Women’s Super League

TOTTENHAM have axed Juan Amoros and Karen Hills following their team’s dramatic penalty shootout loss to Arsenal in the WSL Cup. 
The surprise sacking of the head coaching duo comes just two months after the North London giants renewed their contracts until 2022. 

Juan Amoros and Karen Hills have been axed two months after having their contracts extendedCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Amoros, 36, and Hills, 45, have seen their side endure a tough start to their second WSL season, losing five of their first seven fixtures.  
And the team’s hopes of progressing past the League Cup group stages came to an end on Wednesday following Alex Morgan’s penalty miss.
Tottenham, who made waves with the stellar summer signing of World Cup winner Morgan, have shipped 16 goals in the women’s top-flight so far this term. 
This tally includes six last month in one game to local rivals Arsenal in October. 

Providing fresh ideas for the side, who are currently second from bottom, is thought to be one of the reasons behind the club’s decision. 
Hills arrived at Tottenham in 2007 – when the side was completely amateur – and has overseen the club’s meteoric rise through the women’s football pyramid.
She has been at the helm for THREE promotions in the space of five years.
Amoros arrived to work alongside her in 2011 and together they lead the club to its historic admittance into the top flight at the start of the 2019-2020 season.

On its official web site a statement from Tottenham said: “Karen Hills and Juan Amoros have been relieved of their duties with immediate effect.
“This decision has not been taken lightly and has been made in the best interests of the team, with the belief that a fresh approach will offer renewed impetus as we seek to continue our upward trajectory and positive growth.
“We fully recognise and appreciate the contributions of Karen and Juan during their time with the Club,

Alex Morgan and her Tottenham team-mates have yet to win a game in the league this termCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Tottenham are currently second from bottom in the WSL following five losses in the leagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty

“Helping elevate the team from amateur level to become a fully professional side in the Women’s Super League and we thank them both for their hard work and length of service.
“Everybody at the Club wishes both Karen and Juan the best for the future.” 
Tottenham, who made their WSL debut in a derby clash with Chelsea, finished seventh in the table last term.  
However, this term the team have suffered a string of early-season losses to Arsenal, Everton, Manchester City and Manchester United.

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WORLD CUP-winning striker Alex Morgan missed the decisive penalty in a dramatic shootout between Arsenal and Tottenham in the League Cup following a 2-2 draw.
Tottenham had come from a goal down twice thanks to Ria Percival and Shelina Zadorsky to send the tie to a shootout.

Alex Morgan stepped up to take Spurs’ fifth penalty against Arsenal in the League Cup Credit: PA:Press Association

She blazed it over the crossbar to end Spurs’ hopes of progressing through the group stagesCredit: PA:Press Association

Morgan has just come back to competitive action after giving birth in MayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Both sides netted their first four penalties, with Lia Walti slotting into the bottom corner for Arsenal’s fifth.
Morgan stepped up to take Tottenham’s fifth kick but the USA superstar fired well over the bar to hand Arsenal a bonus point.
The final Group B standings are yet to be confirmed after Chelsea’s match with London City Lionesses was postponed.
But the draw has effectively ended both of the North Londoners hopes at the group stage.

One Arsenal fan wrote on Twitter: “As if Alex Morgan has missed the deciding penalty in the NLD ….. spursy.
Another joked: “Arsenal winning in a penalty shootout against Tottenham because of an Alex Morgan missed penalty right at the end. North London is Red, and you absolutely love to see it!!
One Gunners supporter said: “Alex Morgan missing a penalty. Spursy.”

As if Alex Morgan has missed the deciding penalty in the NLD ….. spursy
— Marcus🇰🇷 (@thfcmarcus) November 18, 2020

Arsenal winning in a penalty shootout against Tottenham because of an Alex Morgan missed penalty right at the end.North London is Red, and you absolutely love to see it!!! 🔴
— Evan Cooper (@Lacazest) November 18, 2020

The strike sensation penned a short-term deal until the end of December in a bid for regular game time to win a place in the USA squad ahead of the postponed Tokyo Olympics.

The 31-year-old has only just returned to competitive football in over a year due to pregnancy, and she only gave birth to her daughter, Charlie, six months ago.
Orlando boss Marc Skinner reportedly hopes Morgan will return from her contract in England in time to join the Pride next spring for preseason ahead of the 2021 NWSL season.

