May 2019 Favourites


I seem to have blinked and another month has flown by, in fact we are now close to being half way through the year how has that happened? I have done plenty throughout May and here are some of my favourites....

Fashion
With a few warm days throughout May I have definitely had my monies worth out of my denim jacket, I have loved just throwing it on with a pair of skinny jeans and a t-shirt, it seems to have become my go to style. The trusty Bradford City hoodie has also been put through its paces once again thanks to the nicer weather. I have really tried mixing up my style a bit throughout may and I think it is working for me, I can't wait to work through it more next month too.

Sneakers
Would you believe me if I said I didn't really have a sneaker favourite throughout May? Instead of sticking to one pair I have been mixing it up a little bit and wearing a variety of sneakers. It has really helped me find my love for forgotten gems once again but also has helped me try match outfits better.

Health & Fitness
I am slowly back to losing weight and it seems to be doing me the world of good. I have also got back to drinking plenty of water once again and it is starting to help my skin out too. Throughout May I have also been using a few new items which is helping me boost my energy, and I am absolutely loving the fact that more energy means later nights so much more is getting done.

Football
My main football favourite from May is the build up to the FIFAWWC, everything from send off games to roster drops it is great to see more and more people getting involved and the popularity rising, remember I will be covering as much as I can on here. Another favourite is the transfer window in both the men's & women's game, it is proving very eventful and great to follow for the women and Bradford are finally making moves in the men's game (post on that coming soon). My final football favourite is seeing the Man Utd legends take on Bayern Munich. Those are the players I grew up watching and to see them put on that Man Utd shirt once again was a great feeling, especially with the likes of Beckham, Neville and Solskjaer playing, then you had the addition of Saha which just made it even better. 

Lifestyle
May was spent with plenty of family time, meaning a lot of time with my nephew who I just can't get enough of. We have also made a start on the gardens, the decking has started in the back and the side is being levelled. I can't wait for the side to be done as it is going to be my little football area with nets etc... which will be a place for plenty of blog content to be created. I will be doing a post all about the progress soon. My final favourite is definitely the blog, I fell out of love with it for so long but now I can't wait to sit and create new posts, my motivation has returned and you can hopefully see it in the amount of posts I am creating and the ideas I am coming up with.

So there you have it those are my favourites from the month of May. 

See you soon
Lucy.
Posted by No comments
Labels: , , , ,

FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 Group F



So here it is the final group that makes up the women's world cup and this one really isn't going to disappoint. Chile and Thailand are in this group and it is going to be interesting to see how these two teams match up to the other two that make up the group... the USWNT and Sweden. I am on countdown to the USA Sweden game as it never disappoints, there is always a big contest. Sweden knocked the USWNT out of the 2016 Olympics so I think the USWNT are definitely going to be out for revenge, especially since that defeat helped in the suspension of goalkeeper Hope Solo after she called the Swedish 'Cowards' due to their style of play. It is going to be a game that keeps everyone entertained I hope and as soon as these teams where drawn in the same group I was on countdown, they just can't seem to get away from each other.
The USWNT are favourites going into this competition off the back of recent performances and their win at the 2015 WWC. If Jill plays the right players in the correct position and those players give it their all they will definitely progress really well in the tournament. Especially with players like Heath, Press and Morgan going into the tournament in great form for the national team. Then you have Sweden who will definitely put up a fight and push through the competition if there players are giving 100% they are a team full of surprises and could really give the USWNT a run for their money. Also in the group is Chile and whilst I haven't really seen these play before from their recent run of results they are a bit of a hit and miss team losing to the big teams then either drawing or winning against those lower teams, it will be interesting to see if they can pull off any surprises in the tournament. Finally you have Thailand who are a team similar to Chile although they did beat Australia back in 2018 so who knows what they could pull off in the world cup. 

So here is how I think the group is going to look at the end of the group stage....
USWNT
Sweden
Chile 
Thailand

I honestly think the USWNT and Sweden have got the top 2 in this group with the USWNT coming out on top but it is going to be interesting to see who ends up at the bottom of the pile. I really do believe though that this is going to be Thailand as I think Chile may just surprise everyone.

