Rebekah Stott – Melbourne City (Australian W-League)

If Stotty has a favourite Queen song then it’s gotta be We Are The Champions if only for sheer repetition. That’s because once again, for the third time in a row and fourth time overall, Rebekah Stott is a champion of the Australian W-League.

The Grand Final against Sydney FC had the two-time defending champs up against the team that were runners up in the minor premiership and hosts of the game and not only was Stotty there at her usual right back position but Emma Rolston was on the bench for Sydney as well. She was an unused sub but, coming after her Football Ferns call-up, it’s been an interesting week for her. Maybe not as much champagne at the end of it as with Stott, though.

Sydney FC came into this as favourites based on their superior regular season and after the opening stages it looked like they’d still been underestimated. The Sky Blues were all over this with a couple chances for Lisa De Vanna that somehow didn’t end up in the goal. Yet it all changed when, a little over half an hour in, Welsh international Jessica Fishlock did something special for City. She spotted the keeper off the line and lobbed a lovely strike over the top of her for the first goal.

It took a fine Lydia Williams save to stop Georgia Yeoman-Dale from making amends for giving up the ball in the build up to the goal with a rocket of an attempt straight out of half-time but Williams was in top form here. Sydney pressed for the leveller but City defended well. They also pushed forward on the counter trying to kill this thing off, Rhali Dobson winning a dangerous free kick from one such break. Fishlock struck it but she hit the bar… only for the ball to fall back for Jodie Taylor who buried it with quarter of an hour to play. 2-0 was the way it ended. Three in a row for Melbourne City.

Up Next: Back to the USA for to get ready for the new season with Sky Blue FC

Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)

Zwolle weren’t expected to beat Ajax… and they didn’t. Klaas Jan Huntelaar’s 54th minute goal was the difference, 1-0 to Ajax. Probably a fair result, the PECers stuck around but they couldn’t forge the chances to level this one. Hardly a poor performance but it does make it four defeats from five and they’re slipping back on the table after such a wonderful start.

Not that this stops anyone talking about Ryan Thomas. Again he was a class act in the midfield, forced to do more defensive work than he’d prefer but that’s the way it goes against the top teams. Here’s Football-Orange going all in on Thommo the Tauranga Terrier…

“Thomas is the playmaker of PEC Zwolle and is definitely one the best players playing outside the traditional top three of PSV, Feyenoord and Ajax. He often sees the best footballing options possible and can pass the ball where he wants. He passes a lot: an average of 55.5 per game this season, with an 82.9% accuracy. As an offensive midfielder, you need to intercept sometimes a counter attack. He has the most interceptions per 90 minutes in the Eredivisie, an average of 2,70. He can also carry the ball forward with a low centre of gravity and good close dribbling ability. When PEC Zwolle have the ball he often comes between the lines to present himself.

The one area he does, however, need to improve is at the other end of the pitch. Thomas has only netted one goal this season and only 12 in 133 appearances for the club. He gets himself into excellent positions around the box but often looks for another pass instead of taking on a shot himself. If he can add more goals to his game then he would be a complete midfielder and one possibly ready for the top.”

Ooh and we got a Marco Rojas sighting too. He played the last dozen minutes away to PSV Eindhoven as sc Heerenveen came from 2-0 down at the break to draw 2-2 with the league leaders – thanked largely by Mexican playmaker Hirving Lozano’s red card (threw an elbow in a challenge, might’ve been harsh). Rojas was chucked on for the left-back with an equaliser on the line and, sure enough, they got the crucial goal four minutes later. With Ajax beating Thommo’s lot, PSV’s lead at the top is down to five points now.

Up Next: Heracles vs PEC Zwolle, 7.45am on Sunday (NZT)

Chris Wood – Burnley / Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)

FA Cup weekend meant that neither Burnley nor West Ham actually played this week, which is all good while the two are still injured/ill. Chris Wood’s knee thing has been a lingering problem for a lot longer than anyone thought it would whereas Winston did get back from his last ailment only for a throat infection to rule him out last week. Another seven days off doesn’t hurt.