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WEST HAM Women boss Matt Beard has left the club by “mutual consent” with immediate effect. 
The Hammers boss arrived in June 2018 ahead of the club’s first season as a professional outfit in the WSL.

Matt Beard has left West Ham Women by “mutual consent” Credit: Getty Images – Getty

The 42-year-old guided the East Londoners to the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium in May 2019. 
But the Hammers have limped to just one win out of seven in the league this term with him at the helm.
This included a 9-1 demolition by Arsenal at home at the start of the campaign.
Beard said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my time with West Ham United,

“And, while I am sad to depart, I am proud of the work we have done to grow and develop this team,
“Although I am leaving, I do so with some wonderful memories that I will forever treasure, and I would like to thank Jack Sullivan and everyone at the Club for the opportunity to work at West Ham United.”
Managing Director Sullivan said: “ I would like to say thank you to Matt for his hard work and dedication during his time with the Club.  “Our growth, from a newly formed professional team taking our first steps into the Women’s Super League to an established side in the top-flight, has been colossal, and Matt has been one of the leading figures in that effort.  “Personally, it has been a pleasure working closely with Matt and, although we are parting ways, we do so amicably and with plenty of unforgettable memories shared.

Leading @westhamwomen out at Wembley with @mattbeard02 will always be one of my favourite memories for so many reasons. No longer my manager but always my family. Thank you for everything Beardy. You saved me from one of my lowest spells of my career & I’ll never forget it ❤️#TTP pic.twitter.com/5TV8aUxoph
— Gilly Flaherty (@Gilly_flaherty) November 19, 2020

“I genuinely wish Matt all the best for the future.” Goalkeeping coach Billy Stewart and first-team coach Paul McHugh will take temporary charge of the team.

The club revealed it is in the midst of recruiting a new manager “to take West Ham United Women’s team forward”.

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MANCHESTER UNITED’S Lauren James has been given her first senior international call-up ahead of England Women’s training camp this month.
The striker’s performances for the WSL leaders, who play Manchester City this week, have impressed Lionesses boss Phil Neville.

Lauren James’s Man United performances this term have earned the striker her first senior England call-up Credit: PA:Press Association

Other starlets joining England’s 10-day camp include Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy and Liverpool’s Rinsola Babijide who both receive their second senior call-ups. 
And twelve Manchester City aces will be part of the group of 29 players who will gather at St George’s Park on November 22. 
Among their number will be Lauren Coombs, 29, who returns to the national squad for the first time since October 2015. 

James, 19, and Man City skipper Steph Houghton will be part of Phil Neville’s 29-strong England Women’s campCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The midfielder and James, 19, were part of the City and United teams who drew 2-2 in a thrilling WSL Manchester derby on Saturday. 

England boss Neville said: “I’m delighted to give Lauren James her first senior call-up. She is an exciting young player  that we want to help develop further. 
“She joins the squad alongside many other young players who we’ve introduced over the last few months. 
“Laura Coombs is a player I have watched a lot this season and I have been very impressed  with her progression in the game.
“She has performed consistently at a high level which merits her call-up to the squad. 

Lauren Coombs (right) has received her first call-up to the Lionesses since October 2015Credit: Getty Images – Getty
“This has been a challenging time for everyone, but it will be good to finish  the year with an intensive training camp during which the squad will develop further and in  which every player has the chance to prove themselves ahead of our upcoming major  tournaments.”
The call-up for James, who is a sibling of Chelsea defender Reece, follows the striker winning a Rising  Star trophy at the North West Football Awards this month. 
The United ace and her England colleagues were due to play a friendly against Norway in Sheffield on December 1. 
However Covid-19 travel restrictions have led to the clash being called off.  
And the cancellation of the Norway game means veteran Lioness Jill Scott will have to wait for another chance to claim her 150th cap.

