Bristol City head coach Lauren Smith says that she is confident of making the right additions to her squad in the January transfer window.
The Robins have put up a good fight so far in their first season back in the Barclays Women’s Super League. Smith has put together a side with a strong identity. Bristol City are a team that are together, committed, hardworking and they are very dangerous in the opposition box in every game.
Adding new faces to such a well-gelled group in January will be a challenge but Bristol City boss Smith is confident of finding players that will fit the team’s strong identity.
“Whenever we recruit, it’s always about who we think can come in and fit what we do,” Smith told WSL Full-Time. “They have to be part of the bigger group, so that won’t change. Players who join in January, I’ll ensure that happens.
“In the last January window in the Championship, the new players took to the team very well. The rest of the team knows that their strength is in the strength of the group. They know that if we bring players to add to that, it helps everyone. That works when everyone is on the same path. We’ve got that right in the past and I’m sure we’ll get that right again.”
One player who arrived in the last transfer window and has proved to be a good fit is Danish forward Amalie Thestrup. The player has struggled for goals in previous spells in England with Liverpool and West Ham United but she has already hit the back of the net four times for Bristol City. Smith believes that Thestrup’s desire to represent the club has helped her to find some luck in the opposition box.
She said “I think there were two things with Amalie. When we looked at her games and the clubs she’s played for, she’s created a lot of opportunities but maybe didn’t always get on the scoresheet. We knew there was something there. It wasn’t that she wasn’t scoring for a reason, it just hadn’t fallen for her.
“When I met her, she was completely in and wanted to be a part of Bristol City for the long-term. I thought these things matched. I knew her quality and the environment we have got would only bring the best out of her and we’re seeing that now. She’s a dream to coach as well.”
Bristol City are next in action when they face Manchester United at Ashton Gate on Sunday afternoon. Tickets for the match remain on-sale and can be purchased by clicking here.
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