The Guardian's Women's Football Weekly - The Women’s Super League season preview: Women’s Football Weekly

Episode Date: September 2, 2025

After what seemed like the shortest off-season ever, the WSL and WSL 2 are back. Faye Carruthers, Suzy Wrack and the panel preview what to expect in 2025-26

This is The Guardian. Hello, I'm Faker-Rothers and welcome to the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. Well, that was the shortest off-season ever, wasn't it? But we are back after the Lioness's triumph in Switzerland, and we've missed you as well. The new look 2025-26 season kicks off on Friday. And of course, we're casting our eye over the WSL and WSL two teams to bring you a preview of what to expect over the coming months. Who's recruited well, who's not recruited at all, who are the favourites to win and get relegated, what players should we be looking out for, and how is everyone shaping up? There is so much to delve into. Plus, we'll take your questions, and that's today's Guardian Women's Football Weekly.

What a panel we have today, Susie Rack, I've genuinely missed. I've missed you. How are you? I've missed you. And it's too soon. Why are we back so soon? I know. It's terrifying, isn't it? I don't know where the time goes at the moment. How are you, Tom, Gary? I'm loving the slick new haircut. I'm very well, thank you. It feels like only five weeks since the euros. Oh, wait, it's only five weeks since the euro. There's not enough time, surely. Marva Creel, how are you doing? I'm doing well, thank you. I feel like I'm ready to get back into football. I only need five weeks. It feels too soon for everyone. However, once we're back in the swing of things,

it will be very exciting and we've got lots of changes as well this season. We're back and so the Barclays WSL and the new look, WSL, too, in just a few days' time. And, you know, I don't think any of us can fully believe it's just a few weeks on from that night in Basel when England lifted the European Championship trophy for the second time. It has been a busy off-season though, hasn't it? transfer windows open until Thursday night.

Managerial merry-go-round is making me feel dizzy already. A ball's not even been kicked yet. And, of course, there's a new relegation format helping the WSL to expand to 14 teams ahead of next season. I just want to remind you all of the changes, actually, because it feels ages ago since we spoke about it. The top two teams in the WSL 2 at the end of the season will get automatic promotion. and the bottom side in the WSL will then face the third place finisher in the WSL2 for the final spot in the top division. So to get the WSL2 up to the right number then,

the winners of the FA Women's National League Northern and Southern Premier are going to be automatically promoted while the runners up in either division are going to face each other for the third spot. So that means that just one team is going to be relegated into Tier 3 next season. We shall see if it works as well. I know we covered it at the end of last season, Susie, but how do you feel about the decision now everything is a little bit clearer? Quite relaxed actually because I feel like it's a decent make way for one season to expand in the leagues.

Like one year while they grow both leagues. So I'm sort of fairly relaxed about it. I actually think relatively speaking it's probably one of the best options they could have come up with. There's no long-term pause of relegation. no steps towards removing it completely or anything like that, which I think was everyone's biggest fear. So this sort of make way to expansion, I think being one season long, it isn't too bad and a really nice opportunity for teams in WSL2, which is a little bit of bottlenecked at times and in the National League to come up is a great thing. Yeah, we are going to go through

all the individual clubs shortly, but one other big piece of news to cover. Tom, you reported the first managerial departure of the season in the Guardian on Wednesday. Lester City parting ways with Omandine McKell and her assistant. Obviously that then means that the rumour mill goes into overdrive, especially with the departure of Matt Beard from Burnley after just two months. And actually, I just want to touch on that because we had an email from Burnley fan, Megan Mooney during the summer break. This is what she had to say.

Hi, Pod, long time listening, first time emailer. Love that. Strong chance I've missed it somewhere, but why is no one talking about Matt Beard going to Burnley? The man who until mid-season last season was in the WSL, the man who won manager of the year of the WSL, not that long ago. Now he's manager of Burnley in the third tier of women's football. Burnley had been so close on a number of occasions, now getting promoted and have decided this year to splash the cash with the team being made full-time and employing Mr Beard. And maybe it's the Sean Dyche little old Burnley tagline, but if someone like David Moyes went to Stockport, that would be massive news. Anyway, I'd love you to mention it at least, if not give an opinion on it. Thank you. Megan, Forever Claret Mooney. And then she followed up with another email. And now he's gone. That didn't last very long, Tom, did it? What is the latest?

Yeah, it was a huge appointment by Burnley and then quite a dramatic departure. My understanding is really quite simply Matt Beard and the Burnley sort of hierarchy. He just didn't really see eye to eye at all. There was, as we understand it, an approach from Lesser to try and talk to him. two or three weeks ago now, but that was declined by Burnley. And to be brutal, honestly, I believe that's quite a separate issue to what's happening at Leicester, where they have parted company with Amandine McKell, but they did it last Wednesday. We're just 11 days to go before their first game, which probably came as a bit of a shock to quite a few Leicester supporters. But from our understanding, just, you know, the head coach there, Mikkel and the board, and particularly the new head of women's football, Lee Billiard,

perhaps weren't really quite aligned on everything on strategy and, you know, when a new head of women's football comes in, Lee Billiard, formerly of Aston Villa and Bristol City as well, will have his own ideas of who he wants to be in charge. At the moment, I'm certainly not expecting Matt Beard to become the next Leicester manager imminently. That's not our understanding. I understand why those two things have been linked together,

but that's not our understanding. We can reveal on the pod this morning that actually, As of right now, Lesser brought in Rick Passmore as their interim coach in the buildup to their opening game against Manchester United. He was brought in the day after Mikkel's departure. He's been overseeing training. You ever saw a friendly against London City lionesses a couple of days ago. He's a well-known to WSEL, former Knox County manager and most recently the assistant manager at West Ham. So I think Lesterfield they've got a sort of safe pair of hands there. But what I honestly am not in a position to tell you is exactly how long that he will be the interim coach for or what the kind of longer term play.

is there's fairly quite a big amount of silence at Leicester behind the scenes at a moment, but the club do feel they've got a fairly steady pair of hands there to oversee them through the start of the season. Huge talking point, right? A matter of your change for a ball's been kicked, but I think we do see this often when there is a sort of a new person in charge of the women's department that they maybe like to have put their own stamp on things, and I think that's probably what we're seeing here. Yeah, he's got good pedigree in the women's game, Rick Passmore. It's been around for a long time. We shall see where we'll keep you updated as to what's going on there. And let's have a look at the rest of the WSL as well, because can you believe it, the 25-26 campaign gets underway on Friday night at Stamford Bridge.

