the Ground Regulations.

7.2.5 In the event that:
(a) the Club does not comply with Rule 7.2.1; or
(b) the Alternative Proposal is not approved,
the Club shall be deemed to be in material breach of these Rules

Then you get the bizarre cases of a very different ruling for grass and artificial pitches:

7.7 Pitch Standards

7.7.1 All Pitches must be flat and free from surface depressions and excessive
undulations. The maximum slopes allowable shall not exceed an even gradient of
vertical to horizontal 1:41 in any direction.

7.7.2 The relevant Club shall take such steps as the Board may specify from time to time
if the Board is not satisfied that the Pitch is being maintained to an adequate
standard, including but not limited to the Board commissioning an independent
report (including a Pitch Test) on the state of the Pitch, the cost of such independent
report to be borne by that Club.

7.8 Artificial Pitches

Basically, there is full chapter about two pages long about those 3G/4G pitches that must meet a minimum FIFA standard and nothing specific on grass pitches.

Amazingly the postponed games come from grass pitch. So teams playing their home games on artificial pitches are held to a higher standard than those on grass pitches.It does not make sense and it explain why some teams are using poor quality grass pitches.

The FA WC relegation battle is hotting up

This season is the first season under the new regime since the FA WSL 2 creation in 2014, where a second tier side will relegated due to the on the pitch results. All other relegation/demotions in previous seasons where due to licensing refusal on money and infrastructure criteria.

It is fascinating to think that is a five horses race for only one place. What makes it complicated to know where the teams really stand is they all games on hand on each other. Matchday 15 was played, or actually was not played at all and we currently have teams on 11 to 13 games played so far.

 

As we can see Blackburn Rovers are not directly threatened by relegation right now, but because there are only four points clear of bottom team Charlton, any Addicks win would see them plugged straight in the relegation battle.

Lewes, Coventry and Palace are all with nine points and therefore one win ahead of Charlton. They are under threat and Charlton would overtake Palace on goal difference with a win. While they are level with Coventry and have a worse goal difference than Lewes.

Like in the FA WSL there are many postponed games to be played and re-scheduled and they include crucial head to head games between relegation contenders:

London Bees v Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers v Lewes

Durham v Aston Villa

Lewes v London City

Crystal Palace v London Bees

Coventry v Blackburn Rovers

Charlton v Sheffield

 

Those three games are already re-scheduled:

Blackburn v Charlton 1 March

Sheffield v Crystal Palace 1 March

Lewes v Charlton 15 March

 

So Charlton are bottom of the League with no win so far and six draws. There is no doubt that their first win when/if it happens will give them a huge psychological boost and change the relegation race. All the other teams have already won two or three games and therefore have the edge right now.

But things can turn round very quickly and next Sunday could see some changes with the following games being played for Matchday 16:

London Bees v Durham

Sheffield United v Lewes

Leicester v Charlton

London City v Palace

Aston Villa v Coventry United.

 

In my mind the relegation battle might to to the final day as teams will be playing catch-up with all their postponed games and therefore won’t be able to be mathematically safe until very late in the season.

 

FA WC Winter 2019 transfer window

The transfer window for professional players was open from the 27 Dec 19 to the 23 Jan 20. It is still open for non contract players.

This week’s transfers
Confirmed transfers
Extended contracts
Possible deals

 

Aston Villa

In : Asmita Ale, Sophie Maierhofer ( University of Kansas)

Out:

 

Sheffield United

In : Rhema Lord-Mears ( Blackburn Rovers), Mollie Green ( Manchester United – loan), Emily Ramsey ( Manchester United – loan)

Out : Ellie Fletcher ( Liverpool – end of loan), Megan Tinsley ( Derby County)

 

Durham Women

In: Eleanor Dale ( Middlesborough)

Out: Megan Bell ( Rangers WFC), Lisa Robertson ( Celtic FC )

 

London City Lionesses

In:

Out: Amber Gaylor ( Crystal Palace)

 

London Bees:

In:

Out: Lucy Loomes ( Hounslow)

 

Blackburn Rovers

In: Missy Bo Kearns ( Liverpool – loan), Ellie Fletcher ( Liverpool), Levi Chambers-Cook (AFC Wimbledon), Lauren Perry ( Linfield),

Out: Lauren Davies, Danielle Whitham, Rhema Lord-Mears, ( Sheffield United), Jessica Holbrook, Alex taylor

 

