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Daily Women Football : Beyond the Pitch episode 103 : WSL weekend wrap up, Millie Bright post and Barca ending their 46 games run!
13 Plays27 days ago
Join Nat and Cate as they go through a round up of the last WSL weekend, they highlight the important of player welfare and safeguarding, and Fan Education , and they end with and incredible statement : Kiera Walsh has left and Barcelona lost for the first times in 46 games... coincidence? I ( Cate) think not!
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Transcript
Introduction to the Podcast
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, hello, hello, hello. and Oh, now I'm on today. What is going on? It's not stopping.
00:00:21
Nat
They don't want to let you talk, Katarina. That's the truth. That is the truth.
00:00:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a technical glitch. My first technical glitch. Anyway, hello and welcome back to Beyond the Pitch, a daily women's football podcast brought to you by the Global Sport Podcast Network. And today you have the Italian duo again. Says me, Kate.
00:00:41
Nat
And Natasha. um Oh, nah.
00:00:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Natasha.
00:00:45
Nat
Nah.
WSL Weekend Highlights
00:00:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
As usual three topics for today all linked into a child each other this time actually and we are gonna go we're gonna have an overview obviously of the WSL fantastic weekend incredibly some incredible results, some new players that they were just signed, started to play straight away, very exciting. And then we're going to touch on something that's a little bit less exciting, but it actually is a reality, unfortunately, in football, which is a post that Milly Bright has uploaded this morning on her Instagram. And then we'll talk a little bit more about that.
00:01:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then we are going to end up to, we couldn't not chat, uh, what happened to Barcelona. And yeah, a very interesting, um, fact, let's say, let's put it this way at the weekend, but let's start with our home ground WSL. I'm just going to go through the result if, uh, whoever is listening hasn't had the opportunity to.
00:01:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Arsenal beat Manchester City at their home ground, so up in Manchester, 4-3, which an incredible game, like a ping pong, like a pam-pam-pam-mang.
00:02:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Goal, goal, goal, goal, so really exciting. Everton wins very comfortably, Leicester 4-1. Liverpool just get a victory against West Ham, just 1-0.
00:02:02
Nat
Thanks.
00:02:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am very excited that Palace got a point and I got a point with Brighton. I don't know if you know if you're listening and you don't know there is a bit of rivalry, a bit of a derby in a sort of way between Brighton and Crystal Palace.
00:02:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's quite nice to see as a result.
Chelsea's Unbeaten Streak
00:02:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Chelsea continues with their unbeaten record and they win at Villa. not Probably not their best game yet and their best victory, but as we say, a win is a win. And suddenly my team loses at home against United, I think is a little bit of an unfair score.
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And not because they're my team, but because of ah the game itself. But again, a loss is a loss, or for that case, a win is a win. And yeah, pretty much that's what it is. A very exciting ah weekend for me, because one of my favorite players is back into the WSL. I was not expecting her to start playing straight away, not going to lie. That's my favorite number for Peter Walsh back in the game.
00:03:26
Nat
Yeah, interesting ah to see her because ah of all the players that Chelsea has bought during this window and there are a lot. It's interesting to see actually Kyra wash of the lioness go back and roar as we can say.
00:03:44
Nat
um yeah what performance of chel We can talk about a little bit the performance of Chelsea which has not on my opinion been at their best but as you highlighted before, k ah a win is a win and it's not always the team that plays the best, the nice football or the clean football to ah get the three points and that's what happened to Chelsea but that is why I think they have some magic in that team because no matter what they bring home the result every time every time you think was like oh my gosh i look at this team today they are not great they are not performing something's happening blah blah blah but at the very end they get the three points home so for me
00:04:30
Nat
it's a bon passure is proving herself right somehow uh but yeah i don't what i can see from them there is has been missing i don't know it's because the they need to reset after the movement ah of the transfer market but i think there are not as fight like they are not as aggressive as they were in the first part of the season they sound like the first part of the season I found that Chelsea that was much more aggressive in the last third whereas now it seems more settled it seems more conscious and
00:05:08
Nat
and sometimes the the um defense has some ah gasp that makes see the game exciting but not in a good way for them. So yeah, ah that's my taking on Chelsea. But they got they got the they got it home, so we're done on them.
