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Man City Women 2023/24 mid-season review: Standout performer, best signing & more

Manchester City are eyeing just their second WSL title and have launched their campaign with a clear intent to secure it. Despite facing a few minor hurdles, City are emerging as a dark horse poised to grasp the silverware come May.

No team understands the significance of a strong start to a WSL campaign better than Manchester City. Gareth Taylor’s squad ran out of time to reverse their early setbacks last season. However, ten games into the current run, City are defying critics by concluding the first half of the season in the WSL’s second place.

While Brighton ended City’s impressive 27-game unbeaten run across all competitions, which dated back to November 2021, marking their second defeat of the season, the convincing displays, formidable attack, and disciplined defence have unequivocally demonstrated that they should not be overlooked as serious contenders for the title.

Manchester City’s 2022/23 season was plagued by a sluggish beginning. Losing the first two games of the campaign put them in perpetual catch-up and they consistently struggled to close the gap with their main rivals. Essentially, those initial two losses left City with insufficient games to make up ground, underscoring the critical importance of a positive start in a season with only 22 games.

Typically vibrant Manchester City, last season was marked by a sense of disconnection and an inability to secure substantial scorelines, resulting in a flat outcome. Since their WSL triumph in 2016 (excluding the 2017/18 season), City consistently managed to win trophies. But a drought since lifting the Conti Cup in 2022 saw last season mark the furthest decline for the typically stalwart side and they concluding the league campaign in a disappointing fourth place.

Steph Houghton, Ellen WhiteSteph Houghton, Ellen White

City last won a trophy in 2021/22 – the Conti Cup / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages

The reason behind their subpar performances raised concerns. There were no significant injuries, and explanations regarding a lack of rotation were scarce. Evidently, their challenges appeared rooted in a lack of trust in the broader squad, having seen significant player turnover, coupled with Taylor’s difficulty in adjusting game plans once opponents had deciphered their intended strategies.

Taylor’s tenure faced uncertainty due to the team’s inconsistent form, but a contract extension in June offered the Welshman an opportunity for redemption this campaign. So far, that decision has proven smart. The team has exhibited a controlled and effective start, securing a statement win against Manchester United and achieving impressive score-lines against Everton, Tottenham, and Bristol City. While falling short against Arsenal was a setback, the team’s ability to secure a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at home also served as a morale boost.

Old Trafford – The Theatre of Dreams – was set for a shock. City boast some of the most clinical goal-scoring talent and their 3-1 victory against United showcased that attacking prowess at its peak. Bunny Shaw, Lauren Hemp, and Jill Roord, City’s three prominent threats, each scored exceptional goals, dealing United their first defeat of the season and asserting a presence in the title race.

Their defence remained resilient against an advancing home team. Khiara Keating, securing her position as City’s number one over the summer, in place of Ellie Roebuck, stood firm in goal to prevent a recurrence of last season’s errors and protect their substantial lead.

Adding to the significance of this achievement is the fact that, even with a reduction to ten players following Laia Aleixandri’s dismissal for a second yellow card, City successfully fended off their opponents. This resilience allowed them to preserve their advantage and secure a win that could define their league campaign.

Cheryl Foster, Laia AleixandriCheryl Foster, Laia Aleixandri

Laia Aleixandri was City’s fourth player to be shown a red card in the WSL so far this season / Richard Sellers/Allstar/GettyImages

As noted earlier, City lost a crucial player in one of the most pivotal matches, and remarkably, this wasn’t the first or even the third such occurrence for them in the current campaign.

This season has seen a notable surge in red cards, totalling eight acoss the league—an increase from the three observed in the previoulsy. Manchester City account for four of these, the highest among all teams. Notably, Alex Greenwood, harshly, and Lauren Hemp both received red cards after two yellows during City’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Leila Ouahabi had received a straight red card the week before due to a challenge against West Ham, and Aleixandri walked in the aforementioned derby.

City appear to be struggling to fully adapt to the stricter officiating measures implemented this season. The issuance of cards for dissent has surged by 600% in comparison to the previous season (from four to 24), and cautions for time-wasting have risen from eight to 28.

While their red card record might not appear calamitous, perhaps indicative of City’s overall impressive performance thus far with few lowlights to choose from, the inability to bring their bookings under control could potentially be the narrow margin that denies the opportunity to compete for a place in Champions League in the end should suspensions mount up.

Khadija ShawKhadija Shaw

Bunny Shaw is the current top scorer in the league / Visionhaus/GettyImages

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw stands out as one of the most clinical and precise attackers ever seen in the WSL. While City boast an abundance of incredible individual talent, none quite compare to the Jamaica international. Her flawless hat-trick against Everton secured her position as the season’s top WSL goalscorer by the end of 2023.

Arriving at the club in 2021, Shaw has shown remarkable progress in recent seasons. Initially serving as the second choice behind Ellen White in her debut campaign, she seized the opportunity presented by White’s 2022 retirement to assume a main role under Taylor, narrowly missing out on the WSL Golden Boot last season by just two goals.

This campaign, Shaw has scored nine goals in as many games. Determined not to miss out on the accolade once again, Shaw is thriving and poised to spearhead both her Golden Boot campaign and City’s pursuit of the title.

Jill RoordJill Roord

Roord signed for City from Wolfsburg in the summer / Matt McNulty/GettyImages

After high player turnover in 2022, City secured just one new face during the summer transfer window – Dutch midfielder Jill Roord. However, the absence of any other arrivals to compete for the ‘best signing’ label fails to fully capture the remarkable impact the ex-Arsenal player has had.

Roord departed the Gunners to join Wolfsburg in 2021 after only two years in the WSL. Her move to Manchester then tipped the scales at a reported £350,000 transfer fee, one of the highest ever.

Scoring six goals and providing two assists in ten league games, she has played a crucial role in City’s pursuit of a top three place and the title. Roord boasts an impressive 43% conversion rate, one of the highest in the league. Her ability to dictate play, score goals, and contribute defensively when needed has established her as the essential component to arguably complete City’s puzzle.

Why have one goal when you can have three? Shaw’s perfect hat-trick —scoring with her right foot, left foot, and a header—against Everton deserves all the plaudits. It was the 26-year-old’s second treble of the season and ended a goal-filled 2023 in the perfect way.

Shaw faced an initial setback when her early penalty attempt was thwarted, but she displayed remarkable resilience and skill by bouncing back with a truly spectacular showing.

Each goal, individually, attested to the highest level of skill and precision. However, when considered collectively, they serve as a compelling testament to Shaw’s clinical and indispensable contribution to City’s pursuit of the title.

City emerged as the underdogs this season. After a lacklustre and uninspiring performance in the previous season, Taylor’s team was widely dismissed at the beginning of the campaign. However, their disciplined and efficient start to the season stands in stark contrast to the previous one, positioning the Manchester side favourably to contend for the WSL title.

Possibly, embracing an underdog mentality has proven advantageous for the team. Operating with lower pressure and fewer expectations might have afforded City the opportunity to rebuild and defy critics without constant scrutiny. As they continue to surpass expectations, the narrative has adjusted accordingly to reflect their promising potential, giving them a mid-season boost.

Despite dropping eight points, their robust goal difference of +19 allows them to maintain a slight edge over Arsenal. And, with a four-point gap established ahead of trailing Manchester United, City are well placed to at least return to the top three and Champions League qualification.

However, numerous challenges still loom for City, notably the impending clashes with reigning champions Chelsea and they may ultimately drop too many points to win it overall.

Prediction: 3rd

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