Barmy Article: The podcast

Matchday podcast - Utd Women v Liverpool

Cover photo by Lois Howard

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This time the podcast and Mark’s match report are coming in the same email to ease the volume in your inbox.

Match report

By Mark Whitby

There are two different questions to ask about United’s early performances under Eva Olid. Firstly, are the team making progress in terms of adapting to Eva’s system? Secondly, do we look like a side who could begin to challenge for a top three place? At the end of this match, the answer to the first is a resounding ‘yes’. To the second, it’s still ‘no’.

For me, it represents an acceptable level of progress as we move towards the first international break. Following last week’s assured performance at Arsenal, a return to LSV presented the opportunity to assess our attacking capabilities against opponents who would certainly offer a tougher test than Sheffield United had in midweek, but which, in normal circumstances, we should be beating.

It was helpful to score early, Teri heading home from Anna’s corner, but the sustained pressure that led to the corner was, if anything, an even more promising sign. Admittedly, we didn’t apply this kind of pressure consistently, which, with players being asked different questions of the new set-up, is entirely understandable. Jess is having to think more about off-the-ball runs than was the case previously but there were clear signs in the second half that she is beginning to add this to her normal game. Teri’s movement up front was a massive improvement from her static performances in the first two games.

The stand-out performer, once again, was Andrea Medina. Playing again in an advanced position on the left, she had already cut inside to rattle the West Ham crossbar before a surging run into the West Ham area brought the second goal United’s second half performance deserved. After her initial shot was blocked, she lifted the ball effortlessly into the far corner to cap yet another POTM performance.

The second goal turned out to be crucial. Despite the many positives in this performance, we still don’t look like a side capable of keeping clean sheets and, as the game moved into injury time, West Ham were allowed a potential lifeline after Dom unwisely cut inside from the right, allowing the visitors to put pressure on the Reds’ defence, culminating in Anna’s clumsy trip in the area.

It’s a sign of our defensive frailty when attempting to play out from the back which is still too much in evidence and which better teams than West Ham can be expected to have more success in exploiting. Here, Asseyi dispatched the spot kick to give us a few nervy moments at the end of the game but United came through them to register a much-needed first league win of the season.

Podcast cover photo by Maisy Green (shotsbymaisy), more of her matchday pics below

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Matchday podcast - Utd v Sheffield Utd - Subway Players Cup

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Relive that match at your peril.

Cover photo: shotsbymaisy

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Match day episode - Brighton at home - Leah’s last home game

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Matchday episode - Spurs away

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Matchday episode - city at Old Trafford

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Match day episode - Bayern Munich home

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Match day podcast - Everton at home 21/03/2026

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League Cup final match day podcast

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