Champions Return

Emma Meredith-Shone: Alex Greenroad runs over to the bench to celebrate with the manager. Rebecca Kanak is the hero. ⁓ she's there again. Bunny Shaw, absolutely deadly. And Manchester City. A 10 year wait for the WSL is over, and now a six year wait for the FA Cup comes to an end as well. Manchester City win the FA Cup 2026 is their year. Hello, welcome back to MCW Fancast. I'm Emma. Thanks for listening. It's the one that you've been waiting for. The wait is finally over. The summer window is officially closed, and the champions of England are back in business. Welcome to the brand new season of MCW Fancast. We've got a massive episode for you today. It's been an absolute whirlwind of a summer off the pitch with the T Fo launching a stunning new brand identity for the team, plus a mind-blowing seven Ballon d'Or nominations landing at the Joyce Stadium, including Women's Club of the Year. On the pitch, the title defence is officially up and running after a brilliant 3-1 win over Birmingham City. We're looking at our new arrivals. Celebrating Lauren Hemp's two hundredth appearance and breaking down Mary Fowler scoring the club's a thousandth goal. That's hard to say. Plus, Bunny Short is already up and running with a brace, and we're looking ahead to a huge trip to Villa Park this Sunday. So for the first time this season, let's get into it. Dave Paul, thanks for joining me. First podcast of this new season. Dave, how's your summer been? ⁓ it's been nice, yeah. ⁓ After all the dramas and everything and the celebrations of the end of last season, it was nice to have a nice break and take some time to soak it, soak it all in. Such a good time last season. So yeah, but raring to go again now for the new one. Paul, how you doing? How was your summer? Yeah, good summer. you know, it's ⁓ as Dave says, it was nice to de gas after a very intense sort of period in the April May when ⁓ open top bus parade. big deal at the co-op and then ⁓ and then go to Wembley and watching ⁓ watching us comfortably win the FA Cups and do the double, which, you know, so just nice to de-gas after all that and then, you know, gradually come back in in for the new season and, you know, through the friendlies and the signers, etcetera. One thing for me for Sunday obviously was nice to be at home for the opening game of the season. I had my photo took again with the trophies and I got I got emotional again. I can't seem to help myself it just I'm just so like overwhelmed by what we've done and what we achieved and I'm looking forward to obviously seeing what this season will bring and and building on what we've already, you know, achieved this last season. I mean, Dave, how have you felt obviously coming into this season and sort of hopes and ⁓ ambitions for for what the expectations are? Yeah, well, first of all, like you say, Emery, it never gets old. Have you have you picked to win the trophies? That's what you know. That's what it's not about. You should always, ⁓ I always firmly believe in football you should really celebrate your successes. 'Cause you don't know how long you're gonna wait for the next one and things like that, do you? So you you go for it and ⁓ you know, I never turn down on the opportunity to see the trophies or, you know, to have a picture with them. It's great and it's great the city do that and make them so available, so that's brilliant. ⁓ now we're going into this season, obviously there's a bit more onus on the team t to carry on the success and that in itself brings its own pressures. We're back in Europe, which is a huge thing for the club. Look, this club has got to got to be in Europe and not only has it got to be in Europe, it's got to be seen to compete in Europe. So that's a huge a huge ⁓ thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because you know, just like the men's side of the club, we want to be at the top table i i in everything and that includes you know the Champions League. So it it's crucial that we're in it. It's crucial that we challenge it. So that's the biggest thing on the agenda this season that obviously w we're unfortunate to not have last season. But that in itself brings its own pressures and brings its own added added issues. You know, more games quicker turnarounds, ⁓ probably will mean a more that Andre will have to integrate a a larger rotation of players. ⁓ he's already got a few injury issues right at the start of the season. So that brings its own issues. So, you know, it this is what comes with success. Unfortunately with success come more problems and issues for managers and players to deal with. But you know, that's what the big clubs do and that's what we want to be and we want the where we're where we want to be. I don't want to set too high a bar for everybody to say, ⁓ yeah, we need to win the league again, win the cup again, go deep in the Champions League. But built those are the targets that the club set themselves and and that is the that is the initial aim, I'm sure. And ⁓ you know, the important thing for me is let's have a good start. Let's get some points on the board. Let's give ourselves a good base, just like we did last season, and ⁓ and then take it, you know, one step at a time after that. So yeah, and it was great, as you said, to be back at home for the first game on Sunday. Yeah. And it's nice Paul to head into a sea into a new season with a a decent preseason, let's say. Yeah, definitely. I mean I I think I think we've we've shown in in the pr in pre season and and in the opening game that you know we've got a good squad. You know, people that are panicking about you sometimes I sometimes get a little bit frustrated with our fan base at times. It's like, you know, it's like, ⁓ god, it's the end of the world 'cause we've got some injuries. Well it was not so long ago that Georgia Stanway was our ⁓ reserve goalkeeper. So let's all get it in some sort of perspective. You know, losing Viv for up until Christmas at the earliest and it may well be longer is a blow, let's be honest. ⁓ we need to be clear about that. But we've got a big enough squad and a good enough squad and a squad depth now, in my view, that will allow us as Dave rightly says, to compete, you know, in in the league, ⁓ in the cup and in the Champions League. Now, it's unrealistic to expect us to do a a double double. That that's that would be a really, really tough challenge. It's hard enough to win one trophy in WSL, let alone two. ⁓ but our our task this season is to compete in the league against particularly strong Arsenal side this season, and as you rightly say, I'm to go deep into the Champions League. You know, we we we've we've struggled in the Champions League in the past. We've not really performed anywhere near, you know, the the standard we would expect. We've gone out in qualifying rounds and all sorts of stuff. So ⁓ we need to compete in the Champions League ⁓ and go deep. You know, a quarter final minimum I would s I would argue would be ⁓ what we would expect in the Champions League. And that's gonna make it tough because there's a lot of games coming now. ⁓ but we are starting to see, I think, a decent squad depth that will allow us to do that. And and I think fans have got to realise as Dave rightly says, when their favourite player is rotated out of the team, it's not because there's some sort of issue with them. It's because we need to rotate the team and we need to keep players fit and rest players. So if your favourite player has has disappeared, ⁓ don't start crying about it. It's the nature of football. People get rotated. It's it's the nature of big big league football. How do you look back on the summer then, Dave, in terms of the players and the incomings and the outgoings in the business that we've done? Have you been happy? Because there has been some I don't know, some negativity around perhaps the the strengthening of the squad. I'm I'm relatively quite happy with what we've got. Obviously Jaglerts has shown faith in in the players that he's got and he believes that