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Signeul needs to go


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After the appalling performance against Iceland and a heavy defeat against a team with near identical ranking (and one on the slide over recent years), I think it's time to point fingers at Anna Signeul and face the fact that she isn't capable of taking the team forward.

 

First off the bat, the players choked.  Again.  Like in 2013 and 2015, they play teams they are equal to or better on paper and end up losing out - teams Scotland are competitive with in friendlies, they end up outclassed when it matters.  It might be reasonable to suggest this is not the managers fault but surely motivation and ensuring the players actually perform in the big games is down to the manager as much as anyone else.  Signeul has an appalling record here.

 

But the problems run a lot deeper than that.  Signeul's tactical planning is utterly atrocious.  The Wings are overloaded with three players playing tight to each touchline, leaving absolutely no defensive coverage in midfield (only Kim Little is there and you won't get any sort of defence from her) which leaves the defence exposed and when a side is pacey or physical, there's no way they can be contained without decent midfield cover.

 

Through the humiliation to Iceland, Signeul failed to change tactics once.  In fact the only impact change she made was to remove Lisa Evans and therefore take away the only attacking threat the team had all game. It was just terrible, terrible management.

 

Strachan has an excuse, there is absolutely no real talent in the Scotland Men's set up.  Signeul has no such excuse.  Lisa Evans, Jenny Beattie and Kim Little are three of the best players in the world, the rest of the squad has reasonable depth but Signeul cannot get a decent performance out of them when it matters.  Beattie plays Midfield and only plays in Defence for Scotland these days.  That means she only gets two challenging games every two years in that position.  That's stupid.  Especially when you play a Defender in midfield (and wide in midfield at that).

 

This team should be good enough to walk the group they are in, beating Iceland home and away and actually challenge in the finals.  As things stand, they'll creep into the finals and likely get pasted once there.  Without a change of manager, this isn't going to improve.

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After the appalling performance against Iceland and a heavy defeat against a team with near identical ranking (and one on the slide over recent years), I think it's time to point fingers at Anna Signeul and face the fact that she isn't capable of taking the team forward.

 

First off the bat, the players choked.  Again.  Like in 2013 and 2015, they play teams they are equal to or better on paper and end up losing out - teams Scotland are competitive with in friendlies, they end up outclassed when it matters.  It might be reasonable to suggest this is not the managers fault but surely motivation and ensuring the players actually perform in the big games is down to the manager as much as anyone else.  Signeul has an appalling record here.

 

But the problems run a lot deeper than that.  Signeul's tactical planning is utterly atrocious.  The Wings are overloaded with three players playing tight to each touchline, leaving absolutely no defensive coverage in midfield (only Kim Little is there and you won't get any sort of defence from her) which leaves the defence exposed and when a side is pacey or physical, there's no way they can be contained without decent midfield cover.

 

Through the humiliation to Iceland, Signeul failed to change tactics once.  In fact the only impact change she made was to remove Lisa Evans and therefore take away the only attacking threat the team had all game. It was just terrible, terrible management.

 

Strachan has an excuse, there is absolutely no real talent in the Scotland Men's set up.  Signeul has no such excuse.  Lisa Evans, Jenny Beattie and Kim Little are three of the best players in the world, the rest of the squad has reasonable depth but Signeul cannot get a decent performance out of them when it matters.  Beattie plays Midfield and only plays in Defence for Scotland these days.  That means she only gets two challenging games every two years in that position.  That's stupid.  Especially when you play a Defender in midfield (and wide in midfield at that).

 

This team should be good enough to walk the group they are in, beating Iceland home and away and actually challenge in the finals.  As things stand, they'll creep into the finals and likely get pasted once there.  Without a change of manager, this isn't going to improve.

Very interesting post and intriguing to find out what's your agenda for joining the forum :lol: .

Mrs Mantis and I only started going this season and it's hard to find out very much about the women's team, what's the politics, good and bad players etc. You obviously know a lot more than me. Never knew Beattie was a midfielder for example but impressed by her, Lisa and Kim. Don't know much about Dieke but have we not got any more centre backs? She's a bit of a midget and prone to just punting the ball up the park.

Was sitting beside Lisa Evans' parents on Friday (pure coincidence) and in Signeul's defence, she seemed to be taking Lisa off to save her for Tues as the game was lost anyway.

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Very interesting post and intriguing to find out what's your agenda for joining the forum :lol: .

Mrs Mantis and I only started going this season and it's hard to find out very much about the women's team, what's the politics, good and bad players etc. You obviously know a lot more than me. Never knew Beattie was a midfielder for example but impressed by her, Lisa and Kim. Don't know much about Dieke but have we not got any more centre backs? She's a bit of a midget and prone to just punting the ball up the park.

Was sitting beside Lisa Evans' parents on Friday (pure coincidence) and in Signeul's defence, she seemed to be taking Lisa off to save her for Tues as the game was lost anyway.

