Toone Army!

We are back with Episode 2 in which we rave about our very own Wonder Woman, celebrate putting FIVE past the Geordies, talk January Transfer window (will she or won’t she…), preview the rest of the season starting with the small matter of Chelsea next Sunday and rage at a terrible injustice in the press. Come on United!

Transcript

James 0:14

Hello and welcome to the second ever episode of Devil's Play, a podcast about everything Manchester United women, with me, James. And me,

Stevie 0:23

Stevie.

James 0:23

Hi Stevie. Hi James. Yes, we are back, fresh from watching United beat Newcastle 5 Cup fourth round, and in today's episode we'll start by chewing over the game and raving about our very own Wonder Woman. Not all superheroes wear capes, people. Some just wear protective face masks. We'll also preview the rest of the season, starting with a hulking great showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next Sunday, and we'll talk transfer window. Will she or won't she stay? Who does Stevie think we should sign? And who else is going where in the WSL? Plus, we'll complain bitterly at a terrible miscarriage of justice in the national press. And probably berate commentators for being inept and laugh at City for not having any fans because that's just par for our course. That's all coming up on today's second ever episode of Devil's Play. But first, a huge thank you from us to all of you who listened to our first episode and took the time to post and message nice things about it and encourage us to make more episodes. We are beyond thrilled and grateful as two total podcast novices who are currently huddled around a microphone we bought off Amazon, squashed against our coat rack in the hallway of our flat because it's the quietest place to record, wrestling with our imposter syndromes. Stevie, how did you feel when we posted our first episode? Yes, it was somewhat nerve wracking. So, we are incredibly grateful to you all for being nice about it and making us think there is maybe a future to us talking about Men United Women into this microphone. And so we shall continue to do so as long as you lot want to listen because, hey, talking about United is what we like doing. And frankly, what we would be doing anyway. And we should talk about them right now. Newcastle United in the FA Cup. Last episode, I said I was nervous. I said it was a banana skin. You said we'd be fine. And as is often the case in our marriage, despite my reluctance to admit it, you were right. I'm

Stevie 2:20

always right. Sometimes right. NO. I am often right but, I don't sit here completely satisfied, uh, after being right, because the game was not vintage. Should we say? Not vintage. I thought the first five minutes we were all over them and then we started to misplace passes. It looked a bit sloppy, looked a bit lazy. lack of effort, lack of running, just looked like we expected to beat them, without putting much effort in, and that's a bit disappointing.

James 2:52

What did you think of the line up?

Stevie 2:54

I thought it was very strong, I thought that, I mean it's classic Skinner. Hayley Ladd and Katie Zelland back in to the midfield. thought it was good. I was excited that Garthier was starting. I was excited that Chase was starting. Nikita Paris, obviously a goal scoring machine at the moment. I didn't disappoint in that manner. But it looked like we meant business and we were ready to progress in the FA Cup.

James 3:23

Yeah, I thought it was a sign of, taking Newcastle seriously, which we should do, uh, because they've got a pretty good record. Although, they were perhaps not quite up to our level. First 20 minutes, they were very industrious. They fought very hard, they worked very hard, defensively pretty solid. But, uh, they didn't have a lot going forward.

Stevie 3:40

No, it looks like, their game plan was to sit in and play balls over the top. but we were ready for that and that was positive. That was good. we weren't quite ready for their press. We weren't quite ready to, for them to sit in. It didn't look like we wanted to play balls in, or we were just taking too many touches. and it was just a bit frustrating to start with. It was

James 4:03

a bit, wasn't it? I was a bit, disappointed with Lucia Garcia, one of our absolute faves. Delighted to see a start, but, ineffective in this game. Bit lazy. Yes, yeah, hate to say it, but it looked that way, didn't it? Both, Lucia Garcia and Jace, were a little under par.

Stevie 4:22

Yeah, I agree. And Chase Sometimes she just takes too many touches, but quite frustrating to watch. Yeah,

James 4:28

she's got that lovely languid style that is a joy to watch. But in a game like this, which was proper English FA Cup, lower league side coming out of the traps fast, trying to bully the Premier League team, and we didn't, not all of us, let's say, matched them up in terms of energy, in terms of Physicality and in terms of desire and that was a bit frustrating

4:56

It

Stevie 4:56

was a bit disappointing and it also felt a little bit disrespectful to them. Don't know

James 5:00

if you agree Yeah, we looked like we maybe thought we could win it more easily than we actually could so yes frustrating first 20 25 minutes

Stevie 5:10

Couple of good chances A couple of

James 5:12

choices, yeah, but a lot of misplaced passes and we just looked like we should be, if we kept composure, be able to pass through that Newcastle side, but we kept giving the ball

Stevie 5:21

away. Kept giving the ball away. The story of Man United in general, I'd say. In

James 5:27

general, but.

