| FAWSL 1 Final Standings 2014 | |||||||||
| Pos | Team |
Pl
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
GD
|
Pts
|
1
|
Liverpool Ladies |
14
|
7
|
5
|
2
|
19
|
10
|
9
|
26
|
2
|
Chelsea Ladies |
14
|
8
|
2
|
4
|
23
|
16
|
7
|
26
|
3
|
Birmingham City Ladies |
14
|
7
|
4
|
3
|
20
|
14
|
6
|
25
|
4
|
Arsenal Ladies |
14
|
6
|
3
|
5
|
24
|
21
|
3
|
21
|
5
|
Manchester City Women |
14
|
6
|
1
|
7
|
13
|
16
|
-3
|
19
|
6
|
Notts County Ladies |
14
|
4
|
6
|
4
|
12
|
8
|
4
|
18
|
7
|
Bristol Academy |
14
|
5
|
1
|
8
|
18
|
24
|
-6
|
16
|
8
|
Everton Ladies |
14
|
0
|
4
|
10
|
10
|
30
|
-20
|
4
|
The season's not quite over yet, there is the not so small matter of the Continental Cup Final to be contested between Manchester City Women and Arsenal Ladies later in the week. Time though for myself to do this write up is limited so needs must, there is still plenty of great women's football matches to attend over the winter months so time for an end of season review of the FAWSL 1 2014.
The 4th season of the WSL it has been the most closely contended to date my 1st season as a neutral following Lincoln Ladies demise, it has given me the opportunity to experience the league from a different perspective. 2014 has seen the league won by the lowest points total at just 26, with the previous 3 being, 2011 - Arsenal Ladies 32pts, 2012 - Arsenal Ladies 34pts & 2013 - Liverpool Ladies 36pts.
The 2014 WSL 1 season has also seen a more even spread of goals with the highest team total in 2014 being Arsenal Ladies with 24 goals. Liverpool Ladies scored 19 goals in 2014 which is well short of the 46 they managed in 2013. Further evidence that the league has become more competitive is the gap between teams just 10 points this season between Champions Liverpool Ladies and 7th place Bristol Academy whereas the same gap placings had a 26 point gap last season.
From the games I've seen it has been more competitive, most teams play the same formation look to play counter attacking football with pace and we've seen alot of spectacular long range strikes too. With the added threat of relegation this season teams are well drilled in defence picking a team apart isn't easy to do.
FAWSL 1 2014 Season Review - The Clubs
Liverpool Ladies
Let's start from the top down then, with the FAWSL 1 2014 Champions Liverpool Ladies. When I tried foolishly to have a go at predicting how the FAWSL 1 table might look at the end of the season I tipped Liverpool Ladies to retain their title. Manager Matt Beard had brought in some useful squad additions in Gemma Davison, Lucy Staniforth and Young Player of the Year Martha Harris. Thought Davison playing up in support along side German Nicole Rosler would only help Natasha Dowie to score even more goals.
The start of the season though was blighted by injury to a number of players including Rosler and Staniforth both suffering long term knee injuries along with young midfield prospect Katie Zelem picking up a shoulder injury were short on numbers early on. Managed to take points from games and losing just 2 in the season were chasing the leaders all season. A controversal winning goal by Fara Williams away to Birmingham City Ladies and a vital equalising goal from Gemma Davison away at her old club Arsenal kept them in the title race going into the final day barely. With them needing both Chelsea Ladies and Birmingham City Ladies to drop points I thought it an unlikely prospect for them to sneak through and claim the title but all they could do was win there own match and see what transpired, they won and took the title on goal difference sparking jubilation at the Select Security Stadium for players, staff and fans alike.
Chelsea Ladies
Got 2nd place right to, thought Chelsea Ladies would have a strong season after finishing down in 7th place the season before Emma Hayes' 1st season in charge she knew what they needed to compete at the top end of the league recruited heavily over the close season adding experience to an already talented group bringing in the likes of Katie Chapman and Gilly Flaherty from Arsenal Ladies, Laura Bassett and Rachel Williams from Birmingham City Ladies and experienced Korean international Ji So-Yun to name a few. Already had Japanese star Yuki Ogimi alongside England's Eniola Aluko up front.
In my opinion the best free flowing attacking team in the league with players looking to break forwards and score from all positions. Overhauled Birmingham City Ladies to take top spot in the 2nd part of the season looked good for the title despite Hayes playing down their chances. Having gotten into pole position for the title on the final day, finishing 2nd will feel hollow to the squad having lostaway to Manchester City Women, but it is nevertheless a great achievement to have gone from 7th to 2nd in just one season and qualify for Europe too. Will learn from the experience and no doubt be contenders again next season.
Birmingham City Ladies
Have to feel for Birmingham City Ladies in the end the players looked absolutely heartbroken after their final day draw with Notts County Ladies, were just one goal from claiming the title themselves, had been in contention all season occupying 1 of the top 2 spots right until the end dropping down to 3rd miss out on Europe too. With a much smaller budget than the teams competing around them, it has been a fantastic season nevertheless.
When I was doing my predictions for the season I almost put Birmingham City Ladies 3rd but ended up dropping them to 5th place was confident unlike alot of people that they weren't relegation candidates despite losing experienced players such as Bassett, Williams, Rachel Unitt and Isobel Christiansen. I felt there they had very good starting XI especially bringing in Remi Allen from Lincoln Ladies to play in front of Jo Potter and Jade Moore, just wasn't sure the squad was strong enough had invested in youth and the team has proved me wrong by competing all season for the title, two of their back line are still teenagers Aoife Mannion and Jess Carter and both have performed consistantly well. If the club can keep this squad together and maybe add a couple of shrewd additions then I see no reason why they can't be mixing it up in the top half of the table again next season.
