Five For Five

803 Five For Five: Screen run runs over to the bench to celebrate with the manager Rebecca Kanakis the hero. she's there again. Bunny short, absolutely deadly. And Manchester City are Barclays women's Super League champions. 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 and welcome back to MCW Funcast. I'm Emma, thanks for listening. We're back after an absolute whirlwind of action across domestic and European football. Five for five, fifteen points from fifteen, sitting top of the WSL and still completely unbeaten across all fronts. Today we're dissecting a true statement performance at the Essihad Stadium, that formidable four two comeback victory over Arsenal. Trailing twice, showing elite European tested grit, and then turning the entire match on its head with a 61st minute triple substitution tactical master stroke that left Arsenal completely without answers. We're deep diving into Lauren Hemp's player of the match performance and her two vital equalisers, cursing Kasperi's instant magic scoring within 120 seconds of stepping onto the pitch. And Andre's triple sub that broke Arsenal's defensive block all at once. Plus we'll catch up on a European battles away by Munich and at home to Real Madrid. There's so much to cover today. So let's get into it. Dave, Paul, thanks for joining me. Dave, how are you doing? Good morning, Emma, yeah, Frank. Great. Yeah. Glad to be back recording again at last. It's it's been a while, haven't they? We've got quite of Yeah, it's been a while. I do apologize. Paul, how you doing? I'm good, thanks, yeah. Good after the weekend. another good win. Obviously there's been a quite a few fixes, so I don't know how we're gonna get it all in, but we'll do our best. our last game that we previewed was Liverpool at the joy. A good win in the end, Dave. It was quite a goal fest though. Yeah, well we well in the preview we mentioned it it wouldn't be an easy game and it certainly wasn't. It probably had more goals even than we thought it was going to have. So yeah, it was tough. Liverpool are a much improved side and we saw that we saw them that them show some of their new qualities and what have you, and it was went right to the wire really, didn't it? It was we don't know two late goals winning it for us. But it it was a good good test for the team and it showed good resilience from us to to keep going right to the end as usual. And over the years we've done that a against Liverpool. A lot of late winners against them over the years, but it is what it is. But we we said it'd be a tough game and it certainly was. Yeah, resil resilience is the key word, Dave. I think Paul, I mean it it's something that we're showing a lot of at the moment and hemp and bunny are proving again their worth within this squad. controlled tempo, fantastic finishing, just obviously proving how we've got this mentality to just find that way. Well I th I think what what the team don't do now is panic. They just keep going. They keep playing the way they're going to play. And when you've got two world class players, probably the best striker in the world at the moment. and and we've seen that when you compare it to other strikers that have come you know just look at Russell at the weekend who scored a great goal but it was anonymous apart from that. Bunny Bunny's got an all around game now. So when you've got a world class striker who can pounce on anything, and you've got got I think now the best winger in the world cutting in and scoring goals, you've always got a chance to win a game. My my major concern, and we'll probably discuss this more as the POV goes on, is our defence is too shaky at the moment and we keep shipping daft goals. We shouldn't be putting ourselves in this position where we had to chase the game. I think Liverpool played really well, they're well organised. Galleth's now got the resources at Liverpool to do a decent job. And he's got he's he's you know, he gave he gave us a proper test. But we keep shooting ourselves in the foot and and if we keep doing that, the the top teams will find us out with that time and time again. So good result, good resilience, but we need to be tighter at the back and and that's a theme I think we'll explore probably a bit more as we go along. For sure. And obviously we can probably look at these games really as a whole, really, because I th I think the the games that we s seen in the performances that we've had, even from those positions where we've been on probably the back foot, I somehow find that we we actually f play a little bit better in those positions, Dave. Yeah, we have done. I mean let's let's move on to the next game being the Bay Munich game. You look at the first half, we looked a little bit startled, a little bit star struck. I don't know rabbit in the headlight then. It could have been more than two by half time because Bayern Munich to the credit played very well. And and and City looked a little bit, you know, a little bit shocked by that, which they shouldn't be really, because we all know Bayern Munich are a good side. So, you know, you know you're gonna go out there and have a tough test. So it was two and up half time. I mean, you know, we feared the worst to be honest with you. You thought, well, what's gonna happen here now? Well, they come out City and they really you know, that goal right on half time gave them gave them just that that little spark they needed. In the second half they had a better side. And you know, they got the equal eyes late on fully deserved. I we missed a penalty as well. So by the end, you know, another five minutes we probably would have won that game. So if they'd have come out with that attitude at the start, we could easily have won that game. It's that first half. But you like you say, it seems to we seem to let ourselves get into these positions where we're trailing or or, you know, not winning the games and and we went chasing them. And so far it's been good. As Paul says, you know, it will catch us out of that if we keep leaking the sort of goal we're leaking. It it does always almost feel like I and I don't wanna be negative in that, but y you kinda your luck runs out, you know, we we have to really look at this as somehow we've just got to find a way of being a little bit more tight support because you know, some of the goals and some of the mistakes that have led to to the goals from the opposition have you know, they could have been prevented really. Well I I I jokingly said at one of the games, we shouldn't be we should be playing paying the players half wages 'cause they're not bothering to turn up in the first half. And I think that's been quite consistent. They this sort of the bit like the men really. Men used to do this a lot, you know, fanny around for the for the first half and then turn up in the second half. And you can't do that, particularly in Europe. I mean, let's be honest, Bayern skilled us in the first half. They absolutely battered us. And to city's credit, to the players' credit and to the manager's credit, he tweaked it like he does, and we got ourselves