It has been a perfect Summer for West Ham Women. I’m writing this with just a few days to go until the Women’s Super League starts and I’m feeling hopeful for this season.
We have managed to keep our best players as well as add a few players to strengthen our squad. You could tell just how Rehanne Skinner wanted to play at the end of last season, and we have kept the players that fit her style perfectly.
Also a massive boost going into the season is we are close to an American group, Monarch Collective, wanting to buy 49% of the club which will value us at around £55m. If this can happen the whole look around the club will change completely and what a time to do it.
Strategic Signings: The Ffion Morgan Factor
Going back to what we do know is this window we have signed seven new players and let seven players go, none of whom were classed as a first team starter. Letting long-serving players like Dagny Brynjarsdottir and Kirsty Smith leave was sad, but the right decision for the club’s direction.
The seven players we have signed are: Ffion Morgan, Yu Endo, Sarah Brasero, Selin Cemal, Rebekah Dowsett, Leila Wandeler, and Katie O’Hanlon. Out of all these players, Ffion Morgan is the standout… Yu Endo is a Japanese defender, who we have tried to sign a couple of times now so it’s nice to see we’ve finally secured her and she will slot straight into the team. With the others they are all under the age of 21 which is refreshing as we are known to always have a very old squad, so having some young squad players with high potential is lovely to see.
Core Strength: Keeping the Stars
With under a week to go before our first game, I’m so happy to write that we have kept: Katrina Gorry, Shekira Martinez, Vivviene Asseyi, Riko Ueki, Shelina Zadorski and Amber Tysiak. To keep the majority I would have been happy but to keep them all and three of them signing new contracts, I am over the moon.
For many years we have had to sell our best players and we spend most of the season adapting but for the first year in a while we are going into the season ready and these players have already shown they can beat the biggest teams in the league.
London Derby Kick-Off
Our first game of the WSL was against Tottenham Hotspur away. What a game to kick off our season. After that our first home game is against another London rival in Arsenal, on Friday 12th September at the Chigwell Construction Stadium. Let’s hope for a brilliant season and see us fighting for Europe again.
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