Crystal Palace

In: Annabel Johnson, Aoife Hurley,  Amber Stobbs, Amber Gaylor ( London City Lionesses), Siobhan Wilson ( Charlton), Amy Taylor ( Lewes), Hannah Churchille ( Charlton)

Out: Ciara Watling ( Charlton), Ella Rutherford ( end of loan – Bristol)

 

Lewes

In: Paula Howells ( unattached), Ellie Leek ( Charlton), Sophie Harris ( Brighton – loan)

Out: Amy Taylor ( Crystal Palace), Zoe Ness ( Glasgow Rangers)

 

Coventry United

In: Amber Hughes, Shannon O’Brien, Kate Evans, Simran Jahmat ( Leicester City) 

Out: Chenise Austin, Jade Formaston,  ErinSmith, Jodie Bartle ( Celtic FC)

 

Charlton Women

In: Chloe Mustaki, Ciara Watling ( Crystal Palace), Lise Janbu Eide, Pernille Gardien

Out: Charlotte Kerr, Renee Hector, Charlotte Devlin ( Leicester ), Ellie Leek ( Lewes), Siobhan Wilson ( Crystal Palace), Hannah Churchill ( Crystal Palace)

 

Leicester City

In: Ashleigh Plumptre (USC), Ella Rutherford ( loan – Bristol), Charlotte Devlin ( Charlton)

Out: Leigh Dugmore, Simran Jahmat ( Coventry ), Erin Riden ( B&WM – loan)

 

 

FA WC Summer 2019 transfer window

The transfer window for professional players will be opened from the 14 June to the 05 Sep

This week’s transfers
Confirmed transfers
Extended contracts
Possible deals

 

Durham

In 3 : Megan Bell ( Linfield), Iris Achterhof ( Old Dominion Uni), Molly Sharpe ( Barry University), Hannah Reid, Kathryn Hill, Lisa Robertson, Sarah Wilson, Sarah Robson, Beth Hepple, Nicki Gears, Megan Borthwick, Becky Salicki, Ellie Christon, Emily Roberts, Lauren Briggs, Abby Holmes, Rachel Lee, Jordan Atkinson

Out 3 : Abi Cottam ( Sunderland ), Chloe Knott, Zoe Ness ( Lewes)

 

Charlton

In 12 : Charlotte Kerr, Riva Casley ( Millwall Lionesses), Georgia Evans ( Yeovil Town), Ellie Leek ( Le Havre), Lois Euchan ( Le Havre), Maddie Phillips ( Chelsea Academy), Alice Griffiths ( Cardiff met), Jaime Gotch ( Reading Academy), Rachel Newborough ( Boston College), Lily Woodham ( Reading – loan), Charlie Estcourt ( Reading – loan), Renee Hector ( Tottenham), Charlotte Devlin ( Manchester United), Shanell Salgado ( Crystal Palace), Jenna Legg ( unattached)

Out 10 : Ellie Bailes, Chloe Brunton-Wilde, Amelia Ritchie, Hayley West, Amber Stobbs ( retirement), Lilly Agg, Harley Bennett, Charlotte Gurr, Elizabeth Ejupi ( London City Lionesses), Kit Graham ( Tottenham)

 

Sheffield United

In 9 : Katie Wilkinson ( London Bees), Naomi Hartley ( Manchester United), Leandra Little ( Liverpool), Olivia Fergusson ( Yeovil), Kerri Matthews ( York City RTC), Rebecca Flaherty ( Everton), Emily Batty, Alicia Johnson ( Bristol), Aimee Palmer ( Manchester United – loan), Kasia Lipka, Ellie Fletcher ( Liverpool – loan)

Out 8 : Sophie Jones ( retirement), Ellie Gilliat ( Derby County), Tania Marsden, Danielle Cox, Nikki Davies, Nicole Kemp, Georgia Stevens ( Fylde AFC), Jodie Hartley, Rebbeca Rayner ( Notthingham Forest) 

 

Aston Villa

In 8 : Marisa Ewers ( Birminhgam), Ella Franklin-Fraiture ( Leicester), Melissa Johnson ( Leicester), Emily Syme ( Yeovil), Charlotte Greengrass ( Leicester), Shania Hayles ( Birmingham), Nathalie Haigh, Emma Follis ( Birmingham)

Out 6 : Aja Aguirre, Alison Hall, Ashlee Brown, Hayley Crackle ( Coventry), Hollie Gibson, Tanisha Smith, Aoife Hurley ( Crystal Palace) 

 