 

No agenda, just been following the team for a good few years and was really hopeful they could deliver what the Men's team are a long, long way from being able to do - qualify and compete in a major championship.  The coverage certainly needs improved so there's more exposure and knowledge about the women's game, instead of being stuck on Alba it should be on BBC2 and there needs to be a regular magazine programme, again on BBC2 to spread the news about the game.

 

Dieke was a top class defender, despite her height.  The big problem is she is getting older and lost a lot of her pace, now she offers a slow, tiny chicane rather than any real stopping power.  Replacing Dieke should be a priority and the failure to really try out options in the 5 easy games before Iceland is another negative mark against Signeul.

 

One of the biggest problems I've noticed with the women's game (it was also a big problem for England's (lack of) progress under Hope Powell), is a tendency to stick with players who are way past their prime, I'd add Gemma Fay to Dieke as another who really has had all the time she should with the national team set up.  Both of them were woefully exposed on Friday.

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No agenda, just been following the team for a good few years and was really hopeful they could deliver what the Men's team are a long, long way from being able to do - qualify and compete in a major championship. The coverage certainly needs improved so there's more exposure and knowledge about the women's game, instead of being stuck on Alba it should be on BBC2 and there needs to be a regular magazine programme, again on BBC2 to spread the news about the game.

Dieke was a top class defender, despite her height. The big problem is she is getting older and lost a lot of her pace, now she offers a slow, tiny chicane rather than any real stopping power. Replacing Dieke should be a priority and the failure to really try out options in the 5 easy games before Iceland is another negative mark against Signeul.

One of the biggest problems I've noticed with the women's game (it was also a big problem for England's (lack of) progress under Hope Powell), is a tendency to stick with players who are way past their prime, I'd add Gemma Fay to Dieke as another who really has had all the time she should with the national team set up. Both of them were woefully exposed on Friday.

Do you think any of the top players in the SWPL would be up to it? Or would they be playing abroad if they were any good? Not seen enough games to comment, all I've seen was Hearts v ICT in div 2 which was absolutely woeful and Glasgow City v Chelsea which was decent, but a bit like Friday night. City competed well, but once Chelsea got in front, the ba' was on the slates.

Still got half a mind to persuade the missus to go over for the Iceland game, been there twice and love it. Also quite keen to go to the finals anyway even though it looks bleak for us.

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Do you think any of the top players in the SWPL would be up to it? Or would they be playing abroad if they were any good? Not seen enough games to comment, all I've seen was Hearts v ICT in div 2 which was absolutely woeful and Glasgow City v Chelsea which was decent, but a bit like Friday night. City competed well, but once Chelsea got in front, the ba' was on the slates.

Still got half a mind to persuade the missus to go over for the Iceland game, been there twice and love it. Also quite keen to go to the finals anyway even though it looks bleak for us.

It's really hard to judge the strength in depth overall because there is so little coverage of the game.  Both the back up keepers have semi-pro contracts in Sweden while Fay is still an amateur and has been almost her entire career, which kinda says it all really.  Rachel Corsie should be playing centre back, where she plays for probably the world's best club side (Seattle Reign) on a full time pro contract.

 

As for the finals, which I think we will still make automatically without a play off being needed, I think it really depends on whether the players choke again or not.  They have the capability of at least making the Quarter Finals and on a good day do better but the recent history of choking against big teams when the game actually matters is not a good sign and as I said, I don't really think there is much chance of Signeul turning that around.

 

And, of course, if Signeul sets the team up the way they were against Iceland, they'll be utterly destroyed by top teams simply walking through them in the middle of the park.  Iceland aren't a top tier side any more and haven't been for a while.  Germany or England would have a field day.

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No agenda, just been following the team for a good few years and was really hopeful they could deliver what the Men's team are a long, long way from being able to do - qualify and compete in a major championship.  The coverage certainly needs improved so there's more exposure and knowledge about the women's game, instead of being stuck on Alba it should be on BBC2 and there needs to be a regular magazine programme, again on BBC2 to spread the news about the game.

 

Dieke was a top class defender, despite her height.  The big problem is she is getting older and lost a lot of her pace, now she offers a slow, tiny chicane rather than any real stopping power.  Replacing Dieke should be a priority and the failure to really try out options in the 5 easy games before Iceland is another negative mark against Signeul.

 

One of the biggest problems I've noticed with the women's game (it was also a big problem for England's (lack of) progress under Hope Powell), is a tendency to stick with players who are way past their prime, I'd add Gemma Fay to Dieke as another who really has had all the time she should with the national team set up.  Both of them were woefully exposed on Friday.

Why? The standard is appalling, going by the few games I've seen. Why should the woman's team be on terrestrial TV when the men's team aren't? The viewing figures would be pitiful I'd imagine.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Why? The standard is appalling, going by the few games I've seen. Why should the woman's team be on terrestrial TV when the men's team aren't? The viewing figures would be pitiful I'd imagine.

People are more than aware of the Scottish women's team, who the players are and when they play.  Folk generally just aren't interested.  The major reason for that is that it's god awful.  

 

I have no problem with women's football and the funding that it gets.  I do have a problem with the idea that somehow more publicity would attract more interest.  It wouldn't.

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