Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter breaks down the headline issues emerging from the second round of Women’s Super League fixtures, giving readers a deeper look at the narratives shaping the women’s game. Manchester United experienced a watershed under former manager Marc Skinner.
After clinching their first major trophy in 2024, Skinner guided the side to the quarter‑finals of the Champions League in their inaugural European campaign and saw them reach three domestic cup finals. The trajectory seemed upward, offering a solid platform to build upon. Fast forward to the present, and the picture is starkly different.
Skinner has departed, and United now sit at the very bottom of the WSL, with a goal‑difference worse than that of newly promoted Charlton Athletic. After years of incremental progress, the club appears to be in clear decline. United are enduring their longest winless streak in the league since the team was re‑established in 2018 – six matches without a victory. Their first two defeats, though a small sample, have already exposed serious concerns.
Both losses have placed immediate pressure on new boss Eva Olid, who is only just beginning her tenure. It would be unfair to lay the blame solely at Olid’s feet.
She inherited a squad beset by deeper structural problems that pre‑date her arrival. After a 5‑0 drubbing by Chelsea – a side that fielded no recognised striker – Olid remarked, "I don’t like the heads down.
Heads up and we have to continue." Her defiant tone signals that she intends to fight back, but she also has a legitimate right to question the level of support she receives from the club hierarchy. Internally, those conversations may already be underway. The lack of confidence on the pitch seems to mirror the broader uncertainty surrounding United’s women’s programme.
Criticism of the club’s investment – or lack thereof – has been a constant theme. United opted for a youth‑development model this summer, a cheaper alternative to buying established stars, and that decision was cited as a factor in Skinner’s departure, which was described publicly as a "mutual separation." The 43‑year‑old manager had openly asked for more resources, and it appears those requests were met with resistance. If the challenges facing Olid were not obvious before, they have now been laid bare in a brutally stark manner. United have matched the record for the fewest shots taken by a non‑newly promoted side in their opening two games, equalling Leicester City’s low‑shot output from the season that ended in relegation.
Every team undergoing a managerial change needs an adjustment period, but United’s situation is particularly grim. They have failed in all 14 attempts to beat Chelsea in the WSL, and the recent 5‑0 loss is simply a continuation of that miserable trend. Losing by such a margin is also unusual for United, highlighting how shaky the foundation built by Skinner has become. Looking ahead, United face Arsenal on Sky Sports next Saturday.
With so many areas requiring improvement, it is difficult to pinpoint a single starting point – perhaps the only direction is upward. Olid cannot afford to let performances deteriorate further.
Meanwhile, Chelsea used their victory as a statement of intent. After being criticised for a 1‑1 draw with Aston Villa, Sonia Bompastor’s side responded emphatically, demonstrating the depth of their quality.
Bompastor explained, "When you have the opportunity to really hurt a team, the best way to respect them is to score as many goals as you can." Chelsea showed no mercy to United, exploiting the gap between elite and ordinary. Lauren James once again shone as Chelsea’s attacking lynchpin, while other players such as Keira Walsh, Sjoeke Nusken and Wieke Kaptein dominated the midfield battles. Full‑backs Katie McCabe and Ellie Carpenter provided width, allowing James to operate in central spaces, and even centre‑back Lucy Bronze contributed by advancing the ball into the final third. James has already recorded 19 shots across two games – the highest tally in the league – and offers a potent option as a false nine when Chelsea lack a traditional striker due to injury or loss of form.
Bompastor will need to manage her usage wisely, as relying on a single player every week is unsustainable. Chelsea’s upcoming fixtures include a clash with Arsenal followed by a Champions League tie against Lyon, both of which will present far stiffer challenges than United. Turning back to the WSL, Arsenal midfielder Emily Stanway has caught my eye in the opening weeks. Returning to the league after a stint at Bayern Munich, Stanway has displayed the ball‑control and vision that served England well in recent international tournaments.
Her passing range has expanded even further. Stanway completed 98 passes in her debut for Arsenal, and across the first two matchweeks she amassed a total of 194 passes – only Liverpool centre‑back Grace Fisk has logged more.
Remarkably, 91 of those passes were directed into the final third, a league‑leading figure that creates clear scoring opportunities. This precision reduces Arsenal's reliance on Mariona Caldentey as the sole creative hub. Stanway's four key passes in the recent win over Crystal Palace helped the Gunners break through, even though Alessia Russo was unusually wasteful with the chances she received. With Stanway pulling the strings, Arsenal should find themselves consistently threatening opposition defences.
In summary, Manchester United are confronting a rapid slide after a promising start to the Skinner era. The combination of limited investment, a youthful squad, and a manager under immediate pressure has produced a perfect storm. Whether Olid can reverse the trend before the season’s midpoint remains to be seen, but the club must address both on‑field tactics and off‑field support if they hope to climb out of the bottom of the table.
Meanwhile, Chelsea continue to assert their dominance, and Arsenal are beginning to benefit from the resurgence of midfield talent like Stanway. The early weeks of the Women’s Super League have already delivered drama, and the storylines are only set to deepen as the season progresses.