Rachel Cohen
30th April 2025
With Spurs travelling to Leicester today, Robert Vilahamn’s pre-match press conference on Friday was focused on some of the problems his team has had – from goal scoring to finding a consistent starting eleven – and how Spurs might create more ‘magic moments’
Today Spurs face a resurgent and relatively free-scoring Leicester away (the Foxes have won their last three home games, racking up eight goals across three matches). Lose and it will be six WSL losses on the trot (seven in all competitions) and Tottenham would end the day below the Leicester, in tenth – potentially just a couple of points above the relegation scrap. Win and they could climb as high as seventh (depending on results elsewhere). Those are the tight margins in the league outside of the top four.
In his press conference on Friday, Tottenham manager Robert Vilahamn mused that ‘Losing games is not fun’ but insisted the team had played better against West Ham than they had the week before, highlighting the high level of possession and chance-creation in the first half.
At this point the biggest question remains however: can anyone other than Bethany England score? This is something I’ve written about previously, but after the team’s improved performance against West Ham as compared to Brighton, and racking up 14 shots (three on target) for an expected goal tally (xG) of 1.7, but nonetheless failing to score, the lack of a finisher has become even more glaring. With no imminent return for England this question is likely to make or break the rest of Spurs’ season.
Martha Thomas, Spurs’ second choice striker, has now not scored for over a year in the WSL and against West Ham the story was the same with four shots, one on target but no goals, before her substitution. In Friday’s press conference Vilahamn said that he retained faith with her and intended to continue to start her (ahead of Jessica Naz, who has also not been in the finishing form). He said of Thomas that she “is doing so much in and out of possession things that we need and I think she she’s so close to scoring now.”
In talking about Thomas – and the rest of the team’s inability to score, Vilahamn reflected on his past playing career. “I was a striker when I played and I had my bad moments, when I didn’t score for a long time and then I had my moments when I scored on everything. But one thing is that you need to practice and practice and practice and that’s what we try to do every training by finding ways to find the knack in training so you can do it in game. Then it’s about relationships, so you need to make sure you start playing with the players, building those relationships, and I think that’s been one of the struggles this year where we have had injuries and you know, perhaps nobody had really taken the chance to play a three games in a row and score goals. We have changed players, which she was not perfect for self-confidence, but that’s a part of the competition. Because if you don’t score for a few games, someone else is knocking on the door to get that one. It’s kind of a bad circle. Sometimes you don’t really nail those ones.”
Vilahamn has repeatedly emphasised the importance of forming relationships but this season we have seen a lot of rotation, with players moving in and out of the team and playing across different positions. Even at the back across the season so far Molly Bartrip has played alongside five different partners in central defence. Robert conceded that this has been an issue and not one that he had been able to fully resolve.
“Consistency and building relationships is what you want to have. And when you do that, then you can reach the next level of your dynamic in how you play and how you find these magic moments. If you don’t get the result or performance during a few games with that, you have players on the bench who knock on the door, wondering ‘when do I get the chance?’ And then it’s more like how many games can you give a player the chance before it’s actually unfair for the player who’s training very well to get the chance.”
“We have struggled to get consistency in the result, and you end up there: Okay, we give some new players the chance and let me see if we can build from there and if you don’t really get the straight up, of a few games in a row then you go back and forth because I think you need to compete to, to deserve to play more games. And then we had a few injuries on key players.”
Vilahamn summed up the problem as “Sometimes it’s a mixture of the performance and it’s a mixture of perhaps I should give them more patience sometimes, but it’s really hard to find the balance. …It’s not so easy to find the right balance and magic there. But I think it’s a mixture of that you want consistency in the starting eleven and you want the result with it because then it’s easier to accept that they are playing more and more games.”
The manager was however positive about the midfield three that had started last game and had been the first choice earlier in the season (Eveliina Summanen, Drew Spence and Maite Oroz) “I think there was some magic moments the first half between those three. So they definitely are on a high level. …and they definitely make us look good when we play.” He also confirmed that the half-time substitution of Oroz (whose first half passing accuracy was in the high-90s) for Anna Csiki (whose second half passing was 60 percent) was not a reflection of Oroz’s quality on the pitch but rather that she’d felt her quad. That suggests that if, as the manager says, all players are fit again we are likely to again see Summanen, Spence and Oroz centrally.
