Man Utd Women 2022/23 mid-season review: Standout performer, best signing & more

Manchester United have reached the WSL winter break in good shape as they aim to finish the campaign by breaking into the top three and qualify for next season’s Champions League, something that has consistently eluded them in recent years.

With no more league games until January, United sit third in the table, three points ahead of Manchester City and two adrift of second place Arsenal. Reigning champions and current leaders Chelsea are five points ahead of Marc Skinner’s side but have played a game more.

Overall, United are seven points better off after nine games than they were at the same stage of last season, having played arguably tougher games than they did in the first chunk of 2021/22.

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Background

The 2022/23 season was always going to be a big one for Manchester United.

The Red Devils have never previously finished lower than fourth in the WSL table, but they missed out on Champions League qualification by a point under the management of Casey Stoney in 2020/21 and were then in contention for third place again a year later until too many dropped points cost them in the final stages of the campaign.

Skinner had the disadvantage in the summer of 2021 of only minimal time to work with an inherited squad and little chance to put his own stamp on things in terms of recruitment. A number of older, experienced players left, leaving a much rawer team behind.

Skinner’s philosophy was increasingly evident as last season progressed, but United dropped too many points from winning positions and were pipped to third place by Manchester City.

United had conceded late equalisers in the final 15 minutes of games against Tottenham, Everton, Arsenal, Manchester City and West Ham last season. Against Tottenham and West Ham, the equalisers came in stoppage time, while both Arsenal and City had been reduced to 10 players by the time they fought back to draw those games. That was 10 points lost late on; United finished five points adrift of City in the final WSL standings.

United had the potential to compete for a top three place, but lacked the experience in key moments or depth to really push that home. However, it was fixable with tweaks.

Skinner often spoke about the importance of recruitment in the second half of last season and United brought in seven new players, primarily targeting attacking positions.

While most of the new arrivals haven’t featured all that much so far in 2022/23 – Maya Le Tissier and Nikita Parris aside – the increased competition has been a factor in United’s improvement.

“Everyone is fighting to be the best in their position and that is what drives you in training," Ella Toone said recently. "The standard is so high now in training because everyone wants to play and knows they’re good enough. It doesn’t let your standards drop, personally.”

At the winter break, United have already exorcised some demons from last season by beating both Everton and West Ham away from home. There has also been a momentous win over an established giant in Arsenal, while United have forged a reputation for taking the lead in the first half and have not conceded a single WSL goal before half-time.

• Man Utd Women fixtures & results: 2022/23 WSL season

Highlight

Prior to this season, United had managed just one league victory over the WSL's top three of Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester City; a 1-0 win over the Gunners back in November 2020.

This record improved in spectacularly dramatic fashion when they visited the Emirates Stadium in November to face an Arsenal side that had won its last 14 WSL games.

United took a first half lead through Ella Toone, but were pegged back and then fell behind with just under 20 minutes remaining. Instead of accepting their fate, Skinner’s team roared back into life and equalised late on through Millie Turner, before Alessia Russo won it in stoppage time.

Katie Zelem in particular gave a monstrous performance in the middle of the pitch, as well as executing perfect set-pieces to set up the two late goals.

One of the most significant things about the game was the number of travelling fans housed in a dedicated away section at the Emirates. It made the atmosphere electric and the players raced to celebrate in front of their supporters when the final whistle sounded.

• Man Utd's comeback victory over Arsenal can be a psychological watershed

Lowlight

United have lost just once in the WSL; the home defeat to champions Chelsea in November, which ended a run of five consecutive league wins and clean sheets, was disappointing because of the nature of the goals conceded.

However, the lowest point of the season is the early elimination from the Continental Cup, which had been a genuine opportunity to win the club’s first ever major trophy.

In contrast to their WSL form, United were held to draws by Aston Villa and Durham in their first two group games – having taken the lead in both – and also lost both penalty shootouts to miss out on potential bonus points. It meant that even with victory over Everton, results elsewhere consigned them to early elimination with a game still to spare.

• Marc Skinner reacts to Man Utd's early Conti Cup exit

Standout performer

United wouldn’t be in the position that they are without a number of players raising their game to new levels this season. Leah Galton has been excellent again, while Ella Toone is back to her best after brief lull post-Euro 2022. Katie Zelem is playing the best football of her career and Millie Turner has been back at it after long-term illness. Ona Batlle and Alessia Russo have also been in fine form but have both missed a handful of games through injury.

But for all their glorious outfield quality, United are underpinned by one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Mary Earps.

When putting together five straight WSL wins without conceding at the start of the campaign, Earps made outstanding saves against the likes of Brighton, Leicester and Everton that genuinely contributed to those victories.

The England number one is an incredible communicator, often heard even above the chants of a vocal fanbase, shouting instructions or encouragement to the players in front of her. She breathes confidence throughout the whole team and Skinner has called her ‘the rock behind us’.

Best signing

Of the seven new faces to arrive in the summer, only Maya Le Tissier has cemented her place as an automatic starter. That is all the more impressive considering she won’t turn 21 until April.

United were so sold on Le Tissier’s potential that they triggered the release clause in her Brighton contract to sign her. She had excelled as a right-back with the Seagulls, but was thrust into the centre of defence for the opening game of the WSL season and hasn’t put a foot wrong.

Le Tissier made headlines on her debut for totally unexpected reasons when she scored twice in the first 25 minutes against Reading. But her excellent defending has kept her being talked about and has taken the youngster into the England senior squad.

At the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City, she handled herself superbly against WSL joint-top scorer Khadija Shaw and severely limited what the City striker could do.

“I don't know where Maya's ceiling is,” Skinner said recently. “She takes everything in her stride and does it with a smile on her face. That is one of the most infectious things about her.”

Le Tissier has given credit to her teammates and staff for making it ‘really easy’ for her to settle at the club: “I think that shows on the pitch. I feel comfortable and confident.”

Best goal

United fans won’t forget in a hurry the goal that Alessia Russo scored to win the game against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. It was also a huge moment for Millie Turner in that one, given that illness had put her entire career in jeopardy only 10 months earlier.

But from a pure technical point of view, Ona Batlle’s wonder strike against Aston Villa at Old Trafford, where more than 30,000 fans were in attendance, is the standout goal of 2022/23 so far.

The marauding full-back was outstanding anyway at Old Trafford, often playing like an additional winger and creating five chances overall. Yet her goal to make it 4-0 really put the icing on top of the cake, striking the ball so cleanly from the right-hand side of the box that Villa goalkeeper Hannah Hampton had no chance. The fact it cannoned in off both the underside of the bar and the inside of the post only make it even more visually appealing.

Predicted finish

Manchester United came into this season determined to finish in the WSL top three and they have given themselves an incredible chance to achieve that thanks to an excellent start.

The team has already claimed maximum points from games in which they dropped them this time last year, while they are seven points better off after nine games having already faced both Arsenal and Manchester City away – in the first half of last season they played them both at home and arguably had tougher fixtures to come after Christmas.

There is a greater mental strength and resilience than before, with the disappointment and experience of last season having an impact in a positive way. Skinner was cut up in May when defeat to Chelsea on the final day, having led twice before losing the game, ensured that United finished short of their top three aims.

“I don’t want to feel like I did at the end of Chelsea last season,” he said. “I’m going to keep using my energy to fix that this season and beyond. We’re trying to show we’re here to stay for a long time.”

A top two finish and even a title fight is a possibility. But third at this stage of the project is perhaps more realistic but absolutely within reach. Finishing fourth again would be heart-breaking, but United have it within them to finally crack that top three.

Predicted finish: 3rd

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