Delphine Cascarino

They finally had some good buildup.

It started with Alexia and then went to a few other players like Grace Gioro, Cascarino, Diani, finally to Vandedonk.

And they scored one, but that was all they managed to do.

And West Ham came away with the three points.

Didn't she come in...

I can't, I don't think actually E- uh, Delphine Cascarino actually played that much-

No, she didn't

...

That last year, when they went to goal down, they were easy to kind of pick off.

But they have some quality there, like Ueki, Gago, Asai, Kumagai in behind, and Cascarino, who we know well in the back.

They're experienced players, good technical players there.

It's just about being more resolute.

But yeah, no, I think she is their massive vocal point.

And I think especially maybe London City tried to be a bit more direct than in the last maybe 30 minutes or so when they were really chasing the game.

And I think that was when they were most effective, I think, Deani and Cascarino both coming on changed the game for me.

You really believe then when they're on the pitch that they were going to get back into the game and obviously got one back.

But really, when you look at how United then played against Chelsea and LCL against West Ham, it feels like that was more the story there.

I just think LCL really lack, I know DVD scored in the first two games, but I think across both of them they just really lack a box presence right now and um nicole and yomi picked up a knock so was unavailable um who i guess is probably who you think long term might be there starting nine rather than dvd in sort of that false nine position but you know there were just so many moments where players were like getting into decent positions but there was no one there because dvd would be dropping back you'd have alexia dropping back you had kafaji kind of coming in and it just felt really like overly concentrated in that mid field area where you've got yeah your left winger tucking in you've got your force 9 pulling back and zellerman kumagai just like physically again just won so many jewels and i think you know is there's obviously been people laughing about Alexia in the WSL but you know it was always I think going to be a little bit of a shift to maybe the amount of time she was potentially going to be able to have on the ball and things like that which I think will come like I think she will adjust and equally you know LCL I thought looked way more dangerous when Cascarino was on when Diani was on and their players you like I was surprised Cascarino didn't start after last week so I think there's obviously more to come from this LCL team but yeah I just thought in attack they were really quite toothless

Yeah, it was surprising not to see Cascarino start given how she was player of the match in the first game and was probably LCL's best player alongside DVD.

Gianni got just over 20 minutes here, didn't get on the pitch last week.

She was kind of not fully fit in pre-season.

Could she be an option long term?

Potentially, but I think where you'd want Diani to play in the nine, I'm not sure if LCL are going to have many teams who set up against them in a way that feels like you could really exploit her.

But yeah, it is a bit weird because obviously sort of Cascarino and Diani both kind of like to play off the right.

You were so quick with that answer.

Well, it was gonna be Cascarino, then it changed at the last second.

I love the name Tony Cascarino.

Yeah.

And that he's Irish.

Yeah.

It is.

I, I've got a Cascarino story that I'll tell you in a minute.

It just felt like after that initial goal, then it was London City Lionesses just continuing to knock on the door.

I mean, you've got that Cascarino kind of cut back and Kaphaji almost sort- I thought was gonna be fumbled over the line, and then kind of cleared at the last minute.

But...

And then it kind of felt like Man United were just doing their absolute best to keep London City Lionesses at bay until the second half.

I'd be surprised if that's not in the, the kind of hall of fame when we come down to the, the awards nights in around May, April time.

But if you've not seen it, go and see it.

Like, 82 minutes, it's kind of, uh, Cascarino plays this ball into the middle.

Daniella van de Donk, this beautiful back heel.