Most Chelsea fans are feeling like their dynasty is crumbling—and one of the highest-profile power struggles in women's football just exploded. Sonia Bompastor’s contract extension was announced just before Chelsea unexpectedly fired their sporting director, Paul Green. The timing and details reveal a deeper crisis: shifting power, internal conflicts, and strategic chaos that threaten to reshape one of the league’s giants. This episode dives into the upheaval at Chelsea, unpacking the behind-the-scenes tension between management and coaching, the impact on transfers and squad building, and what it all means for their quest to win the Champions League. You'll discover how recent decisions mirror larger struggles for control in women’s football—and why ignoring these issues risks falling further behind. We break down the ambitious—and sometimes reckless—moves at top clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United, revealing the broader consequences of a league in transition.

00:00 - Episode introduction and episode overview

02:00 - Chelsea's recent leadership upheaval and power struggles

12:00 - Impact of managerial and ownership changes at Chelsea

25:00 - Arsenal's Champions League dominance and player highlights

35:00 - League standings and title race outlook

45:00 - Relegation battle and team performance analysis

54:00 - Key transfers, injuries, and player performances

60:00 - Chelsea-WSL structure and ownership insights

70:00 - Matchday predictions and upcoming fixtures

80:00 - The broader state of women's football and league expansion

93:00 - Celebrating Kim Little’s 400th Arsenal appearance

95:00 - Final thoughts, listener engagement, and closing remarks

In this episode of The Twelve, Marc, Treb, Thom, and Deepti delve into the latest happenings in the Women's Super League, focusing on managerial changes, team performances, and standout players. They discuss Everton's struggles and the implications of their recent managerial change, the competitive match between Brighton and London City, and the dominant display by Manchester United against Liverpool. The conversation also touches on the relegation battle involving West Ham and Tottenham, and concludes with a review of Manchester City's impressive victory over Chelsea. In this conversation, the hosts delve into the recent performances of women's football teams, particularly focusing on Chelsea and Arsenal. They discuss the tactical aspects of offensive and defensive plays, highlight key player performances, and analyze the implications of managerial decisions on team dynamics. The conversation also touches on the Champions Cup, upcoming matches, and predictions for future games, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of women's football

00:00 Introduction to the Women's Super League

00:31 Managerial Changes in the WSL

02:41 Everton's Struggles and Coaching Decisions

06:50 The Impact of Managerial Talent in Women's Football

10:57 Everton's Recent Match Performance

13:13 Brighton vs. London City: A Competitive Clash

18:30 Manchester United vs. Liverpool: A Dominant Display

29:17 West Ham vs. Tottenham: A Relegation Battle

44:07 Manchester City vs. Chelsea: A One-Sided Affair

46:29 The Art of Offensive Play

49:56 Defensive Struggles and Goalkeeping Controversies

56:27 Chelsea's Crisis and Managerial Decisions

01:06:44 Champions Cup Highlights and Arsenal's Performance

01:17:12 Upcoming Matches and Predictions

Today's episode covers various aspects of women's soccer, including match distributions, player performances, team dynamics, and league comparisons. The speakers discuss specific matches, highlight player transfers, and analyze strategies while also addressing financial aspects such as prize money and the challenges faced by teams like Gotham. The discussion reflects on the current state of women's soccer leagues and their competitiveness. In this episode, the hosts discuss the recent matches in the Women's Super League, highlighting West Ham's unexpected victory over Leicester, Liverpool's first win of the season against Tottenham, and a competitive match between London City and Manchester City. They also touch on transfer updates, the implications for teams moving forward, and predictions for upcoming matches. The conversation wraps up with reflections on the state of women's football and the importance of maintaining player health during intense competitions.