Champions Chelsea kicking everything off in a blockbuster encounter with Manchester City. Arsenal will then host newly promoted London City lionesses who've been busy in the transfer window. So that's at the Emirates on Saturday. On Sunday, there's then a London Derby as Tottenham host West Ham and a Merseyside Derby up at Anfield with Liverpool against Everton, while Manchester United will face Leicester and Brighton take on Aston Villa. So let's see how each club is shaping up against what we hope is going to be another enthralling campaign. Let's look at the champions, first of all, in Chelsea,

because Sonia Bonpastor's side are looking for their seventh straight WSL title, which is quite incredible. They are the dominant force in England. How, Marva, are they shaping up ahead of the new season? I think they're shaping up very well in the sense that what much did they need to change, really. I think for most teams you would say you always need a bit of freshening up, you always need to add some big signings. But I think for them to add Ellie Carpenter just really adds that extra depth.

We already saw that depth, but I think defence was the one part of their game where you did think that sometimes, you know, you had sort of Lucy Bronze moving into centre back. And to have someone like any carpenter come in is, I don't want to say you're sort of back up right back because with Chelsea it doesn't really work like that. They just rotate so well. But it is interesting that they haven't sort of really splashed out on anything, well, on anyone new, but then you look at their January chance for window. That's just gone and you think, well, yeah, they don't really need to. So I'm quite excited to see a team that has already gelled so well, already has so much depth going into this next season and just sort of see. how much they can kind of expand on that

in a way that isn't meshing those new players together. And like, they're just so good. And then you've got Sam Kerr, hopefully, to come back in a way that isn't just, you know, new Sam Kerr, in a bad sense in terms of an injury-ridden Sam Kerr,

I really hope we see some of the magic that we have seen with her in the league because she is just such a special player. And I don't even mean just in terms of how she plays, but just the moments she adds to this league, I really want to see a big Sam Kerr moment early on. So, yeah, so much to look forward to them. And I just still think they're just going to be the ones to be.

I can't see, I really can't see them not winning the league this year. Oh, goodness me, surely, surely. Well, I'll speak to Susie about Arsenal in a second because I reckon Susie's going to have something to say about that potentially. So Ellie Carpenter is that kind of big signing of the summer. But Tom, you reported that the club were in the hump for US. star Alyssa Thompson as well. She's since been given absence by Angel City.

What can you tell us on this one? Yeah, watch this space big sort of 40 hours to go in the transfer window. And last week, Chelsea, as we understand it, they made a formal approach to Angel City to try and sign Alitter Thompson, obviously such an exciting young USA winger. And they, in business here, Chelsea, they're prepared to pay big money for her. At the time of talking right now, at time of recording,

There's no deal, as we understand it. There's still a little bit of distance between what Angel City would want and where Chelsea are right now with the offer. But my growing sense with the direction of travel is that Chelsea got quite a good chance of getting this over the line. Still got a little bit of time. Yet, as you say, she was given what the NWSL called an excused absence to not play last night in their game against Bayfc,

which is actually the same term they gave to a couple of other players who left Angel City recently when, Katie Zellem and Alanna Kennedy came to London City Lioness. She's awaiting clearance and permission to travel to London. And while Thompson is certainly not behaving like Alexander Isak by any stretch of the imagination, I do get the sense she would quite like this transfer. And when that sort of thing happens, they tend to become a bit more likely. So watch this space. It would need to be huge money realistically. Could it be a new world record, possibly, if you think about the fact that we've seen a million pounds paid for

a similar profile, young, brilliant winger in Olivia Smith, that's probably the kind of benchmark that we're talking as a minimum. So let's see. But yeah, if Chelsea bring Thompson in, I think that will be excited to play. Because as we've kind of alluded to, been a fairly quiet window for Chelsea up until now. Exciting times as a Chelsea fan. Four players in, six players out,

and then about five out on loans so far. And I wonder what the Arsenal, the resident Arsenal fan, feels about it all because, you know, Olivia Smith, obviously the headline signing of the summer coming in on a one million transfer fee for Arsenal. We've discussed that already, Susie. How do you see her and some of the other arrivals to Arsenal fitting into René Slegger's plans? I mean, one of the things that Arsenal needed most was depth. They've struggled for a number of years to stay competitive in all four competitions. So, like, I don't think just these few additions will make a huge, huge difference to what they do,

but I think they'll just be able to rotate a little bit more, have a little bit more injury protection, that kind of thing. So, you know, there's decisions to make about who starts. Is it Olivia Smith? Is it of the forward line? Chloe, is it Beth Mead? Is it Alessia Russo? They've got a wealth of options and experience in those positions.

But they needed that. They've struggled in maintaining competitiveness across four competitions, and that's what they're looking for. They're looking for consistency. They want the league. Like I think one of the interesting things about speaking to people around Arsenal and around Man City in this preseason is they do not want Chelsea to win the league again. They are adamant that they are going to be stopped, which is a big task because Chelsea don't lose. Yeah, I thought that was really interesting is that there is a real, there's a real hunger to unseat Chelsea.

