Flying Kiwis – October 7
Flying Kiwis will keep you up to date on the endeavours of New Zealand sports folk overseas. Not the battlers, mind you, but the genuine overlooked and underappreciated superstars that for some ridiculous reason don’t get a look in on local media.
Chris Wood – Leicester City (English Championship)
Wood’s hamstring injury is still keeping him out, and he’s now in serious doubt for the All Whites friendlies coming up. Without him, Leicester had a solid 2-1 win at Yeovil midweek, but dropped one to Doncaster over the weekend, a 1-0 loss thank to a Kasper Schmeichel goalkeeping OG. The Foxes drop 3 points off top with this loss.
Up Next: International Window. After the break they take on Huddersfield at home, 3am Sunday 20th (NZT)
Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town (English Championship)
Tommy Smith had a tough time of it midweek, when Ipswich threw away a 4-1 lead away to Derby (after just 34 minutes) to end up drawing the game 4-4. Smith put in a better performance against Sheffield Wednesday yesterday as the Trotters drew 1-1, though he picked up a late yellow card (just the second of the year for the 23 year old Smith). It’s doubtful that Mick McCarthy will release Smith for the All White’s club friendlies, as they fall outside of the FIFA window, but expect to see him kit up against Trinidad & Tobago (on the 15th of October T&T time). Ipswich Town sit 10th in the Championship with 15 points, 5 points out of a playoff spot.
Up Next: International Window. Then a 3am home game vs Burnley on Oct 20 (NZT)
Marco Rojas – VfB Stuttgart (Bundesliga)
Stuttgart are now unbeaten in 5 league games, having held on for a 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen. Rojas didn’t play, but he is scheduled to return to full training this week, so there may soon finally be something new to say about him here. It’s difficult to say what impact he’ll make when he comes back, Marco himself is stressing that his are long term goals, so even when fully fit it may be a while before he makes any ripples. Still, it’s great news for New Zealand that he’s on his way back. (PS - The Guardian had a good piece on Rojas earlier this week)
Up Next: International Window. Stuttgart next play on the morning of Monday 21st Oct at Hamburger SV (NZT)
Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)
The best has been duly saved till last. It’s been nearly five years since West Ham had such a dominant away win in the Premier League. They travelled to White Hart Lane this morning, and pummelled Tottenham (who were unbeaten at home this season) 3-0. Winston Reid was superb in a man of the match performance. He leapt high to head in the opening goal after 66 minutes, and defended strongly all day. He didn't lose a header all game. Roberto Soldado was rested in favour of Jermaine Defoe for Spurs, but Reid and CB partner James Tomkins shut him down completely. Defoe managed just 2 shots. Ricardo Vaz Te added a second goal, before Ravel Morrison sealed what was only Sam Allardyce’s fourth away win in the EPL with West Ham with one of the goals of the season. Reid’s form is great news ahead of the international break, where he will captain the All Whites against Trinidad & Tobago.
Up Next: International Window. West Ham host Man City two weeks this morning (NZT)