Man Utd women season preview 2024-25: New-look Red Devils are fighting against the tide in bid for a top-three WSL finish

'Cautiously optimistic' may be the best way to sum up the feeling around United heading into another WSL season. The summer saw talk of the women's team's training facilities and the exits of star names take centre stage at times, but the club has done some astute transfer business, had a positive pre-season and there is reason to believe that an opportunity to get back into the European places can present itself this year.

Last season was a real mixed bag. To say the Red Devils' performance in the WSL was disappointing would be an understatement, with a fifth-placed finish, some 15 points off the Champions League spots, hugely underwhelming. However, an FA Cup triumph delivered a first major trophy for the women's team, even if several players were quick to admit it papered over the cracks of the campaign as a whole.

To get to that final, United defeated Chelsea in a brilliant semi-final tie, showcasing their ability to compete with and even beat the elite sides in England. Those glimpses fuel the belief that this team can get back up towards the top of the table, though it is consistency against the sides below them which will be expected from the supporters.

There is still frustration from the stands towards head coach Skinner. Throughout last season, many questioned his ability to lead this team to its lofty ambitions and, with his contract expiring, some believed the club would find someone new to steer the ship. However, a one-year extension was announced in the days that followed that FA Cup triumph and now Skinner will be out to earn another deal, while hoping to deliver performances and results that the fans can get behind.

There have been so many notable ins and outs at United this summer. The departures of Lucia Garcia, Mary Earps, Katie Zelem and Irene Guerrero all came early in the window and angered fans for different reasons. The former trio all left on free transfers, something which is becoming worryingly frequent at the club in recent years, with Alessia Russo and Ona Batlle also doing so last year. Guerrero, meanwhile, was a player fans wanted to see more of, but the World Cup winner was sold to Mexican side Club America after making just seven appearances - only one of those a start.

It was important, then, for United to make good signings off the back of this start to the window and they have. Melvine Malard won over fans in her season on loan from Lyon and the forward made the switch a permanent one in July. Further bolstering the attack are the Norwegian duo of Elisabeth Terland and Celin Bizet, the former after scoring half of Brighton's league goals last season and the latter after shining in a Tottenham side that took real steps forward under Robert Vilahamn.

There's further excitement over defender Anna Sandberg, who will add necessary depth after full-back Hannah Blundell announced her pregnancy, and Canada international Simi Awujo, who is a thrilling talent at just 20 years old.

Perhaps the most notable bit of business United did this summer, though, was in keeping hold of Grace Clinton. Spurs were keen to buy the England star after a fruitful loan spell in north London last season, but United stood firm and will integrate the 21-year-old into their starting XI this term.

For all those positives, though, the transfer window still ended on a bum note when Nikita Parris, who scored 16 goals in all competitions last season, was sold to Brighton on deadline day, while the club also failed to further bolster the goalkeeping department following the departure of Earps. It leaves 19-year-old Safia Middleton-Patel, a promising Wales international but a player who has never played in the WSL, as the only back-up to Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

Many teams in the women's game still keep their pre-season campaigns rather secret and, as one that did not embark on a high-profile summer tour, United have been one of those leading into 2024-25. The team went out to Marbella for some warm-weather preparation and results publicised throughout the summer have been positive. Yet, these friendlies are about performances rather than final scores and it's hard to make any judgement on those games when they have been played behind closed doors.

However, one of the main takeaways has been that Clinton and Ella Toone have been playing in midfield together ahead of the new campaign, rather than it being a case of one or the other. Some thought it could be the latter given both are playmaking midfielders, but Skinner is clearly keen to integrate both into his XI. It's something Clinton herself has spoken about enjoying, though she admitted she's unsure how it will look once the 2024-25 campaign begins.

There are often two main themes of criticism aimed at Skinner - a lack of play through midfield and a lack of rotation. Both frustrations stem from the abundance of quality in this United squad.

It'll be interesting to see if the consistency in team selection is any different this season, given the team missed out on European football again and therefore only has 22 league games to contend with, any FA Cup action and a League Cup competition that will likely involve giving younger and fringe players a chance in the group stage.

The midfield, however, should surely be more involved in United's play this coming season given the unavoidable quality in there. That's not to say that wasn't the case in previous years, but that perhaps the two players most likely to change a game are going to be in there, in Toone and Clinton. If Skinner can find a way to connect those two to the wingers that are often at the centre of his team's attacking play, then this team could be much more devastating and exciting.

The coach has hinted over the summer at some system changes - it's just a case of waiting and seeing what those are.

There are a few players in this United team who are going to have to play huge roles in their first full seasons at the club, and one of them is Terland. The Norway international looks set to be the Red Devils' starting No.9 and so the onus is going to be on her to score the goals that can fire this team to a successful year.

That's not to say goals should not and will not come from elsewhere, but the 23-year-old will lead the line and, by doing so, has the ability to build on the 13 league goals she scored for Brighton last term. With the Seagulls, she was feeding off limited service, but at United, she should be on the receiving end of many more chances.

What makes Terland's performances so valuable to this team is the departures that have come this summer. Garcia ranked fourth for direct goal contributions in her final season at the club, while Parris was the team's top-scorer. Their exits weaken the attack - but Terland has the ability to make up for those losses by having another prolific campaign.

While United fans will be aware of Tullis-Joyce, and know that she has been the team's back-up goalkeeper since joining last summer, not many will have seen her in action. That's because Earps played every minute in the WSL and FA Cup last season and was only rested for the League Cup, in which her American team-mate got to show those in attendance what she could do.

With Earps gone, Tullis-Joyce has inherited that No.1 role and has the chance to make a name for herself and prove that she is worth such a status in the coming months. Those who have seen her play - be it for United, or previous clubs Reims and Seattle Reign - know that she is a goalkeeper worth getting excited about and, at 27 years old, one with her best years ahead of her.

"Phallon is the best shot-stopper I have ever worked with in my life," Skinner said at the WSL season launch last week. "She is an incredible footballer, an incredibly intelligent human, thoughtful, and I’m really looking forward to showing you what she can do for this team. She is a big-time goalkeeper. That’s why I brought her in. She will lead naturally. Last year, she just had to learn about England a bit more and we had Mary Earps. I’m looking forward to this year so you can see what she’s got.”

There is one main goal for United - that is to get back into the top three and, as a result, secure a Champions League place. The women's team have only competed in Europe's premier competition once, that last year when they were pitted against Paris Saint-Germain in qualifying and lost out before the group stage. To get another shot is a priority not just because the club has ambitions of being a top European side, but also because it's important in recruitment and so many other areas.

On top of that, last season's FA Cup triumph has certainly given the fans a taste of success that they would like to experience again and again. Supporters know that their team can beat the best in England on their day and, as such, to lift another trophy is something they crave. The Red Devils should too, as they are capable of doing so if they put everything together once more.

For United this season, a top-three finish and at least a run to a major cup final should be the target for success, granted any defeat on the big stage is a valiant one that the players and the fans can be proud of.

Player of the Season:Phallon Tullis-Joyce. She has big shoes to fill with Earps’ departure, but can do so in an emphatic manner.

Biggest disappointment:Skinner’s lack of rotation. With no Champions League on the agenda, it seems more likely than not that fans’ frustrations at a rarely changing XI will continue.

Best signing:Elisabeth Terland. This team needs a reliable goal-scorer and the Norway international can step up and be that.

Top scorer:Terland. She will be the first choice No.9 and thrive off better and more frequent service.

League position:Fourth. This squad has lost a lot of big personalities and experience this summer, though the signings are exciting for the future and could well deliver a strong showing in one of the cup competitions.