Lethargic Lionesses, Grace Clinton on form, Ballon D'or misses, and the WSL is back | Crossways EP06

[@sebgold5841]

Just love this show!! Since it has started, my knowledge of women's football has increased tremendously!

[@Aroseinharlem]

The confidence situation with LW is a perplexing one. I don’t think it’s related to the ACL she ended the season for Arsenal really well and the games against Sweden and France were one of her best in an England shirt. The confidence issue is something more recent maybe with how things have been going down at Arsenal/ media attention. I thought some of the questions she got in the Germany presser were absurd and maybe they stayed in her head. Her performance against South Africa was a step in the right direction. A CB pairing of her and AG is more clam and I think they communicate better vs a LW/MB as of late. I think people are writing her off too quickly. She’s a player we need at England so instead of dragging her down we should be lifting her up, because it’s clear to see that she’s down.

[@breathe7759]

Lw is not a defender. Shes a 6 or out on the wings. She has the same issue as trent

[@johnvine9212]

Totally agree 👍

[@alansmithee8831]

Such a good discussion. With these two, they are not afraid to say it how it is. I was critical on another channel of the support for not changing much. You could sense that it was as Jill Scott said in an interview about supporting the status quo to get bums on seats, rather than giving younger players a chance, in case they are needed. Steph actually said this and Ian was spot on about awards being treated equally.

[@klaus7227]

You are completely right about the disrespect against women's football. We have 2024 and there is no equal treatment of men and women in that football show? Shame on the organisators!

[@seanhickin9959]

because womens football has nowhere near the following and interest of men and respect as always is earnt, once womens football start earning respect they'll get respect, I'm sick of people demanding women get the same respect

[@tsheporabekane4172]

Why do people support men's football more than women's football? Where is the equal treatment there from the public?🤔😅

[@MartaComplex]

​@@seanhickin9959 And I'm sick of sexist men. We're all sick of things. Women's football has a large and growing community of fans. Viewing figures are increasing every year and the last major tournament had well over 1 billion viewers. Pretty impressive considering that the sport was banned for decades in many nations, whilst the men's game was funded and flourished. Not only do we have to address the obstacle of generations of missing investment and decimated infrastructure, we also have to deal with the petulant whining of sexist men like you. It is immaterial that the women's football fanbase is not as large as men's when it comes to the Ballon D'Or - all players and fans want is for the ceremony to be held at a time when they can attend - i..e not an international window - and for there to be a wider range of prizes reflecting the rapid growth of the game similar to men's. Nobody is demanding the world. Sorry that these very reasonable requests make you feel personally threatened to the point that you felt you had to leave a frankly aggressive comment arguing against women getting 'the same respect.' Unreal. The sentence 'once womens football start earning respect [sic]' is so deranged that it is almost laughable. Who is going to decide that they have gained this respect? Will it be you? What qualifies you? Aside from your prehistoric opinions of course. Women play the same game at a professional level. They put their bodies on the line in exactly the same way and many do it for a pittance because they love football. They do deserve the same respect (and get it from many people, including lots of men who don't have as fragile an ego as you so clearly do) and if it were a sport that didn't have a long history of sexism snowflakes like you wouldn't be claiming otherwise. I seriously hope you don't have a daughter. Your attitude is clear for all to see and any woman or girl around you is going to pick up on that. It's sad really. We all play the same sport and we should be supporting each other to grow football in this country for everyone, instead of desperately trying to tear it down simply because those playing aren't men. Shame on you.

[@MartaComplex]

​@@tsheporabekane4172 Congratulations on an utterly stupid comment. Sorry you feel so threatened by women kicking a ball. Men's football has more visibility because it has wasn't banned for decades like the women's game. Men's football was well-funded and flourished as a result, whilst a load of whiny and pathetic men were so threatened by the growing success of the women's game that they decided to make sure that women could no longer play. It has never been a level playing field. Even when the ban was lifted women's football was treated like it didn't exist and sexist men like you did everything they could do to impede its progress. Luckily the women's game is receiving more attention and growing at a huge rate in the modern era. Sad that this development - which is good for everyone as it encourages exercise and playing in a team brings great benefits - makes men like you feel so triggered. Wonder why 🤔😅

[@dennisnguyen8105]

Organizers are all men from the old school. Females and women are treated as a distant second class citizens in the vast majority of the world. I should know, I live in America. Equality is a long ways away. It may take a century or more if we're lucky. one step forward and the threatened men will push back two steps. Racism is a recent construct. Sexism have existed probably before there were humans.

