Not only that but the rest of the silverware that was up for grabs was shared out too, with Arsenal Ladies lifting the FA Women's Cup and new entrants Manchester City Women leaving Wycombe as Continental Cup winners. Shame the season's over... still plenty of great women's football action over the winter though despite what BT Sport tell you.
Thought I'd have a little bit of fun and give you all what I think is my FAWSL 1 Team of the Season. Of course opinions will be divided on this everyone has one, wouldn't be fun debating these things if we didn't. Had a go at picking my Team of the Season so far going into the summer break... the official one in June that is when the FAWSL 1 season had barely played 4 league games, link to that blog entry below
http://supportingwomensfootball.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/fawsl-1-early-season-review-part-two.html
Back when that blog entry was written it looked at who had started the season brightly and the XI that had done well for me were: - Libby Stout
- Chelsea Weston
- Leah Williamson
- Rachel Corsie
- Corinne Yorston
- Jade Moore
- Remi Allen
- Nicki Watts
- Jess Clarke
- Dunia Susi
- Eniola Aluko
Back then it was early season form that made the XI stand out, now looking for a Team of the Season what you're looking for is consistency throughout the season in the league which players have done well over the long haul, tough to pick a single player in many positions across the pitch and in most cases there are 2,3 or 4 to choose from, so who makes my 2014 FAWSL 1 Team of the Season?
GOALKEEPER
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| Carly Telford |
Notts County Ladies had the best defensive record in the FAWSL 1 this season and their goalkeeper Carly Telford played a large part in keeping the goals conceded tally down. An excellent shot stopper, distributor of the ball and good communicator has made some vital saves during the season, started the season well and has gotten better as the season progressed earning her a recall to the National side along the way and is now putting the established three of Karen Bardsley, Rachel Brown-Finnis & Siobhan Chamberlain under some pressure to retain their places in the squad.
Liverpool Ladies Libby Stout in my early season Team of the Season has had a good season and Birmingham City Ladies Becky Spencer has like Telford has done well this season and been recognised for an England call up late on too.
DEFENCE
With the reality of relegation entering the FAWSL 1 this season as the summer league gained a 2nd tier goals scored has suffered a little as teams have focused on not conceding, and certainly when you look at the stats from the previous 3 seasons before this and the top scorer getting into double figures, this season the top scorers in the league have just six goals then on the whole especially early in the season defences have been on top, therefore there are a good number of contenders for the back line.
Let's start with the full backs, in the right back position I have gone for Birmingham City Ladies Chelsea Weston, and it's for consistency throughout the whole season had started the season very well as did Birmingham City Ladies themselves. A no nonsense, hard working defender that knows her job and is rarely caught out of position, maybe doesn't bomb forwards as others might and you would think she mustn't be too far away from getting selected for an England squad. Arsenal Ladies Alex Scott was very close to nicking the spot has had a really strong 2nd part of the season as Arsenal Ladies rallied from an indifferent start to the season. A mention too for Bristol Academy's Grace McCatty who has had a good season at right back too.
Left back, this was a tough one but I've gone for another Notts County Ladies player in Amy Turner. Like Weston, another no nonsense defender, hard working, good on the cover and her positioning is excellent, her form has earned her a call up to the England U23 squad. It was close though Liverpool Ladies, Corina Shroeder has been another consistant performer throughout the season. Chelsea Ladies, young player Hannah Blundell has done well too this season getting a call up into the U20s World Cup squad for her good form.
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| Chelsea Weston |
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| Amy Turner |
Along side Corsie, in the centre of defence I've gone for Aoife Mannion. Has had a really impressive season in the centre of defence for Birmingham City Ladies just tuned 19 years old she has done fantastically well an ever present all season, up against some top quality attackers, isn't fazed at all, confident and committed and being so young she can only get better.
