SUFC Women 2023/24 - Player by player review
Thoughts and an out-of-10 rating for 20 players who featured for Sheffield United Women in 2023/24
Twenty players played over 200 minutes for United this season; in this post I’ll give some brief thoughts on all of them and how they got on in 2023/24, and give an out-of-10 rating for each of them.
A quick note on the ratings - I try to do these in a way that factors in how much a player contributed. If someone only played a handful of games, then unless they did something daft like scoring in all of them or turning a game on its head, they’re probably only going to be eligible for a middling score (eg, 5/10).
Players who also made at least one appearance but fell beneath my self-imposed 200 minute threshold are: Eva Butler, Grace Foy, Juliet Adebowale-Arimoro, Chene Muir, Tilly Bristow, Olivia Edwards – and of course, Maddy Cusack.
Appearance and goal stats cover all competitions (so including Conti Cup and FA Cup) unless specified otherwise, and are taken from Playmakerstats.com.
Fran Stenson, GK – 21 appearances, 3 clean sheets
Stenson re-joined United on a permanent deal last summer after spending the second half of the previous season on loan from Arsenal, and she continued her impressive form into this campaign. The numbers aren’t gaudy, with just a handful of clean sheets and 32 goals conceded in her 21 appearances in all comps – but they don’t tell the full story.
For a lot of the season, United did quite a poor job of protecting Stenson who ended up compiling an impressive highlight reel of saves – particularly in the early part of the season when United, frequently behind, would be pushing for an equaliser and leaving big gaps at the back. Her saves-per-game numbers were 6th in the Championship.
I think she’s one of the better keepers I’ve seen in the Championship this season, with only a rare handful of mistakes on the ledger and an ability to sweep up behind her defence that few others have demonstrated. She also got her first call-up to the England U23 squad this season, starting a game against Spain where she saved a penalty.
Rating: 8/10
Bethan Davies, GK – 3 appearances, 0 clean sheets
Davies moved into a back-up role this season with the permanent arrival of Stenson, and only made a handful of appearances as she unfortunately picked up an injury at the same time as United’s number one. It’s unclear if she’ll be happy enough as a back-up again in 2024/25 – she’s only 26, and appears to have been involved with the U21 setup this season, but Stenson’s form would certainly appear to be an obstacle to her starting many senior games here next season.
6/10
Eleanor Heeps, GK – 3 appearances, 0 clean sheets
Heeps was a short-term loan from Spurs after both Stenson and Davies went down with injury, although as it happens she only ended up playing three times (twice in the Conti Cup) as the stop-start nature of the Championship fixture list gave Stenson enough time to recover. Heeps was solid in a win at Watford and, while she had a difficult first-half against a powerful Villa attack that included Rachel Daly and Ebony Salmon, she kept the score semi-respectable in the second half with a string of excellent saves.
5/10
Rachel Brown RWB / RCB – 25 appearances, 1 goal
One of the standout players of the season, Brown got better week by week and fully deserved her Scotland U23 recognition throughout the campaign (she and Charlotte Newsham are both in the squad for a pair of friendlies with Denmark at the end of the month). Energetic and tenacious at RWB – chipping in with a trio of assists in the league – I thought she also filled in really nicely as the right-sided centre-back when United initially switched to a back three.
It’s by no means her natural position – she’s not the biggest player, compared to eg Newsham and Molly Graham – but she stuck to attackers like glue and was often in the right place for a timely block or clearance (she made the joint-most interceptions per game of any defender in the league, according to SofaScore). Her best moment owed more to movement than height, as she met a corner against eventual champions Crystal Palace to steer in the opening goal of a 2-0 win.
8/10
Charlotte Newsham LCB, LB – 25 appearances, 1 goal
A really solid campaign from the 24-year-old, who once again showed her versatility in playing left-back and centre-back as part of a four and really excelling on the left side of a back three. One of the more two-footed players in the squad, her passing out from the back was a big part of United’s patient build-up play and she also got forward well and chipped in with a goal in the win at Reading.
She’s a hard player to write too many words about: a very good defender who kept errors to a minimum, and started 21 out of 22 league games. Lock her in to the starting XI for 2024/25.
7/10
Tara Bourne, CB, RCB – 23 appearances, 3 goals
Bourne looked like a coup of a signing last summer, joining from Manchester United and with a pedigree of playing for England U23s – and she’s kept her place in that squad during this season. She started a little slowly as United ran through a bit of a rotating cast of centre-backs alongside her, but was outstanding in the second half of the season.
She’s basically the lynchpin in United’s attempts to build from the back: a really good passer of the ball, and the one that starts most of the Blades’ attacks. Yes, she lacks a little of the physicality of Newsham and Graham, but she’s fast, a good tackler and positionally excellent. She also became a real set-piece goal threat, bagging against Watford, Reading and Durham in the final few months of the season. Still just 20, it’s exciting to think how good she could become.