back in the game. And Dare's absolutely right, we were with a better team by the end. You know, we w we look at the team that looked like we were going to win. similarly against Real Madrid, we didn't turn up for the first thirty minutes. And and whilst I I'm hesitant to p in single out players, you're right, I think Alice is looking really she's not looking as the player that she was and doesn't seem to have the same confidence in terms of in p being in possession. And that creates sort of uncertainty in the back. And you know, there's sometimes whilst I love the beautiful game, sometimes it's Ros Ed. You know, just just get it out. Get it clear. Don't try and play it out. If you're not feeling your best, you're not you know you know your form. If you're good if you've been around a long time, you know your form's not great. Just get it out. Rose edit or get it into the middle of the field. And this nonsense about playing out from the back at the moment, you know, it's just it's just it we we're just literally We do invite in the pressure, aren't we, really? We're we're inviting team good teams to come onto us and get onto us You know, we end up in the corner by the corner flag. We still you know, we pass it across the box and end up by the corner flag. And then how do you play it out from the corner flag? You you've then got a you've got a lot more work to do to try and get it up the field again. So we just need to be a bit bit calmer. I thought when in the Arsenal game when we bought Benny and Caspar and we looked a lot more solid. You know, we did you know, I don't I know we were chased, you the game was sort of opened out a bit, but We do need to be much more solid at the bat because we we're getting found out by the top teams. Bayern found us out, we did something about it. Real Madrid found us out and we did something about it. But let's do something about it from the first minute rather than the forty fifth minute. Because we're just asking for trouble if we keep doing this. But equally on the flip side, Dave, the confidence and the mentality a again, just really on show because we've we spoke about this in probably earlier podcasts where That was half the problem, you know, when we're in really difficult positions in the game and and not able to come back from it, Dave. We are finding that way to win and get some out of the game. Yeah, it does it sounds like we're being negative, I suppose, about the defense. So, you know, if we flip it and let's be positive about the attacking play. The attacking plays first is i is top class. Like we say, we outplayed by Munich in the second half. Tough game down at Charlton, which, you know, Andre rotated the squad. It wasn't the best game, but he you know. we we did the job, you know, and that day we did keep tight chip at the back and and and got the goal and and got the important three points, which is all that mattered that day because we've had a lot of games coming up here you rotate the squad. And I think we have to be accept that's gonna happen a lot this season because we've got quite a few games coming up where you know you've got two league games either end of a week with a big massive European game in the middle. So it's the whole squad needs to be used. So there's that so yeah so that's been positive. The attacking player has been great in all these games where you know by Munich Liverpool and then again Arsenal at the weekend the attacking place been top quality. So if you can combine that and you can tighten up at the back, then we are some you know, we're a real, real proposition for any team then. You know, because then you know we we become one of the best teams in Europe then. And it and we'll be really hard to beat. So it's important that we do tighten up at the back against the top sides. We've got to go Chelsea yet, we've got to go to London City Lionesses who are banging goals in for fun. So those are gonna be crucial games and they're coming up quite soon. So we need to get that event sorted. I mean In his defence, you know, he's he he's he hasn't got a great deal of choice at the back at the moment. I know he's full backs maybe, but cent central defence is a little bit limited because he's lost Rebecca Canaak, who would definitely be in there as as one of the options, wouldn't she? He's one of the main defenders of the club. So, you know, it's a little bit difficult for Andre to fully address the the problem squad wise, when he hasn't got the f all the players available. So the the sooner that everybody's back fit. in those positions the better because then he's got more choices and and more options to rotate. So yeah. But positively, yeah, the attacking play's fantastic. I I think as well, it's probably a good time to mention Wanza. I I've I've been so impressed with her since she's come in at the start of the season and obviously integrating into the squad pole and and she's pretty pretty much every minute, every game. what what a great signing. You know, one of those under the radar signings that you know, Rebecca Nat was another one. last when we we signed her, you know, it looked like a panic buy, but actually it's a really sensible buy. I think from what from what I read the club have had their eye on her for a while, but because of you know injuries and and and you know wanting to expand the squad, they brought her in a bit earlier than they anticipated. She looked like she looks like she's been playing in the league, you know, like one of those players like Jade Rose last season. She's turned up and looks like she's been a WSO regular for years. You know, a positioning sometimes can let her down but she's in a new team in a new league so you know we we we need to you know take that into account but going forward she's electric she's exactly what we want you know overlapping with Hempo great relationship with Hempo solid defender when she when she's when the position is right she puts her foot in she gets stuck in which I really like I think she's a great signing for us she she she brings all the things that we want as a city player as a city fullback to to the team. You know, we know we've gone from basically having very little option at left back to having loads of options now. Because Ris Risa's got to come back as well, you know. So she she'll be challenging for that that position as well. So great signing. Seems to have a great attitude. Love to see her going forward. Slightly nervy when when she's having a trap back, but that will come because she's played about five games for us, six games and and you know Andrea c clearly Trust her. and I really like what I'm seeing. I think she's a a top class signing for us. When looking at the squad, obviously with the the fixtures that we've had and obviously bringing Champions League into the mix as well. We've seen obviously Andre utilize that squad and it seems that obviously that 60 minute mark sixty minute mark, sorry, is always looking to make those changes to breathe a bit of life back into the squad as well. Just the The change in the tactics and everything we've seen from Andre, he's