The Implications of Andrew Durante’s Injury
Of all the things going on within football in Aotearoa these days, Andy Durante limping off late in the Phoenix’s 3-2 defeat away to Sydney late the other night wasn’t the most immediately memorable.
A Big Ol’ Kiwi Premiership National League Insert Sponsorship Preview!
‘Where All Whites are made’, goes the tagline. Once upon a time that would’ve been more insult than inspiration but in recent times it seems like they might just be onto something.
Flying Kiwis – October 17
And here we had it, the game that we’d all been waiting for, a Flying Kiwis Premier League Derby for only the third time in history and Chris Wood’s first experience of such conflicted stakes.
Peru, Peru, How Do You Do?
And with that the All Whites will compete for a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup against Peru, over two legs, home and away, in November. Maybe that’s a better prospect than playing Chile or Argentina but Peru didn’t seem too intimidated by the opportunity.
#WellyNix – First Impressions of the Kalezic Era
When Vido Jr put that header away five minutes in it seemed like we were in for golden times at the Wellington Phoenix. It was strangely reminiscent of the goal the All Whites scored, actually.
Flying Kiwis – October 10
Leading your sports news tonight… Abby Erceg is one game away from captaining successive NWSL championship teams. That and the small matter of the biggest Flying Kiwis Derby of all time which is coming up.
The All Whites’ Wing-Back Conundrum
Most of the problems with the All Whites right now are things we can deal with. We’re over-reliant on Chris Wood’s goals? No worries, he scores a lot of them and he’s pretty fit these days.
All Whites 1-2 Japan: One Last Dance Before The Big Ones
Alright, that’s it then. No more tests and no more experiments. The next time the All Whites play will be against the South American representatives in the Intercontinental Playoffs of World Cup Qualification.
The New Season Is Here But The Welly Nix Are Still An Unknown Prospect
It’s impossible to know what to expect from the Nix this season. A new coach, several new players in key positions, barely any preseason games against A-League teams to judge them against… impossible.
Flying Kiwis – October 3
Seems now like Woody’s a regular for the Clarets. Another ninety without a goal means he’s officially in a drought by his recent standards but, coincidence or not, Burnley have also only conceded one goal in the 390 Premier League minutes that he’s played for them.
Chatting Through The All Whites Squad For This Japan Friendly
They’re so much fun, these All Whites squads. What a luxury to have actual selection controversies, to know that there are more quality kiwis out there than can fit in a single touring party.
Flying Kiwis – September 26
Then Fernando Llorente and Winston Reid bumped shoulders. Winston ran over and tried to put on NFL block on him as he shielded the ball. Carroll and Llorente clashed on the end of a long ball. That was one too many for Winnie, Big Andy’s his best mate, and he ran in to fire away some heavy words. Love a bit of biffo in the footy!
Taking Some *Learnings* From the Football Ferns Tour of USA
On the morning of the Footy Ferns’ second international against the USA, coach Tony Readings was quoted on the radio talking about ‘putting learnings into action’ between the first game and the second. So let’s talk learnings then.
Flying Kiwis – September 19
Since Winston Reid returned from injury it’s almost been like a different West Ham. Two games and two clean sheets – the only thing missing away to West Brom on the weekend was a winning goal.
Michael Den Heijer vs El Niche Cache
Mike Den Heijer is a kiwi footy player doing his thing for NEC Nijmegen in The Netherlands. How that came to happen is a pretty fantastic story and Mike was decent enough to spin the yarn here for us.
Frank de Boer’s Crystal Palace Reign Was Doomed From the Beginning
Football managers are held to notoriously fragile standards but even for the Premier League seeing Crystal Palace sack Frank de Boer four games into the league season was a brow-raiser.
Flying Kiwis – September 12
There’s really nothing The Woodsman can do wrong right now, is there? He scored in his first Premier League game for Burnley and then grabbed a hatty for the All Whites on international duty. And guess what? Now he's scored again.
In Celebration of Kiwi Cup Final Day, Doing It For The Grassroots
It was all action as New Zealand club football’s two most iconic competitions came to their dramatic conclusion. Glenfield Rovers vs Eastern Suburbs in the women’s and Central United vs Onehunga Sports in the men’s.
Who Might The All Whites Play In The Intercontinental Playoffs?
Aotearoa’s done its bit. A Chris Wood hatty in Auckland inspired a comfortable 8-3 aggregate victory over the Solomon Islands and the All Whites will represent Oceania in the last round of World Cup qualifying.
All Whites 2-2 Solomon Islands: Don’t Look Back
The most important thing to remember about this game is that, thanks to Friday night, it didn’t matter at all. An 8-3 aggregate win may as well have been 8-7 and we still woulda been looking forward to that intercontinental playoff.