Manchester United Women head coach Marc Skinner defended his team’s playing style and goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce’s development at the club.
USWNT manager Emma Hayes suggested that United’s style of play meant the 28-year-old, who made her international debut in the 2-0 victory over Brazil on April 5, still needed to develop in building play out from defence.
Against Brazil, Tullis-Joyce produced a compelling case to be considered as the successor to long-time national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who retired from football last year.
However, Tullis-Joyce’s debut was not without moments of vulnerability, particularly in her passing out from the back in the early stages, an area Hayes highlighted after the match.
“I mean, what more could you want as a goalkeeper — a clean sheet!” she said. “In terms of keeping the ball out the back of the net, that’s a super strength for her. Everything from set pieces to defending the cross, she did a tremendous job.
“Her next step is something I’ve been clear on: her team Man United don’t play a lot of buildup. They tend to go from back to front but her next steps is with pressure being able to make the short passes to come out.”
United goalkeeper Tullis-Joyce made her international debut this month (Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)
Tullis-Joyce became United’s No 1 this season following England goalkeeper Mary Earps’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain last summer and has produced a strong season, keeping a league-high 12 clean sheets and conceding a league-low nine goals in 18 Women’s Super League (WSL) matches.
The former Reign goalkeeper also tops the WSL for save percentage, at 87.5 per cent, according to Fbref.
However, United rank bottom in the WSL for passes attempted by the goalkeeper that do not include goal kicks with 325, while the average length of passing that does not include goal kicks from the goalkeeper is 29 yards, the second-highest in the division behind relegation-threatened Crystal Palace.
Asked about Hayes’ comments, head coach Skinner, who signed a new two-year contract earlier this month, said: “Emma will know from being in it that club football is different to international football because you have six months to design what you want a team to look like, whereas on the day-to-day basis, you have to win games of football. I’m extremely happy that our style mixes and matches what’s needed for our club and for our team that we have currently.
“What Phallon will always do, because of how diligent she is, is try and improve the little margins. That’s something we’ve been working on consistently with her. And as she gets more game time, more experience with the team, I have no doubt she has the ability and capability to do that.
“I don’t know if it’s lost in translation or the way it was said, but for us, I’m really happy with the style that we play. And you have to play the style you want that meet your fan base, meet your outcomes and I know that Phallon has such a high ceiling that she’s going to be the best goalkeeper in the world.
“Emma will have an absolute choice and I hope that she chooses Phallon because she’s absolutely incredible.”
United sit third in the WSL table, level on points with Arsenal. They face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.
(Top image of Marc Skinner: Clive Mason/Getty Images)