So there you have it that was the final group for the FIFAWWC 2019. I have loved doing these posts and can't wait for the tournament to kick off. Over the next month and a bit there is going to be a lot of world cup content coming your way so make sure to keep checking back here for new posts and follow me on Twitter and Instagram for new updates to.

You can check out the rest of the group posts by following the links below....

See you soon
Lucy
Posted by No comments
Labels:

FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 Group E


We are onto our final 2 groups and today is all about group E. Group E is the home to one of my favourite teams... Canada, alongside the Netherlands, New Zealand and Cameroon. This could end up being a really good group. 
Canada did really well in 2015 when they hosted the tournament in fact they really surprised me with how well they did. Plus they have Sinclair who is on a mission, the countdown is on to her making history and beating Abby Wambach to the most international goals scored. Can she get those 4 goals in the tournament to break the record and help Canada progress through the tournament? It is going to make this group a whole lot more entertaining. Then you have the Netherlands, the Euro 2017 winners who very nearly missed out on qualifying for this tournament so it is going to be interesting to see how they do as I think they will be out to prove a point. New Zealand are also in this group and it will be interesting to see how they do as they are hit and miss in regards to winning and losing, they definitely do better against the lower ranked teams but how are they going to fair up against the likes of Canada? Finally in this group is Cameroon, a team I don't know much about but after looking back at past games and stats they don't really play the big teams very often but are also hit and miss with the results against the lower teams so it is going to be interesting to see how they do.

So here is how I think the group is going to look at the end of the group stage....
Canada 
Netherlands
New Zealand
Cameroon

I really do think having the likes of Sinclair, Scott and Schmidt in this group is going to be a huge help for Canada as they have the experience and the fact Sinclair is on her way to making history will just add fuel to the fire. I think New Zealand may just edge it to avoid being bottom of the group and I believe it may be Cameroon who unfortunately takes this spot. The Netherlands will definitely put up a fight but I think they will end up just behind Canada.

So there you have it that is group E, check back tomorrow for the final group, group F.

See you soon
Lucy 
Posted by No comments
Labels:

FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 Group D



Finally the group I have been looking forward to the most, group D. This is going to be such a good group as not only does it include England and Japan, who England unfortunately lost out to in 2015, but it also includes Scotland, then making up the rest of the group is Argentina.
England's first game of the tournament also had to be against neighbours Scotland so what a great way to start. It is Scotland's first appearance in the world cup but honestly I think they could be a little bit of an underdog with the likes of Beattie, Cuthbert and Arnot and many teams not having experienced them before. Japan are a bit of a strange one this time around as they have opted for a bit of a younger team leaving out some key experience. It is going to be interesting to see if this works in their favour or goes totally against them. In terms of Argentina I haven't really seen them play before if I am totally honest but delving into their previous stats I think they may struggle up against the rest of the teams in the group. 

So here is how I think the group is going to look at the end of the group stage...

England
Japan
Scotland
Argentina

I think if England play the way they did in the She Believes cup, there will be no stopping them and they could easily be top of the group. 2nd place is a bit more difficult to call but I think Japan may just edge it, but I am sure Scotland are going to put up a fight. Unfortunately though I think Argentina may struggle in this one. Bring on the 9th June for England vs Scotland. This is definitely going to be a great group to watch.

So there you have it check back again soon for Group E.

See you soon,
Lucy
Posted by No comments
Labels:

FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 Group C


So yesterday was group B which you can read all about here. Which means today's post is all about group C. Australia, Italy, Brazil and Jamaica are the teams that make up this group and honestly I think it is going to be fun to see how the group turns out. 
Australia are a team that in recent years have been on the rise and honestly they are one of my underdogs for this tournament. All it is going to take is a good service to Sam Kerr and she will slot the ball in the back of the net. They are really becoming a force to reckon with. Then you have Brazil who at one point where flying high but in recent months they seem to be struggling being defeated by Spain and Scotland, it isn't the Brazil you would have thought of in recent years. It is going to be interesting to see if they have saved their best performances for the world cup or if they are going to struggle to progress. You would think with the likes of Marta in their team they would run away with any game but they are struggling to keep up after other teams are putting more into their women's teams. Then you have Italy a team you don't see facing the big teams very often so it is definitely go to be interesting to see how they fair up against some of the big names, who knows they could be a surprise too. Finally in the group there is Jamaica another team who again don't really fair up too well when playing those bigger names but who knows they could actually end up surprising people. 

