The Red Devils' are now seven points behind leaders Chelsea and doubts surrounding the future of the England No.1 are only rubbing salt in the wound
Seven months ago, Manchester United were the only team to take Chelsea to the final day in the Women’s Super League’s 2022-23 title race. They were excellent throughout the season, they were consistent and, in the end, they were beaten to the trophy by just two points. Why, then, are they seemingly out of the 2023-24 title race before we’ve even got to Christmas?
If you were a United fan and had tickets for both of the club’s clashes with Liverpool on Sunday, one in the WSL and one in the Premier League, you might’ve opted for the former if you wanted to see a positive result. That the Red Devils' men fared better at Anfield than the women did at Leigh Sports Village was certainly a surprise, Marc Skinner’s side falling to a 2-1 defeat before Erik ten Hag’s men held out for a goalless draw.
“I don’t think we outperformed Liverpool or deserved anything from the game,” said Skinner after the loss, delivering a damning statement which was fitting because of how damaging the result was. With leaders Chelsea beating Bristol City later that afternoon, United are now seven points off the pace already. They’ve won just five of their 10 league games this season.
Chants of ‘Skinner Out’ from a section of the crowd followed the final whistle on Sunday, showing that discontent is growing rapidly. With stars such as Mary Earps and Leah Galton entering the final six months of their contracts, it’s not just on the pitch that the fanbase has concerns, either. The optimism last season brought has almost completely vanished- so what on earth has happened?
GettyWell off the pace
To go into the WSL’s winter break having dropped points in half of the games they have played is just not good enough for Manchester United. They’re now seven points behind leaders Chelsea and four points off the chasing pack of Man City and Arsenal, who occupy the other two Champions League places.
Each result has been frustrating in its own way. In October, United were moments away from a massive 2-1 win over Arsenal, but couldn’t see the game out and dropped two points from a great position against a title rival.
A week later, they had to come back to secure a point against a Leicester side that were in a relegation battle last season. That was sandwiched in between the two legs of a Champions League qualifier with PSG, which ended in defeat. The squad certainly felt like it was strengthened enough in the summer to cope with a three-game week, but to not get the business done in the league, against a team United would be expected to beat, was disappointing.
November’s 2-2 draw with Brighton was a game where the Red Devils didn’t take enough of their own chances and conceded far too many at the other end. A few weeks later came the worst of the worst, when they were soundly beaten by Man City at Old Trafford, Gareth Taylor out-thinking Skinner in his tactics.
They bounced back with wins over Bristol City and Tottenham, but Sunday’s loss to Liverpool was massive, United this time failing to create much while conceding two really poor goals at the other end. It leaves them well behind in the title race, with them seemingly out of contention already.
AdvertisementGettyLots of change
So, what has gone wrong? Well, the inconsistencies game-by-game could be, at least in part, attributed to the mass turnover of the squad in the summer. Nine new faces came in during the transfer window and, while the number of departures can be debated, loans and academy exits taking the total up to a rather bloated 22, around 15 of those were first-team players leaving the club.
It's a lot of change to have in one summer, with the departures of Ona Batlle, the best right-back on the planet, and Alessia Russo, who was United’s focal point in the forward line, particularly significant.
Injuries have given them some unwanted setbacks, too. Irene Guerrero has only made one WSL appearance after arriving from Atletico Madrid, with Emma Watson not even managing that due to an ACL injury suffered on international duty with Scotland. Gabby George was hit with the same devastating diagnosis after starting the season well following a transfer from Everton and Hinata Miyazawa became the latest star to drop out of the starting XI when she returned from the December international break with a problem.
When you’re already trying to adjust to a lot of summer business, to lose players is an additional blow, especially when all four of those mentioned are injuries to new signings.
GettyRebuilding the attack
The impact of Russo’s departure is probably not realised or noted quite as much as it should be, either. Yes, the England star only netted 10 goals in the league last season, but the way the United attack has been rebuilt upon her exit meant it was always going to take time for things to gel.
The Red Devils spent most of the start of the season playing with Geyse in the centre of the forward line, the Brazil international certainly a problem for defenders but not exactly a No.9. It meant that different partnerships and relationships had to be formed, with Geyse often drifting out of those central areas and needing a winger or midfielder to move into them so that someone was there to get on the end of that final ball.
But did it have to be like that? Perhaps that is how Skinner felt his team could be more of a problem for opponents, with the variation it would add to United’s play. However, the club did sign a player who thrives as a No.9, loaning Melvine Malard from Lyon.
Malard spent the majority of her first few months in England operating from the wing, which she can do as she is a quality, versatile footballer who still finds her way into goal-scoring situations, but the recent change to play her more centrally has paid dividends. The France international was unplayable against Spurs earlier this month and, despite her team’s struggles against Liverpool, she led the line well on Sunday, too.
Of course, putting Malard in that role earlier in the season wouldn’t have solved all of United’s problems and put them top of the table. The forward received such a lack of service against Liverpool, for example. But it did baffle many that she was shoved into a wide role given the abundance of natural wingers United have.
GettyDepth in midfield
Another of the gripes United fans have had has been in the midfield. Katie Zelem, Hayley Ladd and Ella Toone have been the established trio in the centre for a while now, so much so that they were starting games together during the 2019-20 season, the Red Devils’ first in the WSL. In the four years since, attempts to strengthen the depth in midfield have not worked.
None of Vilde Boe Risa, Lucy Staniforth or Jade Moore could break into that area during their time with the club, while Grace Clinton didn’t set foot on the pitch last season in a United shirt after arriving from Everton. The youngster had a productive loan spell with Bristol City in the second-tier in the second half of the campaign and was sent out to Spurs this year, too, where she has been one of the stand-out players for a side only three points behind United in the WSL table.
Lisa Naalsund is the latest to arrive and try to break into the midfield, but she has started one league game in 12 months. Is she providing the competition and variety Skinner wants? Is she a player that he sees as a fit for his team? Is he simply giving her time to settle? If it is the latter, should the club be recruiting players who can immediately improve the starting XI rather than those who can do that over time, if they want to compete with Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City? Is having the same midfield trio as four years ago an example of the moving forward and pushing on that Skinner talked about on Sunday?
Injuries have impacted things this season, with Miyazawa having started games in midfield before her setback, while Watson and Guerrero have not even had the chance to do that. But the lack of minutes given to other players in this area during Skinner’s tenure make it fair to ask whether the competition and variety of options in that area of the park has been good enough to help this team improve.