Not only do our wide defenders provide expert stability, but they enhance our electric attacking play by offering an alternative outlet to help breech opposition back lines.
And these capabilities were perfectly reflected by Esme Morgan, Kerstin Casparij and Demi Stokes throughout last term.
This, alongside their immense versatility, make them prized assets for Gareth Taylor and helped City find the perfect balance within our starting XI.
Read the tale of our fullbacks’ 2022/23 tape below…
ESME MORGAN
Last season proved to be another term of strong progress for our Academy graduate both domestically and internationally.
After returning from a lower leg fracture which kept her on the side lines for 12 months from September 2021, the 22-year-old made up for potential lost time by proving to be consistent figure for City.
Morgan maintain an impressive pass accuracy percentage of 86.1% - seeing 794 of her 922 attempted passes find a teammate in sky blue, while producing 29 tackles and 13 interceptions across the season.
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The versatile defender also made her Lionesses bow in a 0-0 draw with Czech Republic in October 2022 and has since tallied four caps for her country in total.
Back on the domestic scene, arguably her finest moment came when she wore our captain’s armband for the first time – leading City out at Reading in November.
In what was undoubtedly a proud moment for the Club and Morgan, she led us with distinction and class in a 3-0 win – helping us maintain a clean sheet in the process.
And Morgan was then rewarded for her stellar campaign by being included in Sarina Weigman’s England squad for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
KERSTIN CASPARIJ
Netherlands international Casparij joined the club ahead of the 2022/23 campaign from FC Twente and took no time to adapt to the Barclays Women’s Super League.
In her maiden season at the Academy Stadium, the 22-year-old made 25 appearances in all competitions while registering five assist to her teammates.
Upon her arrival in Manchester, the fullback stated her intent to ‘play the City style’ – and she did just that with her slick, accurate and progressive passing capabilities.
Across her league outings, Casparij averaged a pass success rate of 79.6% while also producing six completed dribbles down the right flank (a 50% completion).
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Although her fantastic attacking capabilities were consistently on show in sky blue, she was no slouch in defence either – with her recording a standout 34 tackles and 13 interceptions across the WSL campaign.
Across a strong debut campaign, the Netherlands ace’s highlight is perhaps Casparij’s highlight in sky blue so far came in our opening Continental Cup victory – a 6-0 success over Blackburn Rovers.
The defender provided the assist for Hayley Raso’s opener when she slid an exquisite pass into the Australian’s path before the rapid winger slotted home.
She then repeated the trick shortly after when she delivered a pinpoint cross into the box where Vicky Losada rose high to head home.
DEMI STOKES
Iconic City defender Stokes once again led by example on and off the field in 2022/23.
Having joined the Club in 2015, last term proved to be her ninth season in sky blue – racking up nine appearances which raised her total outings to 199.
When taking to the field, she continually oozed the class which has seen her lift seven major honours at the Academy Stadium.
Like her fellow fullbacks, she possessed a tremendous pass accuracy rate across her 181 league minutes with 88.7% of her attempted passes finding a teammate.
And her standout moment of the campaign perhaps came in our 2-0 win away to Liverpool in the Continental Cup in December.
In a closely fought contest, Stokes marshalled our backline expertly, aiding us in keeping a vital clean sheet as we struck through Filippa Angeldahl and Mary Fowler to earn three important group stage points en route to the last-four.
