#Emma Holmgren

[alotofpockets]

Olympique Lyonnais Appreciation

Request a player | with @totaly-obsessed

[air-rising]

Quelle fin de saison 22/23 incroyable ❤️💙

[femftbllvr]

[aus-wnt]

[redwineconversation]

Quick note about Emma Holmgren not extending:

She is a genuinely nice person, so obviously I am sad in that sense. She’s nice and reliable and those are qualities I like both in a person and in a player. She keeps her head down and works hard and that’s what you want in a player.

Would I have rather she stayed on? Yes, of course.

But let’s really cool it with the hot takes of a backup goalkeeper who played a REALLY small amount of games during her time at Lyon not extending being synonym with Lyon’s downfall.

Bompastor said at the beginning of the season that Endler would always be the starting goalkeeper barring injury. That was made very clear to all goalkeepers and was part of the reason Sarah Bouhaddi sulked off to PSG (only to fall out of favor there too, but that doesn’t suit the current popular narrative).

The point is, if you’re a goalkeeper in search of playing time and you’re not Endler, then Lyon really isn’t the place for you.

The practices would be good for her, because she gets tested against a group of really world class players, but the only way you can really test yourself is in a game. Can’t really improve if you’re not playing. And that wasn’t going to happen at Lyon.

Now I know the popular narrative at the moment is that Lyon is dead, will never recover, and their downfall is to be celebrated by everyone and their mother. The absolute glee of Barcelona fans is truly something to behold.

But it’s already a little premature, and ignores important context. Bompastor already said that a lot of the 2023 contracts wouldn’t be extended. Those who follow Lyon are fully aware of which players are getting little to no playing time. Why stay at a club where you’re not playing?

Obviously I want my favorites to stay. I’m sentimental like that. But I’m rational enough to know a player who sits on the bench for almost every game of the season and whose contract is up is probably not going to stick around, especially when they have their whole career ahead of them.

So, bye, Emma. I will miss you and I promise there aren’t any hard feelings. Wish you the best, truly. Time will tell if you end up being The One That Got Away. I mean this sincerely - I kinda hope you are.

[chelseafcwmemes]

Yeah it's insane how many players have been/are in Linköping! From the top of my head and in no particular order it's:

Jonna Neto Minde Pernille Magda Frido Stina (x2) Nilla Kosse (3 times iirc) Frida Maanum Vangsgaard Bredgaard Labbé Pauline Hammarlund (now in Fiorentina and apparently the best paid player in Serie A) Lindahl Janni Arnth Rasmussen Jessica Wik (formerly Samuelsson) Slegers Gajhede Knudsen Nico Kildemoes Hurtig (with wifey) Selerud (now in Roma) Saori Takarada Landström (now in Roma) Mimmi Larsson (now in Kansas City Current) Angeldahl Dajan Hashemi Emma Holmgren (now in Lyon) Skinnes Hansen Ebere Orji Chinaza Uchendu Banusic Olga Ahtinen Yuka Momiki Uchenna Kanu Anna Oscarsson (now in Glasgow City) Rantanen Homare Sawa

Then the current coach Jeglertz can be added. He coached Umeå IK in their golden era with players like Marta, Hanna Ljungberg, Hanna Marklund, Frida Östberg, Caroline Jönsson, a young Lisa Dahlkvist, Sofia Jakobsson, Bachmann and Elaine in the squad. He then became head coach for Finland wnt and assistant coach for Canada wnt before he came to Linköping.

And of course Denise Reddy who's been a coach for Linköping twice and not to forget Martin Sjögren.

It is quite surreal the talent that’s been through, wonder what they put in the water up there to make them develop that much

[alexbkrieger13]

This was an interesting read in Holmgren's own words

Emma Holmgren – The childhood dream in Lyon

From it being my dream since I was little to move to France and play in Lyon, in recent years it has gone to "never France".But now I'm sitting here in my apartment in Lyon and playing football in one of the world's best teams. 

Yes, what is it like to play in one of the best teams in the world?And yes, how did it happen that from a childhood dream to becoming "never France" became a reality?