Leicester

In 7 : Aime Everett ( Liverpool), Lachante Paul ( Arsenal Academy), Annabel Blanchard ( Liverpool Academy), Paige Bailey-Gayle ( Arsenal Academy), Lia Cataldo ( London City Lionnesses), Grace Riglar ( Bristol), Anneka Nuttall ( Crystal Palace), Nat Johnson, Hayley James, Leigh Dugmore, Demi Lambourne, Holly Morgan, Lucy Johnson

Out 5 : Ella Franklin-Fraiture ( Aston Villa), Melissa Johnson ( Aston Villa). Rosie Axten ( Coventry), Charlotte Clarke ( Stoke City), Charlotte Greengrass ( Aron Villa)

 

London Bees

In 11 : Lee Burch ( manager – Yeovil),Sarah Quantrill, Merrick Will, Bonnie Horwood ( Yeovil), Megan Alexander ( Yeovil), Amelia Hazard ( Arsenal Academy), Georgina Giddings ( Millwall Lionesses), Georgia Roberts ( Lewes), Brooke Nunn, Rosie Kmita ( West Ham), Courtney Ward-Chambers ( QPR), Billie Brooks ( unattached), Hayley West, Lauren Pickett, Nikita Whinett ( Crystal Palace), Nicola Gibson, Taylor O’Leary, Mollie Dench, Lucy Loomes, Megen Lynch ( Crystal Palace), Flo Gamby

Out 10 : Rachel Yankey ( manager), Paula Howells, Katie Wilkinson ( Sheffield United), Destiny Toussaint, Annabel Johnson (Crystal Palace), Rachel Unitt, Daisy McLachlan ( Oxford United), Rosanna Parnell ( Southampton FC), Kelsey Gibson ( Luton Town), Tricia Gould, Ruesha Littlejohn, Ocean Rolandsen ( Watford)

 

Lewes

In 9 : Katie McIntyre, Amy Taylor, Danielle Lane, Samantha Quayle, Caitlin Hayes ( Barcelona FA), Ella Powell ( Georgia State University), Ellie Noble ( Oxford United), Faye Baker, Emma Jones ( Cardiff City), Rhian Cleverly ( Le Havre), Jess King, Sophie O’Rourke, Emily Donovan ( Yeovil), Annie Timoney (Marine Academy ), Charley Boswell, Ava Rowbotham, Filippa Savva ( Liverpool Feds), Molly Peters ( Enfield), Issy Foster ( Southampton FC), Zoe Ness ( Durham)

Out 5 : Rebecca Carter (Crawley Wasps), Leeta Rutherford (Crystal Palace), Nina Wilson (Watford) , Charlotte Owen ( Crawley Wasps), Georgia Roberts ( London Bees)

 

Crystal Palace

In 9 : Leeta Rutherford ( Lewes), Amy Goddard  ( Yeovil), Cherelle Khassal ( Chichester), Freya Holdoway, Jordan Butler, Lucy Gillett ( Brighton), Ashley Hincks, Ciara Watling, Andria Georgiou, Nicole Pepper, Lily Stevens, Magda Mosengo ( Carson Newman), Annabel Johnson ( London Bees), Emma Gibbon ( Tottenham), Lizzie Waldie, Bianca Baptiste ( Tottenham), Ashleigh Goddard ( Appollon Ladies), Reat Laudat ( Totthenham), Aoife Hurley ( Aston Villa), Ella Rutherford ( Bristol – loan)

Out 1 : Anneka Nuttall ( Leicester), Nikita Whinett ( London Bees), Megen Lynch ( London Bees), Shannel Salgado ( Charlton)

 

London City Lionesses

In 14 :  Poppy Wilson ( Bristol ), Ellie Mason ( Yeovil), Hannah Short ( Yeovil, Elizabeth Ejupi ( Charlton), Lily Agg ( Charlton), Amber Gaylor ( Yeovil), Juliette Kempi ( Bristol), Annie Rossiter, Leanne Cowan, Lucy Fitzgerald, Gabby Ravenscroft, Ylena Priest, Evie Clarke, Florence Fyfe ( Oxford), Vyan Samspon ( Charlton), Freda Ayisi ( Leicester), Lucy Thomas ( Oxford), Chantelle Mackie, Kallie Balfour, Eden Bailey, Harley Bennett ( Charlton), Grace Neville

Out 3: Riva Casley ( Charlton), Lia Cataldo ( Leicester), Beth Lumsden ( Enfield) , Georgina Giddings ( London Bees)

