My favourite players of the WSL 2023/24 season...

 

The quality in the WSL is just constantly improving these days and teams are bringing in brilliant names each season to improve their squads and try compete for the title and those Champions League spots. Yes the big names coming into the league is fantastic however, a lot of the WSL players are often overlooked for those big names and their performances aren't as applauded as they should be. It has often taken players a move away from a previous club to finally get out of others shadows or injuries to others that force them into the spotlight a little bit more. Today's post is a look at my favourite players in the WSL currently and I will be honest this has taken me a lot longer than usual as I just couldn't narrow it down to my top 5 so we have ended up with a top 6 which could have gone onto a top 20 with how long it was taking me to narrow down. So here are those players who made the cut for the 2023/24 season...


Steph Catley 

I have loved watching Catley play for a long time now and her time at Arsenal has only solidified how good of a player she is in my eyes. The Matilda first came to my attention whilst playing at Orlando Pride and when she announced her move to the WSL I couldn't wait to watch her play live. Since coming to the English top flight she has gone from strength to strength and has become a crucial part of Arsenal's team. Steph has had another brilliant season with the Gooner's this season and her ability to get the team into great positions has really helped keep them pushing for that final Champions League spot.


Nikita Parris

The Lionesses have been shockingly overlooking Parris and I think I am not alone in saying why? Parris has been a key part of a struggling United side this season and has found herself on the score sheet plenty of times. She has often been overlooked at the club too however, it finally seems like they have realised how crucial she is and how she can find the back of the net whilst others can't. United are nowhere near where we expected them to be this season and things would be even worse if it wasn't for Parris having her scoring boots on. She has been a joy to watch this season. 


Beth England 

England is one of the players who has finally found herself thriving. Her move from Chelsea to Tottenham has really paid off and finally fans are getting to see her quality rather than seeing her sat on the bench. Hayes really didn't maximize on England's potential whereas Spurs are really getting the most out of her. We have seen all season just how capable she is of finding the back of the net and also helping out in the build up plays. I am glad that England made the move last season as finally we are getting to see what she is capable of.


Jordan Nobbs

There was no way I could write this post and not include my all time favourite... Jordan Nobbs was there? Jordan is another player who made a move last season that benefited her career as she is no longer sat on the bench week after week and is getting the game time she truly deserves. She can score a beauty of a goal which we have seen a few times this season but it is her build up play and movement around the midfield that is the best. Sometimes you forget she is there as she just gets on with it then she will put in a brilliant tackle or play a brilliant ball to create a great attack. The move to Villa has done her the world of good and she has become a key part of the team.


Guro Reiten 

My shirt number on the pitch is number 11 and one of the reasons for this is Reiten. Since she arrived at Chelsea I have loved watching her play and with every season she just gets better and better. Reiten is one of those players who makes a big impact in games but doesn't get half as much credit as she deserves. The winger has the pace and technical abilities to frustrate her opponents and she can get the ball into great positions for her teammates in the box. With injuries hitting the Chelsea squad Reiten is finally getting a bit more credit so let's hope people start to realise just how good she is soon.

Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw

I admit I was a bit worried when Ellen White retired as Man City didn't look to have a huge attacking threat but up stepped Bunny. Shaw has no trouble finding the back of the net and we have recently seen her break Stanway's record to become the all time top scorer for Man City Women with 68 goals in just 82 games which are quite remarkable stats.  Shaw always seems to find herself in the right space at the right time and reads the play really well. She also frustrates the opposition which leads to set pieces for Man City usually in great positions. Shaw is going to be crucial in their charge for the title and as we enter the 2024/25 season, she is great to watch.

So there you have it those are my favourite players of the 2023/24 season, it is certainly getting harder to narrow down these lists and as we approach the business end of the season no doubt some of these could change but only time will tell with that one. Then we have the fun of the transfer window in the off season where yet more names could end up joining the league so no doubt next seasons installment of this post will be even harder to create. For now though let's see how these players perform for the rest of the season, especially Shaw as Man City challenge Chelsea for the title.

Who have some of your favourite players been this season? 

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What's in my game day bag these days

Here we go, after a bit of a break from football which also led to a break from the site we are back. The break from the game has resulted in me playing for a new team which is a very new start up but more on that in it's own post soon. The new team started up after this seasons leagues begun so currently we are playing friendlies to gain that valuable game time before the new season begins later this year. I can't complain though as the friendlies are providing me with opportunities to work on my fitness & technique before we enter the league. 

