Women's Football Weekly: Lionesses squad & the relegation battle
Mar 25, 2025
auto_awesome
The discussion kicks off with excitement over the Lionesses' squad announcement for the upcoming Nations League matches, including a first call-up for Maisie Symonds. Ellen White shares insights on seizing opportunities when called to play for England. The team dives into the intense WSL relegation battle, focusing on Aston Villa and Crystal Palace's struggles. They also dissect Chelsea's recent win against Manchester City and highlight key players’ impacts. The emotional and mental challenges faced by players navigating their roles are thoughtfully explored.
The Lionesses' squad announcement highlights the importance of managing injuries and integrating younger talent like Maisie Simons into the team.
The intense rivalry between Chelsea and Manchester City underscores the competitive nature of women's football, influencing both league and Champions League outcomes.
Deep dives
Lionesses Squad Announcement Highlights
The recent announcement of the Lionesses' squad to face Belgium features significant inclusions, such as Fran Kirby's return and Maisie Simons' first call-up. Kirby's experience and vision on the field are seen as vital assets, especially given the injuries affecting key players like Georgia Stanway and Alex Greenwood. Simons' impressive performance with the under-23s at Brighton showcases the pathway for younger talents to enter the senior team, reflecting the growth and potential within the club. This reinforces the ongoing commitment to scouting and developing talent within women's football as part of a broader strategy.
Injuries and Team Dynamics
Injuries to critical players are a recurring challenge for the Lionesses, prompting the need for managerial adaptability in selecting the squad. Serena Vigman acknowledges that while injuries are part of the sport, they present a unique set of challenges as international competition approaches, particularly with the Euros on the horizon. The coach expresses cautious optimism about her players' recovery timelines, highlighting the necessity for game experience to hone decision-making and team chemistry. This situation underscores the physical demands placed on players at the elite level and raises questions about how teams maintain performance amidst injury concerns.
Chelsea City's Competitive Rivalry
The competition between Chelsea and Manchester City continues to grow in intensity, especially following their recent encounters in the league and Champions League. Chelsea suffered their first defeat of the season against City, a result fueled by City's heightened physicality and strategic execution. Players like Vivianne Miedema showcased their skills by contributing significantly to City's performance, demonstrating the importance of individual talent in a team sport. This rivalry not only heightens the stakes for upcoming fixtures but also adds layers of drama as both teams vie for dominance in multiple competitions.
Relegation Battle Insights
As the relegation battle unfolds in the WSL, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are positioned in a tense competition for survival. Villa, despite possessing a strong squad, has struggled with consistency, leading to mounting pressure to secure vital points in their upcoming matches. In contrast, Palace faces an upcoming schedule filled with challenging opponents that could hinder their chances of escaping the relegation zone. The mental toll experienced by teams in such precarious positions highlights the psychological challenges involved in maintaining performance under pressure as they fight to stay in the league.
Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines react to England manager Sarina Wiegman’s latest squad to face Belgium in their Nations League double header. Fran Kirby returns while Brighton’s Maisie Symonds gets her first senior call-up.
Ellen gives an insight into how you need to take your opportunity when you get the England call and Jen also shares what it’s like when you aren’t playing as much for your country.
The team talk Chelsea and Manchester City as the two sides head into their fourth and final meeting with Chelsea taking a last minute victory at the weekend. The bottom of the table is tightening up with Aston Villa and Crystal Palace battling it out to stay in the WSL. Jen and Ellen give their opinion on who they think will stay up.
00:20 Intro
01:45 England squad & Sarina Wiegman
06:20 Maisie Symonds call up
08:10 Jen & Ellen experiences being dropped
11:11 Nikita Parris
20:30 Champions League
29:25 Relegation
BBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries this week:
Wed 2000 Arsenal v Real Madrid in UEFA Women’s Champions League
Thu 2000 Chelsea v Man City in UEFA Women’s Champions League
PROMO CLIPS
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode