Aston Villa Women 2022 Review: The year of near-relegation, Rachel Daly, Villa Park and so much more
The calendar year of 2022 was a 12-month period in which Aston Villa signalled their intentions to become a force to be reckoned with in the WSL.
Following a ninth-place finish in the 2021/22 campaign, the club trusted Carla Ward in the summer transfer window and helped her bring the likes of Rachel Daly, Kenza Dali and Kirsty Hanson through the doors.
Despite blowing hot and cold so far this season, the giant steps taken by the club both on and off the pitch are a sight to behold.
Relegation battle
Despite ending the 2021/22 season with a disappointing loss to already-relegated Birmingham City, Aston Villa managed to secure their top-flight status in a season of progress under Ward.
The first half of their year saw defeats to the likes of West Ham, Brighton, Everton and their local rivals, with Villa lacking a cutting edge in front of goal for large parts.
Between the start of the year and the end of the season in mid-May, Ward’s side only managed to score a meagre eight goals and no more than two in a single match.
Summer blitz
Aston Villa’s summer recruitment was a crystal clear sign that the club wanted to improve on their ninth-place finish in the WSL.
The signings of England international Daly, a loan move for Hanson and the signature of highly experienced Everton playmaker Dali showed the club were looking to rectify their goal shortage, with the former already netting ten goals this season.
Further experience was added through Natasha Harding, who moved from Reading, while Danielle Turner was signed as a partner to Rachel Corsie in the heart of defence. Overall the summer business left the club looking in decent shape as they approached their third straight season in the top flight.
Euro 2022 representation
Daly played a key role in the Lionesses’ summer triumph as a left-back, while Dali featured heavily in the France squad that bowed out in the quarter-finals. Simone Magill was an ever-present for Northern Ireland before the striker suffered an ACL rupture in their group-stage defeat to Norway.
Villa Park
During the summer, the club announced that four of the home WSL games in the 2022/23 season would be hosted at Villa Park.
Ward’s side shined on the big stage on the first day of the season as they beat Manchester City 4-3 in a scintillating display of attacking, free-flowing football. The new season has seen an 84% increase in season tickets sold, while the club saw a 63% spike in season ticket sales during the closing weekend of the Euro’s.
Consolidation
The first half of the 2022/23 season has seen Ward’s side consolidate themselves as a mid-table team who can spring a surprise on any of the top four on their day.
The opening day 4-3 victory over Manchester City and penalty shootout win over Manchester United in the Conti Cup were a pair of results that highlighted the impact of the club’s summer business.
Both Daly and Dali have proven hugely successful signings for manager Ward, with the pair playing a role in every single WSL goal Villa have scored this season. The former has already netted ten league goals, while Dali has chipped in three goals and further six assists this season.
Currently sitting seventh in the WSL and just three points off West Ham in fifth, Aston Villa have clearly made huge strides this calendar year and will hope to replicate this as they enter the New Year.
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