Liverpool’s Oliva Smith coup, Aston Villa reset but Tottenham can survive without Grace Clinton, Kit Graham and Celine Bizet Idusoy Can you adapt to the situation? – WSL Talking Points | Football News

Olivia Smith breaks Liverpool membership document

Liverpool have confirmed as soon as once more that they aren’t afraid to spend cash. After spending £100,000 on Sophie Romain Hauge final summer season, this yr they purchased 19-year-old Olivia Smith from Sporting Lisbon for a club-record £210,000.

So, what makes this attacking midfielder value spending cash on? After one season in Portugal, Smith was voted the league’s Participant of the 12 months and Younger Participant of the Season, scoring 13 targets in 18 video games.

She can also be the youngest participant in Crew Canada historical past – she was 15 in 2019 – and featured finally summer season’s Girls’s World Cup.

Smith has star potential and is Liverpool’s most important goal this summer season. Not solely having the ability to persuade her to hitch, however having the ability to afford to signal the midfielder is an actual assertion of intent for a workforce eager to crack the WSL’s prime three.

Tottenham Hotspur with out Clinton, Graham or Bizet

Tottenham should present their enchancment this season – particularly with out Grace Clinton and Equipment Graham.

Regardless of eager to re-sign Clinton after his breakthrough mortgage season, the midfielder selected to remain at United. She scored 4 targets and supplied 4 assists in 20 WSL video games for Tottenham, and her excellent efficiency earned her a beginning spot within the England workforce.

Tottenham have been dealt one other blow when Graham suffered an ACL damage, that means she is going to miss a lot of the 2024/25 season, having performed in 18 WSL video games final season.

And a phrase about Celin Bizet Ildhusoy, who additionally moved to Manchester United this summer season. Her reference to Clinton was key to Tottenham’s creativity final season.

Tottenham Hotspur made some good signings in the summertime, together with the likes of Hayley Russo, Claire Hunter and Amanda Niarden, who’re anticipated to go some solution to substitute the absent Clinton and Graham.

Aston Villa had a optimistic summer season

Aston Villa have made adjustments over the summer season. Some could have been fearful when Cara Ward introduced her departure, however incoming Roberto Depo brings with him a wealth of expertise teaching on the African continent. It might show to be a shrewd appointment.

The indicators over the previous few months have been optimistic. Villa are unbeaten in pre-season, together with a 2-1 win over Manchester Metropolis, and have made some spectacular signings.

Katie Robinson and Missy Beau-Kearns are regulars for the England senior and U21 groups, whereas Miri Taylor has signed completely from Liverpool after her mortgage spell expired. Gabby Nunez’s deadline-day affirmation can also be thrilling, with the Brazilian serving to her nation safe a silver medal on the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Final season was disappointing for Villa after a profitable 2022/23 marketing campaign, however the membership look to be again on the best path.

Fran Kirby 2.0 Brighton

It will be unusual to see Fran Kirby in a Brighton shirt. The title is synonymous with the well-known Chelsea blue and now she finds herself on the south coast the place a brand new period of her profession begins.

It is spectacular that the Seagulls have been capable of appeal to a participant of Kirby’s caliber, particularly with a lot expertise leaving this summer season.

“I wish to go someplace the place I can keep my requirements and assist deliver these requirements to a different membership,” Kirby mentioned.

“I wish to keep on this league as a result of I nonetheless wish to play each week and so long as I will help the workforce enhance, that is what I wish to do.

“Once I spoke to Brighton they advised me how the homeowners have been supporting the ladies’s recreation and the way a lot they needed to speculate and drive it ahead and to see the amenities right here, for me it was a really thrilling one. The chance, I assumed it was a really thrilling alternative that I actually could not flip down.

One in every of England’s greatest ever gamers, Kirby nonetheless has loads to supply and with one other European squad looming subsequent summer season, she can be hoping to affect the fortunes of Brighton and the Lionesses along with her transfer .

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Have West Ham changed outgoing gamers?

West Ham United have had a busy summer season. Quite a lot of key first-team gamers comparable to Mackenzie Arnold, Hawa Sissoko and Risa Shimizu have left the membership, however a lot of replacements have been introduced in to exchange them.

Maybe most important is the everlasting signing of Tottenham Hotspur’s Selena Zadowski, who has been named vice-captain behind new membership captain Katrina Gorey.

Let’s additionally not neglect that Gorey and Christie Mewis – each big-name January signings – stay on the membership and have now had a full pre-season to settle into the squad.

Summer season signings have primarily centered on children. Half of them are below the age of 24, and a lot of the 10 new signings lack WSL expertise. Li Mengwen, who joined on mortgage from Brighton this season, joins Zadoski in including some gamers, though she solely performed 11 league video games final season.

Rehanne Skinner is likely one of the most skilled WSL coaches within the league, however she has a tricky process to maintain West Ham United aggressive this season.

Can new Leicester Metropolis coach Mikel deliver stability?

Since promotion in 2021, Leicester Metropolis has not skilled a season with just one coach. Jonathan Morgan guided Leicester Metropolis to the title, making approach for Lydia Bedford of their first season.

Lower than a yr later, she was changed by then-director of soccer Willie Kirk. He was suspended and ultimately sacked in March as relations emerged between the supervisor and Leicester Metropolis gamers. Jennifer Foster and Emile Hirsch are among the many coaches in cost on an interim foundation.

New Foxes head coach Amandine Mikel is hoping to deliver the steadiness she introduced along with her a few years in cost at Reims. She led France to promotion for the primary time and into the latter phases of the cup.

Leicester have additionally signed some thrilling expertise this summer season, whereas the Foxes are arguably an underperforming facet. A superb efficiency, perhaps some assertion wins and mid-table must be a goal as they’ve failed to complete above tenth since promotion, which isn’t stunning given the inconsistency off the sphere.

Will Everton transfer on below Sorensen?

It has been a mediocre few seasons below Bryan Sorensen. Everton completed sixth and eighth within the WSL with out a lot fireworks below the Dane.

Off-field points surrounding membership possession and factors deductions for the boys’s workforce could have an effect, however the ladies’s workforce has its personal want to compete.

Sørensen signed a brand new two-year contract in April and Everton have hardly ever been at risk of relegation due to him. Nonetheless, many on the membership – and presumably the supervisor and gamers – want to push additional.

Maybe a cup run can be a superb place to begin and the Toffees have made shrewd summer season recruitment within the hope of success within the 2024/25 season.

Can Crystal Palace keep away from relegation?

That is the largest drawback for any newly promoted workforce. As that is their first season within the WSL, Crystal Palace can be one of many sturdy contenders to keep away from relegation.

However the Eagles have introduced in gamers with WSL expertise within the likes of Josie Inexperienced, Shea Yanez and Katrin Vij, in addition to some promising children.

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They should share their information in a workforce that has loads of championship consciousness however little or no in England’s prime flight. The development is big, however different groups have confirmed that being new to the WSL would not all the time imply instant relegation.

The likes of Liverpool, Aston Villa and Leicester Metropolis have all superior in recent times and at the moment are aggressive WSL groups. Crystal Palace can be taught from them and look to safe their future within the league.