we've got everything we need to potentially retain this trophy and go on and ⁓ go further in Europe. But yeah, I think incomings people wanted more. ⁓ but as well as the players that we did sign, so Beth Mead quality, the the more that I've read up on this, ⁓ on Whamsa that's coming, you know, another a German international with with with you know full credits behind it that sounds good and she she's very useful to the squad. As well as those players that we've brought in, I also think that there was two players that are that are new to the squad or well new, you know, reintroduced to the squad in the case of Mary Fowler. And ⁓ I'm quite happy that we kept all the people like Risa Shimizu as well, who's a very good utility defender who can play across the whole back four, things like that. Then those two to me almost feel like a new signings as well, 'cause they weren't around last season. For the majority of know Mary came back towards the end, but the new faces into the squad, together with some of the younger players coming through, gives the f squad a f a freshen up that it, you know, that it needed it, you know, that every squad needs, 'cause obviously we we we lost some players at the end of last season. We lost Wuhabe, we lost Coombsy, people like that, you know, great players for City, done great over the years. But their time, you know, they felt it was their time to move on and Coombsy's case to retire. I just don't think there was many first team players that that moved on. Maybe you could shout Carolyn. ⁓ was a first team player but Carolyn for me was a was a very hot and cold player. I mean, you know, one week she was the best player on the pitch, the other week she, you know, she didn't have such a great game. And I mean I remember when she scored the hat trick at and was outstanding against Chelsea the next week at Arsenal, she didn't have her best game. And I'm I'm not criticising her nature of football. You know, I I overall the overall business the club did yes. I believe we were after another midfielder. I believe we tried you know a number of times to sign ⁓ a couple of players, one from PSG and stuff. And so Andre probably thought he needed another one. Who's to say we won't go again? We got Sam Coffey in the January window last year, didn't we? So who's to say we won't go big again in January if he feels we need to suspend at that point. But anything like that to me always gives another player a chance, maybe a younger player to to stamp stamp an authority. I mean, look at the emergence of ⁓ Bill Kilder Brown last season. At the start of the season she wasn't in many people's thoughts. She wasn't as a starter on many people's team sheets. By the end of the season, she'd been an absolute integral player and I would argue probably the most improved player in our squad over the whole season. She you know, she had an absolute blinding season for me. ⁓ so there's something like that could happen again and someone could come through and shine. So yes, I think we have quite a good squad. But obviously we don't want a a plethora of injuries, because no club does, 'cause you don't want to lose your best place. Losing Viv i is as Paul said before, i that is a major blow, because she is world class. So we don't want to lose any more. I was glad to see Sydney Lohman back running again this week and training. So the sooner we can get her back, the better. ⁓ obviously Rebecca Knack's out as well. At the moment, hopefully that's not long term. But I like to say that the other day, for instance, to prove my point, I thought Gracie Pryor stepped in and had a great game on Sunday. Didn't put a foot wrong and you know, so you know, you have got to to cover these injuries. So ⁓ it overall, the business was good. Possibly could have been one more midfielder coming in, which Andre seemed to want, but You know, you can't always get every player you go for. So yeah, overall I was quite happy with it. And we were pushing to obviously get deals done as well towards the end of the the the transfer window. And I think I've I like I said, I've been relatively happy. I mean, like you say, you spoke about Mary Fowler there. It was great to see her come in on into the squad on Sunday. And I think again, for somebody that has had little time who's been sort of slowly working away back into the squad, I think it p could potentially be an exciting season for her as well, Paul. Absolutely. I mean ironically, ⁓ I was saying and this is a football always makes a fool of you. ⁓ I was saying just before ⁓ she scored a really good goal actually. I mean it's a well taken goal. We need to take her off and bring Sam Coffee on for a bit of energy. And then, you know, so I'm I'm sat there chunting away about Mary Fowl and then she bans a really good goal in. So, you know, what Mary brings is quality. She's a quality player. You know, the goal she scored in the semi final at Chelsea was absolutely world class. She is a world class footballer. ⁓ I think she was getting a bit tired in the game. But again, she just pops up, bangs the goal in, and off she pops, and coffee wanders on. And that's the other thing you've got to remember. You're taking Mary Farlow off, world class Australian player, bringing Sam Coffe on world class American player. That's the difference. You know, and we've got a bench now that's full of internationals. Yeah, and it is true we've got injuries. But as Dave rightly says, Gracie Pryor. Who I think's a really, really, really good defender. She she was great. She stepped in there. Blinky, I thought Blinky was brilliant on on Sunday. I thought she has stepped up again another level. She looked like she'd she'd had a good summer working with Andre. You know, she was looking to hit those forward balls more than she has in the past. There was a couple of balls she whacked in, you know, just slid through their defence. I thought were really clever little passes. You know, and and then you know, we've cleared out a lot of the sort of And I'm not don't don't want to use the word deadwood because that the you know the those young players that we've got rid of who were never gonna play for City, you know, some of them have been around two or three seasons, they've been on loan all over the place. You know, they had more chance, I had more chance of playing for City than they did. ⁓ and we've got rid of those. ⁓ we bought some people some decent players in. I mean you know, people going out you know, like Beth Mead isn't a quality player. She's still playing for England. She's still doing a job for England, she's got 40 odd goals for England. I think there's an argument there as well though for Beth Mead because i if you look at how Meader's come into the squad, I've kind of thought about it and I just think, well, actually, if she's given a chance, and and I think again that's shown at the weekend, she was contributing as soon as she came on. You know, a professional player that can integrate into any to to any team and contributing, you know, I I think that's great. And she's so experienced, you know, as in Europe as well. Would Beth Mead on a free transfer? Yeah, it's a no burner. It's an absolute no brainer. You take that deal all day long. God knows how many England caps, loads of goals for England. As you say, she's won the Champions League. You know, she's a really, really good buy for us because she brings that experience. Whether she'll start every game, probably not. But when you bring her on with half an hour to go, and you bring Sam Coffey on half an hour to go, and you bring Sidney Loam on half an hour to go, then that's change that's your game changers coming on. They're the players that'll come on. And change the game. So let's just put it in perspective. We've sa we've we could have probably done with another midfielder. We probably could have done with a backup striker for for Bunny. Because the big risk for us this season is that Bunny gets injured. If Bunny gets injured, not only do you lose all of those goals, but who do you play