Big year for England starts in La Manga

[sylvain]

Hope Powell names squad for January's warm weather training camp.

England’s preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 will begin in earnest next month when Hope Powell takes her side to La Manga for their annual warm weather training camp.

The Head Coach has named a squad of 27 players for the trip to Spain and she views it as an ideal way to kick-off a big year for the women’s game in England.

“This will be our first chance to get together since the draw was made,” Powell said of the training camp, referencing last month’s World Cup Finals draw which pitched the Three Lions in Group B alongside Japan, New Zealand and Mexico.

“We go to La Manga every year because it’s always better to train in warmer weather than it is in the freezing cold in England,” she continued. “But this year it’s got added importance; everything we do from now on will be geared towards the World Cup.

"We’ve done really well this year in qualifying for the tournament but that’s history now. We have to kick on.”

As well as England’s participation in the World Cup, 2011 will also see the launch of The FA WSL, a semi-professional, competitive, sustainable and commercially attractive summer league at the top of women’s football in this country. Comprising eight teams, it will run from April to August, with a break for the World Cup, and five live matches will be broadcast live on ESPN throughout that period.

The FA WSL’s marketing vision is to revolutionise and grow women’s football so that the game is more commercially sustainable, for the players to be seen as icons, the clubs to build bigger and more loyal fan bases, and for these fans enjoy a greater experience.

“It is a brand new league and a great opportunity for the women’s game in this country,” The FA’s Head of National Game, Kelly Simmonds, said.

Squad for La Manga (17-22 January 2011)

Goalkeepers
   

Karen Bardsley 14.10.84 Sky Blue

Siobhan Chamberlain 15.08.83 Bristol Academy

Carly Telford 07.07.87  Unattached


Defenders
   

Sophie Bradley 20.10.89  Lincoln Ladies

Lindsay Johnson  08.05.80 Everton

Alex Scott 14.10.84 Boston Breakers

Casey Stoney 13.05.82 Chelsea

Dunia Susi  10.08.87 Birmingham City

Rachel Unitt 05.06.82  Everton/Leeds City Vixens

Fern Whelan 05.12.88  Everton

Faye White  02.02.78 Arsenal

Corinne Yorston  15.06.83  Bristol Academy/Keynsham Town


Midfielders

Anita Asante  27.04.85 Sky Blue

Laura Bassett  02.08.83 Birmingham City

Dan Buet  31.10.88 Unattached

Katie Chapman 15.06.82 Arsenal

Jessica Clarke 05.05.89 Lincoln Ladies

Steph Houghton 23.04.88 Arsenal

Jill Scott 02.02.87 Everton

Sue Smith 24.11.79 Lincoln Ladies

Fara Williams 25.01.84 Everton

Rachel Williams 10.01.88 Birmingham CityLeicester City

Rachel Yankey  01.11.79 Arsenal


Forwards

Eniola Aluko 21.02.87 Atlanta Beat

Natasha Dowie 29.10.78 Everton/Barnet

Kelly Smith 29.10.78 Boston Breakers

Ellen White 09.05.89 Arsenal

http://thefa.com/England/womens-seniors/News/2010/LaManga0111

The usual omission from worthy players with poorer players in the same position in the squad lol
For a second, you would think Hope Powell had an illumination and dropped Rachel Brown  of course she is not fit at the moment.
Interesting to note the FA officiliase the transfer of Dunia Susi and rachel Williams to Birmingham,the departure of Danielle Buet from Chelsea  but not the arrival of Carly Telford  at Chelsea
  plus they get the wrong club for Aluko and Dowie is now a 32 years old lol.

[Dr Gonzo]

The usual omission from worthy players with poorer players in the same position in the squad lol. For a second, you would think Hope Powell had an illumination and dropped Rachel Brown  of course she is not fit at the moment.
Interesting to note the FA officiliase the transfer of Dunia Susi and rachel Williams to Birmingham,the departure of Danielle Buet from Chelsea  but not the arrival of Carly Telford  at Chelsea
  plus they get the wrong club for Aluko and Dowie is now a 32 years old lol.

Aw poor Brownie this might be her swan song I suppose a good way to go out in the World Cup...Several Cup finals and a Euro Championship final she's not had a bad innings as it were....Seems they give Dowie Kelly Smith's date of birth which might make things confusing, but Unitt now at Leeds City Vixens, now that is funny. I might go along to a game, not...

[sylvain]

I think at least 10 players of the list should retire after the world cup

[cardy]

Seems theyve dropped my favourite player.  But gossip has it the New york franchise will offer her a contract !  At least some one sees and appreciates her abilities (I think arsenal do too tho)

[sylvain]

Aw poor Brownie this might be her swan song I suppose a good way to go out in the World Cup...Several Cup finals and a Euro Championship final she's not had a bad innings as it were....Seems they give Dowie Kelly Smith's date of birth which might make things confusing, but Unitt now at Leeds City Vixens, now that is funny. I might go along to a game, not...

