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Lea's avatar

Why do you think it'll be possible for the club to not extend Miedema, one of the best players in the world and especially going into her prime years? To me, she helps solve a good deal of our issues in a low block with her creativity (something that Kuhl can bring but not to the same level, and who also isn't developed enough in her shooting game or physicality yet) and is an unbelievable player and tactical mind that helps solve problems on the pitch. She's one of the players I think can create magic out of nothing, and with our structural issues and lack of creativity against low blocks it seems like lunacy to part ways unless she's adamant that nothing will help her sign a new contract.

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Michael Wright's avatar

When talking of set pieces or our apparent lack of success there seems to be no thought given to the fact that we have been victims of the set piece more often. Defending them is as important.

As for desired wide players I do thimk Hemp and Sophia Smith should rank hightly and we can't rule out getting Hemp after what happened to Russo.

IF we are to look for a goalkeeper can I just plead here that we give the gobby northerner Earps a miss? She does not even fill me with confidence in an England shirt!

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moby's avatar

I know we already have a lot of Australians but potentially for a wide player could Mary Fowler be a prospect? She’s been used in a bunch of positions for club and country but hasn’t had a breakthrough season quite yet, she very well could soon be as good or better than Hemp in the future and is less welded on to City?

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Tim Stillman's avatar

I think we wouldn’t take a starting player for city but just not the profile we are looking at. Arsenal want a fast, out and out winger on the left. Fowler is a ten who is playing wide right.

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Lea's avatar

It also looks so much like we're almost scared in possession against low blocks, like we're terrified of taking opponents on or just lack general creativity when it's not a situation where we're counter attacking and don't have time to overthink a situation. Detractors can easily say that Jonas has been here for three seasons now and he's run out of excuses for why a team built like this is struggling so much offensively (not saying I agree, only that I've heard it said a lot). Even if we get rid of some of our assistant coaches and bring new ones in to bring in new ideas, how can we adjust Jonas' ideas to get some creativity out of these phenomenal players and have them stop merely recycling the ball when no one is making any central runs?

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Tim Stillman's avatar

I hope the Villa game was a breakthrough in that respect, where we switched from side to side so much more quickly and moved them around. I think we’ve been playing one attacker down pretty much all season too. I maybe over optimistic but I honestly believe the low block issue will ease significantly now.

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Lea's avatar

That was what I'd been hoping for, but I also feel like we saw flashes of this tactic against Everton (I remember quite a few quick switches to Caitlin on the LW) and West Ham at home (using KCC for the quick diagonals) and then that didn't propel us further, so while I hope you're right I'm not entirely betting on it.

I also feel like, that's one of the go-to tactics against a low block that any football professional would/should know (along with using wingbacks to draw out defenders, they're kinda the go-tos, it seems like), so it's slightly concerning that it's taken nearly a season to get into our bodies something that seems fairly basic or obvious to me. I don't know, it all feels a bit off.

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Tim Stillman's avatar

You may be right, I still think there is mitigation in the shifting around in the number 10 position and being a winger light. It’s not total mitigation, but the player relationships haven’t really been there. Arsenal are only just below Chelsea for line up changes this season and Chelsea have had big injuries and the UWCL. When you want to play quick passes, you need that muscle memory I think of knowing where players are before you pass the ball.

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Lewis Fisher's avatar

Hi Tim,

love your work - are there any predictions for the trip down under re the squad? also with the season technically being over, would the loanees be allowed to travel or would they still be under their loan clubs jurdisction? also just wondering when you're going be writing fever pitch for the women's team! cheers!

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Lucygooner's avatar

Thank you! 🙂

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