Season Preview: West Ham
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Matt Beard’s side will enter this season buoyed by a busy summer of transfers and determined to break into the top half of the WSL table.
The Hammers finished seventh last term and have the hardest possible start to the upcoming campaign, travelling across London to face Joe Montemurro’s all-conquering Arsenal.
Despite the departures of experienced England international Claire Rafferty through retirement and defender Ria Percival to Tottenham, the club have adopted an innovative recruitment strategy that has seen them turn to a range of foreign talent.
The Hammers have sought to achieve greater balance within their squad, with goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan arriving from Le Havre and Katharina Baunach and Laura Vetterlein coming in from Wolfsburg and SC Sand to bolster the defence.
Norwegian international defender Cecilie Kvamme has also made the move to the capital from IL Sandviken, adding further reinforcement to a back four that conceded 37 goals last season.
Beard has also sought to enhance his side’s attacking potency as Kenza Dali arrives from Dijon FCO and Martha Thomas follows in Brosnan’s footsteps in signing from Le Havre.
But it is the signing of 18-year-old Jacynta Galabadaarachchi that has caught most fans’ attention, a promising Australian striker who has played for Melbourne City and Perth Glory as well as representing her country’s youth sides.
In addition to the loss of Rafferty’s experience – she played 18 games for England and over 100 for West Ham and Chelsea – the club have also lost top scorer Jane Ross to the promoted Manchester United, Becky Spencer to fellow WSL newcomers Tottenham and Brianna Visalli to Birmingham.
The Hammers’ pre-season confidence may have taken a hit after their 2-1 defeat to Spurs at Rush Green last week, but they will be eager to put that behind them – starting at the home of the champions.
2018-19 Stats Watch
Finish: 7th
Top scorer: Jane Ross (7)
Biggest victory: 5-0 (away to Yeovil)
Heaviest defeat: 7-1 (away to Manchester City)
Key Ins/Outs:
Ins: Courtney Brosnan, Katharina Baunach, Kenza Dali, Jacynta Galabadaarachchi, Martha Thomas, Laura Vetterlein
Outs: Jane Ross, Ria Percival, Rosie Kmita, Claire Rafferty, Lucienne Reichardt, Becky Spencer, Brianna Visalli
Player to watch: Kenza Dali
Dali’s arrival from Dijon will be a signing Hammers fans will hope can inject creativity into a side which struggled for goals last year.
Dali is an experienced customer, making 89 appearances for Paris-Saint Germain between 2011 and 2016 and scoring an impressive 36 goals in the process.
And the attacking midfielder has also been capped 22 times by France, her international expertise hopefully helping to nurture her teammates who have less experience at the highest level.
Hammers fans will be desperate to see Dali link up with the likes of fellow new signings Thomas and Galabadaarachchi, particularly given the summer departure of the clinical Ross.
Dali’s ability to dictate the play and get assists will be likely to play a key role in determining West Ham’s fate this season.
What they said:
Tessel Middag
“We’re ready to push on and achieve more than we did last year. We’re aiming quite high – it’s only our second professional year and there are some clubs who are already established teams, but I think we need to try and establish a winning mentality. We shouldn’t be afraid to play any of the top teams and we can actually beat them all if we work hard. “If we do the right things then I can see us winning against all the top teams, and we’re very excited about playing Arsenal away first game of the season.”
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WSL: Man City v West Ham - watch & text updates
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WSL: Man City v West Ham - watch & text updates
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Live Reporting
By Michael Beardmore
All times stated are UK
Posted at 13:0613:06
‘Great moment for Stanway’
Manchester City 2-0 West Ham
Laura Bassett
Former England defender on BBC Red Button
Great moment for Georgia Stanway on her return from injury with the goal, but brilliant work again from Man City in the build-up.
They just work it and work it around the space on the edge of the box until someone is clear in that position to take the shot.
West Ham have got to do something here to break the momentum and make this more of a contest.
32 mins
goal
GOAL: Manchester City 2-0 West Ham
Georgia Stanway
What a fine way forGeorgia Stanwayto bring up a century of City appearances.
Lovely build-up play involving Jill Scott and Ellen White and the latter’s short pass finds Stanway, who drills across Anna Moorhouse into the bottom corner from around 15 yards.
It’s hard to think that isn’t game over.
31 mins
Post update
Manchester City 1-0 West Ham
How is this still only 1-0?
Ellen White could have had a hat-trick.
In fairness, she’s on the stretch here to meet Tessa Wullaert’s cross but can only divert it over.
Posted at 13:0113:01
‘West Ham have no answer’
Manchester City 1-0 West Ham
Laura Bassett
Former England defender on BBC Red Button
We’re seeing whatever side the Man City corner comes in from, it should almost be a goal between Ellen White and Steph Houghton.
West Ham seem to have no answer for how to deal with the delivery and their threat in the air.
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
28 mins
YELLOW CARD
Manchester City 1-0 West Ham
I’m running out of fingers to count the number of corners City have had, will need to take my socks off soon.