[@davidmoore7115]

Steph and Wrighty, is there a better pairing in the Football Podsphere 😁? Brilliant, love them, love this show!!!

[@spacemonkey200]

Lauren Hemp ranked 28th. I know I am biased but that's a JOKE!

[@ChillTry26]

Great show! Sometimes I’m not able to see the games so a small recap of the game (score, highlights, etc) before the commentary would be dope!

[@bengreatorex502]

This is a brilliant show about women's football.

[@rodwellchigome7567]

They're are missing Niamh Charles big time. Bright, Williamson and Bronze all look like they've lost a couple yards of pace.

[@ArticulateDesignASMR]

Just discovering this channel somehow! Offft the game itself was an actual thriller to watch, 2 beautiful finishes from Stanway and Russo (disallowed) However I'm not sure the Lionesses have actually recovered mentally from being beaten so thoroughly by Spain in the World Cup finals. They looked like the best team in the world prior to that but looked like an entirely lower league division against the Spanish. Their performances since have been really inconsistent and maybe it's time for change, whatever that looks like. As a side note, I thought Greenwood was 1 of the best players in the world cup and seems to be just as consistent for Man City this season. Picking Williamson over her and also playing her out on the left is beyond my simple brain's understandings :D I appreciate this was corrected in the South Africa game but i think it hurt them.

[@clivepalmer3545]

England are slow to evolve. Standing still means you go backwards. Big Names give you comfort. I ask you - Mead Bright Bronze Kirby Toone Walsh - are they going to get better Big names but we need to challenge them more to extract performance Great show

[@tbrmusico]

Thoughts on Poppy Pattinson call up? She’s been key to Brighton’s success this season at LB

[@couturecriminal8330]

Poppy Pattinson,Omotora Junaid,Naomi Layzell,Ruby Mace and Laila Herbert in the coming years should be in future Lionesses' squads...

[@EdmondDantesTyler]

Shout out to the Women's Amputee Lionesses who are flying out to Columbia this weekend to compete in the Women's Amputee World Cup. They are amazing!!!!

[@ecalalo]

I don't agree with Esmee. She's been playing both CB and LB with the Spirit and doing amazing at both positions. She's been very consistent against women bigger and faster than her. Plus her touch with the ball is great and I think the sky is the limit for her given that she's playing for Giraldez who is known for being very competitive and a tactical genius. In my opinion, if anyone deserves a chance at LB is her. I miss Charles, too. But I guess she'll be fit for the Euros.

[@idktbh8330]

really agree with the hannah comments!!

[@kinghull5869]

People forgot this is a friendly where you can evaluate players

[@Eagle971]

I hope the Lionesses are on Top Form when the USWNT comes in a few weeks. I want to see one hell of a football game! 🇺🇸

[@niotnt9779]

Ian is this Arsenal-women-only podcast. Can we hear about different WSL teams other than Arsenal?

[@phileast1654]

It screams 3 at the back for me, Leah right, bright centre and greenwood on the left. Hemp and bronze wide then Walsh as the holding midfielder. Then you can play any two of the midfielders with Russo as the focal point and mead or James get to play around her.

[@jamesnewhill]

That defence gets run through so easy

[@phileast1654]

@jamesnewhill could say that about Spain but it works ok for them. Defending is about the structure and shape rather than the individuals and I think that could work well for this team

[@jamesnewhill]

@@phileast1654 Spain has better players, Williamson and Bright are 2 of the slowest players I've ever seen

[@phileast1654]

@jamesnewhill just a personal choice I guess but speed wouldn't be my priority for centre backs in a back 3. All 5 of the players I suggested played a significant part in a team who won the euros so I think it's unfair to dismiss them so fast.

