Tag: Women’s Football

Emma Hayes – Chelsea – Tactical Analysis (2022-23)

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Managers, Masterclasses, Team Analysis, Women's Football

Over the past decade, few managers in the world of football have achieved more than Emma Hayes at Chelsea. Having now won the FA Cup and WSL title in back to back seasons with the Blues, the Chelsea legend will now have her eyes on the greatest prize of all in club football - the UEFA Champions League. Fortunately for her, Chelsea are in the form of their lives at the moment, and currently boast what is possibly the greatest squad they've ever had. The likes of Lyon and Barcelona will be difficult to beat, but Chelsea are in good shape to go this season with a near unbeaten record, and challenge for that elusive trophy once and for all. Here is our analysis of Emma Hayes' Chelsea in 2022-23.

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Kansas City Current – Tactical Analysis – 2022

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

Kansas City Current have shocked the NWSL in 2022, going on an incredible run of form at the end of the season to win or draw 17 of their last 20 games, and secure a spot in the playoffs where they now await the Final. Along the way, Matthew Potter has played some of the most tactically flexible football in the division, creating a team of workhorses ready to fight each and every day for the betterment of the team. They've not only played some of the best football this season, but have done so with one of the lowest budgets, and arguably the least amount of star power in their ranks.

Game of Numbers #6 – Lucy Bronze as a Floating 8

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Game of Numbers, Masterclasses, Match Analysis, Player Analysis, Premier League, Women's Football

FC Barcelona Femení had a slow start to their first match of the season, initially struggling to find avenues forward in Tenerife's 5-4-1 defensive block. UD Granadilla Tenerife compacted the lines both vertically and horizontally to stunt Barcelona's progress forward, but in an abnormally high-line that spurred Giráldez's team to hit long passes over the top. They were caught offside from these attempts time and time again, particularly in their quest to spray in behind for Geyse's speed. But then, everything changed.

Keira Walsh – Player Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Central Midfield, Coach Education, Defensive Midfield, Masterclasses, Most Recent, Player Analysis, Player Education, Sport Psychology, Women's Football

Keira Walsh is brilliant. You know it. I know it. And thanks to the Women's European Championships, the whole world knows it too. In today's masterclass, I dissect that brilliance in a long-form Player Analysis, helping you and I come to a greater understanding of how you too can play (or coach) with the brilliance of Keira Walsh. Here is our analysis.

England 4-0 Sweden – UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 – Match Analysis

by Charlie Ellis, posted in Match Analysis, Most Recent, Women's Football

Sweden might be the second best nation in the world on FIFA World Rankings, but on the pitch, they were easily second best in Tuesday night's semi-final. England on the other hand performed admirably and with a clinical verve, even if some unwanted discrepancies crept into their performance. In the end, Sarina Wiegman's team produced the goods when required, and now move onto the final with the chance to lift the country's first ever senior European Championships title, at their home ground, Wembley. Unfortunately for the Swedes, their worst showing of the tournament sends them home without a prayer; however, their attention can now be aimed towards a place at the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

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 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?

Angel City FC 2-1 North Carolina Courage – Match Analysis

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

The NWSL is back! This season, TheMastermindSite.com aims to bring more coverage to the NWSL and the women's game, including tactical analyses, player profiles, and as much as we can pull off within the scope of all the other exciting football around. So with that, let's kick off the NWSL season in style, with our match analysis of the very first fixture in this league for Angel City FC, as they secured a fashionable win over the NC Courage.

Why Handball is Ruining the Game

by Rhys Desmond, posted in World Football

The handball rule in football has long been one of the most debated rules in the increasingly less beautiful game. The rule has been broken for decades, and each year attempts to fix the law only seem to make it more dubious. This year in the Premier League (2020-21), it seems as though the law has changed to enforce a policy in which any time the ball strikes the arm, and the arm is away from the body at all, it's going to be called as a handball. Unfortunately, this is the dumbest thing they could have done to try and solve the handball mysteries of seasons past, and has no regard whatsoever for the biomechanics of how footballers move on the pitch. Here are a few reasons why the law needs to change for good and why handball is currently ruining the game for everyone.

32 Greatest Canadian Women’s National Team Players of All Time

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Podcast, Women's Football, World Football

Rhys is joined by Canada Soccer expert Sam the Man to discuss the 32 greatest players to ever play for the Canadian Women's National Soccer Team. For the first time ever, the winner is declared before the show even begins, but Rhys and Sam still go through the bracket to see how everything will play out. Players discussed include the likes of the illustrious Diana Matheson, Sophie Schmidt, Charmaine Hooper and of course, the one and only, all-time great Christine Sinclair.

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 – Team of the Tournament

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

Despite much of the attention of the tournament surrounding VAR, the FIFA Women's World Cup in France was a large success and saw record viewing audiences around the world. The Americans ultimately came out victorious for the fourth time in their history but they weren't the only nation to shine at this summer's tournament. Here … Continue reading FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 – Team of the Tournament