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Beyond the Pitch Episode 81: Champions League, Awards and January Fixtures
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Join Georgie and Alka as in this episode, we dive into the latest action from the UEFA Women's Champions League, exploring key matchups, standout performances, and what the knockout stages might hold for the top teams. We also break down the buzz surrounding the FIFA Best Awards, celebrating the incredible achievements of women in the sport over the past year. Plus, we preview the exciting fixtures coming up in the FA Women's Super League this January—an important month that could shape the title race, relegation battle, and everything in between. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just getting into the game, this episode has all the insights and analysis you need to stay up-to-date with women's football!
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:00:02
officialgspn
every club
00:00:05
officialgspn
global sports a cast network look
00:00:10
Georgie
Hello and welcome to Beyond the Pitch, a daily women's football podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. Today it's brought to you by myself, Georgie, and I am joined by the fabulous Alka.
00:00:22
Georgie
Hello.
00:00:23
officialgspn
Hello.
00:00:25
Georgie
How are you doing?
00:00:26
officialgspn
Oh, excellent. How are you?
00:00:29
Georgie
Oh yeah, absolutely stunning. Gearing up for the Christmas break on this beautiful sunny winter's day.
00:00:31
officialgspn
Yeah. Oh, honestly. It was actually quite sunny today.
00:00:37
Georgie
Yeah, it was pretty nice. It was freezing. It was freezing, but the blue sky sort of lulls you into a false sense of security, so that's nice.
00:00:40
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:00:47
officialgspn
So does everything at this point.
00:00:49
Georgie
Quite, quite.
Champions League Highlights and English Teams' Success
00:00:50
Georgie
Well, as well as um topics such as the weather, we also, as I've got for you today,
00:00:56
officialgspn
So brickage.
00:00:58
Georgie
Absolutely, you've got to bring it in at all points surely. um Yeah, well also we've got um the Champions League fixtures that we had ah from yesterday on Wednesday. We've got some more awards to chat through and also we're going to have a bit of a look ahead to what's going in, what's going on even in the new year in 2025. But yeah, first and foremost fresh off the back of some Wednesday evening action.
00:01:28
Georgie
The Champions League, all three English teams are through to the quarterfinals. Two out of three topping their group. um What are we thinking? I mean, some of it convincing, some of it a bit worrying.
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich Analysis
00:01:40
Georgie
You're probably very happy though, Miss Arsenal.
00:01:41
officialgspn
Oh, I'm buzzing. I'm absolutely, as a letter user would say, I am buzzing. Honestly, like okay, this is gonna sound so bad for my half and i my hands are up.
00:01:53
officialgspn
I didn't actually realise they were playing yesterday.
00:01:56
Georgie
Oh.
00:01:56
officialgspn
Obviously, I didn't realise they were playing until I got the hour notification, like the game started in an hour. um It was lovely. First first they were leading and I was like, oh, so happy.
00:02:07
officialgspn
And then I was like, actually, hold hold on, like this is by Munich and this is our store. We absolutely got eaten up by them last time.
00:02:12
Georgie
Yeah.
00:02:15
officialgspn
Then, Magda then went to go score and then it happened again and again and then I was like oh no it's gonna be a loss I had no hope but came in clutch honestly not again obviously for the last time they played Bayern Munich under Jonas it was it was terror
00:02:23
Georgie
Yeah. Oh, they know how to keep you on your toes. That's how I hope everyone describes every football match, you know? Lovely. I liked that. It was just lovely, wasn't it? And yeah, going one nil down, I was like, oh God, guys, come on, pick it up.
00:02:38
Georgie
and
00:02:44
Georgie
Yeah, but no, I mean, yeah, to go from 1-0 down to 1-0, 2-1 to 2-2, and then to get a penalty right at the end, I mean, bad luck, really. I think it was probably a fair score, though. I think it helped, I think it helped, I mean, all of, so, Citi, Chelsea and Arsenal, I think it was decided before this round of games that they would all
00:03:12
officialgspn
Yes.
00:03:12
Georgie
and go through so it wasn't like but the top spot was in contention especially for Arsenal so yeah it was an 88 minute or whatever to get that penalty the pressure and you know not to not to diss I love Arsenal as well have a bit of a soft spot for them don't tell anyone um but you know you have been known to crumble under the pressure sometimes but actually
00:03:21
officialgspn
Lovely.
