By Ben Tattoo (23/12/25)
Above: Manchester City’s squad photo for the season Photo: @ManCityWomen on X
In the second of a number of interviews with WSL fans about their seasons and the January, Ben Tattoo speaks to Manchester City fan Cath Thurlow
Cath, welcome to Impetus. You’re a Manchester City fan. Could you tell me a bit more about your history with the club, please?
I was brought up watching men’s football, and I’ve been supporting Man City women for about three years now, because they are the nearest WSL team to where I am. So that’s why I first went, and the first game I went to was Chelsea versus Man City.
Emily Heaslip was the ref, I think she was quite new to refereeing at the time, and she sent off Alex Greenwood, Lauren Hemp and booked five other players, including the manager.
I think that almost radicalised me into being a Man City fan (laughs), because I was so angry that somebody dared to send off Alex Greenwood!
How were you feeling about the transfer business before this season began?
I was a bit worried that we hadn’t bought a lot (of players), but I have to say, (Iman) Beney is brilliant and Jade Rose has really got potential. Kerolin signed last season; I wasn’t very impressed at first but she’s just coming into her own and is looking very good.
I think some of this must be down to Andrée (Jeglertz), who I’m really impressed with. What he’s bringing out in the team is brilliant. You can see it from the signings, how well they’ve fitted in, and the team are flourishing. I think those three were particularly good signings.
I was gutted to lose Chloe Kelly, that made me very sad, but I know other Man City fans who don’t feel the same, so it is a difficult issue.
I do feel like we need someone to cover (Leila) Ouahabi at left back. She’s brilliant, she’s really solid, but she is getting on and if she gets injured, I don’t really like it when Alex (Greenwood) goes there. I know that she’s said that she’s happy to play there, but she’d prefer to be at center-back.
How do you feel the season has gone so far?
I’m really happy, because I feel the way I felt the season before last. It was joyful, the football, and it almost wasn’t about winning, it was about the way they played.
I would leave feeling inspired and happy, and then last season was such hard work. It’s just brilliant being able to watch such good football in such a safe environment, so I’m just so happy.
I love it because everyone’s developing. I love the way Bunny (Shaw) is dropping back and the way that Viv (Miedema) and Bunny are playing together.
The way that Laura Blinkilde-Brown is coming on is really positive, and I feel like that’s because she’s working with Yui Hasegawa, who is probably one of the best defensive midfielders. She is also stretching herself more.
Can you see anyone leaving in January?
I love Khiara Keating, but I would cope with her going on loan if she was going somewhere where she could get regular minutes, because she was so good in that first season (2023-2024).
She stepped up, time and again, and it’s a bit harsh that she isn’t our number one. I don’t want her to go, but I would like her to be playing every week, and if that meant going on loan, I might be able to cope with that (laughs).
Do you think City need to strengthen anywhere?
As I said earlier, I would like someone to come in as a backup for Leila (Ouahabi), and to rotate a bit, just to give her a break.
What I worry about is that we don’t have another out-and-out striker apart from Bunny.
We’ve got wingers who can play in that position, but I would like us to get a younger striker who could swap for Bunny up front.
Who would you like to see City sign?
You know, I feel like there aren’t many good strikers anymore, they’re all wingers/strikers, it’s interesting the way the game is – developing, even (Alessia) Russo.
I wouldn’t mind someone who is young, up-and-coming, like Michelle Agyemang, just to develop them really.
On the fan groups that I’m in there are people wanting Esme Morgan back, which I wouldn’t say no to. I think that would be great, but I don’t know if that’s a position that we’re desperate for right now.
Do you think that not playing in Europe has given Man City a big advantage over teams like Chelsea, for example?
It seems to have done, because last season, although we had some brilliant games, it did seem to cripple us, but I think we have a better squad and a better manager now.
So, I think we probably could have done it, but I’m happy, really, that we’re kind of recalibrating and rebuilding. Especially with a new manager, I guess it’s good to have that, (for) a season.
If you could take any player from any other team, money’s no object, they sign for you straight away, put them in the Manchester City blue. Who would it be?
Well, Michelle Agyemang, because like I said, I think she would work brilliantly with Bunny and Viv, and she is very creative and instinctive.
I would love to have someone as backup for Yui Hasegawa, someone to rotate on with. Which would probably have to be Keira Walsh.
Someone like Niamh Charles to provide another option at left back – that would be great. Or Katie McCabe – not that she’d ever leave Arsenal!
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