JamieMCFC wrote:Doug I'm not able to watch the matches over here. How are they compared in quality to the U.S. women?
Not that easy to answer as I don't see much of the USA women to be able to make a good comparison. However I have watched England a bit more of later including the "success" in Canada ( was that the world cup) where we got a bronze. The standards/quality at City have improved dramatically imo over the last 2 years and in essence we have only been going for 3 years as a serious team.
From an England perspective I feel we are pretty good in a defensive way with decent defenders and defensive midfield players but lack much quality in the final third. It's not that we have bad players but they just seem to lack that something you need to really take hold of the game , create chances and untimately score goals.When we play against the better teams we seem to be able to hold our own and a draw looks very possible ( nil nil) but there is little prospect of us raking the game to one of the good sides and winning.
Not yet anyway but the development is coming and who knows in the not too distant future we might just find the special talents needed to change all that.
At City as I said the development has been fast. I am not too sure who is in charge of recruitment but I assume it's the manager Nick Cushing and he really seems to know what's needed.Initially we had a core of players. A keeper , centre half , centre mid and a "striker" Bardsley, Houghton ,Scott and Duggan and a raw Christiansen.
We have added to that with :
Bronze a proven winner at Liverpool and for me a stand out player
Stokes also full back with real pace and developed now to be an England player
Beattie either as center back or defensive midfield and quality strong player. Scottish international
Megan Campbell left back or center back and another Scottish international. Not sen too much but looks good and what a throw she has on her.
Nikita Parris from Everton I think and very quick.Plays either right side or through the middle. Pace is so so important and if she can just add composure she will be top top quality. Now another England International
Jane Ross Cushing wanted her from the off and I can see why. Goalscorer but much more . Great touch, holds the bal well and lays it off well but a real determination about her.
Keira Walsh as a holding midfield player is still very young but loads of quality in her play. I like her a lot and another starting and England career
Abbie McManus one of the big successes for me. Was at City when it all started but fell away for some reason. ( SOF will know better) but she fought her way back and has become a regular at center back with Steph. Sadly now injured.
Georgia Stanway Only 17 and starting to make a real name for herself. captained the international age group side already and scored a hat trick yesterday of real quality. definitely one for the future but already with us and making the team. Very intelligent player and could well be one of those with that composure in the last 3rd we and England need.
Daphne Corboz from America has great football intelligence and fits in great albeit likely as a squad player.
Tessel Middag just come in from somewhere and will be a squad player for now but is the next Jill Scott
Kosovare Asliani quality midfield playmaker.Not seen the best of her yet.
So a lot of new faces have come in and everyone adds to the quality. Not all English as you can see but we do have 7 ( or is it 8) in the England set up now. Nick Cushing seems to be well respected by everyone and definitely the players and if he is doing the recruitment he is getting it just about spot on. Plus he likes to play good football.
Others have also come in aged 16/17 as part of the planning for the future so I have no doubt City will be one of if the not THE major force in women's football for a long time to come.
Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 11:16 pm