Women’s Super League

JESS FISHLOCK admitted a bad week “has done a bit of damage” to the Women’s Super League.
Unnamed WSL players were hit with a storm of backlash after jetting off to Dubai over the Christmas break as UK coronavirus cases continued to surge.

Jess Fishlock admitted a bad week “has done a bit of damage” to the Women’s Super LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Chelsea’s 5-0 over Reading was the only game of the weekend after five matches had to be postponed as clubs wrestle a rise in positive Covid-19 tests.
Topdogs Arsenal and Manchester City both requested postponements following players testing positive for the killer virus after flying to Dubai.
Superstars from Manchester United and Birmingham were also pictured in the exotic holiday destination.
The postponements came in a week where it was suggested a coin toss could be used to settle FA Cup ties.

And Wales’ record goalscorer Helen Ward said lockdown restrictions could force her into retirement.
Fishlock told BBC Sport Wales: “So much has gone on within the women’s game in the last week that I personally think it has done a bit of damage,
“Not only to women’s football as a whole but to the league itself here. It is a bit of a blow to those of us who want to keep the league growing.”

WSL fixtures Sunday 17 January

Manchester City vs Aston Villa 12:30pm
Everton vs Bristol City 1pm
Reading vs Arsenal 2pm
Birmingham vs Brighton 2pm
Chelsea vs Manchester United 2.30pm
West Ham vs Tottenham 3pm

Manchester United boss Casey Stoney has apologised for what she calls an ‘error in judgement’ after giving her players permission to travel to Dubai.

While West Ham skipper Gilly Flaherty urged the players involved to publicly apologise for contributing to the weekend’s postponements.
 Fishlock added: “It is hard to talk about how this week has gone. It’s the players, the clubs, the FA – for me personally they have got the decisions wrong,
“It’s a sad week for us involved in women’s football and I’m not putting that solely on the players. It’s a shame. Everyone involved is just disappointed in how it has gone.
“We are human beings before athletes and we can get things wrong. Sometimes people make wrong decisions.
“It was human error and that’s okay, but what wasn’t okay was the lack of accountability.
“I have a lot of respect for Casey Stoney. For me, that is what true leadership looks like. But we have to move on from this issue now.”

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GEMMA EVANS wants the Robins to ‘redeem’ themselves when they battle Aston Villa for a place in the Conti Cup semi-finals this evening. 
Bristol City’s impressive run in the competition has been in stark contrast to their struggles in the league with the team yet to pick up a win this term. 

Gemma Evans wants Bristol to redeem themselves against Aston Villa in the Conti Cup quarter-finalsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

This evening Wales centre-back Evans, 24 and her team-mates will take on the Villans at home for the second time this season. 
The last clash between the two sides ended in a crushing 4-0 loss for the Robins who like their rivals are battling to avoid the drop.
Evans told Bristol City’s website: “We’ve all been looking forward to the game. We’ve had a great cup run and we have performed well in all three games in the group.
“It’s a chance for us to redeem ourselves from our previous loss to Villa. 

“We definitely didn’t perform how we wanted to, and it went completely wrong for us, so we have a chance to put things right to a degree.
“It’s been a good build-up to the game. Since we have come back from the break over Christmas, training has been brilliant. 
“It’s been high tempo and positive as we look to start the back end of the season with a bang.
“We have got to be positive; we have got to believe in ourselves and stick together. 

“That should set us on the right path to getting the results that we want and a win will stand us in good stead for the games ahead.
“As a player you want to be in knockout stages and have a shot at winning competitions, because you want to have those milestones in your career.
“We know we’re going to have to be on top of our game to give us the best opportunity to get into the next round.”
The league cup quarter-final between Villa and Bristol will be the first competitive game for both teams this year following the axing of FIVE top flight clashes. 

Aston Villa’s new striker Mana Iwabuchi is due to travel with the Villans to BristolCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And Villa’s new signing, Japan striker Mana Iwabuchi, 27, is expected to travel with  Gemma Davies’s squad to Twerton Park this evening. 
Davies told The Telegraph: “I expect a tough 90 minutes and we’re going to have to work exceptionally hard. 
“There’s a lot of excitement though, a lot of energy as our first game back, and ultimately it’s a quarter-final of a league competition and for us being a newly promoted side, the opportunity to get into a league semi-final, that’s huge for us.”

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CLAIRE RAFFERTY reckons Emma Hayes or Casey Stoney would be ideal candidates as coach of Team GB’s women’s football team. 
But the ex-Chelsea defender thinks it would be tricky to ask the Blues and Manchester United bosses to leave their jobs for a short-term Olympics role. 