It's fascinating, isn't it? Because they've got the trophy that Chelsea covered more than anything in terms of the Champions League. and maybe they'll swap this season. I mean, that would be good for English football, that's for sure. And I wonder how much confidence that's going to give them Marva actually winning the Champions League and making them believe that they can mount a serious title challenge this time round. Yeah, definitely. I think not just so much as what it means to win a title like that,

but even in the manner in which they played, that defensive performance, I don't think anyone really expected from Arsenal, especially having watched them so many times throughout the WSL. And I think where they have often gone wrong is in those big matchups and when you look at them against Chelsea and when the title's on the line. And surely they're now going to that with so much confidence going in a one-off game, whoever we play in this league, we can get a result. But then you look at their lead-up to the Champions League

and they conceded nine goals against WRITN and VIL. Against, was it Brighton and Villa? and you go, oh, this is where Arsenal's problem has been. It's almost, I don't want to just say concentration and not focusing on kind of those smaller games. I think it actually more comes down to defensive depth. And you look at, you know, the Lear Williamson injury. And I just think as a whole, sometimes their centre-back pairing,

it doesn't feel like they've really got that solicity that other clubs do have. So I think that that is where they're possibly going to be slightly worried in terms of coming up against Chelsea. To beat Barcelona in that manner, in that defensive manner, you surely have to take so much confidence from that and go, well, not just from their team, but from their manager as well, to go, that was such an incredibly tactical performance that we have to trust this manager and we know that she can deliver something that almost none of us really quite expected her to do. And I think that's going to give you so much confidence going into the season. There's nothing better, is there, than a trophy lift that wasn't expected. And potentially, if Chelsea don't win the WSL title,

that we could be saying that about other teams at the end of the season. Their first three fixtures, London City Lionesses, West Ham and Manchester United. So you'd like to think the Rennysleggers can get some points on the board to begin with. Let's look at Manchester United. A couple of Swedish internationals that they've brought in in the transfer window, Julia Ziggiotti from Bayern Munich and Friedelina Rolfo from Barcelona. Look, there was so much heat on Mark Skinner last season, Tom, wasn't there. They're obviously involved in Champions League qualifications,

so we actually kind of have had a little bit of a sneak peek about how his team are shaping up. They've beaten PSV, Eindhoven and Hammerby already. What have you made of them in the early stages? Mixed opinions from me here. Those two signings, Rolfo and Zigotti at all, both excellent additions. I really like both of them. I think they're top quality signings.

The problem is there's only two of them. I think all of us expected significantly more additions at Manchester United if you want to be able to compete domestically and on the continent. They want to make a real go at being part of the Champions League.

They've still got a couple more days to go. We think they're still looking for the forward and are right back as well to bolster the kind of defensive options because Ethan Manion left, of course, as well. they haven't really placed her. But even with that, I sort of expected more. I thought that the squad looked thin on the ground against PSV and against Hammaby.

They played quite well in both of those games, particularly the first one against PSV. But it was the lack of depth on the bench that I think would be the most concerning for Manchester United fans. So to give you an example, they've got the next round of qualifying. They'll go away to S.K. Bran on the Thursday, I think. And then on the Sunday, they'll go travel away to London. city lionesses. A bit of a banana skin off the back of a trip to Norway. And is that the kind of game where unless they've bolster the depth a bit more, we might see them slip up. Maybe. That'll be my worry if I was a Manchester United supporter that there's not quite the depth

there to compete on both fronts. But they were encouraging signs. Turland's in great form. But Ella Toon look really good. Bisse was playing well. And I also thought that Anna Sandberg, who was a bit on the fringes last year, looked excellent and left back. So maybe a bit of but a breakthrough year from her. So let's see. I'm sounding like Natalie and Brudia there, aren't I? I'm torn. But there are positives and negatives at the moment for them, I think, going into the new season.

Where do you think they're at, Susie? You know, I think this pod has been relatively critical at times of Mark Skinner last season. What does he need to do to push Manchester United on? Investment. I think Tom's completely right in that, you know, yes, they're two very good signings that they've brought in but it's not enough and the reputation that the club has now I think isn't great men's and women's like it's a bit shambolic in pretty much every aspect and whilst Skinner you know bears the brunt of the blame quite a lot I think

it needs to be placed higher up a lot more as well and you know I think there's yeah shared responsibility there but you can't really be too harsh on someone when they're not being given enough resource. They can't compete on four fronts. They have, I would say, been very lucky with injuries in the past couple of years. I think if United had two or three players, significant players out injured, they would struggle to maintain the level they've maintained. I don't know what they're doing to be able to keep everyone fit, but that's, that is what has been impressive for me for them, is that they haven't had a major injury crisis of sorts yet, but like, you know, surely one is around the corner at some point. So yeah, investment is the key. Well, they've got some money,

haven't they, from the World Sevens? Weren't they runners up? Didn't they get a million, million dollars? Something like that? Maybe we'll see it ramped up when the men's window closes as we record. It closed on Monday night. It's now Tuesday morning, so maybe the next three days. That's where attention will turn. We shall see. Let's cross over to Manchester City. a new man in the dugout, Andre Jurglertz, previously Denmark's head coach. He's taken the reins. What are you expecting from him, Susie? I met him.

And what was he like? He was very nice. They had a fantastic little event for the media at the Academy Stadium or the Jay Stadium with sort of speed dating for journalists with the senior leadership team of the women set up, including the manager. and it was a really interesting thing. We've got a tour of their new building as well, which they're building exclusively for the women's team.

And it was really cool to see. He came across very well. And, yeah, I mean, has got a sort of rich history in women's football, was obviously at the Euro's in charge of Denmark, which crashed out of the group stage. But it was agreed when he took the role that he would continue to do that job. So, I mean, it's going to be interesting. They needed a change.

There was a lot of frustration that Gareth Taylor had been in for quite some time, but significantly under-delivered for where they expect to be as a club generally. I think they won one trophy in that time, and that's not really like what they want to be doing. So it was a change that was needed. I think it's going to be interesting to see how he fit in. He seemed to be very happy with the playing group he had, was, you know, starting to get some of his European champions back. So who knows what they're going to look like come to start of the season.

but the strength of the squad I think is really good and yeah I'm quite excited to see what they can do they want the league they want to unsee Chelsea they really want to do it and no doubt they want Champions League football again because they don't have Champions League football this time around that does give them advantage in the league we've seen that before Tom haven't we

yeah the last time they didn't have Champions League football to kind of juggle they missed out and were title on goal difference and should have won the league so I think they're the wild card in this title race and I right now Now, as Susie alluded to, like, the squad's still got so much quality. Bunny Shaw, Viv Medemar, Caroleon, Lauren Hemp, Hasagawa. Sydney Lohman coming in is such a good signing.