so measured in everything that he does. How impressed have you been with how he is managing this this squad so far throughout the season? Well, it's fantastic, as you say. I mean, the the timing of his substitutions have been brilliant. When he's needed to make changes, he's he's gone big. He's done those a couple of times where he's made three wholesale changes at once. Change the team and and put quality on the pitch, you know, four quality. You're not you're not lessing the quality at any stage. It's no reflection for those players that are starting on the bench. You know, it it it's this is now a squad game. This season is very much a squad based season. We're going to need them all. And that those those incidents that you talk about there are prove that. You know, they proved it, you know, he's changed games. the Bayern Munich game is a perfect example of it. You know, the j the changes when he put Blink Hilda Brown on. she just got to going forward so much more and pressing them and she ch she changed the game. And that was a substitution we should be very proud of. Same at weekend, you know, and it it's a it's a massive part of the modern game is the substitutes and this is why we need the full squad 'cause he needs those options on the bench. He needs fully, you know, quality options on that bench to change games and you know if he he's proven now a number of times that if he's got that, he c he he's not scared to do it. He's not scared to make those changes and win the game. So it's full credit to him for being brave, because we've had managers in the past that we've always criticised not changing enough. And you know, Andre doesn't you certainly can't fall into that category because he he he he seems to analyze the games, makes the changes, makes them early, and makes brave changes. So full credit to him. I I like how every every single player really comes whoever comes into the squad, whoever's in the squad, there's just no panic at all. We always have calm heads and we're able to stay calm in possession and stick to the the build up structures, Paul. That I like as a manager, like it's just so refreshing to see the way and and everything he brings to the squad. And if you're a player and you're in that dressing room and you're listening to Andre talk, like just how inspiring he is as a manager just to G up everyone and to get everybody in that mindset to win that game. It all comes on it all starts on the training pitch, doesn't it? You know, you've got you know it's a mentality that's trained on the training pitch and saying to the players, it'll be said to them at the start of the season. You're not gonna play every game. You're full internationals, you're world class players, some of you, you're not gonna play every game. But what I want you to do is play in this way so that when you come on at any point in the game, whether you're coming, you know, coming on at sixty minutes or seventy minutes, you know exactly the way we wanna play this game. Your instructions, the way you play, with the way we play, you can buy into that. There's a thing in rugby union, the South African team, call their substitutes the bomb squad. And they bring them on at about sixty minutes, similar time to where we bring our subs on. And they bring a load of them on. And the bomb squad just blow the game up. They come on and they just blow the game up because they fit the new legs and the really good players. And the big difference for us this season is you know, a couple of seasons ago, Gareth Taylor turned around and think, Who am I going to substitute on? 16-year-old Sasha Lewis. I don't think so. Now he's He's taking off Sam Coffey, world-class player, and bringing on Blinky, the best English midfielder of the moment. You know, he b you know, he takes off Ne Need Charles, brings on Kasperi. You know, that's the big difference this season. You bit and and the other thing he's doing, which is critical, which previous managers have not done, is giving them half an hour to change the game. He's giving them enough time to play themselves into the game. and actually make a difference because they've got enough time to do it. You know, Garf used to bring people on eighty five minutes. You could bring Maradona on eighty five minutes, he's not going to change the game. Yeah, it's not going to impact the game, is it? Yeah, he's giving them that space and time. You know, I mean it it was a bit ironic that the fur Kirsten's first touch was a goal. But he was given half an hour to get stuck into that game. And I think those that triple substitution which s it seems to be being a bit of a habit now at the moment at about sixty minutes. I think he's actually working for us. And and as we've as I think we would all agree, Andre is really clever tactically. He sees the game perhaps in a way that we don't. And that's why he's a world class manager and that's why we're the champions of England and and doing our right in Europe. So, you know, I think the substitutions have been spot on and I and I you know I think we've got a mentality in the team of well, you're not going to play every week, but when you do, make a difference. I I think the proactiveness of the changes, I think it just alters that physical intensity as well, Dave. It does, it does a night pause. It's brave. You know, to he's thinking, right, I'm gonna change this game. I'm gonna put three new players on in one go, you know, rather than trickling it out, stretching out because you can only have so many substitute breaks and all that. So he puts three on, he thinks, I'm gonna put these players on, I'm gonna change the game. And he does it as Paul said, the critical part is he does it early enough to change the game. Which is, you know, it's quite rare that really. A lot of managers do hang on, I'll just wait and see how it goes, or make one change at half time and you know, and then they leave it till like seventy five, eighty minutes. But no, he's done it around about the hour mark, hasn't he? And and it's really you know, yeah, it's worked, it's changed games. Ideally, you know, we'd rather we were two or three note by that point and he could make Leslie substitutions, but you know, that's just not football these days, is it? You know, a lot of games are tough games and you know, we win them late on. the fitness of the team is i i i is paramount because games are going right away to the wire against really good sides. So it it's a crucial, crucial part. It's you it's been proved this season now what a crucial part of the modern game this is. And this is why I always stress it's a massively it's a squad game. And if your favourite player isn't starting it they've not been dropped, you know, it's not 'cause they're not playing well, it's just horses for courses, rotation, keeping everyone fit and sooner or later as Kirsten proved at the weekend. When you called on, you're ready to go, you know, because you you put your quality onto the pitch. And full credit to Andre Padletch, because it's working and we're winning games. So I'm a big fan of it. I think obviously from