#OL Feminin

[suricidal]

[basicallyblank]

Daan and Vanessa’s celebration after Daans goal !

[air-rising]

Did u see horan crash dvd’s interview bahahaha 🫶🏽

Lindsey catcalled her to get her attention lmfao

[alotofpockets]

Lieke Martens & Daniëlle van de Donk Appreciation

Request a player | @totaly-obsessed

[lucawrites11]

🇳🇴 norway women's national team 🇳🇴

full of some of woso's biggest stars but they can't produce consistent performances so how do they start utilising their strengths: a tactical analysis

psa: i got some unbelievably angry while making this because there is so much mismanagement in a team with so much potential with some of the world's best players and constantly producing young talent in a nation with a promising league

First of all, what are Norway's major problems:

poor decision making in the players that are called up

a lack of depth in the full-back roles specifically left-back and the defensive midfield options

inconsistency in both defence and attack with inabilities to regularly score and keep clean sheets

too much competition certain positions in the team and not enough in others means that players are not playing in a consistent starting eleven so it is impossible to see what players play well together and who should get starting positions

The current Norwegian set-up uses a 4-3-3 with no real consistency in the players. Leaving CGH, Engen, Reiten and Hegerberg on the bench when they are fully fit should be a crime. They haven't had a proper manager for a long time and past managers have created toxic environments. The hiring of Gemma Grainger seems to be a good decision for the team but the tactical decisions she is making and the players that she is calling up seem to reflect some continued poor decision making and for Norway to succeed - which they undoubtedly can - this needs to change. I just want to say now, I am not going to discuss the goalkeepers here, I have not seen them play enough and there doesn't seem to be any options available playing outside of Norway, this will focus on the play outfield.

1. the problems with the call-up list

One thing is missing: an obvious left-back but she exists and she's playing for Everton. Norway needs to call up Elise Stenevik. A major problem is they currently struggle to create chances and defend on the left wing with a centre back often playing out of position in the left back role and when a left back provides service to Guro Reiten and defending the opposition's right winger (often the stronger role in most teams) this is a major loss and it shows when Norway play.

I spent three days trying to come up with a decent starting eleven that just avoided full-backs altogether but it doesn't work well for Norway's players and requires creativity that just isn't possible at an international level where players are only with their coaches for ten days at a time. All other options still leave the wings vulnerable with neither Graham Hansen or Reiten natural wing-backs and it also requires possession-based football which wouldn't be possible against top teams. If you want to introduce consistency, you need to go another route which is finding a natural left back.

I will be the first to admit that Elise Stenevik is by no means Norway's best defensive option in their available call-up list BUT she has one thing over everyone else and that's that she's played two seasons at Everton as the preferred starting left-back and she knows how to play the role because it's hers.

now for a break in a wall of text with photos that i took of her

Elise is young and her weakness is in her defending but that will improve and it will improve even faster in the national team environment than it would just at club and as literally the only left back I can find, they need to get her into the set up now so she can become the best player because even if she's not starting eleven matierial now, she will be in the future.

She would also bring an extra dimension to Norway's attack. Her talent comes in her ability to create chances and with Reiten, Hegerberg and Graham Hansen to finish them, this could be crucial for Norway especially due to their inability to consistently score. She's also very good on the ball and winning fouls and she can also win duels defensively, she just needs more time to develop that skill which will come a lot more quickly with the guidance of Norway's talented defenders such as Mjelde and Thorisdottir who also have huge amounts of experience.

2. the problems of the lack of depth in defensive midfield and full backs

I just wrote an essay on the solution to the full back problem. If Grainger plays Tuva Hansen consistently at right back, those two full back positions are filled with young talent that will develop.

The defensive midfield is more of a problem. On paper this season at centre back, Ingrid Engen has had a better season than any other Norwegian centre back. Unfortunately, she's one of just two defensive midfield options for Norway. The other option is Lisa Naalsund who isn't getting consistent minutes at United. Engen is by far the best option and the lack of depth is forcing Norway to play her essentially out of what is now her position, something she has seemed to be struggling with in recent games. Especially as this comes when Engen is the only real consistent defensive player in the defensive midfield role while the backline behind her is constantly shifting whether that be the players playing or the positions those players are instructed to play in. This is a problem for which there is little solution but it must be highlighted as a problem that Norway have.

Meanwhile, the rest of the problems: inconsistency in attack and defense and inconsistent starting elevens can be solved by a tactical changes. currently, Norway uses a 4-3-3 but I think they can be better served by the more adaptable 4-1-4-1 that can be shifted into more defensive and attacking line-ups to be used in all types of games. It would also allow for their more creative and talented players to roam in space and play their natural roles.

personally, i'd set up the starting 11 like this with these subs/replacements due to the injury

Terland is also a possibility in Hegerberg's position as well as further back while Bizet can play in Román Haug's position too. Mjelde is also a CB option as Bjlede is a RB option in Hansen's place.