There is disappointment, however, for those watching Vilahamn’s use of full-backs on the wing (Charli Grant against City and West Ham; Amanda Nildén against Brighton) and hoping to see a reprisal of Ashleigh Neville’s attacking role from Rehanne Skinner’s tenure. Vilahamn said that he did remember Neville’s goals – including the long-range shot-of-the-season against Leicester but still primarily saw her as a full-back because “she is extremely good defensively”. But while he cited competition on the wings as a reason for not considering Neville there, he conceded that we may again see Grant higher up the pitch because she is “actually a really good attacking player.”
Full video of the press conference and information on how to watch Leicester vs Spurs is available here.
Spurs Women Blog 
Big game today – if we lose we drop to 10th, draw we stay 9th and if we win we can go back to 7th. I dont think we will get relegated but doesnt bear well for next season if Vilaham/Jepson stay on plying the same type of signings and play style. We could do a Villa and be a relegated fight team if this carries on.
They both need to go and if Paratici really does come home – then I hope he gets involved in finding some top elite women players,
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Well we drew but if being honest we didnt deserve it as it looks like the players have lost all their confidence in Vilaham and his style of play and it’s doing us more harm than good. Why r we sooo slow in going forward and attacking with numbers. We always seem to wait until the opposition is all back in their places before we start. Villa winning catching up by 2 points is like putting mustard on the 1 point sandwich. Sorry but the sooner we get a new management team in the better. This style of play is killing our brand.
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Performance itself wasn’t horrible. 23 shots and 11 on target tells its own story.
What we don’t have is electric pace in forward areas. I don’t count Jess Naz as she doesn’t utilise her speed often enough – all she has to do is what she did on Sunday, knock it past the defender and cross the ball.
Recruitment in Summer will be key. Please get a dominant centre half, a dynamic central midfielder and 3 forward players- one out and out goalscorer and two with electric pace.
Oh, and lock Ella Morris up on a 7 year prison sentence contract!
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I agree Xander – recruitment will be key but it never is – is it?
We have had 12 windows in the WSL and we still do not have a team let alone a squad of elite players, whereas Man U started building from day 1 when they were created 7 seasons ago. We only have about 7 good players.
We now build “words” every season and replace players with like for like – we “do this becos of this or that” .. now it’s called Organic. So disappointing for our Spurs brand.
Sorry but one trick Naz for me is not the answer and certainly not Ayanne (she missed yet another open goal opportunity) – both should have been moved on 2/3 seasons ago when so many better players were available. We seem to extend player contracts to poor performing players way too many times and it still goes on. Why is that? – probably becos they are cheap to keep.
That is what I worry about when another busload of contracts are up this summer and do we really have the b*lls to let them go and rebuild? We then have another busload incl our 2 ageing elite players in 26… and so it goes on “every season”.
It will be much the same I fear as there is only minimal investment in players whilst we have no-one yet looking for better one’s. Imho it will be another season building a holiday camp, but it could be a relegation season next season if we do not seriously change our stance on players and contracts and try attract elite players who are in form and not ones past their best. I still think it is time to change the whole management team as well but whether Levy will do that remains to be seen. Our club is in freefall after so many weeks flatlining.
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Game 18 – another loss – same ol same ol excuses and script given to a chosen player (this time Naz). How is this man along with Jepson still at the club? Clear to me Levy also desnt care, like these 2.
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sorry game 19 my mistake
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Abysmal first half where struggling to recall Spurs stringing 3 passes together.
2nd half an improvement but yet again highlighting how bad our centrehalf options are. I’d get rid of all of them. Can’t head a ball and can’t put a challenge in when needed. Centre halves should not be getting bullied by a winger, las happened with their 3rd goal.
Ella Morris the sole lighthouse in an ocean of mediocrity
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Totally agree Xander and I have to now question the skillset of most of our squad – many are eithe past their best or certainly not up to WSL standard and it shows … I now worry that many of the 25 cohort will be given extns come the next few weeks to save costs and if this be the case we will be a relegation competing side next season esp if Vilahamn and Jepson are still at the club.
