I like your optimism, but I do have some doubts about the manager, the squad and the club's commitment to the women's team.
Zelem is a creative midfielder, but a lot of that creativity comes when she's taking setpieces not in open play. When the midfield gets up against a tough opposition, she can look error prone and slow, with or without the ball. Ladd feels like a key player in making our team look robust but has been in and out of the team - whether due to fitness concerns or manager choices.
I like the defensive lineup, but I'm still wondering when we'll see more of Tounkara.
I'm also conscious that our forward line still have a way to go to reach the kind of ruthless finishing that Chelsea and Arsenal's best can offer. I'm hopeful though, Toone and Russo are young and only going to get better. Galton, Garcia, Leon all look good for some goals. We've also got goals from all over the pitch, which is a good thing and could be our real weapon this year.
In terms of our rivals - it's good that they don't look invincible this season. I'll reserve my judgment on them until I've seen them play us though. Some of last season's matches against them were painful - though in terms of damage done to our top 3 run, the draws against weaker opponents hurt us most. I'm hoping our squad strengthening measures will help there.
See this is what I don't understand, (and this isn't meant at all on a personal level to you in any way, so please don't take it as such, it is more meant in general terms), what does it matter how a person creates something?
Why is cheating something in open play seen as better than creating something via a set-piece?
Surely a chance is a chance, no matter how it is created?
Was Kelly's winner at the Euro's a "lesser" chance or goal because it came from a set-piece??
So with regards to us, why does it matter if Katie creates a fair few choices from set-pieces?
Surely that is just as good as someone creating chances from open play?
I don't personally understand why being good at set-pieces is viewed negatively....???
For me Zelem is a World class creative player, up there with the very best on the planet, it shouldn't matter if a chance is created in open play or via a set-piece, if a goal is scored, then I will celebrate it, no matter how it was created (think back to Ole in 99, did I care that Becks crossed it in, heck no!).
As for the clubs commitment to the women's side, I fully agree with you there, any success, is I think in spite of the club, not because of it.
And thr other points, what is with the rush to see Tounkara play?? We have a very good Cb partnership as it is developing, between Le Tiss and Millie, why look or seek to change that??
Tounkara and Mannion when she comes back, will have to just settle for being rotation or second choice options.
As for ruthless finishing of our rivals, where was this on display for Chelsea v Liverpool, City v Villa, or Arsenal v Reading (Zelem scored a pen v Reading, which is more than Mead can say!)??
We are far mote ruthless this season then our rivals have been, hence why we have the best GD in the whole league, and sit top of the table.
Not sure what last season has to do with this season, as last season is irrelevant, as we have had a huge overhaul of players, both in and out since then, so trying to look so what happened in last season's games/results is a pretty pointless exercise to do.
Last season we didn't have the chance to call upon Leon, Parris, Garcia, and Le Tiss for example.
So I am looking forward to facing the teams below us in the table (which is everyone!), as it is up to them to try to a) stop us from scoring, and then b) finding a way past the best CB partnership in the league, and then c) trying to get past the best goalkeeper in the league Mary Earps....
So our opponents have far more issues to deal with, then we do with them.
It is them that should be far more worried about us, then vice-versa.
That isn't to say that we should get complacent, heck no, but it is to say, that there are a lot of positives about this squad, and that we should look to go into games, not fearing who we are playing, but knowing that we are strong and good enough to win any game, against any opponent.
That isn't to suggest that we will win every game, we won't, that simply isn't possible, but that shouldn't mean we can't have confidence before games of doing very well.
