So the Women’s Super League (WSL) season is almost halfway over as the players head into a much-needed winter break.
It has been an exciting start to the campaign at both ends of the table as Chelsea leads the title race and numerous clubs are on the brink of an unwanted relegation battle. On the other hand, two clubs have already parted ways with their coach and have yet to make permanent appointments.
With the no WSL performances until the end of January, 90 minutes have assessed the first half of the campaign and picked the five biggest talking points across the league…
New season, same story. Chelsea lead the WSL title race and have already established themselves as firm favorites to win the coveted trophy at the end of the campaign.
Sonia Bompastor’s side are well on course to make it six games in a row for the club as they have a comfortable six-point lead at the top of the table with 10 games played. It’s the biggest advantage a club has had going into the winter break since the league was reformed a few years ago.
It would take a major second-half slump for Chelsea to burn themselves out of the title race, so those hot on their heels will need to be on top form in January to keep the race alive.
Chelsea, Manchester City i arsenal all progressed comfortably to the knockout rounds of the UEFA Women’s Champions League as the group stage concluded in mid-December. The Gunners, who arguably had one of the toughest groups to compete in, advanced past Italian giants Juventus to enter the last 16.
With all three English clubs battling it out in Europe in the second half of the season, it could have a significant impact on the WSL title race. Chelsea certainly have the squad depth to compete on all fronts, but the same cannot be said for their rivals, especially with injuries mounting.
Apart from the usual top four, Brighton have been the best players in the WSL so far this season. They have caused numerous problems against the top teams, and currently sit just four points off fourth place.
The appointment of Dario Vidosic has proved to be a masterstroke by the south coast club, while their summer signings, which include the likes of Nikita Parris and Fran Kirby, have been extremely fruitful.
Whether they can maintain such high levels for another four and a half months remains to be seen, but in terms of starts, things couldn’t have gone much better for the Seagulls.
The season of sackings came much earlier than expected this season as former Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall was the first managerial sacking of the campaign. While the north London club didn’t exactly give him the boot, a poor run of results saw the Swede step down from his duties in October.
Renee Slegers has turned Arsenal into a transformed team since taking over as caretaker manager, but it remains to be seen what direction the club will take in the long term. Elsewhere, Aston Villa parted ways with Dutchman Robert de Pauw before the winter break, less than six months after appointing him to replace Carla Ward.
The Midlands club won their first game under caretaker Shaun Goater 3-1 as they toppled West Ham at Villa Park. It is crucial that Villa get this next appointment right as they risk digging up the foundations laid by Ward and his staff.
While the title race looks somewhat predictable, the same cannot be said for the relegation battle at the other end of the table. Newly promoted teams usually emerge as firm favorites to go straight back down, but Crystal Palace have been able to keep pace with the teams around them in the table.
Just four points separate 12th and seventh after 10 games, which realistically puts at least six teams in the relegation conversation. Table positions change almost every game and things could get even tighter depending on each club’s January signings.
Unless a team completely collapses and endures a terrible run of form, the battle for survival could stretch to the last game of the season and create a scathing finish to the campaign.
