Guardian writers’ predicted position: 12th (NB: this is not necessarily Sophie Downey’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)
Last season’s position: 1st (Championship)
The plan
It has been a whirlwind 12 months for the Eagles, who celebrated their promotion to the WSL on the final day of the 2023-24 season, the first time they have made it to the top tier of the women’s game.
The head coach, Laura Kaminski, was appointed a little over a year ago, taking up the reins at a club that had been through a turbulent time despite earning consecutive top-five finishes. The former manager Dean Davenport had just left the club along with other members of staff after serving a suspension as the club conducted an internal investigation into their conduct. However, the squad settled almost immediately under their new coach and an impressive campaign followed in which they all but wrapped up the Championship in the penultimate weekend, scoring 55 goals in a league that is notorious for its competitiveness and unpredictability.
How they now step up to WSL football is the next challenge Kaminski and her staff will need to take on. As expected, there has been player turnover this summer as they look to add quality and depth to the squad. It is an adjustment their head coach is clearly aware of. “I think we’ve got to still be an exciting team to watch. Last year, we had the real pleasure of consistency in a system that pretty much fitted the entire squad. This year, I expect to have to be a bit more flexible in terms of that. The calibre and the differences in opposition may push us to really try to experiment to make sure we’re getting the best out of the players on the pitch.”
They have, perhaps inevitably, endured a mixed pre-season. A trip to play the Utah Royals gave them a first run out against an in-season NWSL side in intense heat (they lost 3-0). They also suffered a 3-1 defeat against Bristol City. They start their season against Tottenham on 22 September.
The manager
The Crystal Palace job is the first head coach role of Laura Kaminski’s career but she has earned her stripes over 15 years. Assistant positions at Charlton and Tottenham as well as time at the FA have helped her develop on and off the pitch and she is clearly well respected by her players. “I’m a very open-minded person,” she says. “What suited last year might not suit this year, and I’ll find that out quickly as we go. I’ve got what I anticipate that to be, but ultimately we’ve got to see it as a game-by-game basis. That worked well for us last year.”
Off-field picture
This WSL campaign will be only the second for Palace as a fully professional outfit since they changed to a full-time model in 2023. Steve Parish and the club’s ownership have worked to bring the men’s and women’s sides of the club closer together. “I have access to everything that I need to provide the right provisions for players, in terms of welfare, safety, housing,” Kaminski says. There is always room for improvement and Parish has raised eyebrows in the past with comments about the WSL needing a salary cap and cost controls, which was received with anger in some quarters given that Crystal Palace’s men’s budget dwarfs the one it provides to its women’s side.
Breakout star
My Cato is an emerging Swedish talent who has been impressing since joining IFK Norrköping at the age of 14. After a couple of seasons in the Damallsvenskan with Linköping, she returned to her former club to help them to promotion. The now 22-year-old midfielder became captain of Norrköping in 2023 and received her first international call-up this summer. She is a versatile player with strong defensive capabilities while also supporting the attack and having an eye for goal.
after newsletter promotion
A-lister
Palace’s summer signing Katrine Veje brings a wealth of experience both on a domestic and international front. The 33-year-old defender arrives in London after spending two seasons at Everton. Across her distinguished career, she was part of the 2018-19 Arsenal team that lifted the WSL and has won titles with Seattle Reign, Brøndby and Rosengård. In addition, Veje has amassed 160 caps for Denmark, featuring in multiple major tournaments. Having this calibre of player will be key for Palace’s chances of success and she is able to play anywhere across the backline. Her injury history, however, will be a slight concern given that she spent much of last season on the sidelines with fitness problems.
This summer’s business
Eight summer signings have replaced the eight outgoing players that departed after the end of the Championship campaign. There has been some shrewd recruitment in an attempt to bolster every area of the field. Shae Yanez has arrived after impressing at Bristol City last year and she is joined by fellow goalkeeper Milla-Maj Majasaari from Finland. Danish international Mille Gejl has been brought into the midfield area while left-winger Ashleigh Weerden is another exciting prospect. Kaminski has also made use of the loan system, bringing back Lexi Potter for a second season alongside defenders Brooke Aspin and Jorja Fox. She also hinted that there was more business for the club to do before the window closes on 13 September.
Where do they play?
Crystal Palace will continue to play most of their home games at Sutton United’s VBS Community Stadium with a number of matches held at Selhurst Park. The club’s main stadium will host their first home game of the season against Chelsea as they look to build up the growing fanbase they have developed over the last few campaigns. Almost 7,000 supporters came out for their Championship-winning finale against Sunderland, producing a raucous atmosphere. They will hope to beat that figure in three weeks’ time with that Chelsea game and then in November when they host Manchester City.
Source: theguardian.com
