October heralds a new Women’s Super League season, and with excitement from this summer’s World Cup still piqued, and with almost all of the major clubs strengthening across the transfer window, there is an awful lot to look forward to.
Chief among the narratives is whether last season’s double-winners Chelsea can make it a remarkable five titles in a row as they dominate the women’s game in the modern era.
Despite being run close by Manchester United last term, and despite arguably not being at their best for much of the campaign, Emma Hayes’ star-studded side still only lost twice and boasted a 100% record at home.
Up front, a formidable attacking trio of Sam Kerr, Lauren James and Guro Reiten outscored the rest while crucially, with a backline bolstered by England stalwarts Millie Bright and Jess Carter, they kept clean sheets in exactly half their fixtures.
Unsurprisingly therefore, the Blues are priced up as favourites in the football betting online to replicate their feat, and for sure they are the team to beat.
The question is, can anyone better them across an eight-month period?
Losing defender Magdalena Eriksson and 2018’s Ballon d’Or Feminin runner-up Pernille Harder, both to Bayern, is significant, even if the latter missed most of last season to injury.
Yet, like their male counterparts, Chelsea have been busy in the transfer market this summer, bringing in an array of new signings that should improve them. This in itself is a scary thought.
To minimise the absence of Harder in the number 10 role, Catarina Macario comes in from Lyon, the USWNT international promising plenty of goals and creativity.
The full-back positions meanwhile have been solidified with the arrivals of Alejandra Bernabe and Ashley Lawrence, from Real Sociedad and PSG respectively.
But it’s the £200,000 purchase of Mia Fishel that really intrigues, the young striker taking the Mexican league by storm last year, scoring 47 times in 64 games for Tigres. Affectionately known as ‘Big Fish, the American will help take the strain off Sam Kerr to do Sam Kerr things.
As much as these new recruits offer potential, Chelsea’s most important signature of the summer came when Lauren James committed to a contract extension and no doubt last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year will once again terrorise full-backs great, good and otherwise.
Having a winger who her international captain Leah Williamson recently called a ‘cheat code’ doesn’t seem fair when you’re already as excellent a side as Chelsea.
If all this suggests however, 2023/24 is going to be a one-sided battle nothing could be further from the truth, not with Arsenal upgrading an already stingy defence by signing Amanda Ilestedt and Laia Codina.
The former was one of the stand-out performers at the World Cup. The latter won it.
With Frida Maanum never less than a highly-proficient shield in midfield and Leah Williamson back in training after rupturing her ACL, not many teams will find a way through the Gunners’ rearguard this season and that doesn’t bode well for their rivals when it’s acknowledged just how well stacked they are going forward.
Having lured Alessia Russo down from Manchester, Arsenal’s options up front are frankly ridiculous, or at least they will be once Beth Mead and Stina Blackstenius return from injury.
There is also Caitlin Foord to consider who so impressed at the World Cup for the hosts. With 20 direct goal involvements from 33 appearances last term, the Aussie striker is always a player worth backing in the live betting.
Moreover, Arsenal’s chances are enhanced this time out by not having Champions League football predictions muddying the waters because if last season’s adventure all the way to the semi-finals provided some unforgettable moments, it also unquestionably got in the way of their league aspirations.
By focusing only on domestic glory the Gunners should be considered genuine contenders.
As too should Manchester United, especially as Mary Earps in net has decided to stay for one more season at least. With England’s World Cup finalist putting in weekly masterclasses behind the superb Maya Le Tissier, the Red Devils will again be difficult to break down.
Add in Katie Zelem bossing matters in midfield and the goal-threat of Geyse, the Brazilian international signed from Barcelona, and Marc Skinner’s side have the strength-in-depth and the capabilities to go one better in 2023/24.
Elsewhere, Manchester City have stalled somewhat but with Yui Hasegawa, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly and Khadija Shaw in their ranks are always a big danger, while Aston Villa should not be ruled out from mounting a top three bid, recruiting shrewdly over the summer and retaining the services of Rachel Daly.
Transformed from a left-back into a phenomenally prolific finisher, Daly converted every 89 minutes last season.
As stated earlier, there is an awful lot to be excited by in the coming months, and with attendances rocketing - last season saw a 173% rise from the year before - the public are fast cottoning on.
A new Women’s Super League season awaits us and it’s going to be epic.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
