Since Rita Guarino’s arrival, we have played three games, enjoying two victories and enduring a single defeat away at Chelsea. Our wins came against Newcastle in the FA Cup and a massive league triumph away at Leicester City.
Finding the clinical edge
In these recent performances, we finally look like a team capable of converting chances, a quality that was sorely lacking under Rehanne Skinner. Ironically, we are proving more clinical despite starting with fewer dedicated attackers on the pitch.
To bolster the squad, we have signed four players during the January window, including two who have previously played under our new manager: Ria Bose and Estelle Cascarino. The other two arrivals, Katie Zelem from London City Lionesses and Tuva Hansen from Bayern Munich, bring exactly the kind of top-level experience we need.
Strategic signings for a new era
Guarino has always favoured an experienced core, so it is no surprise she has targeted two players she trusts implicitly alongside Zelem’s WSL pedigree and Hansen’s defensive stability. Hansen’s arrival is particularly timely given the injury to Shelina Zardorsky, which left us light at the back.
Despite these additions, I still believe we need one more out-and-out striker to support Martinez, who is currently our only specialist in that role. While Vivianne Asseyi can fill in centrally, she is far too crucial for us on the wing to be moved permanently. I am hopeful that the final days of the transfer window will yield a new forward to provide essential cover and round off a very successful January.
Turning the tide in the relegation scrap
Our recent 2-1 win at the King Power Stadium was a landmark moment, marking our first away league victory of the season. This result was vital, not just because of Liverpool’s win, but because it dragged both Everton and Leicester City back into the relegation scrap.
Although we sit only one place above the drop zone, it feels as though the tide is finally turning in our favour. The challenge now is to maintain this momentum and turn our improved form into permanent safety.
A crucial February at home
A massive home game against Tottenham on February 1st offers a golden opportunity to pull further away from the bottom three. Securing three wins on the trot would do wonders for our confidence and signify a truly positive start to the second half of the campaign.
Following the Spurs clash, we face Brighton at home, providing another chance to secure three points and potentially give Guarino four wins from her first five games. Ultimately, Rita Guarino has restored the winning feeling to the club, and we all hope this resurgence continues until the end of the season.
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