Jess Park. My one worry would be that they lost Alexandria, so there's quite a lot of onus now on either someone like Jade Rose coming in or Rebecca Canack to step up and make sure the defence doesn't weaken with her going. But overall, it's still a really dangerous team. when they get the best 11 out, they can beat anyone. So let's see. But I'm fascinated to see what they can do.

And are we going to see the Yeglots who sort of flopped at Denmark? Or are we going to see the Jeklerts who won the Champions League with him here like 21, 22 years ago? So who knows? They're fascinating. And it would be a really interesting season with Man City. I'm also really excited to see Imambeni as well. Like she's only 19. And we got to see her at the Euros for Switzerland.

and she was brilliant how she fits into city and how much game time she actually gets particularly in this first season I think is in the air but she was such an exciting player to watch a really, really, really exciting young talent. I'm really fascinated to see how Brighton are going to do this season. Quite a lot of flux in the team. They finished fifth last season which is incredible

but they were 15 points behind Manchester City in fourth. So Dario Vidazic has said that he wants an improved ambition this season, but 15 points is a hell of a lot to make up if he wants to break them into the top four. How do you see them fairing, Marva? I think breaking into that top four is incredibly, incredibly hard. Any team who comes fifth and then the next season, if they maintain fifth or still challenging in that area of the league, I still think that's a very good next season. I think to close that gap is going to need something very, very special and a really sustained effort over many, many seasons. So I wouldn't look at Brighton's ambition and

say, if they don't close that gap, then it's a failed season or anything like that. I think what we started to see with them is a really clear identity in the way that they play football that often sometimes works their disadvantage in the way that they paid out from the back and they conceded many, many goals last season. I don't think they've massively added to their squad depth, but I do think they've really helped their starting 11, a few big signings there. But I still don't know if what they've brought in this transfer window is going to massively help them sustain over the next few years. I think when you are like really competing for that, that fifth spot, that elusive fifth spot that we talk about in the WSO, that kind of means

nothing, but everyone still tries to get. We've seen it with lots of teams over the years and you need to bring in so much more than you almost think you do, because then every team below adds so much more. And this was already a team that was struggling in terms of, like I said, conceding goals. And I just think, obviously, Adjibang coming in is going to be massive for them, even in terms of a marketing sense. We saw, you know, the explosion of the WSAL after the Euro 2022 and teams like Arsenal and Chelsea really benefiting from that. And I think it's great that a team like Brighton can really, really benefit from that in a superstar. Before you jump in, Susie, I do need to explain to people that that has happened because we didn't mention it within Arsenal because she had such an incredible Euros, Michelle Adjimang, and made such an enormous impact. And we've already known her talent anyway. I think many people were expecting her to stay at Arsenal and fight for her place. And I think you had said that you probably thought she'd go back out on loan. How much of a coup is it for Brighton to get her?

it's great as long as they play her which I think they have to now I think given what she did at the Euros like that would have been I think that would have been a requirement that Arsenal said has to happen for this loan to happen because I don't think they would have sent her

there again if she was going to get the same playing time that she did last season which for the quality of player she is wasn't enough but it's quite good because I think it means she gets to settle into a more first team role with a little bit less of a harsh spotlight on her

you know obviously Arsenal will be compete or attempting to compete on four fronts like they've got such a talent heavy squad like breaking into that building any consistency is a really really difficult thing to do so she needs that at her you know young age to be able to progress the next level i think that's you know it's a great move the thing i was going to say about bright and all teams that sort of you know finish fifth and then have ambitions to breaking into the top four is it always fails and the problem is is you need as marva said a massive squad overhaul to be able to have the talent level of those top four teams, but you have

to do such a squad overhaul that then that massively is disruptive as well. So we've seen, you know, Aston Villa, Everton, teams like that who have had these massive sort of 8, 10, 12 player overhauls in the last how many years of the WSL, then have terrible seasons the following year because you're basically disrupting the momentum that got you there and then having to climb up. The one thing I'd add on Brighton's signing is, again, I agree with Marva on the fact that they haven't

done enough business. But at the same time, what I really like is the profile of the players they're signing this time because previously they went for the big women's football names who weren't necessarily at the peak of their career or playing regular football. So, you know, this summer they've let

go of Forrestottier, Vicki Lassad, Nikita Paris, players like that who come with big profile, right? the names people want on the back of their shirts because they've got history in the sport. And instead, this time round, they've got in Adjaman, obviously her load extended, but Rosa Kaffaji, Mase Mopom, like young, exciting talents who sort of have their career ahead, who have a point to prove, who haven't yet sort of done it. So that's what excites me a little bit about that, I would say, seems to be like a bit

of a shift in terms of strategy of the type of player they want to sign. And they're getting in some really, really good players that could really, excite this season I would say if any club invests in their women's team it's Brighton and I kind of think that they will be the next club that breaks into

the top four but as you say it takes time doesn't it? Well I have a little bit and I'm very sorry and we will get to our predictions very shortly by the way Maisie Simons has been named their new captain 22 years old that's that's a big statement actually she is their longest

serving player got her first lionesses call up last campaign but that's very young to be to be captain but we have seen it before and you know if you are a mature leader doesn't matter what's on your birth certificate I would say right that's it for part one in part two we're going to look at the rest of the teams how they're shaping up for the new season and of course we are going to be bringing you our brilliant always completely accurate and wonderful predictions as well Welcome back to part two of the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. Okay, so Aston Villa finished sixth last season, so we're going to run our eye over them at the moment.

