The wait is finally over, the new WSL is finally back. Tottenham welcomed London rivals West Ham to the Hive in the first game of the season. I have to say it feels very strange to not be in the stands watching a home game and it’s even stranger watching the game from home and not seeing a single fan in the stands.
Tottenham came into the match with a 100% record against West Ham in the WSL and started the game with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Spencer in goal. Neville at right back, Godfrey along with Harrop in the centre of defence and Worm at left back. Green and Percival filled the two positons in front of the back 4. Quinn, Graham and Addison played just behind lone striker Rianna Dean.
This staring 11 is quote close to my ideal staring 11 for Tottenham only I would have preferred to see Mikalsen in goal, Alanna in place of Percival, Shalina in defence with Davison in place of Graham.
West Ham lined up in a 4-3-3 with Arnold in goal. Pancho at right back Vetterlein, Flaherty in the centre of defence with Fisk at left back. Cho, Dali, Svitková made up the defence with Leon, Kiernan and Lehmann making up the front 3.
Tottenham came into this match with a fantastic record against West Ham beating the east Londoners 3 times last season with Rianna Dean scoring 4 goals in 3 matches for Tottenham meaning Matt Beard’s West Ham would have to find a new plan to contain Rianna Dean and find a way to finally take some points away from Tottenham.
The game started off quite even with both midfield’s battling for possession. West Ham started the game by passing the ball from side to side to try to tire out the Tottenham forwards. It took Tottenham 10 minutes to create their first chance of the game with Rianna Dean intercepting a ball on the edge of the West Ham box but blasted her shot over the bar untroubling Arnold in goal. Two minutes later Tottenham were again threatening the West Ham goal with Angela Addison running down the left wing, twisting and turning but unfortunately her shot went straight at Arnold with little power behind it. A minute later Tottenham again were at it this time Kit Graham hit the crossbar with a header after a wonderful Siri Worm cross from her run down the left wing. Tottenham just kept knocking on the West Ham door and on the 16th minute new captain Josie Green intercepted a ball in the midfield, made a fantastic run before finding Kit Graham who thunderous shot from outside of the box again hit the bar.
One has to worry about all the missed opportunities as that can be the differance between surviving and being religated. I said last season that the one thing missing from Tottenham’s game was that they need to stop missing so many opportunities and today it seemed that the ball just didn’t want to go in for Tottenham. West Ham were very physical in midfield with Josie Green on the end of many hard tackles especially in the 29th minute where a challenge by Dali left Green grounded for a long time stopping play while Josie received treatment. West Ham got their first real chance in the 33rd minute when Kenza Dali’s shot from the left just missed Becky Spencers right hand post. It would have been cruel had West ham taken the lead after Tottenham’s dominance but thats what happens when you do not take your chances. The 36th minute saw what could have been a penality in favour of West Ham with what looked like Adriana Leon being pulled down inside the box but referee Rebecca Welch was not interested and let play continue. The rest of the half ended how it began with both midfields fighting for procession and West Ham finishing slightly on top.
The 2nd half saw Tottenham start the stronger of the two and the 52nd minute saw Angela Addison cut through the West Ham defence but her shot was turned away for a corner by MacKenzie Arnold. Lucy Quinn took the corner which was headed by Grace Fisk into her own goal giving Tottenham a well deserved lead. It was a shame that after the fantastic performance our Lilywhites had put in for almost 55 minutes the reward was an own goal but they all count and the main thing is earning the 3 points. The 54th minute saw Gemma Davison and Rachel Williams come on for Addison and Quinn who I felt both had a good game but it is a long season with a tough away game to Everton next Sunday so we need all players well rested and fit. Two minutes later West Ham equalised with their best opportunity of the game with a fantastic run down the left wing by Adriana Leon who’s shot flew from just inside of the box into Spencers top left hand corner.
The 67th minute saw the introduction of Alanna Kennedy and Lucia Leon in place of Neville and Dean. The rest of the half again seemed to be stuck in a battle of the midfields with very few opportunites for either team. The 77th minute saw Davison again expose the West Ham left wing but unfortunately her shot went just wide of Arnold’s left hand post. From around the 84th minute West Ham again looked to finish the half the strongest out of the two teams winning most of the procession in the middle of the park and in the 5th minute of injury time West Ham substitute Ruby Grant had a chance to win it for the visitors at the death but put her shot wide of Rebecca Spencer’s right hand post from 8 yards out before Rebecca Welch called an end to the game seeing the First London derby of the season ending in a 1-1 draw.
