Three burning questions
What's United's best defence? Do we have a Plan B? And who will help Isobel Goodwin score some goals?
Starting this week’s newsletter with a PSA: United’s next game, at home to London City Lionesses, has been moved from this Sunday to Saturday, 13:00 KO.
While this means I’ll unfortunately miss the game (I’ll be at Fulham), I just want to take a moment to commend United, London City Lionesses, and whichever other bodies came together to make this change – as the game has been moved to allow former teammates of Maddy Cusack to attend and honour her memory.
It was incredibly heartwarming to see those same friends of Maddy leading their own tributes during the last round of fixtures. Mia Enderby made her WSL debut and dedicated Liverpool’s win to her late friend, with a number of current and former United players in attendance at the Emirates Stadium. Georgia Walters dedicated her goal for Blackburn to Maddy, and Nina Wilson led a tribute at her new club Hibernian. There were presumably plenty more that didn’t catch my eye over the weekend, and to every one of them I say thank you, and our thoughts are with you as well as Maddy’s family.
Not heading to Fulham on Saturday? Then I encourage you to get down to Bramall Lane to support United Women and be part of what’s sure to be an emotional, important dedication to the memory of such a well-loved part of the Blades community.
No game to write about this week, so instead I’ve got three burning questions that I’m hoping to see answered once United resume action this Saturday.
1) What is our best backline?
United have only played four league games this Championship season but have already shuffled through a whole heap of different defences. By my count, no fewer than six defenders have already been used as part of the back four, with only one – right-back Rachel Brown – used in the same position throughout.
Charlotte Newsham is the only other player to start every game in the backline, but she has spent time at left-back as well as centre-back, either as a direct replacement for Jodie Hutton or to allow the latter to be played further forward (where, to my eyes, she’s looked a better player).
United could use settling on a first-choice defence ASAP, although they did bag a first clean sheet of the season last time out. Brown seems locked in at right-back and is improving game by game. Tara Bourne’s passing is a boon although she probably needs the physicality of Newsham (or Molly Graham) next to her, so left-back is the main quandary for Jonathan Morgan. Fallon Connolly-Jackson’s rise to the first team has some wildcard potential.
2) What’s Plan B?
United have started the season with an emphasis on patient build-up play, with Bourne to the fore and Sophie Barker dropping from midfield to pick up possession. While it can be pleasing on the eye, I can’t honestly say that it’s worked. Even setting aside the fact that most of the goals the Blades have conceded have come from cheap giveaways in their own half, there have been times – particularly when trailing – where this patient build-up has just been meat and drink to teams protecting a lead.
That’s borne out by the numbers: United have kept things relatively tight, conceding just four times in four games (joint-3rd fewest) but have only scored a paltry three goals themselves, which is ahead of only bottom side Lewes. Only Sunderland have seen fewer total goals scored in their games than the 1.75 goals per 90 when United take the pitch.
I’d like to see more evidence of a Plan B from the Blades for when things aren’t going their way. The squad has plenty of forward options (even if only one has fired so far – more on that in a second) and has tried out a number of supporting cast in midfield alongside the deep-lying Barker and the more attacking Bex Rayner.
Can the team go more direct in games that are proving a struggle? Or switch it up to a back three and get Brown and Hutton to play much higher? Or something else entirely? It’s been a tricky start to the season so I imagine we’ll see the answer to this one before too long.
3) Are we just going to hope Isobel Goodwin scores all the goals or…?
Not since Rayner curled in a beauty in the season opener has a United player not named Izzy Goodwin found the back of the net. And while Goodwin has been superb (this newsletter has basically been a Goodwin fan account so far), surely we can’t be relying on her to do it all?
From what I’ve seen, she probably could do it all – but if United are going to climb the league and challenge at the top, it would be handy to have others chipping in.
Sophie Haywood has appeared in every game but hasn’t really impacted one beyond an assist for Goodwin’s opener at Blackburn. Ash Hodson has shown some lovely flashes of skill but has typically been played deeper. Jess Sigsworth’s second stint as a Blade has been derailed thanks to a moment of admittedly-quite-funny madness. Youngsters Juliet Adebowale-Arimoro and Ellie May have only played a handful of minutes to date, while teenage striker Chene Muir underwent ankle surgery last month.
I’d love to see Sigsworth – who I wrote about in the very first edition of this newsletter – get a start once she returns from suspension. Her goal record at this level is elite, and her shot-creating numbers in the WSL – in admittedly limited minutes – were promising.
Either way, United will need more goals from the forwards – or midfield – to climb the table. Or, hope that Goodwin – who’s actually been quite unlucky in front of goal so far – can keep banging them in.
Finally this week, it was great to see Charlotte Newsham and Rachel Brown make their debuts for Scotland U23s, with Fallon Connolly-Jackson – who only made her senior debut for the Blades a few weeks ago – play for Scotland U19s. If you missed it, Tara Bourne was an unused substitute for both of England U23s’ fixtures – congrats again to everyone who got international recognition.
Thanks for reading, and if you’re attending the match at the Lane this Saturday, give them a cheer for me.
Cheers Ben. I'm at Fulham like you, so gutted I can't make it along to pay tribute to Maddy on Saturday.
One player I don't think we've seen the best from yet this season is Bex Rayner. She is really capable of magic on the ball and shows determination to get it back if she loses it. Patient build up in the middle feels like it could be depriving us of those players who can go past the opponent with a bit of skill.