15 minute read
SEASON PREVIEW
"I'll be honest, the last couple days have been really … I've struggled in terms of anxiety. Being overwhelmed,” said Labbe after the match. “But my mental strength came in. When I step on the pitch, that's my comfort zone." For Sinclair, who has been a member of the senior national team for 20 years and holds the record for most international goals scored at 187, the moment had been years in the making. But as she has done throughout the years, her focus was on what this means for her teammates and for the women’s game in Canada. “I can’t even describe this right now,” said Sinclair after the match. “We came here with the goal of changing the colour of the medal and we landed on the podium. Never say die.” The moment was also not lost on defender Quinn, who became the first-ever open transgender and non-binary player to win an Olympic medal. "What I want to do is make sure kids keep playing sports. For me that was so important. Soccer is such a joy in my life and I hope that people see they can be themselves and continue to play sports and there's a place for them." The victory cements Canadian women’s soccer at the top of the international game, but the work for acceptance and development continues. For Sinclair, the next goal for Canadian women’s soccer is simple: a professional domestic league. “The next step is we have to get a professional league and teams in Canada. I think it’s unacceptable the Olympic champions don’t have a professional environment in Canada. That’s the next task.”
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ABOVE: Quinn, the first-ever open transgender and non-binary player to win an Olympic medal.
RIGHT: Janine Beckie tied Jessie Fleming for the most goals for Team Canada during the olympics
BOTTOM: Shelina Zadorsky, Canadian & Tottenham Hotspur defender
TOKYO 2020 WOMEN'S SOCCER TOP GOALSCORERS
FINAL STANDINGS
NAME COUNTRY GOALS V. Miedema Netherlands 10 Sam Kerr Australia 6 Ellen White Great Brittain 6 Barbara Banda Zambia 6 S. Blackstenius Sweden 5 Wang Shuang China 4 Lieke Martens Netherlands 4 Marta Brazil 3 L. Beerensteyn Netherlands 3 Fridonlina Rolfo Sweden 3 Andressa Brazil 2 Debinha Brazil 2 Janine Beckie Canada 2 Jessie Fleming Canada 2 Mina Tanaka Japan 2 Victoria Pelova Netherlands 2 S. van de Sanden Netherlands 2 Lina Hurtig Sweden 2 Carli Lloyd USA 2 Megan Rapinoe USA 2
GOLD: CANADA
BRONZE: USA
5TH: GREAT BRITTAN
7TH: JAPAN SILVER: SWEDEN
4TH: AUSTRALIA
6TH: NETHERLANDS
8TH: BRAZIL
BY: SEAN MASLIN STEPPING UP“AT ONLY 15 YEARS OF AGE, MOULTRIE IS STARTING FOR THE TWOTIME NWSL CHAMPIONS AND MAKING MASSIVE CONTRIBUTIONS.”
One of the true joys of every football season is watching the development of younger players. Whether it is watching them come out of the lockerroom in their new kits, the emotions on their face when they score their first goal or even their first win, and even the little moments seem that much more fun- the conversations on the sidelines with teammates, the warm-ups on the sidelines, and even occasionally listening to the coach. These interactions are all very new and exciting and for players that are very young, like 15 year old Portland Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie they can also be incredibly important. Olivia Moultrie’s story in the context of the global game is not uncommon. Teenagers for decades have been playing top flight club football in the men’s game and even in the women’s game in Europe. It is a yearly rite of passage that every team and their supporters go through-watching the next young prospect start to show o their skills at the best level. But Olivia is di erent for a couple of di erent reasons. First, she is just 15 years old, an age that is even young by the standards of club football. Very, very few players at the age of 15 are called up and most are usually given just a few minutes in extra time or a token appearance in cup competitions. Moultrie is starting for the two-time NWSL Champions and making massive contributions. In the Thorns August 7 match against the Washington Spirit, it was a scintillating Moultrie cross into the box for Simone Charley to finish. With many members of the Thorns away due to the Summer Olympics, head coach Mark Parsons has used Moultrie as a super-sub helping spark Portland’s attack. It has paid o with the side winning each of the last four matches. It is also important to note that while the idea of playing teenagers happens frequently in other parts of the world, in the NWSL it is still a very new concept. The NWSL tried and true strategy of using the NCAA college system as a bridge between the academies and the professional game may fly counter to international soccer principles, but in North American sports it is the norm. When Moultrie signed the seven figure contract with Nike when she was 13 it went completely counter to how women’s soccer players are developed in the United States. The system that has been established through the years by the NWSL and the NCAA is part of the reason why the league fought so hard to keep her from suiting up. For years the league has required players to be at least 18 years old in order to play. While there is a certain level of excitement that comes with a teenage prodigy there is also a tremendous amount of risk as well. The NWSL’s reaction to the Moultrie news seems to be a direct response to Major League Soccer’s failure with Freddy Adu and the financial peril that decision put men’s club soccer in. There is still a strong belief in this country that losing out on the growth years in college stymies development. Despite their best e orts to keep Moultrie out of the league, their e orts were in vain as she won an injunction hearing over the NWSL and forced an out of court settlement in July. That settlement not only opened the door for Moultrie to play but other teenagers as well. Girls soccer in the United States is booming with record levels of participation and tighter organization and structure at the top levels. With additional resources and stronger gate attendance clubs are now looking to strengthen their academy programs. As with Adu, the odds are high that Moultrie will be just the first in a long line of players making the jump directly from youth soccer to the professional game. How that impacts that NCAA will have to be seen. For now, Moultrie seems to be thriving in her new role with the club. The Thorns haven’t won an NWSL title since 2017 and with Parsons, their longtime coach, leaving the club to coach the English National Team next season now may be their best chance. That’s great news for Moultrie who seems ready to play under the bright lights.
