Orlando Pride finish the 2024 season with the double after winning both the shield & championship.

Over the years I have been lucky enough to watch some absolutely fantastic players play football in the women's game who all brings something to the game which impact plays in different ways. A lot of those players who inspired me growing up have now retired however, a whole host of new talent is coming through and now I am back on the pitch myself I am noticing specific players types of play more which got me thinking about which players I would love to start watching even closer to add bits of their style into my own game. So here are just a few of the players whose style I would love to add in to my own when I am on that pitch...

Katie Zelem

I have really enjoyed watching Zelem play for numerous years now and I think it is due to how she can really work the central midfield role and get into some good attacking positions when required. Her set pieces are fantastic too with some pin point corners and threatening free kicks. Zelem is a strong force defensively too who isn't afraid to get stuck in for a tackle and track when needed. We have also seen a lot of her in the CDM role where she can hold up play and create some great passes to move her team forward. 

Lauren Hemp

Hemp is still so young yet she is already showing us all how much of a world class player is. Scoring goals, helping defend and just causing the opposition so many I issues I would absolutely love to add some of Hemp's style into my own play. The main thing I think I would love to add is her speed as she is absolutely rapid which causes some big problems with the opposition. If I could finish like her to that would also be fantastic as she scores some brilliant goals.

Khadija Bunny Shaw

Who wouldn't love to play like Shaw, her ability in front of goal is absolutely brilliant and she just looks like a constant threat when the ball gets played to her, whether it is with her feet or head you can just anticipate her name popping up on the score sheet and it is rare if it doesn't. Not only can Shaw score goals but she has a great play reading ability that helps her and her team mates get into some brilliant areas. Scoring and reading the play are definitely two key parts I would love to take from Shaw's game and add to my own.

Rachel Daly

The versatility of Daly is something that I would love to add into my own game. If called upon Daly can really stand out at the left back position and putting in some great defensive work but she really stands out up front and we have seen her score goal after goal with some fantastic reading of play. Daly might be a goal scorer but she is also a creator of play with some great vision for passing when on the ball and for movement when she is off it. No matter where Daly plays though she stands out and gives it 110%.

Here we go part 2 of our ones to watch for the WSL 202425 season, if you missed part 1 you an catch up here. Part 1 focused on the first 6 teams alphabetically so part 2 is going to be those next 6 teams that make up the league. It is safe to say there has been plenty of movement for these 6 teams however, our ones to watch are a nice mix of old and new. So here are our ones to watch for the final 6 teams that make up the WSL...

Leicester City 

Ruby Mace

Mace spent the 2022/2023 season on loan at Leicester and this season she has made that move permanent after minimal game time on her return to Man City following that loan spell. Mace has the potential to develop into an absolutely fantastic footballer however, Man City were holding her back due to the lack of game time she received. Keep an eye on Mace this season though as she has the chance to really thrive at Leicester and help them get the results on the board.

Deanne Rose

The Canadian forward is entering her second season with Leicester City and will be hoping to get more game time and more goals under her belt. From pre-season performances it looks like Rose has the potential to become a key player for Leicester this season and after scoring little goals last season you can't help but think that season 2 with the club is going to be a chance to improve on last season and find the back of the net more often.

Asmita Ale

The former Tottenham player clearly impressed on loan last season as she has now made that permanent move to Leicester City. The full back is back to keep on adding strength to the defensive line and we are looking forward to seeing how she gets on now she has made the move permanent. At just 22 she really is in those stages of making a name for herself and she has the potential to make a start on that process this season.

Liverpool

Gemma Evans

Liverpool have saved Evans from the bench of Manchester United and we are looking forward to seeing how Evans performs in that already impressive back line for Liverpool. A disappointing season last season for Evans saw her move to Man Utd and spend far too long on the bench with minutes lacking. You can't help but hope that Evans breaks into the Liverpool team as a regular and puts in some superb performances to show United what they are missing.

Olivia Smith 

The 20 year old Canadian will be hoping to hit the ground running for Liverpool after joining in the summer transfer window. Smith joined Liverpool from Sporting CP where she scored 13 goals in 18 games for the club and won the clubs player of the year award alongside the leagues best young player of the season award. With the added pressure on Liverpool after a great season last season we can't wait to see what Smith brings to the Liverpool team this season. 

