THESE GIRLS CAN
United Women
“It does send a statement,” said Casey Stoney, the manager of Manchester United Women, after signing two World Cupwinning Americans: Tobin Heath and Christen Press. She’s right.
United consistently fell just short against the country’s top three sides last season, and so when they opened their WSL campaign with a well-deserved draw against the star-studded champions Chelsea recently, that sent a statement of sorts too.
United had an excellent first season in England’s top flight — finishing fourth and getting to a cup semi-final. Their challenge now is to break into the elite top three made up of Chelsea, city and Arsenal.
Sceptics will say a more realistic aim for United is to defend their fourth spot. There was, after all, a 13-point gap to thirdplace Arsenal last time out. That’s a lot of ground to make up. Chelsea have broken the transfer record, Arsenal have the stunningly good Vivianne Miedema leading the line and city’s sights are on European, not just domestic, glory.
But United have made some astute signings. Heath and Press bring experience and a winning mentality to a very young team in which Lauren James, only recently turned 19, is United’s all-time leading goalscorer. She scored her first at the age of 16 and is a mouth-watering prospect. Her brother, Reece, plays for Chelsea.
“We are here to win and we are here to fight for titles,” Press declared on arrival, speaking to The Offside Rule podcast. Her and Tobin Heath will play the Cantona or — for a more recent comparison — Ibrahimovic/Fernandes role in the squad: pushing it forward, offering advice and demanding success.
Since starting in 2018, United have mainly signed young talents. Ona Batlle, a 21-year-old Catalan full-back signed from Levante this summer, excelled in an attacking role against Chelsea.
Young players like Batlle know that they will grow at United in a good set-up. Despite being in only her third year of management, Casey Stoney is a big attraction already.
“Casey has an amazing reputation,” explained Press, after signing. “It’s very challenging as a manager to be liked and respected, and she certainly has that. I think she’s going to be something special.”
Stoney had an excellent playing career. She was England captain. At United, she has built a well-balanced and fastdeveloping team. It’s impressive.
Heath and Press aren’t the only Americans to arrive into the Women’s Super League this summer. Global star Alex Morgan joined Spurs. The league is growing quickly and the quality is improving as it does. United left it late to join the party, but they should soon be one of the WSL’s elite clubs, at a time when it is increasingly popular.
Watching the women’s game is entertaining and refreshing.
UNITEDWESTAND
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It’s accessible in a way that elite men’s football will never be again. There are certain similarities with non-league. Players know certain fans who travel home and away and, in normal times, they’ll come over to the side of the pitch to chat and take photos. A lot of kids are in the crowds. On the pitch, the ‘product’ is a good one.
Of course there is progress to be made in so many areas. It will take years for grassroots investment to pay off. And for fans of the men’s game it does require a bit of an adjustment. Not because the sport itself is being played differently, but because the atmosphere is incomparable — for better and for worse. There are fewer fans and less history behind the rivalries, but you can get a ticket more easily, and for a lot cheaper too. It feels less like a soap opera and more like a sport.
United play good football. They’ve never lost by more than two goals and, in this year’s FA WSL Cup, which begins with a group stage, they are grouped with Liverpool, Everton and city. There will be some great storylines in that competition.
In brief: Manchester United Women United restarted their women’s team in 2018, immediately entering the second tier of the domestic game and earning promotion with a rampant performance in the Championship that saw them take the title. Ex-England captain Casey Stoney was the side’s first manager and remains in charge now.
Captained by Katie Zelem, the team plays at Leigh Sports Village, but will move to The Cliff when renovation work is completed.
The women’s league is called the WSL: the Women’s Super League. Twelve teams compete and play each other home and away. Last season United finished fourth. They have their sights set on breaking into the top three this year.
WSL games are shown live on BBC, BT Sport and The FA Player — the latter being a free online service and app, which just requires an e-mail to sign up.
Who to follow on Twitter to keep up to date:
Journalists @SuzyWrack @ameeruszkai @M0lly_Writes @KatieWhyatt Organisations @ManUtdWomen @BarclaysFAWSL @wosovavel @OffsideRulePod Recent results and upcoming fixtures Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea Birmingham 2-5 Man Utd Man Utd v Brighton (4 Oct, The FA Player) Liverpool v Man Utd (7 Oct) Spurs v Man Utd (10 Oct, BT Sport 3) West Ham v Man Utd (18 Oct, BBC) Everton v Man Utd (4 Nov, The FA Player) Harry Robinson