 

Blackburn

In 2 : Kayleigh MacDonald, Natasha Flint, Serena Fletcher,Jessica Holbrook, Kelsey Pearson, Saffron Jordan, Ellie Stewart, Natasha Fenton, Alex Taylor, Lauren Davies  Rhema Lord- Mears ( Anderlecht), Sophie Charlton, Danielle Hill, Lauren Thomas ( Liverpool)

Out 4 : Lynda Shepherd ( retirement), Danielle Gibbons, Charlotte Stuart, Lagan Makin

 

Coventry

In 7 : Helen Dermody Beth Merrick Jade Formaston, Maz Gauntlett, Nikki Miles, Erin Riden, Shannon O Brien. Katie Morris ( Chorley FC), Rosie Axten( Leicester), Jodie Bartle ( Loughborough Foxes), Rebecca Anderson ( unattached), Erin Smith ( Leafield), Susan Wood, Sian Johnson, Yasmine Kluckis, Hayley Crackle ( Aston Villa)

Out 4 : Rosie McDonnell, Natasha Merritt, Lois Jefferies ( Wolves), Georgina Presswell

 

 

The FA Women’s Championship promotion race Matchday 7

Spurs have opened a five points lead on Manchester United and are now solid League leaders. Charlton are now level on points with United and Durham are just one point behind.

It turns out that the League is not as foregone conclusion as it was expected before the season started. Obviously the promotion race is wide open as there are many many teams worthy of a promotion place.  Remember promotion is only granted if a team has the infrastructure and cash in place for professional football.

Spurs pulling away from United with a five points lead is unexpected. Charlton have also performed very well and are level on points with United  after their dismantling of a young Millwall side. Durham also got three crucial points with their win away at London Bees. The chasing pack of Leicester and Lewes did not have a game last week-end and therefore lost ground on the top teams. Lewes with the bye and Leicester’s game postponed due to the tragic incident at the King Power stadium.

Results

Tottenham 2 Aston Villa 1

London Bees 0 Durham 1

Millwall 0 Charlton 8

Leicester – Man United P-P

 

Table

1 Spurs 18 pts pl 6 +16

2 Man United 13 pts pl 5 +23

---

3 Charlton 13 pts pl 6 +12

4 Durham 12 pts pl6 +5

5 Leicester 10 pts pl 6 +1

6 Lewes 9 pts pl 6 -1

 

Next Sunday will be an early title decider with Man United hosting Spurs with an expected record attendance crowd for the Championship. Both side are unbeaten with Spurs boasting an 100% record. United are favourite because they train full-time and they have strong attacking options. Spurs are also doing well on that count and United’s defense did not look to me as strong as their offense. I would expect both teams to score a couple of goals at least.

Durham will be at home to Lewes with both side hoping to capitalise on one of the top team  potentially dropping points. Charlton will hope to do the same as they will host a London Bees side depleted with a third of their squad out with injuries. Leicester will be away to Sheffield and you would expect a physical game with two strong sides.

 

The FA Women’s Championship promotion race matchday 6: all change at the top

Manchester United have been dethroned for the first time this season as the top spot has been taken over by Spurs who won 8-0 at home to Millwall.

Spurs Ladies took advantage of a non playing week for United to overtake the Red Devils. It is important to note that both sides have played five games so far and Spurs are ahead because they have performed better than United overall with five wins in five while United only have four wins and a draw.

There are four teams chasing the top two teams and still in for promotion. Charlton beat Sheffield 2-0 while Leicester could only managed a draw with Aston Villa. Those two teams are three points behind United and five points behind Spurs.

Durham beat Palace and get back into the chasing peloton while Lewes lost 3-2 at Bees and are level in points with the wildcats four points behind United.

Results

Spurs 8 Milwall 0

Charlton 2 Sheffield 0

Durham 2 Palace 0

London Bees 3 Lewes 2

 

Table

1 Tottenham 15 pts pl 5 +15

2 Manchester United 13 pts pl 5 + 23

---

3 Charlton 10 pts pl 5 +4

4 Leicester 10 pts pl 6 +1

5 Durham 9 pts pl 5 +4

6 Lewes 9 pts pl 6 -1

 

 

Serious injuries: in game and post game disciplinary management by the FA needs a quick overall and improvement.

Kim Little’s injury that leaves her out for at least 10 weeks is the third long term one in two match days in the FA WSL/FAWC. The referees performances are not good enough and the disciplinary process is clearly flawed with players are getting away scot-free after injuring their opponent.

