Flying Kiwis – February 9
(DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/GETTY)
Bill Tuiloma – Olympique de Marseille (French Ligue 1)
Welcome to the club, Bill Tuiloma. The young All White, having been more or less a regular in Marseille’s reserve team, made his first ever appearance for the seniors this week, getting four minutes off the bench. He’d previously been an unused sub for the top team on five occasions.
If you haven’t kept up with the ins and outs of French footy this season, then it’s worth noting that Marseille are no battlers. They’re second placed on the table, in line for a Champions League spot and had they won against Stade Rennais FC then they’d have gone top. Still, PSG’s draw at first placed Lyon keeps everything nice and tight at the summit, with that trio separated by just two points.
Even away from home, Marseille would’ve had their eyes on a win at Rennes. But the home team took the lead midway through the first half, Ola Toivonen finding too much room on the end of Vincent Pajot’s header. A possible handball penalty was declined to the relief of Marseille, and to spark things up in the second, coach Marcelo Bielsa brought on new signing, 20 year old Argentine winger Lucas Ocampos... who volleyed home at the near post from a corner kick on the hour mark. 1-1, the final score.
However the game was marred with seven minutes left when Mario Lemina was sent off for OM for probably one of the clearest red cards in the history of violent conduct. He punched a guy in the nuts, cue phantom pains.
Tuiloma, who is still only 19 years old, came on in the aftermath of that incident, presumably for a little defensive midfield cover as he replaced the goal scorer Ocampos (who joins the infamous club of ‘Subbed On-Subbed Off’ in the same game). He didn’t have time to do a whole lot other than a couple tackles, but you can see Tuiloma doing his bit to break up a late counter attack at the end of the match highlights above (he’s wearing number 18).
Marseille have several injuries at the moment, which is why Tuiloma got his shot. He’s not gonna be a regular now because of this one game, but what a massive vote of confidence that his coach was willing to put him into a situation like that. Needless to say he’s the first kiwi to ever play in Ligue 1.
Up Next: Saturday, 8.30am vs Reims, we'll see if Billy's still around (NZT)
Marco Rojas – FC Thun (Swiss Super League)
One game, one goal. Marco Rojas found the net on debut for his new Swiss side, a welcome boost for a guy who will have been happy enough just to be on the field in the first place.
At the first opportunity, with the Winter Break now over in Switzerland, Marco was straight into the starting line-up and he played all 90 minutes – the first time he’s gone the distance in a competitive game since November for the Greuer Furth reserves.
FC Thun hosted eighth placed Aurau in a game that was lucky to have been played at all as heavy snowfall threatening a late cancellation. Four and a half thousand fans still turned out though, many wrapped in blankets, to see their side return to action. They got a little more than they paid for as well, with Venezualan defender Alexander Gonzalez proposing to his journalist girlfriend Maria before the game. Boom, she said yes.
The first half was freezing and dictated by a steady snowfall, but in the second it cleared up and the game picked up pace. And it looked good for Thun when, in the 69th minute, a certain Kiwi Messi (as he’s been unimaginatively dubbed) popped up on the goal line just to make sure of things. An incredible finish, one only the very greatest could hope to score. The Kiwi Messi? More like Messi's the Argentinian Rojas.
Yeah so it was a vulture’s goal. Still, gotta score ‘em somehow. Aurau levelled it up with a long range wonder goal seven minutes later, which was the way it stayed. Although Rojas had one late chance to win it, his injury time shot firing back agonisingly off the crossbar.
Thun coach Urs Fischer was full of praise for Rojas and fellow new signing Gaetan Karlen. He singled out Rojas for how dangerous he can be when he gets time on the ball, something Wellington Phoenix fans know full well.
Rojas played as an inside left winger, kitted out in the number 10 jersey. Always a good sign.
Up Next: Off to Zurich in a week’s time (NZT)
Chris Wood – Leicester City (English Premier League)
It’ll be at least a week before Chris Wood is fit enough to play again, which may not be that long in football terms, but plenty might have changed by the time he gets back on the training field. Manager Nigel Pearson was reportedly sacked this morning with Leicester, only for the club to come out and deny all reports. However with Leicester languishing in last place, it’s doubtful that the rope is very long.
They lost 1-0 at home to Crystal Palace most recently, despite having the chances to get plenty more from the match. That game was marred by a completely bizzare incident right near the end of the game. Palace midfielder James McArthur collided with Pearson on the sideline. The two both tumbled over and it looked like they were having a bit of a laugh, until Pearson grabbed McArthur by the throat and held him down on the ground and then kept a hold of his shirt for far longer than necessary after they’d each stood up.
