4. Ella Franklin-Fraiture
3. Asmita Ale
20/21 Appearances – 9
19/20 Appearances – 8
Ella joined from Leicester City last season after a spell at Oxford United as well. In a short time Ella really showed why she is one of the best players in the FA Women’s Championship. Her work rate up and down the wing was truly incredible. Her season got cut short at Durham in the final minutes of the game, but she will come back stronger and better no doubt.
Ella will no doubt be one of the most important and consistent players this season. After the Injury last season we were so upset to lose her as a player but it’s almost like having a brand new signing this season. Ella for me is one of the best young talents in Women’s football and proved this having to come up against Chloe Kelly and Georgia Stanway in the opening game of the FAWSL.
20/21 Appearances – 17
19/20 Appearances – 18
Asmita came through the Aston Villa RTC into the first team and has never looked back since. One thing you always know is that Asmita will preform ahead of her years at the back for Villa. She is also versatile and does whatever she is asked to do. Represents England at Youth level and no doubt will one day make the step up to the first team. Always fantastic on and off the pitch.
Asmita is someone to look at for the season as she will no doubt be fantastic throughout the back line of Aston Villa Women. Asmita can play anywhere across the backline and proved that coming on against Manchester City and playing Centre Back against the likes of Ellen White and Georgia Stanway
5. Elisha N'Dow
15. Natalie Haigh
20/21 Appearances – 20
19/20 Appearances – 19
One of the main stays at Aston Villa, Elisha has worked on her game throughout her years at Villa and become one of the first name’s you would have on your team sheet. A real proper hard working centre back. You can always guarantee that any 40/60 ball that Elisha will do anything to win the ball back. You will often see Elisha weaving her way through the field from defence to attack as well.
Elisha will look to make the step up as she has gone all the way through the ranks with Aston Villa Women and created history every step of the way. Elisha played her first match of the season against Manchester City.
20/21 Appearances – 18
20/21 Goals – 1
19/20 Appearances – 18
19/20 Goals – 1
Nat joined Villa last season with an impressive CV that included Yeovil Town, Coventry City and Nordsjaelland. Natalie hit the floor running at Villa impressing every game she played. A real Centre Back who took no nonsense and a massive part of Villa’s season and a big part of them sitting top of the table. To me still the best CB in the Women’s Championship, strong and her positioning is always spot on.
Natalie brings her experience into Aston Villa Women’s first season in FAWSL. By her high standards she was up by her performance in the Manchester City game but will bounce back and be stronger than ever.
11. Amy West
21. Marisa Ewers
20/21 Appearances – 9
19/20 Appearances – 20
19/20 Goals – 4
I always quote that West Is The Best, and ever since her debut against London Bees in 2015, Nearly a 100 games later and not only is Amy still a massive part of the team, but she is still getting better and better. My name on my shirt for the last 4 years and my second year sponsoring Amy. Two decisions I never regret. A Villa fan, Amy has Claret and Blue in her heart and you can tell this every game. Last season won Aston Villa Player Of The Season and our fans Breakthrough Player in 16/17 which shows her journey.
Amy has come through the RTC, the youth ranks all the way into making her debut in the FAWSL 2, Winning the FA Women’s Championship and now steps into the FAWSL with Aston Villa Women and we all know the quality and drive she will bring this season.
20/21 Appearances – 16
19/20 Appearances – 20
19/20 Goals – 3
Marisa joined Aston Villa from Birmingham City this season, which seemed a world apart from what has happened in the past. I had seen Marisa play for Leverkusen and Birmingham City and was excited for her joining Aston Villa. She didn’t disappoint when you say someone is of a standard it is hard to keep at that level all the time but Marisa is consistently at such a high standard. Doesn’t mind scoring a banger or two as well. Our own Mercedes in the Centre of the pitch.
Marisa this season has been made Captain of the Aston Villa Women and from last season you can certainly see why she was the choice of the manager going forward. One of our best players throughout the Championship winning season.
12. Jodie HUtton
17. Sophie Haywood
20/21 Appearances – 12
20/21 Goals – 1
19/20 Appearances – 13
Jodie is a special player for sure, someone that made her way through the Development into the first team. Jodie was so key to the team going forwards this season she has been asked to play in a different role since she returned from Injury. Another player that represents England at Youth level and Jodie has made the wing back position her own this season.
Jodie came on against Manchester City at the end of the game but will no doubt be in and around the squad on matchdays as we go forward in the FAWSL.
