With the season approaching I am looking into our new signings and where I believe we will be placed come May next year. So far, we have signed six players in Manuela Pavi, Shekiera Martinez, Shelina Zardorsky, Kinga Szemik, Camila Saez and Ines Belloumou.
Due to letting five players leave at the end of the season, it was vital we brought players in, and we are finally doing so. Zardorsky was a must after a brilliant loan at the end of last season and a player Rehanne Skinner knows well.
So, seeing her sign permanently has lifted the squad massively. Last season it was our defence that needed the improvement so signing three more defenders should hopefully allow us to push higher up the league. Also, with our captain and goalkeeper, Mackenzie Arnold leaving for America, it is great we have already found her replacement, Szemik.
The ex-Stade de Reims goalkeeper has big shoes to fill but hopefully she sets the world alight early. I believe we may sign one or two more players before the window closes but they will be younger players who may not be starters.
We have a very experienced squad and I’m hoping we sign a few younger players to come off the bench near the end of games to give us a boost. If we do sign extra players, I presume they will be wingers as that is the only area we are slightly short in now.
Having Dagny Brynjarsdottir back for this season is like a new signing in itself, she missed the whole of last season due to being pregnant with her second child. The midfielder is set to come straight back in the side and take back the captain’s armband she wore for two seasons before her absence.
The 33-year-old has played 58 times for us and scored 13 times. The defensive midfielder is set to start back in the league alongside Katrina Gorry and Kristie Mewis, which in my opinion is one of the strongest midfields in the league, I just hope they can all stay fit.
Our first game in the WSL is against Manchester United away. It is definitely not the easiest game to start off with, but it might be the best time to play them, especially when they haven’t brought in many players to cover the ones who have left.
The game after that is our first home game of the season and we will be playing Liverpool. Yet again it will not be an easy game at all but with the home crowd behind us I wouldn’t be surprised if we did something spectacular.
When the WSL season finishes in May, I will be hoping we will be sat fifth or sixth because we have improved our squad in all the vital positions, and I think we understand more how Skinner wants us to play.
I can’t see us pushing top four for the European places, but I hope we are close enough and progress where we finished off last season. My only worry is injuries, but if we can keep them away, I believe this may be a season to remember.
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