Southampton FC Women

[Master Bates]

[Saint_clark]

4 points off top with two games left - although if Palace win their game it's 6 points. Pretty sure it's mathematically impossible to go up now as Sunderland and palace play each other on the final day. 

One promotion spot, once again the women's game has some bullshit rules around promotion and relegation. Should be a playoff between 2nd and 5th at least.

Edited 31 March, 2024 by Saint_clark

[Dr Who?]

The whole women’s structure is taking time to filter through, but it is getting there. 

Frustratingly there are 1 place each for the northern national and southern national now rather than a play off for the 2 winners for one place. Felt sorry for Wolves a couple of years ago. Should be playoffs as well in the championship, and the northern & southern national league.  But as I say it will get there. 

Pompey are coming up with Newcastle, so we get a derby, but Newcastle I feel will steamroller into the Super League. But fair play in our second season only being a couple/3 wins off. 👍

[Fabrice Fernandes no.1 fan]

On 31/03/2024 at 19:02, Dr Who? said:

The whole women’s structure is taking time to filter through, but it is getting there. 

Frustratingly there are 1 place each for the northern national and southern national now rather than a play off for the 2 winners for one place. Felt sorry for Wolves a couple of years ago. Should be playoffs as well in the championship, and the northern & southern national league.  But as I say it will get there. 

Pompey are coming up with Newcastle, so we get a derby, but Newcastle I feel will steamroller into the Super League. But fair play in our second season only being a couple/3 wins off. 👍

It probably is time the whole system had a bit of an overhaul. Expand the WSL to a few more teams, and boost the Championship too, for professional setups there aren't actually very many games across the season, and the pyramid as a whole would improve.

[Ted Bates Statue]

I think it might not be the worst thing to allow Saints to consolidate in this division. Reading were the most recent team to get relegated from the WSL and they were way off the pace, as are Bristol City this season. Until the worst team in the WSL can get closer to the rest of their peers, I can see the argument for not expanding the promotion/relegation slots just yet.

[Turkish]

Kayla Rendell earns first England senior call-up | Southampton FC Official Site

Good news for Kayla here. Surprised no one else mentioned this what with it being the first international call up the Saints ladies has had since it was formed. Big news.

Edited 4 April, 2024 by Turkish

[Master Bates]

Congratulations Kayla!

[Fabrice Fernandes no.1 fan]

42 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Kayla Rendell earns first England senior call-up | Southampton FC Official Site

Good news for Kayla here. Surprised no one else mentioned this what with it being the first international call up the Saints ladies has had since it was formed. Big news.

I imagine she'll be off next season to a WSL team, along with Pike. If the men's team don't get promoted we might find the two teams in the same position where the obvious top players are picked off and we're left rebuilding again.

[Master Bates]

[Master Bates]

Just now, Fabrice Fernandes no.1 fan said:

I imagine she'll be off next season to a WSL team, along with Pike. If the men's team don't get promoted we might find the two teams in the same position where the obvious top players are picked off and we're left rebuilding again.

Can't see Rendell leaving.

[Saint_clark]

6 hours ago, Master Bates said:

Can't see Rendell leaving.

Any reason why? 

 

Well deserved call up, it was obvious last season that she has the ability to play in the WSL. Hopefully it's with Saints. 

[Master Bates]

38 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Any reason why? 

 

Well deserved call up, it was obvious last season that she has the ability to play in the WSL. Hopefully it's with Saints. 

No particular reason, just cant see her going not this summer.

[Saint_clark]

20 hours ago, Master Bates said:

No particular reason, just cant see her going not this summer.

I suppose the money in the women's game doesn't make moving away such an easy choice.

[Master Bates]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/apr/10/womens-football-in-england-enters-newco-era-amid-promise-and-risk

[Master Bates]

...

Edited 13 April, 2024 by Master Bates

[Master Bates]

...