A new team though also means new kit & training gear and that fun part of packing your bag on a Saturday evening to ensure you have everything you need before heading off to a game on a Sunday. I love the Saturday evening before a game, getting my kit laid out ready and filling my bag with those essentials and here is what I pack...

My kit doesn't actually go in my bag as I make sure I am ready before I head to the game but I couldn't help including our training kit in the post as I just love it, the colour is perfect and the fit is even better. We are currently wearing training kit to games as we await our new kits arrival which I am really looking forward to as the design is brilliant.

The first thing in the bag are the shin pads and I have treated myself to a lovely comfortable pair from Nike for these friendlies and probably into the new season. These are already my favourite shin pads as they fit much better and are much lighter than my old Puma ones. To be honest these have to be one of the first things that go into my bag as I can guarantee if I forget anything it would be my shin pads.

Next up we have the trusty sock tape which I actually use to hold my shin pads in place. The shin pads come with sleeves but with how tight my socks also are the sleeves just seem to restrict me and I am not a fan. A bit of this sock tape around the shin pad though does the trick just as well as the shin pad is held in place. These are super cheap on Amazon too and the colour matches the socks perfectly.


The knee strap is then put straight into the bag as I have done a few training sessions without this and been in pain after. My knee issues are never going away however, this strap is one of the best I have ever owned as it has massively reduced the game day/ training pain in my knee and again it was a bargain off of Amazon. 


The inhaler is an absolute essential and before I head out of the door on game day I think I check about 5 times to make sure this is definitely in my bag. I am hoping once I shift some weight I might not rely on this as much as my fitness should be increasing quite a bit but for now as I am pushing myself more and more the inhaler is always easy to access.


I am growing my hair out and I didn't realise how much of a nightmare it would be when I am playing football. Just in case it ends up really irritating me during a game I have one of my favourite Miss Kick headbands in my bag so I can quickly put it on and get my hair out of my face. 


With us playing on 4G/5G I always make sure I have some form of plaster in my bag just in case I come off the pitch and notice any bad cuts, they also come in super handy if my boots start to rub me which fingers crossed hasn't happened yet. 


I am so unfit it is untrue so in my bag I always make sure I have one of these energy gels. The gel is an essential for half time and as soon as the whistle blows I am straight into my bag to get the gel down me before the second half starts whether I am starting that half or not. These SIS gels are certainly my favourites and I love how you can get the packs in Home Bargains which contain a nice mixture of flavours.


Alongside the gels I also have a bit of a snack in my bag for post game as sometimes I just can't wait until I get home to have something to eat. The snack is 9 times out of 10 a protein bar which is always beneficial after playing and helps with the post game recovery which is always much needed, it is a much better option than a chocolate bar. 


I always have a bottle of water with me on game day as if I have a Lucozade these days I tend to struggle, plus I have a pretty high daily water intake target so the water switch is certainly beneficial. I am going to start adding an extra bottle in to the bag though for post game which includes a scoop of EAA's & creatine as these should help with the recovery process.


We live in England of course a jacket is included in my bag every game day and even if I start of wearing it the jacket ends up in the bag at some point as I am not planning on losing it anytime soon. My jacket of choice at the moment (yes I have 3 already and 2 are different types of 1/4 zips) is this simple 1/4 zip. The quality is amazing and has got me through plenty of warm ups whilst it has been freezing. This is probably the smartest looking 1/4 zip I have had in a long time and quite possibly the comfiest. 


Yes I have better boots than these however, I am saving those boots for when the league is up and running next season (I am a bit paranoid about destroying them before playing competitive again). These Adidas are slowly becoming a favourite of mine though and are really tempting me to opt for Adidas as my next pair of boots as they are much more comfortable than my Nike's to say what the price difference is, but again there is a whole other post comparing the two boots coming very soon. These are certainly well worn but are still really comfortable which is what is needed due to the mixture of surfaces we are on these days.

So there you have it that is what is in my bag on game day these days. I am absolutely loving being back on the pitch and these friendlies are really making me push myself so that I can head into the new season in the best shape possible. I wonder how much the contents of the bag will change over the course of this extended pre-season and as we head towards the new season later on in the year. The boots will definitely be a change as the new season rolls around but will they be the Nike's or something different I guess we will see nearer the time. 