a a tactical point of view as as well, it almost leads you the opposition into like a false sense of security. When you're chucking on three players, you know, it's it kind of it brings that tactical shot to the opposition, I suppose. you know, it disrupts their game plan because you know It's a lot to deal with and to adjust to in in such a sh you know, short space of time. Yeah, if you've been giving say let's take the fullback situation, you know, you've been chasing someone like Wamza or Native Charles for an hour, you know, then you you know you you're gonna be more tired than you were at the start of the game. And then all of a sudden you're faced with a world class pairing of say Imam Benet coming on and Kirsten Kasparag coming on to the pitch fresh with half an hour to go and go at ya. You know, as a f as a defender in the opposition's team, that's that's a worrying scenario to be in. Because you're thinking, god, I'm tired now, I've been running for an hour and I've done really well. But now you've got to go again and do equally as well for the last half hour against fresher players. So it and it's not just that's just the fullbacks, you know, I'm using them as examples, but there's other, you know, like the the midfield swaps and everything. it it's it's it's a massive part of the game and like I say, full, full credit to him 'cause I'm so pleased to see it again at the weekend. 'Cause I think it needed it and it proved it. But the the biggest g example of it was definitely in Bayern Munich, I thought, when he were when he did it, 'cause that was a brave, brave call because they were playing better second half at the time, City, as well. But he still thought, No, I can I can trade tweak this and I can get us something out of this game. And it worked, and it very, very nearly we would have won that game on the other day. We'd have won it three two 'cause that's how good we were second half. So, you know, full credit to him, full credit to him, it's great management. I'm I'm just like you say, I'm just really enjoying it. I mean, I know Obviously, as a fan, when you're watching these games and and obviously to be behind in these sort of situations, I mean, it you know, when you're watching it, it's difficult. But I never doubt the capability of this side, Paul, and what they can do. I never believe that when we're two nil down or one nil down, whatever it is, that we we never can't really find a way back in. because of the quality of the players that we've got out on the pitch and how responsive they are. to the manager, to the tactics, to our game plan. Everybody just knows what it is they need to do. Yeah, it it's it D Dave hit the nail on the head, I think, when he when he when he talked about, you know, we going forward, we're fought you know, we're we're we're frightening actually the this season. You know, going forward, we look like we're gonna tear any team to pieces. and and as we can tighten it up at the back then then, you know, it'll make it make our lives as fans a little bit more relaxed. I just think that they understand the game plan. It's it's from you know, when they get on the training field, they know exactly what they're expected to do. if it's not working, the manager will tweak it. The players that come on know exactly exact exactly tactically what they need to do. and I think we we've got a resilience in the team, but we've also got a a a wish to score goals to to keep going forward. And I think that's brilliant. I love that as a fan. I want to see the team really get stuck in and score goals. that's what you pay your money for. so you always feel like they can score a goal, even when it gets down to the debt, you know, the end of the game. And our fitness does play a massive part of this. You know, we've got players that can go for ninety minutes. I mean, Low and Hemp, you know. She's like the GSL bunny, isn't she? She just keeps going and going and going and going. You know, and every time she gets the ball at the moment, you know, when she cuts in now, you think, you know, defenders are just having nightmares. I mean Leah Williamson must have woken up on Mon you know, on on Monday morning and thought I had a nightmare, you know, w i i in my sleep 'cause I could see Lauren Hemp coming out of me again and again and again. You know, she was just brilliant. And when you've got those sort of players And I w what I would say as well, you've got someone like Fijino. You look at Fijino, she's got this roaring role now in the team, which is a really interesting tactical change. So she's going for for 90 minutes, and teams are trying to work out how to deal with her. Because one minute she's in the middle of the park, then the next minute she's out on the wing. So that tactical freedom that the he's given them, I think it's been brilliant this season. It's really worked for us. And it's sh it's showing in the confidence that when they go forward they think they're gonna score a goal. And I think that is always a big weapon in any team's army. Shall we move on to Arsenal then? Because I'm still there's so much to process in that game. first and foremost. Dave, how was it for you being back at the Etsy Had for the first time this season? Yeah, well, I'm not a great fan of Etsy Had games in terms of I would always advocate I I've said it many times, I prefer to be in the Joy Stadium full, with an atmosphere. We know what the Joy Stadium's like when it's full and when it's a big crowd, we've had some great atmospheres in there. I feel you lose a bit of that in the Etiad. Having said that, the nature of the game on Sunday meant that the there was a good atmosphere actually in there. you know, because it was that sort of game, but a seesaw game. But it it's it's I get why they do it, it's prestigious and everything, but we we're we're not Are we getting the crowds that we want to get in there? Is any of the team getting the crowds they want in the main stadiums? It's a it's a raging debate that's been going on for years, and we've discussed it many times on on this podcast. It's not just City that have this problem, it's you know Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, you know, United. Other than Arsenal, you tend to get do tend to get big crowds when they do it, nobody sells out. So it's a worry, but I get why they do it, it's prestigious. And the more the girls play there, I suppose the more it would feel like home as well. Because I've always been a bit worried about giving up home advantage in a big game like like Arsenal or the Derby. But that's always worried me. Having said that, the last now the last three times we've played there, we've played excellent. And we've we've beat United and Chelsea last season and we've beat now Arsenal this season. So maybe maybe my fears there are are dwindling now that, you know, the girls are more used to it and handle it they handle it a lot better 'cause obviously it's a game's in the spotlight. So yeah. So there's there's pros and cons. I'm I'm still on the other side of the fence really, but Well it you know, whatever they play at