Stevie 5:29

28 minutes in,

James 5:29

Cometh the hour, Now,

Stevie 5:31

we both said exactly the same thing, when The, the Elatune goal went in and it was that if that strike could talk, it would say fuck this. Um, it really looked like a woman who was like me, a bit bored by what was happening around her and just thought. Fuck this. I'm gonna hit it. And hit it she did with her left foot. What, what a strike.

James 5:54

What a goal. And you're absolutely right. It was Toonie going, I'm so fed up of you lot giving the ball away. I'm gonna do it myself. Uh, we should have said that we weren't at the game. We have watched this game from our sofa. On the FA player. which everybody who watches women's football will be familiar with. uh, yes, uni raised the game through individual brilliance. In the second half of the first half, she was everywhere doing everything, doing toony things with. Extraordinary

Stevie 6:29

brilliance. Yeah, it was, it was very much, a goal of class, um, which was the only bit of class up to that point, I'd say.

James 6:39

Swiftly followed by another bit of toony class, the second goal. An

Stevie 6:43

outstanding cross onto Nikita Paris head for her to just let it bounce off and into the goal.

James 6:49

It was magnificent. followed by another very similar toony cross onto Paris head that was given offside. Which we

Stevie 6:59

can't clarify because the replays were deleted. not good enough for us to actually see whether she was offside

James 7:05

or not. In fact, I can't even completely confirm that it was Ella Toon who crossed the ball. No, you can't, no, because Because she was, it was, whoever crossed the ball was just out of the reach of the one camera. It seems extremely likely, owing to the quality of the cross and the location on the pitch at the time of Ella Toon, but, it was out of camera shot, so we don't completely know. Apologies if somebody else, made that brilliant cross. But at half time on the FA Player, they showed some highlights of the first half, and it was telling that Ella Toon featured. In every single one of them. Every single

Stevie 7:39

one of them, yeah. First, shot on target, editing. we actually thought it had gone in, crossed the line, because the keeper kind of bounced it onto the post and it trickled all the way across the line and back out. and then everything else good was coming from Toony, wasn't it, until that strike that went in and then we felt a little bit calmer about the game. I was feeling a little bit nervous. I was thinking, oh my god, what if he's right? What if we have to record this podcast and he will have been right? That's not a good way to set this up.

James 8:05

It's a terrifying prospect for you, isn't it, at all times that I may be right. Yeah, let's not have that. I'm very, very happy to be proved wrong by Man United winning when I think they might not, and that is the good kind of being wrong. Half time came and went, and in the second half, no changes initially, uh, but we went.

Stevie 8:26

lovely bit of play, passing through Newcastle for the first time, I think. we went from left to right, all the way through to Mayor, who found herself in the Right winger's position, um, with a beautiful cross to the back post. Keeper got a touch on it, but García was there to touch it back into Paris for an easy tap in.

James 8:48

Wonderful bit of play from García, I have to say. Although she didn't have a vintage game, it was a beautiful bit of skill just to control the ball at the back post and knock it back into Nikita Paris for her second goal of the game from within three yards. Uh, fourth goal, we've made some changes by this point, Skinner made four changes in one substitution cycle, and on came Rachel Williams, and Melvin Malar, and Leah Galton, and Irena Guerrero, and, we looked considerably more energetic and industrious, I would argue, for those changes.

Stevie 9:29

Yes, I would agree with you there, those players looked like they wanted it more, and didn't want to just show off their skills.

