FAWSL : What is wrong with Man.City Ladies FC?

Man.City Ladies yet to find their rhythm

Manchester City Ladies FC are on the verge of a disappointing campaign, yet to win a game in the FA WSL and recently knocked out of the FA Women’s Cup by Chelsea Ladies. After acquiring a huge lot of players in the preseason period perhaps a few saw this coming.

From November 2013 to February 2014 the club flexed it’s known financial muscles, obtaining the likes of Everton’s key duo, Jill Scott and Toni Duggan, Lincoln Ladies’ Karen Bardsley, Isobel Christiansen from Birmingham City and Steph Houghton from Arsenal who is currently the club’s captain. But so far nothing has gone according to plan.

The Citizen Ladies are yet to score in the league this season and in the FA Cup only Toni Duggan has gotten on the score sheet, scoring twice in a victorious FA Cup win over Reading and then in the 3-1 defeat to Chelsea.

City’s first game of the season was against defending champions, Liverpool, and it was never going to be an easy task, they did just concede the one goal from (who else?) Natasha Dowie but they were all over the place and the Kop Ladies should have added more. Then they succumbed to a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Bristol Academy.

Man.City Ladies FC just recently started this sort of project to acquire players that could make the team as ambitious as the mens’ team in the womens’ game and the project looks like it would take some time to give the desired results.

This is not the first time we see a team buy, buy and buy and then struggle. Of course there has to be a gelling period for these players and the club’s preseason should have helped with that. But didn’t it?

Man.City LFC were undefeated in preseason beating Celtic 3-0, Durham 7-0 and Aston Villa Ladies 2-0 while drawing (tying) the other two games and then thought they were ready for the new season.

City are currently last on the league table and their next game is against heavy weights, Arsenal Ladies. Manager Nick Cushing would have to find a way to get it together defensively, rallying Steph Houghton and the others in defense as well as the midfield with the likes of Jill Scott to find a way to support and at the same time provide opportunities for the silky Christiansen and the dependable Toni Duggan if they are to avoid a very ridiculous season.

Follow @thefemaledugout on twitter.

Thanks

- Sam.