The WSL is nearly back and after a fantastic summer/winter of international football!
So how about a little preview to kick off the season? To start of we have the top four clubs from last season, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City.
Reminder for all the transfer news check out Girls on the Ball’s Transfer Tracker.
Chelsea
Forwards Sam Kerr and Guro Reiten are the obvious premium picks based on the results from last season earning 252 and 241 points apiece. Defender Niamh Charles is a good value pick up at 500k and earning 11.6 points per match in the second half of last season, the highest of any defender. Alternative fullback options, Ashley Lawrence and Eve Perisset also cash in at 500k.
The keeper situation at Chelsea will be one to watch this season with Berger and Musovic scoring a combine 172 points, just 5 off top keeper Mary Earps. Musovic has just come off an impressive Women’s World Cup for Sweden but it’s still a guessing game on if Hayes will stick with her first choice keeper from last season, Berger. With both valued at 400k, they could be a good alternative to Earps if you are willing to take the risk.
Opening Matches
Home vs Tottenham
Away at Manchester City
Home vs West Ham United
Home vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Away at Aston Villa
One of Chelsea’s only losses last season was Away at Manchester City, their only other loss last season was on opening day away at Liverpool.
Manchester United
Despite transfer rumours, England Player of the Year Mary Earps has stayed at the Red Devils and will be a key to their success this season. Manchester United’s defence was the star last season with 14 clean sheets. They’ll be without Ona Batlle this season but Blundell, Turner, and Le Tissier are no slouches with proven ShePlays WSL track records as the top three returning defenders from last season.
United fans will be hoping new signing and WWC golden boot Hinata Miyazawa, and former Barcelona number 9 Geyse hit the ground running after losing joint top goal scorer from last season Alessia Russo to Arsenal. Captain and set piece taker Katie Zelem is also one to keep an eye on scoring 226 points last season.
Opening Matches
Away at Aston Villa
Home vs Arsenal
Home vs Leicester City
Away at Everton
Away at Brighton & Hove Albion
A tough first two matches for Manchester United against top five teams last season. The squad with Champion’s League qualifying to contend with for the first time ever, against a formidable Paris Saint-Germain, rotation may also come into play during the opening matches.
Arsenal
Prior to her ACL injury, Beth Mead was averaging 13.3 points per match which by the end of the season was second only to our top scorer Khadija Shaw. Still to player her first minutes back for the Gunners, Mead was on the team sheet for their recent Champion’s League Qualifiers. The star of the last season was midfielder Frida Maanum who really stepped up after all the injury woes scoring an average of 12.2 points per match in the second half of the season. Lotte Wubben-Moy at 500k is the best point per pound defender for Arsenal and earned 9 points per match. She’ll likely be joined at centre-back by new signing Amanda Ilestedt who was the second highest point getter for ShePlaysWWC. During the World Cup Ilestedt highlighted not only her defensive quality but also her aerial threat from set-pieces.
Opening Matches
Home vs Liverpool
Away at Manchester United
Home vs Aston Villa
Away at Bristol City
Home at Manchester City
Arsenal face three teams who beat them last season in the opening five matches with having lost to Manchester United in both matches, Aston Villa at home, and Manchester City Away. The Gunner’s however, are the only WSL team to have played competitive matches so far this season and will have a point to prove after going out on penalties to Paris FC in UWCL qualifying.
Manchester City
Two words. Khadija Shaw.
Top scorer by 52 points last season Khadija Shaw earned 328 points last season. Chloe Kelly was behind Shaw in the race for highest points per match in the second half of the season with 13.7 points per match. Alex Greenwood is a premium defender for City if not for United’s clean sheet record she would have been the leading defender. Greenwood was also the highest coring defender in combined attack and defence points.
Opening Matches
Away at West Ham
Home vs Chelsea
Home vs Bristol City
Away at Leicester City
Away at Arsenal
Both Chelsea and Arsenal will be tough matches for City, but the other three matches should be easier tasks including a home match against recently promoted Bristol City.
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