Cornelia Kapocs

Liverpool really aren't messing around this season with signings and Kapocs is another forward they have added to their ranks this summer. Kapocs is another goal scorer too with 18 goals in 25 games for Swedish side Linkoping in 2023. There are plenty of forwards at the club now however, you could imagine Kapocs gets plenty of minutes if she makes the right impact straight away. You would definitely expect to see her name on the score sheet a fair few times for Liverpool this season.

Manchester City

Vivianne Miedema

Miedema has made the move up North this season and is definitely a player to watch. We have all seen over the years just what Miedema is capable of and even post serious injury she looks like there is no sign of slowing down. We can't wait to see how the Shaw, Miedema combination works and we have a funny feeling she is going to be a key player for Man City and their plan of chasing Chelsea for the title.

With the loss of Houghton through retirement it is going to be key for Gareth Taylor to keep his defensive line fit and injury free and one player we are hoping we will see plenty of is Allana Kennedy. Unfortunately Kennedy seems to have been plagued by injuries since her move to City so fingers crossed we see her get plenty of game time and stay injury free this season as her experience could really help City push for that top spot. 

Khadija Shaw

We unfortunately saw Shaw finish the 23/24 season injured however, she still finished with the golden boot due to a fantastic season. We can't wait to see Shaw this season though as with the addition of Miedema we are bound to see Shaw not only on the score sheet but also on the assist sheet. Shaw really is the gift that keeps on giving so keep an eye on the impact she has over the course on the capmaign.

Manchester United

Phallon Tullis-Joyce

With Earps out of the picture at United it is finally time for another 'keeper to step up and make a name for themselves and we can't wait to see what sort of impact Tullis-Joyce has on the United results. We never really got to see anyone other than Earps in goal previously but from the glimpses of Tullis-Joyce we did see we were impressed. She has got a big name to follow on from but keep an eye on Tullis-Joyce as she may just surprise you.

Melvine Malard

Malard has now signed for United on a permanent deal and we are really hoping this means she will get more game time as she is a player with a whole lot of potential if given a real chance. With the exits at the club this summer you would like to think that Malard was going to get much more game time than last season and really make an impact on the teams results. From what we did see last season she can impact results and that is definitely what United need these days.

Celin Bizet

Bizet moves to United this season from Tottenham and she is a player we are really looking forward to seeing play for United. We saw Bizet and Clinton linking up fantastically last season whilst Clinton was on loan at Tottenham so we are hoping that happens again but this time in United colours. Bizet can be a huge threat in front of goal given the right delivery and the United squad still have players who can provide those crosses into the box so no doubt she is going to be on the score sheet plenty of times over the course of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur

Hayley Raso

Finally Raso is back in the WSL and we can't wait to see how she gets on at Spurs. It seemed like Everton didn't get the most out of Raso before her move over to Spain so we are wondering what sort of performances we are going to see from her upon her return to the English top flight. Spurs have really added to their squad with the addition of Raso and she could play a key part in Spurs causing some upsets throughout the season.

Clare Hunt

Raso isn't the only Australian added to the Spurs squad this summer as they have also added defender Clare Hunt to their squad. Hunt has joined from PSG and her strong defensive ability is going to really help Spurs if they want to progress up that league table. We can't wait to see the impact Hunt has on the Spurs squad.

Bethany England

Since moving to Spurs we have seen England really make a name for herself and we can't help but feel that she is going to go from strength to strength this season and really help Spurs cause some upsets and finish in a decent position come the end of the season. We will no doubt see her on the score sheet plenty of times but with Raso in the squad too we could really see a strong front line with both players providing plenty of goals and assists.

West Ham 

Kristie Mewis

It feels like us WSL fans are still to see anything from Mewis due to injury however, if she manages to stay injury free we feel we could be back to seeing the quality she brought to the NWSL week in week out. Mewis has so much potential and we saw that whilst she was in the USA and if West Ham get the same level of performances from her with those around her we could easily see a few upsets during the campaign. Now let's just hope she get's a good run this season injury free.