I'm there and I'm supporting the team no matter what, hundred percent. And it was a fantastic game on Sunday. Obviously from where we were sat, I really probably struggled to get that bit of atmosphere. It wasn't because of the city fans, because everyone was, you know, chiming in. But I've gotta say, and it it pains me to say it, but fair play to the Arsenal fans who did turn up because they turned up in numbers, and that's not even something United do when we have a derby. So You know, that was that I think that obviously did help in terms of the atmosphere that was created as well. I think there was a lot of to and throw in from the fans, which I feel adds to the game, Dave. Well doubt, yeah, and they did bring a lot and they always go they do have the best track. The Arsenal are the exception rather than the rule, aren't they? Because they they've sold out the Emirates for women's games, seventy thousand in Europe games and things like that. So fair play to them because they're the only ones that do that. And that was that was a good traveling support yesterday. It was, it was, it was above probably the most that anyone's brought to a game at the Etiad. And it did f on the far side where we were, all city fans were, it did create an atmosphere. a little bit of the problem is obviously the city fans end up a little bit more spread out in the Etihad because there's lot more space. So maybe the club could look up selling just the the blocks near the awareness first, filling all them out and selling it round the stadium as needed, things like that, so that everyone's still together. create an atmosphere because we all want atmosphere. I'm sure the players want don't want to play don't want to play in an echoey empty stadium. They want to, you know, they want atmosphere, but you know, the crowds would prove that you know they're not really what the club would want. I would imagine they want more in there when playing at the Etiad and the fact that men weren't playing at weekends is is is the weekend that tends to do this. And it you know is it's it's a long term debate for people with more experienced than me at the club to to to to to take on board. But I would always advocate that our priority should be trying to sell out the joy stadium on a regular basis. You know, because we we've been in the joy stadium like the Barcelona night, but we've had derbies at the Joy Stadium. When that stadium is full and city are going for it, we know it's rocking. It could be a you know great atmosphere now because we've seen it and we've felt it. So I'd always be an advocate for that first and that to me, that should be our long term aim. That should be the the first priority is regular. you know, full house it the joy with we you we we haven't got there yet. Once we get there and it becomes, you know, paramount that maybe the joy isn't big enough for us going forward, you know, then we can talk about going to the Etihad on a lot more regular basis. But that's probably for the future really. Again, it's something that we spoke about at length and I would love to play in in a in a sold out joy or near to sold out joy and have that as a you know I I mean that is a fortress for for any team coming to the joy, but you know, it's our home at the end of the day. And as much as it is to have the show p showpiece games at the Etihad, I would much, much rather put everything into filling out the Joy Stadium. And I do believe it is something we we we try and do, but just for whatever reason, we can't get those fans through the turnstiles, Paul. What's what's the point of playing on the Etihad? You know, when you go to Stanford Bridge, it's that it's it's third full. at best. These are big grounds, don't forget. I mean it's sixty thousand capacity now. And and it it whilst the atmosphere was better, there's a d there's a table I saw on s on Twit on X the other day, yesterday. All the big game all the clubs that are playing the games in in if you like the men's stadiums, all the cap all the attendances have collapsed. They're collapsing. I don't know how many were there at the weekend. Thirteen, fourteen thousand maybe, fifteen thousand. I remember when there's forty five on for When they played United in a Derby. You know, and we're not Yeah, and we're not converting the the biggest issue is we're not converting the casual fans who turn up at the Joy for a nice day out, you know, and and it's a bit of a jolly. We're not converting them into coming over to the joy. If we can't sell out the joy, why are we playing the Etiad? That's a big question. And is it you know, it's is it is there a question about is it patronizing actually to play? these games in these in in you is is the women's game getting a pat on the head and they can play in the big stadiums? When actually we're not in a position as as as a as a league to be playing these games in big stadiums. Is that the truth of the matter? and for me, whilst there was a a decent atmosphere, it was nothing what you know, can imagine a full away end, you know, an arsenal would have brought a full away end rocking at you know, in the joy and then a full Joy Stadium, what an atmosphere that would have been for the players as well. Because don't forget it's the players we need to consider in this as well. What are they going to get more fun out of? More what are they going to remember at the end of their career? A half empty Etiad or a full joy rocking? I think I know what the answer to that would be. I think the proof of that is that you could compare it to the very same picture a year ago. You think about the Arsenal game in there last year. The three the one we won like when the man Betty scored and we won three two. There's a prime example of it. You know, that was an amazing atmosphere that day. It was great. It was a very, very similar game to yesterday. It was a you know a seesaw game, you know, going one way or the other, late winner. you know, the atmosphere that day was amazing in the joy, because as Paul said, they had the away end full, you know, the home ends was full. I'm not sure what the crowd was that day, but it was it was good. It was very full. And then Yeah, and the atmosphere was rocking that day, and that's what we need. That's we've seen it before in the joy, you know, the Barcelona night, the derbies we've had in there when we played United in there rather than at the Atiad have been brilliant. You know, title deciding game. Even the one we lost to Arsenal when we blew the title, the the crowd that day was amazing. You know, so we can do it. It's getting it regular. But I mean, I suppose if this team carries on the way it's going, on the trajectory it's going, winning things, playing the way they're playing, having games like we had at weekend. That's only good. Surely that that'll bring fans in Of course. You know what I mean? The club I I'm not critical of the club because the advertising and the the the the the marketing of the club is brilliant. And I don't I don't think many other clubs push the women's team as much as we do. You know, you see it everywhere, all