ABOVE (MAIN): 15 year old Olivia Moultrie reacts to getting signed by the Portland Thorns of the NWSL
TOP RIGHT: Olivia Moultrie was playing professional soccer since she was 13
BOTTOM: Moultrie celebrating her first professional goal with her Portland Thorns teammates
2021-22 PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON PREVIEW
ARSENAL New season, same old problems for Arsenal? The Gunners finished a lowly eighth last term, out of the European places and below clubs with far fewer resources. It was a similar story on the opening day of the season when they were soundly beaten by newly-promoted Brentford, with familiar defensive weaknesses exposed once again. Big-money centre-back Ben White should prove a good signing, but he’s far from an imposing presence. Arsenal need to toughen up, especially if the light-touch approach to refereeing continues. Mikel Arteta has a big job on his hands at the Emirates if they’re to get back into the Europa League, never mind the Champions League. Champions League.
LAST SEASON FINISH: 8TH ASTON VILLA Dean Smith’s side improved on their 17th-place finish on their return to the Premier League in 2019-20 to come 11th last term. There’s real hope that Villa can continue their momentum in the new campaign, especially after completing a number of encouraging arrivals in the form of Danny Ings, Emiliano Buendia and Leon Bailey. However, the reason the Villans have spent big is because of the £100m they received from Manchester City for Jack Grealish. How Villa cope without their talismanic captain will be the key to their success this season.
LAST SEASON FINISH: 11TH BRENTFORD Brentford fans have waited a long time to see their team in the Premier League. The Bees were down in League Two as recently as 2009, while they came agonisingly close to reaching the Promised Land last season, losing to Fulham in the Championship’s play-o final. The new Brentford Community Stadium was bouncing as the Bees stung Arsenal in the season’s curtain-raiser, with Thomas Frank’s side displaying all the verve and attacking intent which has seen them set the second tier alight over recent years. Their squad depth will be tested, but expect them to cause plenty more upsets this term.
PROMOTED TO EPL
BOTTOM, RIGHT: Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has received standing ovations on the back of his performances for England at Euro 2020 and the sickening racist abuse he received in the aftermath of the final
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION Brighton may have finished down in 16th last season, but they were a full 13 points clear of the relegation zone. Even so, they only managed one more than the magical 40-point mark, and after losing Ben White to Arsenal, some are fearing for the Seagulls this term. However, in Graham Potter the south coast club have a superb manager whose attractive style of play keeps improving with each passing season. If new boy Enock Mwepu can settle into the midfield quickly alongside the impressive Yves Bissouma, Brighton may well end up pushing for a mid-table finish. BURNLEY The Clarets lost to Brighton on the opening weekend of the season and finished two points below the Seagulls last term in 17th. Sean Dyche has worked wonders at Turf Moor, as Burnley enter their sixth successive season in the top flight. There’s always a feeling at the start of every campaign that their luck could run out though. The new ownership has failed to deliver the level of significant investment fans hoped for, with Burnley needing strike duo Chris Wood and particularly Ashley Barnes to improve on their goal returns from last term. CHELSEA What a turnaround there’s been at Chelsea since Thomas Tuchel took over in January of last year. The German coach has turned the Blues from Premier League strugglers to Champions League winners, backing up their newfound status with the statement signing of Romelu Lukaku. If the returning Belgian can provide the finishing touch that was so often lacking, and free up Timo Werner to cause havoc from wider and deeper areas, Chelsea will be right in the title race. Tuchel has a wonderful array of attacking riches at his disposal, but needs to keep influential midfielders N’Golo Kante and Jorginho fit and fresh.
