Flying Kiwis – September 1
Ryan Nelsen – Toronto FC (US Major League Soccer)
We’re leading this week with Ryan Nelsen because, well… he’s been sacked.
Results were a big part of it, though it’s clear that his relationship with TFC General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko was more than a little frosty. Toronto were sitting a respectable fifth in their Eastern Conference with 9 wins, 6 draws and 9 losses, which seems decent given they finished second to last in the division the previous season (in which Nelsen took over half way through). But Toronto had gone on a big spending spree since then, getting international quality guys like Michael Bradley and Jermaine Defoe and their recent slip in form (2 losses and a draw in the past 3) had caused tensions to rise. The most recent was a lifeless 3-0 loss to New England at home in which Nelsen tried out a new formation amidst a few injuries and a whole lot of internal pressure. Bezbatchenko had been outspoken at training, insisting that the team needed to finish off games stronger and pick up their performances leading into a possible playoff run. With 10 games to go, Toronto are still sitting in that final playoff spot though the GM clearly has loftier expectations.
Nelsen responded candidly to that pressure in his post-match interview: “I’ve won this league, played in it for four years, been in the Premier League for 10 years, played in a World Cup, Olympics. I’ve played in some pretty hot pressure games. One thing that I do know is this was not one of them. It affected the guys.”
The GM responded by firing Nelsen and his entire coaching staff.
Ryan Nelsen ended with a record of 15 wins, 26 draws and 17 losses at Toronto. Assistant GM and TFC Academy Director Greg Vanney replaces Nelsen, making him the ninth head coach in 8 years for the franchise. The repercussions are already flowing with Jermaine Defoe, who Nelsen was largely responsible for signing to Toronto, being linked to a move back to the EPL with ‘Arry Redknapp at QPR.
Up Next: Umm, maybe an assistant gig in England? Another go in America? Retire to the rolling hills of the kiwi outdoors?
Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)
(Kevin Quigley/Daily Mail)
Not all that much better for Winston Reid this week but at least he has a job for the foreseeable future. West Ham were done 3-1 by Southampton at home. Mark Noble started things off with an early deflected goal after Morgan Schneiderlin was tackled in midfield. The Saints midfielder made up for that just before the break, finishing off a rebounded ball in the box (off his own shot). Southampton had a goal (wrongly) disallowed for offside, before Schneiderlin added a second when he and James Ward-Prowse caught West Ham’s defence napping with a quick corner. All three of those Southampton goals (including the disallowed one) came from set pieces and no doubt Fat Sam will be fuming at that. A side like the Hammers pride themselves on organisation at the back. The third (legitimate) goal came late as Nathaniel Clyne’s forward run exposed a lazy tracking run from the winger and his cross eventually ended up at the feet of Graziano Pellè. 3-1 it finished.
Winston Reid to his credit was far from at fault for any of the goals. He made 11 clearances to go with 3 interceptions, a tackle and a blocked shot… it just wasn’t enough against a rampant Southampton side when your own team is only good for 2 shots on target all game.
Oh, and the less said about this the better, but West Ham were bundled out of the League Cup on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United. Winnie scored an own goal.
Up Next: All Whites captaincy! We play Uzbekistan at 2am Tuesday 9 September, and it’s like on Sky Sports too. (NZT)
Chris Wood – Leicester City (English Premier League)
It’s tough to see Chris Wood getting too many opportunities in the short term, especially without any injuries to the key guys ahead of him. That’s why instead of getting annoyed at his regular bench roles, we oughta be giving him credit for taking the chance he got against Everton. There might not be too many more like that for a while. Since then he’s had a few minutes off the bench against Chelsea and a non-playing sub role against Arsenal in the EPL, but that’s plenty better that it looked like he’d get a month ago.
Wood did tuck 90 minutes under his belt in the League Cup midweek though. He was a part of an understrength Foxes side that hosted League 2’s Shrewsbury Town and it wasn’t pretty. The Shrews took the lead a little before half time from a slick free kick, and despite Leicester creating plenty of chances, they were clearly off the pace and they fell 1-0. Both teams should have added to the scoreline, really, with the woodwork taking a pounding.
It was a disappointing exit in a competition they did very well in last season for the Foxes. Chris Wood will be especially exasperated given that he hit the bar and headed wide late on. Midweek cup ties are of a premium for a guy like him. They’re a rare chance for him to get large minutes on the park and an exit like that against a much weaker side will hurt. He’ll have a bit more free time now, I guess…
Up Next: Off to Doha to join up with the All Whites ahead of the Uzbekistan clash.
Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town (English Championship)
Derby are a good side, so Tommy Smith and co. battling out an away draw there is a fair result. Unfortunately they’re now 4 games without a win after their opening weekend victory over Fulham and lingering in the lower regions of the Championship table. Smith played commendably, with 4 tackles, 4 interceptions and a blocked shot as the Tractor Boys overcame a 1-0 half time deficit to tie things up thanks to captain Christophe Berra’s header off a lovely free kick. Berra’s now got 3 goals in 3 from central defence. Derby had looked good value for their early lead and given the sloppy nature of their goal it looked like a game that could easily get out of hand. So Mick’s lads did well to salvage a point from it all.
The problems for Ipswich aren’t at the back – they’re up the other end. A centre back is their top scorer, and striker David McGoldrick was left out of this squad amidst strong rumours that he’s off to Leicester in the Premier League for £6m or so in a move that’d be bad news for both Smith and Chris Wood both. By the way, Woody was in town to watch Smith and Ipswich play on the weekend.
Nottingham Forest are shaping up as the team to beat in the Championship, with Norwich, Wolves and Watford all looking like mounting promotion challenges themselves.
Up Next: No All Whites duty for Tommy, he’ll get the week off before hosting Millwall, 2am on Sunday 14 (NZT).
Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)
Sadly the European dream came to an end after two games for Ryan Thomas and PEC Zwolle. Sparta Prague proved too good in the away leg and took care of the game 3-1 (and 4-2 on aggregate). Zwolle needed either a win or a high scoring draw to advance, but their opponents had a little too much class on the night. It was the Dutch side that had the first chance of the night but Tomas Necid’s effort was saved and soon Prague were in front, Ladislav Krejci gunning through for the opener. Just before the break it was 2-0 and with half an hour to go 3-0. At that stage it was all over barring a miracle for Zwolle, and Ryan Thomas was taken off with 70 mins played. They did manage to pull one back but it was too little too late. A premature end to the club’s first ever European run, but one they can still be proud of given it was only 2 years ago that they were promoted to the top flight in Holland.
Then on the weekend, Ryan Thomas was an unused sub (he’s had an ankle issue in recent weeks) as PEC Zwolle fell to NAC Breda away, also by a score-line of 3-1. They fell behind late in the first half, though equalised soon after the break. However the hosts, looking for their first win of the young season, finished much stronger and claimed the 3 points.
Up Next: All Whites duty, followed by a tough task hosting table-toppers PSV on the 14th.
Marco Rojas – Greuther Furth (German Bundesliga II)
So we heard this week that Rojas had pulled out of the All Whites squad in order to have all the time he can to impress at his new loan team. People can say what they want over his commitment and all that but this is a massive chance to further his career after injuries set him back last season. It’s a no-brainer. This is his entire career at a crossroads here and he has every right to do what’s best for him. We’ll see him back with a Silver Fern before long, no doubt. Anthony Hudson’s a clever lad.
(Anyone speak German?)
Up Next: Rojas gets his first prospect of game time tomorrow morning as Greuther Furth host St Pauli. 6.15am NZT.