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Description
Join Matt and Charli for a refreshing and irreverent take on the world of women’s football. From the WSL to the Champions League with a sprinkling of international football, our hosts take you through week by week from the perspective of fans.
A recent convert to football as a whole, Charli brings all the joy and enthusiasm of someone discovering a new hobby, while Matt brings the reality checks and analytical skills of someone who has not only written and published two books about football, but has also been experiencing the occasional euphoria - but mostly, pain - of following men’s football for over 2 decades.
A recent convert to football as a whole, Charli brings all the joy and enthusiasm of someone discovering a new hobby, while Matt brings the reality checks and analytical skills of someone who has not only written and published two books about football, but has also been experiencing the occasional euphoria - but mostly, pain - of following men’s football for over 2 decades.
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This week the team start off by taking a moment to pay tribute to Matt Beard, who passed away on Saturday at 47 years old. "Beardy" was and always will be an icon and true champion of the women's game, but more than anything was known for his kindness and compassion off the pitch. It's been touching and emotional to read, see and hear all the tributes coming in from across the football community. He'll be missed, and thoughts go to his family, friends and loved ones.
Hopefully Charli and Matt can then lift your spirits a little by highlighting some top performances from this weekend's games with a lesser-spotted WAS Team of the Week.
This week Charli and Matt discuss what they've learned about changing team dynamics and key player roles after the first couple of games in the WSL. What is going on at Liverpool? How will Tandberg galvanise Spurs? What does Hasegawa's more advanced role mean for City? Also, Matt picks a surprising key player for the newly promoted London City Lionesses.
Charli and Matt recap the action from the first game week of the 25/26 WSL season and get a sense check on where the various teams are. Is it the same old story with Chelsea? Are City set to be plagued by injuries again? Can London City Lionesses build on an impressive first half against Arsenal at the Emirates? United look sharp, but do they have the depth to really challenge this season? What is it with Liverpool and Everton at Anfield?!
Charli and Matt return for part 2 of their preview of the upcoming WSL season. They're not talking about the scandalous week at the Team Who Shall Not be Named (yet), but they are discussing:
- How good will London City Lionesses actually be?
- Can Man City bounce back from their nightmare season?
- What's next for Chelsea?
- Who will prove to be the most important signing?
Charli and Matt are back with the first part of a very on-brand, very loosely-structured discussion of the upcoming WSL season and the main things they're currently pondering.
This week there's 4 points on the docket:
- What do we make of Manchester United?
- Can the mid-table pack kick on?
- Is Gareth Taylor the right man for the job at Liverpool?
- Will Arsenal challenge for the title?
Keep an eye out for part 2 dropping next week.
Charli and Matt look back over the tournament, revisiting their predictions and how things ended up unfolding. And there's of course time for unpicking just how England managed to pull off their second Euros title (back-to-back, in case you hadn't heard).
The team discuss another late comeback from England, as well as a heroic defensive shift from Germany, which could only be undone by the brilliance of Bonmati. Charli learns more valuable lessons about being a football fan, and Matt lays out what would be his grand plan to beat Spain in the final.
Recovered from their England malaise, Charli and Matt get into the other two quarter finals. What did we learn about Spain from their eventual unlocking of Switzerland? Just how impressive was Germany's defensive shift against France (one player in particular)? They also get into how Germany may fare against Spain and what, if anything, Italy can do to beat England.
Charli and Matt try to unpick England's bizarre victory over Sweden. What is "Proper England"? How brilliant is Lucy Bronze? Can Charli regain her love for this team before the semi-final?
Slightly dazed from a week of drinking and the St Gallen heat, Charli and Matt rattle through the final group games and quickly preview the remaining games in Group D. It's very much pick your poison time for England who - should they get through - will face the daunting prospect of either Sweden or Germany in the quarter finals. Germany looked the ones to beat going into the tournament, but Sweden have emerged as serious prospect.
In their first "report" from Switzerland, Charli and Matt (having calmed down about it now) dissect England's first group game and what they expect to see next from Wiegman's side. They also touch on the experience of watching Spain vs Belgium in a thundery Thun and the excitement happening in the other groups.
Charli and Matt give you a whistle stop tour of the first 3 match days of Euro 2025. What did we learn? Which players stood out? Where does this leave the rest of the group games?
Days away from the tournament, Charli and Matt try not to melt in the heat wave and give their suitably hot takes about England. What did we learn about Sarina's team selection in the send-off game against Jamaica? Who should play in the 10? Will England get grouped? And what does the future look like beyond this Euros?
Charli and Matt kick off their Euros prep with some predictions - outlandish, safe, pessimistic - you decide. Who'll surprise us all? Which group will bring the drama? And who will lift the trophy?
Stay tuned to see how Matt manages to shoehorn Claire Wheeler into an episode about The Euros.
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We're planning loads more content in and around (whey) the Euros, so don't miss a thing - follow us on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack and where you ever you get your podcasts.
In this quick solo pod, Charli gives you a calm and sane temperature check on England and our rivals for the Euros after a slightly tumultuous Nations League window on and off the pitch.
If you're an Arsenal fan and/or don't care about Mary Earps or the Lionesses, skip to 20 mins 27 secs! Charli and Matt try and unpack the shock announcement that Mary Earps has retired from international football, reflect on her career and not just what this means for England, but for Mary Earps the person. They then touch on Arsenal's heroic win against Barcelona to become Champions of Europe, and what this means for them going into next season. Charli may or may not accidentally turn this into a 15 minute monologue about Stina Blackstenius.
It's the delayed 50th episode spectacular! Matt, Charli and a very special guest pick their WSL teams of the season. But it wouldn't be Why Always She if it wasn't unnecessarily complicated; there can only be a maximum of 2 players from each team. Stick around until the end for a Mastermind-style quiz with two very specialist subjects.
Charli and Matt finally indulge themselves in a (even more so than usual) chill and free flowing chat about Leicester and their 24/25 season. Foxes fans; this one's for you especially, but everyone else is more than welcome to listen in and learn more about this season's perennial underdogs.
The Why Always She podcast: the only place to get your long, rambling "Other 8" content. This week Charli and Matt do a bumper end-of-season(ish) review of the triumphs, trials and tribulations of the teams outside of the big 4; from soaring Seagulls to *sigh* flagging Foxes.
50 up! Thank you to everyone who has listened, followed and supported the podcast so far.
Charli and Matt renege on their promises and rather than the special episode they had planned, just deep dive into the events of the weekend. But there's plenty of excitement to talk about with Arsenal shocking Lyon and Chelsea just being plain shocking in the UWCL. Back in the WSL there's heartbreak for Palace, but is there hope for City?
Do keep an eye out for the postponed 50th episode celebration, coming to ears near you soon(ish).
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