As we enter the last month of the season, in my opinion it has been a slightly underwhelming year for us. At the time of writing, with three games left, it is looking set for us to finish one place off the relegation zone.
With many in and outgoings at the start of the season, including manager Paul Konchesky, it was always going to be a season that would go one of two ways. Even with our awful start, we still managed to stay in the top division for another season and hopefully we keep many of our first team players and can strive for better things next year.
Since January, it has looked like Rehanne Skinner has finally found her team and the players know how she wants to play. In January we signed; Kristie Mewis, Katrina Gorry and Shelina Zadorsky, the only issue is all three of these players were brought in on loan and as of now, there has been no talk if any will be signing even with them all having a crucial say in us staying up this year.
When Skinner came in, we all knew she would have wanted to play a 5-2-3 but we didn’t sign enough of the right players in the summer, plus having many injuries, to be able to perform well enough. It has only been since the Christmas break that we have finally found what we have been working for this whole season.
This is what is giving me lots of hope going into next season that we could potentially have a very exciting year. I believe, looking ahead to the transfer window, knowing we have another year of the WSL, we need another five players especially if we are going to lose the players that we brought in on loan in January.
We have one of the oldest teams in the league and at times you can tell due to their fitness levels and their continuous or long term injuries. I believe we need a new young centre back to go alongside the hopeful signing of Zadorsky, plus two central midfielders who can play box-to-box and a new attacking winger since we let Izzy Atkinson go to Crystal Palace.
Due to our injuries and an older average age, we need younger players to bring the ball forward but to also come off the bench in the 60th minute to keep the tempo high, as that has been a huge downfall for us this year. As well as bringing in new players, it is a must that we keep hold of our best players; these include Australian goalkeeper, Mackenzie Arnold, Kirsty Smith, Riko Ueki, and Viviane Asseyi.
These are the players that have really jumped up a level since we have brought in Skinner and are vital to allow us to get to the next level. Our last game of the season, and our biggest of our run-in, is away to Tottenham.
If there was ever a time to go and watch the girls play, it’s this one. The tickets are always reasonably priced and the atmosphere will be brilliant. After them beating us at home, it’s time for our revenge and to end the season high.
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