All the Womens National Premier League club pages have been updated to include Football England's appraisal of the good and bad of their season, and here is our very own Womens Team of the Season.
Although I am not a huge fan of the 4-3-3 formation which dominates the womens' game at present virtually everyone in the league plays it so it only seems right to employ it here as well.
There are four survivors from last seasons' team, Lindsay Johnson, Kelly Smith and Fara Williams have now featured in all three Football England Team of the Seasons while Alex Scott returns for the second year in a row.
Special mention goes to Birmingham’s Heather Scheuber whose performances this season have persuaded us to break up the “Holy Trinity” of Williams, Smith and Jayne Ludlow in midfield.

Substitutes:
D.Hill (Everton)
A.Asante (Arsenal)
J.Fishlock (Bristol Academy)
L.Sanderson (Arsenal)
N.Dowie (Everton)

Manager: David Bradley (Liverpool)

Gk: Carly Telford (Leeds United)

Telford really made a name for herself with an outstanding performance in the FA Cup final when she alone stood between Arsenal and a first half landslide but she had already contributed hugely to her clubs’ passage to that final. Indeed her form was consistently excellent for Leeds United all season.
She has all the attributes required of a top keeper; she is big, agile and has safe hands. She also distributes the ball better than most goalkeepers in the womens’ game.
Is in the England squad on merit and has the potential to become first choice over the next couple of years.

RB: Alex Scott (Arsenal)

The Arsenal and England right back really came into her own during the 2006-07 season and carried on where she left off this time around.
This versatile and adventurous player had a good World Cup despite being used in a variety of roles and was once again one of Arsenal’s most consistent and influential players as the club again chased a variety of honours.
Rounded the season off with a typically flamboyant display in the FA Cup final and is undoubtedly one of the players who make sure Arsenal are a great team rather than just a very good one.

CH: Lindsay Johnson (Everton)

Lindsay Johnson just gets better and better and better.
The real leader of the Everton Ladies side, Johnson struck up a magnificent partnership with Emily Westwood at the heart of their defence which proved pivotal in the clubs’ League Cup triumph over Arsenal.
Johnson has no obvious weakness and is another player who will go beyond her expected duties if her team needs something extra. Exceptional.

CH: Emily Westwood (Everton)

Westwood is very similar to Johnson and together they make a formidable and intimidating partnership.
She has decent pace and mobility but her outstanding quality is her heading ability which is absolutely top class. Does not even consider taking prisoners whether challenging in the air or on the deck and cannot be any fun whatsoever to play against.
Just what you want from a centre half, in fact.

LB: Rachel Unitt (Everton)

It seems strange that Unitt has apparently fallen completely out of favour in the England set up at a time when she is playing perhaps the best football of her career. She is not the quickest but her keen positional sense ensures that she is seldom caught out, she tackles well and is strong in the air.
Where she scores over her successor in the England team, Casey Stoney, is that she is far more comfortable in possession on the left hand side and offers a better supply line to those in front of her. Unitt can also get forward herself to good effect either putting over centres herself or getting on the end of those put over from the other flank.
Helped turn the Everton defence into the meanest in the National Premier League and also takes the most stylish throw ins of anyone in world football.

CM: Heather Scheuber (Birmingham City)

For two seasons we had picked the same midfield in our womens’ team of the year (Ludlow, Smith & Williams) and there seemed little hope that anyone could challenge that titanic trio in the immediate future. We didn’t think Ludlow was quite at her best this season, however, and have decided to give Scheuber the nod in this years’ selection.
This is a mighty high accolade and we hope Scheuber will go on to justify our faith by becoming a top star in the next few years. We wouldn’t drop a player of Ludlow’s quality lightly.
Scheuber was absolutely outstanding in the Birmingham midfield scoring goals herself and becoming the teams’ major creative force. Has a good range of passing ability and is always looking to hurt the opposition rather than simply taking the safe option.
Is a real box to box player with genuine quality. A bit like Jayne Ludlow in fact.

CM: Fara Williams (Everton)

Football England Favourite Fara Williams remains untouchable. Yet another season of magnificent consistency and quality in midfield backed up by another impressive goals return.
Outstanding for club and country.

AM: Kelly Smith (Arsenal)

Vic Akers reckons she’s the best player in the world. He might just be right. Remains head and shoulders the best player in the country with her unique combination of raw power and sublime skill.
Smith is a player we should all enjoy while we can because it might be a while before England produces her like again.

RW: Karen Carney (Arsenal)

Carney really came into her own amid the gallery of stars at Arsenal this year, stamping her brand of impish wing play firmly on the teams’ performances.
Great to watch she improved all aspects of her game during the season. Her finishing was markedly better and her decision making was also far sounder. Less likely to dribble for dribblings’ sake, Carney knew when to go herself and when to play in better placed colleagues. Always happy to come inside to get involved in the action and some of her link up play with Kelly Smith was exquisite.
Carney’s next challenge is to be as effective for England, a much bigger ask but one she is capable of answering.

CF: Helen Lander (Watford)

Lander’s goals had been the major reason behind Watford’s rise into the National Premier League and this prolific goalscorer quickly showed that she could produce the goods at the highest level.
Lander scored heavily throughout the campaign and not just against the weaker sides. Arsenal and several other top sides felt the force of this powerful strikers’ finishing and it would be interesting to see if she could answer England’s problems in that area. There is no sign of her being given the chance at present, however.
May not be the quickest, most skilful or elegant forward but Lander has decent pace, good strength, a real goalscorers’ instincts and finishes clinically from anywhere inside the penalty area.
An old fashioned goalscorer and a very good one.

LW: Sue Smith (Leeds United)

Sue Smith is one of the faces of womens’ football in this country and she can certainly play as well. She has been around for years now but her infectious enthusiasm is certainly no gimmick as her performances this season testify.
Clever and tricky she is one of the most creative players in the game and scores her fair share as well. Was a real driving force behind a young Leeds side that is improving all the time and her quality and zest provide inspiration and the perfect example to her colleagues.

Manager: David Bradley (Liverpool)

Bizarrely enough Bradley has actually now been sacked by Liverpool but this in no way influenced my decision to name him as manager of the season.
You never know if something has gone on behind the scenes but if Bradley was dismissed for purely footballing reasons then the decision seems nonsensical.
Liverpool were undoubtedly one of the favourites for relegation, having been promoted the season before but without being able to strengthen their squad. Relegation was never really an issue, however, as the side picked up points regularly while also winning through to the League Cup semi finals before losing out to Arsenal.
By the end of the season Liverpool had managed excellent wins against Birmingham City (twice), Blackburn Rovers (twice), Bristol Academy, Leeds United and Doncaster Belles. Not a bad effort.
Most impressive, however, was the way in which Bradley’s team played their football. Without any obvious stars and with a very small side Bradley made sure that his team played a crisp, short passing game that was always good to watch.
Starting with two busy, clever full backs Liverpool looked to move the ball quickly down the flanks or through midfield and into attack with the emphasis on sharp passing and movement.
With much of womens’ football formulaic and regimented Liverpool’s approach was like a breath of fresh air and although they were nowhere near being the best team their “style” was instantly recognisable and always enjoyable to watch.