00:03:32
officialgspn
Oh, how polite.
00:03:35
officialgspn
Oh, I agree, I agree.
00:03:36
Georgie
um You rose to the occasion, they rose to the occasion and it was really nice to see.
Rene Slager's Influence on Arsenal
00:03:41
Georgie
um And that is possibly and the story of the last 11 matches under Rene Slager, right?
00:03:47
officialgspn
Oh, yeah.
00:03:47
Georgie
I mean, how's that going?
00:03:48
officialgspn
Oh, yeah. That is, as in like hearing that, so I went to the last Champions League match where it was like a 1-0 win, Lena Hartig in the end.
00:03:59
Georgie
Mm-hmm.
00:03:59
officialgspn
And everyone was like everyone's like, oh, like Renee's last game, how a wholesome, lovely. And then I was like, genuinely, I don't understand if she's not proved herself incompetent, why they should be looking for someone else. That's something I can't fathom. Don't change something.
00:04:17
officialgspn
unless you can see that there's an issue in it. And René has absolutely flipped Arsenal on its head.
00:04:20
Georgie
Yeah.
00:04:24
officialgspn
You can tell the players are so much more happier. They're on that pitch, they're playing a different game, a game that they have not played since, I want to even say, a season and a half ago. Maybe they started September in a little bit of that swing, but it's just not been the same.
00:04:38
officialgspn
And I'd love to see it, but then also quickly dipping back to you the penalty, Obviously in the last match in the WSL, Mariana had missed her penalty, but then again, like having René go right, so whoever's getting a penalty this time, still it's going to be you, like Cal Dente's taking it.
00:04:53
officialgspn
Obviously she got in the back of the net, beautiful. But that's also part of like the team and the bond that they've now created is the fact that you she just knows, she knows, she knows more than a lot of people.
00:05:01
Georgie
Absolutely.
00:05:05
officialgspn
And I love the fact that she changes up the squad, like, That's something that doesn't come about very often. We obviously seen it in Serena Viegman. We see it like in Jonas last time.
00:05:15
officialgspn
They just played the same people and didn't try and find a different mix, but seeing this mix is lovely.
00:05:19
Georgie
yeah Yeah, it's nice to mix it up and and something that we've seen um we see throughout the past few seasons that's more more important than ever is is squad depth.
00:05:30
Georgie
So to be able to rotate those players and give them like key players rest, um to give key players confidence. I mean, Russo is back scoring all of the bloody goals all the time.
00:05:38
officialgspn
Oh my god, I've missed it.
00:05:40
Georgie
Yeah, I've missed it too, I won't lie. Not against us though. um But yeah, it is refreshing to see, um will she get given the job at the end of it all? That's the question. There's got to be something going on behind the scenes that like maybe, I don't know, her vision doesn't align. I don't know, there's got to be there's got this something going on. But in the meantime, she's getting the results. Who cares?
00:06:02
Georgie
and
00:06:02
officialgspn
Can't ask for anything more.
00:06:04
Georgie
Absolutely. But yeah, everyone seems happy. So it's lovely. Lovely, as you'd say. and Less lovely. Man City. What on earth is happening there?
00:06:12
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:06:14
Georgie
What an absolute
Man City's Challenges and Kiara's Heroics
00:06:16
officialgspn
Stumbles.
00:06:16
Georgie
palava.
00:06:16
Georgie
I think Gareth Taylor himself said they were dysfunctional. um I didn't watch the full game, but I did watch the highlights. um Keating with 14 saves.
00:06:28
Georgie
Honestly, when I saw 3-0 as the scoreline, I thought, ouch, but my God, it could have been worse.
00:06:34
officialgspn
Oh, yeah.
00:06:34
Georgie
Like, it was shocking. It was an absolute shocking turnout from City. um They're clearly really hurting um it's their injuries and the lack of depth, having just said about how key it is to rotate your players.
00:06:50
Georgie
Um, yeah, Alex Greenwood, freshly out, um, MCL, not an ACL, which is I suppose the silver lining of the situation, but still, um,
00:06:57
officialgspn
and awful
00:07:00
officialgspn
That means she's probably out for the Euros.
