It is that time of year again that strikes fear into the heart of every football fan. That’s right folks the transfer window is open! Well actually it has been open for a while but now the World Cup is over we can get excited about it, or run and head under the bed in dread. However you wish to deal with it.
Transfer Window definition. Noun: a period of time where your club can get rid of deadwood and bring in fresh new talent.
Actual definition: your club makes some dicey new signings in a panic on the final day and you pray they don’t get rid of the players who name is on your new £80 shirt. (standard practice for West Ham’s men’s team until recently).
In the Women’s league, it can be a little less dramatic, though ask any Birmingham City fans if their window has been smooth sailing. The response may result in you getting hit in the face with a pikelet. {Pikelet -Noun: – A crumpet or crumpet-like bread in areas of Great Britain}
Unlike in the male leagues, our players in our league don’t move around for the big bucks. Spoiler alert, it’s because there isn’t any. Players move for other prized aspects of the game instead: Game time, fellow teammates, playing for the club you’ve always supported or the prestige of playing European football.
The point of this post is to run down what the In’s and Outs, and how all this is going to shake up the league. Next up is Hope Powell’s Seagulls.
Brighton had an interesting season last year with the move to Crawley as their home ground has affected the attendance figures badly. Brighton has made a slow start in the transfer window. With hot competition for players, I feel they might be playing the long game or they might be playing the game too late
Goalkeepers seem to be the hottest commodity this window with two of Brighton’s biggest pieces of business being between the sticks.
As much as you wanted loyalty to win out, going two divisions down and back to part-time wages was always going to mean Yeovil were going to lose some big hitters. Despite what their league position might suggest, Megan Walsh is actually a fantastic keeper and will be a great asset for the Seagulls.
Two outfield players have also gone down to the south coast with Matilde Lundorf Skovsen and Danique Kerkdijk joining Brighton. Matilde a young talent from Denmark who is looking to make an impact in her first season in the WSL. Kerkdijk moving across country for third season in the league after 37 appearances for Bristol. *
Walsh has been brought in to replace Marie Hourihan who has moved over to SC Braga. The Irish number one is leaving the Seagulls after arriving from Manchester City on loan two seasons ago. The move was made permanent last season and she became Hope Powell’s number one pick.
However the pull of Champions League football was too much and the move internationally was the only way to play in that competition. As with Jen Beattie you hope she has not given up regular playing time for the prestige of the club. It didn’t do Mary Earps any harm training with Wolfsburg last season but the Keeper did see a dramatic reduction in actual game time.
Chloe Peplow is another fixture on for the girls on the south coast who is moving on to what could be unknown territory. Swapping one blue and white shirt for another in the form of newly promoted Tottenham Hotspur.