Román Haug is fast, she can act in the 10 role in this position, picking up the ball from Engen's and Maanum's passing in the midfield and getting it forward in central channels for Hegerberg like she's been doing for Liverpool all season. Hegerberg's positioning in the box alongside Graham Hansen can ensure that quick chances from the counter attack are capitalised on.

Stenevik's ability to create chances down the left as she's been doing all season at Everton combined with Reiten's ability to move back (something that Blakstad can do too) allows the defensive weakness that Stenevik holds on the left to be compensated for. Her chance creation can allow for overlapping runs with Reiten to get effective crosses into the box that both Hansen and Hegerberg can capitalise. Román Haug and her speed can also capitalise on these chances.

Maanum in the midfield places someone who is effective at both passing and dribbling centrally to create chances and hold up the ball with Engen in the midfield while players can move forward in order for possession to be capitalised on in order to create chances. she's also an effective option when the opposition team is defending in a low block to get a goal from outside of the box.

The backline in this 4-1-4-1 can quickly get support. The flexible formation allows Engen to drop into a CB position to create a 5 person backline which can effectively defend against the strongest teams. With Reiten's ability to also defend and Maanum's ability to drop into central midfield, the speed of Graham Hansen and Román Haug allow for quick counter-attacking measures with Hegerberg as the lone player forward, a role she is very capable of playing and she has done in UWCL matches for Lyon.

Ultimately, this line-up would allow for consistency in all matches whether it is when in a low block against a top team or a high press against a lower ranked team or in a match of equal possession in a team of the same calibre.

Overall, Norway would benefit from the call-up of a natural LB, a flexible tactical line-up that would work against all teams and consistency in the starting 11 in a 4-1-4-1 with Stenevik playing at LB. Norway would also benefit from Blakstad being recalled to the national team as a replacement and an option as opposed to Reiten if she's injured.

If you want more analysis of all these players' strengths, I'd love to do it but the photo limit won't let me add all the heat maps I want so I've left it out of this post so let me know, just drop me an ask with a name.

[malvpswanson]

my favorite part about the uwcl final was me crossing my fingers and praying that barca wouldn’t let in a goal and then the camera panning to vicky doing the exact same thing…god i love our generation we’re so unserious with serious intentions

[retrocesosdestacion]

SNAP OUT OF IT. | ellie carpenter

ellie carpenter x reader

genres: soft angst, comfort.

warnings: english!reader, some swearing words, couple fights, r being stupid again, wc semi-final.

notes: uhhhh i really enjoyed writing this, also writing ellie it's so satisfying because no matter the situation she's always understandable 😭

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘: Sometimes you need to be injured to understand things and patiently resolve them.

Believing in me is scary, but let me tell you one more secret: Discovering love is loving without fear; the beginning is sweet and the end is sour.

PK.

The last thing you felt was your nose staring at the grass with all the strength in the world, even with your attempt to protect it with your hands.

Perhaps it was quite strong, mainly because the odor of blood emitted more and more into your nostrils every second.

Your ankle, aching and tensing, which at least was an answer that you hadn't been injured enough to leave the pitch.

You're not used to this kind of tackle; normally you are determined enough to dodge.

But Ellie Carpenter didn't make mistakes. No matter who it was, it was always a success; even if you were her girlfriend.

❝ Hey, is everything okay? ❞ A muffled female voice echoed through your ears. You weren't in the best situation to look who it was, but you mentally hoped it was the Australian.

The voice now became a whistle; probably calling the medical team. At this point, the woman whose saying was actually the referee.

Progressively, muffled voices began to appear, and you at least wished one of them was Ellie.

It slowly started to irritate you. The subtle conversations around you were sickening, the blood dripping from the tip of your lips and the shame of getting hurt in front of a worldwide audience didn't help.

You pushed yourself up, pressing both palms to the bloody grass and slowly rising; sitting down.

Reddened cheeks, a mixture of embarrassment and drops of blood, your light blue uniform slowly absorbed each of those drops. ❝ Shit. ❞ You groaned.

❝ Is everything ok with you? ❞ They asked that again. But this time, it was Greenwood who was there. ❝ Can you stand up?! ❞ She was attentive.

You just nodded your head in confirmation. Even though it was a strong impact against the ground, it wasn't the worst thing in the world. ❝ I'm fine. ❞ You mumbled.

Took time to breathe deeply as you sat on the stadium lawn waiting for the medical team.

It was the year of the World Cup, the big semi-final against Australia and one step away from the final. Up to this point, you have played perfectly so you could take England all the way.