[@Aroseinharlem]

I would go with a back 3 of MLT, LW and AG

[@couturecriminal8330]

The Balon D'or ceremony needs to be way better on the women's side especially after listening to Sarina who was nominated and was gutted she could not attend in terms of the rankings needs to be better especially Salma no chance she is better than Lauren James in this life or the next one😒

[@dubatop7581]

Beautiful and strong as a women and very good defender as a footballer..love her St

[@iansilverlight4540]

Much Respect Ian, perhaps be the next Lioness coach, post Sarina🍀

[@edb618]

Talk about disrespect. Naomi Girma is the best player in the world and it’s not close. Where did she finish in this European award show? Triple Expresso should all be top 10 players in the world easily.

[@Heresskip]

As much as I believe Girma should have been recognised as one of the top defenders in the world and am very happy to criticise the Ballon d’or in terms of their rankings in general, to say the US front line all deserve top 10 reeks of americentrism and undermines the rest of your point. its not even about Europe vs America anyway. these journalists who vote are just bad at their jobs across the board when it comes to the women. anything past the top couple of spots is usually a mess. Englands best player repeatedly doesnt even make the list despite her teammates for both club and country getting recognised. its pretty much a running joke at this point.

[@SegodiRameetse]

Ian dnt u advise desiree Ellis abt getting a central midfielder who is physically who makes us play

[@franciscoarzaga4384]

England did not lost this game, the last penalty given to Germany was not a penalty, it should be 3~3draw

[@luisae6917]

They did lose the game though. Even if that penalty wasn’t given it would have been 3-3

[@franciscoarzaga4384]

@ 3-3 is a draw but overall the performance is bad

[@saralgupta5250]

23:30 You can be consistent for however many years but the award is for a specific season and fact is that Caroline was better. Why do you want to keep awarding based on either nostalgia/historic or 4 week tournament performances?

[@franciscoarzaga4384]

Why did she not give Agee a chance?

[@Hieronymous69]

I'd like to see a CB pairing of Le Tissier and Greenwood for England. As far as full backs are concerned I've been impressed with Naomi Layzell with what little I've seen of her. I had thought of Niamh Charles at LB but Steph makes a good point about Gabby George.

[@jamesnewhill]

Unfortunately Sarina thinks Maya is too small to be a centre back

[@Hieronymous69]

@@jamesnewhill Well she's seen Le Tiss play that position for Man Utd.

[@clivepalmer3545]

England look like a back 3 team being squeezed into a back 4 that doesn’t suit Russo and Hemp up top and work backwards.

[@mlsarchitect]

If you don't have the gumption to show you're an idiot and boycott the event for not choosing your players, then denigrate it and call it "disrespectful". I'm with Michele Kang, women's football is a business not a charity.

[@ai5322]

I dont know why there is not much focus on the decline of Beth Mead's performance both for Club and Country. She was the main attacking player for England and Arsenal before her injury and she has not looked the same players ever since barring a few glimpses.

[@Amesy20]

Always difficult to return to your best after an ACL reconstruction.

[@chloer8693]

Not much focus? You must not have seen the hatred she has received online since the start of the season. Coming back from such a serious injury is always difficult, but she was still Arsenal's second highest scorer last season. What is going on is clearly a lack of condolence due to everything that has happened at Arsenal since the end of the season and yet she still assisted the second goal in the Germany game.

[@RJ-ln4kp]

Christine Sinclair never won the Ballon D’or. Guess she didn’t have enough PR.

[@franciscoarzaga4384]

Mr. right let her finish her sentence before you interrupt

[@LeornianCyng]

The Balon D’or is disrespectful in general and not just to able bodied female athletes in the 11 v 11 game. It’s disrespectful to every player male and female not playing European football, Futsal, Beach Soccer and all para football too. The only award that is prestigious and worth anything is The Sòcrates award. The Balon D’or should modernise and have full parity across the sport no matter the gender or ability / disability.

[@robbo512]

People as a whole just need to stop placing the Balon D'or on this bizarre gospel-like pedestal. It is literally an award given by a random group of French journalists, why the hell does anyone care what their opinion is so much?? It is no different to any other football award which is also voted for by random groups of journalists.

