Everton Women: Can they close the gap in the top three in the WSL?

Everton has recruited “winners” for the summer transfer window – but is that enough to crush the women’s Super League’s huge top three?

They have been busy this summer and brought in nine new players, including midfielder Aurora Galli from Juventus and striker Toni Duggan from Atletico Madrid.

What do these new additions offer? What is needed to fill the gap?

And what is considered a successful campaign for Everton, who will start his season at home in Manchester City – live on BBC One at 1.15pm BST – on Saturday?

What was missing last season?

Everton started the 2020-21 season in great shape, winning five matches in a row in all races and reserving their place in the delayed FA Cup final after winning Chelsea in the last eight matches.

But it was their only win against the top three teams last season, and the losses to Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea came in both the home and away leagues.

They were also defeated in both games by fourth-placed Manchester United.

“We have to take points from the best teams and beat them,” Kirk told BBC Sport. “This is how we really fix the gap because it has the biggest impact.

“But it wasn’t necessarily that we didn’t take points out of the top four, but what we would probably call dropping stupid points.

“We tied with Birmingham, Brighton and Reading at home, which seemed to have dropped. That’s six points right away.”

Kirk says “only time will tell” whether Everton will be able to make up the difference this season, but believes everything is fine so they can go a step further.

“It’s up to me now,” he added. “The club has supported me and given me the opportunity to bring in top players. I now need to make them a team, get them to play well and make sure we get results.”

What has been the recruitment of Everton?

In addition to Gall and Duggan, Everton has signed French Kenza Dal, Swedish Olympic champion Anna Anvegard, Nathalie Bjorn and Hanna Bennison, German defender Leonie Maier and goalkeepers Courtney Brosnan and Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir.

Kirk says the recruitment model was aimed at 24-30 year olds with international experience and a proven track record.

“I’m really happy with the team’s turnover. We’ve made some really good additions,” he added.

“We identified a few key areas in terms of player profiles. Most of the players we recruited fit into these categories, so we’ve succeeded.”

Is the club on the right track?

When Kirk conquered In December 2018, Everton was at the end of the WSL table but avoided relegation at the end of the campaign.

They finished sixth and fifth in the next two seasons – as well as reaching the FA Cup final in 2020 – after the club’s increased investment.

“I think we’re a lot ahead of where I thought I was,” Kirk said. – To be honest, I never would have thought we were at this level when it comes to recruiting such players.

“When I came to Everton, they were at the top of the league, but they were ambitious. Until I got the results and the club backed it with money and resources, it was just words from both sides.

– I probably thought Everton had to be a springboard between my position and entry into the Champions League, but I don’t think it has to be a springboard anymore.

“It is a real, achievable goal to be in the top three. We are constantly reviewing our practices, improving our staff and our environment.

“It’s almost as important as your budget.”

Ambitious goals and a winning mentality

Kirk says the level of WSL is improving every year, but Everton’s minimum requirement is that it ends above last season.

This means that the top four goals in WSL or silverware are needed, but he believes new players want more.

“For me, it’s a minimum. You have to improve year after year. If I’m still here for three or four years, it should mean we win the league if we improve every year,” Kirk said.

“One place above where we were before … am I happy with it? Probably not. This team is really ambitious and I’ve recruited a lot of winners.

“If I got up in front of the team and said‘ let’s be happy with the third or fourth ’, it won’t wash with them.

“They want to get silverware. I still think we have so much untapped potential on the team, so I never put a roof on where we could be.

“Can we win the league? Of course we can. Is winning the league very difficult? Of course it will be. We have to strive for the top and see where this takes us.”