James 9:38

Newcastle are quite a physical side, and I think, um, Rachel Williams and Leah Galton and Malfe brought that physicality to the last. 30 minutes or so of the game that they played for we looked more at it and big credit to to Rachel Williams. Every time she comes on the field she looks like she's just gonna kill anybody who gets in her

Stevie 9:58

way. And we were just saying that weren't we? We were just, we were talking about Rachel Williams and how much she looks like she wants it when she plays and how brilliant that is. What a great energy to have on the field especially from such an experienced. and brilliant player, and then cut to about 30 seconds later, we have another brilliant bit of play, a brilliant ball to Melveen, it had a great touch, hit it on to Lear Goulton, who touched it back and we, we saw Rachel Williams bounding in and both of us were like, hit it! And hit it she did, but she hit the bar. but it came back and obviously she was able to steer it in. what a great goal.

James 10:37

What a great goal. I mean, this is a fan podcast and, as fans you want nothing more than to see the players who wear your shirt. give everything for the cause. And Rachel Williams is the epitome of a player who comes onto the field and gives 100 percent every time. And so happens that she's also brilliant. So when you see her do extraordinary things like she did today, with that first shot that rattled off the woodwork and came back and then she finished it. It was a joy,

Stevie 11:06

wasn't it? It was a joy. And, um, and I also think it's worth saying that. When Rachel Williams came on, I think the Newcastle players were growing in confidence in their challenges and then one went into a challenge with Rachel Williams and got short thrift. So I think that, that stopped them in their tracks a little.

James 11:21

Anyone who's ever run into Rachel Williams knows not to do so again. fifth goal then right at the end, classic Katie Zelland corner and Melveen popping up at the

Stevie 11:32

near post. Yeah, it was a brilliant training ground, set piece routine. which we haven't seen enough of, I don't think, with, when we've got such a good, set piece taker. So, it was pleasing to see

James 11:42

that. Pleasing. Lots of pleasing things. Was I right to be worried about Newcastle?

Stevie 11:48

Um, They looked okay. I don't think you were right to be worried. But, they're certainly going to progress quickly through the league they're in at the moment. but big challenges ahead in the championship, I'd say.

James 12:00

I would say so too. I thought they looked, pretty much exactly what they are, which is, head and shoulders above the league they're in, but also a good distance off being WSL. Standard, but fair plate in Newcastle. Certainly on the TV it sounded like they'd bought a few, and they made a bit of noise, albeit, they were right next to the camera and therefore probably the mic. So we've got a lot more Newcastle, fans on the telly than perhaps we would've got in, in the ground. But fair play to Newcastle. It was also very good of the Newcastle fans to sing about Ella Toon so often. They brought out the full Ella Toon repertoire. Stand up if you love the Toon. Uh, Toon Army. Uh, it was very decent. They might

Stevie 12:44

have thought about that before they started singing all those songs, but hey. Who are we to judge them?

James 12:49

Everybody should love Ella Toon and sing about her all the time, regardless of who they support. other things of note, we are generally very critical and dismissive of commentators, but the commentator on the FA player today, whose name I do not know, sorry, pronounced Jace right.

Stevie 13:07

But not Riviere. So that's disappointing. If you can get one right, do the one

James 13:12

that's spelled correctly. Yeah, pronounced Jade like the French Riviera, didn't he? It was Jade Riviera. I will say, weirdly, Mayor Letizia, which seems odd, Incidentally,

Stevie 13:24

um, we're an extra time. Chelsea West Ham are 1 1 in an extra time, which And we'll probably talk about later how that's going to help

13:33

us.

James 13:34

So we're recording this, as you can tell, immediately after United Newcastle. And Stevie is being distracted by the fact that Chelsea are drawing against West Ham. No, I'm doing research really. This is important. Yeah, this is important. Come on West Ham. so, we are through to the fifth round of the FA Cup, which is very, very pleasing. The draw is on Monday night at 7. 30pm. Who would you like in that draw, Stevie?

Stevie 14:00

Well, I mean, selfishly, we'd probably want some London based cubs, don't we? Because, we want to be able to go and see it. So, I would say Charlton, although Charlton are, um, a very good side in the championship, aren't they? So, uh, and the other one is obviously London City Lionesses, who are also a very good side, who play Moneyfields. They've only just kicked off, so we don't know what the outcome is going to be there. Who else?

