arseblog.substack.com/p/a-foord-ab... This week’s Arsenal Women Newsletter. The signing of Mariona looked like it might threaten Caitlin Foord’s streak as a nailed on starter. Instead, her qualities as a foil are more important than ever and her underlying data is trending very nicely too 👇🏻🔴⚪️ - ThreadSky

tim-stillman.bsky.social • 97 days ago

https://arseblog.substack.com/p/a-foord-ability
This week’s Arsenal Women Newsletter. The signing of Mariona looked like it might threaten Caitlin Foord’s streak as a nailed on starter. Instead, her qualities as a foil
are more important than ever and her underlying data is trending very nicely too 👇🏻🔴⚪️

Comments

adam-salter4.bsky.social•97 days ago

We’ve gone from Foord Focus to A-Foord-Ability. I look forward to the next Foord based pun! 😅

atliengunner.bsky.social•96 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/stattorino.bsky.social/post/3lbtkphct5k2l look who’s 4th 👀

tim-stillman.bsky.social•96 days ago

Given sample size is 98 minutes not much to read into that. Frida’s number far more significant over 491 minutes and that’s the main reason Rosa can’t get into the team.

atliengunner.bsky.social•96 days ago

Just read your substack. I’m encouraged by what we’ve seen recently from Russo, but what she lacks and Mead has innately (killer instinct/unwavering belief), I don’t think can be cultivated. I would love to see Meade in front of Frida and Mariana. Haven’t seen data, but Meade is surely more clinical

atliengunner.bsky.social•96 days ago

OAN. I watched the NWSL final and the final 4. The athleticism in that league is mind boggling. Arsenal could do with that level of quickness really all over the pitch, but specifically on the wings. One of my big concerns for the next manager is recruitment. Someone that can tap into these pools.

tim-stillman.bsky.social•97 days ago

Last season, Caitlin was over over burdened and isolated in build up. This year Arsenal are basically playing with an extra attacker and spreading the work evenly. Caitlin is, imo, at her best as a foil player / support attacker (for club and country) and this season that’s what we’re seeing again.

mattswift.bsky.social•97 days ago

To support Caitlin, Jonas’s plan was always to push the back line further forward and you ended up with every player in the opposition’s half which left them exposed to pace.

Thankfully that’s changed.
IMO

tim-stillman.bsky.social•97 days ago

Yes, she was consistently asked to beat 2-3 players for a low opportunity cross from the byline on her weak foot.

ianlatham64.bsky.social•97 days ago

Great piece, CF is an absolute baller and a joy to watch.

michael03c.bsky.social•97 days ago

Weird that she's our only legitimate "touchline winger" profile in the squad.

tim-stillman.bsky.social•97 days ago

Yes indeed.

davedun.bsky.social•97 days ago

For my money, she is *the* in form Matildas player at the moment. Fowler has had some very good games at City (particularly against Barça) but Foord is consistently excellent.

ianlatham64.bsky.social•97 days ago

Love the dynamism that Cooney-Cross brings to the game too. Quickly became one of my favourite players

davedun.bsky.social•96 days ago

Definitely the break out player of the last 12 months

ianlatham64.bsky.social•96 days ago

100% that's one player who shows the joy of playing on her face and in how she plays

coggsa.bsky.social•97 days ago

Foord was also overplayed last season, and would have benefited from more rest with Lacasse in the team. 100% agree she had too much on her shoulders as well, but she looks a new player this season.

tim-stillman.bsky.social•97 days ago

I have mixed feelings on the overplayed thing. She got a hamstring injury in 2022-23 which was blatantly an overplay injury cos we couldn’t even sub her. The best players do tend to play the majority of minutes, but not on the wings, that’s a high loading position for sure.

coggsa.bsky.social•97 days ago

It's a fair point, but she seemed to slow down as the season went on. The last months were a grind, especially after a WC etc. I think it's just luck that she didn't get another injury, but that doesn't mean she wasnt feeling very heavy legs by the end.

tim-stillman.bsky.social•97 days ago

Yes I think that’s fair too given level of importance she has for her country and the travel associated with it.

coggsa.bsky.social•97 days ago

In saying that, I would hate to play against Foord and McCabe on the same wing. Absolute terriers until a limb actually becomes detached, no matter how exhausted!

bouncylilbastard.bsky.social•97 days ago

Caitlin manages to dovetail quite nicely,
Be dynamic cutting in from the flank,
Amazing positions, or take the limelight when needed!
She’s done this for the Matilda’s exponentially, and we love her

tim-stillman.bsky.social•97 days ago

Yes she is great at playing off Kerr, benefitting from the attention Kerr takes but also helping her to find space.

bouncylilbastard.bsky.social•97 days ago

Exactly, yet when Kerr was unavailable, was able to step up,
Especially after the 1st World Cup match.

leothoughts.bsky.social•97 days ago

Caitlin’s form does indeed remind of the 20/21 season. Viv said she loved playing with Caitlin. She makes the runs where creative players can anticipate on

tim-stillman.bsky.social•97 days ago

Yes indeed, she is very much your foil / support player. I imagine Sam Kerr would say much the same as Viv.

kieranyap.bsky.social•96 days ago

Every time Arsenal sign a new attacker I think Foord’s position could be under threat. But she always adapts and stays valuable.

One day I’ll learn to stop being surprised by her.

tim-stillman.bsky.social•96 days ago

Yes and an idea seems to have grown up with some Arsenal fans that players are owed minutes or have to be given them out of duty by the manager. Caitlin is a good example of a player that just works harder and fights her way in every time.

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