00:07:05
Georgie
you think maybe it's hard?
00:07:06
officialgspn
I think...
00:07:09
officialgspn
i
00:07:09
Georgie
Cause I don't know what the timeline is for an MCL, but it's, it's, it's about three months. I think usually, well, I guess it would depends and She's not a spring chicken anymore, is she? Sorry, hon.
00:07:20
officialgspn
and
00:07:20
Georgie
Love ya.
00:07:24
Georgie
We'll see on that one. But yeah, god it just adds to ah to a long list of people out. we still They've got Lauren Hemp, they're missing Buddy Shaw.
00:07:32
officialgspn
Bunny.
00:07:34
Georgie
They're completely toothless up front. And yeah, if Yara Keating wasn't in goal, that would have been embarrassing.
00:07:40
officialgspn
I've got a little bit i've got bit of a contradiction and I don't know if this is just me creating a Gareth Taylor villain story.
00:07:49
Georgie
Oh.
00:07:50
officialgspn
Because the thing is, i I genuinely, last season, this time last year, Garth Taylor was on the number one of my praise lists. I was literally like, the way he's created this squad, only brought in Jill Raw, this cohesion he's built is incredible, the people aren't seeing it. I am an advocate. I think I'm still an advocate. I think there's just something wrong. However,
00:08:09
officialgspn
I've been taken back by the fact that Kiara Kings has not had the game time that she's been having. Obviously she's been dropped to the under 23's lionesses. There's something going on in the background which we're obviously not all aware of that is occurring.
00:08:23
Georgie
o
00:08:24
officialgspn
And now I can't help but think Gareth put Kiara in that net because ah he knew the squad he didn't have. So because he didn't have these players, which I think he went very well went into this match knowing, right, this is not our game.
00:08:40
officialgspn
let me let me put Chiara in the goal.
00:08:40
Georgie
Right.
00:08:42
officialgspn
She'd obviously prove, yeah, like we're gonna lose, whatever we lose, it's fine, she can have it.
00:08:42
Georgie
Right, we're already through. Let's just see what happens yet.
00:08:48
officialgspn
You know, like it's like in terms of, not that it's her loss, but it's okay if it falls on her, you know what I mean?
00:08:58
Georgie
Ooh, conspiracy theory.
00:08:58
officialgspn
Whereas she, I know this is,
00:09:01
Georgie
Coming up hot here.
00:09:02
officialgspn
I'm literally just stirring the pot, it's so bad.
00:09:03
Georgie
Interesting. Yeah. i yeah
00:09:05
officialgspn
But obviously she'd come and she'd smashed it. Like that is a performance of a lifetime, which we all know she has.
00:09:12
Georgie
Well, yeah, I mean, phenomenal shotstopper, 14 saves, but you say that.
00:09:12
officialgspn
And that...
00:09:18
Georgie
I mean, some of some of those near goals were due to her own sloppy, sloppy, sloppy passing. So, yeah, absolutely phenomenal shotstopper.
00:09:28
Georgie
But, yeah, you do kind of see why perhaps she doesn't have that number one spot.
00:09:31
officialgspn
give will take
00:09:33
Georgie
Yeah, what she, yeah, Kiara keeps in giveth and she taketh away.
00:09:34
officialgspn
However, i I also think though, that you could equally be said for Yamashita as well.
00:09:37
Georgie
and
00:09:43
officialgspn
Some of those WSL games in our pocket are not in our favour.
00:09:47
Georgie
No. Yeah, it's going to be an interesting one. I mean, yeah, there's City still through. They're still through to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, not to be sniffed at.
00:09:58
Georgie
They're still second in the WSL,
Global Sports Podcast Network Promotion
00:10:00
Georgie
not to be sniffed at.
00:10:00
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:10:01
Georgie
So I'm not writing them off, but, God, they're looking shaky and I bet they they can't, they probably think the winter break can't come soon enough.
00:10:08
officialgspn
and witha yeah
00:10:10
Georgie
The Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasting with dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football and the daily Premier League wrap-up broadcasted in five different languages. This is your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcasts.
00:10:28
Georgie
All right, welcome back. We're into part two and we are now moving on to more awards. Tis the season. There are so many awards at this time of year, I can barely keep up, but do you know why?
