Aston Villa Women: Carla Ward and Rachel Daly nominations for November awards a just reward for recent form
Carla Ward and Rachel Daly’s recent contributions to the upturn in form at Aston Villa have been justly recognised, as the pair were nominated for the individual player and manager of the month awards for November.
Wins against Liverpool and Reading on either side of the international break helped vault Villa up to fifth in the WSL – although last weekend’s 5-0 loss to Manchester United saw them drop down to sixth.
Daly, who scored four league goals across the two encounters, alongside a crucial winner in the Conti Cup against Durham, was rightly nominated for the Player of the Month in November.
The spot-kick she converted against Liverpool seemed to spark the 63-cap Lionness into life, as she backed this up with a thrilling hat-trick against Reading next time out for the Villans.
The 30-year-old’s importance to Villa has been growing all season long, and Daly is now a leader, a figurehead and the team’s focal point of attacks all in one.
Often in teams such as Villa’s – that have a blend of experience and youth – figures such as Daly can be crucial in pushing the side up to her standards.
And on the evidence of November’s run of form, Daly is doing just that.
Maybe going slightly more under the radar, Ward has been the unsung hero for Villa’s women this season, diligently going about her work and building a team who are capable of fighting in the top half of the table.
After only just scraping past a relegation-threatened season unscathed last year, the appointment of the ex-Birmingham City boss has proven a breath of fresh air.
Ward established herself as one of the best up-and-coming-managers when leading The Blues to safety last year after several off-field issues, and she has continued in the same vein this season in the west midlands.
Yes, the 38-year-old’s job has been made easier by the standout form of Daly, but we must also praise the tactical nous and the diligent set-up of her team.
Villa are by no means the finished article, but with Ward at the helm and Daly nailing in the goals, they have two stars who can help lead this team up the WSL table.
In other Aston Villa news, Alan Hutton believes Emi Martinez must improve distribution for Aston Villa under Unai Emery.