TeamViewer Trending: Fabulous Phallon

So pressure was inevitably due to fall on her replacement, as Marc Skinner’s side set out on the 2024/25 season with a clear remit of reclaiming one of the Women’s Super League’s Champions League spots, following a fifth-placed finish last term.

Ahead of the season’s start, Skinner made it clear that American stopper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, signed from Seattle club OL Reign in 2023, would step into Earps’ shoes. And, put simply, it’s fair to say that the 28-year-old has made a near-flawless start to her first campaign as the Reds’ undisputed first-choice goalkeeper…

Stand-out moment

The 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion was arguably the low point of United Women’s season so far; it marked the first game in which Skinner’s side had failed to claim victory. Tullis-Joyce could have been forgiven a few flashes of her own personal irritation, too. Nikita Parris’s equaliser was the first goal she had conceded.

But Phallon was arguably the Reds’ outstanding performer in Sussex, and made a particularly phenomenal save that will live long in the memory, diving quickly to her right to deny Madison Haley what seemed a certain goal. The American was required throughout to keep a peppy Brighton side at bay and, but for her solidity, our one point might well have withered to zero.

As for Parris’s header, there could be no blame attached to the goalkeeper. The former United forward was just yards out when she instinctively managed to connect a diving header to an already rocketing cross-cum-shot from Maisie Symonds. But another great save, from a Fran Kirby long-ranger in the final stages, further embellished Tullis-Joyce’s credentials as the game’s outstanding figure.

Performance insight

No goalkeepers in the Women’s Super League have conceded fewer than Phallon this season – that Parris bullet header is our only costly lapse from a defensive perspective so far. Chelsea are next best, having given up three.

It's fair to say fans are delighted with what they’re seeing from our emerging hero between the sticks, with several commenting on the way in which Tullis-Joyce’s height and punching abilities are giving the Reds an advantage when it comes to dealing with crosses and set-pieces.

United have endured testing periods in all of our WSL games thus far (West Ham, Everton, Tottenham and Brighton), plus the League Cup victory against Liverpool, but Phallon has facilitated a calmness and resilience in defence. 

It’s helped give a new-look United squad a solid start to a season that will undoubtedly prove a challenging one, given the increasingly competitive field battling it out at the top of the WSL.

Phallon said

“I’ve been a little bit of a late bloomer for a goalkeeper," reflected the Long Islander recently. “Maybe on paper my progress looks a little slower, but you can still have your time. I still believe that no matter what age you are, you can still grow. I’m still learning plenty of new things.

"I want to show my communication skills and just own it. I want to be a strong force at the back. No matter what happens, I want my team-mates to know I’m there for them.

"Everyone knows every goalkeeper has a sprinkling of craziness, so we all have our own sort. I just want my presence to be known. I want to show things that maybe people haven’t seen before."

So far, our new stopper supreme is more than making good on those positive words.

The boss said

Ahead of the start of the new season, Marc Skinner spoke confidently about Phallon stepping into the role vacated by the popular Earps. “Phallon is the best shot-stopper I have ever worked with in my life," he eulogised. "She is an incredible footballer, an incredibly intelligent human and I’m really looking forward to showing you what she can do for this team. She is a big-time goalkeeper. That’s why I brought her." 

After the impressive 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur earlier in October – which included some spells of severe pressure on United’s goal, despite the final scoreline – the boss also hinted that Tullis-Joyce is surging in confidence. “I said to her at the end that she took a massive step forward again today. She is incrementally getting better every week. We were incredibly lucky to have Mary Earps, but are lucky to have Tullis-Joyce."

Did you know?

Tullis-Joyce (along with Andre Onana) was awarded the PFA’s Community Champion award last season, for her ongoing support of Manchester United Foundation. The American – who has a degree in marine biology – visited high schools in Levenshulme and Stretford, and gave passionate presentations on marine life, even helping students made cuttlefish from clay. 

“I’ve had a great time being with the community and helping out in any way I can,” she beamed. “I just love shedding any kind of light on how awesome our oceans are, and at the school the kids were incredible and loved learning too. I think it’s super important to be a part of our community, especially as professional athletes. So many people helped me along the way and this is my way of giving a little bit back and all that I’ve learned and that’s been passed and shared with me. Passing that on to future generations is what I’d like to do.”