Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)

Three whole games to get through, Winston was a busy fella this week. Premier League games against West Brom and Spurs and an FA Cup tie against Shrewsbury. Let us progress in chronological order…

Starting with West Brom, a poor showing from the Hammers but possibly a worse one from the Baggies. WBA had played only 48 hours earlier while WHU had a week to rest up and that was clear as this game headed into the last quarter or so. James McClean had put West Brom in front after a strong start from Alan Pardew’s lot. Winston Reid was badly beaten in the lead-up, though Pedro Obiang’s deflection was what beat Adrian in goal. But Andy Carroll equalised a shade before an hour into it with a towering header. His first goal since April.

Then, having weathered about all that West Brom had to offer, the Hammers should have been able to stroll over them for the win. But they were a bit crap. Yet just as it looked like they’d run out of time, there was Andy Carroll to smack one in from a tight angle for the victory. He’s a happy chappy now - so will all the other buggers he covered for by snatching the win and the spotlight.

Football.London Player Ratings: “Winston Reid – 5 // Looked very shaky in the early stages of the game as a number of passes went astray. Didn't do enough to challenge McClean for the opening goal. Got better in the second half but it's a real toss up as to whether he should be in the team ahead of James Collins.”

Then who should be next but Tottenham Hotspur! A rough London derby with Harry Kane crossing town in the form he’s been in… however this was one of those every now and then games in which Moyes’ Boys turn up to play. They seem to be at their best when they can defend deep and counter and Spurs had no intention of giving them the ball. Thus defending deep was a major focus.

Mate, they fair battered them with crosses and shots. West Ham could get nothing going on attack themselves, they could barely get out of their own half, but they defended with some impressive commitment and organisation. Reid, Ogbonna and young Declan Rice the centre-backs. All three had their moments to shine, though Rice got most of the hype because of his relative inexperience, making his superb performance even better. Shots to Winnie too, of course.

WHUFC.com: “While Rice took the Premier League and Sky Sports plaudits, Reid was also back to his best against Mauricio Pochettino’s side. The centre-half blocked a team-high four shots, made five clearances and two interceptions as part of a resilient defensive display based on true team work, discipline and hard work.”

For seventy minutes that’s how this game unfolded. Then all of a sudden Pedro Obiang smashed in what might well go down as one of the two or three best goals of the season. An absolute rocket of a shot, beating Hugo Lloris from 30 yards on a slight angle at the near post. Demolished it. It was literally West Ham’s first shot of the game, coming with twenty minutes to go.

Then Spurs resumed where they left off, only with a bit more panic. Son Heung-Min thumped in a goal that was almost but not quite as good as Obiang’s to equalise in the 84th minute but West Ham still held on to a very worthy point. Spurs had 31 shots. West Ham had 3. Spurs had 70% of possession. Flying Kiwis readers know that Winston’s a bit of a legend in a defensive wall though.

Reid scored an own goal, by the way. Turned the ball into his own net a quarter of an hour into the contest after some Harry Kane-ery but Harry Hotspur had wandered offside so it didn’t count. Wipe that sweat off the brow.

The Telegraph: “There were fine performances from their three centre-halves, Winston Reid, Declan Rice and Angelo Ogbonna and there is no doubt that they look stronger and fitter. Their manager looks rejuvenated, once again a man with a plan for every occasion and the courage to go for it, because there were times when it seemed absurd that West Ham would get out of Wembley without defeat.”

Winston Reid: “Going to Wembley, it was always going to be tough as Spurs are a very good team, but we had a gameplan and we stuck to it, dug in and put in a really good performance. I thought the boys worked really, really well, considering we played two days earlier. It comes down to hard work. The guys have got good character and they’re putting in the hard yards on the training pitch and you can see we are getting the benefits and the results.”

Football.London Player Ratings: “Winston Reid – 7 // Like Zabaleta, made one absolutely outstanding block after the break to keep the Hammers level at 0-0 on Dele Alli. Solid and composed throughout.”