00:05:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
but What was, I always think hard dollar I win is a win.
Premium Hospitality Experience
00:05:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a bit like a loss is a loss. Sometimes you are the best team on the field. Uh, you know, you try and try and try and then they just go one goal and you, you go home with the loss and you can say that and you can argue it.
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look at the stats. We were the best. Yeah, but I know, but a loss is a loss in the same, you know,
00:05:47
Nat
But you use that expression, especially for sports. And I was ah at the game, as you probably know, because I posted everywhere. um And I have to say, it was an even game. I wouldn't say like the the win of United convinced me. you know like It was almost an even game. What I think was missing there again, and I might repeat myself,
00:06:15
Nat
is being really hungry for a goal, being really hungry for a victory. Sports didn't give me that impression like by watching them. They were conscious, they went back in defense, but all the game, most of the game, has been played in their own halls and like they attack like ah in ah in an attacking way.
00:06:40
Nat
so they like the your goalkeeper did really well but and a little bit defense was a did a lab it did well but I have to say I would like to see more push forward push forward more because you had that two glimpse but not more like ah we were like I was a waiter's like okay he's gonna change something's gonna make him more action but it didn't seem that there was this hanger to win but again that is my view of the game but it was a very pleasant day yeah yeah how do you know so thanks to a friend who is actually having the podcast with me at this moment
00:07:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah did you enjoy
00:07:24
Nat
um I was able to um to feel ah um the premium ah treatment um so I felt a little bit like a very important person and i was able and it was a great experience because
00:07:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:07:40
Nat
you are so close to the people that are making the football great.
00:07:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
did you enjoy?
00:07:44
Nat
And that's, you really breathe football in a different way. It's not just about, of course it's about the way you have been treated and all the perks, but I think it's just like emotional to be around people that have been in the game for a long time or are at certain level of the game that you might aspire to or you might be inspired of.
00:08:08
Nat
So, yeah, and no I really recommend if you have ah the opportunity to see the the game or be after the game or before the game in this environment, because it's really it makes you really feel part of something bigger than yourself, something bigger than fandom.
00:08:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think it's, so what you say is very important, especially, I think, especially, I see this more often in the women's game than in the men's game. So as a disclaimer for everyone listening, we are talking about certain area of premium hospitality is in different stadiums. It's not just Spurs.
00:08:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
in particular, but in every stadium. So with the women's game, it tends to be full of very important guests. But very important guests, more than from a famous point of view, really exactly as you said, guests that are really making the difference in the women's game.
00:09:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And because you and I are not just interested to watch games from a fan point of view, because we like football, but we like everything that is behind the scene. So being in those rooms with those people is very important. I remember the first time I got invited by the FAA, actually by Nike, but at the FAA lounge in Wembley for when we played Netherlands. So was that December of 2023?
00:09:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
and it was it just I love the premium experience. Of course, it's nice. You go in, you have food, and you know you've got hot drinks, whatever. That's nice. But exactly as you said, you know just the conversations that you have at that table, ah that you can hear at the table, that you can just live, it's not just that. Whilst I think that often in the men's game, and I can see when I am when i attend, you know it's it's often just fun.
00:10:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
so obviously see people that like to go and experience the football in a bit more of a upmarket, let's say, way, but they don't work in football. They're just people that want to go there and watch football. So it's very different. I'm just saying, in case you go to a men's game and you think like, oh, right. So it's not the same. as that No. So, yeah, that's what it is. But I think everybody should um experience, at least,
00:10:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, a few times in their lifetime, going to a sports event doesn't necessarily need to be football, but being, you know, pampered and treated in that way is just really nice. But anyway, ah we got off topic as usual. ah Yeah, I mean, just to wrap up before before we move to the next, ah the next topic is I just want to say again, you know, I'm a sports supporter, but very, very soft spot for Chelsea.
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, being, ah you know, having this kind of like non-monogamous relationship with my football team for a long time. I think Chelsea is incredible, what they're doing, always being a very underrated team and very exciting. You know, this is 21 games unbeaten, funny how the only team in the WSL that was able to Not let them have three point was Lester. So a little bit of like woohoo Lester in there so sometimes they are the underdog that really made the difference and Yeah, and very excited. So I know they celebrated they were very happy because it's a big record But there was a little bit of a shadow and we're gonna talk about it in the next sector. Yeah, go on
00:11:49
Nat
I have a question. Do you think that we will see Chelsea being unbeaten until the end of the of this season?
