I played against Fulham Deaf last year and i believe some of those may have been in the GB team. The ref has to wave a flag as oppose to blow his whistle.

I hope to catch the second half of Sundays game.

Bit cheeky that the season ticket price has stayed the same, i thought it only doubled when we became champions of Europe which we are no longer?

Anyone catching the olympics the womens footie is good no? x

You are greedy 20 pounds averages it like 1.70 £ a game not bad.
I actually thought it would go to 30.
I have seen some highlights of the olympics it's good but not a lof of goals compared to the last WC, no 11-0

Id have to go to nine games to start making the season ticket worth while and while the girls kick off on a Sunday at the same time as i do and have their midweek fixtures on my training nights i really dont see myself attending that many games. As for this sunday training for me is at one o clock

Im prefering the closer score lines of the olympics, the goal keeping is better even if the refs are a bit dodgy and the USA goals yesterday were out of this world! x

Be careful kick-off is at 1 pm on Sunday iso 2 pm.

Team news

Out : Julie Fleeting (foot injury) Katie Chapman ( not back in training ), Faye White, Rachel Yankey

Probable team Sunday :

GK : Byrne
RB : Scott
CB :Basset
CB : Tracy
LB : Flaherty
CM : Ludlow
CM :Grant
RW: Carney
LW : Little or Bird
AM : Smith
CF : Davison

Subs from Spencer Fahey Ross Bird or Little

In :

Laura Basset
Niamh Fahey
Nathalie Ross
Danii Bird

Out :
Lianne Sanderson
Anita Asante
Mary Phillip

Could leave to the WPS
Kelly Smith
Alex Scott
Karen Carney

sorry ....what is the WPS .....?

it's the new professional League in the USA that starts April 2009.
A few England players have been approached to be part of it sadly and some of those are Arsenal players.
There is a draft on the 25th of September for the main international players and second draft middle october, so that by mid october we will know who will be leaving and who will be staying.

those damn yanks .......that would be the end of Arsenal Ladies domination if all three you mentioned left .

If that happens it will end up being an transitional year.

None of those will leave, unless Karen has finished at Loughbrough? x

Yes she has apparently.
If no one leaves, a quadruple season could be on the card again if the defence gets back to normal business ie not conceding and defending as a unit.

Well Shlj as we discussed last night you will end being wrong on who you say is going and I will be proved right looking forward to receiving my £1

You'll have to come and get it

i should know the way to Borehamwood by now ...but i think i`ll take my brothers sat nav just in case ...

So you agree that you are wrong then.

We'll have to wait unitl january except if they officially declare they won't go.

Arsenal Ladies 4 Blackburn 0 ...a hatrick for Kelly Smith and a goal for captain Jayne Ludlow ....easy peasy win....

a few pictures from the games









Kelly Smith about to get her hatrick ..and 4-0 to Arsenal Ladies



the ball is in the net and Kelly Smith is away celebrating while the Blacburn keeper can only look at her defence in despair ...



a run from our winger ends with ....wait for it ...



yes ...a Blacburn girl lying on the pitch in need of treatment ...she was fine though ...



new signing Dani Bird tries a bit of trickery



Dani Bird just loses out with the Blacburn keeper after a run on goal ..



Karen Carney down the left and about to get a cross in on goal ....



Karen Carney gets Rachel Yankey to keep an eye on her daughter while getting changed ..now does she have her mums talent on the ball ..

The starting line-up did not show any surprise. Kim Little being preferred to Danielle Bird. Tactically it was a change from the pre-season games and the community shield.
Kelly played center forward, Kim behind her with Karen and Gemma on the wings. That way one of the problem encountered earlier in the season was solved. At least some movement including the central forward player bringing on other player was on the card.
The only downside being loads of pressure is put on young Kim’s shoulder as playmaker is a very exposed position. She did very well indeed but for a 15 minutes period and it shows how talented she is.

In defense, they switched Basset and Tracy which meant Basset alongside Flaherty on the left and Tracy with Scott on the right. Flaherty was a lot more secured with a strong defender like Basset next to her. That was the Community Shield defensive weakness solved as well.

Problem number three was the midfield positioning as there was too much space between lines and a gap between the back four and midfield. Well Ciara Grant was despatched as the holding midfield with Jayne Ludlow able to roam and do her usual forwards runs.

We were lucky to witness two goal of the season contenders : One excellent chip from Kelly from 25 yards that had quality written all over it. She saw the advancing goalkeeper from a through ball and put it perfectly. Jayne Ludlow hit a fantastic indirect volley with her left foot from at least 30 yards. Blackburn did threaten a few times , but Emma was well alert to repel anything that came to her.

Overall an excellent start to the season, 4 goals a clean sheet loads of chances created and maybe a temporary solution to Fleeting’s absence by deploying Kelly up front instead of Gemma as the experiment did not really work.

Byrne
Scott Tracy Basset Flaherty ( Pond 75)
Grant ( Bird 75) Ludlow Little
Davison Smith ( Fahey 80) Carney

Spot the forum admin on the pic