From having heard both horror stories and less good stories about how others had it as a soccer player in France, I felt somewhere a few years ago that I should probably put my childhood dream in a box and let it be something I only dreamed about.From what I had heard, it really wasn't something I wanted to risk being a part of.But then last summer the call came that Lyon was interested in me.Now there was the opportunity to realize my childhood dream.It was not an obvious choice to leave Eskilstuna United who I felt had something really good and big going on.I had signed up for three years because I wanted to be part of that journey.At the same time I had started to feel that I needed something more challenging in my development to take further steps.Thoughts also circulated about what it would be like in France,would it be the same as for the others?I couldn't know that, of course, who would say that I would have the same experience as the others?Maybe I would have a great time and love it?I couldn't know that before.

After thinking about what I thought was best for me, I felt that I should take the opportunity to play in one of the best teams in the world and train with the best players in the world.Have extremely good conditions to develop even more.At our training center we have 5 full size football pitches and two more pitches which are set up as two penalty areas where you can practice set pieces or finishing.We have a gym, a restaurant, various types of rehab and recovery rooms and lots of other premises.In addition to all the facilities, we have a huge number of leaders, sometimes I think we are more leaders than players who go away to matches or camps.A few football coaches, goalkeeper coaches, analysts, physiotherapists, doctors, physical trainers, team managers, yoga teachers, French and English teachers, privacy officers, president, vice president,some materials, media manager, videographer, mental coach and probably a few more that I have forgotten.But it feels like we have staff for most of what is needed for us to perform as well as possible. 

As you understand, there are many advantages and good opportunities here.But I'm also not going to lie and say that it was easy for me.The language has been a real challenge, not being able to understand or make yourself understood has been really frustrating many times.At least I now understand what and why people have said what they have about playing in France.

But I am happy and grateful that I have such good teammates who are always there for me and try to help me.I am also grateful for the personal development I get from living in another country, adapting to a new culture and much more! 

[idagnyheter]

Svenska målvakten Emma Holmberg är mitt i översvämningarna i Valencia

Emma Holmgren är målvakt i den valencianska klubben Levante och bor i de centrala delarna av staden, som hon säger har klarat sig relativt lätt från översvämningarna. Men bara några kilometer därifrån börjar det “riktiga kaoset”, säger hon. – Delar av Valencia och alla små byar runt omkring är helt förstörda. Bilderna och videorna som vi har skickats till oss kan du inte ens föreställa dig. Hem,…

[ffschweden]

Emma Holmgren fick sju bollar

I kvällens final i den spanska supercupen möttes serieledande FC Barcelona och tvåan UD Levante med svenska Emma Holmgren mellan stolparna. Resultatet blev 7:0 till Barcelona som i veckan redan vunnit semifinalen i cupen med 4:0 över serietrean Real Madrid. Caroline Graham Hansen gjorde hattrick, två mål gjordes av Salma Paralluelo och varsitt mål gjorde världens bästa fotbollsspelare Aitana…

[glimmerofawesome]

[air-rising]

via Eugenie Le Sommer (28.05.22)

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[bluemooncoming]

🏃‍♀️and 🚴‍♀️

[redwineconversation]

Knew you'd miss me once the thrill expired (and you'd be standing in my front porch light)

Just going to go out and say it: I prefer Twenty One Two's cover version of Cardigan to the original one by Taylor Swift. I'm holding out on the hope they will pop up on the Eras Tour but also am not holding my breath. The original is quieter, literally like putting on a cardigan; the cover is like the cold, the rush you get when you step outside and the temperature has dropped. Also, this is mildly nitpicking, but I think the hook is better when it ends on "And you'd be standing in my front porch light" rather than "I knew you'd come back to me."

Why, yes, I can write entire essays on Taylor Swift lyrics. Whatever. You are who you are.

ANYWAY let's talk about Lyon's 2023 contracts, and other factors that are actually at play. I'm going to go through position by position because I think it helps explains things a little better. I don't care if this turns it into a whole-ass essay. It's my blog and I will monologue if I want.

GOALKEEPERS

CHRISTIANE ENDLER: A 2024 contract. While not up this cycle, she is arguably the world's best goalkeeper and one Lyon will most likely seek to extend. Will she? My guess is probably, but this is based on her not having a legitimate reason not to. As long as she and her wife are happy in Lyon/France, there is no reason to believe Lyon won't be able to get an extension.

