The Women’s Super League returns this weekend and to ramp up the excitement ahead of the curtain raiser, we are looking at each one of the 12 clubs involved. We’ve already looked at Arsenal and Aston Villa, so now it is time to move on to Brighton and Chelsea.
Brighton and Hove Albion
Manager: Hope Powell
Key players: Megan Walsh, Veatriki Sarri, Elisabeth Terland
Last season’s finish: 7th
Brighton played host to a couple of sensational moments for women’s football this summer. Firstly, the 8-0 thrashing of Norway in the group stages, before Georgia Stanway lit up the Amex with a thunderstrike that saw England squeeze past Spain in extra-time on their way to international glory.
But now focus turns to the domestic issues on the south coast. Former England manager Hope Powell is now entering her sixth season in charge, which has seen the Seagulls win promotion and establish themselves in the top flight. Last season wasn’t quite as successful as it could have been after a lightning quick start fell away and Brighton missed out on a record points total - but a 7th place finish is still a respectable finish for this side.
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Despite that, there is a feeling that Brighton may have gone backwards this summer. Defender Maya Le Tissier has departed for Manchester United while Inessa Kaagman and Emma Koivisto have also gone out of the exit door. When you consider the roles the trio have played, it seems like Brighton may have left themselves short.
A recruitment drive has taken place which headlines with the return of Rebekah Stott. The defender has re-signed for Albion after a year away for treatment for stage three Hodgkin Lymphoma and is now in remission having been diagnosed in early 2021. It’s one of the stories of the summer and will be an incredible achievement if she can play any part in next summer’s World Cup for New Zealand.
Veatriki Sarri arrives from Birmingham City, Poppy Pattinson comes in from Everton while Elisabeth Terland, Yeeun Park and Jorja Fox have also bolstered their numbers. But new arrivals bring uncertainty and Powell will have to hope her players can gel quickly if they are to improve on last season’s points tally.
Brighton have repeatedly invested in their women’s team and opened their AMEX Elite Football Performance Centre last week which should see them progress towards the top four in the long-term. Despite a favourable opener against Aston Villa at the AMEX, they’re unlikely to enjoy the same quick start and could grow as the year progresses. Certainly a side to watch as the winter months roll in.
Chelsea
Manager: Emma Hayes
Key players: Millie Bright, Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby
Last season’s finish: 1st
The best side in the country and the reigning WSL and FA Cup champions are set for another strong campaign domestically. They still boast the best manager in the game in Emma Hayes while they have retained the core of the squad that carried them to the double last term.
That includes European champions Millie Bright, Fran Kirby and Beth England while Pernille Harder, Ann-Katrin Berger and Sophie Ingle will be key figures again in a team that is looking to win its fourth consecutive league title.
It’s been an impressive period of dominance for Hayes’ Chelsea who last season were pushed all the way by Arsenal, the team that beat them on the opening day and handed them just one of two domestic defeats they would suffer all season. They won their last nine to hold off the Gunners and are unbeaten in 2022 apart from one League Cup defeat they suffered to Manchester City.
So perhaps the hopes for this season should turn to Europe. Last term they were so disappointing as they crashed out in the group stage having reached the final in 2020/21. So far, European glory has escaped them and Hayes will want to make sure that her charges are set up to deal with the trials and tribulations of the midweek fixtures, as well as their league commitments.
Lauren James is back from injury and she should provide more depth in the attacking areas. This is a side that could canter to domestic glory again, but it is how they perform in the Champions League that will be their true yardstick of success in 2022/23.