Katrina Gorry

We just can't help but get excited when we see Gorry play as she commands that midfield. This is Gorry's first full season at the club and she has just been announced as captain for the season which just goes to show what the club think to her ability. Gorry is one of those players you would just love to play like so keep an eye on her movement this season and the impact she has on the West Ham team.

Shelina Zardorsky

Zardorsky has made the move to West Ham permanent this season after joining on loan last season which just goes to show the impact she made during that loan season. Zardorsky is a no nonsense defender who is going to be influential in keeping the scoreline down each week and when needed she can grab a goal too so it is going to be interesting to see what sort of impact she has with her first full season at the club. Zardrosky is also vice captain for the season which again shows how highly thought of she is at the club.

So there you have it that is part two of the WSL ones to watch for the 2024/25 season. It is safe to say with each season the teams are just getting stronger and that in turn is making for some really interesting football each game. Now please can the season just hurry up and start...

Here we got the WSL kicks off this weekend and it is safe to say here at Edge of the Area the countdown has been on for the return of the top flight action so that we could see the return of some of our favourite players. This season is bound to be an exciting one with plenty of movement throughout the transfer window with the majority of sides really strengthening their squads. Today's post is going to be split into two parts as we take a look at the players to watch this season for each team, the posts are split alphabetically so part 1 is A to E whilst the second part is L to W. So here are the players to watch for the first 6 teams alphabetically...

Arsenal

The Spaniard has joined Arsenal this season from Barcelona adding even more a threat to their already strong front line. Caldentey has already been showing the fans what she is capable of with some brilliant performances in the Women's Champions League so she is definitely one to keep an eye on this season as she could be crucial in Arsenal pushing for a top 3 finish.

Lina Hurtig

Hurtig is finally back for Arsenal after seeming to disappear last season. The issues keeping her off the pitch seem to have been resolved now and if she stays injury free we can see her becoming a bit of an impact sub for the club as with the experience in the front line she might struggle to break straight into the team. 

Leah Williamson

After her return from injury last season Leah's game time was managed well although a few other knocks stopped her returning to her full potential. With another preseason under her belt we think we could start to see the return of Williamson's solid centre back performances and these again are going to play a key part in Arsenal's push for that top 3 finish.

Aston Villa

We have seen a few names move to Villa to eye up those England call ups and it seems this could be a part of why Missy Bo Kearns has moved to the club. Leaving her beloved Liverpool behind we are looking forward to seeing what impact she has on the Villa squad that is going from strength to strength each season.

Robinson's name is one that has been floating around for a while and she has had a few England call ups in the process, she has switched from Brighton to Villa this season and we think this quick winger could help Villa show they are contenders for the top end of the table. If she plays anything like she did at Brighton she could be key for getting them forwards the goals this season.

Leon has show everyone what she is capable of since moving to Villa and we can only see her progressing even more this season. Game time has been lacking in previous years for the forward but she has found her form in preseason and internationally so the potential for a stand out season is certainly there for the Canadian. With Leon and Daly upfront Villa could really be a force to be reckoned with.

Brighton & Hove Albion

We can't help but feel like this season could become a bit of a revenge season for Parris. A move to Brighton this summer could see the resurgence of Parris, or at least that is what we are hoping to see. Game time hasn't been something Parris has had a lot of lately but with this move she is bound to get more minutes each week. Keep a close eye on Parris this season as she is definitely a player with a point to prove.

Kirby is another player who made the move to Brighton in the summer and just like with Parris we believe Kirby is going to be able to thrive at her new club. This season is a fresh start for Kirby and hopefully it will stay injury/illness for her so she can prove to everyone just what she is capable of away from the Chelsea set up. With the team she will be playing with week in week out Kirby could really help Brighton cause some upsets this season. 

18 year old Agyemang joins Brighton on loan for the season from Arsenal and we are hoping that we will get to see her play plenty of games for the club this season. Agyemang has the potential this season to really start making a name for herself especially with those names surrounding her. Brighton could be the perfect place to really kick start her career so let's see how this season plays out for her, we are definitely looking forward to seeing her develop.