A bit of a roller coaster campaign, I think it's fair to say. but Natalia Arroyo did start to steady the ship, didn't she? They did flirt with relegation for the first part of the season, but it was a strong finish in the end and an opportunity, perhaps, Tom, for her to show what she's all about now that she's got the start of the season. Yeah, Vila finished the campaign in excellent form. Probably didn't want the season to finish, really,

and could take some real momentum into this season. I like what they've done in the summer, like, I think we're really pleased to see Ellie Robot get that chance. They've got good players who were there last time. Like, Jastity Grant looked electric. You know, Jorbanes looked good as well. And they've generally got a bit of a positive vibe about them at the moment. Brought in Maggie Murphy, formerly of Lewis,

to kind of oversee things behind the scenes, which is a great appointment. I think everyone who's worked in the women's game would agree comes with excellent reputation from her work previously at Lewis. exciting times for Aston Villa. The challenge that they're going to have, which I think all of these teams are talking about now, are going to have, is just trying to take that step up is really difficult. What I suppose I would love to see from a team like Villa, which we haven't seen before, is to have a good cup run, like a genuinely good get to the final type of cup run, because the domestic cups have been so boringly dominated by the three who always win, or

four sort of, who normally win them. Particularly the league. Cup, like only three teams ever won the League Cup, like for goodness sake, let's have a bit of variety. So my calling to whether it be Villa or Brighton, who we were just talking about, and all those kind of teams in the middle of the table, can someone please have a really good cup run and do something fun to kind of mix things up a little bit. I love that. Call to action to all clubs. I mean, I think they're probably trying, Tom. You wouldn't go into the Cup competition otherwise. This is true, but I suppose what I'm also trying to say is at times it's felt as though the league games are still the priority, like, and almost like teams are prioritising the

idea of trying to finish sixth rather than finish eighth. Where's the eternal triumph in finishing like fifth? Come on. Like, or even fourth in this league to be fair. Well, true, true. But let's, I would hope that they'll start to make some of those cup games the priority and that may, hopefully like their bosses on the boards and heads of women's forgive them if they lose a subsequent league game and finish 7th rather than 5th. But like, can someone have some fun and have a real crack at a cup, please? I'm also in just because it would be great to see Everton when a trophy in my lifetime. So I'm very much there too.

We're not that enthusiastic about it, Marvell. I think that's stretching it. No, I wouldn't do that to you. It's not stretching it too far at all. Let's look at Liverpool because unfortunately they did finish above you last season, much as I know that you will be upset about that. And I'm now going to make you talk about them as well, I'm afraid. Gareth Taylor named the new manager just a few weeks ago.

What did you make of that decision? I don't think it's a bad appointment, actually. He obviously was a slightly controversial figure amongst Man City fans, and it depends what kind of Gareth Taylor we see. But I think in amongst all the sort of controversy of, you know, the Columbia Kelly debacle and everything, we're kind of forgetting what, you know, a huge WSL pedigree manager he is. and the experience that he can bring to a team like Liverpool

and also just that that playing style that he brings with him. For Liverpool as a whole, like I've said it last season, it isn't just because I'm a little worried about them, I say worried in inverted commas, but because it seems like they got rid of a lot of their squad to bring in Olivia Smith, and now they've got rid of Olivia Smith. And it doesn't seem like they've really then capitalised on that

and bought in the kind of big signings to make up for that, particularly when you consider that the season beforehand in the transfer window beforehand, They also lost a lot of their sort of squad players. I'm a bit worried that they're not really going in with massive momentum or kind of many things to really hold on to in terms of excitement. Obviously, there's Sam Kerr signing, she did well. I think they've renewed a lot of old players who helped build that squad.

You look at Enderby, he was also a good sort of bright spark in their season, last season. But that's a lot of pressure to put on a player like her. And you kind of look around to the rest of their squad, and there isn't that massive kind of excitement. And the thing that really excited them last season is, of course, Olivia Smith, which, of course, okay, you lose a massive payer, it happens. But sometimes you get teams who get a massive chunk of money in

and you can actually rebuild a team based on that. And obviously, Chance Wend isn't closed yet, but we haven't quite seen the signs that that's something they're going to do in terms of, in fact, Liverpool men's teams do it very well, where they sold some of their biggest players and just really spent that money so well rebuilt their team

and I just don't think we've seen the sign of that yet. What have we seen the men's team spend over £400 million in this transfer window? Not so much this transfer window but previous transfer windows when they've lost like Suarez for example and then just like massively

rebuilt their front three but this season yeah I mean obviously that it's crazy money we know the difference between men's and women's football but you know if you get a million pound windfall from Olivia Smith you would expect it to be reinvested into the squad but we know don't we Previously, Liverpool haven't invested in their women's side.

Are they going to do it this time or should we be concerned again, Susie? Oh, I think we should always be concerned because they've never shown a huge commitment to the side, particularly not for a team that is so competitive and big spending in the men's game to not take its women's team very seriously at all to be okay when they were relegated. It's just really, really disappointing. When you look at their signings compared to their outgoings, the loss of Taylor Hines and Olivia Smith are huge, huge blows, the two key areas of the pitch, and they've not really matched that level of player with the incomings, really. So that is a massive disappointment.

I think it's a really interesting project for Gareth Taylor and a real test of his managerial ability. Obviously, he was in the Manchester City Academy. He got the Manchester City first team job. This is his first test sort of free from the city group to see what he can actually do as a manager, not constrained by the sort of slight rigidity of the way city do things and play and set up and stuff and, you know, kind of throw resource at things. So it'll be interesting to see how he works as a coach with a group of players that isn't the strongest. And Marva, you're going to be hoping that the opening game is a tough one for them.