over the place, all over social media, all over, you know, the adverts to come watch the women's team. You go to the men's game, it's constantly on the boards and on the electric globals and the ticker tapes and all that. So I'm not criticising the club for it for the the market or pushing against them. We need to get the the ultimate thing to get more people in is to carry on playing, I think, where we're playing and becoming such an attractive team that people think, hey, let's go and watch these because it's a nice cheap day out compared to men's football. So there's that plus point. you know, for families who literally can't afford to go to, you know, couldn't take the full family to the Etiad and things like that. So, you know, but I I just believe the priority should be to to let's try and fill that joy stadium on a regular basis. And then we move forward from there. But yeah, it's a debate we've had many times, isn't it? Emma's year. It is my my issue with obviously paying at the SEHAD is that we're already looking to the next game at the SIH. Rather than saying, well, we're playing, you know, we're playing Bryson at the Joy. You know, let why are we moving back onto the SEHA again? Like you've been to see us at the SIH, here's a discounted ticket. Come and watch us at the Joy. Yeah. I mean that's the traction, that's the missed opportunity. Like, we shouldn't be flogging the next the next you know, the Derby at the Etiad, we should be vlogging, you know, tickets to to come and watch at the joy. I I I I did I I'm not critical of the club on this. I think the club owned you know do need for lots of reasons to have the women's team playing in the in the in the Etiad. The issue is and and and this is, you know, and City are billet and marketing and and and understanding their audience, but they've now got to try and convert those what seven or eight, nine f thousand casual fans who turn up and buy a scarf and have a little nice jolly day out at the Etiad to how do you get them to literally walk across a bridge and come to the joy and see actually what women's football really is about, the sort of atmosphere that can be created in the Joy Stadium and is created by the OSC and an increasingly more and more vocal group of fans. Yes, there is singing Thing is starting from all over the ground now, it's brilliant. It used to be one, you know, just in in, you know, our block. Now other people are chanting away. There was a group of lads at the at the European game who were clearly using international break to to come and watch women's football and they were they'd brought a banana with them, they were chanting away. You know, you know, so there's there's things happening that in the joy that's really positive. And I do s I do sympathize with the club because it it must be a real frustration for them as well, trying to convert the casual fan who's brought the you know the fat you know the kids along to because it that's the only way they can afford to get in the into into the Etienne and watch a game in the in there. How do you get them to come across the road? It's not easy. But if we can crack that, then we do feel the joy and then that creates a much more vibrant atmosphere. Because there's a different group of people coming and we want those new fans. You know, I don't want to be sneery about the casual fans because I get it's not easy, you know, to to follow your team week in, week out. But come and see what it's like in the joy. Cause when you c when the joy's rocking, there's nothing like it. It's it's a really, really special atmosphere. I I I really simp I hope the club can crack that real conundrum of getting people to just take that. 200 yard walk across the road and and sort of join join us here, join us at the jig, because it there is literally nothing like it. Let's talk about the game itself then. So City maintain a perfect fifteen points from five matches, Dave, while Arsenal dropped a tenth and sit ten points behind City. What kind of league, what kind of life are we living at the moment where Arsenal have dropped off completely? Well, I know there's more games this season. I know the league bigger than it has been in the past in the terms of these extra teams and so you could argue there's an extra four games. But you would think history would tell you that if you fall ten back points behind teams like ourselves and Chelsea, or if it was the other way around, if we were ten points say behind Chelsea and Arsenal, in past seasons he definitely would be out the title race. So even this early, even this early I mean you look back again to last season when we beat Arsenal this time last season, we beat them three two at the joy It was such a crucial win. Such a crucial win. Even later in the season that came even more crucial that we beat. They beat us at their place, but we'd beat them. So when they were chasing us down for the title, you know, we'd already beat them and those points proved proved to be valuable. So obviously th beating your the teams that that you expect to be around you in the title is is massive. As well as beating everybody else, obviously. I mean, three points is three points. But so you would think that, you know, ten points is a massive gap in this league, history tells you. So it it's but I mean, you know, we've got to focus on ourselves, that's their problem. You know, they've been what they've been. And the game yesterday was it was an odd game really because although Arsenal were twice in the league, I felt watching it that they were so they were vulnerable. They were vulnerable. You thought, you know, I know we we've talked about we weren't defending too well. I didn't think at any point they were. And I did remember saying that two one down if we could just get a goal here, we could still win this game. And yeah, that proved to be true because he just felt that Arsenal's confidence looked to be paper thin to me, especially at the back. And you know, once we equalize to go two all, I think there was only going to be one winner in the game from that point on because our attack I mean, we've spoken for we'll how many years we've done this podcast? I don't know, a number of years. And throughout all those years we've always had Lauren Emerson City player, and we've spoken many times about what a great player she's been for us, right from day one. She's been a fantastic player, she's been up there. I would argue she's better now than she's ever been. I I mean there's there's a there's a steal and a determination in her play that she's thinking, Well, I'm winning this game. My team are winning this game and I'm gonna do everything I can to to make sure that happens. She's now surrounded by players of equal or or or very close to ability, you know, world class to help her do that. She's not doing it just on her own. But her performances this season have been on another level for me. They've been unbelievable. And defenders who've had really good games against her are coming off like four two defeats and things and four one at Villa and things like that. And you think they'll be