Pearson had actually tried to sign McArthur from Wigan before the season started, having two official bids rejected. Play continued as the incident unfolded, the fourth official eventually stepping in to cool things off. Alan Pardew, Palace manager, was on hand too, which is funny since he was banned for grabbing at the throat of Hull player David Meyler last season.
Here was Pearson’s explanation of why he restrained the fella:
“Because he said something to me. I don’t have to reveal anything do I? I think I’m more than capable of looking after myself.”
This is the same man who received a £10k fine and a touchline ban for telling a fan of his own team to “f*ck off and die” earlier in the season. He wasn’t expected to face any sanction for this episode since the referee didn’t see any reason to do much about it in the moment. Unless he slapped something in his match report then it’s all clear.
As far as Chris Wood goes, a new manager may not be a bad thing at all. Best case scenario, he gets a manager who loves a long ball or twenty. Any new boss is gonna want to reassess the squad all the way down to fifth choice strikers, and with some tough fixtures coming up for LCFC, Pearson is far from out of the woods yet. Especially with Martin O’Neill currently unemployed.
Up Next: Arsenal (A) on Wednesday morning, Everton (A) on Monday morning. Rough. (NZT)
Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)
Joining Chris Wood on the physio’s table this week was Winston Reid. He missed the game against Manchester United with a hamstring injury. His replacement on the night, Cheikhou Kouyate, then went and scored a lovely little volley to have the Hammers in prime position for an upset win… but Daley Blind equalised in injury time.
Sam Allardyce has only ever had two wins over United in his career, and the players were clearly hurt to blow it so late after 90 minutes of mostly good stuff breaking up MUFC’s rhythm. Despite that, the 1-1 draw keeps West Ham on pace for a shot at European footy. They sit eighth, two points behind Liverpool.
With James Collins and new signing Doneil Henry also injured, Fat Sam revealed he tried his best to bring in a new defender on Deadline Day, but the club were only in a place to offer a loan deal and whichever players they chased all wanted permanent moves so nothing came through. There’s no word on how long Winston will be out for but it doesn’t sound serious. However with both midweek and weekend games coming up, he won’t be rushed back if he isn’t 100%.
Up Next: Away to Southampton, 8.45am Thursday and then away to Spurs 1am Monday (NZT)
Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town (English Championship)
Another loss for Ipswich, which means no wins in three games, and they’ve slipped back into the pack. It’s only their sixth loss of the Championship season, but away to lowly Rotherham it was one that should’ve been avoided.
After a Deadline Day in which a few top-table rivals spent big to try push themselves over the top, notoriously tight-walleted Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy reportedly delivered a stirring speech to the squad about how they are as good as any other squad in the league. That he trusts them and their abilities above all else.
“Have a think – are there too many better goalkeepers than what we’ve got? Are there many better full-backs and centre-halves? Are there many better midfield players or wide players who do the job that we want to do playing 4-4-2? Then have a look at your strikers. We’ve got one of the leading scorers of last year (David McGoldrick) and the leading scorer of this year (Daryl Murphy).”
Ah, but it didn’t seem to work. Daryl Murphy blew two great chances in the early stages of the game at Rotherham, and then seven minutes before half time the hosts scored from their first real chance, a messy pinball goal from a deep free-kick. Ipswich came out strong after the break, creating a few good efforts and really controlling the game. But, against the run of play, Rotherham padded their lead from another set-piece, former Ipswich loanee Conor Sammon scoring from a corner.
Not much to say for Tommy Smith, he played a 90 decent minutes. Won a few headers but passed the ball sloppily. Ipswich fall to fifth, five off top and still firmly in the playoff spots. They’ve claimed four points from five games in 2015.
Up Next: 8.45 am Wednesday morning against Sheffield Wednesday, and 4am Sunday morning at Fulham (NZT)
Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)
A week of real contrasts for Thomas and Zwolle. A 4-0 win over Dordrecht was offset by a 4-0 loss to Heerenveen.
The 4-0 win was a clinical one, but not quite as dominant as it seems. Stefan Nijland scored just before the break, but the points weren’t really settled until the 79th minute when the second goal finally came. Ryan Thomas started and had a solid game, back playing at right wing. He covered plenty of ground, and plucked away at a few key passes. Thomas was removed with eight minutes left, and following that Zwolle rubbed it in with two more goals in two minutes.
Ooh, but then in-form Heerenveen stood in their way. Two early goals gave ‘Veen a quick lead. It was enough to leave Zwolle reeling and late in the first half it was 3-0 after a penalty. Ryan Thomas hit the post as Zwolle tried to get back into the game but right at the end of it they leaked a fourth. To be honest, Thomas was probably one of the few Zwolle players able to head home with much dignity. They’re still in fifth place though, and next up they play a team ranked just one spot above the relegation zone.
Up Next: Monday 2.30am vs Go Ahead Eagles (NZT)