 So here is how I think the group is going to look at the end of the group stages....
Australia
Brazil
Italy
Jamaica

I really do see Australia being the best bet to top thing group because as long as the team link up as well as they have been doing before and Sam Kerr can find herself in front of goal they should be unstoppable. Brazil I think are going to be runners up due to them not been in the best of form recently and every player is going to have to put in 100% every game for them to get close to Australia in my opinion. I also think it could be tight between Jamaica and Italy for who comes in last place.

So there you have it that is how I think group C is going to play out. Check back soon for group D.

See you soon,
Lucy


Posted by No comments
Labels:

FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 Group B


So yesterday I posted how I thought group A was going to be playing out and you can see that post here. So today we are moving onto group B. Which houses Germany, China, Spain and South Africa, a group where you could envisage one team running away with the group and the rest battling for second place. Germany are one of the big names in the game and if they actually turn up to the tournament and put in the effort they did in 2015 I can see them running away with this group and progressing further into the tournament. Spain are a team that could really put up a challenge over the years their standard of football has really progressed and they are getting better at holding the bigger teams, which we saw when they held the USWNT to just a 1-0 win when you would usually expect the USWNT to win by a huge margin. China is a team who are hit and miss they can run away with the game against lower teams, lose to the mid teams and hold the top teams to close results (or in the Netherlands case win), so this tournament is all going to depend on who turns up for them, who wants to prove themselves. I am hoping we get to see some good performances out of them. South Africa is another hit or miss team so it all depends on how much they want it to see what type of performances we get from them.

So here is how I think the group is going to look at the end of the group stage...

Germany
Spain
China
South Africa

I honestly think Germany could run away with this group, with Spain managing to pick up 2nd place. It could be close between China and South Africa for who finishes bottom but again it all depends on who shows up and wants to prove themselves. I think this group is going to be a good one to watch to see how it progresses. 

So there you have it that is how I think group B is going to play out. Check back soon for group C

See you soon
Lucy


Posted by No comments
Labels:

FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 Group A


As the World Cup gets closer and closer (roll on the 7th June) I think it is now time to start breaking down the groups and making a few predictions on how the group may look at the end of the group stages. I think this year is going to be bigger and better than 2015 in Canada just down to how the game has grown over the past few years and how other countries seem to be coming through the ranks and putting up a challenge. The standards are getting a whole lot better from all countries and teams are catching up to the likes of the USWNT. So today we are taking a look at group A.
The teams that make up group A are France, South Korea, Norway and Nigeria. 
France is the home nation this tournament and honestly they are a great team to watch with Renard, Henry and Le Sommer absolutely running the show both on their national and club teams. 
South Korea and Nigeria are teams I will be looking into a lot more in the next week or so but I can't wait to see how they fair up against the likes of France as you never know they may have really put up a fight. Norway is also going to be a good team to watch they did great in qualifying from what I saw and now it has been announced Hegerberg won't be playing in the World Cup it is going to be interesting to see how those who helped in the qualifying fair up on the big stage. 

So here is how I think the group table will look by the end of the group stages...

France 
Norway 
Nigeria
South Korea

It would be really surprising if France didn't top this group but I think if Norway play as well as they can they could really put up a challenge. It was hard to pick who would come in 3rd but I think Nigeria may just edge it past South Korea but I guess only time will tell.

So there you have it that is how I think group A is going to finish. Check back tomorrow for group B.

See you soon
Lucy
Posted by No comments

Last Week #46


Another week gone by and it has been yet another football filled one. Thanks to the play offs we have had a constant supply of games and that is how I spent the majority of nights after work. Other than the weekend it was a pretty relaxed week. The weekend is where it all got busy, well especially for my dad and Liam. Saturday me and my mum went to watch the FAWNL playoff final at Valley Parade and whilst we was there Liam, my dad and grandad all got cracking on the gardens, then on Sunday whilst me, my mum, sister and nephew went out for the day my dad and Liam carried on the hard work and it is so nice to know things are finally starting to take shape. I will be doing a whole post on the garden situations very soon. So here is what I had...