Edited 13 April, 2024 by Master Bates

[Barsiem]

Saints Women showing the men how it's done by scoring a second goal whilst in the ascendancy today!  2-0 against London City so far.  30 mins in

[Master Bates]

[John Boy Saint]

Pretty straightforward game - ref was in the right job with the demeanour of the kid no one liked at school. 😁. 
Just a shame this is a one team up league 2nd place play off against 2nd bottom of the WSL would add some spice because the Championship could get stagnant with more good teams in it.

 

 

[Master Bates]

[Master Bates]

U21s reach the Final.

 

 

[Ted Bates Statue]

 

If this is the result of finishing 4th in the Championship, Russell Martin needs to be careful or he could end up as our next director of football

[Gingeletiss]

Perhaps she is the new director of football!

[Barsiem]

She's done a great job for us over the years.  Hope the new role is her choice rather than the clubs

[Barry Horne]

On 30/04/2024 at 09:41, Barsiem said:

She's done a great job for us over the years.  Hope the new role is her choice rather than the clubs

Talking with some in the know, the team got where they were because of the quality of the players not her, lot's of discontent amongst the players as training was bad and no tactics or plan. 

[Barsiem]

6 hours ago, Barry Horne said:

Talking with some in the know, the team got where they were because of the quality of the players not her, lot's of discontent amongst the players as training was bad and no tactics or plan. 

Shame to hear that and I suppose time will tell next season if we improve dramatically.  She won the double in the third tier and kept us well within the top half the last couple of years so she did a great job imo

[Master Bates]

Wow

 

[Paul Chuckle]

I only really keep an eye on the women's team results so couldn't tell you who was good or not, but from all the clubs posts on social media I always thought Laura Rafferty was one of our best players?

[Saint_clark]

2 hours ago, Paul Chuckle said:

I only really keep an eye on the women's team results so couldn't tell you who was good or not, but from all the clubs posts on social media I always thought Laura Rafferty was one of our best players?

She was signed a league below so I guess she just didn't progress as well as they'd hoped. 

[ChrisPY]

On 06/06/2024 at 11:49, Saint_clark said:

She was signed a league below so I guess she just didn't progress as well as they'd hoped. 

Or, we wanted to keep her but things aren’t all happy behind the scenes so the player rejected our offer.

[Saint_clark]

2 hours ago, ChrisPY said:

Or, we wanted to keep her but things aren’t all happy behind the scenes so the player rejected our offer.

Of course, the wheels are falling off.

[ChrisPY]

7 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

Of course, the wheels are falling off.

Maybe not that extreme but my post wasn’t completely speculative. There’s a post above that alludes to similar.

[Dr Who?]

I think anyone who lets their contract run out wants to leave the club. There have been offers to extend so not released in the case of Rafferty as she was a regular. Of course she may just want to give it all up, the women’s game is completely different. 

[Saint_clark]

On 09/06/2024 at 21:37, Dr Who? said:

I think anyone who lets their contract run out wants to leave the club. There have been offers to extend so not released in the case of Rafferty as she was a regular. Of course she may just want to give it all up, the women’s game is completely different. 

Yeah, women do drop out of the game randomly when they realise they only have a few more years of a decent salary left so they should probably get a degree and/or start a good career soon or be lagging behind.

Caitlin Morris was our best player a few years back but dropped out when we went full time professional because it clashed with her other ambitions.

Edited 11 June, 2024 by Saint_clark

[Fabrice Fernandes no.1 fan]

5 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

Yeah, women do drop out of the game randomly when they realise they only have a few more years of a decent salary left so they should probably get a degree and/or start a good career soon or be lagging behind.

Caitlin Morris was our best player a few years back but dropped out when we went full time professional because it clashed with her other ambitions.

Ella Pusey is the same, was banging in goals but now works as a chiropractor. 

Rafferty is an interesting one, because she has WSL experience from before joining us but really struggled with injuries. She seems back to her best now, so wonder if a better contract offer has come in. She was playing international football last week so doesn't seem to be retiring!

[stevegrant]

2 hours ago, Fabrice Fernandes no.1 fan said:

Ella Pusey is the same, was banging in goals but now works as a chiropractor. 

Rafferty is an interesting one, because she has WSL experience from before joining us but really struggled with injuries. She seems back to her best now, so wonder if a better contract offer has come in. She was playing international football last week so doesn't seem to be retiring!