A good career indeed for a good player but if you want to win the world cup you need a top class goalie.
Goalkeepers can win you tournament or loose them...

[Betty Blue]

Aw poor Brownie this might be her swan song I suppose a good way to go out in the World Cup...Several Cup finals and a Euro Championship final she's not had a bad innings as it were....Seems they give Dowie Kelly Smith's date of birth which might make things confusing, but Unitt now at Leeds City Vixens, now that is funny. I might go along to a game, not...

A good career indeed for a good player but if you want to win the world cup you need a top class goalie.
Goalkeepers can win you tournament or loose them...

If you want a goalkeeper named BROWN in the squad....we've got one initial "D" instead of "R" 

[sylvain]

If she can drop the crosses/corner  and chestbutt the opposing center forward, she could play for England  
And personally I would rather have  Brown for England on the pitch rather than Bardsley or Telford especially against France.

[Betty Blue]

If she can drop the crosses/corner  and chestbutt the opposing center forward, she could play for England  
And personally I would rather have  Brown for England on the pitch rather than Bardsley or Telford especially against France.

hahaha she fits the criteria....when does she start ??

[cardy]

Hope Powell wants to develop the home grown players which is great news (wish the fa would do more to develop the mens game to bring through our home born players).  But good for players to learn from the best abroad.  The national teams have to play them and every country has its own style of playing so we should develop and learn from the overseas players and put the best bits into the english game.  We need light footed talented skillful players s well as blockers and stoppers Rachel Yankey has been a fine example over the years and exciting to watch but she isnt typical of our english style. 

The money paid in the US is supposed to average at 20000 well I would like to know how much the players are being paid here,  I havent heard of anyone being paid any large sums here.  Clubs are paying by the match and the amounts dont even add up to 15000 more likely 5 or 6000 !!!!  So our semi pros will still have to work.  Perhaps the wage should be published so we can see who are the most valued players!!!!!

[sylvain]

They are doing the England fitness test for the  U19/23 right now, so anyone who is not in the 27 list and who is not injured can book their holidays. Maybe one girl could come from the youth ranks doing the test today and tomorrow if there are many injuries.

[sylvain]

By Tony Leighton

Coach Hope Powell is steeling herself for a challenging year as England begin their build-up to the Women's World Cup with a training camp in La Manga.

After reaching the Euro 2009 final, which they lost 6-2 to Germany, expectations will be high when England head to Germany in June to take on the world's best.

To help meet those expectations Powell has set her players a demanding schedule, starting with this week's training camp that will include behind-closed-doors friendlies against tough opposition in Norway and Holland.

It will be the first time that the national coach has brought her squad together since the World Cup group draw pitted them against Mexico, New Zealand and Japan.

"Warm-weather training is a great way for the girls to start the year," said Powell. "But it will be hard work throughout the week and every bit as hard when we get into games against two sides that can really stretch us.

"These sorts of games are ideal at the start of a World Cup year, and with more like them coming up we're aiming to be totally prepared when we get to the finals."
   
The route to the final will certainly be more difficult than it is to reach the final of a European Championships, but after doing that at Euro 2009 there'll be a lot of expectation on our shoulders to do well

Hope Powell

England's first competitive games of the year will be in the Cyprus Cup at the beginning of March, when their group opponents will be Italy, Canada and Scotland.

The 12-nation event, which England won in 2009, includes eight teams ranked in the world's top 20, with seven of them set to compete at the World Cup finals.

Powell added: "The Cyprus Cup seems to be growing each year and there are additions this time that certainly add to the quality.

"After that tournament we're hoping to have a couple of friendlies at home before we fly out to Germany for the finals, which could be the toughest World Cup ever."

England reached the quarter-finals of the 2007 World Cup in China, but Powell has refused to reveal her aims for Germany 2011.

She said: "The route to the final will certainly be more difficult than it is to reach the final of a European Championships, but after doing that at Euro 2009 there'll be a lot of expectation on our shoulders to do well in Germany.

"We have definitely got the capability to do well out there, but it will take an awful lot of hard work and I won't look any further than my first priority, which will be to get out of a very tough group."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/women/9364557.stm

[Betty Blue]

C'MON ENGLAND!!!

[sylvain]

England 2 Holland 2 ( HT 2-0)
Now waiting from line-up etc from the FA.

[David]

Bradley and Bassett the scorers for England

[David]

England and Norway is now playing

Norway starters - Ingrid Hjelmseth - Hedda Strand Gardsjord, Trine Rønning, Nora Holstad Berge, Guro Knutsen Mienna - Leni Larsen Kaurin, Lisa-Marie Woods, Lene Storløkken, Cathrine Dekkerhus - Lise Klaveness, Isabell Herlovsen.

[David]

England 0 Norway 0 full time

[sylvain]

One pic from the game.I am shocked they play an international games with training bibs on. They did it last year as well. 
It was an unofficial match, as per our Noregian forum section hence the bibs and no 3 Lions.

http://www.womensfootball.eu/forum/index.php/topic,6540.msg55287/boardseen.html#new