Claire Rafferty wishes to see Emma Hayes or Casey Stoney take as Team GB’s women’s football coachCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The vacancy to lead Great Britain’s women’s players at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics was expected to be filled by Phil Neville. 
However, SunSport reports the Lionesses chief, 43, has ditched his Team GB coaching plans and is set to become Inter Miami’s new boss instead. 
Rafferty, 32, told TalkSport 2’s Women’s Football Show: “I would love to see Casey Stoney or Emma Hayes take up the role. 
“I’d like to know if it would affect their ability to manage other teams because as it’s a short-term role, it would be difficult to ask someone to step down. 

“For the likes of someone like Casey Stoney from Man United you really wouldn’t want to be asking her to step down for something that is quite short-term. 
“It would be interesting to see what kind of angle they (the FA) take. 
Neville is expected to be confirmed as the new boss of David Beckham’s MLS Miami club within the next 48 hours. 
It would see the former Man United and Everton star bring the curtain down on his three-year tenure as manager of England Women’s football team. 

In that time Neville has led Lionesses to the 2019 Women’s World Cup semi-finals and to triumph at the SheBelieves Cup. 

Rafferty believes it may be ‘difficult’ to ask Casey Stoney to give up her Man United job for a short-term Olympics roleCredit: Getty Images – Getty

And Rafferty, who played for Great Britain at London 2012, says she understands Neville’s decision opt for a role as a club coach.
Rafferty added: “For Phil, you can’t really blame him in my opinion just because of the way it (Tokyo Olympics) has been pushed back and the fact that the Olympics are short-term. 
“It’s probably a two or three-month contract.”

Lionesses in training More

MANCHESTER CITY are reportedly in discussions to sign World Cup-winning US star Abby Dahlkemper.
The North Carolina Courage defender is thought to have been offered a ‘multi-year’ deal to swap the NWSL for the Women’s Super League.

Man City are reportedly in talks to sign USA defender Abby DahlkemperCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

Should Dahlkemper agree to a move, it would see her join US team-mates Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle in Gareth Taylor’s side.
And City’s defensive ranks would be boosted by having the only player to start every game for the United States during their triumphant 2019 World Cup campaign. 
Dahlkemper, 27, has played 62 times for the US Women’s national team. 
The defender was part of a Courage side crowned NWSL Champions in September 2019 after beating Chicago Red Stars 4-0. 

And she was voted Defender of the Year in America’s top women’s football division in 2017. 
Dahlkemper racked up three championship wins in her first four seasons in the National Women’s Soccer League 
These include the ‘treble’ which are the NWSL Shield, the NWSL Championship and the ICC Championship with the Courage in 2018.
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Abby Dahlkemper is the only player to have appeared in every game for the USA at the 2019 Women’s World CupCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

The former Adelaide United ace is currently with the US women’s squad at a training camp in Florida along with Mewis and Lavelle.
It is thought Dahlkemper will not be able to travel to the UK – if she does decide to sign for City – until after her country’s friendly match against Colombia on January 22.
City, who are yet to play this year, are due to take on Aston Villa at home on Sunday.

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VICKY JEPSON has left her job as Liverpool Women’s boss by mutual consent after a 12-year affiliation with the club.  
The Merseyside team – who were once big guns in the WSL – are currently third in the Women’s Championship. 

Vicky Jepson has left her Liverpool Women’s manager role by mutual consentCredit: PA:Press Association

Jepson, who worked at the club in a variety of roles since 2009, had been in charge of the Reds since October 2018. 
In a statement on the club’s website Jepson said: “It’s with a heavy heart that my time has come to an end with Liverpool Football Club; the place I love and have been lucky enough to call home for over a decade,” said Jepson on the club’s website.
“Over the years I have been fortunate to work across the entire pathway at this club. 
“During this time, I’ve seen so many youth players go on to wear the first-team red shirt, which fills me with immense pride. 

“It’s been a privilege to have contributed to their careers.
“I’m also grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside the talented people at the LFC Foundation. 
“Seeing the increase of girls’ participation in football has been truly inspiring.
“To the many senior players, both past and present, that I’ve worked with, I thank you. 