00:11:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i i had the I had the same chat with Alka yesterday when we were talking about transfer and, you know, like, oh my God, Chelsea is buying everybody, et cetera.
00:12:05
Nat
Yeah, I know, I know.
00:12:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
I a hundred percent, they're going after Arsenal record. So they probably want to be, ah you know, the super very best women team ever in England.
00:12:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
They have the opportunity to, they have the team, they have the facilities, they have the, the coach the staff they have everything to do it. Obviously Sonia also is experienced a bit more than what I think Emma was in the Champions League ah competition.
00:12:39
Nat
so
00:12:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah so it makes a difference because it's also mentality. Can they do it? Yeah, absolutely. I think they bought enough players in the window in the winter window to be able to have a fresh team.
00:12:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's not forget we've got a couple of other of their players that should be coming back from injury, and they are players that do make a difference when they play.
00:12:59
Nat
Thank you.
00:13:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I see no reason for them not to. I'm not sure if they will win all the games, but I think they can be unbeaten.
00:13:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they might.
00:13:12
Nat
Yeah, that's what I meant.
00:13:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:14
Nat
I meant I'm beaten because they already didn't win all the games.
00:13:17
Nat
But I wonder if you feel that.
00:13:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so I mean, no, ah but I mean, you know, maybe from here till the end, they won't win all the game, but I think they have a great opportunity to finish the season unbeaten and to to smash that record as well. So, yeah.
00:13:32
Nat
So we are aligned on that.
Milly Bright's Post-Game Incident
00:13:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, I woke up this morning and a friend of mine sent me this Milly bright post and I was like, Oh, what's going on? And then I started to read it and I got very upset. So I'm going to read it out. If anyone has not seen it yet, um, a little bit of a contest. What happened is that at the game yesterday, someone first approached Milly for you know, signing, talking, the t-shirt, photo and all of that kind of like really nice stuff. So we're talking about a parentry at Chelsea football fan. So I'm not talking the opposition.
00:14:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then instead they kind of like turned around and just, you know, shouted in a not particularly way, uh, in a nice way about their poor performance. And so Milly came out and, uh, said in her Instagram, please, may I remind you that as players, we are not collectibles. We are not robots. We are humans. The same as you after every game we as player make a choice to give you our time.
00:15:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
support and generosity to do photos, signature, have conversation, because we care and respect your traveling to support us. We do this regardless of the result of the performance. So please be more mindful of your comments. I'm glad it was me you made this comment about and not my teammates.
00:15:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Every game we give our absolute all and it won't always be pretty or perfect. But just remember, we give everything to be the best for you. So this experience was hugely disappointing, especially from a fun set in the Chelsea section. And I understand that. I understand, you know, you can be a little bit frustrated. You can be, you know, you've traveled up to Birmingham to watch the game.
00:15:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
hasn't been the best game of your life, okay fine, but so warm what makes you feel that you can do something like that? And also, you know, I have a sub-spot for Millie Bright. I think she's an incredible captain material. I was very excited when she you know she took it she took over the job for the food de lionesses as well. um yeah And I think you know this statement speaks ah very highly of her.
00:16:22
Nat
I think what comes out again is people want the bite of you, but then they are also overcritical. And I think if you are a fan and you and you really like a player, yeah you need to put into interframe the fact that players might have a good day and bad day.
00:16:49
Nat
you Like, if they don't play the way you thought they were playing. Let's put in that frame. But if you dare to ask them for photos or a signature, then you shouldn't be so rude, in my opinion, to be to talk in the back of them. Because then, why would you ask for a photo in the first place? If you didn't like it, let's put it in the frame there. You didn't like how they play. You're very disappointed. You thought you wasted your time in travelling all the way to Aston Villa. Then pack up and go home.
