Adran Premier 2023-24 predictions: Cardiff City or Swansea City for the title? Wrexham for top four?
CARDIFF, WALES - 16 APRIL 2023: 2022/23 Genero Adran Premier fixture between Cardiff City FC Women & Swansea City Ladies at the Cardiff City Stadium. (Pic by Perry Dobbins/FAW)
Wales’ premier women’s competition returns this weekend, as the Adran Premier finally gets underway.
Cardiff City went unbeaten last season, as they claimed their first league title in a decade, with Swansea City just missing out on the title.
This season, however, promises to be the toughest yet. Every club has been active during the transfer window and have brought in some quality talents. Wrexham are also in the division, making their first appearance in the topflight since 2015.
Ahead of kick-off on Sunday, we predict which clubs may be battling for the title, who could break into the top four, and who could spring a surprise.
Adran Premier title challengers
It’s incredibly difficult to say who will win the league this season, but I predict Cardiff City will just shade it. Firstly, they are still on this unbeaten league run. The last time they lost a league game was on April 20th, 2021.
A staggering run that does so much, not only in terms of confidence but also in forming a mentality that they will simply not be beaten.
You only need to be around the team for a short amount of time to see how driven and focused they are on not just winning the league but winning the treble.
Transfer wise, some crucial players have departed. Starlets Phoebie Poole and Lily Billingham have left for English third-tier side Cheltenham Town, and a number of their title winning U19 side have joined clubs around Wales.
But the Bluebirds have filled the gaps well, especially in the middle of the park, where they have signed some of the league’s top talents in Tija Richardson, Kelly Adams, and Emma Beynon. Strikers Mackenzie Olden and Molly Kehoe have come in to score goals, while Amelia Forkings also comes in from Cardiff Met.
Read more: Swansea City star makes ‘massive’ claim for new transfer arrival from Bristol City
The biggest strength City have is their defence. Often lining up in a back three, the trio of Meg Bowen, Hannah Power, and captain Siobhan Walsh form a defence that is unrivalled in this league.
Add to this Ffion Price and Danielle Green playing as wingbacks, who can also sit deep and create a five-person defence, then it’s difficult for any team to break through.
Having said this, an immovable object, like Cardiff, does meet an irresistible force, and that force comes in the shape of Swansea City.
The attacking talent that the Swans possess is exciting to say the least. New captain Katy Hosford, Stacey John-Davies, and Chloe Chivers are now joined by the likes of Wales international Chloe Bull and Robyn Pinder.
Sophie Brisland-Hancocks is also now playing behind them, and she can create magic out of nowhere, and it’s safe to say that, from an attacking perspective, the Swans have the best in the league.
A big loss will be Shaunna Jenkins. Jenkins was one of the Adran Prem’s most intimidating centre-backs and losing that presence will hurt.
But they have bought in Steph Turner from Met who has bags of experience that will certainly help Ceri Phillips’ side.
Read more: Seren Watkins sends treble message to Cardiff City fans after Champions League bout
In the end, it comes down to which one is better, the Cardiff defence or the Swansea attack? It’s incredibly close, but because Cardiff have this unbeaten run behind them, I think they will simply pick up where they left off.
It will be interesting, also, to see how Europe has affected Iain Darbyshire and his team. Whether there will be a European hangover lingering over them heading into the opening fixtures will be something to look out for, but if they get through that, there may be no stopping them.
Read more: TNS star fires warning to Cardiff City, Wrexham & Swansea City
Dark horses
The ultimate dark horse this year are TNS. Greg Draper has transformed this side since he came into the managerial role midway through last season, and he has assembled a squad that are hungry to, not only break into the top two but to break into the Champions League.
Before the summer transfer, the squad had a lot of good components. Caitlin Chapman, Beth Lewis, Issy Redding, and Helen Evans all had brilliant seasons last term, and it would take a brave person to not back them to improve once again this year.
A very under-the-radar signing, I believe, has been Kirstie Kural. Kural is coming off the back of an insane season with Connah’s Quay, scoring 24 and assisting eleven in all competitions. If she can replicate this form in a higher division, then she adds a completely different element to this Saints team.
I do fully expect TNS to finish in the top four, but whether they can break into the top two, that’s a different question.
The final spot in the top four is open to anyone this season, but I feel that a team that’s been left on the doorstep too often is finally going to make the jump. This is finally the season Pontypridd United grace the top four.
Of course, the big news has been that Liv Francis has signed for WSL side Manchester United, but the recruitment has been top drawer from Ponty in response. There’s a good mix of young and experienced players who have linked up with the team.
Sophie Topper, for example, had a great season in the back with Pontardawe Town, while Alana Murphy returns to the club. The most eye-catching signing has been former Welsh international Nadia Lawrence, who joins from Cardiff City Ladies.
For the first time in a while, I feel like Ponty have a lot of depth in their ranks, and that’s what puts them ahead of others in the race for the top four. If they can break into that Championship Conference, they will have overcome their biggest hurdle.
The unknown quantities…
The other four teams in the league can certainly break into the top four, but there are more questions hanging over them compared to the four teams we’ve already mentioned.
Aberystwyth Town I would say are the most experienced side. The core of the team have been together for many seasons now and have experience of being in the top four. The problem for them is the depth in the squad.
Aber players have spoken about the struggles of bringing players in, and that’s been evident looking at their business, with only Niamh Duggan and Margot Farnes coming in.
Elen Valentine has also departed, and defender Elin Jones will miss the start of the season. They did end the Conference Plate well, and if they can start the way they ended, there will be optimism in and around Park Avenue.
Barry Town United have had back-to-back seventh-placed finishes, but there’s a feeling that they could upset a few people this season. After having four managers last season, another new era dawns, as Stevie McCarthy-Campbell takes the reigns.
He and his staff have put together a fascinating team. India Shanahan scored 24 goals for Cardiff City’s U19 side and should be an able replacement for Mackenzie Olden.
Lucy Attwood joins from WSL side Bristol City, while Chloe Tiley brings experience from Swansea. If Barry can hit the ground running and McCarthy-Campbell can get his style of play across, this Barry team will be one to keep an eye on.
Perhaps the team with the most amount of question marks hanging over them is Cardiff Met. The Archers are a team used to competing for titles and for a place in Europe.
An enormous turnover that’s happened this summer has raised numerous questions.
It seems Daniel Delahay is opting for a younger team to guide him through his first season in the Adran Prem. Faith Mulenga has league experience with Barry, while they have also picked up a lot of youngsters from Cardiff City. It all depends on how quickly this squad can gel together and how quickly Delahay can get his messages across. This may be a rebuilding season down in Cyncoed.
And finally, to Wrexham, the team with oh so many eyes on them this year. The Dragons did win twelve out of twelve in the Adran North, they were often outplayed by Briton Ferry in the playoff final.
Wrexham were also defeated by Aberystwyth in the cup but did beat TNS in the other.
There’s no doubt there are many talents in the team. Rosie Hughes knows where the back of the net is, while the likes of Amber Lightfoot and Lili Jones can provide her with the service.
Former Wales forward Hannah Keryakoplis also joins the club, along with a handful of players from across the border. It’s going to be fascinating to see how they compete against the likes of Cardiff City and Swansea City, but it’s against other teams where we will really know what kind of Wrexham team this is.