Been Watching : Like I said it has been a very football filled week along with some Simpsons and YouTube thrown into the mix.

Been reading : My level of reading last week was the programme I bought from the FAWNL match but hey at least I read something last week.

Been listening to : Halsey brought out her new song Nightmare and I love it that much it had been on repeat. But that has also meant I went back and listened to her other albums through the week too.

Bought : I spent far more than I should have done once again, I got a lot of football stickers, some match warn City gear and something to put away for the nephew. Now it is a case of no spending until I get paid.

Plans for this week : I am determined to either stay in on a night or head to the gym. I want to make a new rule that every time I have the urge to shop I go to the gym instead as it will definitely benefit me a lot more. I am also hoping we can get cracking on with the garden a lot more and get a few flowers etc in and who knows I may even get my football nets. I want to get plenty of blog pics taken too so I can get some posts sorted out.

So there you have it that was my week. What have you guys been up to?

See you soon
Lucy
Posted by No comments
Labels:

Bradford Bulls vs Leeds Rhinos.. Love Of Rugby Returns

Would you believe me if I said football wasn't the first sport I fell in love with? I can't believe it either with how football has taken over my life since I was around 7 year old. In fact the first sport I ever played was rugby, the league kind of course and I played this from around 6 year old to 16 years old on and off whilst also playing football. 
I loved rugby that much that me and my grandad actually had season tickets for the Bradford Bulls for countless years and experiencing the highs and the lows of the club was fantastic but then real lift (money) and football got in the way and I stopped going to games. However, this has changed this year so far I have managed to get to 2 games and am hoping to attend more. One of the games I attended was Bradford vs Leeds, one of the biggest derby's of the game which doesn't get played very often due to the difference in leagues these days.


As expected there was a huge crowd and the atmosphere didn't disappoint. Neither did the rugby I was a little worried that the difference in leagues was going to mean Leeds ran away the game but you could see how much Bradford wanted it and every player gave 100% and eventually came back with the win. The game was close but that is what I love about rugby it is action packed and end to end. The result could have gone either way. A few suspect calls from the ref as usual going in Leeds favour but Bradford didn't let it knock their confidence and just fought back even harder. 


You could tell by the players reaction just how much the win meant to them along with the reaction from the fans. With the Bulls winning it meant they advanced to the challenge cup quarter finals where they face local rivals Halifax, I am gutted though as I can't get to that game due to it being my nephew's blessing and I don't think the godparents can be missing from that. Just the feeling of being at the game and remembering why I first fell in love with it has made me want to consider a season ticket next season but still go to plenty this season to fill the void. With us also having Sky now I can see us watching plenty of games from the comfort of our home too. Going and watching made me miss my playing days too but I think those are well and truly over now I will just watch on from the stands in my Bulls shirt.

I just can't believe I forgot about it for so long but now I don't think I will be able to stop watching it and following it again. Come on you Bulls it is time to get back to those glory days and where they belong.

See you soon,
Lucy

Posted by No comments
Labels:

Last Week #45


A week full of shopping and sport is what last week was mixed in with just a little bit of housework. We have had a trip to the White Rose and a trip into Bradford where plenty of money was spent. Then there has been football all week to keep me entertained each night, but then Saturday after the Bradford City memorial me and Liam along with mum headed off to the rugby which made a really nice change but now I really want to go again ( I will be putting up a post about the game itself soon so keep an eye out for that). Sunday was a little more relaxing but it meant catching up on the washing, cleaning and finally getting a bit more of the little room done. So here is what I had...

Been Watching : I had watched the Champions league, the Europa league, Premier league and the playoffs. Along with this I have also watched the rugby, too many shows about sharks (cheers Liam) and plenty of the Simpsons.

Been reading : I haven't read a single thing once again but I guess there is no surprise there.

Been listening to : A lot of Halsey was listened too last week along with some Skepta, JME and Tinchy Stryder what a mix.

Bought : I got 7 red t-shirts (you will see why soon), a Hawaiian shirt for a party I am going to, some Disney bits and plenty of football stickers for my sticker book, I also finally managed to get my Lingard United shirt.