who who plays in that who who brings that level of contribution? That's a danger for us this season, I think. And we think we have to be honest about that. But again As Dave said, when you when you go into the marketplace, you're not buying another bunny short easily, are you? You know, the not buying a re ⁓ an obvious replacement for the best striker in the world at the moment. You know, but you d we we do need to think about who's gonna be you know, who I suppose not only would who would replace in the injury situation, but also how who rotates in into you know when we have to take her out because you can't play every game this season. That would be bonkers. It's it's gonna be interesting to see how That will be managed throughout the season, Dave. I think obviously it's a lot of pressure to put on potentially one player. But we have seen that sprayer goals as well, though, Dave. So it's not necessarily all on Bunny because other players can contribute as well. ⁓ certainly, yeah. Like you say, you've got ⁓ some of the youth team strikers coming through that be banning the goals, like Freya Hyrons, you've got ⁓ alternative strikers that you could play in certain games. Maybe give Bunny a rest, you could put Beth Mead up top, you could put Mary up top. He'll have ideas for this. He will have ideas. It's a bit like W when he puts Albert on and plays it through the middle, we think of Albert as a wide player and and she's world class out there. The other day she was operating in the middle and threading balls through and everything. So, you know, i it's a very flexible team, very flexible squad. And Andre's a very flexible manager and if he fe if he sees that he feels he can play somebody, you know, up top to give Bunny a rest here and there, you might well see that happening. Obviously we've not got league cup games this year. It might have been the idea to have league cup games to t to to do those sort of things and to blood young players in those games. But you know, that the the decision's been made that we're not gonna be in the subway cup if we're in Europe. So ⁓ you know that that that's one thing. So we may have to do it in league games and obviously we all know how tight the WSL is, you know, you can't afford to lose too many games or suddenly you're off the pace. So it's a high pressure situation. So it's it's almost like hit the ground running and learn as you go, sort of thing, isn't it? And ⁓ this is what you know, why the training regime and everything and and the manager's thoughts are so important on these sort of things because he can't play any player You know, twice a week, every week, 'cause then you get burnout, don't you? You know, you see it in the men's game. I know Rodri complained about it years ago and to him with a serious injury because, you know, he felt he was being played every week and getting burnt out. And so you have gotta you've got to manage that expectation of ⁓ you know, how often a a top player can play it gets to be quite a lot and it affects the games, obviously, they're only human. So those are the things again that that managers are paid big money to t to come up with and I'm sure that there will be plan B's in in ⁓ in place for that and Buddy is the major one if you when you think about City and you think about our City play and the the amount of goals that she scores, she's the major one that that comes to mind, you know, that you need to ⁓ not wrap in cottonwood, but certainly ⁓ manage manage carefully. Can I just get your view on how the Carolyn situation played out? Because obviously probably t two of the the outgoings are let's bring Keaton into this as well because that that come as a bit of surprise as well but to see her leave and go out the door. The Kerolyn situation, it was just not well managed. But I'm not putting that on the club, but how that played out. It was just really disappointing, I think, for fans to see the way that that turned out in the end. Sometimes players leave, don't they? ⁓ with our with our best wishes, you know, like Coomsey, for instance, or or or ⁓ Leila last city, you know, at the end of last season. They leave, they've done a job for us, they've they've been at the club a while, and they've always performed. Carolyn had been at the club five minutes and she was, you know, ⁓ arguing that she wanted to leave. You know, ⁓ basically forcing the club to make a sale, you know, not turn up for training and and just forcing the club into a position. I'm glad she's gone. She struck me as someone who's very immature. She struck me as someone who, as Dave rightly says, you never knew what you were going to get with her. Some some some games she was world class. Other games she might as well have been sat in the stand. You know, she she was she's not a player that I will have any particularly fond memories of. Because she wasn't there long enough. She didn't perform at the level that other players have done season in, season out. She decided she wanted a move. She's forced the club into that position. Good luck to her in the future. In terms of Chiara Keaton, I wish her all the best. You know, I remember when she turned up as a seventeen year old against Arsenal and and had a blinder that night. You know, she's had her moments, Kiara, you know, and she's had a great moments as well. And the Chelsea game had great moments. Yeah, and the cla the Chelsea game w was Chiara in in one game, you know, a howler and then a world class safe that kept us in it. And she played well that day apart from the howler. I think it's great that Chiara's moved on to a very good club. ⁓ she knows Gareth. She needed game time. And Chiara's a good enough goalkeeper to warrant playing week in, week out, which she wasn't gonna get at City. She wasn't gonna get in front of Yama. So good luck to Chiara Keaton. She's been a great servant to us in direct opposition to the other player. And we wish her all the best. And that's as a fan the difference. You wish those players that have done a job in difficult circumstances all the best. And you wish the flyby nights, well, you'll fli I won't I won't remember Caroline in the season's time. I won't remember by Christmas. So good good riddance and good luck, you know. That that's my view on her. It's tainted by the way it was sort of dealt with and how it had got played out across media and And one thing. Yeah, it didn't it it wasn't handled very professionally by I'm not sure whose fault it was, but City hadn't actually announced that she'd left. And there was pictures Barcelona put pictures up of her in a Barcelona shirt. And she hadn't even been announced that she'd left City officially. AI pictures of that like really, really odd. And I thought, well, that doesn't usually happen, does it? That doesn't you know, clubs usually agree, don't they? Between themselves, I would When someone's moving, you know, they'll have a date and they'll do the announcement. You know, City's put a thing of okay, thank you and goodbye. And then the next day you'll see them sign for the new club. Which is, you know, it's that's respectful to the fans of both clubs that way, isn't it? As well. We didn't get that with Carolyn. We were seeing pictures of her, like you say, AI AI mock-ups, pictures of her in Barcelona shirts, and pictures as pictures of her turning up the training at Barcelona before City even announced she'd gone, which is you know, it's a bit of a two fingers up to I'm not sure whose fault that is, I'll be honest with you, but it's two fingers up to the support to City fans that for me. And and that's it that's put a sour taste in people's mouths at the time and that that's tainting, I think it's tainted a a memory of a time of people's memories of her time city. But you know, good luck to her. She's moved. ⁓ I don't I don't you know once put someone moves on, they move on. I'm more interested in the players that are here now. Kiara, I agree with Paul completely. Chiara wants to be in the England squad. She probably is in the top three English goalkeepers at the