00:17:21
Nat
You don't have to ask for a player to sign. to sign You don't have to ask for a player a picture. They do it, even though, and they might reflect on the performer. I'm sure they do, that I have a review of of the game, 100%. It's professional people. But nevertheless, I wouldn't, ah within in person if i if I was thinking that way, I wouldn't dare to ask them for for a photos or anything after the game would just pack up and leave if I was disappointed with my team as a pure fan. If I'm asking for a picture and I'm still thinking about that I will probably have the good behavior not to to shout it in the face after I got what I needed you know that is my point.
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but I think i think that's best that's that's that's precisely her point, as in like my, you know, but again, I think what really upset her is the fact that this person who, by the way, hasn't been identified yet, so I don't know, but that this person um has first felt so entitled you know to have photos and a chart and you know all of that type of thing. And then maybe, I don't know, maybe they didn't get enough attention. I don't know, I have no idea. Also felt entitled to just express an opinion that was very disturbing and quite you know abusive.
00:18:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
for absolutely no other reason than just feeling entitled to
Fan Entitlement in Football
00:18:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
do so. And I think it speaks very highly about, you know, how much there is still to do.
00:18:56
Nat
Oh, sorry, go on.
00:19:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you say, you know, and I appreciate it. You said like, you know, oh, if you do that, ah you know, at least don't do this and don't do that. But it's because you and I are like that. So I wouldn't even think about it.
00:19:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
If I am upset, and it happens sometimes I just go like I'm gonna leave and sometimes my friends are like oh don't you want to stay you know the girls are coming we take photos and I'm like nah man I'm just gonna go like you can stay I'll just wait for you like you know at the pub or somewhere else I just need to go because I'm upset and it's you're entitled to be upset as a fan you know you take things a heart is fine what you're not entitled is to you know abuse the players in any way in any way
00:19:42
Nat
I think there is a little bit and I think that is ah the B side that we want I want to talk about of the women's football has it has been growing also that people feel entitled of getting a shirt after the game getting the players getting everything and I think for and this was a debate also when Chelsea stopped ah in had their ground to have players ah available at the end of the game so you know I think I think it's just a like the feeling entitled that they owe you something because you travel so far to be honest with you if you look at and I know I don't like to compare but in this case I do want to compare because
00:20:26
Nat
uh with the men's game men don't don't necessari necessarily stay after the game to sign stuff for defense not always not it's not a given whereas the women is expected and that is going to all towards all the tiers and it also is expected to to give you gloves or part of their kit and i think this should stop by now on my opinion because that is what then you have these people right that they want that because that's what they sign for that's why they travel so far to get a picture with you and then they're entitled to say things at the back so that's why i'm like you know what probably
00:21:09
Nat
you that We shouldn't ask the players to stretch so much and we shouldn't expect the player to give us their time, things, whatever, at the end of a game, independently how it went. But that's me.
00:21:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, two things there. First of all, a disclaimer, because I want to, I want everybody to know that ah I work for Kiki out. So of course I love what they do and, and they have an amazing, incredible fan education program, which I think is in fact, so important.
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's so important and I'm going to be a bit controversial in here because I'm going to quote an example. I'm going to quote you the NBA. The NBA is like that and it's not changing. You have people sitting at court side, you have people as soon as the game finish, they go there, they speak to like,
00:21:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
the players, and we are talking about, okay, he's not with us anymore, but we're talking about the likes of Kobe Bryant, Lucas, James, and you know all of the big, big, big people, Kaitlyn Clark now, and it's fine. It's fine. They go there. you know they Most of the time they expect them to give them, I don't know, sometimes the shoes as well.
00:22:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, many times you see the basketball player giving shoes, shoes, t-shirt vest, you know, the little thing that they have in their head, whatever. It doesn't really matter. Sometimes they get the ball. It doesn't really matter. I think that's the difference is the fun education.
00:22:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's like football pun in some way. They think like they own the players, thelis the players, the male players stopped doing that because people go crazy. I mean, you see sometimes video of like big players like, you know, Messi, Ronaldo, et cetera, with a lot of bodyguards around and still people trying to go there just to get like, just to touch them, just to get a little selfie, just to get,
00:23:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know that sort of thing it's like i don't know why it's like that but it's like football fun i think we still need more education in that so i don't i'm not quite sure stopping it's it would solve the problem. Yes, of course, it will protect the players. And I agree with that, but it's not going to stop the problem. The problem is, and I highlight it again, fun education. I mean, one of the reasons why you also I was so adamant and I feel very privileged to actually work at Kiki Out is because fun education for me is key in every single topic. It could be discrimination. It could be behavior. It could, you know,
00:23:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it, fun education.