You quite like this fixture. Merseyside Derby is the first game of the season. How are Everton looking? You have got rid of a lot of players, brought in a lot of players. How much are you looking forward to the first game of the season? How confident are you with the business you've done? With the business we've done, I'm quite excited. I am a bit annoyed that the Mosei Derby is the first game in the season

because even though we have a very good record against them, we often don't start very well to the season. We need a few games to get going. So I'm like, that's our usual, you know, we can bank on that as a three points. I don't want to miss out on that on our first game in the season. But in terms of, yeah, like you said, we have gotten rid of a lot of players and brought in a lot of players. And in that sense, it's quite hard to tell what sort of team we're going to be. But you look at the types of players that we've got rid of and brought in,

and it's more just sort of bodies and midfield. So it's not like, you know, we've gotten rid of loads of our key players and then brought in loads of new key players and you don't really know what you're going to get. I think it's more a case of just boltering up that midfield. But, you know, sort of come halfway through the season and I might be going, if only we hadn't sold Justin Van Haver, mate, that would have made the biggest difference. You can't really quite tell until you're in the middle of the season.

But I think there are some really exciting either renewals or, yeah, signings, I think Maz Pacheco, Martina Fernandez, for me particularly, I thought Fernandez was brilliant for us last season. And, you know, there's no hiding that we've had a lot of problems defensively and conceded a lot of goals over the last few years. And I think once Fernandez got going, and she's such a young, her back. Obviously, it's a shame what's happening to Barcelona, which meant that we almost

capitalised on their misfortunes. But I honestly think if Barcelona weren't going through that, they would not have sold her to us. Like, she's that good of a player. And she really helped, yeah, solidify our defence last season. So I'm excited. I think the biggest thing, more than any incomings is the fact that we renewed Kelly Gaga. Like the rumours of her leaving to PSG after, you know, six months of being with us, I just thought, here we go, of course. This is what I'm used to as an Everton fan. And to actually not only, you know, get rid of those rumors, but actually renew her contract is huge because to have a top goal scorer in the WSL just wins you points.

And she, I couldn't speak highly of her enough last season. Like the way she just transformed our team once she came in was incredible. So I'm just excited to see her. I've got some exciting signings coming in. We can't tell just yet what that midfields. exactly going to look like we've also got gali to come back so I'm I'm hesitantly positive and given I'm an everman fan that's very positive that's a big step I'm not even usually hesitantly positive brilliant exciting of course that Goodison Park's going to be their new home

this season they're going to be playing two of their opening three matches there as well and the owners have provided more money so you know exciting times potentially Although don't say it too loud, else Marva will think we're jinxing her on purpose. We are hearing as well that Ruby Mesa is in talks for a move from Leicester, but we'll keep you updated on that next week. Window closing on Thursday as a reminder. Right, West Ham, so Rianne Skinner looking like she's lost her assistant to Leicester, according to Tom's news earlier on.

But West Ham were tricky side last season, weren't they? What would you say? And actually they've got a fairly tricky start, I would say. Their first three fixtures, Tottenham, Arsenal and Brighton. What do we think of the realistic goals for West Ham this campaign, Susie? I was going to say stay up, but they should be all right on that score, given that it's very, very difficult to get relegated this season. I know that I think they're going to really struggle in the context of, you know,

what other teams are doing. We said constantly throughout last season that they have a really good quality squad, like some real talent in that squad. but they're not being given enough to really kind of like step on and be able to find some consistency and things like that. Like that's the biggest issue for me is that, you know, when you look at the quality of some of the players that they've got in their midst, you know, there's the potential there for them to do all right as sort of like a mid-table team,

but it doesn't get really strengthened. I mean, you know, they've bought in a few players, but not really of the quality that's going to keep them competitive. That said, with Shakira Martinez in their squad, like I think, anything can happen and they can have and actually a decent run. She's such a phenomenal talent, but it's whether her and, you know, the likes of

Katrina Gorey and some of the like top level international talent can keep carrying the side sort of through season on season for me. They've trimmed a lot, eight players out, five on loan, four in. It's going to be really interesting. Obviously, you know, lots of the departing players

weren't seeing massive amounts of game time anyway, but, you know, the stability could be key, but two big London Derby's starting the campaign, maybe give us a measure of where they're at, Tom? If you were looking at the sort of squad value, which is a strange thing to say, you know, combined squad value of the players at West Ham, I'd put them in a bracket with Tottenham and Leicester

as being like the bottom three on paper, that kind of lazy term. I think they're quite reliant on Asseille and Martinez and I'd worry if anything happened to either of those two. that they're a little bit vulnerable, but they did do better than everyone thought last year, and I think they deserve a lot of credit for that. So I wouldn't be too worried if I was a West Ham fan,

but I just get routinely frustrated by what appears to be a real, a lack of emotional investment from the higher-ups at West Ham, and not just down to like how infrequently they play at London Stadium, for example, but just how relatively infrequently you see some of the ball at the games. They're not alone in that. if you don't only have to look at Manchester United, Liverpool and many others. But I'd never really got the sense

that the women's team is a big priority for the club. Our colleague Matt Hughes has reported that they're in talks to sell the women's team. And maybe that might be what it needs. Maybe it needs that kind of fresh impetus, making the owners of the women's club like fully focused on the women's club. That maybe that's what they...

It's becoming trendy, isn't it, at the moment? Yeah, it's the modern thing to do to kind of help you on a short-term. and fix for your men's team's PSR, but also I kind of think for the women's teams, like if it does bring in an independent authority that makes them the 100% priority, I kind of go ahead to see it because you're not second fiddle anymore. So, yeah, West Ham

we're a little bit worried, but my gut feeling is I'll probably be just about okay. We've already touched on Lester, Rick Passmore, an interim charge at the moment. We don't know yet whether or not they're going to go searching for a permanent manager or whether he will be given the job but obviously lack of investment over the summer three new players in Marva no managers obviously

disrupted things preseason although they did get rid of Amandine Mikhail with 11 days before the start of the season let's focus on the good news Yut Tarantala back fit signed a new contract as well how do you see their season going

I'm very worried for them I think they're the team that will look around and go thankfully we don't have automatic relegation this season because I think they were in real trouble with London City Linus is coming up and just not being that that buffer that they've well that many of our teams have had over the last few seasons you look at the size of their squads even just in terms of numbers before we even get into kind of talent and depth the size is not enough to compete at a WSL level and it's not enough that we want to compete like you shouldn't be able to get by with a squad of that level even just

just in terms of numbers. We want the WSL to be competitive enough that you look at a squad like that and go, that shouldn't happen. Of course you're going to go down if you've got a squad like that. Obviously now, looking at managerial changes, I understand, you know,

if they weren't aligned in terms of the club and McCull, but I think she actually did a pretty good job last season with what she had. You saw some really good signs of it, especially towards the end of the season, some decent results. And even in games where they got battered a few times,

but even in some of the bigger games, I think they actually showed really good structure. I think they showed that if they had a bit more talent, they could compete. And I think it is unfair when you look at it in terms of what she was starting to build. And what can you really build on when you don't have that investment?