00:10:40
Georgie
It almost doesn't matter because
Aitana Bonmatí's Achievements and Need for New Competition
00:10:42
Georgie
if you just name an award, Bonnati's probably won it.
00:10:44
officialgspn
for real not surprising
00:10:45
Georgie
um and And one that she has, so um this week she got FIFA Best Women's Player of the Year ah for the second year in a row. um obviously Obviously well deserved. Following Barcelona's quadruple, she's got 19 goals, which I think is her career best across the season. um You can't argue really, she's just getting better and better.
00:11:10
Georgie
um but Come on, I'm getting a bit bored of it.
00:11:16
officialgspn
ah I know, we're waiting for some fresh notes to come along.
00:11:20
Georgie
Yeah, but who's it gonna be? Who's it gonna be? Who can knock her off that?
00:11:23
officialgspn
I haven't. I think we're going to need a, this is going to be a good like a little combo. I think we're going to need an international, a little transfer into a different league. I think that we could get a few and NWSL players to to slip their way through with a transfer.
00:11:41
Georgie
Ooh, perhaps, perhaps. um Who, I can't remember her name, it's a Brenda. She came second, Enda Rissel. That could be, could be the one coming up, but I don't know.
00:11:54
Georgie
It's interesting. Barcelona don't look like they're going anywhere anytime soon, and Spain don't look like they're going anywhere anytime soon, as long as Bon Lacey stays healthy, stays skilled, that's it.
00:11:59
officialgspn
Absolutely not terrifying.
00:12:06
Georgie
She's just going to keep sweeping them up, isn't she?
00:12:09
officialgspn
and As she should, as she absolutely should, there's the, yeah, I can't even, there's no hate towards that woman. She is incredible.
00:12:17
Georgie
Yeah, yeah, depressingly so.
00:12:18
officialgspn
Like the youth, yeah, shows, shows everyone else up, but you know what? Sometimes it's got to be like that.
00:12:27
Georgie
Yeah, it's interesting. I mean, yeah, it happens in men's football as well with the reign of Renato and Messi, but reigns do fall eventually.
00:12:32
officialgspn
yeah
00:12:34
Georgie
And speaking of, well, sort of, not really. So Marta won Women's Play of the Year six times, I think. And this year,
00:12:45
Georgie
She got her very own award, not only her very own award, the Marta Award, which is ah the women's ribbon of the Puskas, so best goal of the season, so named after her.
00:12:55
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:12:56
Georgie
And then she only went and bloody won it as well.
00:12:58
officialgspn
Of course.
00:12:59
Georgie
I mean, a classic. I had to i had to actually double check. What went
Marta's Legacy and Retirement Announcement
00:13:05
Georgie
on there when I saw that Marta had won the Marta Award, I was like, is it called the Marta Award because she's won it?
00:13:10
Georgie
Or did she win it because it was called the Marta Award? I was very confused, won't lie. But anyway, she won it because of her goal in the summer against Jamaica.
00:13:21
Georgie
um And it's a banger. So she did win it legitimately. um Just a funny, funny headline.
00:13:27
officialgspn
I think it's perfect.
00:13:27
Georgie
Write the theme tune, sing the theme tune, star in the play, you know?
00:13:31
officialgspn
Yeah. oh I love it and I love the fact that now there's awards that will be lasted for you know a lifetime holding a legacy but more obviously focus on the female side you have like obviously not similar but obviously you go back to the Ballon d'Or and you've got so and So many like awards just for, which could easily be transferable to the women's side, but you have them just for the men.
00:13:55
Georgie
yeah
00:13:56
officialgspn
It's nice to see that now there's also kind of spreading it out a bit, making more female-oriented awards too.
00:14:05
Georgie
Yeah, absolutely, because there was a bit, I did kind of like that, You know, the Piscus Award was just the best goal. Like men and women, it didn't really matter.
00:14:16
Georgie
But we never did see, we never saw a woman win that award. So we never got that recognition.
00:14:21
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:14:23
Georgie
So yeah, I think it's important to have your own one. um And to have it named after Marta. So you are absolutely led into the game. ah so To win it as well, can't get over it.
00:14:35
Georgie
um Yeah, good for them.
