Welcome to Full Time, The Athletic ’s women’s football column — a one-stop shop every Monday to discuss the big issues in the game in the UK and Europe.
The main story
As Tottenham Hotspur striker Martha Thomas bore down on the Aston Villa goal in the 72nd minute, the significance of what she was about to do might not have necessarily occurred to her.
As she curled in her third goal of the match, Thomas was not only completing a hat trick, putting Spurs 4-1 up, but she was also setting her own personal Women’s Super League (WSL) record for goals scored in a season. She now has six goals in four games this campaign — beating her previous record of five, with Manchester United in 2021-22) — and is top of the WSL goalscoring charts ahead of Brighton’s Elisabeth Terland (four) and Manchester City’s Jill Roord, Katie McCabe of Arsenal and former United team-mate Rachel Williams (all three).
Thomas, left, celebrating with Angharad James, centre, and Drew Spence after scoring the third goal against Villa (Morgan Harlow/Getty Images)
The 27-year-old Scotland international joined Spurs from Manchester United at the end of the transfer window. With England international Bethany England set to be out for some time recovering from a hip operation, eyebrows were raised when Polish forward Nikola Karczewska went on loan to Bayern Leverkusen and Thomas brought in. She had never scored more than five goals in a WSL season and managed just 408 minutes last season for United, mostly playing out wide.
Thomas has been essential to Spurs’ bright start, scoring in all four of Spurs’ matches this season, helping them to reach 50 per cent of their points total from last season already. The 4-2 win over Villa was their first over a top-half WSL team since they beat Manchester City on September 12, 2021.
When asked about her brilliant run of form, Thomas praised to her Spurs coach, Robert Vilahamn. “(It’s) probably playing under someone that I know believes in me,” she said. “That’s important, that’s when I play my best football. Playing in my actual position.”
“If you give a good player the trust to play and self-confidence, you can see what she’s really made of,” Vilahamn said post-match. “Those national team players who are on the bench in the biggest clubs, sometimes you can find that in them if you give them the trust.”
Spurs have recruited judiciously this summer, with not a huge amount of buzz around players like Finnish midfielder Olga Ahtinen and Swiss centre-back Luana Buhler who have both excelled. United loanee Grace Clinton received a first senior England call-up last week. They look well-organised, with wins against Villa, Brighton and Bristol City, building on a positive opening day display against Chelsea.
Clinton, right, has been called up to the Lionesses squad for the first time (Photo: Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
As the battle to reach the top of the WSL increases and more clubs look to plough investment into their women’s teams, Spurs’ early season impression should be a lesson. Star names are a great way to boost things on the pitch (Tottenham know that better than anyone —England’s signing last January all but keeping them in the league) but sometimes you don’t have to splash the cash to build something good. And right now, England herself might be wondering where she stands when she returns to full fitness.
What you might have missed
Normally you expect to see WSL players streaming off a coach or arriving in their cars ahead of a match, but not so for Chelsea midfielder Sjoeke Nusken. The 22-year-old Germany international arrived by bike at Kingsmeadow ahead of her second start for the club, and her performance impressed just as much as her environmental credentials.
Having gone a goal down to Brighton, it was Nusken who equalised for Chelsea on the stroke of half time. She scored again just after the break before laying on an assist for Agnes Beever-Jones as Chelsea went on to win 4-2. All of that came as a surprise to a player many assumed the WSL champions had signed to be a defensive midfielder.
“I play every position in the midfield,” Nusken said after the match, “so sometimes in the 10 or in the pivot.”
Manager Emma Hayes concurred: “She wants and likes to go forward, somewhere between the No 8 and the No 10. But she’s front-footed, really aggressive and she’ll get in the box.”
The only sour note was that Nusken was denied a perfect hat-trick — the goal eventually given as an own-goal for Guro Bergsvand. “I touched the ball,” Nusken insisted, and cycled defiantly back home with her match ball in tow.
Player of the week
Leicester City v Manchester City was the unusual table-topping clash and the away side were forced to work hard for their 1-0 win, ending the host’s unbeaten start to the season. Leicester were able to stay in the game thanks to the tireless work of defender Sophie Howard, and were probably unlucky not to score themselves. Playing in the middle of a back three, Howard was given the unenviable task of marking Bunny Shaw — City’s top scorer from last season (20 across all competitions).
Howard, left, battling it out with Shaw (Cameron Smith – The FA via Getty Images)
Howard was dragged out of position in the first half but rallied in the second to frustrate Shaw. Her efforts might were ultimately in vain with Leicester unable to get themselves back in the game, but were testament to how well organised manager Willie Kirk has made this side.
Moment of the week
Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema finally made her return to WSL action this weekend — 11 months on from suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in a Champions League game against Lyon. The Netherlands international, who was selected last week for their Women’s Nations League (WNL) fixtures against Scotland on 27 and 31 October, was a late sub in her side’s win against Bristol City on Sunday.
GO DEEPER
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With striker Bead Mead returning to play last week, manager Jonas Eidevall’s attacking options are now complete. “It’s such a joyful moment,” said Eidevall post-match. “I am very happy for players that have been out for a long time, working so hard and now being able to come back to us on the pitch.
Miedema celebrating with her Arsenal team-mates after the win against Bristol City (Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
“To have them both back within a week of each other is so special for the team,” said Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe.
Out of the remaining ACL injuries list, only defenders are left — England captain Leah Williamson and Austria international Laura Wienroither.
What’s happening next?
WSL players are on international break this week with WNL fixtures and Olympic qualification the focus for many. England face Belgium in home and away matches on Friday 27 and Tuesday 31 October.
The Ballon d’Or winner will be announced on 30 October. Spain’s Alexia Putellas will be relinquishing her hold on the trophy having won the last two years in a row. Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati, who won the World Cup with Spain, is the favourite to win this year’s edition.
The WSL action starts again on November 4. The following day, Arsenal and Manchester City go head to head for the first time this season.
(Top Photo: Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
