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Charlton women news - Karen Hills is WSL2 Manager of the Year 2026 (p202)
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Karen definitely needs to change the shape next season. We struggled through the whole season with a 343 where we were constantly overrun in midfield and were reliant on the 5 at the back being a good enough unit to allow us to win by the odd goal. If you're getting outplayed in midfield by Portsmouth then you've no chance in the WSL. She went with a 4231 against Leicester and we looked so much more capable of controlling things in the middle with Kenney dropping deep. Mason is a decent left back which helped but Karen obviously wants structure and width, but 343 needs two out of this world players in the middle - Chelsea managed it with Fabregas and Kante - to make it work. I'm hopeful we'll do more of a 433/4231 or a 352 next season as the 343 did its job but it will be picked apart by better teams.3
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We have needed a proper big centre forward ever since Elise Hughes left. Hopefully this will be sorted over the summer.EpsomAddick said:
Agree with all of that, especially the bit about physicality - it was particularly noticeable against Liverpool and Birmingham that so many of their players were bigger and stronger than us, so we'll have to be prepared for that in the WSL. The defence is clearly our strongest asset (though obviously a replacement for Newsham will be needed), so it's midfield and attacking players with more physicality and creativity that we need above all.MuttleyCAFC said:I saw quite a few games and the team, even when it wasn't losing at all, was not better than the previous season. The defence was strong and we had a great keeper. I thing we need to look at some physicality in a few positions next season. That is the shortcut especially as the top teams have it. Easier said than done, but I trust Karen. She is a pramatic manager who can make the most out of what she has so lets hope she gets a bit more to make the most out of. Probably a strong defence is the best position to work from in terms of building a side which can compete and stay yp.
Lizzie Waldie signed in January and under contract for next season. She is a tall girl and a left footed defender. Hardly any minutes on the pitch since. Maybe a good pre season will change this.0 -
Pace upfront goes a long way. That' what I'd like to see to make us better.1
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Brutal out of contract list but definitely what we need. Space to improve on players who didn’t exactly hugely impress in WSL21
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I’m a wee bit surprised at Muya but other than that.
Exciting times ahead.0 -
So we have anywhere from 8-17 players for next season.
Personally I think a couple of that discussion list probably aren't good enough for the step up, especially if they're going to be integral parts of the squad1 -
She is a hard worker and by all accounts a lovely person but she doesn’t have either the skill or physicality for top tier footballKBslittlesis said:I’m a wee bit surprised at Muya but other than that.
Exciting times ahead.1 -
So Thestrup wasn't in fact contracted to us for next season. Thanks for the penalty in the shootout Amalie, but it's for the best that we move on.
I'm little bit sad to see Muya go because of the impact she was capable of having, but equally I understand it if we're (presumably) looking for quicker and more physical players for next season. It was hard to judge Bissell given how few starts she made (though I'll always remember her fondly for scoring the winner against Palace on the opening day), Pearse filled in well when we had to cope with Mason and Skeels' absence but wasn't first choice at centre-back or on the left of defence, and we barely saw Finlayson.
I hope we've offered N'Dow whatever she wants - keeping her is crucial.3 -
Surprised we didn't secure Kenney to a longer deal when we signed her really. It's a shame when we hit this stage of the season because everything being a bit smaller means that you feel for the individuals a lot more as people when these things come around. I think the released list makes sense, Pearse had the potential to be a very good player but her injury record just isn't going to see her play enough at WSL level, she's struggling enough to get her knee through a WSL2 season. Bissell probably could and should have had more minutes ahead of Thestrup and she turned in a great showing against Leicester but she was essentially third choice striker for a team that didn't score enough. Thestrup and Muya are obvious choices, players who can do something in the WSL2 on their day but more often than not struggle to impact.In terms of the players we're in talks with, Newsham, N'Dow, Kenney, Mason, Fitzgerald and Bradley are all players we need to keep. Ideally we'll bring in better players over them but players who know the job they're going to be asked to do to be part of the squad are essential, and bringing new players into an established team ethos that got us this far is key. I also thought Anna Pedersen looked excellent in the cup game I saw her in and seems like she has a good relationship with Whitehouse and the team so would be a sensible one to keep around, especially as we've probably only got one more season of Whitehouse realistically.3
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It should be remembered that Newsham is out for the whole season.0