Chelsea

Bronze is back in the WSL and this time it is somewhere other than Man City and we can't wait to see how her season at Chelsea plays out this time around as much as it pains us that she isn't back at City. Bronze is showing no signs of slowing down and is still putting in some fantastic performances however, with the quality Chelsea already have on the right she is going to have to up her game even more if she wants the maximum game time possible. Could Bronze be a crucial piece of the puzzle for Chelsea to retain the title? I guess we haven't got long to wait and see.

Sam Kerr is one to watch as she returns to the pitch from an ACL injury, granted she might not be one to watch on the pitch for a while however, you would expect to see her play some games of the 2024/25 season. Keep an eye on Kerr's recovery and how she isn't rushing to return to the pitch as with her taking her time to return you would expect her to come back stronger than ever. Even off the pitch she could help Chelsea push for retaining that title.

Bartel is another addition to the Chelsea squad from Barcelona and we are looking forward to seeing how she fits into her new team. Bartel might not be a prolific goal scorer however, she will be instrumental in creating chances for her team mates. Chelsea already have a really strong side however, Bartel's addition just adds a bit more depth to the squad and strengthens that chance of another title winning season.

Crystal Palace

It doesn't seem like two minutes ago that Stengel left Liverpool to return to the States however, she is once again back in to WSL this time though she is joining newly promoted Crystal Palace. We have seen time and time again how good of a forward Stengel is and I am sure she will be 

Finally  the day has finally arrived and it is finally time to lace the boots back up and head out onto the pitch to start the new season. Halifax Amateur Lionesses started properly towards the start of 2024 and played their first friendly in February against Kirkburton, ironically it was Kirburton who we played our very first league game against too. Since forming and that very first game back in February the team have come a very long way by playing in plenty of friendlies and a few tournaments over the summer but we are all so glad the season has finally started as it seems to have been a very long time coming.

When the game begun you could tell there were a few first game nerves around from the team and it took a while for both sides to settle down and get into the game properly. Once those nerves settled though we did eventually get into a good rhythm on the ball with some good movement and Millie had the best chance for us when an effort from out wide rattled off the inside of the post and bounced back into play where unfortunately we weren't ready for the rebound and Kirkburton defused the danger. Kirkburton had a good chance of their own too when a great strike ended up tipped over the bar and away from danger by 'keeper Becky.

Luckily with us being in a starters league we get rolling substitutions so halfway through the first half subs were made just to freshen up legs and give those that needed it a breather before going again and to be honest I couldn't be more grateful as I forgot just how hard the CDM roll is and my fitness levels are shocking lately but we are working on that (more on that in an upcoming post).

Unfortunately for us towards the end of the first half Kirkburton found the back of the net giving them a 1-0 lead going into the break. The goal was a bit of a shock as it was the Amateurs who were seemingly looking more of a threat going forward, a few calls in the build up to the goal didn't help though and the half time break saw us behind on the scoreboard. The good thing about the team though is everyone rallies around each other to lift spirits and keep heads up for the next period of play and we came out fighting in the second half just as we have done in the friendlies we played prior to the league starting. 

That fighting spirit meant that it didn't take long in the second half for us to draw level, a great pass from Jemma found myself and I managed to play the ball through to Chelsey who had once again made a brilliant run and slotted the ball into the back of the net. This goal definitely lifted moral and Chelsey found herself causing more problems for the Kirkburton defenders and unfortunately due to some calls not going our way we just couldn't find that second goal. Kirkburton did have more attacking threats however, they just could't find the back of the net either, a last minute penalty was also awarded in the closing moments of the game giving them the best chance of the game to take all 3 points however, another great save from Becky saw the game finish 1-1 which was certainly well contested by both teams.

Our player of the match has to go to Millie, who found herself absolutely all over the pitch making some great runs and brilliant challenges all game even whilst carrying an injury. Although this could have gone to absolutely anyone as every single player put a shift in to secure the point.

The first game of the season may have ended with the points shared but we lost against Kirkburton the first time around so it just goes to show the improvement being made and it has also showed us areas that may need a bit of work. This team is absolutely fantastic to be a part of though and I can only see it going from strength to strength as the season progresses, note to self though... work on that fitness ASAP.