Both teams can use the rest given that their recent form has hardly been flash. It says a lot about the Premier League this season (and also how good Burnley’s results were at the start) that the Clarets are without a PL win since December 12 – a run which also saw them knocked out of the FA Cup, thus facilitating this weekend off – and still sit seventh on the table. They used the break to head to Portugal for some warm-weather training, say hi to Tyler Boyd while you’re there.

Sean Dyche: “We’re hopeful. A couple of weeks have come at the right time, I think the players need a break from it. The players coming back fit we’re hopeful with, Wardy as you saw, is back but only just trained last week so he’ll have another couple of weeks under his belt. And we’re confident with Woody and Tarky, Dean Marney, and they just add that layer to the squad.”

Good news there for The Woodsman. Winston Reid should be available for West Ham’s next game as well, although he might need to work his way back into the starting team, you never know. No rest for the Hammers though. While Burnley (and a few other teams) jetted off for warmer climates, David Moyes only gave his lot two days off before going extra hard at the usual training paddock.

In the meantime, you’re best staying the hell away from Winston Reid’s efforts at Valentine’s pickup lines… maaaate.

Up Next: Burnley host Southampton at 4.00am on Sunday and West Ham are away to Liverpool at the same time (NZT)

C.J. Bott - USV Jena / Amber Hearn & Meikayla Moore – FC Koln (German Frauen-Bundesliga)

The Women’s Bundesliga got back underway slowly, spread over a few weeks, as postponed games were made up for. That included USV Jena grabbing a much needed 3-0 win last week over MSV Duisburg – although CJ Bott didn’t play. She missed her second league game of the season there (out of 12) with Sandra Zigic preferred at left back.

For the first full round of fixtures, Jena hosted Turbine Potsdam and fell straight back to earth with a 5-0 defeat. Coupled with Duisburg’s win over Freiburg (first of the season for them), the room they created for themselves from the bottom of the ladder immediately evaporated. It’s gonna be a tough run in and one which Koln are very much stuck in as well. Bott was left out again here, dunno if for injury or tactics, but she was included on the bench so probably the latter. It maybe wasn’t such a bad one to miss. 1-0 at half time before three goals in the first twenty minutes of the second blew the lid off it.

FC Koln fared only slightly better as they lost 3-0 to Frankfurt. Amber Hearn was replaced at the break while Meikayla Moore got ninety minutes in her club debut, granted she played them at right back rather than her preferred centre of defence. All good, it’ll take more than just rolling up to the team to displace the incumbents midseason (Lidija Kulis and Romina Frommont) but she still managed to go straight into the XI. Shows that the best local kiwi women are right up there compared to the professional ranks in Europe and elsewhere.

Up Next: USV Jena are away to Werder Bremen next week while Koln are away to SGS Essen

Katie Bowen – Utah Royals (American National Women’s Soccer League)

Confirmation that Katie Bowen’s been picked up by Utah, after her Kansas City side folded at the end of last season, the franchise being moved on to these jokers. We already basically knew this was happening but it’s nice to see it all formalised. She was one of four players confirmed at once, all former Kansas City teammates.

Utah Royals: “Auckland-born Katie Bowen enters her third NWSL campaign after becoming one of the youngest players to represent New Zealand at an international level. On her 14th birthday in 2008, Bowen made her international debut, representing New Zealand in the 2007 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. She made her first appearance with the senior team in 2011 against Australia, going on to represent her country in the 2011 and 2014 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments. She has since appeared in 37 matches for the New Zealand side, scoring one goal. In 2016, FC Kansas City selected Bowen in the NWSL College Draft out of the revered North Carolina Tar Heels program, where she played in 34 games, scoring twice.”

Up Next: New season begins in late March

Stefan Marinovic, Myer Bevan & Cory Brown – Vancouver Whitecaps (American Major League Soccer)

Stefan Marinovic: “I love a challenge. It keeps me on my toes. This is preseason and the preseason is the battle for the No. 1 starting spot, so I also see it like that. Brian's a good goalkeeper, so it should be fun. I thrive off a challenge.”

Brian being Brian Rowe, the new keeper at Vancouver who Stefan’s competing with for the starting gig. But realistically he’d have to say some pretty offensive things to the gaffer to lose that number one jersey based on how he finished the season in 2017 and how he’s played so far in preseason. Still, always nice to keep challenging yourself, never getting complacent.

