Flying Kiwis – October 6
Reidy blows a kiss... or attempts a header?
Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)
Winnie got the old ‘Picture on the Match Programme’ honours for the clash with QPR. ‘Arry’s side is the only one in the Premier League without a point away from home, and West Ham immediately set them back again. Stewart Downing’s teasing corner was turned into his own net by a befuddled Nedum Onuoha within five minutes. It wasn’t until around 25 rotations of the clock that QPR even threated the goal, and when they did they weren’t all that clinical. West Ham defended well, thriving with the rare opportunity to play from in front. Winston Reid was powerful, dominant and composed.
Just before the hour mark, The Hammers struck again. James Tomkins’ wonky volley floated into the path of Diafra Sakho and the Senegalese forward scored his fourth goal in four games. Adrian had to make one notable save a bit after that though, in truth, Rangers never looked like scoring. 2-0 it finished, though it could have been more if Kevin Nolan had gotten more than just a stab on Stewie Downing’s pass. Shocking how well Downing’s playing, give that man an England jersey!
And so all of a sudden, with rumours swirling at the start of the season that Sam Allardyce wasn’t long for his job, West Ham are up to seventh on the table – ahead of Arsenal and Liverpool on goal difference. What is this madness!?
On a side note, Reid's contract with The Hammers is up at the end of the year, and if we believe the newspaper chatter, then more than a couple Champs Lge calibre sides are keeping an eye on him. But do we believe them?
Up Next: A week off as internationals waste everyone’s time for a while. Then it’s off to Burnley.
Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town (English Championship)
Mick McCarthy’s a manager who likes consistency in his team line-ups. So it’s pretty clear that Smith has lost his starting spot now. The Mings/Berra/Chambers/Parr back four is now the standard and it’ll take a rapid drop in form or an injury from one of those lads for Smithy to get back into the 90 minute rotation.
However he’s still the first choice off the bench, and that was evidenced when he came on as a defensive sub against Nottingham Forest this morning. Following on from a 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich looked to give the high-flying Forest a shakeup. A wonderful opening goal from Daryl Murphy gave Ipswich the lead at the half, and considering Forest were coming off of three straight 0-0 draws in the Championship (which dropped them from first to second place), this was a game full of chances. Forest clawed things back in the second half and found a deserved equaliser but Murphy had some more tricks in his bag and he rose highest to head home in the 71st minute. With Notts Forest trying to preserve an unbeaten start to the league season, Smith came on five minutes later to counter that threat and hold the lead. An extra defender and all that. Forest had a few chances yet it looked like Ipswich would hang on for a great victory… until in the fourth minute of injury time when that second goal finally came for Forest. Michail Antonio with his sixth goal of the season, 2-2 was the final score.
Still a good result for Ipswich who are now seven games unbeaten and in sixth place on the table.
Up Next: Home to Blackburn, 3am Sunday 19th (NZT)
Chris Wood – Leicester City (English Premier League)
Back on the bench! Ah, but he didn’t play. LCFC were another team to concede an injury time equaliser, drawing 2-2 with Burnley, the side they fought off for the Championship title last season. Interesting that it was Jamie Vardy, not Dave Nugent, who got to stay in the starting XI as Nigel Pearson went back to two men up-front.
Woody’s in that awkward fourth striker position. The one that saw Danny Welbeck leave Man United.
Up Next: Newcastle United away, after the international break
Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)
Great result for Zwolle and Ryan Thomas was a big part of it. They travelled to Ajax to face the Dutch giants, who they famously smashed in the Cup final last season (and edged out in the pre-season Community Shield type thingy). Thomas started and he played the full 90.
From the start, Zwolle were anything but intimidated. Tomas Necid drew a save out of Dutch World Cup keeper Jesper Cillesen within the first few minutes, and Zwolle had a few other chances to capitalise too. Ryan Thomas was in and amongst it, not registering a shot from the left wing but making a couple of sweet attacking passes and one nice cross in particular. Ajax dominated possession throughout and after a slow first half hour, they had the better chances at goal too. But Zwolle held on for a scoreless draw and a valuable point. It keeps them tied with Ajax for second and third, with PSV two points ahead of them after their win.
Up Next: 1.30am Oct 20, vs Go Ahead Eagles, Away (NZT)
Marco Rojas – Greuther Fürth (German Bundesliga II)
Gee Furth won 2-0 and Marco came on as an 89th minute sub. His third appearance of the season. Good stuff. Keep ‘em coming.
Up Next: Braunschweig at the crack of midnight, Sun Oct 19 (NZT)