EMMA HOLMGREN: 2023. I go back and forth on this one. On the one hand, Lyon made it explicitly clear that Endler is the starting goalkeeper, so any chance of playing time is contingent on Endler getting injured. But Holmgren is young, and it's one of those situations where playing time isn't necessarily a make-or-break factor. I would guess 60-40 she re-signs, but this could probably go either way. Right now I think she would choose salary increase over playing time.

ALYSSIA PALJEVIC: I DESPERATELY want her gone, which means that Lyon is days away from giving her an extension until 2026. The day that happens you will find me playing in traffic. I will legitimately scream into the void if a team whose winning pedigree is what Lyon's is re-signs a goalkeeper who is literally the same height as Selma Bacha.

DEFENDERS

ELLIE CARPENTER: 2026, not a factor for this cycle or next cycle unless we are discussing the right back position. And even then it's basically written by the Sports Gods that Carpenter is locked in as a starter for the right back position, so yeah. Non-factor in almost every way.

PERLE MORRONI: 2024. Kind of a factor for 2023 contracts. Here's the thing: in a weird way Lyon's injury crisis in the first half of the season showed how dependent Lyon is on their bench, and how when that falls apart, Lyon is so completely crippled. Someone commented recently that Lyon has the "luxury" of substituting one world class (left back) player for another. At the end of the day, Bacha will need a certified cover as LB. Morroni provides that option. So will Lyon set aside 2023 money for Morroni's extension? Not impossible, and not something we should dismiss.

SELMA BACHA: 2025. A non-factor. Basically certified starter at left back. When on, and vexed, she has the most lethal left foot in the world. Knockout game Bacha > your favorite player. I said what I said.

VANESSA GILLES: 2023. She's one of the ones that I think won't extend because it's a loan situation, but Lyon will be wishing there were ways to skip around that. I've said it before but Gilles slips under the radar because she is, well, boring. You're not going to get any flashy defending from her. She's just a no-nonsense defender, keeps her head down, and does her job. I wouldn't have said this back in October 2022, but, as The Daylights once argued, I think I miss(ed) you.

WENDIE RENARD: 2026. Non-factor.

ALICE SOMBATH: 2026. I said it before and I'll say it again - she is PSG's The One That Got Away.

KYSHA SYLLA: Out on loan, 2023 contract. Skeptical about the renewal chances but never say never I guess.

INES JAURENA: 2023. Out of sight, out of mind. Zero probability of her extending, if she does, it will probably put the entire Lyon fanbase on suicide watch.

Griedge MBock: 2024. Will be an expensive renewal but one Lyon would be willing to pay for.

ASSIMINA MAOULIDA: 2023. Very unlikely to be renewed.

MIDFIELDERS

DANIELLE VAN DE DONK: 2023. It's not Marozsan's contract situation that will be the determining factor. it's certainly not her relationship with Carpenter, because Lyon will never take that into consideration. No, weirdly enough, I think the biggest determination is if Pernille Harder is actually as virtuous as she claims to be. I somehow doubt that Lyon is currently on top of Harder's Christmas card list. But what does Harder really want more: to be on SBG's side or to win a UWCL trophy? With all that being said, van de Donk also has big game experience, which is vital when you play the 10 for Lyon, and gets along with the squad. She's probably the hardest one for me to predict simply because there's a lot of contingent factors - my guess is they will extend, if only because they will want a cover for the No. 10 position, a position they are so protective of and won't give to just anyone anymore. If they extend - as I said, it's probably the hardest to predict - my guess is it will be a +1, at most a +2.

DZSENIFER MAROZSAN: 2023 +1. The question isn't whether she goes to PSG. The question is whether she goes to PSG in January. I think it's an important distinction, and here's why: Bouhaddi's contract with PSG ends June 2023. Marozsan's interest in PSG is tied to that alone. If Lyon balks at the idea of selling this January, then they are just entering into a game of chicken with Marozsan. Who knows if Bouhaddi will retire in 2023? Probably not. But if she still deemed high enough that she could take a starting spot elsewhere? Does Marozsan have that kind of pull? Not for most of the top clubs, who saw what Harder pulled in 2020 and Miedema in 2022 and view relationships as a cautionary tale.