So, yeah, I mean, they've got some players that, like you serve and Tyler, but I just think it's going to be a difficult season for them. However, luckily, there isn't an automatic relegation. And we don't know what the new manager might bring and how that's going to go. But yeah, I would say out of all teams, they will be the one

and most worry about in terms of relegation. And that does make you wonder whether or not the teams kind of in and around the middle that were kind of flirting a little bit with relegation have looked at that and thought now's not the season to invest perhaps. And so they're kind of thinking that they're safe, therefore they don't have to do that.

And I wonder whether Spurs are one of those as well. They've got a new manager in Martin Ho, just one player in with Tokyo. Coga from Firenord. You spoke to Martin Ho at a recent media day, Susie, didn't you? What did you make of him and his ambitions for the club? Yeah, it was interesting because he's a really different style of manager to Robert Villaham. Like they are, I chatted to a couple of players about this. Like he is a very, very different profile of manager, much more vocal and the type of manager who is like playing every pass on the touchline and a bit of a louder character generally,

whereas Robert Villaham was very sort of a calm, like, understated presence. And there's, you know, no, like, shade on either of those qualities. It's just different. And sometimes that's just what, like, it doesn't really matter what the change is. Sometimes a team just needs some change. And I think there was such confusion about why Spurs sort of had such a bad season after such a good one, the preceding year. And no real answer to it that I think just any change was sort of at the stage that they were at.

I mean, Martin Ho, you know, did a fantastic job with Brann, obviously, you know, getting them to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, comes with pedigree in the WSL and he's, you know, being assistant at Manchester United and on Merseyside as well. So, like, he is a guy that understands WSL football, but also just seems really, really hungry for it. Like, I think he's really excited about an opportunity to step up into a head coach role in this league. He said he felt the timing was right. he wants them to play like aggressive football he doesn't want them to sort of sit back and soak up pressure and kind of bank back against teams he really wants them to play passing attacking football counter attacking football and i think it's yeah like it's going to be interested to see what they do they've not done huge business in this window but they've they've got a decent squad there

and if they can avoid injury to beth england in particular then i think they might they might be okay that the vibe around them seems pretty good at the moment Hmm. Okay, well that's good to hear. I wonder what the vibe is like at London City Lionesses. They kind of complete the lineup this season, if you like, and they have been busy after they were promoted from what was the championship last season. A eclectic mix of headline acts is how producer Sophie has explained the amount of signings that they've brought in. How, you're stroking your chin, Tom. Is that in contemplative? of, hmm, how are these going to fare together? Is it just a bunch of players thrown into the mix? How are they looking, London City lionesses? Because I'm looking at it on paper and quite excited for them. It's been an extraordinary summer to see a newly promoted team come in

and spend some of the money that they have, and they're not done. We understand that they're also, well, they could get two or three more, but one that is coming through the door, I believe, quite soon. The Ruthia Colales, score of the winning goal in the under 17 World Cup I think it was a few years ago for Spain 19 years of age from Barcelona

the release clause that the Spanish media are reporting is 500,000 euros which I think would make the fourth most expensive signing in double cell history and that's just a just one of many signings that they've been making we'd know about Danielle van der Donk

of course you know they've been in the key to Paris they've strengthened kind of all over the pitch the challenge is going to be getting them all to gel together quickly could take a little bit of time and we don't know how much it's going to disrupt the sort of the unity they might have had in winning the league last year but I'm fascinated to see how they're going to get on

but they're disruptors aren't they came into the business she wants to get them into the champions league eventually even win the WSL eventually that could take a while but do I see them going down no yeah I was down at their training ground for their media day and it's like it's a building site the pitches are perfect that's where the work's been done first but they're literally completely rebuilding it turning the whole place into an elite professional environment is

the aim and if ever there was like visual metaphor for the state of the squad it's probably like looking at that training ground but the the ambition i mean spoke to sakegum kuma guy when i was down there and the ambition is not like staying up and like you know kind of being sort of comfortable around the sort of bottom end of the take They want mid-table. Like, that is, like, the sort of goal that they've set themselves for this season. And then next season, they want to be pushing on for a champion's league place. That is, like, the sort of short-term, like, strategy that they've got.

Could they do it? Potentially, yes. I mean, I've already mentioned earlier that, like, high turnover of squads is extraordinarily difficult to being together. But Jocelyn Pritcher basically had to do that job last season because they brought in a load of new players, like, at the start of the campaign in WSL2, and then also in January as well. That's when Kuma Guy came in, for example. So he's already shown that he can bring together a team.

The hard part is going to be the difference in the two leagues, because obviously, as we know, WSL2, it's not a pretty league necessarily. Every game is really difficult from that point of view. You're not necessarily going to dominate with the ball at your feet. It's very stop-start and you don't get sort of fluid play necessarily in the same way that you do so much in the WSL. So it's whether they can sort of adapt as a group to the style of play in the WSL

and the quality of play as well as jelling all these players. But it's like I'm just so excited. I wrote in my London City, Lynesses, team preview, which isn't out yet, that what's exciting is there isn't even a precedent sent by any other promoted team that would indicate as to the potential of what they've got because no one's ever had the level of investment of a team coming up that they've had. So like it's a complete like wild card entity. and you just can't, like, I just can't predict where they're going to be.

So don't ask me for a prediction. I'm not going to, well, I am going to ask you for a prediction in a second. But I tell you what they do have, a really tough start. Arsenal away and Manchester United at home to begin with. So maybe we don't, we shouldn't be judging them right at the beginning of the season when they have got a lot of jelling to do. But I am going to ask you for your quickfire predictions. Quick fire team, please.