“Thank you for empowering me with your relentless efforts, professional attitudes and sacrifices that you make daily as a professional footballer.
“I will be forever grateful for our time together and will be supporting you all from afar this season.”
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Liverpool are due to play Leicester in the Women’s Championship on Sunday Credit: Alamy Live News

Jepson’s assistant manager Amber Whiteley has been appointed as Liverpool’s interim boss. 
The team, who were relegated from the women’s top flight last season, are yet to play their first Championship game of the year. 
The club were forced to postpone their clash with London Bees following five positive Covid-19 test results in their squad.
Whiteley and her players are due to take on leaders Leicester City on Sunday.

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LAUREN JAMES has been named a rising star of the women’s game in Europe following her contribution to Manchester United’s journey to the top.
The Red Devils striker – whose brother Reece plays for Chelsea – is featured on UEFA’s 2021 ‘ten to watch’ female players list.

Man United’s Lauren James has been named as one of Europe’s most promising young female players Credit: PA:Press Association

James, 19, who has made five starts across all competitions this term, began her life as a footballer playing for Arsenal boys Under-13s before crossing over to the club’s Under-15’s girls’ team. 
And the London-born player, who joined the Red Devils in 2018, scored her side’s first-ever WSL goal when the team beat Liverpool in their top flight debut season in 2019. 
James, who UEFA describe as a ‘flair-forward’, is in the running to be part of a United squad heading to Chelsea on Sunday for a tantalising title clash.
And the ambitious Red Devils striker posted a training picture on Twitter alongside a caption which reads “it’s great to be back’’. 

The last encounter between the league’s two topdogs ended in a 1-1 draw in September.
James, whose club are currently top in the WSL, is part of the only brother-sister duo to have represented England football teams at senior international level. 
The Man United ace received her first Lionesses call-up from Phil Neville in November last year. 

Lauren and her Chelsea star sibling Reece James are the only brother-sister pair to have represented England football teams at senior levelCredit: Instagram / @rjames

Other starlets included in UEFA’s ‘ten to watch’ LIST include Pernille Harder’s old Wolfsburg team-mate Lena Oberdorf and Lyon wonderkid Vicki Becho. 

The 17-year-old striker is part of the Ligue One Women’s giants who are rivalling Chelsea and Man City for this season’s Champions League crown. 
And the club, who are second in their division, are due to play Stade de Reims next. 

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FRAN KIRBY has well and truly given the two finger salute to the rare heart condition she was diagnosed with in November 2019.
The Chelsea strike sensation, 27, was diagnosed with Pericarditis — an inflammation of the lining around the heart, and told she may never play football again.

Fran Kirby became Chelsea’s all-time top scorer this season after being told she may never play football again

But fast-forward to just over a year and Kirby has already made history, becoming the Blues’ all-time top scorer, just four-months since her emotional return to the WSL.
RARE HEART CONDITION
You wouldn’t be able to tell, Kirby had been sofa-ridden at her home during the long, crippling weeks while she battled the debilitating illness.
She was unable to do the most basic of tasks, like walking up the stairs.
Her Chelsea pals, who often would visit her for a cuppa, bring her snacks and even helped her build a puzzle to take her mind off things.  

The England superstar revealed in September: “There was a period where I was told by the cardiologist that if I didn’t slow down, I could become chronic and never play again.”
“I remember reading about the illness because I had no idea what it was when I was diagnosed.
“I never read any stories where someone had overcome it.
“But I wanted to show to myself that I could get over this and I had a positive story to give.

“It has been a tough journey but it’s definitely shaped me into who I am now. It made me realise how precious these moments when you play are.”

THE MAKING OF THE WOMAN
The Chelsea forward – dubbed the ‘Mini Messi’ – filtered through the youth ranks at her hometown club, Reading but almost quit football as a teenager after the tragic death of her mother, Denise.
She has gone onto become one of England’s best players, a winner of PFA and FWA awards and a Ballon d’Or nominee in 2018.
But long before she became a star of two World Cups, Kirby admitted it all could have been so different when grief consumed her and left her unable to get out of bed.
The striker revealed that her mum suffered a brain haemorrhage and sadly died the next day in hospital when she was age 14.
In the following months, Kirby, her father and brother buried their emotion and “almost never spoke about her”.
A couple of years later, the grief finally hit while she was away at an England training camp, where she broke down with one of the coaches, Mo Marley.
After talking to her aunties, Kirby quit.
She wrote on the Players’ Tribune: “I went into my shell. I’d have days where I wouldn’t get out of bed. Or I wouldn’t go to college.
“I could get as far as the bus stop, then I’d just break down crying.”