thinking, I played quite well there, but she was that good that she still affected the game, controlled the game and give them such as pause up before nightmares for defenders to to deal with. So she yet again yesterday was the standout player for me. She was unbelievable. She never says die. What a player. She's just a joy to watch every week this season and she's so crucial to everything that we've got planned for this season. There isn't anything you can say about Lauren Hemp that we've probably not already said for. That's that's the problem because she is just outstanding. And I think like you say, in in terms of well, literally what Dave has just said, she is the best in that position i in England, Europe, if not the world at this point. Yeah, she's she sh I mean she's adding goals to a game now, which you know, she she's not always scored as many goals as perhaps her ability would suggest as she should be doing. But actually she's as you know, she's the the goal she's the third goal was was a lovely finish. You know, she was calm, she took it well, she'd not make the keeper. It was a difficult angle as well. It was It's a tricky angle. I mean you you know, I mean the keeper, you know, I But you know, sh she she is thriving now with these as Dave says these world class players around her 'cause in the past we've seen her sometimes win the game on her own at the joy. You know, she's just deterred she's just done things and and cut in and and caused chaos in her defence. and she's done it on her own, but now she's doing it with other people around her. And she's she's thriving in that environment. You know, she knows now. She's got people behind her that can defend. She's got a midfield that can feed her. And if she gets it to Bunny, there's a good chance that Bunny's gonna knock it in. so yeah, she's she's fantastic. so her you know her both her finishes, you know, she was a bit lucky with the first one, it's a bit of a deflection, but you know, she had a she had a proper go at it. The third goal was was a classy take. and and we are lucky, as we've said before, we are lucky to watch. her in her pomp. She's now twenty six. She's now coming into what I you would regard as her golden years. I mean she's had some great years pr prior to this. Now these are her golden years. And the her potential is un is unbelievable. You know, she she is without doubt the best winger in Europe, if not the world. That's there's no doubt about that in my mind. Let's talk about for Gino as well, because her creativity on the day, Dave, really subtle curling past the bunny, setting her up for that fourth goal, a constant fret operating in some really, really tight spaces. Well, in the past we've thought of Albers as a wide player, but this is what I was talking about before like squad and injury situations happen and it opens up doors. So if you think like we've losing Viv. We've lost that number ten role. Now he's tried Beth Mead in there and she's done well, but he's also put Albert in a like almost like a floating number ten role at times. To almost go where she wants. And she's she's impossible for the other team to pick up. If you watch her, she's everywhere over. And and it's it's almost impossible to mark her because they don't know where she's gonna be, because she's all over the place in that role, just just behind the striker. And then the the goal, like you say, for Bunny was a perfect example of she's so aware. Of where Bunny is. And this comes with playing with these players for years now. They're supposed to they're getting understandings. They don't need to look. They where Bunny's gonna make a run. And she plays a perfect ball. She played with great ball through to her Buddy missed the one on one earlier in the game, which is a you know, that's a rare occurrence in itself, because we all thought Bunny would have finished that. So there's no way Bunny was missing a second one. You know what I mean? She wasn't gonna miss another chance like that. It was gonna be always be a goal. But yeah, Albert was another one in the last few weeks when she's played in that position, such you know, maturity to change the 'Cause it's a different role to what we've seen her play in the past, in the past seasons. And she stepped up to you and that's come about because obviously if it be me the mouse fit, she would probably be in there doing that 'cause she was brilliant in that role last season. But i it it just shows you why the squad that I was talking about before, the squad rotation and the squad game is so important for this team this season. And there's a there's a prime example of it right in front of us. You know, the the adaptation of of players like Alba to to do be versatile and play in different positions and Brilliant. She was outstanding. She was another one yesterday. If you I mean, obviously Lauren was player in the match. I don't think there's any argument with that. But if you were naming your four best players to do the poll that we do on the RC, then Albert was in that four again, which you know that's no reflection bad reflection because of how well some of the other players played as well. Yeah, I I think it was really good games for like Yui and and Sam as well. I think re-establishing that mid midfield after the control of the midfield after going down to one and preventing Arsenal. From building sustained poss possession, which they had quite a lot of, Paul. Yeah, I mean, I thought Sam Coffey had another again had another great game. You know, she brings control to the to to the midfield and sh and their positioning. positioning is best in the team, I think. She's always in the right place at the right time. You know, she she reads the game really well. and then you bring you know, you take her off and you bring Blinky on. You know, and and that now the game's now opening up at sixty, sixty five minutes. And Blinky, I thought, you know just stepped into that role and started to you know carry the ball and bring us forward a bit quicker. 'cause I don't think Yui had her best game if I'm honest. I thought I thought she struggled a bit in in the midfield. But as somebody s who I was sitting with said, you know, we we're playing her every week and we can't keep doing that. You know, we saw what with Rodri. You know, you know, eventually y y you ACL gives up or you your body gives up. So we've got to start rotating her in out in and out of the team as well because she's been pla I think she She's pretty put pretty much played every game for the last three years. And that that the toll that takes on you, w you'll get caught out in the end, physically. So but I thought the midfield on the whole was pretty controlled. Sam Coffey brings a real element of control and and and a bit of bite in there as well. You know, she's quite an aggressive player, so their midfield couldn't settle at all. we did give them a lot of possession, but as Dave said, I think Dave very acutely made the point. that y you could tell their confidence was fragile. You know, w when we scored the third goal, you know, their heads literally went