But now? Things went downhill, in reality, it wasn't like England depended on you; we're talking about the woman on the other side.

The woman who was five meters away, looking at you, the one who didn't dare approach you after the tackle.

Ellie Carpenter was like a sentence in some book that you start to love. The type of phrase you tattoo on your skin to remember, that stays in your mind.

And that was what enchanted you; Carpenter was the woman of your life and you loved it.

But at that moment, that magic disappeared. You at least expected her to come up to you and apologize or whatever two human people would do.

Raso reached Ellie, placed her arm on Ellie's shoulder and the two turned as if they were going to discuss something. No more or less.

And it stung your heart, like a stab so sturdy that it created a lump in your throat. It was no longer the pain of falling to the ground that was bothering you, but the pain of hers idiocy.

An urge to cry grew inside you, immense chagrin bubbled up. The fact that Ellie hadn't come to you until now had destroyed you enough to make yourself angry.

Of course, a while back you two promised to show the minimum amount of affection in public to respect the relationship. But that? That was already an baloney, conceivably even a lack of esteem towards you.

I mean, that's what you thought. The Australian defender turned back and laid eyes on you. The typical regretful and scared look, desperate to see you well.

But you were too blind to see this, perhaps because of the oxygen in your brain, of anger or appertaining to so many people being in front of you.

Within minutes, you had a cotton ball stuck in your left nostril. People had already dispersed and Alex pulled you to your feet.

You were already standing, the referee was explaining the rules for the free kick meters after the center line; such words that entered one side of the ear and came out the other.

It was the last minute of first half stoppage time, you were begging for it to end once and for all. The euphoric feeling of playing was gone, and you just wanted to go to the locker room.

You kicked without thinking, seconds after the whistle. Unsuccessfully, it went outside.

The high-pitched sound rose three times in a row.

Greenwood patted you on the back, indirectly advising you to go straight to the locker room. The captain went ahead and you stayed behind, after all, a tug on your shirt stopped you.

The clear blue eyes, as the ocean, stare at you. Such eyes that you were so used to seeing in your everyday life.

❝ Hey. ❞ She let go muttering, still holding the sleeve of your jersey.

It sounds so scary that you were so wrathful, that Ellie's face was sickening at that moment. You couldn't bear to see her.

❝ I'm sorry, I didn't mean to— ❞ Before the Australian could apologize for her actions, you pushed her hand away.

❝ Forget it. ❞ To be honest, any unusual word in your vocabulary with the defender was terrifying.

❝ [reader], it wasn’t— ❞

❝ Your intention? I know. ❞ You interrupted her.

Ellie knows you very, very well. But when you acted so stupid, it was like all your months together were thrown into the fire and you just became another stranger.

❝ Can you stop being like that for once and listen to me?! ❞

❝ If you wanted to talk to me, you should have come sooner, no? ❞

❝ That's what I'm trying to explain to you, if you would stop being stupid. ❞ Gradually, the defender's patience disappeared.

❝ Am I being the stupid one now? It wasn't me who neglected to stay by your side. ❞ You had a habit of acting as if you were the center of the universe. ❝ Don't waste my time anymore, please. ❞

The feeling that you are worthless to no one is scary. And that's what Ellie felt.

❝ Right. ❞ She murmured, clearly holding back tears. Ellie's voice was a completely broken tightrope, struggling between not crying and not screaming.

You had more words stuck in your throat, you wanted to say how stupid Carpenter was to leave you there, how stupid she was for not even talking to you. But to be honest, that was already too much.

Hearing Ellie's intonation break in half broke his heart. This just showed that sometimes, you weren't prepared at all for such rough falls.

But in this life, who is?

You turned your back on Ellie, before things got worse; before you turn it into a dead end.

Watching Ellie play for the last forty-five minutes while you were on the bench was the worst thing ever seen today.

I mean, anyone could clearly say that the Australian was not doing well in terms of her own performance.

And this created an vast discomfort within you, after all, it was obvious that you were to blame for this.

Carpenter was the type of person who didn't care about other people's comments, paying minimal attention to opinions; good or bad.

But you were an exception. You had the privilege of always being able to comment or advise something in your girlfriend's life.

Yes, exactly. You should have been careful with your words.

Your fingers drummed on own upper thigh, while the same leg shook with anxiety. You just wanted it all to end soon.

Not just because of Ellie, but you guys were winning; you were reaping what you sowed.

You wanted to hear the last whistle and run in front of that field and finally be able to celebrate advancing to the finals.

And said and done, it happened. Three whistles were enough for you to leave the bench and run to the first teammate you saw.

Hugs, celebrations and pure self-resilience. Your mind acted like a switch, going from overwhelming worry and anxiety to the greatest euphoric feeling of your life.