8/10
Molly Graham, CB – 20 appearances, 1 goal
Graham’s season was possibly a victim of the managerial disruption that went on through the campaign: she was a day one starter but then dropped out of the team for months and only played in the cups. However, when United switched to a back three, she was plonked into the heart of it and played superbly the rest of the way. She brings much-needed height to the back line and is a good defender in her own right.
She’s another one of United’s young core, and the Blades tightened up significantly once she came back into the team – yet I still feel she might be the odd one out if the next manager decides to move away from a three at the back. Switching at all feels like it would be a mistake given how well Graham, Bourne and Newsham complement each other, but a new boss may think differently.
7/10
Charley Docherty, RB, LB, WB, RW – 15 appearances, 0 goals
Academy product Docherty played here, there and everywhere in 2023/24 and always did a solid job for the team. She only started twice in the league but was frequently turned to as a sub to replace tiring legs across multiple positions, and also filled in well as an attacker at times.
I like her a lot as this kind of role player – she’s someone who could clearly go at full-tilt a lot longer than her cameo appearances suggest (she was superb in the FA Cup tie against Spurs, against superior opposition). It was only really Rachel Brown’s excellence and consistency at right wingback that stopped Docherty playing more, and she’ll surely continue to be a useful part of the squad in 2024/25.
6/10
Jodie Hutton, LB, LWB – 23 appearances, 2 goals
One of the players I’ve most enjoyed watching this year, Hutton took a few games to get going but then became a powerhouse left wingback with a brilliant cross. She was one of United’s most impactful attackers this season, racking up five assists – largely from set-pieces – and finishing 7th in the Championship for chances created per game (via SofaScore).
She scored a fantastic curling strike at Southampton which was nominated for the Championship’s goal of the season, and another one where a wide freekick swirled straight into the net. It’s hard to overstate how much of an asset her set-piece delivery was, particularly corners as she hit the same zone at the back post almost every time and saw Bourne and Goodwin in particular fill their boots.
9/10
Fallon Connolly-Jackson, LB, LWB – 9 appearances, 0 goals
Connolly-Jackson made her senior debut this season at just 17 years old – and did really, really well. Hutton was the standout left wingback but when she went out with injury and suspension, the Blades youngster deputised superbly. She’s obviously still right at the start of her career but this was an incredibly encouraging first step into senior football – she’s also been a regular with Scotland’s U19s this season, and a big part of United’s cup-winning U21 side. Definitely one to watch.
6/10
Sophie Barker, CM – 23 appearances, 0 goals
Skipper Barker was virtually ever-present for the Blades (she was subbed off in injury time twice but otherwise played every possible minute of league football). She’s essentially been the heartbeat of the club throughout a challenging season, with her dual role as Academy Manager (the success of the U21s is solid evidence that she’s doing a fine job). On the field I thought she finished the season really strongly, as a holding midfielder who also got into scoring positions a couple of times – she “scored” in the win at London City but it was later ruled an own goal.
Probably my most controversial take this season is that I’ve sometimes wondered if her role in the side is one that could be upgraded on (I don’t feel good about writing that, given the above). I like the balance she has with Ella Kinzett, and Barker is one of those midfielders that gets herself in the right place defensively – but I wonder if someone who is a bit more press-resistant would make a big difference to helping United take that next step.
This isn’t solely on Barker, as United don’t have many who can do that whole receive, turn, dribble away from pressure, find a teammate thing that the very, very best midfielders do. But it’s probably her weakest area at the moment and it often sees United turn over possession quite quickly after winning it back.
She’s 33 now, has demonstrable success leading the academy this season, and that managerial position at United is still vacant… just putting it out there (again).
6/10
Ella Kinzett, CM – 24 appearances, 0 goals
Kinzett joined from Man Utd’s academy last summer, and the teenage midfielder had a good first full season at this level (she had been playing for Burnley in the National League the season before).
No goal involvements is something to look for her to improve in 2024/25 season, although she did get into attacking positions regularly, hit the target a lot, and some of her progressive passing started plenty of counterattacks for United. She’s one of the players I’ve watched this season and thought she has the most “tools” of someone who could be really good in a year or two – she’s athletic, can dribble, pass, and finds space well.
I said earlier on in the season that she has the makings of a proper number 8 – I’m already looking forward to seeing how she gets on next season.
7/10
Alanta Brown, CM – 17 appearances, 0 goals
Brown started ten league games this season, stepping up a level from the National League where she’d been playing for coach Jonathan Morgan at Burnley. Right now she’s pretty much a pure defensive midfielder – solid defensively, but very little offensive output. When United switched to a back three – with wingbacks in Hutton and Rachel Brown that are good defenders themselves – it meant United didn’t really need another DM in the middle alongside Barker. Brown is still young – she was a teenager upon signing last summer – so might play a bigger role next season.
