Flying Kiwis – January 12
Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)
Some curious quotes from Sam Allardyce this week over the future of Winston Reid. Last week he stated that as things stood, that future was not going to be at West Ham and this week he went as far to suggest that Reid may already have a handshake deal for a move in the summer when he becomes a free agent.
“I just feel it’s gone on so long and with what other managers are telling me it doesn’t bode well. I think he thinks he can do better. He thinks he can find a bigger club than we are. He thinks he can financially benefit more than what we’ve offered. That’s what’s in his mind whether that’s the opportunity or not. If he’s not going to sign a contract I would think that realistically I find it highly unlikely if it’s not already verbally done. Are other managers getting calls from his agent? You said that, not me.”
Actually, YOU said it, Sammy. But whatever.
Those are some strong words from Fat Sam. For one thing, it strongly hints that he suspects Reid has been ‘tapped up’, as they say. Which means he’s been in illegal contract talks with another Premier League club – something that cannot happen under contract without his contracted team’s permission (usually that comes when a fee is agreed).
He also made a very pertinent argument for keeping him ‘til the completion of his contract. If Reid’s sold now, bet case scenario is maybe £3-4m. Given that 22 of the Hammers’ last 29 clean sheets have come with Winston at the back, and that he’s fifth in the Premier League in clearances and seventh in blocked shots (also second for yellow cards with 8 – only Lee Cattermole’s 9 is greater), there’s a strong case that his presence in the team is worth more than a firesale. Especially when you get around an additional £1.8m for every extra place you finish up the table. They’re seventh at the moment. If they cash in now and slip to twelfth or something, that’s a net loss. Poor business.
As for the on field stuff, West Ham were able to snag a point in Wales with a 1-1 draw at Swansea. Andy Carroll scored an impressive opener, before Bafetimbi Gomis’ diving header was sent into his own net by Kevin Nolan. Poor Kevin Nolan. West Ham finished the more dangerous team but couldn’t steal the points. Winston Reid played all 90, having a typically solid time of it in a rare 3 CB formation by Allardyce.
Up Next: FA Cup Third Round replay with Everton at Upton Park, Wednesday morning (NZT)
Chris Wood – Leicester City (English Premier League)
There was great news for Leicester City and not so great news for Chris Wood this week. It came in the form of one of the potentially best undercover signings of the January window as the Foxes sealed a deal for 23 year old Croatian striker Andrej Kramaric.
Kramaric has been one of the hottest goal scorers in Europe this season, with more than a goal a game for HNK Rijeka in the Croatian top flight. Making it an even bigger coup, Leicester fought off interest from Chelsea to get the deal done! Kramaric saying he preferred to be a key player for a weak team than to be a bit-part for a big one (presumable on much bigger wages too). Gotta admire the integrity there.
Ah, but this does mean that Chris Wood’s role will be even more limited than it already is. Having played a grand total of 107 minutes in the Premier League of a possible 1890 as the fourth choice forward, he now presumably drops down the depth chart one more step. A move away, be it a loan move ‘til the end of the season (and then regather in the summer depending on whether the Foxes stay up or not) or a permanent move, probably to the Championship. Wolves have been trying to get him since the start of the season (Wood rejected them to fight for a chance in the EPL) and plenty of other would be interested in a striker who has proven he can score at that level.
In actual football, Leicester ground out a massive result with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa. Paul Konchesky, of all people, scored the goal right before half-time in a game that saw two late red cards (to Villa’s Ciaran Clark and Leicester's Matthew James). They remain in last place but the gap is closing as the Foxes are now three games without a loss in the League. Chris Wood was an unused substitute.
Up Next: 4am Sunday 18th at home to Stoke (NZT)
Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town (English Championship)
The Ipswich Promotion Campaign took a hit this week with a 1-0 loss to Derby at home that saw the Tractor Boys slip to third on the table beneath their opponents. It was a massive game, and unfortunately it was decided by a Tommy Smith mistake, failing to cover a long ball and thus allowing Chris Martin (not the cricketer, nor the minimally talented singer) to score one-on-one.
But there was a bit of controversy about this one. Mick McCarthy was fuming at the ref after Derby midfielder John Eustace skipped a second yellow card right before half time (he still did get sent off, but not until the final minute), as well as a possible handball shortly after the break. It was a pretty open game with chances for each team but that was the only goal.
Anyway, at this stage of the season it’s hardly a disaster. Bournemouth also lost, so there’s now just one point between first (Bournemouth) and third (Ipswich), with a three point gap between third and fourth. And there’s a long way to go yet. This loss snaps a 13 game streak without a loss in all competitions, but it was still only their second defeat since the end of August.
Up Next: Trying to upset the apple cart in the FA Cup replay with Southampton, 8.55am Thursday – Live on ESPN if y’all got Sky Sports! (NZT)
Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)
The Dutch leagues follow the general Central European trend of a winter break over this time of the season, so Zwolle hasn’t played a competitive game since the 21st of December. But they did cram in a friendly this week against Ajax Cape Town. The game was held in South Africa as a part of a two team tour that also included Wolfsburg of Germany. With the African Cup of Nations on, many players from the South African league are away on national duty so they’re taking a little break themselves. These friendlies are for the folk left behind. Zwolle lost the game 2-1, though Ryan Thomas did set up his team’s goal after getting on the end of a nice long ball in behind the defence.
Zwolle had earlier in the week played out a 1-1 draw with Santos in Stellenbosch.
Up Next: Back into the swing of things next weekend, home to NAC Breda, Sunday 6.30am (NZT)
Marco Rojas – FC Thun (Swiss Super League)
The Swiss Super League is also on a break right now, there’s not much new to say about Marco. Other than the welcome news that he got a well-overdue run out in the friendly against FC Schaffhausen, playing the first half before being replaced (along with every single other outfield player) at the break. Rojas made way for Thun’s other recent signing, striker Gaetan Karlen. Top stuff.
Here’s an unedited take from the FC Thun’s official website, as translated (cringingly) by google:
More than 700 people watched in the Test match* against FC Schaffhausen the first appearance of the striker Gaëtan Karlen and wirbligen** New Zealand midfielder Marco Rojas. The latter does not contribute to injustice nicknamed "Kiwi Messi". Already in the first minutes Rojas dribbled the keeper dizzy.
* they mean friendly match, obviously.
** google didn’t know this one apparently. It means lively and agile
Up Next: Another friendly, this time against Aarau on Wednesday morning (NZT)