It’s safe to say that the start of the 2022/23 campaign has been less than ideal for Gareth Taylor and his ever-changing Man City side.
Whether that poor start was a culmination of what happened late in the transfer market with the departures of Lucy Bronze , Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway and the new players having to take time settling in is certainly a factor to consider.
The feeling of some City fans on social media though is the worry that Taylor’s managerial suitability in the long-term may not fit what the supporters want in the present.
In all fairness to Taylor, his side hit three past Aston Villa and ended empty handed whilst they should have really capitalised on their first half domination against reigning FA WSL Champions Chelsea in their 2-0 loss at Kingsmeadow on matchday two.
Leicester City this weekend should result in three points on the board for the Citizens but if not, scrutiny and questions may start to ramp up on Taylor and his management team.
Not only does he have pressure on him from the fans and hierarchy at the club but also some of the players with their international situations, more specifically with the Lionesses statuses hanging in the balance ahead of next year’s FIFA’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Euro 2022 hero Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp are expected to be main starters for City during the current WSL season. But what about the likes of Demi Stokes and Esme Morgan?
Both made Sarina Wiegman’s latest Lionesses squad for the USA and Czech Republic games and the pairing played their part in different ways as England kept a clean sheet in the most recent affair at the Amex Stadium.
Stokes started from the start but the 21-year-old Morgan made her international debut from the bench when Chelsea’s Millie Bright was replaced for the Man City star.
“I think I need a nap to be honest to let it all sink in,” Morgan told in-house media immediately after the full-time whistle. “I can’t quite believe it. I really wasn’t expecting it, so when I got told to warm up, I got a bit giggly and really excited.”
The challenge now for Morgan is to continue impressing at club level with City to ensure the best possible chance of being included in the travelling squad for the next major tournament.
Taylor can also play his part in this mission. Having played 90 minutes in the opening Villa defeat, winning four tackles and completing two interceptions, as per FBref.com, but not been given the nod for the Chelsea game highlights Morgan’s current role in this City side.
Having been injured for large parts of last season, perhaps her club manager is easing her back in to ensure no ‘de ja vu’ re-occurring on the injury front. Whether or not she starts against Leicester City this weekend is something to watch out for.
Needing regular game time in East Manchester to consolidate her Lionesses status remains of imperative importance to the player who signed a new contract with her club back in the new year.
Regardless of what Taylor decides to do going forward this term, there’s no doubt just how much he values the potential of his number 14.
“Really please, obviously we missed Esme from the beginning of this season,” he said when reflecting on the player in question when she penned a new deal. “But I think in my time here, I’ve been really impressed with her.
“I was expecting big things from her from this season [2021/22], especially with the way she adapted to many positions last season.
“I think her all round performances have been great. She’s certainly someone that we felt was a star of the future, we still believe that.
“And I think this contract represents that with her and hopefully we can get her back on the pitch soon, but yes it’s great news for the club and we are pleased to have her with us.”
Perhaps her adaptability could be a key skill going forward with this predicament. We know how much Wiegman loves to utilise the versatility of key stars across her front line like a Hemp or Kelly. Can Morgan represent the same type of player in the manager’s eyes but in a defensive capacity ahead of Australia and New Zealand 2023?
How many Man City Women’s players will make Sarina Wiegman’s squad for next year’s Women’s World Cup? Leave your predictions in the comments section below!
