Positively Positive

Even the goal difference!

Yesterday Spurs women picked up three points against Bristol City. Impressively, we put the newly promoted side away before halftime. I missed the first 65 minutes in real time because I had to eat breakfast (damned social and physilogical needs!) but saw the last 25 as we saw the game out.

However, in what seems a new commitment to the women’s team, Tottenham’s main site is now posting full match replays, along with extended highlights, the day after. What else was I going to do over my morning coffee? Read the news? No, friends; I hit play.

Within the first ten minutes we displayed the obvious possession and pressing structures we showed last week at Stamford Bridge, only to be undone by the obvious gap in individual quality between us and that west London outfit. Against Bristol City, however, we found traction. We could control the match.

Then, inevitably, the goals came, and a couple of them were peaches. If you haven’t seen them, go look them up right now. But what is even more encouraging is that we produced these performances while still looking a work in process. Our best player, Beth England, has yet to lace her boots this season. The threat she will offer in addition to her clinical finishing could really elevate her teammates and give them the extra confidence to put the ball into tight areas. With all that attention shifting to Beth, it should open spaces for the continuous movement of Celin Bizet and Martha Thomas.

Also, despite killing the game off with those aforementioned goals, the last 25 minutes had some rough patches. Jessica Naz and Ash Neville displayed some loose passing or strange decisions on the ball, decisions that—against a better team—could have caused us some real trouble. There was also a passage of play where the midfielders stood directly next to each other and disagreed, right during the run of play, if the long ball to the forward was the correct move or, as Ria Percival chose, slowing it down was prudent.

These types of growing pains are to be expected but what makes it all so encouraging is that we are getting good performances despite the rawness of the tactical understanding. Anyone who watched the women last year can tell you how much of a struggle it was, not just for results, but to string a few passes together. This squad has already cleared that hurdle with flying colors. I have no realistic idea what this side can achieve but there is one thing I know: if you turn up to Brisbane Road, open up the FA player, or catch the replay the following day, you’re going to see these women play some football. And what a breath of fresh air that is.