Plans for this week : I want to get to the gym but mainly I want to carry on stripping the wallpaper in the little room. I am also hoping to pick up the new England shirt and get plenty of photos for the blog as I have plenty of ideas for posts.

So there you have it that was my week. What have you guys been up to?

See you soon
Lucy
Posted by No comments
Labels:

Gym Workout Plans



My aim this year has been to get back in the gym fully and get working towards playing football again and just improving my weight and fitness for my own good. Unfortunately though we are now in May and things aren't exactly going to plan. It isn't going to plan due to only just being signed off from physio and then having to have an operation on my abs which really set me back. But now I am all healed from the op and have been given the all clear from the physio for my knee.

Although I have been given the all clear for my knee I do still need to be careful as I am always going have the pain in it unfortunately due to the nature of the injury. Over the years I have gained so much weight that it is now getting silly and it needs to stop, as you can see in the image above back in college and playing football daily I was still pretty slim and at my fittest and that is what I want to get back to. So that means I am now determined to get to the gym at least 3 times a week to help me along my journey with more days been added once I get to the swing of things, along with me working on my diet. 

So here is what I am planning on doing in the gym....

To start with I wont be doing specific days ie. 1 for legs, 1 for cardio and 1 for arms. I will just be mixing everything into each session I do just to get back into the swing of things. I will be doing a short warm up on the treadmill as I have been advised to try keep the treadmill time to a minimum until I am happy with the progress on my knee.

I will then be hoping onto the bike or stair climber for 20-30 mins just to help my legs but also get that cardio in too. Once that is done I will be heading over to the leg press to keep the legs moving and work on adding strength to them at long last. I will then be off on to the leg curl machine as I am hoping to maximise the benefit to my legs. 

Once my legs are over and done with I will be moving onto my upper body. This will consist of free weights and a few machines but honestly I have never done any thing to benefit my arms, shoulders and chest so I am new to it and will be picking exercises as I go along. Then it will be a quick cool down on my favourite machine... the rower.

When I get home I will then carry on with a few ab exercises (I hate doing these in public so I will make sure these are done from the comfort of my own home until I am more comfortable in the gym) and just to finish the whole thing off I will end with some stretches. 

I am also hoping that alongside going to the gym I can actually get up and start doing yoga in mornings before I go to work as I think this could also benefit me.

Obviously this won't be my plan forever and I will be changing things up as I go to the gym more often. So if you have any recommendations for what could help with my weight loss and improving my fitness please let me know.

See you soon
Lucy
Posted by No comments
Labels: ,

England World Cup Roster Breakdown


photo from FA.com
Finally the England world cup squad has been unveiled and it was pure torture in the way they did it, with such a long wait between names however, the fact they got so many famous faces involved was absolutely fantastic. It was great to see the likes of Beckham, Emma Watson and even Prince William getting involved. By doing it this way you can only hope it brings the world cup to outsiders and helps the rise of popularity of the game.
It is going to be a huge tournament for the Lionesses thanks to the rising popularity since their 3rd place finish in Canada back in 2015, plus coming in off the win in the She Believes Cup expectations are currently high and Phil Neville hasn't sugar coated that in any way shape or form, he knows what task lies a head and is pushing players to be their very best. That's why he has picked the best of the bunch to represent the Lionesses this year and here are the lucky 23 who will be representing the country this summer...


Goalkeepers


Karen Bardsley - Karen was no doubt England's number 1 back in 2015 however, as time has gone on she has found herself fighting to keep hold of that spot. With the challenge at Man City for this spot against Ellie Roebuck, Karen has definitely pushed herself and has quite clearly made an impression to Phil over the time he has been in charge. Karen has such great ability between the sticks and the experience can definitely work in England's favour.


Mary Earps - Since joining Wolfsburg Mary really started to make a name for herself and is gaining quite a few fans along the way, although possibly not getting enough game time as she deserves she has definitely done something right and really earnt her place in the squad. When you watch videos of training session you can see how she has others laughing but once it comes to playing she is switched on, the perfect mix to make the perfect keeper. Even if she doesn't get plenty of game time this year I think she is going to be crucial in future competitions for the country.