AMANDINE HENRY: 2023 + 1. "I knew you, heartbeat on the high line, once in 20 lifetimes" I keep threatening to write about it but Henry's relationship with Lyon is so interesting and fascinating and complex. Even more so than Hegerberg, it poses the fundamental philosophical question: did Lyon mold this player into its own image, or did this player mold Lyon into theirs? They might disagree with each other, might go at each others throats with a bloodlust that cannot be described as healthy, but even monsters can be tethered to one another. I think it's too soon to say for sure what's going to happen to her, Lyon's performance in the UWCL probably being the biggest factor.

JANICE CAYMAN: 2023. People threw WOB around as a possibility, but I have my doubts solely because WOB will still be suffering from PTSD after the Harder fiasco. I'm not excluding Germany completely, but I question whether it will be WOB. Will it be a loss for Lyon? ehh, kind of. She's not the fastest player on the squad but can show up when needed. Just not at RB against faster players.

DAMARIS: 2024. There are rumors that Manchester City were inquiring about her but there is absolutely no way Lyon lets go this window. Well, I say absolutely no way, the only player I think Lyon would trade Damaris for is Oberdorf. Since Wolfsburg isn't going to sell Oberdorf anytime soon, Damaris will stay a Lyon player through at least June 2024. She is one of the players that I think (1) will be expensive and (2) Lyon will move for an early renewal for. Her stock will only go up after the World Cup.

SARA DABRITZ: 2025. Non-factor.

AMEL MAJRI: 2026. Non-factor.

LINDSEY HORAN: 2023. Much like Gilles, we only got her on loan. I would love it if we could extend her - she's been much more reliable than I gave her credit for back in January 2022, but I doubt (1) that the Thorns will agree to an extension and (2) that she even wants it. I think she likes Lyon, she does, but she misses the US more than she likes Lyon.

CATARINA MACARIO: 2023. I actually think she won't re-sign, and will be pleasantly surprised if she does. Right now her wage demands are absurd - it will be the equivalent of Hegerberg and Renard combined, and I just see Lyon's board flinching at that. No one player should have all that power. It's frustrating, because Macario is such an incredibly talented player, but she has proven before that her concept of loyalty is somewhat flexible. If she ends up extending, I am happy to donate to the charity of your choice.

INES BENYAHIA: 2025, kind of a non-factor. She has a lot of growing pains left to go through but I wouldn't put a loan in the future out of the equation, but we'll see what Lyon does in the meantime.

FORWARDS:

ADA HEGERBERG: 2024. A MASSIVE factor when it comes to determining both 2023 and 2024 contracts. In last year's list she was the second highest paid player on the Lyon roster (Majri might have overtaken her in the 2022 extension, which at worse would have bumped her down to third). Much like Henry, there's debate as to whether she molded Lyon into her image or if they molded her into theirs. Monsters recognize monsters, but that comes as a price.

THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE MELVINE MALARD: 2026. To put my feelings about this extension into context, the moment the news broke a very, very close friend of mine texted me asking if I could let her know I made it to work okay.

SIGNE BRUUN: 2023. The one I firmly believe will become Lyon's The One That Got Away.

EUGENIE LE SOMMER: 2023. This one I think is a little complicated - she's been at the club for a very long time, and although isn't the goal scorer she once was, she provides a ton of experience. Le Sommer is one of the squad players who has basically lived through it all. Is Lyon so ruthless as to send her away knowing she probably has one, maybe two years left in her career? Lyon operates as a business (as it should, you own a football club with the goal of making money, not running a charity case). The other factor is whether they get Brugts (@god pls pls) or Leutcher (I think less probable but never say never).

DELPHINE CASCARINO: 2024. An important factor but not necessarily a dealmaker. Lyon born and bred, I don't think she will necessarily leave for greener pastures, but loyalty does come at a cost, homegrown or not.

VICKI BECHO: Increased playing time shows an increase in confidence. Will she extend? Probably, but she is on the cheap side.

YOUTH ACADEMY PLAYERS TO WATCH

Alice Marques

Maeline Mendy

Feerine Belhadj

EXTERNAL PLAYERS TO WATCH

Pernille Harder though it really comes down to how firm her moral convictions really are

Magdalena Eriksson, though this one I have serious doubts over because she has a pretty consistent trend of using Lyon's name in order to leverage interest elsewhere

Esmee Brugts

Romée Leutcher

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