For Lauren Smith the mission remains the same - stick to the principles and process and the results will come. It’s a method that led Bristol City to finish third in the Women’s Championship last season after a total overhaul and rebuild of the squad in the wake of relegation from the WSL.
However, that impressive restructuring and the consistency in which they remained in the higher echelons in the division, coupled with the relative calm of a “normal” pre-season this time around, means that expectations can only be significantly higher.
Whereas last year was about establishing a new culture and identity in the squad after what had been a sizeable reset, 12 months on Smith has a largely settled squad and one that knows their roles, as they prepare for their season opener at Coventry City today (kick-off:14:30).
“We want to try, we want to be ambitious with it,” Smith said, “The thing with the Championship, I find, is everyone is changing every year. Players move within the league but clubs get better infrastructure and more funding and that can take a club from the bottom to the top. So we won’t know who’s the best in our league until a couple of games have gone by; I expect Crystal Palace to be very tough, Charlton Athletic to be in and around it.
“So, yes, absolutely we want to be ambitious and we finished third last season so we want to be better than that but you can only control what you can control. This season it’ll be a lot closer at the top, unlike last season when Liverpool kind of raced to the top; lots of teams will be taking points off each other.
"I wouldn’t mind being the team at the top all the time but that’s not how it’s going to go. It’s game-by-game, really. Everyone in the squad will want to go after it (promotion)."
Last year, Smith began life as City head coach with two senior players, five academy members and no goalkeeper, which led to a frenzied recruitment drive as 11 new individuals were brought into the building. They needed time to mesh together, understanding what’s expected of themselves and to establish some sense of team chemistry.
It’s been very different in 2022 with some tweaks made in terms of personnel: Jamaica international Shania Hayles has arrived from Aston Villa, American international defender Victoria Bruce steps in following the departure of Satara Murray, Republic of Ireland international Chloe Mustaki has also been added to the backline, plus goalkeeper Fran Bentley’s loan move from Manchester United has been made into a permanent - but the bulk of last year’s team, and many of the key individuals remain at the High Performance Centre.
“We’ve had a really good pre-season and I’m really pleased with it. The squad we recruited and built in the off-season - how much they’ve settled in and upped the competition level phenomenally,” Smith added. “And on the pitch which really got our principles across and we’ve had four really good games.
“It allowed me to get a head start whereas last year, we had already started pre-season when we were still bringing players in. This year we were more specific about who we were going after and the reasons why, so it allowed us to be more focused with the recruitment. We did a lot of business in May and June, so it allowed us to be really focused.
“Two completely different years, to be honest - because last year I started with two in the side and five academy players and no goalkeeper; this year we’ve been in full squad for the whole of it, so incomparable, really.”
One of City’s major strengths last season was their goalscoring. Only champions Liverpool scored more than the Robins’ 43 and with Abi Harrison - who won the league golden boot with 17 last term - signing a new contract in March, the Scot is very much in position to lead the line once again but beyond just her ability to find the back of the net.
“Abi was phenomenal last season,” Smith said. “At lots of things, not just scoring goals. She’s a true competitor, she’ll give everything she possibly can. She brings more than just the ball in the back of the net and that’s why we were so keen to get her a longer deal. It’s how she leads, how she drives players and I just hope that she has a very good season.
“But there are other players who can support that. We’ve added Shania Hayles and Ffion Morgan is firing at the moment, so she’ll have support around her. But she’s had a great pre-season and there are no question marks around her.”
Another interesting addition has been Smith strengthening her backroom staff with decorated former England international and Arsenal defender Anita Asante, who announced her retirement at the end of last season and spent the summer on commentary duty during the European Championships.
Smith knows Asante through the coaching programme at the Football Association of Wales and says the 37-year-old will add considerable experience on matchdays, but her primary area of focus will be in individual player development, allowing the head coach to supervise the overall picture.
“It’s the perfect match, really.” Smith added. “Everyone in our staff team has purpose and has ambition and almost their own projects. She’s going to do a lot of our individual player development, working with players on their technique.
"We haven’t got anyone with half her experience in terms of playing so what she can teach the players in terms of her experiences of playing Champions League and for England, it just adds a whole new level and the players hang off her every word.”