James 14:21

Who else do we want? For those who didn't listen to our first episode, A. Why? And B. We live in Bermondsey, South London, which makes travelling to the sports village tricky. So, in purely selfish fashion, the best FA Cup draw for us would be a London team, or at least somewhere we could get to. I also, um, a ground geek, so I would love anywhere, that is a new ground. Where do Crystal Palace women play? Crystal Palace play at Gander Green Lane, which is Sutton United's ground, which I have been to. You have been to? I have, yes. I haven't. You haven't, so that'd be good for you. And London City Lionesses play at Prince's Park, Dartford, which also you haven't been to. No. So some new grounds, some potential new grounds for you. You

Stevie 15:06

might have discovered that I am not really a stadium geek, but I just, um, follow on.

James 15:13

There's time yet for you to build up your stadiums to reach my advanced level. or stadium geekery, I believe in you. so what will probably happen is that we'll get a really boring home. We'll get Arsenal. Yeah, we'll get Arsenal at Leeds Sports Village. But, um, we live in hope. any kind of draw against a lower ranked side that allows us to proceed in the FA Cup without too much stress and worry would be gratefully received. I'd love to get back to Wembley for the second time in two seasons and this time potentially play somebody other than Chelsea. Moving on. So, we are in the month of January, which means one thing. The transfer window is open. And in this transfer window for Manchester United fans, there is only one question. Will Mary Earps still be playing for Man United in February? Stupid.

Stevie 16:05

No, I don't think she will be to be honest with you. Um, although she has just played in the FA cup. Does that mean she's cut tied?

James 16:13

I believe it does. I did a quick google. Um,

Stevie 16:15

so if she were to go to another english team She wouldn't be able to play for them in the FA cup. I

James 16:21

think that is correct. Wow. That's interesting. I Have changed my mind on this. I think she will Stay with united for the rest of the season for a few reasons. One, I think, the takeover has just happened and Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have made some good noises about wanting to support the women's team and wanting to develop and grow the women's team. I, in a slightly romanticised fan world, I would love to think that Mary has therefore thought Things might get better, and therefore I might Let's wait and see. Let's wait and see what

Stevie 16:57

happens. It was interesting that when he came in he, met Millie Turner, and I believe requested to meet Mark Skinner and the women's team, and then obviously they sent their representatives for that, um, which I think is a good thing. I think it's

James 17:10

a great thing, and it's really vital and needed and not before time. There is obviously something wrong fundamentally at Man United. Casey Stoney left, former manager of United Women, under something of a crowd, she basically said, that she couldn't work in the conditions that were being offered to her. She Who Shall Not Be Named, who I've vowed never to speak about again, left last summer on a free transfer to go to one of our rivals, and the sort of mood around that was that Arsenal was a better place to be. Mary Epps has been Connected with Arsenal ever since last summer when they made a bid for her, and there's been a lot of talk about wanting to play her. The

Stevie 17:54

commentator on that FA play has said, um, there's been a lot of talk about Mary Earp's move to Arsenal, as if it was happening. And I think

James 18:01

that's wrong. I think that's wrong. Arsenal's interest, I think, has cooled. I think they're going for other targets. I think, the cynical bit of me goes It makes sense for Mary Ernst to stay at Man United regardless of her long term intentions because she's on a free in the summer. She just sticks it out for the rest of the season and then she can go wherever she wants in the summer. So, I think she will be here in February. I hope she is. And if I was Jim Ratcliffe, one of my priorities would be to have solved some of the issues that mean our best players leave the club. by the time that the Next transfer window comes round and keep everything crossed that maybe this Mary Earps leaving Manchester United thing will go away. But, you know, that is hope more than expectation. And as we know, it's the hope

Stevie 18:50

that kills you.

James 18:51

If Mary Earps does leave Manchester United, who plays in goal for us? Fallon? Um, we haven't seen

Stevie 19:03

enough. We haven't seen enough. I think, she seems like a good shot stopper, but unproven with her feet, although Mary Epps has, not been doing anything to help my heart rate in that department recently either, so I don't know. Is that, the goalkeeping, or is it, the players that surround the goalkeeping? Are the players not able to protect the ball in the way that Mark Skinner clearly wants them to play out from the back? I

James 19:29

don't know. It just feels like it's been a bit wobbly recently. She's quite good with her feet, Mary Epps, isn't she? Well, we've always thought that before, haven't we?