down. They you know they you could see it, they they just fell to pieces then. and and it was we could you know the the fourth goal was almost inevitable. You know, and I I'm gonna say it, they're out of the title race. Ten points behind at this point, you're not in the title race. You know, and their fans know it. And the the press have been sort of saying it's a long road back. Well, that's called for their out of the title race. So we've now knocked out not just us, but you know, they are knocked one of our biggest rivals. A team that I thought would challenge this season are now out of the race. So now it's a t potentially a two horse, possibly three horse with London City Lionesses for the title. And that's a great position to be in well before Christmas. It does put major difference between City and key rivals early in the campaign, David and And as we head into an international break as well, it's quite a nice position to be in. Yeah, maximum points. So yeah, we weren't being negative, were we when we talk about the defence? Because so far we've got away with it and still and we've got maximum points. So let's be totally positive about that. You know, we were talking before about some of the sloppy goals we can see there, we can cut that out against the top sides. You know, coming up soon, we have got to play London City Lionesses away, Chelsea away, United away. Those are all big games that are coming up quite soon, the next month or so. So, you if we can cut out the things at the back, get a couple of players back at the backs to give him more options, keep as many as we fit. Hopefully, no one else comes back from this international break with any injury problems, because that's always a worry. But yeah, we're in a great position. You couldn't have asked for a better start. If we've got to the first we said to you at the start, you just before we kicked off against Birmingham, we get to the first international break, maximum points. You could argue we've played the best the two hardest European ties that we've got in our run as well. And we've not lost either, we've drawn both games. Now it's time to kick on. I we've got Paris, they're another good side. They're joint top at the moment with Lyon in the French league. So we're there next. But it's at home and they always fancy us at home. So if we can put a performance in there and get some points on the board, I would then argue that the the last three games in Europe are winnable games for us. And that should be enough to see us through. But because that before we come to it. But yeah, so if I offered you all this at the start of the season before we kicked the ball, they would have all took this. maximum points in the league and and and playing well in Europe. It's been all good so far. Do you know what I mean? And I've enjoyed the football that we've played as well. You know, it's been it's been exciting. The Arsenal game was exciting. Listen, I'd rather play an opposition like that every week. You know, obviously it makes it a little bit more edgy seat kind of stuff. But I want to be entertained. You know, I want to watch these games and I want I want it to be a challenge, you know, no results in this league. You know, nothing should be a given. No, and you know, as fans, you want to, you know, you y you you're paying your money to to be entertained, you know, and and apart from the Charlton game, which was a bit of a dour sort of slug fest, all the games have been hugely entertaining. They've all been great to watch. You know, I you paid money to watch any of those games. you know, the the Madrid game was a great game. Liverpool game was was topsy turvy, great game. You know, credit to Arsenal. They came to play and they gave it a go. it was a fantastic game of football. I mean that's my when I walked away from the ground I thought that was a great game of football. Goals, two great teams, full of great players, we had the edge, but it could have gone either way till about sixty, seventy minutes. That was that's that's it was a massively Exciting advert for women's football, wasn't it? To watch two really top teams full of top players going at it. because you know they they did try and win the game, they didn't come and sit back, they didn't they didn't go for the point, they went for the win to their credit. We were the better team because we had a bit more confidence and a bit more of a squad. All of that said, who wouldn't have paid money to watch that? I think it was 12 quid to get in a bargain. You know, th th to watch two teams full of world class players for less than the price price of a cinema ticket is abs is an absolute steal. We're robbing the club in a way. But it was just a fantastic game of football and I I I really enjoyed the whole atmosphere, I really enjoyed the the game and I really enjoyed the way it was played. You know, it wasn't it was a physical game but it wasn't a nasty game and it was just a game of football that you just watched when you thought, yeah, that was that was well worth Two hours of my time. As we had in a into an international break, we all love those. Dave, it's been great to chat. And you, Emma, lovely to chat. And Paul. Yeah, I'm keeping keep keeping my fingers crossed so we don't have any injuries in the international break. That's the most thing. No, definitely we just want our players to come back fresh and ready to go again. I mean, in it's difficult because, like you said, there's a lot of games, and there's a lot of you know, rest and recovery in between. So Obviously, already we know that something's not going on international break and she's in a bit of a boot, but hopefully it's just a precaution and that she rejoins the squad and everything's good on a return. Crucial period coming up when we come back, we'll discuss it obviously in more detail, but it's a crucial period coming up in the MSL. Really big games and massive games. Yeah. And we've we've not got time for it because Paul's gotta get to the vets with his cats. Yeah, Yeah, but thank you both so much. And that's it for this week's episode of MCW Fancast. Thanks for listening. Thanks to Dave and to Paul for joining me. Five wins and five in the WSL top of the table. And that brilliant 4-2 comeback victory over Arsenal still fresh in our minds. Now before we sign off, I do want to apologise that we didn't get chance to do a full preview for Sunday's game against Brighton. It's always a little bit tricky after the international break, but we're looking forward to being back home at the Joy this Sunday. It's going to be a crucial fixture as Andre Jeglert's side looks to carry this incredible momentum forward and protect that perfect 100% record in front of our home crowd. As always, a massive thank you for tuning in. and supporting the podcast. If you've enjoyed today's episode, please hit that subscribe button, leave us a rating or review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and follow us across our social media channels for all the latest updates at MCW Fancast. Enjoy the football, take care and have a great week everyone.