Carly Telford - Another player currently fighting for the number 1 spot at her club who is absolutely fantastic. Carly is an absolutely amazing keeper and her decision making is brilliant. It will be interesting to see who ends up playing as Phil's number 1 but I can definitely see it being between Karen and Carly as they both definitely have the experience. I really do think Carly has really stepped up over the past few years and I am glad she is getting the recognition she deserves.


Defenders


Millie Bright - I think my dad will be glad to see this one as Millie is one of his favourite players. A typical no nonsense player who is absolutely fantastic. Millie can put in those crucial perfectly timed challenges to help out her keeper but down the other end she can also be a treat whether it is from a long range shot that flies into the back of the net or from a header at a set piece. Millie has it all and is going to be crucial in those challenging games, lets just hope she doesn't pick up any injuries as I can see her having a fantastic tournament.


Lucy Bronze - I don't think this pick was ever in doubt. Bronze has really cemented herself into the Lionesses squad over recent years and it is well deserved. Lucy has the ability to put in those crucial challenges but also get down the pitch and help create goals at the other end, she has great shooting ability too so can even grab a few goals herself. I just really hope Phil puts Lucy as a RB where she belongs as she really does perform better in that position rather than midfield where he has had her playing a few times. In my opinion to get the most out of her and to help the team progress RB is where she needs to be.


Rachel Daly - The name I was really hoping to see, in fact I think I told Liam plenty of times I was boycotting the England team if Daly wasn't picked. The best thing about Daly is that even though she is named a defender on the squad list she is more than capable of playing up front if required and has the ability to score some fantastic goals which we saw the other week whilst she was playing for Houston. Since Phil's appointment as manager Daly has become more prominent in England squads and it is great to see as she really has begun to make a name for herself not only here but also in the NWSL. I just really hope she gets plenty of game time as I could see a few goals coming from her and who knows one of those could be crucial. 


Alex Greenwood - This was definitely one of Liam's favourite call ups. I feel Greenwood took a bit of a risk when leaving Liverpool to drop down a league to captain Man Utd but that risk has definitely paid off. She has had an outstanding season for United and has obviously not only impressed Phil but also the fans. Utd have played Alex in a midfield roles a few times too and it has worked well for her so it gives her a bit more of a chance to get game time and make an impact alongside the chance of playing at LB (her natural position). Her ability to play in either role gives Phil a little more depth to the squad.


Steph Houghton - This one was definitely a given and Steph will once again be stepping up and captaining the Lionesses through the world cup. Despite everything Steph has had yet another great season and is really making her was to being one of the greatest CB's in the world. Steph's ability to command the backline and motivate the whole team is amazing and she isn't going to let anything get in her way. Just a few weeks ago we saw her playing on with her arm in a make shift shirt sling, which just goes to show her passion and dedication for the game. She is not only a crucial part of defence but her ability to score from set pieces really helps the squad too especially if they get a free kick in a decent position.


Abbie McManus - Abbie has really stepped up and proven herself for Man City since the departure of Lucy Bronze and in doing so she has also made an impression on Phil Neville. Abbie is one of those players who in previous years has been over looked and under rated so lets hope she gets some game time this world cup to step up and show the world just how good she is. The fact that she can play RB or CB may come in handy if the team end up with any suspensions or injuries.


Demi Stokes - Demi will no doubt be fighting for her place at LB against Greenwood and Phil's choice is going to be. Stokes struggled through the first part of the season through injury and I am just hoping that nothing creeps up again this summer as her pace and tracking back is going to be valuable to the squad. Plus I really don't want her missing any of Man City's season next season through an injury. If fully fit she really is going to be a key part of the team it is just going to be a case of managing her and making sure she isn't put under any risks especially with it being a hip injury she suffered from.


Leah Williamson - Ask me a few years back about Leah and I would have said "who?" she was a player who has definitely made an impression on me over the past few years and I think she could do really well this world cup if given enough time to prove herself. She has been a key player in Arsenal's title win this season and lets hope she can help England win the world cup. I really do think it is Leah's time to shine.


Midfielders


Karen Carney - Karen has definitely pushed for this opportunity and I am really glad it has worked out for her. I aren't sure how much game time she isn't going to get but if she plays anywhere near as good as she has for Chelsea this season then she really will be making a case for more and more game time. Carney is definitely an under rated name and now she is back fit after injury she has started to prove herself once again and obviously Phil has been watching, let's just hope she stays fit for the whole tournament and gets plenty of opportunities.


