Show Notes
Ellen White and Ben Haines are back together in the studio, and they're joined by WSL and England legend, Steph Houghton! The team break down a blockbuster weekend of derbies, from Manchester United ending City's 100% start to Arsenal’s north London derby comeback, reliving pressure on both the team and manager Renee Slegers. Ellen and Steph also discuss the progress Manchester United have made since the start of the season, Drew Spence's longevity as she equals the all-time WSL appearance record and Bunny Shaw’s ability to always be ready for showtime! Plus, the Champions League returns for matchday 3, so our trio look ahead to the return of European nights with all three English clubs at home. TIMECODES: 00:05 - Ellen White and Ben Haines are back in the studio together. 01:20 - Steph Houghton joins the team! 02:50 - Reaction to the Manchester derby as United end City's 100% start. Bunny Shaw proves she’s always ready for showtime and how have United turned their WSL form around? 22:11 - Arsenal come from behind to beat Spurs in the north London derby. 28:24 - Was Arsenal’s winning penalty a controversial one? 33:40 - Drew Spence equals the all-time WSL appearance record. 36:32 - London City Lionesses held to a draw by Liverpool with tough challenges ahead. 40:20 - UWCL preview as the competition returns for matchday 3.
More from BBC Women's Football Weekly
Katie Smith is joined by former England goalkeeper, Rachel Brown-Finnis, and 5 Live commentator Vicki Sparks to react to England’s 5-0 win (8-1 on aggregate) over Greece which sees them progress to round two of the Women's World Cup qualifying play-offs. After lacking a clinical edge in the first-leg, the Lionesses were far more ruthless at home, plus we saw two more debuts for Lexi Potter and Freya Godfrey. The team discuss whether Sarina Wiegman has become more tactically flexible when it comes to her starting XI and whether Maya Le Tissier’s standout performances at right-back have posed the question: can both she and Lucy Bronze start for the national team? Plus, Rob Schofield is down in the tunnel to get reaction from Alessia Russo, Grace Fisk and Sarina Wiegman. TIMECODES: 00:05 - Reaction to a more ruthless England performance. 06:50 - Alessia Russo interview 08:40 - Lexi Potter’s debut and Sarina Wiegman making more changes to her starting XI. 17:20 - Grace Fisk interview. 19:35 - Should Maya Le Tissier and Lucy Bronze play together for England? 25:20 - Sarina Wiegman interview.
Ellen White is back at St. George’s Park, alongside BBC Women's Sport Reporter Jo Currie, for a Lionesses special ahead of their upcoming World Cup play-off games against Greece. Ellen sits down with Washington Spirit defender Esme Morgan to discuss finding consistency in the England starting XI, how the NWSL season has prepared her for these crucial international games, and we of course get an update on Biscuit the cat! Plus, Jo chats to England’s exciting new midfield talents in the press conference, Lexi Potter and Erica Meg Parkinson. Full commentary of England v Greece is on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds. The first leg is a 5:30pm kick-off on Friday 9th October. TIMECODES: 00:04 - Ellen White and Jo Currie are back! 02:01 – Esme Morgan interview. 21:44 – Ellen and Jo discuss what’s ahead for England. 29:04 – Lexi Potter and Erica Meg Parkinson chat in the press conference. 32:50 - Ellen and Jo reflect on the Lionesses they’ve heard from.
As we reach the first international break of the season, Ellen White is joined by BBC Women's Sport Reporter Jo Currie and the Telegraph’s Women’s Football reporter Kathryn Batte to provide a half term review of the Women’s Super League. Five games in, Manchester City remain the team to beat and Arsenal’s struggles continue. The team discuss if the reigning champions can keep their momentum going and are the problems deeper than on the pitch at Arsenal who sit 10th, 10 points adrift of the league leaders. Jo also asks if London City Lionesses have lived up to the hype given their big summer transfer window and puts Ellen and Kathryn to the test in a quick fire round assessing each club’s performance so far. TIMECODES: 00:04 - Ellen White and Jo Currie are down at St. George’s Park. 01:10 - Ellen and Jo are joined by Kathryn Batte for a WSL half term review, starting with Arsenal. 11:25 - Manchester City remain the team to beat. 16:12- London City Lionesses deliver on their pre-season hype. 20:40 - Quick fire reviews of the rest of the league.
Ben and Ellen are joined by Em Sanders to dissect a fiery London derby at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea claimed bragging rights over Arsenal. The team examine Arsenal’s early-season stumbling blocks ahead of a huge week featuring away trips to Paris FC and Manchester City. Plus, hear post-match reaction from Sonia Bompastor and Lucy Bronze, who give credit to Katie McCabe and Lexi Potter, who could be England’s next breakthrough star ahead of Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses squad announcement on Tuesday. Ellen, Ben and Em also assess Tottenham’s unbeaten start to the WSL season and whether they can maintain their form against tougher opposition, before looking ahead to Matchday 2 of the Women’s Champions League. TIMECODES: 00:05 - Ellen and Ben are joined by Em Sanders this week! 03:57 - Chelsea beat Arsenal in a feisty encounter at Stamford Bridge. 12:30 - More frustrations for Arsenal who drop points again. 18:40 - What does the bigger picture look like for Arsenal with Paris FC and Man City up next? 22:43 - Reaction from Sonia Bompastor and Lucy Bronze. 25:30 - Praise for Katie McCabe and Lexi Potter. 29:21 - Tottenham maintain their unbeaten start to the WSL season. Can they keep it going against tougher opponents? 32:15 - Preview of match day 2 in the Women’s Champions League.
Ben Haines and Ellen White are together in the studio to break down a big weekend of domestic action and preview the return of European football! First up, the team react to Manchester City maintaining their 100% start to the WSL campaign and Lauren Hemp’s current form, before diving into Tottenham’s dominant victory over 10-player Crystal Palace. Attention then turns to Manchester United taking a massive step forward under Eva Olid against Arsenal, with special praise for their standout summer signing, Andrea Medina. The UEFA Women’s Champions League returns this week! Ben and Ellen discuss which WSL side faces the toughest draw in the league phase and whether any English team has done enough in the transfer market to bridge the gap to European royalty, Barcelona and Lyon. Plus, Chelsea star Alyssa Thompson sits down with Em Sanders to discuss her second season in London and Chelsea's European ambitions, and Bethan Woolley, Head of Women & Girls’ Football at the FAW, joins the pod to react to the huge news that Cardiff will host the 2029 UWCL final. TIMECODES: 00:05 - Ellen and Ben are together in the studio! 02:08 - Reaction to Man City maintaining their 100% start to the season. 07:40 - Olivia Holdt’s hat-trick helps Spurs thrash 10-player Palace. 09:20 - Eva Olid’s Manchester United take a big step forward against Arsenal. 13:08 - Praise for United’s new signing Andrea Medina. 16:24 - The Champions League returns this week! Which WSL side has the toughest draw? 22:56 - Chelsea’s Alyssa Thompson chats to Em Sanders. 31:33 - Ellen and Ben reflect on Alyssa’s interview and Chelsea’s European ambitions. 34:45 - Can any WSL team bridge the gap to Barcelona or Lyon on the European stage? 37:30 - Bethan Woolley, Head of Women & Girls’ Football at the FAW, joins the pod to reflect on the news Cardiff will host the 2029 UWCL final.