What do you always have in your game day bag?

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The football boots I am currently wishing I could purchase...

It is safe to say that brands are absolutely smashing 2024 when it comes to the new boot releases. Every week there seems to be a new pair being released that goes straight to the top of my wish list as the releases just seem to be getting better and better however, they unfortunately seem to be getting more and more expensive putting them out of a lot of players price brackets. Even with those high prices though we are seeing some boots selling out straight away as they are throwbacks for the older players and who doesn't want a remake of the boot they grew up playing in? 

Today's post is all about those boots I would love to pick up if I was in the market to buy a new pair (which I could be soon) and if money was no object and let's just say this list was very hard to narrow down. So here are the boots that made the cut...


Adidas Predator Elite Tongue 

At retail a pair of these in the firm ground variant would set you back £240 however, it is a case of being able to wear a classic boot once more. The more I see these boots the more I fall in love with them as the colours work well together and create that standout boot with a classic look. I am not usually an Adidas fan these days however, these are definitely top of the list for wanting to buy currently.


Nike Phantom Luna 2 Elite

I am not usually a fan of black and white boots as I find them a little bit boring however, these are a little different I guess. The texture on the top of the boot just adds a little bit of something extra without the fear of it being too much to effect the touch of the ball at your feet. The big gold Swoosh also stands out nicely and the colours merge into each other really well. The added bonus with these is the fact some of my favourite players are currently wearing these boots too.


Adidas Copa Pure 2 Elite+  FG 

I am sure I said earlier in the post I am not usually a fan of Adidas but here we go with another pair I am absolutely loving at the moment. They are smashing it with every release at the moment and these Copa Pure's are totally different to any boots I would normally gravitate towards as they are far too white for me however, I am loving how the colours work together on this silhouette. If I was opting for a more toned down pair of boots this pair would certainly be high up the list.



Nike Air Zoom Mercurial Superfly IX Elite x Air Max Plus FG

There are two things that I really love buying are football boots and trainers so this would be the perfect pair of boots for me in reality as it combines the two really well. The purple trainer version is a pair I have wanted for a while however, haven't felt confident to buy as they are a standout pair for sure however, I feel they would work so much better for me on the football pitch where I prefer the boots that stand out. If money was no object then these are what I would be rocking ASAP. 


 Nike Phantom Luna Elite FG SE 

Oh look another pair of Nike Phantom Luna Elite's but this time it is the special edition pair that just gets more special every time you see them. The colour is absolutely gorgeous on this pair ad in the different Swoosh placement and the amazing detail surrounding the heel placement and you are onto a real winner, plus the sole plate is brilliant and a stand out on its own. Although these look that nice I do believe if I got them I would prefer to have them on display rather than actually wearing them on game days.


Puma Future 7 Ultimate FTR GF/AG

Finally a Puma pair have made it onto the wish list. I have had a few take down models of Puma's in the past so I think it is about time I treated myself to a top end model to see just how good their boots are. I have always liked the Puma's I have had in the past so I am not quite sure why it has taken me so long to get a new pair from the brand. These Future 7's are really standing out to me though as the colour way stands out just the right amount and the colours actually work really well together. The sole plate is a real winner for me as the metallic look works well with the boots upper colours and adds a bit of a standout to the boots without overshadowing the rest of the design. 



IDA Rise Women's Football Boots

Now these are actually the cheapest pair on the list and also the pair I am most likely to purchase first as the concept is one I am wanting to try. The Vegan leather boots are made to a unique female foot mould meaning the are likely to fit my feet better than any of the other boots on this wish list. I really want to pick up some boots from this brand to see what difference there actually is between the standard boots from the big brands & these female specific ones. Comfort would surely increase but how would the overall feel be on the pitch on game day. Hopefully I will pick up a pair soon to see for myself.

There you go those are the boots I would absolutely love to pick up if money was no object. If I had to pick a pair to buy first I honestly think I would struggle to decide as they are all great pairs however, I could be tempted to try something away from the usual Nike & Adidas maybe the IDA pair to see how the women's specific boots feel compared to others or even a pair of New Balance for something totally different as I have never owned a pair of New Balance before. I guess only time will tell though and we will have to wait and see what my next pair of boots actually is.
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