First let’s look at the refereeing problem. The pattern is always the same in those games.

One and sometimes both teams are testing the referee by being very/over-physical if not brutal. The referee responds in typical fashion by showing leniency instead of strength by keeping his cards in his pockets.

Players then deduct they can do as they please and start getting more and more dangerous, taking no prisoners. Then one player gets hit and seriously injured. You can sometimes also add a bit of pushing shoving and mass brawling to that mess

The disciplinary side of the game then should come in but  sometimes it does not come in at all. Nothing is given, maybe a yellow card is produced  and if we are lucky a red card is shown.

Obviously, at that stage it is now too late, the damage is done. And in most cases it could have been prevented.

I watch enough women’s football games in England ( 50 per season at least) and there is a systemic problem here.

Referees don’t have the feel of the game enough to anticipate and being proactive to avoid those problems developing. It is always the same, they don’t stamp their authority early on and gradually lose control of the game. And then, it is way too late.

On Sunday, the Chelsea player had done enough stuff so many times to collect three yellow cards, before she finally injured Kim Little. An Arsenal player was also involved multiple times in pushing and shoving incident and got away with it.

The in-game management is flawed. The disciplinary decisions by the referees are not good either.

Three serious injuries resulted in one yellow card. If you look at the Laws of the games law number 12, it is quite clear what the referees decisions should be doing in those cases.

One of my biggest pet peeve on refereeing is the non application of this part of the law 12 pic.twitter.com/Zop6lTPLX7

— Sylvain Jamet (@S_Jamet) October 2, 2018

Note:  I have not seen the Galton injury, so can only comment on the other ones, but people at the game mentioned the injuring players repeatedly fouling during the game. She has long history of injuring players, for example an Arsenal player while in the FA WSL and a Reading player while in FA WSL2.

So the injuries that can be avoided are not prevented, the referees do not punish the players properly according to the Laws Of The Game.

You would then  hope the disciplinary committee would then do the right thing and suspend the players responsible for those injuries.

I mean the FA charges players all the time for many different types of incidents, but rarely for those ones. And indeed the two players responsible for the injuries in the Championship were not charged and started their next team’s game.

I don’t expect the Chelsea player to be charged either because she was ( wrongly imo as it was too lenient) booked during the game.

So what kind of message does the FA sends to the players and fans? Feel free to injure an opponent and you won’t be punished or barely slapped if you are unlucky.

We saw many similar cases in the men’s game, although you get the feeling that the media pressure forces the FA to take disciplinary action. And players sometimes end up with a three games ban but nothing more. Not good enough.

It is still a cheap price to pay if you have managed to put an opponent out for three months or the whole season. The only team penalized is those situations is the injured player’s team. The asset is not available, the opposition teams also benefit from it.

If you think about it, the FA WSL teams are better off playing Arsenal without Kim Little. Same for the Championship teams playing against Bees without Paula Howells.

So the disciplinary process need to be overhauled. The FA has videos of all the FA WSL/FA WC games and need to review them properly. Especially as the referees miss stuff during the game at nearly every game.

At the end of the day, it is a recurrent problem that must be tackled at every level by the referees and the FA because the players’ behaviour will not change as long as strong punishments are not given.

 

 

Analyzing the FA WSL and FA WC 2018/19 rules part 1

The FA have finally uploaded the 2018/19 rules, more than a month after the Competition has started. This is the time to analyze if there are any special or unusual rules for this season.

The first five chapters are quite boring to be honest, so we will just go for the juicy stuff.

The chapter 6 is interesting because it shows that certain teams that play in the women’s pyramid third tier are still not allowed to play either in the FA WSL or in the FA WC.

This is obviously aimed at teams like Cardiff City Ladies. It is funny that Swansea and Cardiff can play in the Premier League but not in the top women League. Same with Glasgow City who were rumored to be interested a few years ago.

6.2 Notwithstanding any provision of The FA Rules, a Club must be incorporated in England and will not be entitled to participate in the Competitions if it is not so incorporated. Any amendments to the Memorandum and Articles of Association of a Club must be notified to the Competition Secretary in writing within 14 days of the passing of the resolution together with a copy of the change(s).

Chapter 7 on grounds

7.1.1 Each Club shall have a Ground and such Ground shall be situated in England. The Competition Secretary shall send the names and particulars for each Ground to The FA annually by the date appointed by, and in the format required by, The FA.