00:23:46
Nat
And I think that is where I think that she like, I didn't think about that, to be honest with you. And I, I believe what you just said, actually, it's 100% correct. But then the challenge is how you can educate all the fans, you know, that is another level of the challenge. ah But I think players need to be recognized as they are not just players they are not there because you pay a ticket and then so they owe you something they owe you the way you think football should be they owe you the the availability there should be i I honestly I think that you need ah you need a bit of both so I think probably the first thing that that's why the first thing is I thought was like they need to stop that because that is the immediate
00:24:32
Nat
is a little bit the patch, you know, you put the patch. so But then I agree with you, it's like that could shouldn't be the last solution because there is a ah miss out by both of them, by both from the players and by both ah from the fandom.
00:24:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
For sure. For sure.
00:24:47
Nat
But I think we are going into, as you said, the fact that people go crazy, that they might need to have six or so ah or more bodyguards just to breathe, that is ah absolutely ah the afternoon I don't know I shouldn't say anything because I met one of the lionesses by chance on a tube with her boyfriend and she was literally ah one one almost one inch out of my nose and the first thing I thought is like I just fake I don't recognize her because it's a tube is a very compact place there are so many people and I'm not gonna say anything that could
00:25:24
Nat
react like people ah get into the into some state of mind that they wanna just have a picture because you have a picture so you recognize someone and blah, blah, blah, you know? So, and I saw her being very nervous. So I just left it and I thought, whoa, if she come if she jumps on the twobe from out of the tube where I jump, I'm gonna talk to her. But it was a ah very compact place and I was conscious of her. But i do that is me. But I know that probably somebody else would have been like,
00:25:53
Nat
oh my god you are blah blah blah you know and yeah but that is me with every celebrity unfortunately that's why I don't have a picture with almost anyone but that's another topic for another day maybe
00:26:06
Nat
Here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Then Kaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ams and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you are ready to tell your story, check out the link at the show description to learn more about then Kaster.
00:26:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, and welcome back. We are here.
Barcelona's Shocking Defeat
00:26:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're having a bit of a technical issue tonight. So I'm not sure if Natalie, Natasha, sorry. Why am I saying Natalie? Sorry. Natasha, welcome back or not. But anyway, we only have a couple of minutes. So I'm going to wrap it up. um What we wanted to chat about was and what happened at Barcelona this weekend. So for contest,
00:27:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Barcelona actually lost their first game after, believe it or not. I mean, and we were talking about Chelsea before with like a certain amount of 21 unbeaten. Barcelona was 46 match unbeaten. That's 46. That is incredible. But I think the most incredible thing from my point of view at least is the fact that They were beaten by a team that is second from the bottom, finding fighting in his 15th in their league and his Levante. And it's just one of those things that you tell someone and they go like, what do you mean? And he's like, yeah, that is exactly what happened. ah So yeah, a very, very, very incredible a result. I think everybody was shocked. They lost 2-1. Yeah.
00:28:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, 30 first time in 46 game in La Liga. And I don't know, not, not are you back? She's not. Okay, ah and then Nat and I were saying that we think most likely that's to do with the fact that Kira's left.
00:28:12
Nat
I am and I can just say.
00:28:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you can laugh about it, but this is exactly how I feel.
Kira's Role in Barcelona's Success
00:28:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Actually, this goes out to my friend, Ro. Ro, if you are listening, hear me out. You said to me that you think Kira is actually a player that a lot of people rate, but you really don't get how You know why why she rated like that and why she's so important. I think the fact that Barcelona lost to Keira and that's the first time they're losing in 46 games proves exactly my point and not um not as much your point.
00:28:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
But anyway, I think that's all we have time for today. I'm so sorry, guys, that I've lost not halfway through. And i we look forward to welcoming you back to the next episode of be Beyond the Pitch. And ciao ciao.
00:29:14
Nat
Now! ah