00:00 Introduction and Match Distribution Discussion

05:59 Team Strategies and Player Transfers

15:22 Season Performance Analysis

20:25 Match Highlights and Team Dynamics

26:41 Financial Implications in Women's Soccer

33:31 Prize Money in Women's Football

48:02 Financial Disparities in Women's Competitions

01:10:22 The Need for Investment in Women's Sports

01:15:57 Everton's Struggles and Merseyside Dynamics

01:25:28 Chelsea's Lineup Controversies and Tactical Decisions

01:37:33 Manchester United's Resurgence and Impact of New Signings

01:52:10 West Ham's Hard-Fought Victory and League Positioning

02:01:25 The Relegation Battle Heats Up

02:07:20 Liverpool's First Win of the Season

02:17:58 London City's Promising Performance

02:24:30 FIFA Champions Cup Recap

02:29:55 Arsenal's Champions Cup Aspirations

02:38:35 Transfer Movements and League Dynamics

02:47:12 Tribute to Catherine O'Hara and Team Support

02:52:56 Closing Thoughts and Listener Engagement

In this episode, Deepti, Treb, and Marc discuss the significant impact of losing access to crucial football data on women's football coverage, highlighting the challenges faced by journalists and fans. They review recent game results from the FA Women's Cup, showcasing dominant performances by WSL teams. The conversation shifts to transfer news, focusing on player movements and the implications for teams like Arsenal and Liverpool. The episode emphasizes the need for better data access, investment in women's football, and the importance of upcoming matches in the WSL.

00:00 The Impact of Data Loss on Women's Football

17:20 Subway Cup semifinals review

41:45 Transfer News and Player Movements

In this episode of The Twelve, Treb, Marc, Deepti, and Thom dive into the latest happenings in the Women's Super League (WSL), focusing on the January transfer window and its implications for various teams. Deepti, Mark, Tom, and Treb discuss significant player movements, including Arsenal's missed opportunity with Sam Coffey, who signed with Manchester City, and the implications of other transfers on team dynamics. The conversation highlights the competitive nature of the league, with teams like Chelsea and City making strategic moves to bolster their squads while Arsenal appears to be lagging behind despite their recent Champions League success.The hosts also recap recent matches, including Arsenal's frustrating draw against Manchester United, where they failed to capitalize on numerous chances, and Chelsea's dominant 5-0 victory over West Ham. The discussion touches on individual performances, such as Lauren James's pressing ability and Rachel Daly's resurgence for Aston Villa. The episode wraps up with reflections on the current state of the league, the challenges teams face, and the potential for upcoming matches to shift the standings as the season progresses. In this episode, the hosts dive into the latest matches from the Women's Super League (WSL), analyzing performances and discussing the implications for teams like Tottenham and Liverpool. They highlight Tottenham's decent performance and the challenges they face with player departures, particularly focusing on the impact of key players like Clearhunt and Koga. The conversation shifts to Liverpool's match against London City, where the hosts critique the new coach's debut and the team's struggles, emphasizing the need for a more aggressive mindset. The discussion also touches on the upcoming FA Cup matches, with predictions and insights on how teams like Arsenal and Aston Villa are faring in the league and cup competitions.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Women's Super League

