WSL 2020/21 predictions: Rachel Brown-Finnis picks her winner, top scorer, best signing and more
Rachel Brown-Finnis, former England goalkeeper turned pundit, makes her predictions for the new season, including star player, unsung hero and best summer signing.
Who will win the title?
Chelsea. They have the depth and an amazing manager in Emma Hayes. She is forward-thinking and the infrastructure she has built to drive performance is unparalleled. Pernille Harder can add another dimension to their play and they’re just exciting all over the pitch.
Who’ll take the other two Champions League spots?
Arsenal have added depth to their squad. That was something they were severely lacking last year, when injuries to Beth Mead, Jordan Nobbs and Kim Little meant they fell away. A few years ago, Chelsea got to the Champions League and were just completely out of energy - so Hayes had the foresight to add several players, and that’s what you need. Manchester City have realised that and have added Rose Lavelle, Sam Mewis and Chloe Kelly. They’ve gone for quality as well as depth.
Best summer signing
The one I’m most excited to see is Rose Lavelle. She was catapulted into the media spotlight in the World Cup last summer and was a star. She reminds me in a lot of ways of Kelly Smith: strong, mega creative, able to drive down the middle to get to goal. The players we’re bringing over to the Women’s Super League are in their prime and see this league as the best platform to develop.
Top scorer
I’m going to stick with Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema. I expect she will play every single game. She’s potent in the 18-yard box and Arsenal will supply her with goalscoring opportunities, either out wide via Beth Mead or through Miedema’s beautiful link-up play with Kim Little and Danielle van de Donk. I think the only thing that might stop Bethany England, Pernille Harder or Sam Kerr from being top scorer is that Chelsea will rotate their squad - but those three will get double figures.
Who will be the most valuable unsung player this season?
Sophie Ingle. She’s like a Roy Keane type of player: does the dirty work, breaks up play, plays the ball ten yards to get out of trouble. She’s that lynchpin for Chelsea. Looking to the squad for the Olympics, she’s a nailed on player for me. Being Welsh, she doesn’t really get the limelight that the Lionesses do, but she gets better and better.
Who will struggle?
Birmingham are making alarm bells ring for me. I’ve seen the haemorrhaging of players in the extended off-season, including the long-serving Kerys Harrop. The club means so much to her. For players like that to have left, I feel like there’s something seriously going wrong. They’ve only got 14 players. They’ve got a good history in women’s football so it would be a real shame to see them fall away.
Outside of the big three, who has impressed you?
I like the work Everton have done, but I think West Ham. They seem to be the club with the most international flavour. It’s symbolic of where the league’s at right now and it’s symbolic of Matt Beard. A lot of managers might not be able to deal with getting a team spirit together like he does - but as well as being a top coach, he’s a top man-manager.
What’s your biggest hope for the new season?
That we can get fans back, and get the continuity that we have lacked in previous seasons. Last season, we had Liverpool playing at Tranmere and Chester due to their pitch issues, and games were postponed for weeks. I hope we don’t see that this season because having games broken up did fans no favours.
What are you most looking forward to?
The goalkeepers. To see so many young England goalkeepers in the league - Hannah Hampton at Birmingham, Ellie Roebuck at Manchester City, Sophie Baggaley at Bristol City - is amazing. They’re excellent shot stoppers and are that new breed of goalkeepers who are really good with their feet.
Manager of the year
Casey Stoney, if she can break into that top three and get Champions League football - I imagine that’s their target. What a season it would be for Gareth Taylor if he could do the same. But at the moment, I can’t look really beyond Emma Hayes. I just feel she’s doing things on another level and getting the best out of players.
Player of the year
I loved Bethany England winning it last season. She’d been an OK player who had done OK at Liverpool and Doncaster Belles, but then I don’t think it’s any coincidence that Emma Hayes got this new version of Bethany England. I can see her having another outstanding season.
This season BT Sport is showing more Barclays FA Women’s Super League matches than ever before starting with Aston Villa vs Manchester City on Saturday 5 September live on BT Sport 2 and available for free on btsport.com, BT Sport App, YouTube and Facebook from 2pm.
