Can someone please explain to me why we would recall a player from a loan and then immediately loan her back out? Not a criticism or anything: I just don't understand how this loaning system works.
Manchester United Women | Silly Season | Summer/winter 2025
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She'll play a higher level of football in Mexico than at Palace so it could be much better for her development.
Oh, I see. That means better for us, too. Thanks.
My thinking (hope) is that, despite Arsenal collecting Lionesses, Stanway is a northern lass, played for Blackburn and City, and is good friends with Tooney. Offer her what Arsenal could offer and she may just choose us, despite the noise.
Emma Watson off to Mexico on loan? Ok, I'm surprised by this one, though I'm not surprised that she won't be staying with us having come back from Palace. I'm not sure if Emma has family or other ties to Mexico, or if she just liked the idea of playing there.
So she won't be adding to our "young players in WSL" minutes this year. The scorecard currently:
United's 90 minutes are all from Safia Middleton Patel, who took over while Phallon was injured.
I wasn't very aware of this. Are we obliged to ensure there is a high number of minutes for young players in the WSL?
No obligation of course and if it was just one season it would have no real significance. However it's been true for several seasons now. Basically no one has come through from our youth system since Ella Toone.
Do we have a worse youth academy than we had ten years ago? Seems odd, because our teams win trophies at that level. We've also been buying/poaching talent from rival clubs at 18, including players who've already played WSL or international football to play in our U19/21 teams.
There is always a leap from youth/reserve football to adult pro but it's a leap that happens at lots of clubs - including our rivals in WSL.
It's a leap that we expect to be possible in men's football as well. It's been part of the United story for generations. Sometimes it's meant the wildcard late sub - like Macheda. Sometimes it's been the wildcard starter - like Rashford, who'd scarcely played for the reserves.
Question is - what's missing for United women?
It's an interesting move for her and it's to a top team. Currently top of the league in fact. I hope she'll get the minutes she needs and has a great time there.
The Mexican league is developing fast and a number of top Spanish players like Jenni Hermosa and of course, our own Lucia Garcia, have moved there over the past couple of years. France's le Sommer moved a few months ago after a long career with Lyon. Emma's case is different of course, young and Scottish - I think she's a rarity!
Not sure if we're one of the clubs interested. Extra depth at CB?
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It was such a relief to see Millie back against Burnley, even though she probably isn't first choice and centre half now. We do desperately need numbers in defence, but I think it is worth noting that both Millie and Dom are starting to be on the older side - I would love to see an early 20s year old up and coming star join us to grow and eventually partner Maya.
That and midfielder, PLEASE!! Feel like both men and women are crying out for the same!!
Yeah, I think a backup midfielder is a bigger priority personally.
However, there are some rumours linking us to a CB and directly to Landenberger and I think she fits the age profile that makes sense for that position. Turner has injury problems, Janssen is over 30, Rabjohn has some links with Celtic recently, and some of the others are not ready for the first team (at least I think so). Makes sense to get someone younger in who can rotate with the options we have, especially one with potential of becoming 1st choice later.
I just saw that Arsenal are in talks with Ona Batlle about signing her this summer.
I’ll be gutted if and when that happens.
I’ll be gutted if and when that happens.