Stevie 19:36

Yeah, yeah. But recently,

James 19:38

it's been a bit nerve wracking. Yeah, yeah, exactly. there was a lot of Ellie Roebuck teen ited rumours, but in the last few days I think that's

Stevie 19:46

just the classic fanbase. From both sides going, Ellie Roebuck's not playing. United are going to need a very good goalkeeper. will she make the move? It's been a bit of a strange one with Ellie Roebuck, because she was absolutely Man City's number one, and in the mix for the England team. And then she's just been cut off. Since she got sent off against United last season. Yeah. And Chiara Keating came in for the rest of the season, basically. And did very well, obviously. She's an excellent goalkeeper. but she's taken her place at City, and she's taken her place in the England squad as well. Which, it just seems very odd. I think she's done a lot for that England squad in the time. And now she's completely out of it. Who knows?

James 20:29

Who knows, but yes, strongly rumoured that, Eddie Roebuck is off to Barcelona, which would scupper a United move. I really hope Mary Earp stays. I'm a big Mary Earp fan. I, am somewhat confused by public utterances around these rumours and the I'm being professional by staying quiet. It's not the ringing endorsement that fans of the club would like for their club, but I'm also conscious that not all is well in the state of Man United, clearly. And, if Mary Epps is even thinking about leaving, then that reflects very badly on the club as much as, as A fan might think it reflects badly on the player. So, let's see what happens. as always with the transfer window, ultimately, we don't

Stevie 21:19

know. It's been quite quiet as well. United have made no signings so far. and nobody has left.

James 21:24

Alyssa Herne has come back from her loan spell at Everton, but the word on the street is that that is to come back to go out on loan again somewhere else. I was a bit disappointed today that, the young players who did so well against PSV in that Malta friendly, I thought particularly Phoebe Chadwick, was not on the bench. Yes, I agree with you. And I wonder whether, I wonder whether there's a reason for that. that we don't know about, which is that they played for another age level yesterday or today or something. But I also wonder whether some of those younger players might get loan moves to give them some game time in the way that Grace Clinton went to Bristol City last season, did really well, and now is smashing it at Spurs.

Stevie 22:07

I'm surprised they haven't recalled her, to be honest.

James 22:09

Yeah, I wonder

Stevie 22:09

whether Although it's because we don't, we don't need that position necessarily at the moment, do

James 22:14

we? We don't, and I wonder whether the thought is actually She's having a really good time at Spurs, let her play the full season. She's going to feel like a new signing for us in the summer, which is exciting, I think. Yes,

Stevie 22:27

other signings elsewhere though.

James 22:29

There have, yeah. What else is going on in the WSL?

Stevie 22:33

Well West Ham have made some pretty big name signings, albeit, of 30 year olds, but still absolutely brilliant signings for West Ham I'd say. Chrissy Mewes. Katrina Ghori and Siddorski. Shalina Siddorski from Spurs.

James 22:51

who and Ghori and Siddorski are playing in this game, which is, oh no. Yeah. Chelsea are winning 3 1. How did that happen? And like, just in mere moments of podcast recording, West Ham have gone from drawing With Chelsea to losing 3 1.

Stevie 23:06

Yeah, it's half time, extra time. But, can't see that. Chelsea

James 23:12

are still in the FA Cup and we will almost certainly draw them at some point, which is very annoying. what else has happened? Spurs have strengthened even further with Mathilde Wimberg and Charlotte Grant coming in. Chelsea have signed Natalie Bjorn from Everton and Arsenal have signed Emily Fox so a bit of strengthening going on around us. There's no strong rumours about United signing anyone, but you have identified a player that you think we should sign. Who is that? Well,

Stevie 23:44

I identified this in the summer, and I was banging on about it then, and it didn't happen, and now I'm sure it's not going to happen. But, Myra Ramirez, the Colombian number nine, was absolutely brilliant in the World Cup. She didn't score any goals, but what she did for that Colombian team was what she who shall not be named, used to do for us. She runs and runs and runs. She holds up the play really well. She can put a brilliant cross into the box. She can work the wings. if we were looking to anyone, it would be Mayra Ramirez, who plays currently for Levante.

