After a difficult 2022/23, Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping that new manager bounce and a promising transfer window will spare them another WSL relegation battle.
Ahead of a new campaign, Spurs have a lot to prove if they are to claim a position nearer the top of the WSL table once again. Yet in having a quieter summer following the impact of last season hanging over their heads, this may take a while to achieve.
In unexpectedly struggling so much, facing a relegation battle and narrowly avoiding playing this season in the Championship, Spurs possibly have not rebuilt enough and not deepened their talent enough to reclaim a spot in the top five – like they achieved in 2021/22.
However, with new boss Robert Vilahamn stepping in to lead the side, there is hope of improving on what eventually turned into a ninth place finish.
Last season was one Spurs fans will all want to forget. Fighting relegation at the wrong end of the table, Tottenham are arguably no longer considered part of the top half of the WSL pack.
With Rehanne Skinner failing to turn things around following an alarming streak of nine straight losses, she was relieved of her duties. It left assistant coach Vicky Jepson in interim charge, managing to save the team from relegation. Yet it was a battle and a half.
Spurs also suffered with players missing – Ellie Brazil, Kyah Simon and Kit Graham were all sidelined with ACL injuries – reducing depth and leaving them with minimal options as the season progressed.
Bringing in Bethany England during the January transfer window ultimately changed the trajectory for the London team and saved the Lilywhites from slipping into the Women’s Championship.
Star player
Signing in January for a £250,000, Bethany England revolutionised Spurs last season, saving them from relegation by scoring 12 goals in 12 games. Her prolific record and wealth of experience have been key for Spurs as they now enter out of a rocky road.
However, England will be on the sidelines for a period of the season following hip surgery, an indication of her lack of minutes for the Lionesses over the course of the World Cup.
Nevertheless, England, being named new skipper ahead of the season will have a direct impact on the team’s performance, with her leadership present around the club. When she is back on the pitch, England will no doubt be netting goals left, right and centre, whether to help pull Spurs out of a rough patch or propel them to climb the table in the last few months of the campaign.
One to watch
Grace Clinton signed for Manchester United in 2022 but spent the second half of last season on loan to Bristol City, helping the Championship side earn promotion to the WSL.
Ahead of this campaign, Clinton made the move to Spurs on loan and impressed during the north London side’s pre-season fixtures.
The 20-year-old is poised to do wonders for Tottenham as they aim to avoid a relegation battle. With England out of contention for a few months, Clinton is in prime position to show off all she can do.
After a poor run of form, Rehanne Skinner bid farewell to Spurs with assistant coach Vicky Jepson stepping in. With the entire Spurs club, men and women, going through a change and rebrand, Robert Vilahamn was brought in to lead the women’s team, hoping to regain their status as a top-table side.
Arriving from BK Hacken, Vilahamn had success in Sweden but wanted a change, noting the new management and development on the men’s side enticed him to take on the women’s team.
Ahead of his debut season, the Swede believes Spurs’ plan should not be trying to win the league but building on the positives they showed last season, regain some form and develop weekly
In
Out
A promising window for Spurs, the team managed to rebuild after a struggle last season, bringing in some new and exciting talent to bolster the side, including Clinton and Swiss defender Luana Buhler.
With several outgoings, the retention of the majority of their players, like England, Rosella Ayane, Kit Graham and Ashleigh Neville, is probably the biggest success for the team heading into the season.
Whilst Spurs will likely have a better run of form than last season, are no longer the team in contention for the top five and will be focused on finishing as close to the top six as possible.
With a new manager bounce, this will likely help Spurs finish ahead of their ninth-place finish last season; however, with other teams also growing exponentially, the lack of depth in the side poses a big risk for Tottenham that they will once again be ending the campaign towards the bottom of the pack.
