Saint_clark

He's probably referring to me. I've never said that our relegation is entirely down to him. What I have said many times is that if we could go back and change one single thing about our season to give us the best chance of staying up, I believe signing a more experienced keeper instead of Bazunu would give us that chance. I also believe had McCarthy played all season we would have stayed up, as we did with him as first choice previously. He was chucked in way too late, massively lacking match sharpness and bereft of confidence from having to watch Bazunu flap at the ball every week, dive out the way of shots and throw the ball in his own net and still get picked ahead of him.

Surprised he isn't tied down already given his impressive performance V Liverpool.

He meant cost less. Leno went to Fulham for £4million, was excellent for them. Navas went to Forest on loan, we could have got him. Bournemouth signed Neto on a free transfer - his return for injury is what turned their season and kept them up. Sam Johnstone signed for Palace on a free transfer. What was most interesting to me whilst looking at goalkeeper transfers is that there was about 15 goalkeepers aged between 19 and 22 who were signed by premier league clubs last summer...and then promptly loaned out again to gain experience. We signed a 19 year old and stuck him in as number one.

Fair enough, I admit other than one half of the first game I haven't actually seen anything myself.

I reckon he easily cost us 10 points last season with the mistakes he made. We finished 11 points behind.

Not the point at all.

I haven't seen us win in person in years at this point.

But he didn't, he was our first choice keeper signing costing more than Nick Pope did for Newcastle.

I agree, feels like it's an unpopular thing to say because nobody likes to pin it on one person, team game etc etc but I honestly believe we'd have stayed up with Leno, Navas, Henderson etc.

Listen, you're not wrong. But the point is that the one position in the team that should always be as dependable as possible is goalkeeper, because you can't afford to take risks. Everyone else in the team has someone else to fall back on - except the keeper. It's why going for youthful promise coupled with inexperience was suicidal when so many experienced heads were available, and in my opinion is the single greatest contributor to our relegation, to the extent that just changing that one signing I believe would have kept us up.

To be honest, the description i've heard from people of patient passing between centrebacks and midfield doesn't sound all that different to me.

So far this pre-season, yes.

If you're costing your team a minimum of one goal a game then it really doesn't matter how many saves you make in between.

I agree, not really a fan of it, but the idea isn't for the fullbacks to be an attacking threat it's to allow the midfielders to bomb forward more often. I think it's a tactic that can only work if you outclass your opponent as it leaves the flanks exposed on the counter attack, but we'll see.

A true legend, gentleman, stand up guy...haven't got enough good words to say about him.

Quality of the tournament as a whole so far is pretty poor, the Euros was much better. Probably a consequence of the expanded teams. Reckon it'll pick up as we move into the knockouts.

Not a clear and obvious handball? Are you mental? She tried to bat it away like she was playing volleyball, you could see it bend her fingers.

Think it was a fan that blew a whistle the first time but not sure why she restarted just to blow her own whistle immediately.

Not seeing enough going forward from Stanway, Hemp or Toone and Russo's finishing is inconsistent at best. Should drop one of the first three for Daly and have Russo holding the ball up with Daly getting on the end of passes/crosses as she's the much better finisher. Wiegman relying too much on the reliable players from her tenure and putting too much faith in Toone and Russo's partnership from United whilst leaving the WSLs top scorer on the bench.

God you lot are so boring. If you aren't interested then just don't post.

That would be huge. Can't see it.

It's pretty big in Australia. New Zealand struggled with ticket sales, they recently gave away 20,000 extra.

I'm struggling this pre-season with these transfers, not because of the wages paid but because it's such an obviously corrupt way for clubs to get around FFP.

Good goal by NZ as well, result that should improve interest in the tournament. Ireland have a good chance of another upset here.

Think that's more of an insult to women than a woman never having a job in the mens game, personally. "There you go love, aren't we amazing, off you pop now the men are here to work".