After a difficult start to November, City finished the month with a flourish, claiming a historic Manchester derby win before putting seven past Tottenham Hotspur.
Heading into the latest international break, Gareth Taylor’s side sit third in the Barclays Women’s Super League table, six points off runaway leaders Chelsea.
JOIE PLAYER OF THE MONTH | CAST YOUR VOTE
Several players enjoyed a real standout month for City, but there can only be three candidates for our Player of the Month vote.
Cast your vote via our shortlist below.
Laia Aleixandri
The Spain international has been a model of consistency for City across the season so far, and was unlucky to miss out on a nomination in October’s award.
While also comfortable at centre-half, Aleixandri has mainly operated as a full-back in 2023/24, where her tenacity and intelligence off the ball is matched by her vision and technical quality on it.
She had been central to our memorable 3-1 win over Manchester United in the first WSL Old Trafford derby before somewhat harshly being given her marching orders late on.
However, she bounced back to put in another standout display in our 7-0 win over Spurs to round off the month, even laying on for Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw’s third of the night.
Indeed, only Mary Fowler (four) has supplied more assists for City than Aleixandri so far this season.
To vote for Laia, click here.
Bunny Shaw
Last season’s record-breaking top scorer has been at it again in November.
Providing the assist for Chloe Kelly’s strike away to Arsenal in our first game of the month, Shaw then led the line with distinction against United.
Setting up Lauren Hemp to hand us the lead, her tireless pressing then saw her round off the scoring at Old Trafford when she got a boot to Mary Earps’ clearance to divert the ball into the hosts’ net in bizarre circumstances.
A first half hat-trick against Spurs in our final match of November rounded off an impressive month for the Jamaican, who currently boasts ten goal involvements in just eight matches in 2023/24.
To vote for Bunny, click here.
Lauren Hemp
Another player to flourish in the final weeks of November, the England winger grabbed two stunning goals across the month to heighten an already strong claim for our POTM prize.
Hemp was a key part of our attacking trident which cruised past United, curling home an exquisite strike to turn the game on its head and hand City a deserved lead.
She repeated the trick against Spurs seven days later, this time finding the top corner with her right foot from just inside the area early in the second half, before setting up Roord and Laura Coombs later in the match.
But there’s so much more to the winger’s game than goals or assists, with her remarkable dribbling ability, unique turn of pace and eye for a pass often the spark which ignites City’s attack.
To vote for Lauren, click here.
So, who gets the nod for November’s Joie Player of the Month?
The poll is now open, so get voting!
