Flying Kiwis – April 20
Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)
If it weren’t for the All Whites captain being there, it’d be almost impossible to watch West Ham these days. Even with that vested interest, it’s still a fair slog.
The Hammers more or less gave up trying a couple weeks ago, they went down 2-0 overnight to Manchester City. The opening goal was a hilarious and strange gift as James Collins looked to parry away a deep cross, only to loop it backwards over his own goalkeeper.
Then a turnover on attack led to a swift counter ten minutes before the break and Aguero finished it off. A clinical goal, City close to their best. WHU absolutely phoning it in, but City played their best game in a while to get back to within one point of third place.
The biggest talking point of the game came from swinging elbows. David Silva was booked for a stray ‘bow that caught Winston as he charged out of the backline to close him down, which toooo be honest, Winnie made an absolute three course meal out of.
Silva got booked, and then ten minutes later was on the end of an actual, proper elbow to the face, an ugly collision with Cheik Kouyate. Silva went down clutching his face, eventually being stretchered off and taken to hospital. Terrible to see, although it doesn’t seem too serious.
So… not a great game. Both managers with their jobs in major doubt, only one doing anything to help that. Let’s start the campaign right here: Jurgen Klopp to West Ham.
Please, make it happen.
Also, Mr Reid was back with his Fanbookz Column, which is always semi-interesting.
Up Next: QPR vs West Ham, Sunday 2am (NZT)
Tommy Smith & Chris Wood – Ipswich Town (English Championship)
Two games to go, three points clear of seventh place. It looks like Ipswich are headed for the playoffs, the main question being who will they play?
Right now that looks like Middlesbrough (who thrashed Ipswich a month ago), though it actually could be anyone, with Ipswich probably finishing either fifth of sixth (or maybe seventh or eighth), and four different teams all jostling for places 1-4.
The final midweek fixtures of the season were played last week, Ipswich overcoming Cardiff 3-1 at home. Cardiff were in good form, unbeaten in seven, but Freddie Sears gave Town an early lead with his deflected effort. Cardiff hit right back to cancel that out, however up stepped midfielder Cole Skuse with his first goal in 82 games for the club. Daryl Murphy finished it off in injury time, a fine way to celebrate Tommy Smith’s 200th game for the club.
The weekend’s game was even bigger, up against the team immediately below them, Wolverhampton Wanderers. A win would all but send Wolves packing, but a loss and things were out of Ipswich’s hands.
Well, it started almost perfectly.
Tommy gets a pash
It was actually an own goal, the ball coming off Richard Stearman’s head, but they all count the same. In front of their home crowd, Wolves had started very positively until they conceded. Yet they picked it up again as the game went on, beginning the second half at a blistering pace and soon getting their deserved equaliser. Try as they might though, there was no winner. Ipswich defended like their lives depended on it and they held tight for a 1-1 draw, enough to keep the advantage in the race for the playoffs.
As for Woody, he was an unused sub vs Cardiff, and got seven minutes against Wolves. With Freddie Sears banging in goals these days, Wood's likely to be the third option for now.
Up Next: At home to Nottingham Forest at 2 on Sunday morning (NZT)
Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)
Lil Thomo missed the game at Heracles, he was out with a troublesome hamstring injury. He’s one of a couple starters out hurt as it is, Wout Brama being another key loss, though coach Ron Jans expects both to be back training and fully fit for the KNVB Cup Final in two weeks’ time.
Unfortunately the side without them had a bit of a stinker, going down 2-0 to a team fighting to avoid relegation. Aussie Trent Sainsbury had a shocker, giving away the ball for the second goal before being sent off in the 52nd minute. Zwolle aren’t likely to fall below seventh on the table with only three league games remaining, but they can’t finish any higher than sixth either. The good news is that two of their last three games are at home, because this game made it six consecutive losses on the road. They have the fourth worst away record in the Eredivisie (4w-1d-11l), and the third best home record (10w-3d-2l).
Up Next: Home to Ajax, 2.45am Monday 27 (NZT)
Marco Rojas – FC Thun (Swiss Super League)
Rojas was left on the bench for the trip to local rivals Young Boys, and it did not go as planned. By the time he was brought on in the 55th minute, Thun were 3-0 down and could have been more. They haven’t won the Bernese Derby since December 2013, a streak that stretches now to 6 games. Young Boys were able to sit back and then slam them on the break, attacking with pace and menace. Although it wasn’t that bad of a game statistically, with shots fairly even and Thun having more corners, only one side had the cutting edge. It ended 4-0, Thun’s vague hopes of catching second-placed Young Boys now basically gone, they’re 12 points behind them with 8 games to play, but still a point ahead of FC Zurich in fourth.
Up Next: Sunday 6am, Thun vs Sion
Jeremy Brockie – SuperSport United (South African Premier Soccer League)
A couple of games and a couple of draws for SSU. 0-0 at Platinum Stars and 1-1 home to Moroka Swallows. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to buy them much room in a super congested mid-table. Relying on a 90th minute equaliser at home against the bottom team was especially a bit of a let-down, but we did at least get 180 minutes out of Jezza, who came close a couple of times, particularly in the second game. SuperSport hold tight in seventh.
Plus, check out this Brockie feature on Tribal Football if ya so desire. He talks about the decision to leave the Nix, and his early success in South Africa. All the best to him.
Up Next: Away to Orlando Pirates in a week and a half.