Few strikers in world soccer possess the pedigree to overlook half a season by means of harm and nonetheless lay declare to a Golden Boot. In some ways Khadija Shaw’s scoring prowess is baffling. Arduous to quantify as something aside from freakish.
The Jamaica worldwide is a one-off with generational expertise.
Regardless of solely managing 892 minutes of league soccer final season, she scored 12 occasions, which was sufficient to share the coveted prime scorer prize with Arsenal’s Alessia Russo, who reached the identical tally however performed double the minutes.
Shaw’s extraordinary run price, a aim each 74 minutes, was the perfect return of any ahead throughout the highest home leagues in Spain, France and Germany final yr.
Had she stayed match she was projected to complete with a complete of 26 strikes – the WSL report for a single marketing campaign is 22.
And but, Manchester Metropolis’s marketing campaign was usually marred by deadlock and indifference. “We left games last season knowing results slipped through our fingers,” Shaw solely tells Sky Sports activities from a discreet nook of Man Metropolis’s media day.
“We suffered from injuries but I’m not one to make excuses. We weren’t good enough,” she provides.
Metropolis’s 2024-25 story was advised by means of a lens of inconsistency. Good particular person outcomes – beating eventual finalists Barcelona within the Champions League group section – have been undermined by extended runs of dangerous kind. Good particular person performances challenged by the depleted state of the squad extra broadly.
Shaw was joined within the remedy room by Vivianne Miedema, Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood, amongst others, for giant chunks of the season. Metropolis might barely area a match senior XI by March.
Maybe the following bit was inevitable. Or perhaps the cycle underneath Gareth Taylor had simply reached its pure finish. Both method, the supervisor copped the brunt of the dissatisfaction and was dismissed 5 days earlier than a League Cup ultimate assembly with Chelsea, which Metropolis misplaced.
For a membership the dimensions of Manchester Metropolis silverware is a prerequisite. And never simply feigning to compete – reaching finals is sweet however not practically sufficient if trophies do not comply with. Issues had acquired stale and the time for change was clear.
“This season we’re not about that, it’s strictly business,” Shaw continues. Her tone is compelling. “Last year was humbling, we are 100 per cent serious about what we want. Ain’t no playing now.”
Metropolis have changed departed Taylor with Andree Jeglertz this summer season, a progressive coach who favours attack-minded soccer. And that may imply a tweak of fashion too.
Gareth Taylor was sacked by Man Metropolis in March and is now in cost at Liverpool
Whereas Taylor favored affected person build-up, utilizing ball possession to put on groups down, Jeglertz prefers a extra direct path to aim.
“With Andre it’s about how we can put ourselves in the best position going forward. If that means it takes two passes to goal, we have to do that.” An fascinating evolution from the ball-obsessed mannequin.
“Andre wants us to win and will give freedom, whatever that looks like, and I think attacking players flourish that way.”
Shaw herself has been thriving within the WSL for years now, irrespective of Metropolis’s type or strategy play. Her intuition within the field is a hazard to any calibre of opposition, together with Chelsea, who Metropolis face on opening weekend stay on Sky Sports activities.
Dwell WSL
Dwell WSL
Friday fifth September 6:30pm
“If we can get it right on the pitch, we can be deadly, we can be unstoppable if we focus on the fine details the manager wants. For sure, you are going to see goals.”
A warning, then. And Opta’s supercomputer agrees Metropolis pose important risk, predicting them to bounce again from the frustration of 2024-25 to complete forward of reigning European champions Arsenal – however nonetheless behind Chelsea.
“We’re going to attack the league, that’s only right,” Shaw insists. “It’s all about consistency, that’s what has been missing. If we need to have uncomfortable conversations we’ll have them.”
Metropolis used a complete of 27 gamers final season – near a league excessive – with a median age of 25y 313d – a league low. An absence of expertise was certainly telling as they completed 17 factors off WSL winners Chelsea, with their worst points-per-game ratio since their first marketing campaign within the competitors a decade in the past.
Man Metropolis completed 4th final time period, 17 factors behind WSL winners Chelsea
Such a spot is not going to be tolerated this time round.
“We had been doing the same for years, now the change has actually happened, it’s a shocker to begin with. But the energy has been higher, and naturally when you don’t know what to expect you have to give everything to learn.
“Our mentality must be about crossing the road wanting and understanding we are able to win. We’ve got time to organize video games with out Europe in order that must be our solely focus.”
As for the football, the City way always has had a textbook feel. It’s no surprise to see City play the fewest percentage of passes long (6.4) of any side in the league, and the highest proportion of passes short (93.6).
Shaw and Lauren Hemp each spend a big portion of final season on the sidelines
Metropolis additionally netted a league-high 15 cross-assisted objectives final season, because of the efficiency of their vast gamers and smartness of Shaw, whereas scoring extra often from open play than even Chelsea managed.
“I can close my eyes and know where Hempo [Lauren Hemp] is going to cross the ball. That is something we have built. I call her my assister.
“It is the little stuff most do not see that issues. Greater than objectives, it is the timing of runs, the urgent, forcing defenders into errors. It is all essential. As quickly as I’ve mastered one factor, I strive one other. I all the time need to be higher.”
A lot has modified at Metropolis this summer season following a season of unrest. Jeglertz is likely to be championing a brand new type and driving increased requirements, however he’ll need extra of the identical from his star striker – arguably the perfect the WSL has to supply.
Jeglertz should maximise that particular privilege to its absolute fullest. And if he can, we actually could have a title race to recollect.