Quick fire. And we're going to go round in order. Susie Tom Marva. Okay. Susie, who's winning the league? Chelsea. Chelsea. Oh, blimey. You're all so boring. I'm going Arsenal. Okay, Susie, who's going down? I originally put West Ham in my predictions for written Guardian stuff.

I'm switching that to Leicester, given the chaos recently. Lester. I'm kind of on board with Leicester. Who's going to prove the best signing, Susie? Let's go Siglottium. Fridolina Rolfo. If it counts, Ademang. Who's going to finish top scorer?

What was yours for that? You can't... I skipped over it. I sat on the fence and got some splinters. Who's finishing top scorer, Susie? Oh, Bunny Shore. Shakira Martinez. I've been saying Bunny Shaw, so I'm going to stick to Bunny Shore.

Oh, my God, I love that Shakira Martinez shout. That's incredible. I'm going to sit on the fence again, which is really terrible. I know. I know. I know. I can't. I can't. Host prerogative. Yes, exactly. Indeed. Now, you mentioned the WSL2, Susie. That kicks off this weekend as well.

Sheffield United opening things up against Sunderland at Brammer Lane on Friday night before Southampton host it, Switchtown on Saturday. Sunday we've got Portsmouth against Durham. Battle of the Big Spenders is Nottingham Forest take on Newcastle United. Charlton host Crystal Palace and then Birmingham City face Bristol City. And of course, you know, we know how exciting this league is every season and it feels like it gets more excited. exciting every season, but it's more competitive than ever, especially with at least two promotion spots up for grabs. Who do we see as the front runners, Tom? Oh, Newcastle looked really strong. Great summer for them, real ambition. Birmingham got a

great side. They were very, very close last year. And I like what they're doing at Bristol City, appointed a really good coach with Charlotte Healy, very well thought of in the women's game, signed some really experienced players. Sophie Ingle will come into that midfield and just bring a winning mentality, great experience. It's going to be a really good battle. Those three, I think, would be up there. Palace and Forrester had a good summer as well.

But it was the summer when, I think, teams realised you have to go now. You've got to go for it. There's two automatic places plus a playoff. You'll never get a good chance, that good a chance again to get up. And I think a few teams have really gone for it. So those would be the four,

I would think the Castle, Birmingham, Bristol City, maybe Palace, and then I think Forest will be strong as well. And there's a gap. There's a big gap to the have-nots, the likes of, Devils United, Portsmouth, Ipswich to a degree, and maybe even Southampton, I think there will be a gap this year. I don't think it'll be that close. I think we could see some gaps developing between the top and bottom half. I'm expecting Ipswich not to be challenging at the top, given that they've just been promoted,

but I'm actually really, really excited to see how they fare. They've been knocking at the door for promotion for such a long time. And they've got one of the best academy setups in the country. So much young talent there. Get huge crowds at their ground as well. I'm like really happy they're in this league. And like I don't think they're just there for a participation award necessarily either. And that for me is quite exciting.

That's interesting. You would think that the club hierarchy would think we've got more visibility this season as well. Because every game's going to be broadcast on YouTube, which is a massive opportunity. and really important actually for growing the league, Marva. Yeah, definitely. I think also we're starting to see a trend of, you know, young players going to WSL2 a little bit more, which I think will, for a lot of, I want to say bigger clubs,

but yes, bigger clubs and their fans who are getting more engaged in the kind of growing of the club from the academy levels up. I think you're going to see a lot of those fans also tune in to WSL2 to see those lone players. I do agree with Tom as well, but I think there's going to be that big gap. I am really excited by Crystal Palace, particularly myself.

but yeah I think it's great that we can actually really tune in a way that we haven't really been able to because it's been such a competitive league but not everyone's kind of had their eyes on it even when they've loved to be a part of women's football so I think there's a lot to be excited for next season yeah it's always exciting this league and I'm fascinated to see what the figures are going to look like in terms of people's engagement in WSL2 Barclays WSL2 I should say right we mentioned champions league qualification with Manchester United in action, didn't we? We'll cover that a little bit more when the

two legs are played on the 11th and 18th of September because it has been a fast and furious pod. We have fitted in so much. It's been brilliant and I'm very excited. I know we sounded bleary-eyed at the beginning of the pod and we're like, we're not ready for the season to start. I am now pumped

for the season to start after that. So thank you very much. By the way, I also want to let you all know. In fact, I think Susie should because she is the protagonist in this. I'm blaming her for my stress levels this season. We have a fantasy league that actually we're going to keep on top of this season, Susie, haven't we? Yeah, of course we are. I'm going to keep on top of my team, partly because my 12-year-old son is so ridiculously obsessed with both his Premier League and his WSL fantasy teams that he talks about every 30 seconds of day. So it's

impossible for me to forget it now. But yeah, you can join it. It's the Guardian WFW and the code to join is Join WFW. And it's Aerial Fantasy, which was WSL Fantasy last season. It's had a little bit of a rebrand. But, yeah, I'm determined to do better. I'm so determined to do better than I did last season, which was absolutely dire. And I wonder if Tom can have his flying start again.

At a flying start, but then I dropped off terribly. So, yeah, it's, none of us had a great time. We'll do better this year. We must do better. I don't think I even updated mine after the second week, which is just terrible. So terrible. Anyway, it's been a joy as it always is. Marva, see you soon.

See you soon. Bye Tom. Great to see you, mate. Take care. See you act. See soon. Goodbye. Keep having your say as well. We will read out more messages next week. Send in your questions via X. Email us at Women's Football Weekly at the Guardian.com as well. And as ever, a reminder to sign up for our biweekly women's football newsletter. All you need to do is search Moving the Goalposts sign up. The Guardian Women's Football Weekly is produced by Sophie Downey and Holly Fisher.

Music composition was by Laura Iodale. Our executive producer is Danielle Stevens.