Creating a clear footballing identity and a positive dressing room culture have been two of the main ambitions of new Everton Women manager Brian Sorensen.
He is still the side's 'new' manager - a fact easy to forget when considering the huge overhaul that has taken place since the spring. Sorensen's appointment was confirmed back in April but this weekend's trip to West Ham United will be his first league game in charge of the Blues after a summer of change.
That change was essential for the 42-year-old, who inherited a divided squad that would finish 10th in the 12-team Women's Super League having come close to qualification for the Champions League just a season earlier. It was a traumatic season that saw the sackings of manager Willie Kirk and then his replacement Jean-Luc Vasseur before Chris Roberts and Claire Ditchburn took charge until the end of the campaign.
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A turbulent summer has followed with nine departures from Everton - including those of former captain Danielle Turner, Simone Magill and Poppy Pattinson. Ten players have been brought in, the most recent the teenage forward Giovana Queiroz Costa on loan from Arsenal. Other new signings include Australia international Clare Wheeler, forward Aggie Beever-Jones, Danes Karen and Sara Holmgaard, and Katrine Veje.
For Sorensen, who places significant importance on statistical analysis, the Dutch striker Katja Snoeijs was a key signing due to her goalscoring ability while Beever-Jones was on his list of targets "from day one" and Karen Holmgaard a crucial component due to her attitude and dedication, as well as ability. Costa, who signed this week, was the missing piece of the jigsaw he has spent the last few months assembling. He said: "Gio was the last piece of the puzzle that made it perfect in terms of the numbers we have and also the diversity we have in our attack, so I am super happy with everything that happened and I think we have a really competitive team. It's a balanced team in age and experience but we also have different positions so we are well rounded. It is the right balance so overall I am really happy with what we have."
Getting the personnel right has been key for Sorensen, a UEFA Pro Licence coach since 2015, and as the players have integrated off the pitch, he has been seeking to create an identity on it. Speaking to the ECHO at Finch Farm, he said he wanted his players to be "aggressive, proactive, on the front foot, I want them to keep the ball and want to be in control". He is pragmatic - he acknowledged this season will have its challenges. But he is hopeful his style will be one that not only gets results but also entertains the growing crowds expected to head down to watch the side at Walton Hall Park. Last weekend's season opener against Leicester City was closing in on a sell-out before it was postponed, but the crowds are expected to be back when the Merseyside derby takes place at Anfield next week.
Sorensen said: "I think it is the best way of winning so that is why I do it. For me it is about winning - if we can entertain at the same time then perfect but then there will be some games against the top three or four who are going to be a handful so how do we play those games? We want to show the ability we have but we will maybe have to compromise a bit in certain areas because of the quality we are playing against."
Sorensen signed a two-year deal with Everton, making the move from Fortuna Hjorring. During two stints at the Danish club he led them to titles in 2014 and 2016, securing a domestic double in the latter. Stints at IK Skovbakken and FC Nordsjaelland also brought silverware. Moving to Merseyside was not a "super easy" decision as it meant moving away from his wife Camilla Kur Larsen, who plays for Fortuna in the Danish first division, and their young daughter, Rose. But it is a project he is excited to embark upon - particularly now he is convinced his squad is "united".
On the eve of the new campaign, he said: "I'm really looking forward to getting started. It's been a long pre-season but I'm excited, happy. I think we are in a good place so I can't wait to get going... Now we just have to look forward for this season. I think everybody is motivated. We still have the core of the group together, that was important to me, but we also need numbers in our squad and that is what we tried to add. All around, I am happy. We need to, as a group, win some games and get that confidence back in the team. That is what was missing last year."
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