West Ham are insistent on playing out from the back which is admirable but they are putting themselves under pressure as a result.
The Hammers’ Kenza Dali picks up the game’s first booking for tugging back Georgia Stanway, who is making her 100th City appearance today.
26 mins
CHANCE!
Manchester City 1-0 West Ham
Ellen White will be disappointed with that one.
Caroline Weir’s free-kick finds her unmarked near the penalty spot but she gets too little on her glancing header and West Ham clear for a corner.
From that corner the Hammers are all at sea but Laura Vetterlein hacks clear over her own bar.
24 mins
Post update
Manchester City 1-0 West Ham
City are piling on the pressure here.
England skipper Steph Houghton’s 30-yard free-kick is turned wide by Hammers keeper Anna Moorhouse, who is then worked again by Jill Scott’s header from the ensuing corner.
Posted at 12:5612:56
‘We’re yet to see any West Ham aggression’
Manchester City 1-0 West Ham
Laura Bassett
Former England defender on BBC Red Button
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
It’s difficult to see how West Ham can create anything here other than from Man City mistakes in possession.
We’re yet to really see any aggression coming forward from them. They need to keep hold of the ball more to give themselves chances to get up the pitch more.
We’ve not even seen an aggressive tackle from them yet.
22 mins
Post update
Manchester City 1-0 West Ham
Ah, the life of a goalkeeper.
Anna Moorhouse shows admirable alertness to cut out Janine Beckie’s cross for Ellen White but then blots her copybook by throwing straight to Caroline Weir.
Fortunately for Moorhouse and West Ham, Weir’s attempted chip is errant and goes wide. Let-off.
20 mins
Post update
Manchester City 1-0 West Ham
West Ham will hope they have slightly ridden out the storm here and they have the ball in City’s half for the first time in a while.
White’s goal has certainly taken the wind out of their sails though.
18 mins
Post update
Manchester City 1-0 West Ham
Manchester City force what seems like their umpteenth corner of the opening stages.
This one comes to nothing but it’s all City here and only a brave man would bet against them going top of the Women’s Super League, temporarily at least.
16 mins
PENALTY APPEAL
Manchester City 1-0 West Ham
Well, that really should have been a penalty for City.
West Ham struggle to deal with another corner and Jill Scott’s strike hits the outstretched arm of former City midfielder Tessel Middag.
City appeal but referee Stacey Pearson waves them away.
What would VAR made of that one?
14 mins
Post update
Manchester City 1-0 West Ham
West Ham are at sixes and sevens now, that opening goal has rocked them.
Janine Beckie has acres of space on the right wing to deliver a cross to Lauren Hemp, who has even more space at the far post.
However, she cannot judge her free header and loops it over. A let-off for West Ham but now City have earned another corner….
Posted at 12:4612:46
‘White can smell the next goal’
Manchester City 1-0 West Ham
Laura Bassett
Former England defender on BBC Red Button
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
That was City’s first corner of the game and West Ham looked quite comfortable.
But it just shows the value of being threatening from set pieces and we know the quality of deliver Caroline Weir possesses.
Ellen White can always smell where the next goal is coming from and she pounces quickly in those sort of situations.
goal
GOAL: Manchester City 1-0 West Ham
Ellen White (11 mins)
Ellen White– goal poacher extraordinaire!
The England striker shows her predatory instincts, in exactly the right place at the right time to fire home from inside the six-yard box.
It was a poor goal to concede from a West Ham viewpoint. Jill Scott won a header virtually unchallenged from a corner and her effort struck Gilly Flaherty on the line, falling perfectly for White.
Video content
Video caption: Ellen White gives Man City the leadEllen White gives Man City the lead
9 mins
Post update
Manchester City 0-0 West Ham
Another great run from City winger Janine Beckie, who looks lively down the hosts’ right wing.
Ellen White thought she had a sniff a few minutes ago but Gilly Flaherty snuffed her run out.
7 mins
Post update
Manchester City 0-0 West Ham
Brilliant delivery from Katharina Baunach on that corner, whipping it right into the six-yard box.
City skipper Steph Houghton cleared it well but that was an inviting ball and should have had a West Ham shirt attacking it.
6 mins
Zinchenko’s rallying cry
Manchester City 0-0 West Ham
Oleksandr Zinchenko is certainly pumped for today’s game…
Can City live up to his wishes?
Well, Demi Stokes has given away a free-kick midway inside her own half. And now City concede a corner. Promising start from the Hammers.
4 mins
Post update
Manchester City 0-0 West Ham
The first moment of danger for West Ham as Janine Beckie slaloms into the area from the right, reaching the byline.
However, West Ham skipper Gilly Flaherty is well positioned to clear the Man City winger’s pull-back.
2 mins
Post update
Manchester City 0-0 West Ham
Our TV cameras – this game is live on the Red Button, don’t forget – picked up hot water bottles being shared on the visitors’ bench before kick-off.
It is a chilly day and a couple of players are wearing gloves (not just the goalkeepers…)
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