moment. And she needs to you know, like Serena, she'll have had chats with Serena and she needs to play. She needs to play every week. She's gone to a club now who I think are on the up. I think Liverpool will improve. I think I I you know, I think Garris decent manager, I think he's at the right club. And you could see s signs of Liverpool improving while he was there last season, and I think he will improve them. I mean, I'm not saying he'll challenge near the top, but Liverpool have been a bit lower down in the leagues the last few years. I think they'll be higher. Chiara will play every week there and she'll do well there. And she'll shine and she'll be in the England squad and that will do her the world of good and I wish her no or you know, nothing but well, you know, I've got happy memories of Chiara and like you say some of the saves it saves at Chelsea, that one at Arsenal that time a couple of years ago in the cup, last minute on the line and things like that. So let's remember the good times with Chiara and and wish her well, without a doubt, because ⁓ you know, she she has got her own career to think of and we've got good goalkeeper. Especially for a goalkeeper. Yeah especially for a goalkeeper. So She's got potential to become like England's number one in the future, but she'll only do that if she's playing at the high level, you know, the the WSL level every week, week in, week out. She'll be Liverpool's number one. I wouldn't I would I would ⁓ imagine all season and then we'll see her shine. It was announced last week that ⁓ City have launched a new brand identity for their women's team. ⁓ I just wanted to get your thoughts on this. It's quite interesting, obviously, as a a women's team to create their own. new brand identity as ⁓ a squad and a standalone culture within women's football globally. I mean what do you think about that, Paul? Exclusively I can I can reveal I was involved in the process. to k to to the ⁓ the city's credit, the inf they they had a few panels with fans from all sorts of different ages, different backgrounds, different experiences as fans to talk about their initial ideas about what they wanted to do with the brand ⁓ you know the new brand ⁓ positioning. And we had a really frank and open discussion with them, which they took on board a lot of our thoughts. ⁓ and I'm really impressed with what they've come up with. I think it works. I think the logo's great. I think ⁓ the the language that they're using is very positive. ⁓ I think it's ⁓ a it shows that City are a really progressive club in their thinking. You know, they're they're not just about, you know, we are We have the one club brand, you know, and that's always been really important, seeing the women's team as central to the whole city e-force and city brand. But to have a rebranding for the women's team, I think shows a real ⁓ commitment to women's football at City, you know, on top of a ten million pound training facility. Let's remember that. We've just opened a ten million pound training facility. Now we've got the rebranding. I think it it appeal it appeals to old fogies like me. But more importantly, I think it will appeal to younger fans particularly. I think they will feel very tied into the brand now. So credit to City for doing it. Credit to City for having listened to fans. And, you know, I think what they come up with is really, really good. It could have been a disaster, but actually it's turned out to be something really positive. And I think will ⁓ grow and like all brands change over time. But what they come up with I think is really, really positive. Dave, were you involved with that process as well or? Yeah, yeah, we were. We were part of the ⁓ you know, they reached out to the OSC for some ⁓ thoughts on on brands and stuff on like Paul. We were involved in in chatting on a over a number of ⁓ meetings towards the end of last season. And it was ⁓ yeah, I like it. I like it. A lot of like the brand, they worked really hard to create a a modern brand that that that that's you know, represents city, to represent city as a whole, city with me and Manchester. ⁓ particularly in Manchester field to things as well. So ⁓ I think they've achieved that and I think we'll see that more and more this season rolling out over, you know, things like the T Fo the other day that they dropped down at the ground. And, you know, just just to just to set City apart. City likes to be at the front. City like to be the forefront of these things, don't they like to be trendsetters? And like Paul says, we've got so much to be positive about with in the new training facility for the girls. It's just amazing. You know, nobody else has got anything like that. That that is just so special. And It'll attract big players to the club and you want that this identity, this brand identity is all part of that. ⁓ you know, the one club ethos. It all comes together then as well. City women is a place to be. City women is a is a a a positive place for for everybody. Players, fans, everybody. And I I like the vibe it gave on S Sunday for the first game at the ground. I thought it worked. I'm sure we'll start to see it more on the branding around the grounds and things like that. You know, going forward. It probably involved joy in it as well and and it it's great. It really is great. We're the first work to have naming rights for our stadium and things like that. We're always at the front of these things. We're always the market leader on these sort of things and this is just the latest one. So overall, we're very positive about it, yeah. Yeah, you spoke about ⁓ the connections to Manchester and I love that it takes a city. It just brings that togetherness together, Paul, that you know, we are all in this together. Yeah, I mean, you know, I think it I think it catches that idea, you know, why do people week in, week out, home and away, go and watch football. It catches that notion of community. It catches that idea, as Dave says, of us being rooted in Manchester's culture and history. W without it being arrogant, it catches the swagger that s Manchester City has. It has that sort of s I've always felt, having lived in Manchester and and still coming back to Manchester, that s that Manchester's a unique swagger. It's hard to define, but it has a sort of confidence And a belief in itself that ⁓ is quite unique in you know, I've travelled all around the country and it's very unique to Manchester. ⁓ and I think the brand catches that without being cocky or arrogant, you know, or saying that we're the best. It's just saying, look, we're in this together. The club, the officials, and the players. And and if you if you ever wanted a distillation of that, how the how the brand catches that, it's that final game of the season last season at West Ham. when you know it was you know all the fans were there filling one end of the ground or you know quite a lot of the ground and then the players turning up the pub afterwards. That's that's the one that's this is our city. This is this is catches that that brand catches it really well and and and touches on the history of the club as well, you know, the pioneers of the club. ⁓ I think it it does capture something quite distinct about the Manchester and Mancunian identity. ⁓ because w we are Manchester City and that needed to be ⁓ very much ⁓ central to the brand and I think they'd catch of that without it being ⁓ sort of too over the top. It's great. I really love it. I I thought the opener on Sunday was pretty special visually as well, Dave. It looked fantastic. Yeah yeah it was lovely as Paul said as well. If you watch the film they put up on the screen, I'm sure it's available on the social media, you know. We were all very insistent and they were insistent as well that it did celebrate o not only now, celebrate City as they are now where we're up to now, but the past. You know, so you'll see clips in it of of of city ladies back in the day. And it even it even incorporates the Manchester Corinthians 'cause they're such an