Impetus’ Johnathan Stack was in Manchester City head coach Gareth Taylor‘s media conference ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Reading (5/11/22).
Above: Gareth Taylor points the way ahead for Manchester City. Photo: Manchester City.
Manchester City will be going into this Sunday’s game against Reading at the Madejski Stadium looking for their fifth consecutive win in all competitions.
It has been a good week at City as Manager Gareth Taylor has been nominated for October’s Barclays Women’s Super League manager of the month award with Lauren Hemp and Bunny Shaw have been nominated for October’s goal of the month award.
After a tough start City is getting back on track and climbing the table nicely as another international break begins after the weekend. Taylor has been saying over the last few weeks to be patient and trust the process. He believes that viewpoint has potentially vindicated.
“Maybe, I think the team have done really well, in this period coming back from the last international break. We identified these games as a good period for us, to get rhythm and continuity and the players have done that really well. We have scored a lot of goals in that period; we have edged it in that situation of scoring goals.
“I think a big part of that has been strong contributions from players within the team, and no more so than Bunny Shaw she is really playing at a high level at the moment. We are still challenging her to potentially improve on some areas where we think she will get even more goals, but I think there have been really strong contributions from key players and everyone is involved in that within the team.”
Australian international Mary Fowler has yet to start a WSL game so far this season, coming off the bench three times. Her only starts being in the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying round against Real Madrid and in the League Cup against Blackburn Rovers. Taylor outlined what Fowler needs to do to gain a regular starting spot in the City side.
“Mary is doing really well, she is working hard, she is training hard she is contributing to team performances whether that be from the side or from starts. It’s a big transition from her, similar to Bunny Shaw coming from the French league but you are talking about a younger player.”
Manchester City head coach Gareth Taylor on Mary Fowler.
“I think we have got a different option to what Bunny gives us (in Mary), but she will be completely aware of the contribution that Bunny is making at the moment. But Mary is making her contribution to the team as well, like I have said before I think she is a very talented player who has got high levels of ability, she is a player who has the potential to go very, very far in the game.”
Taylor gave an injury update on Ruby Mace and Matildas star Alanna Kennedy saying: “Ruby Mace is getting that little bit closer. Alanna as well, but they won’t be considered (for this weekend). “Alanna had a good check-in with the surgeon who is happy with everything that’s going on with her shoulder. She will join up with the Matildas in the next camp, not to partake in any games but it will be good for her to be around that environment. We’re probably looking at after the international break to potentially step up and get possible minutes for games.
“Outside of that, everyone else is looking sharp and fresh. There’s some good competition going into the games. With Ruby, she had a slight setback in her thigh injury but we’re pretty confident she’ll get a good level of training under her belt albeit in slightly smaller numbers in the international break. We try to promote the academy players, but they are away too, so we lost that opportunity at times, but it’ll be good for Ruby. She’s maybe a week or so ahead of Alanna but both players in this next period when we do come back are getting closer to seeing them back on the pitch.”
To hear the opposition opinion of the game, Holly Wright was in Reading head coach Kelly Chambers media conference for us. Click here to read the article: https://impetusfootball.org/2022/11/04/chambers-we-need-to-be-more-ruthless-trust-the-process/
impetusfootball.org 