Category: Women’s Football

Bethany Balcer – Player Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Masterclasses, Most Recent, NWSL, Player Analysis, Striker, Women's Football

Out of all the 'Target Women' around, Bethany Balcer might be one of the very best in the modern game. Frequently used as an outlet for progressive passes, Balcer's back-to-goal incisiveness remains a threatening endeavour for her team, and one that is frequently useful in advancing OL Reign up the pitch. But now, after the arrival of Jordyn Huitema, Balcer's even upped her scoring game, ensuring Huitema has very little room to work with in stealing a spot in the squad at the start of her Reign career. Here is an analysis of Bethany Balcer's exceptional hold-up play, and the vast array of traits that make her one of the best forwards in the NWSL.

Why the technical, tactical, physical and psychological sides of football are deeply intertwined

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, German Bundesliga, Masterclasses, Most Recent, NWSL, Premier League, Sport Psychology

The game is deeply rooted in all five aspects of the common coaching model, and in fact, every decision a player makes boils down to all five elements simultaneously. Here's why the technical, tactical, physical and psychological aspects of football are all deeply intertwined.

A short corner routine that will guarantee goals (ft. KC Current)

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Masterclasses, Match Analysis, Most Recent, NWSL, Women's Football

While brilliant, this set-piece won't work 100% of the time. But if your team can properly assess a time to play a short corner like this (such as having a player unmarked at the top of the box) and capitalize on that opportunity, this corner kick routine courtesy of Kansas City may just guarantee you goals.

Why Jordyn Huitema is perfect for OL Reign

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Most Recent, NWSL, Player Analysis, Recruitment & Scouting, Striker, Winger, Women's Football

After excelling for PSG in France, Canadian youngster Jordyn Huitema appears to be days away from making a return to North America, where she will ply her trade as an important member of OL Reign's attack. News broke on Thursday thanks to The Athletic's Meg Linehan, following Reign's recent signings of veteran Tobin Heath and Arsenal's Kim Little on loan. Expected to be more of a long-term signing to improve upon Reign's attacking horizons, Jordyn Huitema provides the perfect mix of pace and pizzazz to Laura Harvey's team. Here is why Jordyn Huitema could be set to ignite the NWSL on fire.

Homophobia in football, and the lack of openly gay footballers

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Most Recent, Women's Football, World Football

In October 2021, Australian footballer Josh Cavallo came out as gay. Cavallo became the first openly gay footballer since February 2013, when Columbus Crew's Robbie Rogers came out. After the American's retirement in 2017, the men's football scene was without an open member of the LGBTQ+ community for four years. Cavallo's bravery paved the way for 17-year-old Jake Daniels, a Blackpool youth product who came out as gay in May 2022. With hundreds of thousands of professional players worldwide, the fact of the matter remains that more LGBTQ+ members of the footballing community remain in the closet, unwilling to come out.

Washington Spirit 1-1 Chicago Red Stars – Match Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Match Analysis, Most Recent, NWSL, Women's Football, World Football

As often happens in a tightly contested affair, Washington Spirit's encounter with the Chicago Red Stars saw one team outperform the other in the attacking third, and the other come out in wonderfully matching that intensity in the defensive third. Washington should have claimed victory, having hit the bar twice and dominating much of the play, but Chicago held their own, accumulating chances to put the game to bed themselves.

Why there’s an abnormal amount of centre-backs taking set-pieces in the NWSL

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Centre Backs, Most Recent, NWSL, Player Analysis, Women's Football

In quite fantastic fashion, there is an abnormal representation of centre-halves on set-piece duties. Normally associated with banging in the goals from free kicks and corners, several NWSL teams instead have one of their centre-backs as a key taker of set-pieces. This begs the question we should always be asking in analysis - and that is...why?