EightySixForever have SM predicted for the starting XI, this before the most recent couple preseason games in which the Caps drew 4-4 with Los Angeles FC, with no kiwis taking place (and Rowe playing the whole thing) after they beat Las Vegas FC 3-2 (Marinovic playing the whole thing but no Myer Bevan there either):

“[Marinovic] has yet to concede a goal and has made some good saves in the process. It’s a pretty clear choice. Brian Rowe hasn’t filled me with confidence, though he’s not been terrible. Rowe wasn’t really at fault for the one (extremely offside) goal he conceded, but his distribution left something to be desired, When Rowe has been in net, things just didn’t feel as secure. Although, I’d betraying the goalkeepers union if I didn’t point out that coming in at halftime as a goalkeeper is incredibly challenging.”

AFTN also claimed that Stefan had “excelled” so far through preseason. Myer Bevan is tougher to find a role for and he was always going to be in for an uphill struggle as far as minutes go but he signed that first team deal so he’s sticking around for now. It’s possible he ends up on loan at Fresno FC later on, although he was in the squad that travelled to Las Vegas.

As for Cory Brown, it’s now been confirmed what was already suspected which is that he will be playing with Fresno. Got a good 70 minutes at centre back in a 3-1 defeat to LA Galaxy the other day, which is always a good sign.

Up Next: First game of the MLS season is at home to Montreal on Monday 3 March (NZT)

Olivia Chance – Everton (English Super League)

The fifth round of the FA Cup was no trouble at all for Everton. Away to lower league Lewes, they wasted little time in dispatching them 6-0. The quarter-final draw was equally generous as they drew WSL 2 side Durham. That’ll be played in a month, sweet as.

56 minutes for Chance. She didn’t need to play a minute more after the Toffees went up 3-0 within 20 and were four up when Liv was replaced. Chaney Boye-Hlorkah scored a hatty while Chloe Kelly, Dan Turner and Megan Finnigan added to that, the latter with her first ever senior goal. No double for Chancey this time but no worries.

Up Next: Gotta be some WSL action, Everton playing Arsenal at 8.30am on Saturday (NZT)

Elliot Collier – Chicago Fire (American Major League Soccer)

There’s Elliot Collier, still making a decent shot at getting onto that MLS roster. Three kiwis were drafted this year but he’s the only one who appears to have any chance of holding on at the top level – which is pretty unexpected but bloody lovely all the same. This was only a 75 minute game against a college team and with several injuries plus it was only a couple days after a previous friendly, though Collier featured there too off the bench. The Fire are down to 28 players in their training camp roster and Collier is one of two unsigned SuperDraft picks as well as five trialists. Four of those unsigned players are competing for places in the forward line so that’s the competition right there.

The game against Florida Gulf Coast University didn’t see a Collier goal but he came close a couple times – including a tap-in disallowed for offside - as well as setting up Omar Castro for the opener in a 2-0 win. All of the unsigned players got a run out here, with Collier playing 67 minutes before being replaced by Maxi Moreira. This could be a situation to keep an eye on as the MLS season draws closer.

Chicago Fire: “The Fire opened scoring in 19th minute when Christian Dean played a ball over the top to Elliot Collier. The Loyola University Chicago product brought down the ball in front of the goal for Omar Castro, who quickly redirected it in to get the Men in Red on the board.”

Up Next: More of the same will be nice

Jake Gleeson & Bill Tuiloma– Portland Timbers (American Major League Soccer)

Jumping over to Portland, it was more of the same as Jake Gleeson was used as the backup keeper in their latest game and Bill Tuiloma got quarter of an hour at the end as a deeper squad member. Looks a decent chance he can crack the MLS roster from here, (hopefully). And prior to that…

Portland Timbers: “Among those positional battles is in goal, where Jeff Attinella and Jake Gleeson continue to compete for the No. 1’s gloves. Both players, however, have been hampered over the last week. Attinella was held out of Wednesday’s match with a minor quad strain, while Gleeson, having recovered from a leg injury of his own, has been battling a cold, albeit one that couldn’t prevent him from going 90 minutes against Houston. Both players were able to complete full training on Friday.”