James 24:21

That is, Stevie's scouting report. And I wholeheartedly agree. I think she's a real prospect. She's still Her numbers for Levante and for the Colombian national team are really good. She's been injured for some of this season, so she hasn't played many games, but her assists and goal ratio are fantastic. And she is a big number nine in the kind of bunny shore. Mold that really leads the line, holds the play up brilliantly. Um, it would be a change of style for us. I think Jace coming in has changed the way that we operate as a front line. My Ramirez is not. the same player as Jace by any stretch but as you say she is quite similar in some ways to she who shall not be named and maybe we miss a little bit of that tenacity of that strength with the with back to goal with those little layoffs and just with the out and out bullying strike force of a of a number nine. So uh Mayra Ramirez we should sign. That's the one. Dear Mark please sign Mayra Ramirez. Love from James and Stevie. so in our first episode, we reviewed the first half of the season, and now that we're in the transfer window and we're back up and running, it's time to look forward, full of hope and expectation. Starting next Sunday with a nice, easy game. The easiest. Away at Chelsea. So, we have got our tickets. We are one of the 3, 065 away fans, who will be at Stamford Bridge. Which suggests, that United fans will make up quite a high percentage of the crowd. Bearing in mind the last time Chelsea played at Stamford Bridge, they did so in front of 12, 000 people against Liverpool. In searching for positives around this game, and you do have to search a little bit, but One of the big positives for me is that this game is at Stamford Bridge. I think Chelsea are exceptional at King's Meadow in that tight little ground with a crowd right on top of them. Always at capacity. I wonder whether on the big pitch With not many Chelsea fans and a rowdy away, away following might just suit us. It's that grasping, it's that clutching at

Stevie 26:42

straws. No, I don't think it is clutching at straws, but I think we've got to turn up and, we've got to play how we play. I think Mark Skinner's got to, set us up right, and, for us to be ready for that game. But, yeah, I think, I don't think you're wrong.

James 26:57

It's time for United to turn up at one of these big games. Yeah, it really is. It really is, and I just hope against hope that it's next Sunday. we should talk about Sam Kerr. Yet another ACL, devastating.

Stevie 27:13

It is devastating, although it's probably good news for United. that's not a positive for anything really. it's another world class player. out for the rest of the season. She will never play for Emma Hayes again, which feels weird. She won't play in the Olympics, which is catastrophic. She didn't play much in the World Cup, obviously, for other injuries. But I just, I feel like we're losing our best players to this injury too often in this sport.

James 27:43

Absolutely. I am not at all sad that Sam Kerr will not be facing Man United, especially as she's on 99 goals for Chelsea. but, huge sympathy to her. It's brutal. And regardless of who you support, you never want to see anybody suffer that. Awful, awful injury. Um, so Chelsea without Sam Kerr, just purely in a football, sense, that helps us. I also wonder whether there is something about Emma Hayes having announced her departure just plays into the favour of other teams around Chelsea for the rest of this season.

Stevie 28:19

I'm not so sure about that. I know, I know, I know why you're saying it, I know what you're saying. But, They are still an excellent team. Emma Hayes is still an excellent coach. they'll still show up. I think that they'll still show up and I think that they'll still be with

James 28:32

me. Look, I'm clutching at straws again. I know, I know, I know. Stop taking my straws away from me. I'm sorry. Any straw I see, I'm clutching at it. I'm just thinking back to when Sir Alex Ferguson first announced that he was leaving Manchester United and we went rapidly downhill and I, I'm hoping that may be the same thing will happen to Chelsea. But in all seriousness, I wonder whether the pressure of wanting to win it forever will take its toll at some

Stevie 29:02

point. And wanting to win the Champions League, because that's the only one she hasn't won and Is that going to detract? Is that going to distract them from the league? I, I, I see what you're saying.

James 29:13

It's, you know, hope above expectation. And we all know It's the hope that kills you. How many times? Should we keep a tally? Should we keep a tally of how many times we say on this podcast, it's the hope that kills you. so the other Chelsea thing just to mention, which is not a hopeful thing, is the rumour that abounds that Casey Stoney might be in the running to be Chelsea manager. That would be pretty concerning. Sick making, wouldn't it? Yeah, it would be pretty sick making. Good, well that's our hot take on that. Um, the rest of the season then, after Beyond Chelsea, we are just four points off second place. We're going strong in the Conti Cup, we need to draw against

Stevie 29:55

City. We think, we don't, we've tried to look up, how this Conti Cup works, and it's incredibly complicated. Um, so what we think is that we just need, we need to just win the group, and that would be great. If we draw against City. We're

James 30:09

laughing. We've won the group. We've won the group. If we lose against City, then it becomes complicated, it becomes about points per game and then goal difference. But because teams in different groups play different number of games, it starts getting mathematical and mathematics is neither of our strong points. No, sorry about that. So anyway, we're going strong in the Conti Cup and we are still in the FA Cup. So what are your hopes? For the rest of the season.