important part of Manchester's football in history. And I'd advise anyone who doesn't know about the Manchester Corinthians to Google them and look them up 'cause th you know, those women were just setting records and things years ago, you know, before the before City even existed and and it's It's fantastic. And i i it's like Paul said, it's a very unique thing to Manchester. So the celebration of the whole of us as as part of the Manchester Ethos, it w it comes across really well. So yeah, I was really proud of the club for it actually. I thought it really came across well on Sunday. And I'm sure we'll see more and more of it and the and the brand and the logo and and everything is just very, very bank union and that's what that's what everybody wanted. It you know, capturing capturing a feeling of ⁓ I think we have such a closeness to our players that maybe not every every club does. And that was ⁓ was as Paul says there, so evident at the end of last season when we celebrated together twice in one weekend at West Ham in the pub, the next night at the Albert Hall was just so special. Those moments, you know, they live with you they live with you as a fan, those memories live with you forever. And that that, you know, it's it's like capturing lightning in a bottle gat in those moments and and explaining those moments to people who weren't there or who weren't part of it, what that feels like. I think as well it's worth mentioning if there are fans that And new that perhaps don't know that history, two really good books by Gary James, ⁓ the Caribbeans, and there was a a hist like a history of Man City women and two really, really good books, Gary James, go and check them out because they are definitely worth your time. So in depth, so interesting, ⁓ and so much history that, like you said, as as fans, you know, just to to to go back and like you said, it it's it's never been quite easy in terms of women's football, but he just captures that journey and and what it took and how we got here really, really well. Yeah, it's the the Manchester Corinthians story is an amazing story. If you don't know it, you should never read it. I'm always struck when with Gary's work about how many of those women who were you know basically putting their own nets up and running around in cast off shirts and turning up in a minibus to you know play on a you know a bomb site of pitch. What a mud fest. Exactly. Yeah exactly and and you know, played in, you know, shirts that didn't fit and all the rest of it. I wonder how many of those women, th those pioneers, would have made it into the into professional football. And I think what's been always been really touching is that those women who now are getting paid to play the game acknowledge that those pioneers, that those pioneers were the people who set the standards, the people who, you know, did the hard yards to get the women that are now being paid to play the game they love. they paved that way. And I think that's always been a really important connection to our past, you know, w you know, p w when you've got made up clubs in the WSL with plastic fans, we've got a history that is so rich as a women's team, it it stretches back for for decades, you know, and and to a time when it was only just after women were banned from playing football. You know. In living memory, women in this country, fifty-two percent of the population, were banned from kicking the football around. It's madness. So f to go from there to here, where we are now, they're talking about brands, you know, dropping down banners, all of that, ten million pound training facilities, you know, is part of this new brand. The acknowledgement of the the pathway from amateur To professional is a really important thing, and that they've managed to integrate that really cleverly without losing the fact that we're a professional football club and we've got a lot of world-class players. Talking about world-class players, should we talk about the Ballandor? Unbelievable. ⁓ Women's Club of the Year, Andre, Manager of the Year, Yammer, goalkeeper of the year. I'm trying to remember, Bunny, player of the year. Kasperai, Yue, Greenwood, and Miedemer all recognized, individual recognition, just elite consistency from our players, our club, and our manager. It's amazing, isn't it? It's a great ⁓ clutch of nominations, that isn't it, to to get so many. ⁓ for a team that wasn't even in the Champions League last season. Is it is real good recognition. It shows you how dominant we were, that we you know, we've caught the eye so much. I mean, Club of the Year is a great one. I'm sure the club of the moon with that if they can get that one over the line because that's that's a huge swing as well. But individually for the players as well as for the club it's great to see them nominated because you don't often get that many from a club that's not in the Champions League. I mean I'm not a great fan of some of these awards because I think they're a bit weighted towards certain teams and certain clubs. But having said that I was very surprised to see how many nominations we got and it must you've got to give a player a pick up that when you get nominated for it. Even if you don't win one, I mean to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or say that you are in the running, you know, to be in the the team of the best team of the year and the best player of the year is is amazing, isn't it? So good luck to them all. And it's a it's a real favour in all the caps ⁓ to be nominated. Yeah. ⁓ Incredible recognition. And I think like you you said, Dave, I think it talks Paul about the the calibre ⁓ that we have within this squad on that world stage. Absolutely. I mean y you look at all of those players that were nominated. you couldn't make an argument why they shouldn't be nominated. The only argument, as Dave says, is that we weren't in the Champions League. But Yui Hasegawa is a world class player. Kirsten Kasperai is probably the best right back back in Europe at the moment. You know, Alex, ⁓ I who's an outstanding player and leader. You know, you look at ⁓ V Miedemeyer, world class, you know, y I I think Yama is is is best keeper in the league. You know, I mean, you know, she has her moments like all keepers, but she's she's a quality keeper. And if Bunny Shaw doesn't win it, it'll be a travesty. Because she's definitely the best striker in the world at the moment. She's absolutely, without any doubt, the best striker in the world at the moment. That's that's an so if she doesn't win the Ballon d'Or, it'll be because it's a fix, you know, like it normally is. So I hope that she does win it because I think her achievements last season were remarkable. You know, I mean we talk about Bunny as a goal scorer and that's her job. But what Bunny the improvement in in Bunny over the last three or four seasons from being an out and out striker to being the sort of striker that leads the line now. And I'm gonna say leads the line, holding it up, getting kicked round and round the pitch, week in, week out, because that's the only way some defenders can handle that. ⁓ you know, ⁓ ability in the air, a ⁓ better ability on the floor, ⁓ ability to, you know, hold the ball up, give us options, you know, all of that is you know, she's gotta be top three. I think. But any player that gets in that top thirty ⁓ of the Ballon d'Or is a is a a proven player. ⁓ no matter whether you're in the Champions League or not, they are the best of the best. And all of the players that are nominated, you you couldn't make an argument why they shouldn't be nominated, because last season each of them contributed to us winning the double, which is a rarity in women's foot in the WSL and and is as we know, having watched it through a whole season, how hard it is to do that. So I I'm delighted for them all. I hope Bunny wins it. I hope if she doesn't win it, she's top three. and the others could can sit back. They'll get a little trophy, I'm sure, from for you know for for recognising that they were nominated. And