Player Of The Match.
I feel every Tottenham player gave everything today and it will take time for the players to get back into their flow but I feel the player of the match was deserved by new captain Josie Green.
Josie was fundamental in Tottenham’s midfield dominating so much in the first half and was on the end on many tough tackles by the West Ham midfielders but no matter how many times she was fouled and knocked down she got up and demonstrated her professionalism and kept fighting for the team.
Post Match Analysis.
After so much possession, hitting the bar twice and a total of at least 5 clear chances in the first 30 minutes to clearly win the game, a 1-1 draw was a disappointing end to the game. Sometimes you have one of those days where nothing goes your way and today seemed like one of those days for Tottenham and Rianna Dean who have come out on top in all 3 meetings with West Ham last season. We can’t be too critical of the team as we need to remember that this was Tottenham’s first competitive match in 6 months so we need to expect that it will take our Lilywhites a bit of time to get back into the swing of things. Overall we saw flashes of what Tottenham is capable of especially in the first half but made hard work of it in the 2nd half and once again proved you must take advantage of all chances when they come to you. We must also remember that Tottenham made 5 substitutes and this is bound to disrupt the rhythm and flow that Tottenham demonstrated in the first half after such a long hiatus.
Like last season small tweaks need to be made and I’m sure once more games pass the players will find their form again. I was very impressed with Rachel Williams when she came on and will be a fantastic player to have as a back up. It was a shame that we didn’t get to see all of the new signings such as Shalina Zadorsky but it is a long season with 2 FA cups and a whole new campaign ahead but right now it’s about finding the right starting 11 that complement one another and that can get the results that we all know our Lilywhites can achieve and it won’t be long until our Lilywhites are back to winning ways. It was a shame that the only goal to our name today was an own goal but that’s how thing’s go at times. The team must learn from today and work hard on improving before taking on Everton next week.
Contract extension.
If the news of the return of the WSL wasn’t exciting enough this week Tottenham announced that Karen Hills and Juan Carlos Amoros had signed contract extensions keeping the duo at the club until 2022.
Karen has been at the club since 2007 with Juan joining Tottenham in 2011. The contract extensions are well deserved as Juan and Karen have been fundamental in the rise and growth of Tottenham Hotspur Women winning the Ryman’s Women’s Cup and FA Women’s Premier League Cup in 2015-16, 2016-17, FA Womens Premier League Southern Division in 2016-17, the FA Women’s Premier League playoff in 2016-17 earning Tottenham promotion to the WSL 2 and finally in 2018-19 finishing runners up in the Championship earning Tottenham their first ever promotion to the top flight where Tottenham finished a respectable 7th and reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup for the first time. A full article with Karen and Juan can be read at https://bit.ly/320Y0if.
Skywalk opens.
Tottenham’s Dare Skywalk opened this week with many celebrities being invited to visit the attraction. Among those to visit the attraction were our Tottenham Women’s Team.
If you are interested in visiting the Dare Skywalk you can do so but purchasing tickets at https://bit.ly/2Z5HlYY with tickets starting at £39.60 for adult members.
New Season, New Captain.
This week Tottenham also announced a new club captain. After the retirement of legend Jenna Schillaci it was a given that a new club captain would have to be announced and after standing in most of last season it came as no surprise that vice captain Josie Green was chosen as the new Tottenham Women’s captain which we are happy for and seeing how Josie stepped up to lead the team the majority of last season we welcome this appointment and wish Josie the best of luck as captain. A full club statement can be read over at https://bit.ly/2QV7lSv.
League Cup Draw
This week also saw the draw for the Continental Cup take place which saw our Lilywhites drawn into group B alongside Chelsea, Arsenal and the London Lionesses.
2020-21 Full League Schedule.
On Friday September 4th the Football Association announced the full 2020-21 schedule.
Tottenham now face Everton away next Sunday before the international break. The match can be watched for free on the FA Player via the browser or via the app. More Information can be found at https://faplayer.thefa.com/home/all.
Women's Soccer Fans 