Aston Villa Women 2023/24

[VillaTim]

Thought our keeper had an incredible game some great saves , just her distribution a bit suspect but clearly under instructions to play out from the back .

[Lastfootstamper]

Nothing comes naturally. Watching one or two of them this evening had me thinking that they're being coached in failure, to be in a constant state of readiness for Mr Fuckup's inevitable arrival. As an example, first half, McCabe had the ball and Daly moved to close her down. The Daly of last season would've been across at full pelt before slamming into McCabe. The Daly of this season checked over her right shoulder and decided the best course of action was to do no more than fill the space so McCabe couldn't progress too far forward in the hour she now had on the ball.

We're so fucking passive. Last season was all about high risk, high reward. We conceded loads, but we scored for fucking fun. The supply line of Lehmann, Hanson, Dali and Nobbs provided 40 goal contributions with 21 goals and 19 assists. Dali's goal against Everton last time out puts this season's current goal contributions from the same four players at 5.

There's been much chat amongst supporters' groups about how to go about trying to generate a bit more atmosphere, bringing the noise like the visitors from the top four do when they rock up. There's no chance whilst things stay how they are. We've been under the cosh and on the back foot at home from the very first whistle of the season. We've amassed 4 (four) points at home. One win, 1-0 over Brighton, one draw, 2 each against the doomed Bristol City. It's reminiscent of trying to get enthusiastic under Turner.

[Drummond]

It's really hard to follow women's football when it's played as it was in that game yesterday.

I honestly don't know what they practice in training, because that was an example of just kick it in the general direction of another claret shirt and hope.

[Risso]

It's really hard to follow women's football when it's played as it was in that game yesterday.

I honestly don't know what they practice in training, because that was an example of just kick it in the general direction of another claret shirt and hope.

Agreed. It's obviously come on a fair bit in recent years, but you still don't feel like you're really watching a fully developed product.

[AV82EC]

The development of the Women's team seems to have stalled this year. I’d make the following observations

1) Purslow going and executive focus is elsewhere
2) Did we over achieve in 22/23?
3) Is Ward up to it?
4) was player recruitment good enough? (Maybe linked to 1 above?)

Generally we’re probably good enough for 5th to 7th with Liverpool, Everton and Spurs as peer clubs but how do you close the gap?

[AlexAlexCropley]

The development of the Women's team seems to have stalled this year. I’d make the following observations

1) Purslow going and executive focus is elsewhere
2) Did we over achieve in 22/23?
3) Is Ward up to it?
4) was player recruitment good enough? (Maybe linked to 1 above?)

Generally we’re probably good enough for 5th to 7th with Liverpool, Everton and Spurs as peer clubs but how do you close the gap?

3

[Lastfootstamper]

The current top three, and what must be said is a currently underperforming manyoo, are different gravy to the rest of the sides. I do think though that as the game itself and those watching and inspired to play all mature and steadily feed through, things will improve. The ethnic composition of all the sides is quite telling of where the game still remains developmentally.

[eamonn]

The supply line of Lehmann, Hanson, Dali and Nobbs provided 40 goal contributions with 21 goals and 19 assists. Dali's goal against Everton last time out puts this season's current goal contributions from the same four players at 5.

Really? That's a shocking drop-off. Presumably Rachel Daly has had to pick-up some of that slack.

[Lastfootstamper]

The supply line of Lehmann, Hanson, Dali and Nobbs provided 40 goal contributions with 21 goals and 19 assists. Dali's goal against Everton last time out puts this season's current goal contributions from the same four players at 5.

Really? That's a shocking drop-off. Presumably Rachel Daly has had to pick-up some of that slack.

Of late she seems to have undergone a Kane style transformation into a number 9½ where she drops off to link up and create chances instead for, errr, nobody. Even then she's probably still registering fewer than a dozen touches a game. Quite sad to watch, really. She's a great player.

[eamonn]

Sounds ominous that we will lose our best players like her. She's good enough to play for a team in Europe.

[Somniloquism]

Daly probably had one last "big" money move in her. So I don't begrudge her if she does.

[VillaTim]

The supply line of Lehmann, Hanson, Dali and Nobbs provided 40 goal contributions with 21 goals and 19 assists. Dali's goal against Everton last time out puts this season's current goal contributions from the same four players at 5.

Really? That's a shocking drop-off. Presumably Rachel Daly has had to pick-up some of that slack.

i watched the 2nd half from about 60 mins and Daly was playing almost as a DM they were that deep.

[Gareth]

Dali is the one who seems to have fallen off the most..she has contributed soo little, particularly since the WC….but she seems to stay on for the whole game which feels sentimental on Wards behalf.

Recruitment has been poor, the fact they haven’t signed anyone who hasn’t already played in WSL suggests they aren’t exactly casting net very wide

[VillaTim]

Leon looks a decent player to me.
They need better players at the back who are more comfortable on the ball.

[paul_e]

Dali is the one who seems to have fallen off the most..she has contributed soo little, particularly since the WC….but she seems to stay on for the whole game which feels sentimental on Wards behalf.

Recruitment has been poor, the fact they haven’t signed anyone who hasn’t already played in WSL suggests they aren’t exactly casting net very wide

From what I've watched recently Dali doesn't look as comfortable in her running as she was last season. I don't know what the injury was at the world cup but 3 months out doesn't suggest anything career threatening but from watching her she just seems off in how she's moving, like she's scared or compensating for something. She's the big difference for me, she wasexceptional last season.