The forward made her debut for England in 2014 becoming the first WSL2 player to be called up for the national side
Jules Townrow, a physio at Reading, became a close friend and Kirby spent countless nights eating pizza and watching TV with her.
Kirby admits she was like “a zombie” during this time, but “taking that time out was the best decision I have ever made.
“Because I needed to work on myself. I had to recover, to heal, to grieve.
“I had to try to find myself again.”
Although she was now feeling better, Kirby still wasn’t playing football – until she got an offer to play for her mate’s Sunday league team.
The side, based in Reading, didn’t even train.
She added: “It was amazing, I could live the life that I wanted to live.
“I could do homework, watch TV, all that.
“Nobody was telling me about what I had to improve. No one was going to hammer me if I made a mistake.
“If we lost 6–0, it was okay, we’d have a laugh about it.
“And that, really, is what brought back my love for football.”
ROYAL RETURN
Reading came back in for her and this time, Kirby was ready.
Soon she was starring for the Royals’ first-team, scoring 32 goals in 21 matches.
A year later Kirby helped them finish third in the newly formed Women’s Super League 2 and then became the first woman to ever sign a professional contract at the club.
Royals boss Kelly Chambers coached Kirby when she was in the under-14s side.
After the forward hit FOUR against Reading on Sunday, Chambers said: “It’s disappointing when you seen Fran score against you!
“But we know Fran’s quality and it’s great to see her back on the pitch. I know she’d been out for a long time as well. She’s a fantastic player.”
It was inevitable a move to a bigger club was on the cards, and in 2015 she arrived at Chelsea for a British record transfer fee at the time.

Kirby become the first winner of the PFA Women’s Player of the Year in 2018

CHELSEA LEGEND
The Berkshire striker has helped the Blues win the Double in both 2015 and 2018.
And she has been scoring with her eyes closed since her epic comeback this term.
The Lionesses icon made history when she grabbed a brace against Benfica in the Champions League to become the club’s all-time record scorer.
In doing so she stormed past Chelsea legend Eni Aluko’s tally of 68.
Boss Emma Hayes said: “Everyday I think is a precious day and taking things one day at a time I think is helping Fran.
“Fran has been unbelievable on and off the pitch. Watching her come through this year has given me as much joy as anything.
“I don’t even think it’s about Fran being back, she is just at another level already and I think she doesn’t have to carry everything on her shoulders as she did a few years ago.”
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EMMA HAYES has called on government support to get the Women’s Super League finished at all costs, as coronavirus continues to wreak havoc across the division.
The Blues’ 5-0 win at Reading was the only top-flight game of the weekend after five matches had to be postponed as clubs wrestle a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Emma Hayes says clubs need money from the government to register academy players to be part of the first team’s bubbleCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Chelsea’s 5-0 win at Reading was the only top-flight game of the weekend after five matches had to be postponed due to a rise in Covid-19 casesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Topdogs Arsenal and Manchester City both requested postponements at the weekend following players testing positive for the virus after reportedly jetting off to Dubai.
Everton called off their match against Manchester United with five players not fit enough to play after catching coronavirus over the Christmas break.
While Birmingham revealed FA chiefs denied their request to postpone having revealed they only had TEN players fit due a host of injuries and one testing positive for Covid-19.
The WSL bit the dust last season, with the Blues crowned champions by points-per-game.

And Hayes hopes the league’s drastic rise in cases doesn’t KO the division like last time out.
She said: “We’re lucky, some people are stuck at home, they can’t go to work, they can’t see their families.
“It’s our job to do this safely to look after the players and where we can let’s make sure these fixtures happen and that we’re not irresponsible as clubs.
“That’s the big thing for me coming out this week. It’s not good enough, and we have to do better and the FA has to support that.

“But equally, we have to make sure we don’t just throw the FA under the bus.
“The reality is they have a duty of care to players, and they can only do what’s presented to them.
“I’m disappointed with women’s football this week, we’ve worked so hard to get where we are.
“I think it’s important for everybody to be mindful of that and make sure we get back to doing the right things at the right times.”
The West Londoner’s midweek League Cup quarter-final tie with City, was also called off after the Etihad’s outbreak.
Hayes added: “I don’t know what Manchester City’s situation is.
“But I respect that having been through it in our own camp that sometimes it’s challenging.
“I’ve worked in women’s football a long time and my message to the clubs and to the FA is let’s not go through another week like we’ve just been through.
“Lets support each other and make sure that provisions are in place to make sure this league finishes and if it means that we have to play with the academies, then so be it.
“We need the money from the government to make sure we register young players to be within our bubbles and we do whatever we can because women’s football comes above every single one of us.”
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