Shrewsbury last. Strangely, it was Joe Hart who was named captain for the game. Hart used to play for Shrewsbury so it was a sentimental contest for him but Reid is the usual vice-captain and he was also picked amidst a number of other rotations. Not a huge amount of fit defenders to roll with, so Reid and Ogbonna needed to kit up again. Also, Hart hasn’t been playing much and might be upset with that, given his status, so offering him an armband for the night as he made his homecoming might’ve been a way of keeping him happy. To be fair, David Moyes did sneak in young guns Reece Burke, Declan Rice and Josh Cullen.

And despite playing a League One team, it was arguably those young guns who were the best performers (Cullen got two teeth kicked out!). Not too many of the seven returning players that started against Spurs looked like much, particularly those in the middle and up top (Kouyate, Hernandez, etc.). So yeah, Reidy gets away with it after a quiet but comfortable enough performance but it’s not like his back line were flawless either. West Ham are lucky to still be in the Cup. The manager said it and so did Harty. Shrewsbury had the better chances and the Hammers barely created a thing… but it ended 0-0 to force a replay. Just what these exhausted WHU guys need – another game.

A third game in six days makes for a decent enough excuse, it's not easy stuff and at least they didn’t lose. The replay will be in ten days and at home. They should still progress. It remains to be seen how much Winnie will have to do with that because, predictably, he didn’t make it out of this one unscathed. Not a muscle injury, thankfully. Instead it looked like he got his sprigs caught in the dirt as he made a clearance, possibly twisting or straining something.

Only five minutes to go too, dammit! Nobody in the world is surprised that Reid played three games in a week and got hurt but he was so close! Expect a proper diagnosis in the next few days.

Football.London Player Ratings: “Winston Reid – 6 // Wasn't really troubled too much by the Shrews attackers but another worrying injury saw him replaced late on.”

Up Next: Away to Huddersfield at 4.00am on Sunday (NZT)

Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town (English Championship)

It’s been a little while since Tommy Smith last started a game for Ipswich. He spent most of the early months of the season injured and only started once after returning from that, in a heavily rotated team having lost his starting spot, before jetting off to Aotearoa to play against Peru in Wellington. Where he was injured. He’d been back on the bench waiting his chance for the last few games when Adam Webster was injured in the defeat against Derby County last weekend.

That injury was the opportunity Smithy’s been waiting for. With Webster out it meant Smith was picked to start against Fulham, starting at centre-back alongside Luke Chambers. Just his fourth appearance in all competitions for Ipswich this campaign and his third in the Champo (only his sixth league start for Ipswich in all of 2017!). The last time he played was in early November against Cardiff and he looked rusty as hell that day. This time he was back in the groove, perhaps not in great match fitness but at least looking something like the player we know he is.

And for the first half at Craven Cottage things were all good. Smith and his lads dealt with some difficult stuff from the Fulham forwards to head into the break up 1-0 thanks to a big boy’s header in traffic from Joe Garner. It was horrible weather for footy but [insert pun about Ipswich weathering the storm].

Then it all turned to custard in one moment. Jordan Spence got a case of the red mist when Aboubakar Kamara seemed to have gotten away with a foul on Freddie Sears. Spence wasn’t having any of that against his mate and he rushed in and dropped Kamara with a Sonny Bill shoulder… and promptly had his red mist rewarded with a red card. Ipswich were able to hold on for a short while down to ten men but once the breakthrough came through Ryan Sessegnon it was all over. Fulham scored four times in seven minutes between the 69th and 76th. Sessegnon got two and so did Kamara. The Tractor Boys lost 4-1, collapsing pretty embarrassingly in the end.

EADT Player Ratings: “Tommy Smith - Making just his third start of the season and, on the whole dealt well with the Fulham onslaught in the early stages but, like the rest of the defence, simply couldn’t cope in the second half once down to 10 men. (5/10)”

Mick McCarthy has suggested that Webster will be fit to play next week, though achilles injuries can be tricky. Smith therefore’s been left with a brief window of footy to try win that starting gig back with the FA Cup clash against Sheffield United in between then. Or at least to prove he’s still knocking on that door.

East Anglian Daily Times: “Smith, now 27-years-old, has been the model of consistency during much of his career at Portman Road, particularly during a 2014/15 campaign which saw the Blues reach the play-offs. He will need to be again if Webster is out for any prolonged spell, while Spence’s three-match ban puts further pressure on a Town squad which couldn’t afford any further absences.”