Arsenal Ladies
It was a turbulant off season for the once dominant force in women's football in England, lost a whole host of experienced players to rival teams suddenly having a larger budget and able to offer the full time professional status they craved. Manager Shelley Kerr didn't panic took her time bringing players in were quality signings too in former England captain Casey Stoney and Bristol Academy goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain along with experienced Japanese internationals Shinobu Ohno and Yukari Kinga.
These players were late in though and Arsenal Ladies got off to a poor start to the season struggled at home not picking up 3pts until the last day of the season. The poor league start was in contrast to them reaching the FA Cup final in May which was to be Kerr's last match in charge, they won beating Everton Ladies and going into the mid season break managerless they were to take there time bringing in a replacement - Spanish coach Pedro Martinez Losa. The team has slowly improved picking up results has a good team blend of promising youth and experinced players. Are not full time yet and that may be a factor if they want to push for honours again, Losa will have to recruit wisely over the close season.
Manchester City Women
Definetly the team that has proved my predicting efforts wrong as I had them tipped for a relegation battle at the start of the season hadn't thought they had brought enough top quality players in, as the hype surrounding the money they were bringing into the develop the women's team was built up in the media. Their start though was awful they looked poor early on a disjointed team with their 4 England signings Karen Bardsley, Steph Houghton, Jill Scott and Toni Duggan looking as if they were feeling the expectation that had been put upon them.
They pleaded with people to be patient though and slowly the results started to turn around picked up some valuable points getting momentum from their Continental Cup campaign, the squad started to blend and others stepppd up to the mark. Got the media hype to settle down realise that despite the money they were looking to establish themselves in the league 1st then look to push on later 5th place is a solid debut will look to recruit over the off season will be interesting to see where they go from here.
Notts County Ladies
In the end their was hardly anything recognisable in the team I had supported the previous season in Lincoln Ladies as the club moved to Nottingham rebranding to become Notts County Ladies. Saw a host of departures just a handful of players staying on, meant manger Rick Passmoor had a busy recruitment drive, were late in announcing signings but when they came they were ambitious ones with the likes of ex Arsenal Ladies forward Ellen White, former Chelsea keeper Carly Telford, Scotland's Rachel Corsie, New Zealander Katie Hoyle and Canadian international Desiree Scott all arriving a whole new team for a new name.
Suffered an awful injury blow before the season started with White suffering an ACL injury, despite this they started the season brightly were the early leaders undefeated going into the break Jess Clarke in great form up front. Were to suffer terribly with injuries a further 4 players out long term with ACL's meant the squad was stretched, were hit with an FA penalty too for failing to fulfill a fixture (an unfair decision in my opinion as I've gone on record as saying). A dip in form saw the team looking over their shoulders at the relegation spot but a much needed 1-0 victory over Chelsea Ladies at home saw them go on an unbeaten 4 game run at the end of the season, something to build on for next season as they get players back to fitness.
Bristol Academy
Last season's runners up Bristol Academy like Birmingham City Ladies operate on a much smaller budget than some of the other clubs in the FAWSL but are a well run club with a good set up and fan base. Did well to keep the majority of that squad together as they lost manager Mark Sampson to the England managers job, with Staniforth and Chamberlain departing. Were quick to find a replacement goalkeeper in Mary Earps from Birmingham City Ladies very much a future England goalkeeper. Took there time in getting the right manager in bringing over Dave Edmondson who had been coaching in Australia.
Play some good attacking football, but their forward players haven't hit the heights of last season whilst at the back they have conceded goals, expected them to finish higher than 7th but like Emma Hayes at Chelsea Ladies, Edmondson has had a season to access things see what else is needed, might be limited by the budget but as I highlighted at the start of this article the gap between the top and 7th isn't as much as it has been in previous years. You're always guarenteed an exciting game with Bristol Academy.
Everton Ladies
Heartbreak for Everton Ladies as their 21 years stay in the top flight of women's football came to an end finished the season without a league win to be the 1st team relegated from the FAWSL 1. Were up against it from the start over the previous 2 season's the club without the budget to keep them lost a host of their big name experienced players the likes of Fara Williams, Rachel Unitt, Toni Duggan and Jill Scott. Manager Andy Spence putting his faith in the young players the club has always prided itself on bringing through.
Did reach the FA Cup final in May losing to Arsenal. A move away from Crosby to join Liverpool Ladies at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes wasn't ideal as the FA demand the top flight teams play in bigger, better stadiums. Can't fault the effort of the players put in 100% every time I saw them play just lacked that little bit of experience that I think you need at times, will they bounce back? See no reason why they can't if they can keep hold of their good young players, need to get better financial support from the men's club you would think and hope that is forthcoming if they want to get back to competing in the top flight.
Final Thoughts
The clubs will probably all agree as will most of the fans that the FAWSL has suffered from some poor refereeing decision making this season. The FA have made the demand that the clubs take a more professional approach to the game, they in turn then should expect the same from it's governing body. I know the FAWSL has to fit around the England Women's National Team, it's success is vital for the growth of the game it does though lead to a very odd and sometimes conjested fixture schedule which I know from speaking to people does put fans off becoming regular supporters after 4 years this has only seemed to get worse rather than improve far too many midweek games in what is a national league. Also in the 1st three seasons of the FAWSL there seemed to be a drive to getting more families to attend matches this seems to me to have fallen away this season clearly the fixture scheduling doesn't help. The promotion can be patchy at times but I follow women's football know resources are limited. What you can't complain about is the quality of the football and the competitiveness between teams that will only grow with the investment being made hope the 2015 season is as every bit exciting.
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