A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the need for the WSL to get more competitive if it is going to maintain media interest. This weekend was very illustrative. The managers actually like to emphasise how difficult the league is. Tottenham’s Robert Vilahamn called the WSL “crazy competitive” in a press conference on Friday. Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor has said similar. However, only Vilahamn’s team ended up in a close game on Sunday, beating Everton 2-1.
All the top sides won by significant margins, as did West Ham against relegation-threatened Crystal Palace. Home fans at the Arsenal game, where the Gunners cruised past Aston Villa 4-1, started to leave early as it was so easy for their team. (Aston Villa have announced that manager Robert de Pauw has left the club following that game.) The premature departures are perhaps understandable given how cold it was at the Emirates Stadium and how uncompetitive the game had become. However, if the league itself doesn’t get more jeopardy, TV audiences will go the same way.