Within moments, the muffled sound of joyful shouts and Earps tirelessly repeating words of victory near you were your joyful moments.

But your life was a faulty switch, the nonsense comes back at you like a rubber band pulled against your own skin, without control.

Obviously, your eyes are like a machine configured only to focus on the one piece of your life.

Even if you had won, you still lost.

You know when people say they hate seeing the love of their life sad? That's exactly what happened.

One of the scariest moments of your life was looking in detail at Ellie's tired and destroyed face.

You were terrible, you were bad. How many times have you made Carpenter's heart a wreck that keeps pounding for you?

You swallowed hard before abandoning your team and stepping firmly onto the greenish ground, heading towards her.

Ellie had taken off her headband before sitting on the grass, near the goal area.

It's kind of funny that you have the courage to go to her after everything.

The Australian was sitting with her back to the crowd, facing your direction, looking at the ground. It's even surprising that she didn't notice you getting close.

❝ Hey. ❞ You said awkwardly, standing in front of Carpenter.

She did not answer. In fact, she didn't even look at you.

And that hurts a lot. You tried again, but now sitting next to her.

You stayed quiet, not even looking at her. The silence at that time remained, the only thing that passed by were the screams of the crowd.

❝ You should be with them. ❞ It was Ellie's first sentence after minutes of crushing silence.

❝ I can celebrate a victory several times. Staying with you is unique. ❞

The defender slowly turned her face towards you, with a beautiful but lying smile. ❝ I'm sorry. ❞

❝ Don't apologize. ❞ You muttered. ❝ I went excessive angry with you. ❞

❝ I should have stayed with you when I did that. ❞ Ellie whispered. ❝ But I was scared. I didn't want to see what I did to you. ❞

You didn't answered back, but kept cutting the few grasses of the stadium with your fingers. Carpenter stared at you, as if you were a child playing in the playground.

❝ You are under no obligation to do anything. ❞ You said.

❝ Yes, I do. You love me, and it's the least I can do for it. ❞

You laughed while holding back your laughter. It wasn't funny, but you weren't expecting it.

❝ To be honest, I was very sad to see you like this. ❞

Ellie smiled a very naive smile, as if she was slowly forgetting the things that had happened. She brought her body closer to you, so she could lay her head on your shoulder.

❝ I thought you said you didn't like being with me like this, in public. ❞ You joked.

❝ Oh, shut up. ❞ She crossed one of her arms around yours. ❝ I hope next time you keep your mouth shut for the entire ninety minutes. ❞

❝ Okay, from now on. ❞ You gestured as if you were closing your lips.

❝ No! ❞ Carpenter laughed as he lightly pushed his body. ❝ Not now! Currently, I just want to hear your voice and be by your side. ❞

Despite everything, it's very funny and incredible how easily you made Ellie forget the defeat a few minutes ago, and how she made you forget all your problems.

She was the type of person that when you meet, you two just fit. You feel as good as if you've known her your whole life, and you don't need to hide anything.

You took a strong, calm breath, as if you had finally overcome the pain.

❝ I was thinking about you the entire second half. ❞ It's actually interesting, for the simple fact that Ellie always told you to be professional and not mix sports and dating.

❝ I know you. ❞ You said before letting out a giggle. ❝ And you could tell, since I didn't take my eyes off you. ❞

❝ Yuck! You seem like a dramatic romantic. ❞ Deep down, the Australian love it.

You slowly wrapped one of your arms around Ellie's body, so you could comfortably place a peck on her temple. ❝ Maybe. ❞

❝ Stop being an idiot. ❞ She joked.

❝ Only if you promise not to be sad with me anymore. ❞ You raised your right pinky.

Ellie smiled a beautiful smile, the kind that warms your soul; She closed his pinky with hers.

❝ I promise. ❞

[wosobronze]

Lucy bronze is 22 🥹😭🫶🏼

it’s giving the very best flashbacks everrrr

[glimmerofawesome]

[tracksuitlesbian]

[aus-wnt]

[suricidal]

dancing with maro + face pats from daan

[misskelley]

So much is happening

Gilles with Ferguson

DVD wearing Ellie’s shorts.

[air-rising]

Btw, this video is the longer version of the chant (but not the complete version). I rewatched the post match video, and I just realized I’ve missed, perhaps, the most important detail - why Ellie kept looking at the table:

They wrote the names of all the goalscorers on a banana.

[alotofpockets]

Ellie Carpenter Appreciation pt.2

Request a player | with @totaly-obsessed

[clarisse0o]

Imagine just imagine that happen and they also decide to award the 2020 female Ballon D’Or….. Without a doubt Lucy would have won it. Imagine a world with Lucy having a Ballon D’or