ABOVE, MIDDLE: Manchester City are the defending Premier League champions heading into the 2021-22 season
ABOVE, LEFT: Chelsea'a Timo Werner reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea FC and Crystal Palace
Chelsea should be right in the title race Leicester City look forward to a successful campaign
Everton’s Gylfi Sigurdsson looks to lead his Everton side to a better finish
CRYSTAL PALACE A new era has begun at Selhurst Park following Roy Hodgson’s retirement at the end of last season. Former Arsenal player Patrick Vieira has been given the chance to manage in the Premier League after a spell in MLS with New York City and Ligue 1 with Nice. The French World Cup winner has made a number of promising signings in Marc Guehi, Joachim Andersen and Michael Olise, while keeping hold of star man Wilfried Zaha continues to be crucial to the Eagles’ chances. Improving on last season’s 14th-place finish won’t be easy but is certainly possible.
LAST SEASON FINISH: 14TH
Christian Benteke of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoring the 1-1 equalizer during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC
EVERTON After only just scraping into the top half last term by finishing 10th, the To ees were dealt the significant blow of losing manager Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid. The Italian is a proven winner, while his replacement caused consternation throughout large swathes of the Everton support. Rafael Benitez has a lot of work to do to get the fans onside due to his Liverpool connections, but stringing together a few wins will have Goodison Park right behind him. The Spaniard will also hope to have the funds available to him to improve his club’s league position, but he should make Everton a tougher team to beat regardless.
LAST SEASON FINISH: 10TH
ABOVE LEFT: Romelu Lukaku returns to Chelsea after leaving Stamford Bridge seven years ago
LEEDS UNITED The perennial entertainers last season managed to keep hold of their ringmaster, as Marcelo Bielsa only committed to another year at Elland Road a matter of hours before the campaign kicked o . That was always going to be the biggest signing Leeds could make this summer. The Whites have strengthened in securing the services of Junior Firpo and the permanent signature of Jack Harrison, as they aim to build on last season’s ninth-place finish. They still need to become harder to play through though, as shown by their mauling against Manchester United in their season opener. LEICESTER CITY The Foxes have missed out on Champions League football by losing their last two games in each of the last two seasons. Brendan Rodgers is building something special at the King Power though, with Leicester winning the FA Cup for the first time in their history in May. That was the club’s highlight since winning the Premier League in 2016, and after splashing out on players such as Patson Daka, Boubakary Soumare and Jannik Vestergaard this summer, there could be further cause for celebration this term. Breaking back into the top four is going to be very di cult, but this Leicester team continues to defy the odds.
CLASH OF COACHES
As ever, the managerial merry-go-round is a hot topic in the Premier League. Oli Coates jumps on for a ride, and asks whether it’s better to stick or twist.
Not much has changed at the top of the Premier League table on the managerial front, with all of the clubs who finished in the top six last season sticking with their men in the dugout. Pep Guardiola begins his sixth season in English football at Manchester City, while Jurgen Klopp is into his seventh campaign in charge of Liverpool. Those two men are likely to be at the forefront of the title race, although Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also hoping to join the party. The Red Devils looked as though they were going to mount a serious title challenge for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired last season, only to falter in the second half of the campaign in failing to win 10 of their final 19 matches. Solskjaer has been given the time and resources to build at Old Tra ord. Chelsea managers are usually a orded the latter but not the former, and Thomas Tuchel will be no exception despite guiding the Blues to Champions League glory just four months after arriving at the club. The German tactician targeted a proven goalscorer in the form of Romelu Lukaku, and his defensive organisation gives him a great shot at securing the Premier League title in his first full season at Stamford Bridge. Tottenham are the highest-placed team from last season to hire a new boss. Nuno Espirito Santo has been tasked with improving on last season’s seventh place, with his chances of doing so likely hinging on Harry Kane’s future. Even so, this is a huge opportunity for the Portuguese coach to prove his credentials at a big club following the wonderful job he did at Wolves. New Everton manager Rafael Benitez has a big job on his hands to convince the entirety of the Goodison Park faithful that he’s worth their a ection following his time across Stanley Park. Crystal Palace also have a new boss in the shape of Patrick Vieira, who is short on top-level management experience, in a far cry from his predecessor at Selhurst Park, Roy Hodgson. Marcelo Bielsa will draw plenty of attention once again after committing to another year at Leeds United, with the Argentine’s defensive organisation once again under the microscope from the o . Brentford’s Thomas Frank could also find himself getting lots of attention for all the right reasons, with the Bees coming into the Premier League with the potential to set the division alight. Frank is now in his fourth season at Brentford, after the club stuck with the Dane following their defeat in the play-o final in 2020. Sticking with your manager often pays dividends, as we can see with the likes of Frank, Guardiola, Klopp and Solskjaer, not to mention Sean Dyche at Burnley, Dean Smith at Aston Villa and even Steve Bruce at Newcastle United. However, as Tuchel proved last season, there can also be huge rewards when clubs take the decision to twist. It’s a high-stakes gamble which can always go either way. Most clubs desire stability, with managers increasingly judged on their philosophies and the way they build and impose their style of play. Projects are tough to stick with when results are poor though, as we wait to see who blinks first this time round.