Thank you very much again to Grip Sockz & Revive Rehab Therapy for being my player sponsors this season and keep checking back weekly for more of these reports as the season progresses. 

For now though it is time to rest & recovery ready to go again next weekend.

Halifax FC Women have a new home and a new look on the field this season with plenty of players looking to make their debut in their opening day fixture this weekend. We got the chance to chat to manager Rob Mitchell before the opening game to see what sort of vision he has for the upcoming season. 

EOTA : The first game of the season is fast approaching but looking back how do you feel about where you finished last season after the disruption you had suffered with postponements?

RM: We finished really strongly and in a position to be proud of, we went on a good run and put some really consistently good performances together to finish the season well. For us to be able to finish in the top half considering where we were before Christmas is ridiculous, but all the credit has to go to the players and coaching staff for their commitment, effort and ultimately the will to win when facing adversity.

So here is how our chat went in prior to the first game of the season on Sunday 18th of August...

EOTA : Last season saw you gain promotion to the third tier, what do you think was the key component of fighting off some tough opposition and winning 17 games out of 22?

CH :We were a good footballing team, but I believe we were the best in transition, the most aggressive and persistent out of possession and we were ruthless when we had chances. The team spirit was exceptional from day one, every me ever of the club knew what our mindset and work was towards and that played a huge part in getting over the line in many games.
 
EOTA: The opposition is going to be even tougher in the third division and we know you have been working hard behind the scenes since the end of last season to make sure you are going into the new season as strong as possible, how do you feel those preparations have gone as we head into match day 1?

CH: It's tough. We have had a difficult preseason, for many reasons, but on the pitch the team have focused on what we can control and are working hard to be a better team for that. You're right, there are going to be tough games, against excellent players and well coached sides, but we believe in ourselves and the players we have too. We will be humble and know we have to work hard but fully believe we will get results throughout the campaign

EOTA: There has been a lot of talk of investment going forward from those teams already in tier 3 and people might be writing teams who are not being invested in as much at the moment off or newcomers to the league like yourself off before a ball has even been kicked. How determined are you and the club determined to show just how worthy you are of that spot in the league?

CH: Write us off, that's completely fine with us. No one had us in their challengers for the league last year, but we knew, and we delivered. 
The club knows it has a lot of work to do to be in the position it needs to be to compete at this level, and to put us in a better place. But that takes time. As a team, we can only maximize ourselves and our output. I believe in this group of players and know they have more than enough to succeed 

EOTA: The club are doing away travel for the supporters for the opening game, is this something we are going to see all season? If so how important do you think this is going to be for the team to have a good following both home and away whilst also giving the fans access to games they might have otherwise missed?

CH: It's been a big part of the club for a while now. Last year we regularly took 50/60 fans to away games. We hit over 100 a few times too. The fan culture at this club is great and a huge part of our identity.

EOTA: We has also seen the release of adults season tickets for £60 which includes 2 children access too or a family ticket for 2 adults & 4 children for £100, which in this day and age is brilliant value for all you get & gets the children watching football weekly how important do you think it is to keep the cost reasonable for families to be able to access the game for both a fan & club point of view?

CH: Our attendances over the last 2 seasons have been brilliant  the young fans love what our players bring on and off the pitch. We've grown a culture of supporting HCL. It needs to keep growing, but to have over 400 almost weekly at home games is an incredible achievement.

EOTA: The club are even having a shop with replica shirts for sale and posters, something you don't see from many teams at the lower levels do you hope this is something a lot more clubs start offering to allow the fan-bases to be able to show their support in other ways than just attending games and following on social media?

CH: Yes. We see shirts with players names now around the city. Players are stopped in shops for pictures. It's a culture and it's growing - so for fans to be able to show that proudly is important. 

EOTA: Finally with Sunday seeing the start of the new season do you feel as though you are going into the opening day in the best place possible to try get the league up and running in the best way? 

CH: It'll be very hard, Burnley are 5/6 years into their growth at this level, with exceptional support from the men's club and heaps of experience and knowledge behind the scenes. We are growing into it, it'll take time for us to be consistent and to gain that at this level, but I always back these girls to perform and stand up to anyone on their day.