Crossways - A Women’s Football Show With Steph Houghton and Ian Wright

Ian Wright and Steph Houghton welcome Crystal Palace's Annabel Blanchard into the studio to chat all things relegation, promotion, and ambition. Annabel talks our hosts through her career, playing against her brothers from a young age, to playing against the best in the world in the WSL. She relives Crystal Palace's dramatic season as they clinched promotion on the final day, and discusses the club's ambitions to become a main stay in the top flight. Annabel speaks about her own evolution as a player, and biggest dream to one day play for the Lionesses. Finally some quickfire questions - which teammate should we keep our eye on next season, and who is the toughest opponent Annabel has faced?

00:00 Welcome

00:44 Promotion

03:10 Growing up

09:55 Relegation & Pressure

17:20 Culture and change at Crystal Palace

19:30 Playing against the best

21:15 Ambitions and reaching 100

27:05 Difference between WSL and WSL2

29:55 Outside of football

33:30 Quick fire questions
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steph Houghton and Ian Wright react to the Women's FA Cup semi finals which showcased two incredible comebacks from 2-0 down. First, they look at how Chelsea let go of a 2-0 lead over Manchester City, discussing Bompastor's use of her squad, and Bunny Shaw's performance against her potential new employers. Then, our hosts believe there are positives for Liverpool to take into the new season despite not making it to the FA Cup final in the last moments of the game, and give credit to a Brighton side who look energised and are being rewarded for their investment. Ian and Steph give departing club legends Beth Mead and Laura Coombs their love before making predictions for the final full week of WSL fixtures.

00:00 Welcome01:22 Chelsea v Manchester City14:15 Liverpool v Brighton17:10 FA Cup Final18:10 Should semi finals be at a neutral venue?20:21 Brighton’s bright future22:08 Arsenal departures25:22 Laura Coombs23:00 Lauren Hemp27:13 Predictions
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ian Wright and Steph Houghton are back together in Manchester to talk through a huge weekend of football in England and Europe. As they recorded before kick off in Brighton v Arsenal, Steph sends a special message to Crossways viewers as City are crowned Barclays WSL champions. We start with Manchester City's nervy but necessary three points at home to Liverpool, as they won late through a Knaak header. Then to Arsenal, who were knocked out of UWCL by Lyon. They weren't good enough on the day, but how do our hosts reflect on Arsenal's season? Beth England will be departing Tottenham at the end of the WSL season - Steph and Wrighty ponder whether it was a wise decision. Promotion from WSL was decided at the weekend, with Birmingham City and Crystal Palace both returning to the top flight as Charlton will host Leicester in the playoff for WSL status - how will each team fare? Finally, predictions for this weekend's FA Cup semi finals and Aston Villa's match at home to Arsenal.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steph Houghton and Ian Wright react to Arsenal Women's 2-1 victory over OL Lyonnes in the UEFA Women's Champions League semifinal first leg, heaping praise on Olivia Smith and Arsenal's second-half performance and noting some criticisms about how OL Lyonnes played. After calling for goal line technology in last week's episode, our hosts discuss the moment of controversy in Everton's heavy loss to Chelsea. Manchester City's unexpected defeat at the feet of Brighton leads Steph and Wrighty on to Bunny Shaw's contract situation—will we see the striker move to Chelsea this summer? And we end with Manchester United after they refused questions from The Athletic in the post-match press conference. Where do they go from here, and can they salvage anything from this season?

(00:00) Welcome

(01:45) Arsenal v OL Lyonnes

(10:05) Title run in

(14:00) Brighton’s potential

(16:25) Bunny Shaw’s Contract

(21:04) Chelsea & Goal line technology

(22:47) Manchester United
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ian Wright and Steph Houghton are back together in the studio! You asked, and they answered. Who is the best striker in the world right now? Who will finish in the top 3? What changes would they like to see in the WSL? And more... WSL predictions also return, with five tough-to-call fixtures this weekend. Play along and join the Crossways league at full-time-forecast.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices