Welcome to a brand new episode of the Arsenal Women Arsecast, the number one podcast about Arsenal Women.
On this episode of the Arsenal Women Arsecast the panel preview the chances of Team GB and Japan in the women’s football tournament at this summer’s Olympics. Firstly, Pippa and Tim are joined by Rich Laverty of Our Game magazine and These Football Times to discuss Team GB, Leah Williamson, Nikita Parris, the surprise omission of Jordan Nobbs and Beth Mead from the squad and Team GB’s overall chances.
Then Tim is joined by Tokyo based British journalist Sean Carroll and they chat about the general feeling in Tokyo around the Olympic Games, the challenges for the media and the athletes of a Games during a pandemic and they talk about Japan’s chances as well as Arsenal’s new signing Mana Iwabuchi.
Part 1 went out earlier this week, where Tim and Alex are joined by Annemarie Postma, to discuss Netherlands, and Samantha Lewis to discuss Australia’s chances.
If you are a regular listener via iTunes, if you would be so kind as to leave a review/rating that would be greatly appreciated.
Thank Tim for those preview pods. Loved listening other perspectives to this tournament. I am personally rooting for Japan, love how they play and this country deserves success for being made to have tournament when people of the country clearly doesn’t want to have it there. Plus from Arsenal’s perspective, some hype and recognition for Mana. From Rich interview I am so fascinated how all in English media (because Rich is not only one in this) rate Keira Walsh. Not that I don’t but she is a player with huge deficiencies, that are not being acknowledged or are being ignored.… Read more »
Think it’s pretty evident from the squad selection that the stand-in coach is well out of touch with the game in the UK so don’t hold out much hope. Anyway, it is absolutely rediculous to be running the Olympics now given the state of Japan at present. Even the Japanese, quite understandably, don’t want it to go ahead. To me it would have made sense to cancel the 2020 event and let Japan have it in 2024 whilst pushing all of the other hosts back 4 years. I’ll be thoroughly hacked off if any of our players provide a positive… Read more »
But for me that is not just Riise’s problem. Neville was the same. Englands by far the best game in last years was against Spain (everybodys 2nd best team in world at moment) in SBC, Keira didn’t play in that. In almost every England vs England inhouse game during pandemic England team that didn’t have Walsh won (she won only when she was partnered with Leah). Even if all the coaches think she is that talented to be the first name on the teamsheet, when build the team for her, cover her weaknesses, make it possible for her to succeed.… Read more »
Absolutely agree with you, Eeleen, about Keira as I’ve always felt she is over-rated especially by Phil – she tends to succeed with 2 brilliant passes per game but that’s about all she does & she certainly can’t defend. I personally would have had Jordan in the 18 instead of her. But in my opinion there is nothing that Captain Kim can’t do and it’s incredible the amount of running both forward and back she can still do at 31. I love Leah too but can’t see her being deployed in midfield in Tokyo, and hope she is preferred to… Read more »
Yes, I agree. Numpty Neville was just as bad and he didn’t have an excuse as he was in the UK and around women’s football before being appointed! I think Riise has just been lazy and taken a Neville team sheet as her guide with no regard to current form or team structure. Picking Karen Bardsley, eh? Ok she has dropped out since with injury but really, given the wealth of goalkeeping talent we have at our disposal. Not picking Jordan who would probably walk into most of the teams in the tournament. Criticising Meado for not being good enough,… Read more »
Thanks Peter 🙂
Let’s not forget though that old Phil would have selected both Beth and Jordan.
I do feel you are being rather harsh on Riise as I think her heart is in the right place and she’s the quietly effective type who is providing a harmonic atmosphere within the squad – which I predict will do very well indeed.
A significant mistake is the 4 “extras” who are now deemed as included in the main squad as a 22 – Team GB could have had Cuthbert, Nobbs, Greenwood plus a keeper – but not KB!
Honestly I don’t doubt Hege’s good will, but I doubt her competence if she chooses injured and absolutely out of form Stokes ahead of Greenwood, who had her career best season and played ahead of Stokes in ManC. And now in tournament plays Daly as LB, instead of taking actual LB. With Beth and Jordan, I actually agree with Rich. Even I as Arsenal fan, would choose Hemp, Parris and Kelly ahead of Beth. With Jordan the main problem was Arsenal, as we didn’t play her at midfield, despite our midfield not functioning. And I would also choose Hemp and… Read more »
I agree with Lauren Hemp pity we can’t snatch her signature. Keets of course is now a Gunner anyway and we shouldn’t have let Chloe Kelly go but I think she is out with an ACL injury now so couldn’t play in Tokyo regardless. The biggest issue was the choice of coach for me. Whether or not Riise has goodwill she is not from the UK and has not had the involvement with WSL to fully judge the players. In addition there is no accountability either since if GB win or lose there is no job for her after the… Read more »
The Walsh/Weir/Little midfield worked well against Chile, with Kim being the best player on the Park. However, you have to take into account the level of the opposition. It’s the GB defence that worries me. Lucy Bronze is world class but left back is a weakness, and I do feel that Steph Houghton and Millie Bright, good servants though they’ve been, are no longer able to compete at the top international level. Sweden beat England for third place at the World Cup and, having just seen their demolition of the USA, they’ve moved on and I see them as potential… Read more »