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| Aoife Mannion |
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| Rachel Corsie |
The centre back pairing could just as easily been Arsenal Ladies, Leah Williamson and Liverpool Ladies, Lucy Bronze. Both have had very good seasons, Williamson starting the season very well and Bronze coming strong after the early season break. Likewise, Casey Stoney has had a solid 2nd part to the season as Arsenal Ladies regrouped after a poor start and the new players settled down.
MIDFIELD
At the start of the season it was her midfield partners that had made my early season team as both Jade Moore and Remi Allen started the season fantastically well for Birmingham City Ladies, now though it's Jo Potter wins a place in the Team of the Season, again through consistency has been instrumental in leading Birmingham City Ladies push for honours at the top of the table, their set piece specialist, energy, vision and passing ability have been superb and like Telford her great form has been recognised with a recall to the National squad.
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| Jo Potter |
She became England Ladies most capped player earlier this year and has been the driving force at the centre of Liverpool Ladies midfield all season, Fara Williams. One of those players whose effort doesn't always get recognised as she goes about her task breaking up play and winning the ball in front of the back four then playing it forward for the attackers. Has a useful range of pass and good energy.
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| Fara Williams |
Joining Potter and Williams in midfield is Chelsea Ladies Korean international star, Ji So Yun. Her 1st season in the FAWSL she has been a great signing by coach Emma Hayes. Playing in an advanced role in the middle of the park she is nimble and agile, sees the runs other are making and looks to play them in, links up particularly well with Japanese star Yuki Ogimi. Is good with the dead ball, looks like she can make something happen everytime she has the ball at her feet.
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| Ji So Yun |
Birmingham City Ladies, Jade Moore and Remi Allen both started the season well, and perhaps had it not been for her injury keeping her out for a few games towards the end of the season Moore would have kept her place. Sophie Ingle has had some great performances for Bristol Academy since her move from Chelsea Ladies this season. Jill Scott likewise once Manchester City Women settled down going into the latter part of the season has improved and done a good job in midfield.
ATTACK
Goals have been more spread out amongst teams this season with no attacking player getting into double figures like previous seasons in the FAWSL. Again like the defence and midfield it was a tough one to pick an final three.
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| Nicki Watts |
Bristol Academy player Nicki Watts has been fantastic for her club all season, every time I have seen her play she has always impressed. Playing in a deeper role behind the lone striker she is the player that Bristol Academy are looking to get on the ball to spark an attacking move, laying it forwards for Natalia Pablos Sanction or out wide to Natasha Harding or Corrine Yorston. Watts is the looking to get into the box and join in the move look to score or set up a goal. Has scored some great goals this season from inside and outside the box.
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| Karen Carney |
This was the hardest position to fill because it was a straight choice between two players, Notts County Ladies, Jess Clarke and Birmingham City Ladies, captain Karen Carney. I have picked Carney because over the 14 game season she has played a large part in helping her team maintain the challenge at the top of the FAWSL. Her late goal against Manchester City Women, vital in making sure her club had the chance of winning the title going into the final day. With great pace and dribbling ability, hard to shake off the ball has scored goals at important times throughout the season.
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| Eniola Aluko |
For all the hard decisions to make in picking a final XI, Eniola Aluko's name was the 1st one put down on paper. The Chelsea Ladies and England striker has been in brilliant form all season for club and country. Works tremendously hard up front for her team covers a lot of ground working to retain the ball, win it back and hold it up to bring others into play. Looks to run into both channels and has the pace and trickery to beat players. Looks to play an assist as much as she looks for goal herself a good bet for PFA Player of the Year in my eyes.
Jess Clarke just misses out was a tough call because she has done well this season, her goals were needed as she led the line for Notts County Ladies after they lost Ellen White at the start of the season. Just the clubs general dip in form after the break allowed others in. Team mate Dunia Susi started the season well too. Yuki Ogimi for Chelsea Ladies has had a good season too.
Here it is then the Supporting Women's Football Blog FAWSL 1 Team of the Season 2014
Sure your team of the season would be different it's great that there have been so many great performances from players in the FAWSL 1 to choose from.
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