they'll look back at the at the end of the career and think, Yeah, yeah, I was elite. I was an elite player. I suppose we better move on to the game. Otherwise we won't get it in. Three one win at the Joy Dave. A great start to our WSL title defence. Yeah, it's good games have. I mean, if you you've got to be careful when you get a home game against a newly promoted side who come up full of ⁓ full of beans from from the division below in any league. So, you know, you need to go out and do a job. And ⁓ I felt that they live with us for the first half. They had a few chances. ⁓ I do feel we we took over second half and our class show through then and As they tag, we really stepped up and as Paul alluded to before, we could bring quality off the bench as well and keep our level nice and high. Yeah, it was it wasn't spectacular and I'm sure, you know, people might have expected more. But I I was more than happy with it. I thought it was a good professional performance against a decent side. Don't forget Birmingham gave us a good game in the cup towards the end of last season as well. We only beat them one nil in the cup quarter final last year. They're a good side, you know, they they they came up, you know, they did did they win W SLT, I think they did, didn't they? They were top and they'd come up and You know from the past, guys, that Birmingham historically have been a strong WSL side in in our time as well. And we're always a horrible place to go and play. You know, it was always a difficult game in the in the L and Y, Ethan Manion, Birmingham side days, those you know, so traditionally they've had good sides in the past as well. So I'm glad to see them back. ⁓ from City's point of view on on and it's also it's not too far to travel for an away game as well, let's look at it that way. But ⁓ from City's point on Sunday I thought, yeah, it was a good professional performance. It was You know, we we didn't panic. Yeah, I'm sure he got into them at half time and told them to up the game a little bit, up the tempo, which we certainly did after the break. We always score at the Azda end, and that proves true. And, you know, Bullies lifted any pressure off ourselves with two great goals from corners. ⁓ superb strike from Mary to get us up and running. ⁓ the only downside probably was letting in that goal towards the end was a bit silly. 'Cause I think probably three and all would have been a fairer result on the day, you know. I think we were very dominant second half. So I would've liked a couple more goals or not let that silly one in at the end, but it is what it is. Three points on the board, a good win. We need to go to Villa on this weekend coming and keep that going, 'cause like I said before, you know, a nice, good, solid start with points on the board could be crucial. I forgot as well, like what it great to have like Bagley back in the the WSL. Forgot what an outstander keeper she can be on her day. Some outstanding. She had a very good game, didn't she? She played well, didn't she? It's outstanding. I think like you said, Bunny getting that that brace as well. It it's like we've never been awayport. Well yeah, it was. I mean it it w the word ⁓ the word that was going through my mind on the day was professional. It was a really professional performance. You know, the there's potential banana skins always. Look at Chelsea dropping two points at home, you know, ⁓ right at the start of the season. You love it. I I obviously you love it, it's really but it just goes to proof, doesn't it? As we've been saying on this cast for a couple of seasons, there are now no easier games on the WSL. You know, with there's no gimme's anymore in this league. And Bermina would never give me. They were a well-organised team. As Dave says, they really gave us a a fight in the quarter final last season. They played really well. And you know, we sort of fell over the line a little bit towards the end. This time, you know, in the first half, we had two three chances, which we on another day we'd have taken. Second half, as as Dave says, I think they they they were Andre had had a word with them. They upped the tempo. And as soon as the tempo upped, Bermuda just couldn't live with that. ⁓ so it was a really professional performance, really good goals, you know. ⁓ you know, both those headers from Bunny weren't just tappings, they were really well well taken headers. ⁓ Mary scored a really ⁓ typically a really well taken goal. ⁓ I thought we we looked solid at the back, apart from you know, the daft goal, which is you know, early season communication issues. ⁓ midfield I thought we were really strong and positive. And up front, I mean you know, we we've not even mentioned Hempo. I Hempo was on fire. Yeah, gonna mention Hempo. Well she was on fire. That that that right back ⁓ will be ha will still be waking up in a cold sweat in at Christmas after that roasting. She absolutely tore her to pieces. fair play to the defender, she kept at it, she kept trying. ⁓ but Hempo, every time Hempo got the ball, you thought, ⁓ this is just gonna end not end well for them. ⁓ so it was it was an outstanding not outstanding but a really positive professional performance and that's what you need in this league consistency and that's what we're developing. You know, we we in the past when we've not won the league it's because we've not been consistent enough and now we are consistent and now we are bringing on world class players as game changes towards the end, and that's the big difference for me now. Let's talk about Hempo. Two hundred appearances, Dave. Celebrating her loyalty, her longevity. And that relentless engine down the wing. Like Paul said, another outstanding performance from Hemp. She was outstanding. She has been from the day she walked in the door, hasn't she? Absolutely amazing footballer. Joy to watch. She's one of them players that just gets you on the edge of your seat to watch her play. Every time she got the ball on Sunday, she was looking to drive at that fullback. Either on the inside or the outside. She's always looking for just to get that little edge. and and get in and get behind and create a chance for either for someone else or even for herself sometimes. You know, unbelievable and the loyalty she's shown to us has been ⁓ un unbelievable through the hard times and she's always stuck by us. ⁓ world class. I wouldn't swap her for anybody in that position in the world. I really wouldn't and I'm just saying that 'cause she plays for us. ⁓ just a world class player and it she is a joy to watch. She's one of the one of the footballers I enjoy watching the most. You know, not just for City, just across the board. She's just so excited. You I can't wait. I'm always thinking, give the ball to Empo, get the ball to Embo, let's see what she can do again. She never ever stops. And like Paul said, the poor fullback. I've seen better fullbacks than her also. I'm not gonna have a go at the fullback because she did her best. It's hard. You know, we'll I can't wait to see her in the Champions League against, you know, the top players 'cause I think she'll give them a hard time as well. I really do. I don't think she fears anybody. She takes every game the same. Two hundred appearances. She's only the fourth player to do it for us. In this professional era, you she's only the fourth player ⁓ to reach two hundred. I think ⁓ we've got Steph, Kira, Demi, and now Lauren's only the fourth one. ⁓ it's an amazing achievement that should be celebrated for someone to play that many times. And don't forget she would have played more. She's had a couple of bad injuries, hasn't she? She's missed a couple of ⁓ long spells and come back even stronger from each one of those. So just absolutely outstanding and I can't wait. Every week I think you know Penple's playing. I I I literally think she's the first name on everyone's starting eleven. Like there's no way you're you're putting anybody else in that position. Now she's getting some medals and trophies. She's done it with