Jade Moore - Jade is a player who also goes under my radar and I don't really know much about, but the performances I have seen her put in have been good. Again it will all depend on game time but her experience could really come in handy for the Lionesses and she could end up creating plenty of assists and help England on the attack as well as getting back defending. 


Jill Scott - 4th time lucky for Jill and I am so glad to see her name on the list. Jill is an absolutely fantastic player and is in fact my mums favourite player and definitely one of mine. Jill really isn't afraid to get stuck in and put in a challenge to stop teams counter attacks but she is also great at getting the ball into those positions to create a lethal attack for England. Jill's work rate is 100% each game and her passion for the game is shown throughout. I really hope she grabs a few goals herself this tournament as she deserves it. 


Lucy Staniforth - Possibly a surprise name in the squad but after Izzy wouldn't be ready for the world cup I think most people knew that Lucy was finally going to be getting her chance. She has been under rated for far too long and she actually has a really good fan base already, I had seen a lot of people calling for her to be in the team at the beginning of the month and I am glad Phil has taken note. She could end up being a bit of a secret weapon as not many players will have come up against her in the past and won't know how to take her and her play style. I just really hope she isn't sat on the bench all tournament.


Georgia Stanway - PFA young player of the year and well deserved, Georgia has really stepped up and make her name for herself this year, scoring some crucial goals for Man City and helping them along their road to winning the Continental cup and FA Cup. Any goal Georgia scores is worthy of a goal of the season nomination and her long shots could really help in the tournament. All she needs to do is get herself in a good position and the opposition wont know what has hit them. I think this is the tournament where Georgia really ends up becoming a bit of a household name and showing what she can do. 


Keira Walsh - Keira can run that midfield really well and she has shown that over the past few seasons at Man City. I think she could play a key part in getting back to helping in defence but her vision and way to get around the pitch will help with playing passes people wouldn't expect which could really catch the opposition on the back food. Her ability to link up with the different members of the team is also going to prove vital in England's progression. 


Forwards


Toni Duggan - Toni's game has really excelled since signing for Barcelona and I honestly think she is picking up the Spanish way to play the game. Not only would this help her when one on one with defenders but since playing abroad she has come up against plenty of different opponents from all over the world so she may know what to expect coming up against different teams. Plus she is definitely on form in front of goal and I can see her scoring a few when the opportunity is in front of her. The best part about Toni for me is if she doesn't think the opportunity to shoot is strong enough she will help find another player instead of wasting a chance which to me just makes a perfect player. Plus if Barca end up winning the champions league Toni will definitely be fired up hoping to win more.


Fran Kirby - Fran is a great player don't get me wrong but at the moment she is picking up far too many injuries meaning plenty of time on the side lines. If she can stay fit she is going to be an asset to England and will really help her but if she is struggling through injury and sat on the bench it could end up knocking her confidence a fair bit. I really hope she does stay fit and has a fantastic tournament but I think she may be best on the bench and brought on as a super sub when the opposition is staring to get tired as I can see that being her biggest impact if not completely fit. However, if she does go into the tournament fully fit I can see her making a pretty big impact in getting around the defence and not only scoring goals but creating chance for others too. 


Beth Mead - All day yesterday as the squad was being announced all I could see was people calling for Mead's name and I was one of them. She has really stepped up her game and just like Williamson she was a big part of Arsenal winning the season with her ability on the pitch. Plus her ability to shoot at any angle is going to help the team out massively, are we going to see another wonder goal from the wing?


Nikita Parris - Parris is on fire this year scoring goals for the fun of it whether it be for club or country. Parris is definitely one of England's ones to watch this summer as her pace and skill are definitely going to cause some issues for the opposition. Not only that but with rumours circulating that she is to leave Man City at the end of the season she will be wanting to make an impression on any new club (whether a deal is already done or not) and what better way to make an impression than helping your country win a world cup?


Jodie Taylor - The good thing about Taylor is thanks to her time in the stages she knows plenty of opponents and this could be vital if England come up against the UWSNT she causes all sorts of problems over in the NWSL with the Reign and is picking up goals already (not too far into the season). Taylors experience will definitely come in handy and can she top her Euro 2017 performance?


