The Women’s Super League season preview: Women’s Football Weekly

25:05Suzy Wrack:And this was really a team that was struggling in terms of, like I said, conceding goals. And I just think, obviously, Adjomane coming in is going to be massive for them, even in terms of a marketing sense. We saw the explosion of the WSL 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 Adjumang, 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.

25:45Suzy Wrack: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. 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 isn'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.

26:20Suzy Wrack:You know, obviously Arsenal will be 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 young age to be able to progress to the next level. I think that's, you know, it's a great move. The thing I was going to say about Brighton and all teams that sort of, you know, finish fifth and then have ambitions of 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 uh 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 however many years of the wsl than have terrible seasons the following year because you're basically disrupting the momentum that got you there and then having to climb up.

27:24Suzy Wrack:The one thing I'd add on Brighton signings, I again 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 Forrest Dottier, Vicky Lassada, Nikita Paris, players like that who come with big profile, right? Like the names people want on the back of their shirts because they've got history in the sport.

27:55Suzy Wrack:And instead, this time round, they've got in Aja Man, obviously her loan extended, but Rosa Kafadji, Mace Mappombe, 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 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 that breaks into the top four but as you say it takes time doesn't it but well I have a little bit and I'm very sorry and we will get to our predictions very shortly by the way.

28:43Suzy Wrack:Maisie Simons has been named their new captain, 22 years old. 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 captain but we have seen it before and you know if you are a mature leader it 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

29:30Suzy Wrack:guessing is for game shows not your business Workday is the enterprise AI platform for HR, finance and IT, with AI grounded in your context to get work done and done right.

29:43Faye Carruthers:It's a new Workday.

29:56Suzy Wrack:Welcome back to part two of the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. OK, so Aston Villa finished sixth last season. So we're going to run our eye over them at the moment. Bit of a rollercoaster 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.

30:28Faye Carruthers:yeah Villa 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 Roebuck get that chance they've got good players who were there last time like Chastity Grant looked electric uh you know Joe Bangs 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 so 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 the three who always win or four sort of who normally win them particularly the league cup like only three teams have 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're 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

31:52Suzy Wrack: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

32:05Faye Carruthers:what I'm also trying to say is at times it's felt as though the league games are still the priority like and and almost like teams are prioritizing 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 football will forgive them if they lose a subsequent league game and finish seventh rather than fifth but like can someone have some fun and have a real crack at our cup please.

32:43Suzy Wrack:I'm also in just because it would be great to see Everton win a trophy in my lifetime. So I'm very much there. We're not that enthusiastic about it, Marv. 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.

33:22Suzy Wrack:But I think in amongst all the sort of controversy of, you know, the Colony 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 playing style that he brings with him. For Liverpool as a whole, like I've said it last season, and it isn't just because I'm a Melbourne fan. I was a bit worried about them. I say worried in inverted commas, but because it seems like they got rid of a lot of their squads to bring in Olivia Smith, and now they've got rid of Olivia Smith.

33:52Suzy Wrack:And it doesn't seem like they've really then capitalised on that and brought in the kind of big signings to make up for that, particularly when you consider that the season beforehand and 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, their Sam Kerr signing did well. I think they've renewed a lot of old players who helped build that squad. You look at Enderby, who was also a good sort of bright spark in their season last season.

34:24Suzy Wrack:But that's a lot of pressure to put on a player like Kerr. 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 player 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 wind 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 and 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?

35:06Suzy Wrack: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 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 OK when they were relegated.

35:52It's just really, really disappointing.

35:55Suzy Wrack: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.

36:35Suzy Wrack:So, 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 Mote Derby is the first game of the season because even though we have a very good record against them, we often don't start very well to the season.

37:20Suzy Wrack: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 of 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 in 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.

37:49Suzy Wrack: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 signings, I think. Mads Pacheco, Martina Fernandes for me particularly, I thought Fernandes 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.

38:18Suzy Wrack:And I think once Fernandes got going and she's such a young centre-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. She's that good of a player. And she really helped 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 Gago. The rumours of her leaving to PSG after 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.

38:52Suzy Wrack:And to actually not only get rid of those rumours, but actually renew her contract is huge because to have a top goal scorer in the WSL just wins you points. And I couldn't speak highly of her enough last season. 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 midfield's exactly going to look like. We've also got Garley to come back. So I'm hesitantly positive. Hesitantly positive. And given I'm an Everton fan, that's very positive. That's a big step. I'm not even usually hesitantly positive.

39:33Brilliant.

39:35Suzy Wrack: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 marvell will think we're jinxing her on purpose we are hearing as well that ruby mace 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 a tricky side last season, weren't they?

40:17Suzy Wrack: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 are 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.

40:56Suzy Wrack: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 brought 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 could have an actually 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.

41:34Suzy Wrack: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 derbies starting the campaign. Maybe give us a measure of where they're at, Tom.

41:54Faye Carruthers: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 Asayi 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 rudimentary frustrated by what appears to be a real, a lack of emotional investment from the higher-ups at West Ham.

42:36Faye Carruthers:And not just down to 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. You 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 fully focused on the women's club. Maybe that's what they need to happen.

43:12Faye Carruthers:It's becoming trendy, isn't it, at the moment? Yeah, it's the modern thing to do to kind of help you run a short-term fix for your men's team's PSR, but also I kind of think for the women's teams, if it does bring in an independent authority that makes them the 100 % priority, I'm kind of glad 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 probably just about okay.

43:38Suzy Wrack:We've already touched on Leicester, Rick Passmore, in 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 pre-season, although they did get rid of Amandine Mikel with 11 days before the start of the season. Let's focus on the good news. Yuta Rantala 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, real trouble with, you know, London City Lionesses coming up and just not being that buffer that they've, well, that many of our teams have had over the last few seasons.