Up Next: Maybe some Tonya Harding tactics? (Jokes…)

Ali Riley – FC Rosengard / Hannah Wilkinson – Vittsjo GIK (Swedish Damallsvenskan)

Still a bit before the Swedish league season begins but first we’ve got the Svenska Cupen which is already underway and, oh would you look at this, Rosengard and Vittsjo are in the same group! Which means they played each other! And here’s the full replay!

Rosengard won that one 3-0, a clean sheet for left-back Ali Riley and friends. Sanne Troelsgaard-Nielsen scored all three goals while Hannah Wilkinson was a 69th minute sub for the other lot. Not quite a classic Flying Kiwis Derby but a fun way to start the season all the same.

The following fixtures for each? They were a little funkier. Vittsjo were frustrated by a 0-0 draw away to Kristianstad. Wilko was picked to start… but she shan’t be starting next time after picking up two yellow cards in the space of five minutes for a 66th min red one. Whoops. Although having to play 25 minutes with only ten players kinda turned this into an impressive result.

Meanwhile Rosengard went and won 16-0 away at Qviding. Safe to say they oughta be the team that advances from the group.

Up Next: International break, Footy Ferns duty

Tommy Smith, Kip Colvey & Deklan Wynne – Colorado Rapids (American Major League Soccer)

Mmmm, that’s sexy.

Smithy even netted a goal the team’s final preseason game, getting up high for a header from a corner the big fella. Hudson named a strong team for that 2-0 win over USL side Phoenix Rising (featuring Didier Drogba, by the way), and not only did it include Smithy but also Deklan Wynne. We’ve been told that he’s headed for a loan out, at least for the first half of the season, but you never know. Expect Edgar Castillo and Marlon Hairston to be the first choice wingbacks, hope Deklan Wynne and Kip Covley can be there or thereabouts – one of their contenders has already been shipped off to the USL, with Mike da Fonte making his expected move to that same Phoenix Rising side.

Then there’s that international slot they grabbed off of Sporting KC. One that could indicate a change of plans since they’re anticipating a green card for striker Dominique Badji. Could be that that’s fallen through or it could be that someone else is on the way (they still need a genuine number nine) or it could be that Deklan Wynne’s had a top notch preseason. Kip Colvey isn’t an international player, btw, so he’s not affected by that.

The reason Colorado has finished up the practice stuff so early is that they’ve gotta play Champions League footy against Toronto FC next week. Proper football, mate. Two legs of round of 16 action (the MLS season runs year by year so it doesn’t overlap with the Champions League, hence why a team that was about the worst in the MLS in 2017 made the confederation’s top draw – they qualify as runners up for the 2016 MLS Supporters’ Shield). Ruthless draw since Toronto are the defending MLS champs but a new season brings a clean slate. Should be a good indication of where Anthony Hudson’s leaning with this squad as well.

Up Next: Colorado vs Toronto, CONCACAF CL, Wednesday at 4.00pm (NZT)

Katie Rood – Juventus (Italian Serie A)

Outstanding. Roodie got a cheeky fifteen minutes off the bench in a 4-0 win over Empoli here too, that’s a couple solid cameos this month. Starting to make an impact here, alright.

Up Next: Bit of a rest as the international break rolls around, then Juve are away to Verona on March 13 (NZT)

James Musa – Sporting Kansas City (American Major League Soccer)

The Blue Testament: “Musa Better Worry - James Musa found himself on the bench on Wednesday and Vermes confirmed he was healthy. It has been widely assumed he is the backup at defensive midfielder to Ilie Sanchez. But often in the preseason he has found himself behind Swope Park Rangers midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal. Kuzain looked like he handled himself pretty well. The second team didn’t allow a goal and that youthful midfield of fellow SPR member Felipe Gutierrez and 15-year-old SKC signing Gianluca Busio looked pretty good.”

This after Sporting KC went and traded one of their international spots to old mate Anthony Hudson and the Colorado Rapids this week too. It doesn’t mean they need to cut an INT player per se… but they have seven spots and seven foreign players (Musa included) so if they have any further plans then somebody’s getting moved on and Musa’s slipped down the pecking order lately. Although forward Daniel Salloi might soon be eligible for a green card. One of those international players is Scottish international Johnny Russell, who’s recently joined from Derby County.

Up Next: Dunno

Camaraderie

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