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Oh yes and Hanson who comes on at 71 mins gets POTM … well that speaks volumes does it not, but then it is the BBC who are anti Spurs along with Sky .. they only support Manchester and Pool teams to ensure they get their weekly freebies in.
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Comment on one of the Spurs Podcasts that the current run without a win, back to January, coincides with when Vilahamn’s assistant from Hacken joined the club.
Has Jepson taken more of a back-seat? Or is that too simplistic?
We were on a good run of form pre-Christmas.
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I doubt it Xander – she pushes the case for playing the likes of ex Skinner players like Naz Summanen Neville Ayanne and they often are the worse performing players. Just heard his interview for the Pool game and that does not fill me with glee neither – he is in cookoo land thinking we can still get points out of the last 3 games … Pool away ? Chelsea at the Lane ? and Everton away who have turned a corner better than us. I only see 3 more losses and he and Jepson still floating the boat with the board’s backing!!!! into the next season. Not good at all.
Then it seems he will hand out extns to those that WANT TO STAY rather than are they GOOD ENUF TO STAY? … more the same next season then and we could even get relegated at this rate
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Next season will be toughest yet. London City Lionesses will spend BIG and I can see them immediately becoming a top 5 side.
Also expect Leicester to improve when Rantala and Mouchon are fit again.
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Good points Xander – really good points and why I question why our board just sit back and let it happen? OK I know that the team makes a massive loss and attendances are dropping like leaves off an old tree (from average 2.5k to 1.5k already) but imho “if u build it, with better players the crowds will come back and get bigger” But we need top drawer players not those from bargain bins, checkouts and Ikea flatpack boxes. There are only so many fans in NE London that want to watch women’s football and they are shared out between 3 sides and we know where most go ! and it is not Brisbane Lane thats for sure. Our team is flatlining and no matter what he says in interviews his style of play and choice of players is not working and this management team should leave.
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Looked liked a strange game today.
Started game pretty well and some of the football that led to early chance for Beth was superb.
Had hoped a halftime lead would give sufficient motivation to go on and get 3 points, but stepped away from screen for 2 minutes and came back to find it 2-2, seemingly from yet another cross.
Looked like majority of 2nd half was on back foot, with strange substitutions yet again.
Good chance missed at death by Martha but I think draw about the right result.
Have to assume Olga has played her last game as surely no other reason why she wouldn’t get minutes today – guessing the move that fell through for her will still be going ahead at some point.
Would also love someone to explain why Rosella is getting minutes over Lenna?
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Good point Xander – I also cannot understand why he keeps using Neville/Naz on a left wing when Amanda is a better left back – then he brings on Ayanne who is next to useless when they were at their strongest. His subbing is questionable at best. Our footballing skill is mediocre and why we cannot win games and yet he always says we will work on the problems in training when its been going on for months. To me he is way out of his depth but the club is scared to sack him and leave the team managerless – same with Ange ( that game was a disaster). A draw seemed fair yes but Pool were very poor until we made them confident and strong like we did against Villa.
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When I first saw the draw and then the summer signings I posted that we would be 10th with 17 points and with 2 games to go I will not be far off that esp if Villa get above us with better -GD
I was hoping 11th and 18 points to force the club’s hand to get rid of this management team b4 next season starts. Bob’s Angeball doesnt work and is almost kamikaze at best (they just cannot play it) – then what do we actually do in training? as NOT ONE player in our ranks can actually hit a ball hard low straight and away from the GK – Not One.
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My collective fear is if he/Jepson stays is who gets extnded contracts out of Ayanne Buhler Bartrip Neville Ahtinen Thomas Rybrink Graham (even Spencer) – he says it all depends on who wants to stay … NOT who is GOOD enough to stay.
Out of this pack Molly is good enough, the rest r not.
I fear extns will be handed out just to keep the wage bill low and not to build a better side.
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What – no new feature since 30th March for Xnader and I to get our teeth into? – come on Rachel
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So Jepson leaves ! interesting, hope she can take Bob with her. Lets face it she is a close friend of Hayes and she visited Potspur Way last summer so probably it was talked about then and they have been in touch ever since and last week she probably go the Trump card (green) clearance to make the decision. Good luck to her – now we need a new management set up and move this muppet on.