About that FA Cup game then… he didn’t play. Wasn’t even on the bench as Town hosted Sheffield United. That’s probably why they lost 1-0 and got knocked out – tough week for the kiwis in the FA Cup – and it probably also has a little something to do with this…

Haha, of course. Smithy could become the latest of the All Whites contingent to join Colorado Rapids (wonder how the locals are enjoying this), with the team just one centre-back away from being able to pick a completely kiwi back four on opening day, should Huddo be so inclined. Still awaiting the official word on discussions from either club but Smith, who has played 268 times for Ipswich since joining the academy as a teenager, being left out of the FA Cup game amidst other defensive absentees suggests that the rumours are rather close to the mark. Although the club said he was out sick.

EADT: “Tommy Smith was left out of the squad completely due to what we are told was illness, but it seems a coincidence that this morning reports surfaced of MLS side Colorado Rapids being interested in his signature. He’s had his problems with injury over the last year, but would the Blues really be prepared to let a centre-back go? With Adam Webster (Achilles) currently out, it would leave skipper Luke Chambers as their only recognised centre-back. Jonas Knudsen was the man to fill in at the heart of the defence today.”

Why indeed… but then Smith hasn’t really been a part of the first team picture for months now and he had a good relationship with Hudson once they eventually patched things up. He’s definitely good enough to be a regular starter in the MLS, something he hasn’t been able to do in the Championship recently, although at 27 years old he’s a bit young to be making what many would consider a step down in standard. We’ll see, the transfer could be completed this week if it happens.

The Rapids won’t actually put out a backline full of kiwis though. Deklan Wynne is likely to be loaned out to start the season while Smith would take up one of their final international spots (they’ll have one more after this if Wynne doesn’t play for the first team). They’ve also got heaps of wingbacks, probably their best stacked position, so Colvey’s only an outside chance to be a regular as well. But then we know that if you follow instructions then Uncle Tony loves ya. Here’s a letter he wrote to Rapids fans… (we never got a letter!).

Up Next: ???!!!

Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)

And so it begins. With Thommo getting used to fatherhood and his team on their winter break, the transfer rumours have emerged and Thomas is doing nothing to douse those flames either. He’s always spoken about his desire to test himself at the best level and his value has never been higher given what he’s achieved so far this season. He re-signed with Zwolle until mid-2019 before this season but always with the intention of moving on after a year if things broke right.

Here’s what he had to say to VI.nl recently:

“Here, only a transfer to Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV would really be a step higher. If they do not come, I will look beyond the Netherlands. There is at least one competition that won’t go to and that is the Premier League. My parents taught me to be realistic. If you want to play there, you have to be physically so strong. I’m not there yet. That is always possible when I am 27, 28. My goal is to go to a club that has a view of Champions League football. It is important that the next step is not too big, but certainly not too small.”

Well there’s not been much suggestion that Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV are ready to swoop for the lad however there has been a fairly substantial rumour that Belgian side Anderlecht are hovering. The suggestion is also that there’d be interest from France and Germany, as well as other Dutch sides, but it’s very unlikely that any transfer happens this month. More likely, considering his newborn child and all that, he makes the switch at the end of the season – which is probably for the best. Gives us a few more months to savour what he’s doing in Holland, maybe win some awards at the end of things.

Anderlecht are an interesting one because they might not be a huge step up from the standard he’s already playing at, although the club itself is definitely on a level higher than PEC Zwolle. Most important is that the reigning Belgian champs are Champions League regulars, drawn with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich (plus Celtic for you clansfolk out there) this season. They lost their first five games before beating Celtic 1-0 but at least they were there. Problem is they’re currently third in the Belgian division with nine games left, although that league finishes with a playoff thing between the top six clubs, with two UCL places available so they’re still well in the hunt.

Here’s a vote on the best midfielder in the Eredivisie over the first half of 2017-18:

Up Next: PEC Zwolle vs NAC Breda at 7.45am on Sunday (NZT)

Other Kiwis In Holland

So if you speak Dutch then here’s a chat with Jesse Edge in EFL Voetball. He’s at Achilles ’29 these days, playing in the third tier of Holland. Four league starts so far this season as the club sits a points off the relegation playoff spots at the break.