00:14:36
officialgspn
but
00:14:37
Georgie
And yeah, I mean, do you know what? when When she announced she was going to retire from international football, I was like, yeah, you know what? You're 38. You've had a legend every time, hon.
00:14:46
officialgspn
You deserve it.
00:14:48
Georgie
You deserve your rest or whatever. And then to go out in her last tournament, um obviously we all saw, she absolutely smashed it, won that award, did very, very well.
00:14:53
officialgspn
Smasher. yeah
00:14:58
Georgie
um And she's still smashing it in club football as well. So she's just unstoppable. um is this Is this going to be bonmatic?
00:15:05
officialgspn
It's a perfect ending, it is. Oh, I wish, I can't wait.
00:15:09
Georgie
one
00:15:10
officialgspn
I feel like we in the women's game, obviously in the men, you've got Messi, you've got Ronaldo, you've obviously been, you had before. We've not had like that reign. And obviously because of women's game, it's still so young and it's still so growing, but I want to see those reigns.
00:15:22
Georgie
No.
00:15:25
officialgspn
I want to see those absolute dominations of every league by this one player in the female game too. And I think obviously Martyr has started that for us, but it's still very different in terms of the length of the game that we have.
00:15:39
officialgspn
And I think Bonmati is going to be that player. Like you would have thought it was Alexia,
00:15:44
Georgie
Yeah. Close.
00:15:46
officialgspn
but i feel I genuinely feel like although they've done so much for the game, we're now at a point where whoever starts now is gonna grow in that skyrocket same way that obviously you've got those legends growing as two.
00:16:00
Georgie
definitely yeah it's exciting stuff just Yeah, there's part of me that wishes there was more competition, I think, though.
00:16:09
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:16:10
Georgie
I think that's what's leaving me. I've been like, yeah, Bonmites is a fantastic player. I really, I can't stress enough how great I think she is and how well deserved, but yeah, I just see her name every single time now.
00:16:21
officialgspn
Yeah, I get it.
00:16:21
Georgie
For the past three, I'm like, oh, come on, come on, else.
00:16:24
officialgspn
where Where's the new?
00:16:24
Georgie
Give it more competition. Definitely. Yeah, but it'll come, it'll come, Yeah, I'm it's exciting stuff. sure. um And speaking of of repeating names, again, thoroughly well deserved, but I'm enjoying this.
00:16:35
Georgie
um No, you go. No, you go. No, I'll go. The coach of the year won for the second time by Emma Hayes, um
Emma Hayes' Success with Chelsea and Team USA
00:16:45
Georgie
which is, again, you can't argue that, can you?
00:16:47
officialgspn
ah You can't, you genuinely can't, as much as I'm, you know, not a Chelsea lover, you you can't.
00:16:54
Georgie
No, well deserved and in every respect to to do what she did with Chelsea to hang on there. ah So WSL to then go and smash it, immediately smash the Olympics with Team USA.
00:17:05
Georgie
Yeah, go on hand, you can win that. And if if anyone's got to take that award out of Honeybun Serena Vegan's hands, it's okay if it's her.
00:17:16
officialgspn
It is.
00:17:16
Georgie
But let's see let's see what this future year brings.
00:17:23
officialgspn
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out a clear winner with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those mms and ahs. It's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:17:47
officialgspn
right so we are here at the final and third topic looking at what is to come in the new year
WSL Fixtures Preview and Chelsea's Dominance
00:17:54
officialgspn
obviously christmas is coming oh so soon but that does not mean that the wsl is anywhere near finished we have some we have some good fixtures on the way back let alone starting with not only a london derby but also a manchester derby i think that is a that is one way to absolutely start in the new year i'll tell you that for a fact
00:18:14
Georgie
It's a double whammy. In fact, it's a triple whammy. It's two two London, two London Darby's, one Manchester Darby.
00:18:22
officialgspn
Oh yeah.
00:18:22
Georgie
The only sad thing is how long we've got to wait for it. But I think, oh, absolutely, it's going to be, it's going to be spicy.
00:18:26
officialgspn
Oh, it'll be itchy by the time it comes.
00:18:31
Georgie
um But a well-deserved break for everybody. I think it it will just make it more exciting because players will get their chance to refresh themselves, to rest, to come back from injury, to
00:18:40
officialgspn
However, 100%, there's so many players that just, they just need their time, they need their time.