[@Yapper-wk7gj]

What a stupid comment 😂 Futsal? This is not school soccer you don’t just get participation trophies because you play the sport. The most prestigious award in football is not a charity.

[@Yapper-wk7gj]

@@robbo512mate it’s the only award that’s for the best player in the world on both sides of the sport it’s not the same as every other trophy. The only thing I would say is how bias and political the award has become because of lazy journalism

[@robbo512]

@@Yapper-wk7gj what? You really think giving women awards has anything at all to do with the Balon D'ors reputation?? 😂 90% of football fans couldn't even tell you 2 different women winners of it! The popularity of the Balon D'or predates the women's awards by a long, long time! So what was the reason before that?? It coincided the long term Messi vs Ronaldo battle, but other similar awards never took off the same, despite also being decided by journalists.

[@Yapper-wk7gj]

@@robbo512 I’m not quite sure what you mean in the first part but the popularity and credibility of the balon d’or was there way before Messi and Ronaldo showed up. Also please explain what you mean in the first part

[@lindale501]

he keeps interrupting her...

[@rnsc8342]

In there somewhere theres a question why Alessia, Ella and Chloe can build and hit brilliant shots in a match but just miss. Too much time training on passing and too little tuning up scoring and building confidence again that they can? And whats Mead doing out there when she used to be brilliant nearer goal when fed balls by someone else. Interesting that when Kelly comes on she had the extra speed and the legs to attack more, but also hunt down more attacks on her flank - as did Hemp. And two of them both on , might add to the attack, make it less predictable, not leave one side as exposed, and not wear Hemp out so much?

[@alexlehmann5101]

Its over for Sarina, the world cup final was frustrating in the tatics and the selection, i respect steph and her fella steve derby, ive had the luxery of watching her play but wrighty is right about jess carter infact i dont get why she is even in the squad, she has shown nothing and she is actully the weak part of the deffense,bright is a loose cannon, clumbsy and the only reason she gets in id because she plays for chelsea, Greenwood at the moment for me is the best in the world and yet Willamson who should not be captain who has been poor for a long time is still getting put ahead of her, Greenwood has been world class and when she came on against germany we looked solid, she lead deffense unlike willamson, she or bronze should be captain, Sarina though is to pragmatic infact there all she is, she is reactionary not forward thinking and during the world cup we threw that away, our best players were attackers and yet we sat back, lauren james is a disgrace and should never have been brought on, she got red carded for stamping witch nearly costs us to go out, she showed nothing throughout, hate being Mr negitve but unless sarina evolves where done

[@DerekLangdon-w9e]

I concur with everything you say alex…Time for Wiegman to go! Bev Priestman is the way forward! She did well with the Canadians! Forget the hullabaloo about her being a cheat…It’s compleat nonsense.

[@stephencooper1307]

I agree with everything said. The Ballon D'or is a Male closed shop. They are an embarrassment to football!

[@franciscoarzaga4384]

Missy Bo call up

[@sandersson2813]

Lionesses is a truly terrible name.

[@tonysoanes7301]

Ref England team, possibly biggest problem is same old same old S W favourites, 25% of that team need to be left on the bench, time to give the youngsters a chance, (win or lose) they won't learn anything at St Georges get them into real games not tippy tappy training camps, time for some serious changes, 👍

[@dean9090]

Hi Wrighty, I played semi pro football a few years ago, can I come on the podcast to talk about football seeing as I played at the same level or better than the women you have on the show ? #Equality #Football4All

[@kelso120]

Good on her for playing a sport.

[@obviousntshovelo2577]

You are just bitter that your favourites didn't win or get higher rankings....

[@2lowkey100]

Who cares about clam football though? Why would an inferior, less skilled, less athletically impressive version of the sport get the same respect? Shall we start giving trophies to the under 10s 5-a-side at the local park as well?

[@kinghull5869]

England need a goal scorer like Bunny shaw who will pounce on any ball

[@soph5644]

aggie is there, has proven she scores when given the chances (even as a sub) but is not even given a single minute in freindlies

[@rnsc8342]

Bunny isnt eligible and is over used and over relied on at City which showed up last year when she accrued injury on top of injury in time for them to falter in their key closing games. She might be damaged when needed.