Then there’s Mike Den Heijer, a division above with NEC Nijmegen but yet to feature this season for the first team despite being a regular on the bench. However NEC are just a point off automatic promotion back to the top flight and with a game in hand so if he keeps on smacking them away like this in training then he’s gotta be close. Got a little time in friendly action during the break too.

Then, stepping up yet another division, there’s old mate Marco Rojas as sc Heerenveen. Hasn’t had the impact we’d have hoped for over the last month or two and rest assured he’s feeling the same way. Rojas spoke to FeanFan Magazine about the first half of his first season in the Eredivisie, saying that of course there was gonna be an adjustment period. And he doesn’t care which side of the field he plays in. Plus the coach is all good with selections and communications and whatever. Sweet as.

Marco Rojas:

“You have to realize that football in Europe is different, the intensity is greater and the pressure on the team and the coach too.”

“I am an attacking player who wants to score, I do not care about the exact position: left, right or if necessary at number ten.”

“The coach is honest and open to the players, he gives clear and individual instructions for improvements and I also think he is good tactically.”

Up Next: Both lower divisions resume next week after the Xmas break, NEC are at home to Go Ahead Eagles at 8.00am on Saturday and Achilles ’29 are away to Lienden Sunday morning at 3.30am (NZT)

Chris Wood – Burnley (English Premier League)

Ah, yeah. Not a whole lot to report on from the Chris Wood Desk. The Clarets had a couple tricky games, away to Liverpool in the league and Man City in the FA Cup, and lost them both admirably. Johann Berg Gudmundsson thought he’d levelled things up late on against the Reds only for Ragnar Klaven to equalise deep into injury time. Then Ashley Barnes gave them a heroic lead against City that they held into half-time… only for Sergio Aguero to come on off the bench and wreak havoc with a double, City winning it 4-1 in the end.

Big ‘ol shame that Woody had nothing to do with any of it. They were competitive for three-quarters of that double header and that was without their top striker (although they don’t lose much with Ashley Barnes) and a few other absentees as well. The fixture lists haven’t been too generous but they also haven’t won now since mid-December – it’ll be a month when they kick off against Palace on the weekend.

That’s three games out for Woody, who also missed the draw with Huddersfield. Dyche had said he was “touch and go” for that game but he failed his fitness test and also eventually missed the next couple. The latest word is that he’s “settling down, but not for [Man City]”. The injury was sustained in a collision with Hugo Lloris in the defeat against Spurs and he tried to run it off at the time. It’s never been talked about as too serious, just a day to day thing, so it’s possible that he returns on the weekend. Gotta be careful with all these fixtures piling up at this time though.

Up Next: Crystal Palace vs Burnley, 4.00am on Sunday

Anna Green – Reading & Olivia Chance – Everton (English Super League)

Slowly but surely we’re getting back into all these things and the English Super League resumed this weekend too. Not much to say for Anna Green who was an unused sub as Reading were beaten 5-2 by first-placed Manchester City. They did pull it back to 2-2 but then Izzy Christiansen scored almost immediately and it didn’t get any closer.

Everton also lost but they did at least give Liv Chance a dozen or so minutes to impress at the end as they pushed for a leveller. Bristol City had taken a 2-0 lead thanks to teenaged forward Lauren Hemp (England’s Young Player of the Year for 2017) but Courtney Sweetman-Kirk could’ve equalised in the middle there and after Georgia Brougham pulled a scrappy one back they gave it a good go at the comeback. Didn’t happen though, Bristol City leapfrogging the Toffess on the ladder instead.

Up Next: Everton are away to Chelsea at 1.30am on Monday, Reading host Arsenal at 3.00am on the same morning (NZT)

Jeremy Brockie – SuperSport United (South African Premier Soccer League)

Nothing much happened in SSU’s first game back after Christmas/New Years. Yet another draw, this time at home to Kaizer Chiefs. Brockie picked up a yellow card in the second half and wasn’t able to put the ball in the back of the net, playing all 90 minutes. Actually… he did have the ball in the back of the net but he was offside. So it goes.