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Agree that Jepson move is probably engineered by Hayes. Think the fact Vilahamn brought in his own assistant in January, probably meant that Jepson moving on was inevitable.
I see Liverpool have already announced a number of players that are not having contracts renewed, would be nice if Spurs were so open and proactive.
I think a number of fan-favourites will likely have to be moved on, if next season is going to be anything other than a scrap to avoid relegation. Unless the league decide to remove relegation for a couple of years to increase number of sides in the league?
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Good call Xander – didnt think of that in Jan. Anyhow a big loss a coming this afternoon and probably Leicester will beat Palace and go level on points but above us on -GD, so Bob and his lone journey will take us to 11th. What a sorry state we are in? and bet he still plays the 2 N’s on the left and not Amanda/Charli. Bad call in my book since he decides to drop Amanda 3 games ago? Guess she may well ask for a departure in the summer and move to a better club and that would a real shame. Sorry but he has to go at the end of the season, if not then the management above are no better.
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Not an unexpected defeat but in reality, we should be competitive against a much-weakened Chelsea side.
Thats now 10 games without a win. Last time we had that sort of run, saw the end of Rehanne Skinner.
Not sure what to expect at Everton next week. I would normally have thought that a few of the squad players would get a runout, but I think RV will be desperate for a win to finish the season, and so I don’t think there will be too many changes.
Not much news regarding contracts – not sure how to read that.
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Only us 2 on here Xander. Yes we played some good stuff but the same problems are still here – cant score from open play, cant create open chances, cant shoot straight and hard and away from GK, cant defend well. We ONLY HAD 1 SHOT ON TARGET and that was at their GK. All she had to do was faint the shot and bring the ball around the GK Hampton and shoot into an empty net. We just do not have the skill set to even do that. We panic too much.
Im sick of Journey, we will work on it in training, and Organic and after 12 losses why is HE STILL HERE. Everton beating Pool makes next week a game going nowhere and we will stay at 10th unless Leicester can beat West Ham on the last day. We wont win not playing his style and subbing.
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I would sack him tomm and give the last game to Bri Campos who is supposed to be the next best thing in coaching. Why? becos obviously he cannot manage at this level that is now clear to see
but by the way he is treating players like Amanda who has been awesome since she signed, also I hear Hayley Raso is out of favour not becos she is injured but because she doesnt see eye to eye with his management style and game system. Seems she has the cold shoulder treatment and doesnt feature much in any of the videos or reports. She may well leave this summer unless a new coach stops it. She is 1 of 7 that we should rebuild around and the rest are nothing but cannon fodder at best. Give Bri Campos the last game and send him packing all his Ikea stuff.
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For no reason whatsoever, I am going to start completely unfounded transfer rumours.
Rosa Kafaji, Amanda Ilestadt and Poppy Pattinson to Spurs
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Good start Xander – for me we must sack Vilahamn then move on Neville Ahtinen Ayanne Graham Buhler Thomas Spencer for a start .. then maybe look at moving on Csiki Vinberg even Rybrink if she does not want to stay and then rebuild with better players … not LIKE FOR LIKE, that is always our problem and why we r where we r becos of that. We rarely sign class players.
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the next to go should be Summanen Spence and Naz , the best of these players has gone already and we need better if we want to compete at the top
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Brave thinking that the Sc*m would let 2 players (Striker and LB) come to us and one LB from Brighton, but then that would release Ella to right wing or become a central forward player (that would work) … we need to look in the top drawer iso bargain bins all over again COYSW
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Kafaji will surely want to play and Vilahamn would guarantee her minutes – assuming he is still here.
Illestedt is out of contract, I believe. But she is a DOMINANT centre half and fits the Swede bill as well.
I’d be looking at Chelsea as they will be moving a few on. I’d take Reiten in a heartbeat.
Centre Forward is the issue. If Beth is missing we lack any quality. And there arent many top quality ones around.
