The plan
Just about all the pieces that would have gone flawed for Everton final season did. With simply 5 wins all yr, and two managers and an interim coach later, they completed tenth having flirted with relegation.
A robust 2020-21 marketing campaign had supplied a way that Everton may very well be the membership to interrupt up the established prime 4. Nonetheless, a troublesome collection of losses to Manchester Metropolis, Chelsea and Arsenal noticed Willie Kirk sacked after 5 video games. Catastrophe adopted with the appointment of Jean-Luc Vasseur who lasted simply three months. Assistant Chris Roberts stepped as much as regular the ship and guarantee Everton stayed within the prime division.
It’s, subsequently, troublesome to know what to anticipate this yr. For starters, they’ve a brand new supervisor in Brian Sørensen. The Dane is very regarded however will want time to mould a much-changed squad, one thing his two predecessors weren’t afforded.
Everton have misplaced a number of gamers over the summer time, together with Danielle Turner and Simone Magill, who’ve been constants over the past decade. Claire Emslie, Kenza Dali and Anna Anvegård, Everton’s attacking core, have additionally departed.
Sørensen has recruited well, nonetheless. Speedy Dutch striker Katja Snoeijs has arrived from Bordeaux whereas Katrine Veje returns to the WSL from Rosengård. Equally, the arrival of the Danish Holmgaard twins, Sara and Karen, from Potsdam gives trigger for optimism. Sara will head straight out on mortgage to Fortuna Hjørring however Karen is a part of the primary crew set-up. In the meantime, the highly-rated Manchester United goalkeeper Emily Ramsey has arrived on mortgage to fill the hole left by Sandy MacIver whereas Jess Park and Aggie Beever-Jones have additionally are available for the season, two of essentially the most thrilling younger attacking abilities in English soccer.
Compared to final yr, Everton have a comparatively snug begin to the season. They’d count on to win their first three fixtures, in opposition to Leicester, West Ham, and newly promoted neighbours Liverpool. In the event that they do, the membership’s ambitions of a top-half end shouldn’t be far off.
The supervisor
Sørensen arrives from Danish membership Fortuna Hjørring with titles to his title and is understood for constructing a robust tradition at golf equipment. He has already referred to as on his gamers to know their identification and can have pinpointed the necessity for them to enhance their productiveness. He likes his sides to play possession-based soccer, creating completely different passing choices. Out of possession he units up his groups to defend from the entrance whereas the midfield space is the important thing element.
Key participant
Captain Izzy Christiansen is a type of that makes all the pieces tick. A frontrunner each on and off the pitch, she has embraced the captaincy regardless of its troublesome moments final season. Ahead-thinking in assault, she has the imaginative and prescient and supply to maneuver her crew ahead. Christiansen can also be tenacious and won’t shrink back from a sort out. Her expertise is essential, and he or she can have a chilled affect on the youthful gamers round her.
Large summer time signing
The arrival of the Holmgaard twins is an thrilling prospect for Everton. Nonetheless, Katrine Veje might be the Toffees’ star signing of the summer time. The veteran Danish full-back brings a wealth of expertise together with her; she has 140 caps for her nation, earlier WSL publicity from a spell at Arsenal, and has gained trophies in a number of international locations. The 31-year-old is flexible and might play additional ahead if the necessity arises.
Euro 2022 delight/heartache
Swedes Hanna Bennison and Nathalie Björn had been each integral to Sweden’s advance to the semi-finals in the summertime. Björn supplied important solidity to a Covid-ravaged squad. In the meantime, Bennison scored one of many objectives of the match with a rocket against Switzerland. Veje, Rikke Sevecke and the Holmgaard twins featured closely for Denmark however didn’t progress previous the group stage.
Deliver on the crowds
Everton have been engaged in fan activation over the summer time to attempt to capitalise on the elevated curiosity within the girls’s recreation. They held an open coaching season in entrance of round 1,000 followers at Goodison Park and have been engaged in neighborhood tasks throughout the summer time. They’ve elevated their content material output, together with a bit penned by Christiansen highlighting her hopes for a Euro 2022 legacy. Their residence video games are performed at Walton Corridor Park, a stadium that Everton have achieved numerous work on to make their very own.