I think one club last season played a game in a ground situated in Wales (?) or at least half of the ground.

7.1.2 Unless otherwise specified in these Rules or as provided in the Club Licence, a Club shall not play home Competition Matches at a ground other than its Ground, without the prior approval of The FA.

7.1.3 A Club’s Ground shall be available for all home Competitions Matches which a Club is due to participate in. 

7.1.4 Each Club shall register its Ground and its Pitch dimensions, with the Management Committee prior to the start of each Playing Season. It will be misconduct on the part of a Club to alter its Pitch dimensions during a Playing Season unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Management Committee. The Management Committee may at any time require a Club, at its own cost, to submit a report from a qualified independent source certifying the Pitch dimensions.

If I am correct  when the fixture list was disclosed there were three teams with TBC grounds to be announced.

7.1.9 No alcohol shall be consumed in view of the Pitch before, during or after a Competition Match. Glasses, glass bottles and cans containing alcohol must not be brought into the Ground or taken into any area of the Ground in view of the pitch.

An interesting rule about alcohol, I wonder if this applies to VIP fans ?

There is a provision in the rules for an alternative ground, something that is happening quite often in Women’s football.

7.2 Alternative grounds
7.2.1 If at any point the Ground is or will not be available for home Competition Matches, inspection or falls below the standards required in the Ground Regulations or Club Licence (including in relation to usage), the Club must immediately submit to the Board in writing its proposal for a ground at which its home Competition Matches are to be played (“Alternative Proposal”).
7.2.2 The Alternative Proposal must contain documentary evidence in support of any ground sharing arrangements and evidence that the proposed Ground is demonstrably suitable for the Competitions and Competition Matches and that it satisfies the standards set out in the Ground Regulations and Club Licence

There is also a chapter about moving to a new ground, something we know happened last season for Everton and Liverpool as they had to move out from Widnes.

7.3 Moving to a new Ground
7.3.1 No Club shall permanently move to a ground (other than the Ground) without first obtaining the written consent of the Board; such consent not to be withheld unreasonably. In considering whether to give such consent the Board shall have regard to all the circumstances of the case and shall not grant consent unless it is reasonably satisfied that the move to a new ground:
(a) would be consistent with the objectives of the Competitions;
(b) would be appropriate having in mind the relationship (if any) between the locality with which by its name or otherwise the applicant Club is traditionally associated and that in which such Club proposes to establish its Ground;
(c) would not adversely affect such Club’s Club Officials, Players, supporters, shareholders, sponsors and others having an interest in its activities;
(d) would not have an adverse effect on visiting Clubs;
(e) would not adversely affect Clubs or clubs having their registered Ground or ground in the immediate vicinity of the proposed location;
(f) would enhance the reputation of the Competitions and promote the game of association football generally; and
(g) would ensure a high standard of stadia in the Competitions (including that the proposed ground meets the Ground Regulations).

There are also some chapters on the pitch standards quality and maintenance as well as specifics on artificial grounds. That side of the regulations is not the most glamorous but it is extremely important because if the pitches are not good enough, the players’ health and safety might be at risk.

 

 

The FA Women’s Championship promotion race Matchday 2

There are three teams with an 100% record at the top of the table. Man United, Lewes and Spurs. United are way ahead on goal difference and are likely to cruise at the top the whole season.

One curious statistic, there have been no draw so far in the competition, ten games ten wins.

Results

Man United  3 Sheffield United 0

Charlton 2 Aston Villa 0

Leicester 0 Spurs 3

Lewes 2 Palace 1

London Bees 2 Millwall 1

Big win for Spurs away to Leicester, a difficult place to go to. Lewes won the battle of the ex FA WPL teams and stay in the promotion places. Bees struggled to beat a young Millwall side who played very well on the night, while Bees were under par and a bit sluggish at time.

Charlton recorded their first win in their game opener against an Aston Villa side that currently sits at the bottom of the table, but with no relegation threat as no one will drop down from the Championship due to the current uneven number of teams in the division.

1 Man United 6 pts +15 pl 2

2 Lewes 6 pts +4 pl 2

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3 Spurs 6 pts +4 pl 2

4 Charlton 3 pts +2 pl 1

5 Durham 3 pts +2 pl 1

6 London Bees 3 pts 0 pl2

7 Leicester City 3 pts -1 pl2

Tomorrow’s games will see many promotion contenders face-off, so the table might get clearer that it is at the moment where seven teams are currently vying for the top two places.