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Kenney was signed fresh out of college and a total unknown. She has absolutely stepped up, but unfortunately the risk was taken and could have gone either way- I’d hope she’ll sign long term!Garrymanilow said:Surprised we didn't secure Kenney to a longer deal when we signed her really. It's a shame when we hit this stage of the season because everything being a bit smaller means that you feel for the individuals a lot more as people when these things come around. I think the released list makes sense, Pearse had the potential to be a very good player but her injury record just isn't going to see her play enough at WSL level, she's struggling enough to get her knee through a WSL2 season. Bissell probably could and should have had more minutes ahead of Thestrup and she turned in a great showing against Leicester but she was essentially third choice striker for a team that didn't score enough. Thestrup and Muya are obvious choices, players who can do something in the WSL2 on their day but more often than not struggle to impact.In terms of the players we're in talks with, Newsham, N'Dow, Kenney, Mason, Fitzgerald and Bradley are all players we need to keep. Ideally we'll bring in better players over them but players who know the job they're going to be asked to do to be part of the squad are essential, and bringing new players into an established team ethos that got us this far is key. I also thought Anna Pedersen looked excellent in the cup game I saw her in and seems like she has a good relationship with Whitehouse and the team so would be a sensible one to keep around, especially as we've probably only got one more season of Whitehouse realistically.2 -
Which should hopefully make it easier to negotiate with her. She's only 26, by far one of the best players at the club, one of the only ones who you think could realistically start at WSL level and at the very least a sure thing to be a big part of the team if we're relegated at the end of the coming season. There's also hopefully still a bit of room for loyalty when the budgets are at this low level, Newsham was a key part of our last two promotion pushing teams and I'd like to see her given a 2 year deal so she can be part of our team next season whatever the level.Crusty54 said:It should be remembered that Newsham is out for the whole season.2 -
With Kenney, we were bringing a young player over from the USA for what was her first season as a professional footballer. It could easily have not worked out for various on-pitch or off-pitch reasons, so I guess a one-year deal was probably the safer option. She might now have other clubs interested in her after being nominated for the WSL2 Rising Star award, so I hope we can hang on to her.Garrymanilow said:Surprised we didn't secure Kenney to a longer deal when we signed her really.
Edit - sammy posted while I was writing mine. Great minds!
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I got the feeling watching Kenny, she'd end up in WSL1 regardless of our promotion, depends if she's settled with us0
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Thestrup has joined Brondby.4
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Not Charlton related but thought I'd put it here rather than start a new thread. Did anyone see Brazil v USA NWT. Totally crazy as ref lost control of the game. Half the Brazillian bench including manager were shown the red card, two players at least were sent off. Really mad scenes.1
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Bodes well for the World Cup next year (not)Kap10 said:Not Charlton related but thought I'd put it here rather than start a new thread. Did anyone see Brazil v USA NWT. Totally crazy as ref lost control of the game. Half the Brazillian bench including manager were shown the red card, two players at least were sent off. Really mad scenes.0 -
I'm confident N'Dow can hack it at the higher lever based on her performance against Liverpool.1
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Her, Whitehouse and Newsham (depending on how good she is when she gets back) are basically the only ones I’m 100% confident in. Players like Hutton are great at WSL2 level because of the ability to pluck something out of nowhere but really that’s the baseline level you need in the top tierMuttleyCAFC said:I'm confident N'Dow can hack it at the higher lever based on her performance against Liverpool.0 -
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Provided her knees make it.MuttleyCAFC said:I'm confident N'Dow can hack it at the higher lever based on her performance against Liverpool.0 -
Decent budget please.0
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Based on what happened last summer, I guess it'll be a while before we announce them.Cafc451 said:Window open no signings.
The players whose future is up in the air right now are Bradley, Fitzgerald, Humphrey, Kenney, Mason, N'Dow, Newsham, Pedersen and Ross. The first announcement will be the players (if any) in that group who have turned down a new contract - i.e. getting the bad news out of the way first. Then it'll be the players in that group who have agreed a new contract with us (hopefully at least some of them will!). Then they'll announce the new signings.1 -
Newsham will have a contract to recover from her serious injuries which will prevent her playing in the new season.EpsomAddick said:
Based on what happened last summer, I guess it'll be a while before we announce them.Cafc451 said:Window open no signings.
The players whose future is up in the air right now are Bradley, Fitzgerald, Humphrey, Kenney, Mason, N'Dow, Newsham, Pedersen and Ross. The first announcement will be the players (if any) in that group who have turned down a new contract - i.e. getting the bad news out of the way first. Then it'll be the players in that group who have agreed a new contract with us (hopefully at least some of them will!). Then they'll announce the new signings.
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Charlie Cave the Assistant Coach has left the club.0
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Transfers please.0