Seemingly now the full-time captain of Northern Ireland too, so yeah, inclined to agree she's not planning to retire any time soon.

[suewhistle]

1 hour ago, stevegrant said:

Seemingly now the full-time captain of Northern Ireland too, so yeah, inclined to agree she's not planning to retire any time soon.

I thought she was their best player at the Euros when I saw her at St Marys, although I accept any accusations of bias! Certainly had a higher level of fitness than the ones who played in the NI leagues.

I've heard of players resigning when teams go full time as the money on offer short term just doesn't make up for all the potential downsides.  It underlines that the difference in money does have a developmental impact to the game, particular towards the higher levels. It's a shame that there is no way to integrate 'amateur forms' into the game, although I suspect that Stevie Heighway playing for Liverpool whilst a student was getting plenty of 'boot money', but imagine getting back late from playing a hard game in the north to then have to go to do serious job in the morning.

The advantage of not being very good and having to pay to play is that I've never had to go further than the edge of Hampshire!

[goodymatt]

On 11/06/2024 at 15:05, stevegrant said:

Seemingly now the full-time captain of Northern Ireland too, so yeah, inclined to agree she's not planning to retire any time soon.

Signed for Rangers on a 2 year deal

[Tommy Mulgrew]

Welcome Rachel Rowe

https://fawslfulltime.co.uk/2024/06/14/former-rangers-midfielder-rowe-joins-southampton/

One out to Rangers, one in from Rangers

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/rowe-becomes-womens-first-summer-signing

Edited 14 June, 2024 by Tommy Mulgrew
added sfc tab

[striker]

On 02/05/2024 at 06:42, Barsiem said:

Shame to hear that and I suppose time will tell next season if we improve dramatically.  She won the double in the third tier and kept us well within the top half the last couple of years so she did a great job imo

Yeah I am with you. Her results are second to none in the womens game. I guess there will always be some unhappy people, but you can not argue with her success

[goodymatt]

Ella Morris the next to leave.

[Fabrice Fernandes no.1 fan]

3 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Ella Morris the next to leave.

She must have a WSL offer, she is a regular for England u21s and a Saints fan so can't see that she would leave otherwise.

[Tommy Mulgrew]

Morris is the second woman to leave this month because of a failure to agree terms in discussion over a new contract, with the club apparently wanting to keep them both.  Anyone know whether that is true, whether we are offering uncompetitive terms or whether it masks some underlying malaise?

[Nolan]

The championship is far too competitive to  only have one promotion spot.

Womens league structure needs to be revamped if they want to continue to expand the game. 

It's much easier for players to take a contact in the premier League than battle for that one spot.

[Saint_clark]

Seems like our squads being dismantled by poachers from above. Shame. That momentum will probably dry up now and we'll struggle to reach the WSL anytime soon if ever. 

[EBS1980]

17 hours ago, Tommy Mulgrew said:

Morris is the second woman to leave this month because of a failure to agree terms in discussion over a new contract, with the club apparently wanting to keep them both.  Anyone know whether that is true, whether we are offering uncompetitive terms or whether it masks some underlying malaise?

I’m sure it’s just the case of interest from PL sides and us not having the ability to offer that or a big wage to try and keep them. Judge it based on where the end up, if in the PL you know why. If it’s another Championship side then maybe it’s just a budget thing, but unlikely 

[Master Bates]

Hopefully Rendell stays, should do.

[Barry Horne]

On 22/06/2024 at 17:30, EBS1980 said:

I’m sure it’s just the case of interest from PL sides and us not having the ability to offer that or a big wage to try and keep them. Judge it based on where the end up, if in the PL you know why. If it’s another Championship side then maybe it’s just a budget thing, but unlikely 

Financials are competitive I believe, however respect is a 2 way thing

[Master Bates]

Unrest behind the scenes as already mentioned on here.

[Barry Horne]

Management team promoted beyond their capability and believing their own hype, no respect - actually more like disrespectful of players

Edited 23 June, 2024 by Barry Horne