Nah, all the interest around Brockie at the moment is about his transfer status. Quick recap version is that he handed in a request to leave pre-season but that was rejected and he happily chugged along. But with their Confederation Cup quest ending in a grand final defeat, those flames appear to have been stoked again. The January transfer window is open and Brockie’s club are suddenly a little more open to a potential transfer fee. Here’s the manager with the latest on the saga.

Eric Tinkler: “We’ve not received any offers, except to say we know that Sundowns have been interested since about six months ago. But there is no new offer at the moment. In the event that he leaves, we will have to go into the market to replace him. We have a squad of 28 players and only if one of them leaves will we look for replacements. At the moment no one is leaving, which is why we have not been buys in the transfer window.”

Not saying a lot there… but also not denying anything. Some dude from his player agency had a whole lot more to say a couple days earlier, however.

Mike Makaab/Prosport International: “Yes, there is interest from Sundowns and Pirates in Jeremy. The two teams have been in talks with SuperSport United for weeks now. Jeremy is still contracted to SuperSport United, and it is all up to SuperSport if they want to sell him or not. There’s interest in China and Middle East in Jeremy, but his buy-out clause is applicable in June. It is going to be difficult for him to leave and go overseas now. He can only move locally. He doesn’t have a buy-out clause for local teams.”

Lots to chew over there. Get the feeling he won’t end up in China or the Middle East quite yet but whatever. Always nice to know you’re wanted.

Up Next: Bidvest Wits vs SSU, 6.30am Thursday (NZT)

Stefan Marinovic – Vancouver Whitecaps (American Major League Soccer)

EightySixForever on Goalies: “Stefan Marinović, Brian Rowe, Spencer Richey - At this point, none of the above are as good as David Ousted. However, Marinović doesn’t seem far off, and Rowe is an experienced MLS keeper on some winning LA Galaxy teams. I think it’s Marinović’s starting spot to lose from what we have seen from him last season and with his national team, I see him getting better and better. But if he falters, he should have a short leash with a proven vet like Rowe behind him. Ousted was so good that perhaps the keeper position takes a step back this season. But, I think we will hardly notice it.”

Up Next: Nothing imminent

Rebekah Stott – Melbourne City (Australian W-League)

There you go. Don’t usually class the Aussie stuff as ‘overseas’ enough to warrant Flying Kiwis action, hence no Kosta Barbarouses or Storm Roux, etc. But the W-League is pretty handy and Stotty’s been in very solid form for Melbourne City, the team she won the championship with last season, as they’ve won three of their last four to get back into the semi-final places. Melly City have a thing going with Seattle Reign, hence several of Stott’s USA teammates are also in town.

The latest win was a 3-0 over Sam Kerr’s Perth Glory in a game that was postponed a day because of all the heat. It was also a rematch of the teams from last year’s grand final. Anyway, Stott’s started all nine games in the W-League’s most consistent defence. Stott on the right, Steph Catley on the left and Lauren Barnes and Alanna Kennedy in the middle. Catley and Kennedy are Aussie internationals, Stott and Barnes (who’s American) are Seattle Reign loanees. Not one of them has missed a minute of action this season.

Up Next: Melbourne Derby, Victory vs City at 6.30pm on Sunday (NZT)

Steven Old – Morecambe (English League Two)

Mate, this dude scores some goals. That’s Oldy’s fourth of the season, the NZ defender putting the icing on the cake of a 2-0 win away at Grimsby Town, meaning a clean sheet to boot. Just an all-around great day at the office then. Morecambe also beat Yeovil Town 4-3 in their last game of 2017, coming from 2-0 down and then from 3-2 down with six minutes left in a bloody thriller. Those six points in nine days give them a handy buffer above the relegation zone.

Old’s goal came in the 41st minute to make it 2-0 at the half which was the way it finished. Typical Steven Old goal: header from a set piece. On this occasion Kevin Ellison’s glancing header had looped up and dropped off the crossbar, allowing a fairly easy nod in on the rebound past a bemused keeper for Steve. Ellison already had his goal, he scored the first.

Up Next: 4.00am on Sunday at home to Stevenage (NZT)

Tamati Williams – AaB (Danish Superliga)

Oh well then.

Up Next: …

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