Stevie 30:37

To not drop any more points. Good luck with that. Starting at Cheltenham. Starting at Stamford Bridge. what are my hopes? I think if we could get some silverware that would be really positive. I unfortunately don't think we're going to be title contenders as we discussed last week. So, actually focusing on the Conti Cup, um, the FA Cup is, probably our best bet of success this

James 31:04

year. Do you think we can still make top three? No. Wow. No. That was blunt. It was. I retain some hope, that we can force our way into that top three. I totally agree. I think the FA Cup and the Conti Cup are our best chances of making ourselves happy this season. There's a bit of me that thinks, if we can start taking points off our rivals, which is a thing historically we've been bad at, if we can go to Stamford Bridge and get at least a point, if we can beat Chelsea at Leesports Village, if we can go to the Emirates and get at least a point. Or even three as we did last season. if we can go to the Etihad and get something, then I think we're in with a chance, but we have not historically managed to take many points off those big three rivals. And, we will say been really poor at dropping points to teams like. Brighton and Leicester and Everton last season, so the two go hand in hand. We need points off our rivals and we need to make sure that we get three points from every other game. And then maybe. Maybe. We'll see. Quickfire questions. United will finish in what position? Fourth. Who is going to be United's top scorer this season? Nikita Paris? Who is the best footballer in the world? correct answer. Good. Which may leads us on to the most appalling miscarriage of justice. The Guardian newspaper published this week. The top 100 women's footballers in some kind of order put together by supposedly a panel of experts and atune is at number 66, which is. The most disgusting ness carriage of justice I have come across in a long time. To put this into context, right, Steph Catley is at 60, Erin Cuthbert is at 57, Mary Fowler is at 56. Come

Stevie 33:06

on! Well, look, I'm with you, obviously. For me, Ella Toon is number one. but what this, what whoever put this together is obviously looking at stats and as we both said last season, Ella Toon did not have her best season, and even up to the Brighton game this season. So there was, there was a lot of chat, I listened to a podcast, where Mark Skinner was being interviewed and all he was being asked about was Ella Toon's form. Um, and I know there was a lot of chat about that in the summer at the World Cup as well, Ella Toon's not in form. she didn't have any goal involvements since March last year against West Ham, um, where she made an assist, until Brighton. So that's a pretty long time to be without a goal in the WSL or be without an assist. That was March to November. albeit she did score a world class goal in the semi final of the World Cup, but you know. It is what it is.

James 34:03

This feels incredibly disloyal of you to start, to bring, to start bringing out the stats against Ella. I'm just playing devil's advocate. This is where it all starts, you know, one day I'm just going to wake up and you're going to be like, I'm off to do an Arsenal podcast because I want to win trophies. This is how it begins. So the Guardian's top 100 footballers also includes she who shall not be named at number 34 as if she's better than Toonie. Hinata at 26 which was pleasing.

Stevie 34:38

So come on Mark Skinner. When she's back from injury, let's see her

James 34:41

play more. Let's see the 26th best player in the world play for Manchester United. the sadly missed Honor Vajay is at number 23. The sadly missed Lauren James is at number 10. And the almighty Mary Earps is at number 9. Quite rightly taking her place in the top 10. Congratulations, Mary, on yet another accolade. but to anybody who voted or contributed to the Guardians top 100 footballers, having Ella Toon at number 66 is an absolute disgrace. Okay. And you should be ashamed of yourself. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Be ashamed. Did you not see that goal she scored today against Newcastle? It was outstanding. I

Stevie 35:19

think it would be very different if they'd made it right now. I should hope

James 35:21

so too. Let's say that. Ella, we love you, even if the Guardian don't. So, that's it for this episode 2 of Devil's Play. Thank you so much for listening. We are so grateful for your support. If you like what we're doing, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you get new episodes whenever we release them. Please share the pod with every United fan you know and help us grow. Please spread the word on social media where you can find us on Twitter and Instagram at DevilsPlayPod. We will record our next episode when we get home from Stamford Bridge next Sunday. We'll see you there, in the away end, cheering on the Mighty Reds. Come on

Stevie 35:58

United! Come on United!