England and got the trophies as well. So it's great to see her decorated for for being such a great player. You know, a player like him, she she could have gone to any club that calibre. She's that good. She is world class. And Paul, we're just so lucky to have her. And it's incredible that she's she's offered us so much longevity. Like Dave says, she's stuck with us through some really difficult times when she could have so easily moved on. ⁓ she's a real part of this squad, of this culture. And I'm just so proud to have her within us within our team. Do you know do you know what, Emma, you you're absolutely right because as a fan, you couldn't have blamed her in at least a couple of seasons, two or three seasons, I would argue, where she could have quite easily said, you know, Summer I'm gonna do a Caroline and I'm gonna go off to Barcelona. I I'm just gonna I'm gonna spit my dummy and I'm gonna I'm gonna go off to Spain. But she didn't. She stuck with us. You know, she turned out when she was injured sometimes. She turned out, you know, when we had nobody, you know, and and she kept at it. She never ever gave up. She's she's an absolute gem of a of a player and a professional and a human being. Yeah. It's where you can say that about footballer. She's humble. She's a team player. She's always stuck. You know, if you said to Hempel, like with George Stanway, will you play reserve goalkeeper? She'd say, Well, I've I've never done it, but I'll give it a go. She's that sort of player. But to watch her glide down the wing and roast quality ⁓ fullbacks week in, week out, has been an absolute joy. 200 games at her age is a remarkable achievement, given her injury record. It's astonishing. And it's not just about Turning out week in, week out, it's every week she does something and you think, Jesus, that is an incredible piece of footballing ability. And she'll get better. She's still got she's still relatively young as a player, you know, but she's a she's so experienced the season now, you know she knows exactly what she needs to do. She must be a joy to coach, she must be a joy to sit in the dressing room with, and what she is guaranteed is a mosaic at the training ground. Because she is. Without doubt, gonna be in our all time eleven. Hundred percent. She's creating quite a legacy and th that technical ability for a player like him, it's it's unmatched for me. I I don't I can't think of anybody as good or on par as somebody like Lauren Hemp. You know, when we sit down in ten years' time and say, 'cause you know, that's a good point, you know, b in the in the development of our who will be in our all time eleven. You know, the lights of Steph are obvious. ⁓ jail Hempel, absolute probably the first name on there because what she's done as a winger for us has been unbelievable. We are we are privileged as fans to watch that week in, week out. And when she retires or goes, we will look back on her and say, geez, we saw one of the best players in the world turn it on week in, week out, and get kicked around the field like Bunny. You know, she's so resilient. She gets on with it, you know. She gets battered. Don't care. She took I if you see it in her thinking, right, you just kick me. Watch me go past you and knock a cross in. Watch me watch me cut inside and bang a goal in. Watch me make ⁓ watch me make your life a miserable for the next twenty minutes. You know, that's how good she is. You should say ⁓ Emma, she's got e all the technical ability in the world. But what she brings is heart. And you can't teach that to a player. She has got the heart of a lion. And we are so privileged to have watched her ⁓ peek at her prime and watched her every week do something, you think, Yeah, that's just instinct. As as a fan, it's nice to see the full journey of a player. Sometimes when someone comes out the youth team, for instance, and you see them develop and become a world class player. I know Lauren didn't come through our youth team, but we always remember, we always talk about it when we were at the games. We were at a game when she was back at Bristol, and so I think she had only been about seventeen. And she played against City. City won the game six one. We we we won quite heavily that night. But she played on the wing for Bristol that night. And obviously we didn't know her that night. We were looked at we had to look at her name on the team. She was up against Esme. And and Esme was only young at the time as well. And it was fantastic to see such a two young players going at it like they did that night, each other all all night. And although her team got beat six one, she stood out. She stood out, you know, with that winger from Bristol, she was brilliant. She was only a young kid, ⁓ she was brilliant. Then anyway, I later that Summer or that's it. We signed her. And we said, ⁓ god, that's that's the girl from that from that night. You know, she stood out. And obviously she stood out to the team that night as well. So from that moment on she came into the club, still as a very young player. I she had come through our academy, but she was still, you know, a very young player. So to see her develop from that young player that we first saw back at Bristol right away through to as you've just said, Emma, probably the best one of the best players in the world. If you're doing a World Eleven, you know, I pretty I think you put Lauren Hemp in it, in that position. I really do. I think she's that good. She's proved it on top stage, she's proved it for England. She got two Euro winners medals and and a World Cup final under her belt as well, you know, ⁓ internationally. So, you know, as well as Club Level, she's done it. So yeah, it's it's amazing to see that full journey. And now we need to, you know, push on again and get her some more medals and she's part of that. And Sunday, she doesn't tire, does she? She always got that hunger for more, you know, as Paul said, she's very humble as well. So, ⁓ yeah, fantastic achievement. Congratulations to her for two hundred games and You know, let's hope. I think Steph's record, I think it's something like two four two, something two forty, two four two. He's watched he's the record. Well, if Lauren stays fit this season, she could well take that record of Steph this season and become our the player that's played for City the most of anybody. That that's definitely possible, isn't it, with the amount of games we're gonna play this season, hopefully, in in in the cup and the Champions League. So ⁓ yeah. So much more to look forward to. When I sat back at the end of last season and thought about the double, the player that I was most pleased for to pick up both those medals, given our near misses, was Lauren Hemp. That was the one player I thought, you've earned both those medals because you have dragged us through some tough times. You've been absolutely brilliant as a team player. You're the one player out of that squad who I thought of all of you deserve it the most because you have done everything we've asked for you of of you as a player from from a pan from a fan perspective. I f I just think she is just everything you want in a professional footballer. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what this season brings for Lauren. Another milestone that we achieved on Sunday was one thousand goals across all competitions. ⁓ Mary Fowler firing home in the forty ninth minutes and going into the history books, Dave. Nice that isn't it. One thousand goals, amazing, isn't it? We've seen most of them as well between us, haven't we? Yeah, most of them. ⁓ yeah, brilliant. We scored so many goals. Some of the goals last season as well. So yeah, goals win games, it's great to say nice for Mary to have that. Maybe they'll do a little presentation to mark that for her as well. So ⁓ yeah, really especially it's crucial goal as well. First goal in the game. So, you know, crucial goal ⁓ on the day. So ⁓ yeah, really good goal. And ⁓ yes, like you say it's another landmark. It's in the next thousand. I know. Like it it like We broke a lot of records last season and the fact that we've started this season and broke some more is it's just unbelievable, really. You know what I mean? Going in the first game in the first game as well. Just a quick word on ⁓ Beth Beth Mead, how pleased were you with her coming into the squad on her debut? ⁓ it was nice to see her operating in some tight spaces and creating some overloads out wide, but obviously contributing as well in terms of ⁓ flipping it and assist. I think of the word. I think you can see how delighted she was when she got the assist. You know. So I think she I think she she she's putting a marker down. It's it's difficult to come from a club where you've been a mainstay for so long at one of our main rivals. You know, that that is not an easy process. I think we should never underestimate coming from, you know, one of the teams that we've competed against for years, you know, you know, to to win things and and to be, you know, top three. You know, Arsenal have a very strong side. And to come from there ⁓ to us it's not an easy process. But she's a top class professional. She knows her business. We saw that on Sunday. She knows how to play football. She's still got it, you know. You can't teach that sort of thing. You can't bring you can't buy that sort of you can't we we didn't even buy that experience, we got it for nothing. She brings experience, she brings quality, she brings commitment, she she's a good, good player. and you can see the delight. of getting an assist. She's not coming here just to pick up wages at the end of a career. She's a winner. And she's coming here to win. And I'm really pleased that we've got her. I think you know, people are underestimating how strong that signing is. She stays fit. She's gonna be starting some games 'cause we'll rotate and I have no problem with that 'cause I think she'll sit in that s side really well. And if she comes on as an impact pillar, as we saw on Sunday, she will make an impact. She's a good, good player and a good pro. And you know, every time you hear her speak, she's articulate, she's sensible. Every time you see her put her boots on, she delivers. She's delivered on a really good arsenal side for over a decade. She ain't coming here for some rest, she's coming here to win. Yeah, definitely. ⁓ let's look to Sunday then, Dave. Villa Park, Aston Villa. It's a bit hard to kind of judge this one in terms because Villa it's it's one of those where we kind of don't know who we're gonna get on the day. Well, first of all, Villa had a good game as you. alluded to earlier, they've got a point at Chelsea, didn't they? So they've started quite well, they'll be happy with that. Over the years it's been a bit up and down at Villa, hasn't it? We've won, lost, and drew, haven't we? We drew there last year. We won there the year before. We've lost there in the past. So it is a it's a little bit of a yo yo one isn't it? But you know, we just need to go there with our game. But I will what I will say is when we drew there last year it was a bit of a flat game. But if you remember the ⁓ the Japanese girls were away at the time as well with the the the cup that they were playing in. So there's three major parts of our team that weren't there that day that will be there on on Sunday. So, you know, we are stronger. I think we just need to go there with the same mindset, same professional attitude that we had on Sunday. They're a good side. They're not a side we expect to be up in the top three with us though. So we need to be going there and looking to get three points. Glavellian net, so that you know the the you know, they've got some strong players still they're a decent side on on their own ground. ⁓ so I'm looking forward to it but it will be tough. But it is a hard one to call. You're right, Emmerich. It's a it's a it's not a gimme at all away to Astonville. You need to go and perform and perform well. ⁓ and everyone needs to do their job to get the result as was proven last season. Do you want some breaking news? One. ⁓ Alba Fijino's extended ⁓ with a three year contract, twenty four. Fantastic news. That's great news. Fantastic news. Fantastic. For business. Love that. Fantastic assets. That's the sort of business that that that we want to see. Get ⁓ you know, tying in, you know, we saw it a lot last season. We're tying in players now to longer contracts and you know, key players to those long contracts. She's been fantastic since she's joined the club. Absolutely fantastic. You know, ⁓ as as a as a player and as a as a person. You just know she's ⁓ you know, easy to coach. You know she's one of those players that just gets on with it. She seems to have a right sense of humour. ⁓ she's a She's a flamboyant player. She's been playing in sort of midfields, playing the tens sometimes. She's got quality. So great. That's fantastic news. I can't I can't say how excited I am. 'Cause ⁓ she's another one. When she when she's on the wing, you think God knows what y you have no idea what she's gonna do. I don't think she knows half the time what she's gonna do next. No, yeah. ⁓ The only time I've seen Alba struggle on the pitch was after the cup bar with that tempo stuff wrapped round up. Yeah. And speaking on the new deal, she said, I feel like there's so much I can do in terms of development. It's a big part of why I've extended two years in. I know I'm capable of more than I've shown. I've always felt so supported right from the start when I first arrived at City. Everybody welcomed me so warmly. The fans cheered me on. All of that just made City and Manchester feel like home. Love that. Love it. It takes a city. You see. Absolutely. It's beautiful. But yeah, looking forward to Sunday. I don't expect it to be an easy test ⁓ at Villa, but ⁓ because obviously they'll be buoyant after their result against Chelsea. I know we can go there and get the result that we need. And ⁓ yeah, I'm looking forward to it. So shall we finish with some predictions, Dave? I I'll I think it'll be tight. I think you know, I think we can go and win, be professional. I'll go for ⁓ two one to City. I was gonna say two one. You still can. Go on, Paul. I'm gonna be a bit more optimistic and say two-nil. I think we'll keep it tight, but I think it'll be two late goals. I think they they they are a strong size. So two-nil for me. Yeah, no, I I'm expecting them to be a bit compact, Villa. So I think it's gonna be a bit like the Birmingham game, really. That first half where we we were probably really creative, but really just struggle to break that sort of that line a little bit. But yeah, let's see what happens. Let's hope we get the result. And ⁓ we'll talk about it next week, hopefully. Yeah, certainly, yeah. ⁓ Come on. I think after the villa game we might have a better sense of where we're at. ⁓ you know it's always tricky to make a judgment on the opening game. I think after Villa we'll have a better sense of how we're managing game time and managing ⁓ to break the break teams down that a bit more as you say compact. So yeah ⁓ very exciting. Very exciting. Right. Have a good week, everybody. ⁓ and we'll speak soon. Bye. Bye. And that wraps up the season premiere of MCW Fancast. Thanks to Dave and to Paul for joining me. And thanks to you for listening. What a way to kick off the new campaign. Three points on the board, historic milestones, and a squad looking sharper than ever. If you've enjoyed today's episode, then please hit that subscribe button. Leave us a five-star review rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. And drop your thoughts in the comments on who your player of the match was against Birmingham. Don't forget to follow us across our social media at MCW Fancast for all the match day updates, tactical breakdowns, and coverage heading into Sunday's Clash at Villa Park. We're now on TikTok as well. How exciting. We'll be back next week to break down all the action from Villa. away. Until then, enjoy the football, stay safe, and as always, have a great week everyone.