Naomie Feller, Smilla Vallotto and why Shamrock Rovers can still fight for the Premier Division title - your women's football roundup
There might be plenty of eyes on Euro 2024 at this moment in time and no shortage of action to enjoy as each game in Germany goes on, but there has been just as much to take in around the women’s game, with several huge results being recorded and talking points to dissect as teams continue to strive to meet their targets.
As always, this newsletter will provide you with everything that you need to know from on and off the field, with the usual combination of analysis points and reading and listening material included, ensuring that you are kept right up to date with all of the very latest goings-on.
3 key talking points….
Naomie Feller showed a different side to her game against Huelva
Fans of Real Madrid have become used to seeing Naomie Feller making quick bursts up the wing and giving the team width in attacking situations, and it was no surprise to see her doing the same thing during the weekend’s dominant win away at Sporting Huelva as they ended what has been an up-and-down Liga F campaign on a high note.
However, what was also present in her game was a desire to cut inside more than she has done on other matches and to become more involved in not only creating chances but in finishing them off, with it common to see her inside the central channel and providing a glimpse into how well-rounded she really is as a forward.
It was certainly something that Real Madrid benefitted from as the match went on, with Signe Bruun lacking quality at the top of the field and not putting away chances that she would normally be backed to, and having a secondary goal threat therefore compensated for that and ensured that those missed opportunities didn’t cost the team a win on the final day.
https://x.com/RMCFHassan/status/1802001889497583849
The goal that Feller scored late on really summed up just how impressive she was and how dangerous she can be when given that additional freedom to roam more, and it could well be something that Real Madrid look to implement into their game plan more often next season. It is no secret that they suffered at times in 2023/2024 as a result of Esther González departing for the NWSL last summer and Caroline Weir picking up an ACL injury at the beginning of the campaign, and perhaps having Feller playing through the middle might help to remedy their occasional lack of goal threat as they try to start next season in the best possible way.
Smilla Vallotto could be crucial to Hammarby’s title defence
Despite securing a league and cup double during the 2023 season, Hammarby went into the current campaign as a side with a few question marks around them as a result of a number of key names departing for pastures new, including Madelen Janogy and Matilda Vinberg, whilst Maika Hamano’s loan from Chelsea ended and others like Kyra Cooney-Cross had already moved on.
The concern among the fanbase would have been whether they could find the players to enable the team to keep challenging at the summit, and they would have been forgiven for harbouring a few concerns going into the first few games. However, as time as gone on, Hammarby have shown that nothing has changed, with them playing in the same dominant fashion under new head coach Martin Sjögren and making some really smart signings to plug the gaps that have emerged.
Whilst each has shown their potential so far though, the player that has really caught the eye is someone who was already at the club, with Smilla Vallotto becoming a key part of Hammarby’s positive performances and stepping up from being a fringe player to arguably being the first name on the team sheet.
As last week’s games against Vittsjö and Trelleborgs demonstrated, her ability to drift between the central and final thirds has made her the heartbeat of the team and is central to everything that they do well, and rarely has a moment gone by when she has not been either creating a chance or trying her own luck.
https://x.com/ViaplayFotboll/status/1784213987346825263
Hammarby have a number of exciting players in their squad who will continue to attract the headlines as each week goes by, but there is no doubting that Vallotto is the one who brings the whole package together for them, and keeping her fit has to be a priority if Hammarby are to have any chance of retaining their Damallsvenskan crown.
Shamrock Rovers’ win at Sligo shows that they can still be title contenders
Whilst they had a positive first campaign back in existence, the current Premier Division season has been a slow burner for Shamrock Rovers, with them picking up four draws in their opening nine matches and finding themselves a sizeable distance outside the title race as a result.
However, with there still being just under half of the season to go, anything could still happen and the 14 points that they currently trail leaders Shelbourne by is not an insurmountable tally to make up.
Their performance at the weekend against bottom side Sligo will have further increased that feeling of it not being over yet, with their game plan based around striker Stephanie Zambra attracting players towards her and the quicker wide players (such as Áine O’Gorman and Lia O’Leary) then using the open space to create problems, and the threat that it gave them whenever they moved into the final third shows that they are not a team to underestimate.
For a look at what Lia O’Leary brings to Shamrock Rovers’ tactics, have a look at my article for Total Football Analysis here:
Rovers should not be under any illusions that the task ahead of them will be a tough one and that they will need to be near-perfect for the remainder of the campaign. However, there is still a chance that they can reach the top of the league at this moment in time, and they can be backed to keep fighting for as long as they are mathematically able to.
Read all about it….
The women’s football team in Leicestershire during WWI - in the last few weeks, a story emerged on the BBC News website regarding the remarkable tale of the Coalville Munitions Football Club, who made history as the only female team to have won the Bass Charity Vase in its 134-year history. This article by Sophia Hartlet and Dan Martin provides a brief insight and there is an accompanying podcast episode for those who want to find out more.
A tribute to Clive Charles, the English coach who made waves in the US college game - whilst Clive Charles is not a name that many will be aware of in his home nation of England, he is someone that had a major hand in developing some major talent in the USA, with his stint at the head of the University of Portland’s programme where he really made his name. His is a story of happy times and unfulfilled promise, with him passing away back in 2003 after a battle with cancer, and this powerful article by Rich Laverty on his Substack page, Women’s Football Chronicles, includes thoughts and reflections from those who knew him well.
Grace Fisk’s footballing career - whilst she is not currently included in the England setup, there is no doubting that Liverpool’s Grace Fisk enjoyed a standout campaign in the WSL last season, and this interview with Jessy Parker Humphreys for The Athletic sees her go into her career so far.
Lend me your ears….
The Short Corner: Power, Protest, and Players Associations with Gaby Garton - there has been much discussion surrounding the current situation in the Argentina national team, with three players stepping away in protest at the lack of support from those in the higher echelons of the game, and this episode of ESPN’s The Far Post podcast talks to former Argentina goalkeeper Gaby Garton to gain an insight into the situation and her research into it.
That’s all for now - back next week!!