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U should get the job as “player finder” .. we never even tried to get Angeldahl last season or Terland and probably missed the GK Manure signed (and also Roebuck)
U r not Yohannes in disguise ?
I agree we need a really top drawer striker even if it costs a bundle. We cannot afford to keep extndg poor players as that makes the soup taste bland all over again
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i just think if Levy wants to keep RV and his style of football – will come on to that – then he has to back him with serious funds in the summer.
The style is unattainable for me. Its ok wanting to play perfect football from back to front but, in this league, its just not possible. The top teams are front-footed and aggressive in the press and if you look at Chelsea and, more so, United, they are happy to go long when necessary.
I’d like to see Matt Beard given a go. He is more pragmatic in terms of style but his teams are always organised and well-drilled. Failing that, take a punt on someone like Martin Ho at SK Brann. He knows the WSL, having been at Everton and United, and is apparently a very good coach.
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Good points again Xander – Matt would want big money spent for sure and that is what is def needed. Levy wouldnt want him knocking on his door every week. Im not convinced our Bob is experienced enough to know what players to go get to make the team much better. Thats why we need Paratici installed asaspo. Bar Nilden (top player) Morris Grant Oroz & Raso, none of the rest he has brought in over 4 windows have been that good even Holdt is over hyped and looks quite average now she has settled. Charli could be a great player but hardly ever is used. However so many have been really average or indeed poor (Shuang Linyan Csiki Hunt) added to an already poorly skilled ex Skinner squad. Signing Kop who he believes was someone he wanted since he joined just proves to me he is clueless when it comes to players … yes she is better than Spencer but come on there are so many better GK’s out there and we go cheap. I would sell Naz this summer and use her money to try get Kelly to move a few miles north. Naz is not the future which he bleats on about. She hasnt got any better since she became a regular. Too lightweight and easily pushed off the ball and only has one trick per game if we are lucky. Another over hyped player like Neville is now. She should have been moved on 2 seasons ago, but as i said before I think Jepson was behind most of these decisions not Vilahamn.
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Opta Sports claim they know Hayley well and she has mentioned that she has a disagreement with RV with his management style and has been cold shouldered – not injured and wants out. How is he still here? clearly Levy will not pay him off as he has 2 years still to go and that will dwindle any investment funds needed for the summer (if any) so guess we will be stuck with him unless we can demote him to assistant !!!
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Dismal performance again today. Looked like a side going through the motions.
Only forced Brosnan into one save of note in match, other than the goal.
Vilahamn talks about a press, but we only seem to do it for about 5 minutes.
The goal we conceded was poor from Kop but I wont criticise her as has been one of our better performers in second half of season.
I have given up on Jess Naz. So much potential with her pace, but only chooses to use it when she feels like it, which isn’t very often.
The coverage on YouTube showed a decent turnout of Spurs fans – that is some commitment for an early kickoff at the other end of the country when we havent won for half a season.
Oh and special mention for the referee. Appallingly home-biased. I counted 5 or 6 bookings for us whilst Gago was allowed to continually foul unpunished.
Lets hope the next few weeks see some positive news – whether thats new staff or new players.
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totally agree Xander – Ref was biased for sure, as for the game it went as I expected although I did expect a loss. I was somewhat shocked with Nilden’s performance today but maybe that was down to not playing for 4 weeks being sat on a bench. Bob’s subbing as expected “pointless” but as for Naz she is hyped up too much by the club and Bob, she has been poor for 2/3 seasons and has not developed at all. She has flatlined becos she got a call up and we jump on that band wagon all the time. We need to sell her and use the money to get someone in who is not so frail & lightweight and only has a 1 trick pony in her as and when. The team today were on holiday and it showed. The problem is now who will he get rid of if not himself and leave it to someone else. All the 25 cohort must go imho plus many in the 26 cohort (esp the front line attack) and start a rebuild with much better players not like for like otherwise we will be the CPalace next season, but then maybe thats what Levy wants … this project to fail as it does not make any profit at all! does it?
