Manchester City have been left with just five recognized defenders ahead of the new WSL season and are facing the need to quickly recruit or rely on versatility to deal with the lack of backs.
Gemma Bonner, Megan Campbell, Aoife Mannion and Abby Dahlkemper have all left City since the end of last season. Bonner has ventured to the United States, while Campbell and Mannion have both been released and have joined Liverpool and Manchester United respectively.
The USWNT international Dahlkemper is the latest to leave and return to the former club North Carolina Courage despite signing a two-and-a-half year contract in Manchester seven months ago.
City’s situation has been exacerbated by Lucy Bronze, who called for knee surgery in recent days. FIFA’s best women’s player in 2020 is not expected to be gone for long, but her absence is a blow and if there are any unforeseen setbacks, it makes the squad even more vulnerable.
As it looks, City can put out a very strong fullback four, with emerging talent Esme Morgan on the right back, Demi Stokes on the left and Alex Greenwood collaborating with Steph Houghton in the middle. But other than that, there are no other first-team defenders as long as Bronze is out.
Morgan can cover either right or center, while Greenwood was previously a left-back who successfully moved to the middle last season. There are alternatives, but so few.
Any further damage will create problems. Houghton is 33 and had an Achilles problem during the final stages of 2020/21, which suggests that it would be naive to think that City could survive an entire season without players picking up injuries, whether they are minor or more serious.
It is still two weeks before the WSL transfer window closes, which gives the opportunity to take in another couple of bodies for depth. Australia’s Alanna Kennedy, who spent last season in the WSL with Tottenham, is a remarkable free agent who can add the necessary depth.
Forward Janine Beckie has been known for filling in on the hill / Lewis Storey / Getty Images
In the past, City have survived defensive shortages by using versatile midfielders and strikers in the squad. Canadian forward Janine Beckie has regularly filled the right-back, while attacking midfielder Georgia Stanway has similarly been called upon.
City landed teenage midfielder Ruby Mace from Arsenal earlier this summer. She is enormously talented and can also play in defense, but lack of experience – she only turns 18 in early September – would be a problem if she were thrown in too early.
The big question for City is whether they will have the depth to compete with reigning WSL champions Chelsea, who have well-stocked specialized defensive options at the back and in the middle. The answer at the moment is no.
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