England Women’s Squad

Phil Neville’s 29-strong squad list:

Goalkeepers: Sandy MacIver (Everton), Hannah Hampton (Birmingham), Carly Telford (Chelsea)
Defenders: Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Millie Turner (Manchester United), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Jill Scott (Manchester City), Laura Coombs (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Manchester City), Keira Walsh (Manchester City), Lucy Staniforth (Manchester United), Ella Toone (Manchester United)
Forwards:  Rachel Daly (West Ham United, on loan from Houston Dash), Nikita Parris (Olympique Lyonnais), Ellen White (Manchester City), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Lauren James (Manchester United), Rinsola Babajide (Liverpool), Bethany England (Chelsea), Beth Mead (Arsenal) 

Man City’s Jill Scott will have to wait a little longer for her 150th England cap Credit: Getty Images – Getty

This milestone for Scott will make the Sunderland-born star the second international player to reach this figure behind Fara Williams.
Neville and his team hope to use the camp to prep their internationals ahead of the Women’s Euros in 2022. 
The England boss added: “Although sadly we no longer have a competitive fixture, every minute spent on the training  pitch and in planning is crucial and plays an important part in preparing for the UEFA Women’s  EURO.” 

Lionesses in training More

LEICESTER CITY ace Ruesha Littlejohn has left fans in stitches after posting a hilarious gif of her girlfriend Katie McCabe being body slammed in the London derby.
In the clip the Arsenal left-back is mercilessly taken out by Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert at Borehamwood stadium.

Chelsea’s Cuthbert brutally shoves McCabe to the floor

The clip sent fans into meltdown on social media

The duo tussled in the heated London Derby on Saturday

Littlejohn reposted the gif on Twitter and wrote: “Cheers @erincuthbert_ send me ur bank details, I’ll transfer that tenner.”
The Blues forward replied: “I thought we agreed £20?!?!”
To which Littlejohn said: “Ok deal.”
The hilarious exchange sent social media into meltdown, with one fan writing: “A goal from you and Katie getting decked all in the same day, what did we do to deserve this.”

Another Twitter user added: “Thats what u call a good old Scottish tackle.”
And one supporter said: “Man these two are so funny.”
It was a gut-busting performance from McCabe against Chelsea on Sunday, which ended in a dramatic 1-1 draw.
The Gunners were getting ready to celebrate their first win over the Blues in TWO YEARS after Beth Mead had put them ahead with a late strike in the 86th minute.

Katie McCabe and Erin Cuthbert tussled in the London derby Credit: PA:Press Association

Ruesha Littlejohn and Katie McCabe are Ireland teammates and have been together for four years Credit: Sportsfile – Subscription

Littlejohn and McCabe both play for the Republic of Ireland national team and have been an item for four-years.
Recalling how their relationship came to be, McCabe told Evoke: “It started with football. She’s a few years older than me.
“I go to know her through football first and we became good friends at the start and we then we began spending a lot more time together off the pitch socialising together and it kicked off from there.”

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TOBIN HEATH made her allegiance to the red half of Manchester well and truly known in the run up to the derby with City.
The USA superstar arrived at the Red Devils in the summer and has already fully immersed herself in Old Trafford culture.

⚠️ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

Tobin Heath expertly trolled Man City in the lead up to the derby
She told the New York Times: “I love learning about all the history,
“And we were taught that Manchester is red. Like nobody goes to Manchester City games.
“I feel like, City, because they’re this modern global team, in the United States we think they’re a really big club. But here in Manchester, it’s not a big club.”

When the Citizens were 2-0 up at half-time at the Leigh Sports Village on Saturday the 32-year-old may have been wishing she had stayed quiet.
But after the break she instantly put her money where her mouth is by cracking a contender for goal of the season into the top corner to get United back in it on 54 minutes.
She pounced onto a limp pass from Lucy Bronze and lashed in a sweet finish into the top corner from an awkward angle – sparking mayhem on the host’s bench.
The USA World Cup winner even kissed the Red Devils badge in celebration.

Heath’s wonder-strike quickly sent social media into meltdown including Arsenal legend Ian Wright.
He wrote on Twitter: “Tobin Heath angry goal!!” with a rocket and flame emoji, and posted a series of gobsmacked faces.
And he retweeted a post which said: “Tobin Heath my lord. Hulk smash.”
He had previously been ripping into the Red Devils’ defence after they shipped two goals in the first-half.

United went on to seize a point from their rivals thanks to Kirtsty Hanson’s equaliser.
When Heath signed for United she made no secret of being a huge fan of the club.
She said: “Any footballer’s dream would be to play for Manchester United and to play at Old Trafford.
“I had all the feels when going back there. I was nerding out before and during the Olympics when we played there.
“I think in our first game, there was a group stage match and then we played that epic, semi-final against Canada.
“The pitch just has this iconic feeling about it and it’s just such an iconic venue for any footballer.”

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