(NB: this is just the prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)
There is a new face in the dugout for Aston Villa this season but, in truth, other than a change of leadership things seem to be fairly stable. After Carla Ward’s surprise decision to leave her role at the end of last season, the announcement of Robert de Pauw as her replacement in June was a relatively swift conclusion to the managerial hunt.
While maintaining the spine of the team provides stability, the fact remains that a number of players are in the twilight of their careers and questions over whether they can rediscover past form remains. It is perhaps why De Pauw has looked to bring in younger players to freshen up his squad. The Dutch winger Chasity Grant caught the eye with her performances for Ajax last season while the arrival of Missy Bo Kearns brings in an energetic midfielder who is seeking to break into the senior England squad.
Aston Villa have not historically had the largest budget to work with in the WSL. In the past, they have relied on shrewd recruitment from Ward to be able to build a squad with quality and experience. Anxieties remain about how the club’s board see their role in the league as well as their ability to produce and retain young talent. The sale of Laura Blindkilde Brown late in the January window and both Daphne van Domselaar and Olivia McLoughlin this summer have raised concerns about whether they are becoming a feeder club.
It was announced after the end of the 2023-24 campaign that Villa Park would become the home of the women’s side for the coming season. De Pauw’s side will play all 11 of their home league fixtures at the 42,640-capacity stadium, a move that shows the club’s ambition to grow their fanbase. They will continue to play cup ties in Walsall, their home since 2020.