20/21 Appearances – 10
19/20 Appearances – 19
19/20 Goals – 1
The girl with the red hair band in the Army Trial game. I wrote I hope she is as good as she looks. 2 seasons in and it’s fair to say that she is even better than hoped at that time. The team has moved on since Sophie joined and a big part of this is Sophie’s work rate and skill on and off the ball. Sophie will give you everything on the pitch. Off the pitch one of the nicest people I have ever met as well, gives you all the time in the world.
Sophie comes into her third season as a Aston Villa Women’s player and will no doubt be ready to prove her worth as always as the season goes on. You will always get 110% from Sophie on and off the pitch.
23. Nadine Hanssen
13. Caroline Siems
20/21 Appearances – 15
20/21 Goals – 4
19/20 Appearances – 17
19/20 Goals – 3
Nadine joined Aston Villa from Genk Ladies and has become a stay in the starting line up ever since. Our very own Dutch Maestro in the middle, her first season she adapted to English football and last season has excelled scoring some very important goals for Aston Villa. But it’s her overall play that is exciting to see as a fan from the sidelines. She always smiles around Boldmere and all the away grounds you see her at, a truly incredible person that you love to see representing your team.
Nadine came on near the end of the Manchester City match but she will no doubt have a massive part to play this season with Aston Villa Women in the FAWSL.
20/21 Appearances – 15
Caroline joins Aston Villa Women this season after spending 5 years with Turbine Potsdam working her way through the ranks. She has also represented Germany through the youth levels. The 21 year old German player joins up and looks to stake her claim at Left Back, but can play with both feet.
Caroline made her debut against Manchester City in the opening game and looked like she had some good pace up the wing. Be interesting to see how she grows throughout the season.
29. Lisa Weiß
10. Ramona Petzelberger
20/21 Appearances – 17
Lisa Weiss joins Aston Villa Women this season from Lyon where she was for two years but her former clubs include SGS Essen and Duisburg. I always remember seeing Lisa play for Germany when I started watching Women’s football even though she didn’t get many caps behind the every presence number one she was pushing the current number as she was picked in the Germany Squad.
Lisa starts the season with an injury so was unable to play in the opening game of the FAWSL but as soon as she is back will no doubt be ready to stake her place. From what I saw when have seen her play she is a fantastic keeper with great relfexs and will bring in a wealth of experience and knowledge.
20/21 Appearances – 12
20/21 Goals – 3
Ramona Petzelberger joins Aston Villa Women this season from SGS Essen after 3 years with the German team. Her other clubs include Bayer Leverkusen, Bad Neuehar and SG Wattenschied. She has played for Germany youth up till the U20’s from the U16’s.
Little was known about Ramona when she joined Aston Villa Women but from her debut match against Manchester City, for me she was Player Of The Match for Villa, and a few others have said so since as well. She battled hard throughout the game and defiantly feel she will be one to watch in our first ever FAWSL season.
8. chloe arthur
9. Stine Larsen
20/21 Appearances – 13
20/21 Goals – 1
Chloe Arthur joined Aston Villa Women from Birmingham City this season. Such a classy player on and off the ball, I first saw her play under Willie Kirk at Bristol City and was instantly a fan and have been ever since. Chloe works extremely hard and never gives up in the centre of the pitch. She joined Bristol City from Hibernian Before moving onto Birmingham City. Chloe also represents Scotland in the Senior squad after making her way through the U17’s and U19’s.
Already in her debut for Aston Villa Women against Manchester City she has showed she is so solid in the middle of the pitch and ran herself ragged before coming off but left it all on the pitch and we have such a good player in Chloe going forward.
20/21 Appearances – 16
20/21 Goals – 2
Stine Larsen joined Aston Villa Women this season from FC Fleury 91 this season after scoring 4 in 14 for them. Stine spent 1 year at FC Fleury 91 after scoring 35 goals in 79 games for Brondby IF in a 6 year period between 2013 and 2019. Stine Larsen has represented her country on 45 occasions scoring 13 goals since 2015.
Stine made her debut against Manchester City in the opening game and did have the ball in the back of the net, but a terrible decision means that she is still looking to open her account. I don’t think it will take long as she showed strength and power and wasn’t afraid to get her head on the ball in the box
1. sian rogers
19. Diana Silva
20/21 Appearances – 4
19/20 Appearances – 17
My first sight of Sian was against Liverpool a few years back. You could tell she was a special player with the amount of saves she made. But she has proved over the last few seasons that she truly is one of the best keepers in the Women’s Championship but not only the Championship but I would say in England because even though she has had a quieter season than last. Whenever you need Sian, Sian is there to pull off a fantastic reflex save.
Sian won the Golden Glove in the winning Championship season and will no doubt try to keep her #1 spot through the season. Had a rough start against Manchester City but showed her class in the second half and why she is between the sticks.
