Everton Ladies manager Andy Spence says it has been a challenge to plan out a pre-season schedule for his players because of the varying competitions this year.
The Blue Girls kick off competitive action when they take on Brighouse Town in the FA Cup third round on 5 February, before turning their attentions to the one-off Spring Series later that month.
The short eight-game format has been added to cover the gap of the regular season moving to the winter, with Women’s Super League fixtures due to start in September.
“With each competition starting at different times, it is a challenge to plan pre-season!” smiled Spence. “Knowing that you have got such a long time to prepare, what we need to do is ensure we keep that clear focus on what we want to do.
“We have already planned out and know what the structure will be between now and September in terms of training weeks and fixtures, while also balancing the international commitments our young players will have.
“We have been meticulous in that preparation because we want to push the players, ensure they are fit and ready for the fixtures coming up but at the right times, give them time off if they have been away on international duty.
“So there a lot of plates that have to be spun but we are going to be with the players for a long time ahead of the new WSL season so we’re excited to have the chance to implement the changes that we want, individually and collectively and have a clear idea of what we want to achieve and how we are going to do it.”
Each competition brings it’s own opportunities and Spence is eager to use the Spring Series as a chance to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion from WSL 2.
That will mean looking at whether certain players from the Development Squad can step up and handle rigours of senior football.
“The start of every season is exciting,” added Spence. “We have got the FA Women’s Cup coming up and given our association with that competition, we want to go all out in it.
“With the WSL season moving to a winter league, it was important to have a run of games and the Spring Series does that. The last thing anyone wants is a huge gap and we will be playing teams that we will be up against in the race for promotion, so it will give us an opportunity to see where we are at as a team.
“There will be some additions to the squad and the Spring Series gives us a chance to bed them into the group, as well as giving us a chance to look at one or two members of the Development Squad as well.
“The players will want to do well in that Series because it can really set us up well for an attack on the league.”
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