00:18:46
Georgie
Yeah, you need you need so you need a big old turkey or vegetarian roast of your choosing and some sunshine, go go and get some winter sun, come back and smash it.
00:18:57
Georgie
I mean, who's, like going into the going into winter break, Chelsea, six points clear, 10 games in, I mean, looking pretty unstoppable, aren't they?
00:19:09
officialgspn
Crazy.
00:19:11
Georgie
um It's gonna be, Is anyone going to be able to knock them off the perch? Is Arsenal going to be able to catch up? Have we spoke about a city?
00:19:19
officialgspn
Sorry, I think I lost that hope so early.
00:19:23
Georgie
that's an awesome
00:19:23
officialgspn
I did. I think Jonas did it in for us. he's It's like and for oh so annoying because we see how we're playing right now and if we knew we could have played like that from the beginning, it would have Oh, I think I've been in such a more exciting season and usually I give Citi a bit more of a backing, but it's not getting better.
00:19:43
Georgie
Yeah, as we've seen, yeah, City, you're looking shaky, but, you know, you're only, what, seven points behind. you've You've got four wins in a draw in your last five games.
00:19:56
Georgie
You know, it could happen, but...
00:19:59
officialgspn
Anything could happen, but at the same time, look at Sonia.
00:20:00
Georgie
But... Yeah, look at her, and Chelsea are only going to get Sam Kerr back imminently.
00:20:08
officialgspn
Exactly and another thing about Sonia was I just wanted to sing her praises because obviously during their last match they drew but not only did they draw she had like the nerve to take off the most key fundamental players of Guru Ryan and Myra Ramirez within 40 minutes
00:20:09
Georgie
and
00:20:32
Georgie
Yeah.
00:20:33
officialgspn
She said, right, this is not working. This is my, I'm not doing it to impress people. I'm not doing it because this is the way it should be done. It's not working. Get them off and swap them on. And evidently it helped them get that draw, which very easily could have been a loss for them.
00:20:47
Georgie
Oli, yeah, tactical. Tactical. That's why she is who she is and why they are where they are.
00:20:52
officialgspn
And i I, even with right Serena, you still don't see these actions being done with her when you know sometimes it should be done.
00:20:57
Georgie
No.
00:21:01
Georgie
Absolutely. Yeah, it's yeah You sit there screaming screaming at the picture at the telly depending where you're watching it from like, you know That change needs to be made and and it's refreshing that she recognizes that and touchy put it in and I know obviously Football can be a comfort very much a confident sport So you don't want to pull players off too early and then but also you got to recognize it's a team sport so if it's not working mix it up bring someone else in and then you know, just trust that you'll
00:21:19
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:21:30
Georgie
get a chance to do your job on the other end. um But yeah, I mean, God, let's Chelsea are just looking unstoppable, but but maybe there's a chance.
00:21:37
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:21:41
officialgspn
There's some lovely fixtures for certain teams go starting in that January. Gonna start some teams off very confident. I feel like they Liverpool Brighton is gonna be a very difficult one and I think at this point City United might also be quite a difficult one.
00:21:55
Georgie
Yeah, United it seems to have picked up some traction recently while City ah have um been losing it. So yeah, that will definitely be a very interesting match.
00:22:03
officialgspn
It will be once i will be everyone to watch.
00:22:04
Georgie
Always is.
00:22:06
officialgspn
um But my favourite time also, January.
00:22:11
Georgie
Transfer window.
00:22:12
officialgspn
We'll have some January. We see all the chops and changes. This year has been awfully quiet.
00:22:18
Georgie
It has been.
00:22:18
officialgspn
I've not i've not heard anything. And if I've heard it, it's been very subtle. Subtle chance though.
00:22:25
Georgie
Yeah, I've not
Transfer Speculations and Strategies
00:22:26
Georgie
heard any rumours actually. um Who on earth? and there's a lot of There's a lot of big names who are out of contract in the summer, but that means probably there's not going to be much movement because why would you pay for them now if you can just get them for free in the summer, you know?
00:22:39
officialgspn
Exactly.
00:22:42
officialgspn
The only one I've seen, which I, as much as I love or I agree with, I think it should happen, is obviously cool, is Arsenal so still an Arsenal player right now.