5/10
Ash Hodson, MF, FWD – 26 appearances, 3 goals
No one made more appearances in all competitions for United last season than Hodson, a new signing from Liverpool. She was one of the Blades’ most productive attackers in the early months, netting a lovely goal against London City Lionesses and also scoring against Reading and Charlton. But it was her versatility that brought the most value to the side in the last half of the season, with her ability to play wingback (on either side) giving the Blades cover during Hutton’s absence.
She’s a decent dribbler and one of a handful of attackers who can really pick a pass in the opposition’s final third – my one criticism of her is that I wish she was more involved in United’s build-up play, which so often seems to rely on Izzy Goodwin and Bex Rayner. But this was a good first season in red and white.
7/10
Bex Rayner, MF, FWD – 22 appearances, 2 goals
The Blades’ most creative player, Rayner was a joy to watch this season – if Izzy Goodwin hadn’t scored virtually a goal a game, she’d be a shoe-in for the club’s player of the season honours. She only scored twice – including a 25-yard injury time rocket at Charlton on the opening day – but chipped in with five assists and the second-most chances created in the whole Championship.
The stat that really underlines her brilliance, though, is successful dribbles per game: she averaged 6, and only one other player in the league averaged more than 3.9. It’s not even like she constantly tries to take defenders on and ends up losing it as much as she keeps possession: her dribble success rate of 75% is in the upper echelon of her peers.
I have genuine concerns that she might not be playing for us next season (she’s a Manchester United fan, for what it’s worth). The Blades rejected a bid from Durham for her in January, but a WSL call might be too difficult to turn down at this stage of her career. If this was indeed her last season in red and white, she signed off with a superb one.
9/10
Tamara Wilcock, MF, FWD – 17 appearances, 0 goals
It’s been a gradual return from a serious injury for Wilcock, whose 13 league appearances this season encompassed a mere 109 minutes – 70 of which came in the penultimate game of the season. She played a bigger role in the Conti Cup, although United struggled in a group that included WSL side Aston Villa and one of the Championship’s top sides, Sunderland. Still young – she made her debut aged 17 – so hopefully will get more minutes in 2024/25.
5/10
Sophie Haywood, FWD – 22 appearances, 1 goal
Haywood ended the previous season in excellent goalscoring form, but didn’t really roll that forward into 2023/24. She scored in the battling 3-2 FA Cup defeat at Spurs, but that plus an assist at Blackburn were her only goal involvements. That said, she was a handy part of the squad – particularly when Goodwin and Sigsworth were unavailable – and one of those players who never stopped running. I think, in a season that must have been incredibly difficult for the whole squad mentally, there’s a lot of value in having a senior figure lead the way like she did.
6/10
Ellie May, FWD – 7 appearances, 1 goal
Youngster May was only a fringe player this season after joining United from National League side Burnley last summer. She netted her first Blades goal in the Conti Cup game with Sunderland in November, but most of her appearances were restricted to that competition. She did get a couple of cameos in the league in the last two fixtures, including an eye-catching 20 minutes in the final day. One we might be seeing more of in 2024/25.
5/10
Jess Sigsworth, FWD – 19 appearances, 3 goals
I expected a bit more from Sigsworth, who is a multiple Golden Boot winner at Championship level and joined from WSL side Leicester in the summer. She was coming off an ACL injury that restricted her to just one appearance in 2022/23, and her Blades return was disrupted by a (highly, highly avoidable) red card in the second game. The Women’s Championship fixture list being what it is, that meant we didn’t see her again in the league for almost six weeks.
She looked good in partnership with Izzy Goodwin around the turn of the year, laying on a goal for her strike partner at Watford and also netting herself against Durham (twice) and eventual finalists Spurs in the FA Cup. I never quite felt like she had a settled role in the side, as playing out wide seemed to marginalise her involvement in build-up play. She was also a bit unlucky in front of goal, with opposition keepers seeming to save their best stuff for whenever Sigsworth found space for a shot.
I’m hoping she’ll be a bigger goalscoring threat next season, as Goodwin really could use the support – Sigsworth is still only 29, so hopefully another preseason removed from her ACL injury will see her kick on.
6/10
Izzy Goodwin, FWD – 24 appearances, 15 goals
I wrote a lot of words about Goodwin back in April after what turned out to be her last appearance of the season due to injury, so I invite you to check those out if you haven’t already. She deservedly picked up the club’s Player of the Season award and was within a whisker – or an injured ankle, really – of finishing as the top-scorer in the women’s Championship, with all 15 of her goals arriving in her 19 league games.
She’s rapid – defenders and keepers constantly seemed surprised by how fast she was – and hits the target with a remarkable regularity (71% of her shots this season, which is stupidly high for a player who also took the most shots in the league). An absolute gem of a striker at this level, and this was only her first full season of senior football. Hopefully her recovery goes well over the summer and she’s ready to go when 2024/25 kicks off, as there’s every chance she could go one better and bag that Golden Boot award next time round.
10/10
