Your Fantasy Football Club by Club Guide: Birmingham City

The overview

Last season: 1st (BWSL 2, Champions)

This season expectations: Lower half / Aiming to establish themselves

Our guide reaches the first of last season's promoted sides, and Birmingham arrive in style. After a hard-fought title race, they claimed the BWSL 2 on the final day of the season, racking up 44 points and a +22 goal difference on the way. 

The obvious caveat here is the step up. Amy Merricks' side will be aiming to avoid relegation and announce themselves as a top-flight team that’s here to stay. Expect them to have their moments going forward but to find life tougher against the established BWSL defences. 

However, the Blues’ squad is filled with talent, especially going forward. They arrive full of confidence, and with an attack built on width and running. Lily Crosthwaite was the standout last season, chipping in with 7 goals and 5 assists from the right whilst causing chaos for opposition defenders. She also averaged 4.9 dribbles per 90, meaning whenever she gets the ball at her feet, she’s going to run at her opponent.

Veatriki Sarri is the sort of all-action forward who's involved in quite literally everything, dribbles, crosses, corners, the lot. She’s exactly the kind of player who could pile up those involvement points. The Greek international would have averaged 7.6 points per 90 last season, based on our scoring system, making her one of the highest scoring players in the game. 

Merricks has strengthened smartly for the step up. Millie Turner and Lisa Naalsund arrive from Manchester United to add top-flight experience through the spine, and Katie Startup comes in from champions Manchester City. Sophie Baggaley also joins in goal from Brighton. The core that won promotion stays largely intact, which bodes well for team cohesion.

Set-piece takers

Corners: With Lucy Quinn and Christie Harrison-Murray both moving on, the duties look set to fall to Veatriki Sarri and Océane Hurtré, who took plenty between them. 

Penalties: Sarri looks the most likely to own the spot this year. One to keep an eye on in the early fixtures.

Direct free kicks: Wilma Leidhammar, Hurtré and Sarri shared the duties last season.

Player costs

As a newly promoted side, Birmingham players will have some strong value across the board, meaning there could be some astute signings for fantasy managers.

Their attackers are the draw. Lily Crosthwaite (£7.0m) and Veatriki Sarri (£7.5m) both offer goals, assists and heaps of involvement at what should be a bargain price, ideal budget-enablers who let you spend big elsewhere. Wilma Leidhammar (£6.0m) is worth a look too, an attacking midfielder who can also play up front and is a real goal threat.

At the back, the new arrivals add solidity. If Millie Turner (£4.5m) and the defence can frustrate the bigger sides, adding a Birmingham City defender to your team could nick you the odd clean sheet nobody saw coming.

Just remember, as a promoted side they'll have tough days against the league's best, so lean on them when the fixtures are favourable. The attacking talent in the Blues’ ranks are likely a sure fire way to get those extra involvement points throughout the season.

Make sure to download the WSL Football App ahead of the launch of the Barclays WSL and WSL2 Fantasy game.