00:22:42
Georgie
um
00:22:51
Georgie
Mmm.
00:22:54
officialgspn
I feel like that switch will be made.
00:22:57
Georgie
Yeah, not just not getting the minutes.
00:23:00
officialgspn
No.
00:23:00
Georgie
It's just seems unlikely.
00:23:02
officialgspn
and i think
00:23:03
Georgie
But I mean, go for it.
00:23:06
officialgspn
i also I could also see a lot of other players from the Arsenal squad. not and say I'm not saying that Renee's gonna bring anyone in, but I feel like Arsenal have a lot of, they've obviously transfer had a heavy transfer window in the summer, but I could see that, they'll obviously catch players like Katie Reed, which I love seeing her get her, she obviously got a start,
00:23:23
Georgie
Yeah.
00:23:32
officialgspn
last last week the week before but I can so also just see make it that movement of maybe her or Lena Hertig or even um like Laura Vianroy is still coming back of it we are struggling with defenders in that sense we most like keeper however like subtle singular movements just on loans I feel like it's going to be a very lone window not as much as an actual heavy transfer window
00:23:59
Georgie
Yep, I think we're having some technical difficulties. I didn't hear a word of that, I'm afraid.
00:24:04
officialgspn
Oh no, I've just been yapping to the camera.
00:24:08
Georgie
No, I like heard the noises. It was just all like this weird robot. I think what you were saying though is that there might be some small changes in Arsenal. ah But yet yeah, yeah. And I think it could probably definitely help. I think they would be wise though to not offload too many players without bringing anyone in.
00:24:29
Georgie
I do think that depth is going to be the key for this second half of the season to get into that top three and to stay there and ah yeah we know that Chelsea have it.
00:24:29
officialgspn
Absolutely.
00:24:33
officialgspn
absolutely
00:24:41
Georgie
We know that Chelsea don't need to lift a finger and they'll just have people returning from injury and they'll still have it.
00:24:46
officialgspn
They are set.
00:24:48
Georgie
and Sissy, Stitt as well, you know, if they get some key, their key players, all of their key players who are all Crocs will come back from injury, hopefully.
00:24:57
officialgspn
yeah
00:24:57
Georgie
it's So yeah, Arsenal did they should probably hold on to who they've got. um Brighton.
00:25:03
officialgspn
However, I'd love to see how Brighton smashed it the last chance window. I cannot stress it.
00:25:09
Georgie
Exactly. I was going to say, yeah, they they made such great moves in in the summer. I wonder if they're going to, if, are they done? Are they just going to sit on their hands now?
00:25:17
officialgspn
I think they should be, I think they should chill, build that team bonding cohesion more, strengthen it up and wait for the summer.
00:25:24
Georgie
Yeah.
00:25:27
officialgspn
I think that I genuinely, brought and a they've done some God's work and I'd love to see it.
00:25:35
Georgie
Yeah, and it's been really nice to see, I thought Frank Kirby and Nikita Paris were donzoed, but they've had an absolute resurgence.
00:25:42
officialgspn
No, I love it.
00:25:43
Georgie
I mean, Kirby's still, I think she's injured at the minute, isn't she?
00:25:46
officialgspn
Yes.
00:25:47
Georgie
But yeah, it's good to see, you love to see it.
00:25:51
Georgie
Well,
00:25:52
officialgspn
Unfortunately, I think that is all we have time for for today.
00:25:55
Georgie
I think so, I just looked at the time. That is...
00:25:57
officialgspn
As much as we could yap about Chancell windows, I don't even get to mention the magic name of Kira Walsh, but you all know
00:26:02
Georgie
To
Episode Wrap-Up and Teaser for Next Episode
00:26:04
officialgspn
what I'm thinking.
00:26:05
officialgspn
You all know what I'm thinking. But, for the arsenal.
00:26:07
Georgie
the arsenal.
00:26:09
Georgie
Is it gonna happen?
00:26:11
officialgspn
No, unfortunately not. However, More to think about, more to come back to, which we will definitely be yapping about in the next episode. However, thank you so much for joining us and we look forward to welcoming you back to the next episode of Beyond the Pitch.
00:26:28
Georgie
Laters!
00:26:28
officialgspn
Bye!
00:26:31
officialgspn
every club
00:26:35
officialgspn
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