Consistency is crucial if United Women are to achieve WSL aims this season
Manchester United began the new WSL campaign with a promising win but must now build on it to meet high expectations.
If Manchester United are to find a way back into the WSL top three in 2024/25, or least seriously compete for one of those places, winning runs and consistency are now going to be key.
Disappointing ticket sales aside, there were so many positives to take from Saturday’s season opener at Old Trafford. Grace Clinton, Dominique Janssen, Geyse, Leah Galton and Elisabeth Terland all thrived, there were debuts aplenty and 16 players got minutes to underline new-found depth.
It was mostly controlled and calm, with West Ham hardly troubling until it was 3-0 in the second half and not meaningfully troubling Phallon Tullis-Joyce until the final minutes.
This was a brilliant starting point, especially given the often negative narrative that lingered over large parts of the summer. But only a starting point.
There won’t be any debate over that. Back at Carrington on Monday morning, eyes are already firmly fixed on Sunday’s short trip to Everton to try and make it two wins from two. Manchester City and Arsenal have both dropped points already by facing each other, so every opportunity to try and open up gaps, even at this very early stage of the season, must be capitalised on.
Where United fell down last season was not putting together winning runs to sufficiently feed confidence and momentum. At no point in the campaign did the team achieve more than two consecutive WSL victories, with such two-game winning runs also happening just twice. All other league wins were isolated, followed by either a draw or defeat in the competition’s next game.
Across all competitions, the longest winning run of any kind was four games spread over just three weeks in November and December, including two Conti Cup fixtures. Good wins and big performances were often followed by a bump or setback – dropping points against Brighton after thrashing Everton, humbled by Manchester City after putting five past West Ham, needing to rescue a late draw against Tottenham a week after beating Chelsea for the first time ever, and a club record defeat at Old Trafford only six days after lifting the FA Cup.
There was a stark difference from 2022/23, when United were in the title race until the final day of the season and set one of the WSL’s highest ever points tallies. The team started that campaign with five straight league wins and later finished it with seven on the bounce. In the final 10 games across all competitions, there were nine wins and the only blot was the FA Cup final.
Being consistent, especially in a short relatively short campaign like the WSL, is hugely important. At one stage last season, Manchester City put together a record-breaking run of 14 consecutive league wins. It was then only a very late comeback from Arsenal in what was minutes away from being the 15th which cost them the title in the end.
If United don’t follow up beating with West Ham with a similar showing at Everton, it would quickly take the sheen off this promising start and early season optimism, and could ultimately be detrimental in terms of achieving the campaign’s objectives.
Walton Hall Park, where the travelling United contingent often out-sing the home fans from the cramped away terrace, has usually been a happy hunting ground. It was 5-0 in the fixture last season, and 3-0 the season before. Overall, United have beaten Everton more (13) than anyone else. Combined with the Toffees struggling in week one, the opportunity is more than there to kick on.