Here’s a team of the week for Matchday 14, comprising the games played on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of February 2024. A tussle at the top, as well as down below, with the middle not staying out of it either. A real chance for every team to stake their claim for immortality, or ‘mere’ survival.
GK: Khiara Keating (Manchester City)
LB: Poppy Pattinson (Brighton & Hove Albion)
CB: Alex Greenwood (Manchester City)
CB: Laia Aleixandri (Manchester City)
RB: Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
LM: Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa)
CM: Sam Tierney (Leicester City)
CM: Saori Takarada (Leicester City)
CM: Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea)
RM: Jutta Rantala (Leicester City)
CAM: Adriana Leon (Aston Villa)
Two teams with three reps each this week. Manchester City in defence, with ‘keeper Khiara Keating, and centre-back duo Greenwood and Aleixandri (proving once more why the partnership put forth by The Citizens is one of the best in the world) excelling in keeping the champions at bay (though Erin Cuthbert makes the team for Chelsea for never ceasing in her attempts to break through). In attack, Leicester City — who were so well set up springing forth thanks to the lynchpin that is Saori Takarada joining the brainiest player in the division in Sam Tierney in guiding Leicester to promising attack after promising attack. Throw the dynamic Jutta Rantala into the mix and you’ve got someone who can do all that and finish off the plays. Two brilliant sets of performances on either side of the pitch, with Man City’s Hasegawa and Hemp joining proceedings, along with Leicester’s CJ Bott.
This leaves, firstly, the wing-backs — Poppy Pattinson looks a wee bit reborn and rejuvenated since Melissa Phillips’ departure — and she was fierce this week even in defeat. On the other side it’s a far more featured name, with Katie McCabe proving paramount in The Gunners’ dismantling on Man U with her rapid pace of play as well as inside (and outside) the box thinking. Further forward, two Villans trucked their team to toppling Tottenham — a Kirsty Hanson that wasn’t gonna stop no matter who was in her way, and an Adriana Leon who simply couldn’t be. The Canadian was on fire this week and let everyone know about it — she’ll fill in as a false nine and charge out of midfield as she proved she was such a dab hand at this past weekend.
For the honourable mentions, we’ve a veritable smorgasbord of so close, yet so far:-
Bristol City have Ffion Morgan and Shae Yanez, Aston Villa have Daphne van Domselaar, Everton have Aurora Galli and Megan Finnigan, Chelsea have Jess Carter and Mayra Ramirez, Spurs have Kit Graham, Arsenal have Lotte Wubben-Moy, Cloé Lacasse, Beth Mead, Victoria Pelova, and Kim Little, Man U have Lucía García, Liverpool have Ceri Holland, and Brighton have Elisabeth Terland.
Leon had the game of her season so far, but Player Of The Week goes to someone who always seems to be on the fringes of these articles and as I watched her this time out, there was no doubt in my mind that Jutta Rantala was my Player Of The Week. Jutta is also up for Goal Of The Week and is in with a good shout along with teammate Yuka Momiki and her cheeky chip, Jordan Nobbs with a thunderbolt, Aurora Galli with a screamer, Cloé Lacasse with some hilarious reflexes, and Denny Draper for the moment. Though the latter won’t receive it, her compatriot shall, with Jutta Rantala pulling double duty on the podiums this week.
Keep it streets ahead,
C.L.R.