20/21 Appearances – 17
20/21 Goals – 3
Diana Silva joined Aston Villa Women this season from Sporting CP after spending 4 years with the Portuguese team. Her other teams include Clube de Abergaria and Atletico Ouriense. Diana has represented her country in the U19’s and plays for the Senior side for almost a decade. Her stats are very impressive coming from Sporting CP scoring 62 goals in 78 games.
Diana made her debut for Aston Villa Women against Manchester City and was one of the stand out players in the game. Used her pace to drive up the wing and try and pick out our attackers in the middle and also hit the side netting on a fast break attack.
6. anita asante
21. shania hayles
20/21 Appearances – 17
20/21 Goals – 1
Anita Asante joined Aston Villa Women this season from Chelsea, where she has spent the last 2 years. But has alot of experience she can bring into Aston Villa since playing for Arsenal in 2003 through her career with stints in America and in Sweden before returning to England. Anita has also represented England 70 times since 2004 and also represented Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics.
Anita has unfortunately started the season off with an injury so wasn’t part of the first matchday squad but hopefully will be able to stake her claim when she returns from injury as the season goes on.
20/21 Appearances – 19
20/21 Goals – 4
19/20 Appearances – 19
19/20 Goals – 12
Shania joined from Birmingham City, probably with the least expectations of the 3 that joined from Birmingham. But from day one we have seen something special from Shania and into the end of the season she is scoring for fun and causing so many problems for the opposition attacks. 12 goals last season already for Shania and her link up play with Melissa has been incredible to watch as Villa attack and dominate defences.
Shania was a joy to watch last season and ended up scoring 12 goals, as always you can see Shania ready to go as soon as her feet touch the pitch. No doubt a huge season again. Came on against Manchester City for first game of season.
7. emma follis
14. emily syme
20/21 Appearances – 14
19/20 Goals – 2
19/20 Appearances – 16
19/20 Goals – 7
Emma had just left Villa when I first started watching, she was on the cover of my first programme but had gone to Reading. She returned to Villa this season from Birmingham City, she came with all the fanfare and the trimmings. An aggressive winger who likes to get a shot in at goal which has lead to her scoring 7 goals this season for Villa. Known for her set pieces and already bagging a few free kicks along the way for Aston Villa Women.
Emma was a big player for Aston Villa Women last season, adding to the squad towards winning the Championship. Villa through and through will no doubt be so proud to wear the badge for Aston Villa’s first season in the FAWSL. Played against Manchester City in the opening game and was unlucky not to get her name on the scoresheet.
20/21 Appearances – 15
20/21 Goals – 1
19/20 Appearances – 20
19/20 Goals – 3
Emily joined last season from Yeovil, I said I was looking forward to finding out about Emily as I didn’t know anything. And what a joy she has turned out to be, not only her goal celebrations and her smile as she bounces around like tigger. But her work on and off the ball is something truly fantastic and you can see why she is representing England at Youth level on a regular basis. You will always get 110% from Emily and seems to have an endless engine in the midfield.
Emily came on against Manchester City in the opening game and will no doubt be a key player for Aston Villa Women as the season develops and continues for the FAWSL.
20. Mana Iwabuchi
16. Olivia McLoughlin
20/21 Appearances – 8
20/21 Goals – 2
Mana joins Aston Villa Women in the 20/21 season from INAC Kobe Leonessa in the WE League to boost the Villa ranks. The biggest name to join the Women’s team in a World Cup Winner and also represented Japan in the Olympics where she won the Silver Medal for Japan.
Japan are always such a technical team on the ball so hopefully Mana will bring that to the first team this season. Mana made her debut in the Continetal Cup against Bristol City in a 2-1 loss but also made her first appearance in the FAWSL in a game against Manchester City.
20/21 Appearances – 6
Olivia is the new generation of graduates from the Aston Villa Women Academy where the 16 year old was signed up to the first team before the Bristol City game. Olivia joined Aston Villa’s Academy from Birmingham City’s Academy where she plays Right Back in the defence for the team.
Olivia made her debut against Manchester City and in her minutes on the pitch really impressed as such a young and upcoming player. Olivia also represents England on the Youth Levels of the game and have no doubt that she will one day be in the full squad too.
18. Freya Gregory
20/21 Appearances – 6
20/21 Goals – 1
Freya was one of the players that impressed us all in the friendly we got to see against Nottingham Forest. A highly touted young player in the Academy team. A pacey and skillful player whose time with the first team will come.
Freya made her first team debut against Tottenham Hotspur in the FAWSL on the 6/2/21.