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We had 6 shots at goal, 3 on target ??? for what I can remember it was a weak header by Spence, a Naz kick at the GK and a pass from Holdt to Beth that went astray and Spence scored after a palm down. Their goal was set up really poorly but what was worse not one of the 4 even jumped. The player Morris who caused the foul just watched the ball sail pass her and into the goal. I did not expect that from one of our better players out there. Pityful … once the heads went down it was the sam o same ol and yet Bob thinks we dominated the game after that … not sure what ground he was at but it was not at this game. He has to go today otherwise there is no credibility at the top .. maybe they should all look at themselves and resign anyhow. Both teams are bottom and lucky that all relegations have been secured. Next season will be a relegation season if nothing is done in player investment. Get Musovic and Reiten in first and then try eprsuade Kelly to join .. then spend big busck on a top front line.
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If this is the end for RV, then would like to see a move to attract Martin Ho from SK Brann.
Knows the WSL well from his time with Everton and Manchester United and has guided Brann to Champions League.
As an added bonus, would infuriate Manchester United fans, who really rate him.
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Not really followed Ho but impressive that he got his team to the Qrts of the WCL in his 2nd season. Learning his craft well .. wonder if he would be interested but there must be another Bompastor out there somewhere we could tempt. Wonder if the team would prefer a male or female leader? I hope Paratici has something up his sleeve now it looks like he will join end of next month – fingers crossed. Wonder how many of the squad have asked their agents to get me out – Hayley and probably Amanda (she didnt look to happy being subbed off for Neville) – would be a shame if we lose these 2. I hope no more extns handed out just to keep harmony .. AJT for example .. why? and then not appear like Petzelberger did when she joined and also with Spencer and in the past Ayanne Neville Graham Summanen. It just goes on and on. The club never tells the fans anything like with Hayley being injured when she is clearly “out of favour”
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Bout time we had a new report to digest Rachel? thks
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my guess for out of contract players – I don’t have strong opinions on any of them, just how I feel club will go.
Bartrip – extends
Neville – leaves
Ahtinen – leaves
Buhler – extends
Thomas – leaves
Graham – leaves
Ayane – leaves
Rybrink – leaves
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Seeing as how Spurs have just put a video out on socials about Kit, have to assume she will be getting a new contract – so thats one I got wrong, above.
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Alexander Straus from Bayern is available ?
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No. joining Angel City as their Head Coach
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Agree with the list Xander but sorry, if they give Graham another extn yet again after an ACL injury then we are going backwards in my book. Good chance to move her on and get someone of better quality in if they really want to stave off relegation next season. I would go as far to say we should try sell Naz and use her money to help with better players. She will not get any better than she currently is and that is average at best.
We have to stop handing out extns to players that will not improve the squad nor the bench it happens far too much and why we r where we r.
Btw I have changed my name and password as I have a feeling it was almost hacked so not exL anymore.
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So he is … well we should have been a bit quicker on the uptake then – typical from our club.
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27th May and he is still at the club??? – why? – clearly Ikea furniture doesnt last and it showed this season and he needs to be returned and we bring in a manager with a winning mentality and who knows how to play football and how to build a sucessful side
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Still looking for the magic eh then Bob? – aint gonna happen with the club extndg contracts to over the hill players. Relegation season def around the corner. Zero ambition in ever wanting to get better – ZERO
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and now Thomas with a new contract? clearly the club just doesn’t care about building a better team do they? … just cope with the normal sunday holiday camp side. At this rate Ayanne Bartrip and Buhler will stay with new extn’s and Spencer regains her old no1 jersey.
Relegation season next year then Xander
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I currently have every prediction wrong.
Lost for words.
Unless the club know something we don’t and there will a league restructure and no relegation. Its the only plausible explanation.
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So I now think becos of the loss of half the weekly fanbase and no doubt increasing debt of the club it was decided months ago to have zero spend so based on that Bartrip/Buhler will get extns assuming they want to stay and Ayanne is shown the door to allow the place to be given to Dennis. The only thing that remains is if Vilahamn is staying as if so … I reckon Hayley and Amanda may have asked their agents to get them out asaspo.
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https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2025/6/3/24442125/spurs-women-2024-25-season-recap-what-went-wrong – a good read Xander but it could have delved deeper as this only scrapes the surface of the last 6 years – and yet he is still there !!! enuf said
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