44:27Suzy Wrack: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 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 if they weren't aligned in terms of the club and McHale.

45:00Suzy Wrack: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, you know, 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 said, but I just think it's going to be a difficult season for them.

45:36Suzy Wrack: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 I'm most worried 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.

46:07Suzy Wrack:They've got a new manager in Martin Ho, just one player in with Toko Koga from Feyenoord. 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. I chatted to a couple of players about this. He is a very, very different profile of manager, much more vocal and the type of manager who is playing every pass on the touchline and a bit of a louder character generally whereas Robert Villahan was very sort of calm like understated presence 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.

47:08Suzy Wrack:I mean, Martin Ho, you know, did a fantastic job with Bran, obviously, you know, getting them to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, comes with pedigree in the WSL and he's, you know, been an 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. 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 aggressive football. He doesn't want them to sit back and soak up pressure and bank back against teams.

47:46Suzy Wrack:He really wants them to play passing, attacking football, counter-attacking football. It's going to be interesting to see what they do. They've not done huge business in this window, but they've got a decent squad there. and if they can avoid injury to Beth England in particular, then I think they might be OK. The vibe around them seems pretty good at the moment. OK, well, that's good to hear. I wonder what the vibe is like at London City Lionesses. They kind of complete the line-up this season, if you like, and they have been busy after they were promoted from what was the championship last season.

48:23Suzy Wrack:Eclectic mix of headline acts is how producer Sophie has explained the amount of signings that they've brought in. You're stroking your chin, Tom. Is that in contemplative? 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.

48:47Faye Carruthers: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. Ruthia Corrales, scorer 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, which I think would make her the fourth most expensive signing in WSL history. Wow. And that's just one of many signings that they've been making.

49:24Faye Carruthers:We know about Daniel van der Donk. of course you know they've got Nikita Paris uh 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 that'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 um Kaylee's 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

49:54Suzy Wrack:down no yeah I was down at their um training ground for their media day and it is like it's 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 like 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 Saki Kumagai 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 table 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 Champions League place that is like the 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 bring together.

50:52Suzy Wrack:But Jocelyn Pritchard 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 Kumagai 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 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 the the quality of play as well as gelling all these players but it's like I'm just so excited I wrote in my London City Linus' 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 shouldn't be judging them right at the beginning of the season when they have got a lot of gelling to do.

52:20Suzy Wrack:But I am going to ask you for your quick fire predictions. Quick fire team, please. Quick fire. And we're going to go round in order. Susie, Tom, Marva. OK. Susie, who's winning the league? Chelsea. Chelsea. Chelsea. Oh, blimey. You're all so boring. I'm going Arsenal. OK. 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.

52:47Faye Carruthers:Leicester.

52:47Suzy Wrack:Leicester. I'm kind of on board with Leicester. Who's going to prove the best signing, Susie? Let's go Siglottion.

52:55Faye Carruthers:Fridolina Rolfo.

52:56Suzy Wrack:If it counts, Ademarine. Who's going to finish top scorer? What was yours for that? I skipped over it.

53:05Suzy Wrack:I sat on the fence and got some splinters. who's finishing top scorer Susie? Oh, Bunny Shaw

53:13Faye Carruthers:Shakira Martinez

53:14Suzy Wrack:I've been saying Bunny Shaw so I'm going to stick to Bunny Shaw 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 Post-prerogative Yes, exactly, indeed Now, you mentioned the WSL too, Susie that kicks off this weekend as well Sheffield United opening things up against Sunderland at Bramall Lane on Friday night before Southampton host Ipswich Town on Saturday. Sunday, we've got Portsmouth against Durham. Battle of the Big Spenders as Nottingham Forest take on Newcastle United. Charlton host Crystal Palace and then Birmingham City face Bristol City.

53:53Suzy Wrack:And of course, we know how exciting this league is every season and it feels like it gets more 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?

54:09Faye Carruthers:Oh, Newcastle look really strong. Great summer for them. Real ambition. Birmingham have 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 it's it's gonna be a really good battle those three i think will be up there palace and forest have done had a good summer as well but it was the summer when i think teams realized 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 i think a few teams have really gone for it so those would be the four i would think newcastle 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 Jeffers United, Portsmouth, Ipswich to a degree and maybe even Southampton, I think there will be a gap this year.

55:10Faye Carruthers:I don't think it'll be that close. I think we could see some gaps developing between the top and bottom half.

55:14Suzy Wrack: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 set-ups in the country. So much young talent there. get huge crowds at their ground as well. I'm really happy they're in this league and 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 club hierarchy would think we've got more visibility this season as well because every game is going to be broadcast on YouTube which is a massive opportunity and really important actually for growing the league, Marva.

55:54Suzy Wrack:Yeah, definitely. I think also we're starting to see a trend of young players going to WSL2 a little bit more which I think will, for a lot of, I don't 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 WSL Tour to see those lone players. I do agree with Tom as well. 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 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 love to be a part of all this football.

56:32Suzy Wrack: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 were like, we're not ready for the season to start.

57:09Suzy Wrack: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 the day. So it's impossible for me to forget it now.

57:40Suzy Wrack: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. has 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.

58:00Faye Carruthers:Had a flying start, but then I dropped off terribly. So yeah, none of us had a great time. We'll do better this year. We must do better.

58:08Suzy Wrack: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.

58:20Faye Carruthers:Great to see you, mate. take care

58:21Suzy Wrack:see you Rack see you 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 womensfootballweekly at theguardian.com as well and as ever a reminder to sign up for our bi-weekly 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 Iredale our executive producer is Danielle Stephens

59:01Faye Carruthers:This is The Guardian.