It’s not only the WSL 1 that kicks off tonight, WSL 2 (the second tier) also begins tonight and it’s set to be the most competitive yet with a number of teams capable of promotion. This season sees two teams come into the league, Bristol City (formally Bristol Academy) who finished bottom of WSL 1 last year and were subsequently relegated, and Sheffield who are the first team to be promoted from the Premier League after promotion was introduced. Bristol and Sheffield replace Reading and Doncaster Belles who both achieved promotion to WSL 1 last season, and will join the other 8 teams in WSL 2 in fighting for promotion. There is no relegation from WSL 2 and two teams will be promoted to WSL 1 again this year. Aston Villa A lot of peoples outside bet for promotion and I can see why. The Villains over the past two seasons have been always competing near the top. In the inaugural season of WSL 2, Aston Villa finished 4th behind the three sides which now play their trade in WSL 1. Last season Villa finished one place lower in 5th but the club seem to be making progress all the time. They have also reached the FA Cup quarter-finals this season and are the only one of two sides not in the top tier to make it that far this year. The key player for Villa this year in my eyes is Katie Wilkinson who will need to be instrumental in banging in the goals if they are to challenge for promotion. Bristol City Rebranded and refreshed, Willie Kirk’s women will only have one thing in mind and that is to return to WSL 1 at the first time of asking. Having only managed to win 2 games last season and subsequently got relegated, Bristol took the decision to rebrand from Bristol Academy to join the men’s structure at Bristol City and only time will tell whether this was a correct decision. There has been a lot of rebuilding done here too with certain key members of the squad in the past couple of years opting to stay in the top flight like Angharad James who’s joined Notts County and Sophie Ingle who transferred to Liverpool. However Kirk has managed to rebuild his team with some loan captures from WSL 1 Chelsea as well as striker Olivia Ferguson from Aston Villa who will be charged with banging in the goals. Durham Women Durham in my view are the team that have surpassed expectations in both their seasons in WSL 2 having finished 6th the first year and 7th last year with some expecting them to take home the wooden spoon. Having watched Durham in their recent FA Cup game in which they lost but did tremendously well to reach the fifth round I can say they are a great little outfit with everyone pushing in the right direction. As well as getting players through their link with the University and College, they also get players from local sides Sunderland and Newcastle which help bring the right blend of youth and experience. Beth Hepple will be one to watch this season with her creativity from midfield as well as having an eye for goal too. Everton The Lady Toffees will be eyeing promotion this season after falling short of last season’s expectations missing out on promotion with a 3rd place finish, ultimately finishing 14 points off Reading and Doncaster. Everton did reach the 5th round of the FA Cup this season but couldn’t match last season’s semi-final appearance after losing to league rivals Aston Villa, nevertheless Andy Spence will want his team to bounce back from the recent disappointment and they have the players to do so. The advantage the Toffees have over others is that a core of the group has been with the club for a number of years like defender Gabby George, midfielder Michelle Hinnigan and striker Simone Magill, who will all be key for Everton’s promotion aspirations. London Bees After two disappointing years since re-launching as London Bees (formally Barnet), the London based club will be hoping it’s third time lucky as they look to get it right on the pitch this season. During their first year in WSL 2 they finished bottom on 8 points before improving slightly in 2015 to clinch an 8th place finish and recorded 13 points in the process. I see London Bees finishing in the lower half of the table again this season due to their young and inexperienced squad, however they will have gained experienced over the past couple of years. The Bees task will be made tougher this season having lost instrumental player Lucy Loomes who opted to join Millwall Lionesses, also in WSL 2. Although new manager and former Bristol manager Dave Edmonson will want greater things this year, but I feel it could be a consolidation season. Millwall Lionesses The Lionesses from London have a strong heritage in the women’s game having produced a number of top players throughout the years including Chelsea trio Katie Chapman, Claire Rafferty and Gilly Flaherty. Millwall have a good set-up so should be pushing towards the top of the league and possibly eyeing promotion, although they will be disappointed at last year’s showing having started off well before slipping down the table to an eventual 9th place finish. Having change appointed a new manager in January following last year’s campaign the Lionesses will be starting a fresh as they look to impress the new lady at the helm Rebecca Sawuik. Millwall have plenty of young players to watch out for including new signing Lucy Loomes who joins an attack including Ashlee Hincks and Rinsola Babajide, so expect goals. Oxford United The U’s are a team which I really rate with a number of England youth internationals in their team, thus given Oxford that experience from the international stage which will come in use. When Oxford originally came into WSL 2 two years back I had them down as one of the weaker sides, however they have gone on to prove me wrong and seem to be building something special. Despite finishing 9th out of 10 with 12 points in the first year of WSL 2, they went on to finish 6th last season and subsequently double their points total (24). This year I believe Oxford can go on and push for the top 2, however if they are they need to be more solid defensively having conceded 40 goals last year which is more than double both promoted sides. Sheffield Newly promoted Sheffield who represents the oldest side (Sheffield FC) in the men’s game will be looking to make a good first impression on the league as they look to prove critics wrong and stay competitive throughout the season. Sheffield enters the league having sealed promotion from the Northern Premier League after winning the play-off against Southern side Portsmouth. This season I’m sure the Ladies will just want to get used to life in the second tier and will have the time to do that with there being no relegation from the league this season. Experienced pro Jodie Michalska will be on hand to help the younger players as well as banging in the goals to add to her 3 in the cup this season. Sheffield have brought in WSL 1 experience in the shape of winger come striker Emily Roberts who will be key for them as will goalkeeper Juliana Draycott. Watford Having undergone a mega rebuilding process during the off-season, the Hornets will be looking to bounce back from last year’s dismal showing which saw the team finish rock bottom and only 5 points to show for their efforts. If Watford are to improve this season they will need to improve both defensively and offensively having conceded 55 goals in the league and only scoring 12. The Lady Hornets have recruited cleverly with a number of players arriving from QPR’s successful adding to some quality which the team already has, like striker Anneka Nuttall who will want to improve on her 2 league goals last term. If Watford can get off to a good start then a mid-table finish may be achieved, otherwise they may be scrapping it out at the bottom again. Yeovil Town The Glovers will be one of the fancied sides this season in achieving promotion to WSL 1 having gone close on the two previous occasions. Last season Yeovil finished 4th, level on points with relegated Everton only behind on goal difference, but still finishing 14v points off promotion. While in the inaugural season of WSL 2 Yeovil finished 5th, even further off promotion, so progress is being made. Yeovil will have to cope without instrumental defender Corrine Yorston who opted to re-join Bristol, but they still have Welsh international forward Sarah Wiltshire who in my view could be the league’s top goal scorer this season and for Yeovil sake they hope she will be. Final League prediction
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