Ellen White - Another player who's experience could prove influential. Bring White on from the bench as players start to become tired and just what she does. How many times are we going to end up seeing the glasses celebration? Ellen definitely has the passion and commitment to change the game but would I start her if I was Phil? I honestly aren't sure due to all the forwards being such great players. Maybe she will be an impact player though and really help England's hunt for World Cup victory.


So there you have it that is my breakdown of the England squad, I am just gutted poor Williams didn't get in but I don't know who I would swap her for. Click here to see my USWNT breakdown and keep an eye on the blog and my twitter to see more world cup & football content.


See you soon
Lucy
Posted by No comments
Labels:

April 2019 Pick Ups

Well April definitely didn't go too well in terms of saving money in fact I spent way more than I should on things I probably didn't need. I bought a whole load of items from Primark which you can see in my haul here, which has really helped me in getting ready for that spring style and I am hopefully going to do some styling posts shortly.

So here is what else I bought throughout the month of April. 


Did I really need 3 of these Disney soft toys that clip to things? Definitely not but I ended up being unable to resist them a Stitch, Baymax and Donald are my favourites, I aren't sure where these are going to live yet but I am so glad I have them. We even got a few of these for the nephew's pram. I also got this Bullseye little big feet from the Disney store to add to my little collection, they are just too cute, I got the nephew a Wheezy one of these too as that is what I call him.


It was Liam's birthday in April so I got him this copy of Assassins Creed Odyssey which he said I can play too. We both love the Assassins Creed games so this is going to be a great addition, and no doubt he will end up hogging the Xbox for a while whilst he plays through this.


Before we went to Shawn Mendes we had a shopping trip around Leeds and I managed to find the Stitch candle in Primark at last, for just £5 it smells gorgeous and the print is brilliant. In fact the smell actually reminds me a bit of the Polynesian at Disney. I really need to add more Disney candles around the house so if anyone can recommend some nice smelling ones please let me know.


We had started to get a collection of toys and books for when the nephew comes to ours so it was time I got something to store them in. I managed to find this storage bag in Primark for just £3 and it is perfect as it says welcome to the bat cave on it. Any one who knows us know that me and Liam love our superheroes so this has worked out perfectly.


There was no way I was going to go see Shawn and not come back with any merchandise I managed to get a t-shirt, hoodie and wristband. 


It is rare that I get any football related magazines but then I was introduced to the Soccerbible through Twitter and knew I had to pick it up. I can't wait to sit and read through it properly as it is a bit of everything really. I was really surprised to see how thick and good quality this actually was it is more like a book and is definitely worth the money.


This was just bought to keep me occupied after my op but I never actually got around to building it. Overwatch is by far one of my favourite games and Tracer is my favourite to play as and just overall my favourite hero. I finally managed to find this in Argos and only paid around £10 for it so I am pretty impressed now I just need to get building.


I am finally back in the gym and to try help me along with the journey I am going to be giving these BCAA's a try. I managed to pick these up on offer from MyProtein along with the bottle. But I won't go into these too much as I have a full post planned.


Don't get me wrong these definitely won't be worn out of the house as they are far too short but at £4 and the fact they have Stitch on them I wasn't leaving Primark without a pair. These will be good for pyjama bottoms in the summer.


One day in April was Record store day and once I check the list and saw Halestorm was on it I knew I had to try hunt this record down. I can't wait to listen to it, in fact I am lucky I even got it as I went the day after and there was only the 1 copy left.


Primark are killing it with their Stitch range and I got myself this bowl and plate set for £6, at 24 I probably didn't need this but after all it is Stitch. I got the last 2 sets as I have put one away for when the nephew gets a little older.


Finally I didn't actually buy these but I did receive them from my auntie and uncle as an Easter gift. I love Primark's range of swim short and this summer I want to try convince Liam to get either a decent sized pool or a hot tub type of thing for the garden, especially if it is half as warm as last year. If all else fails I will just end up wearing these lounging in the garden & saving them for any future holidays. 

So there you have it those are my pick ups from April, did you pick up anything good?

See you soon
Lucy
Posted by No comments
Labels: , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)