01:01 January Transfer Window Overview

03:06 Key Transfers: Sam Coffey and Arsenal's Moves

07:14 Arsenal's Recruitment Strategy Under Scrutiny

29:37 Match Recap: Arsenal vs. Manchester United

34:24 Looking Ahead: Arsenal's Season Prospects

34:53 Champions League Aspirations

35:33 Arsenal's Struggles and Frustrations

37:08 Player Performances and Fatigue

43:23 Recent Match Reviews and Highlights

49:44 Chelsea's Dominance Over West Ham

58:29 Tottenham's Narrow Victory Over Leicester

01:12:01 Tottenham's Performance and Player Departures

01:13:17 Liverpool vs. London City: A Coaching Debut

01:17:25 London City's Scoring Struggles and Upcoming Matches

01:20:41 FA Cup Preview and Fan Support for Women's Football

01:31:59 The Importance of Local Matches

01:32:52 FA Cup Predictions and Insights

01:35:21 Upcoming Matches and Team Strategies

01:39:50 Final Predictions and Wrap-Up

In this episode of The Twelve, the hosts discuss the latest developments in the Women's Super League (WSL) as they welcome the new year with fresh changes in teams and players. They delve into the Frauen-Bundesliga's decision to break away from the DFB, highlighting the implications for women's football in Europe. The conversation shifts to recent coaching changes in the WSL, particularly focusing on Liverpool's struggles and Arsenal's resurgence. Chelsea's commanding victory over Brighton is celebrated, while London City's disappointing performance against Leicester raises questions about their management. The episode emphasizes the evolving landscape of women's football and the importance of taking risks on the field. In this episode, the hosts discuss the standout performances in the WSL, particularly focusing on Bunny Shaw's incredible four-goal match for Manchester City. They analyze the dramatic comeback of Manchester United against Tottenham, the current standings in the league, and the implications for the title race. The conversation shifts to the Champions League, highlighting key matches and results, before moving on to domestic cup performances. The hosts also delve into transfer news, discussing player contracts and potential signings, and conclude with a segment on the New Year Honors awarded to notable footballers.

1. 00:00 Welcome to The Twelve: New Beginnings
2. 02:21 Frauen bundesliga's Bold Move
3. 12:35 Coaching Changes in the WSL
4. 18:33 The Impact of Managerial decisions
5. 27:38 Liverpool's Recent Struggles
6. 29:16 Liverpool's Struggles and Future Prospects
7. 35:12 Arsenal's Resurgence and Key Player Returns
8. 43:18 Chelsea's Dominance and Player Performances
9. 49:29 Brighton's Inconsistency and Managerial Challenges
10. 54:46 London City's Penalty Woes and Team Dynamics
11. 01:02:10 Manchester City's Offensive Power
12. 01:02:29 Bunny Shaw's Record-Breaking Performance
13. 01:06:12 City's Title Hopes and Team Dynamics
14. 01:11:45 The Thrilling Draw: United vs. Tottenham
15. 01:18:19 Champions League Roundup and Future Matchups
16. 01:25:11 Domestic Cup Insights and Team Priorities
17. 01:27:33 The Lee Cup and Its Implications
18. 01:28:40 Impact of Match Schedules on Teams
19. 01:29:32 Women's Champions Cup: A New Challenge
20. 01:30:37 Transfer News and Player Movements
21. 01:32:36 Arsenal's Contract Situations and Future Prospects

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In this episode, Treb, Deepti, and Marc delve into the latest happenings in the Women's Super League (WSL), discussing player rankings, key matches, and standout performances. They analyze the Guardian's top 100 female footballers list, highlighting its Eurocentric bias and the growing recognition of NWSL players. The conversation covers significant games, including the Manchester Derby, where City showcased their title contender status, and the surprising draw between Liverpool and Chelsea. The hosts also reflect on the rise of London City and Brighton's impressive win, while examining the struggles of Everton and Arsenal in their respective matches. Overall, the episode provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of women's football in England. In this episode, the hosts discuss Arsenal's ongoing struggles in the WSL, focusing on their lack of second chance opportunities and the impact of injuries on team performance. They highlight Leah Williamson's leadership as a key factor in the team's dynamics and express concerns about the roster's limitations compared to top competitors like Chelsea and City. The conversation shifts to match predictions for upcoming fixtures, including the Champions League and domestic cup results, while also addressing the evolving tactics of Chelsea and the ongoing controversies surrounding VAR technology in women's soccer.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Women's Super League and Player Rankings

15:07 Game Recap: Manchester Derby and Player Performances

24:39 London City vs. Villa: Rising Contenders

32:55 Brighton vs. Leicester: A Statement Win

38:28 Liverpool vs. Chelsea: A Surprising Draw

47:45 West Ham vs. Everton: A Battle at the Bottom

54:56 North London Derby: Arsenal vs. Tottenham

01:06:30 Arsenal's Struggles and Second Chances

01:09:46 Injury Updates and Leadership Impact

01:12:52 Roster Limitations and Future Prospects

01:14:30 Match Predictions and Upcoming Fixtures

01:15:41 Champions League Highlights

01:20:15 VAR and Offside Controversies

01:24:34 Chelsea's Tactical Evolution

01:29:30 WSL Standings and Champions League Outlook

01:31:38 Domestic Cup Results and Surprising Outcomes

01:39:10 Upcoming Matches and Predictions

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Treb, Deepti, Marc, and Thom Bomb are back with another episode discussing a controversial week of WSL matches with terrible refereeing decisions, upsets, and Tottenham showing they are who we think they are!