We’ve talked about the three players for each Manchester club City and United who are impressing on the field after only a month of Women’s Super League action. But then there are folk who have fallen by the wayside, those who are yet to impress at the top-tier of English football this season, and then there’s visceral disappointment.
An overwhelming cause for concern for players who have been royally, inexplicably, replaced. There’s a poignant sense of making ‘do’ with what cards you have until something else comes along - to see all the action last campaign only to be destined to warm this bench this year, so it seems. And for City, this is ever apparent in the likes of Laura Coombs.
Cast your minds back to 12 months ago and imagine you have 33 top-flight league games under your belt, all within three seasons at City - You’re ready. You know what it takes, you’ve paid your dues and the time is now. The first year was spent learning the style of play but eventually, as the seasons go on you’re involved more and more, in at least half of the 22-league game season with a five-goal tally and four assists to boot… not bad!
Okay, a mass of players have abandoned ship and you’re chosen to plug the hold in the middle of the park next to newcomer Yui Hasegawa. Your partnership is a nice mix, balanced, one does the dirty work freeing the other to spray the ball and create quality connections. Of course, you can offer a lot too; shots from range, a never-say-die attitude and a canny abilty to harness strength and aggression into a perfectly-timed sliding tackle.
You feature in all 22 league games, net five goals and even get that golden phone call from the England Boss - you’re back on the England radar, after being cast aside some seven-odd years ago. Only to see it all fall away in a flash of an eye when Gareth Taylor announces the signing of Jill Roord.
Suddenly you’re back on the bench at club and no England call. You’ve seen 73 minutes in a cup game - replaced by Roord only to return the favour in the league against Bristol City. But you only get 7 minutes and a shot on goal… in all four league games thus far. You’re Laura Coombs in a really difficult position, what do you do?
It was just months ago when everything was rosy. In February Coombs signed a contract extension solidifying her future in the Sky Blue kit until the summer of 2025, did the 32-year-old make a mistake? Are there some issues behind the scenes, that we don’t know about, impacting her play? If so, can she turn it around?
Sadly, it’s the harsh reality of playing in top-flight football. When your club has signed an international superstar for over £400,000 you’d be sure to expect that player to take to the field, and often. Not only that but credit where credit is due… Roord is performing.
Three goals and an assist in four games, making her the club’s top scorer. She has a 100 per cent successful take-on statistic, joint top in the league. Her impact in the plus/minus category is +9 on par with three other City players- Chloe Kelly, Alex Greenwood and Mary Fowler… Which makes it even harder for Coombs to get a look in.
Jill Roord of Manchester City scores the team’s second goal during against West Ham United in the WSL (Image: Jacques Feeney)
The Roord-Hasegawa partnership is more of a 10 and 4 relationship formation-wise. It allows the Dutch star to push higher and service Khadija Shaw, overloading on the attack while leaving the Japanese talent to provide the transitions a little deeper, preferable, so it seems.
Compared to the Coombs-Hasegawa partnership, they’re more side by side. It’s not rare to see Hasegawa occupy the centre circle and Coombs to run here, there and everywhere to provide a passionate and rather energetic press for the full 90.
From her performances, there is no questioning her heart and drive, but is this a case of working smarter, not harder? The Lioness has yet to make a statistical difference due to a lack of playing time, whereas Roord has countless experience internationally (95 senior appearances and counting) and a wealth of time playing in the Champions League (let alone being 2023 finalists) begging the question of a smarter, younger, richer pedigree of player over the work-horse.
To make matters slightly worse, Coombs can’t afford to be patient now the likes of Ruby Mace has stepped back into the City set-up. She’s had a beneficial season out on loan saying it’s done wonders for her confidence, but also has had frequent minutes in an England U23 shirt, at only 20 years old, she’ll soon be knocking at the door of Coombs.
Laura Coombs of Manchester City playing West Ham United in the 2022/23 season (Image: Joe Prior)
Looking at the facts during the time of her contract extension deal, Coombs was flying high for both club and country. City were 10 games unbeaten, Coombs had featured in 11 starting line-ups. She saw seven games out in the full 90 minutes, had a four-goal tally, and three assists all in the WSL. She signed on the dotted line for City on the same day she received the England call… it’s fair to say things looked pretty rosy. Why wouldn’t you sign on for more?
Perhaps she thought the hard work was finally paying off and rightfully reaping the reward, but sometimes things seem too good to be true. Did she know Roord was coming? Could she have looked at other clubs to see what was on offer? Because looking at the situation as it is, two years down the line, what’s the likeness of a club swooping in for a 34-year-old with significantly fewer minutes where it truly matters, on the field?
Could no one at City give her the heads up of Roord’s incoming? Is anyone thinking of the toll this takes mentally on a tenacious workhorse like Coombs?
It’s disheartening for a genuine lover of the beautiful game to witness this savage cruelty towards a player’s career who gives 100 per cent every time. I’m not making Roord out to be the evil villain in all this, but I think City’s crassness of signing a player up until retirement age, knowing full well she’s not part of your plans shows just how evil and cut-throat life the top flight can be.
I wish both players the best of luck this year and what a battle it will be to witness these two quality individuals fight for the starting spot in the middle of the park.
The transfer window has been a hectic one and City have been busy, with high-profile signings and sales aplenty.
City snapped up Croatian pair Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol from Chelsea and RB Leipzig respectively with the latest addition being Jeremy Doku. Wolves’ Matheus Nunes then joined the Blues on deadline day. In terms of outgoings, Treble winner Ilkay Gundogan departed for Barcelona, Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez moved to Saudi Arabia, and Cole Palmer completed a shock move to Chelsea.
Our team of City experts will be on top of all the goings-on at the Etihad across deadline day and beyond, and you can get the latest updates and inside information to your phone by joining our new free WhatsApp community below.
SIGN UP HERE
--
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
