Flying Kiwis – February 11
Ryan Thomas – PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)
A beautiful way to score your first goal for PSV Eindhoven. Drifting into great areas, linking up with the dudes around you, making that late untracked run into the penalty area and then slipping it past the keeper. A fantastic moment for Ryan Thomas after such a troubled start to his PSV career and one that helps vindicate all the struggles he went through during his injury recovery all last season. But it wasn’t only important on a personal level... this was a massive goal for the club too. It put them two up with twenty minutes remaining against Willem II, a club that’s ahead of them on the ladder as it stands (although by only by one point now). They’d go on to win it 3-0 with Thommo subbed off in the 78th minute to a great reception. PSV’s first win since the old calendars got thrown out for the new 2020 ones.
Now, I know what you’re thinking here... Willem II, that’s Michael Woud and James McGarry’s team, right? Absolutely it is and Woudy even had an impressive outing last week for them but with regular keeper Timon Wellenreuther recovering to start this one it meant that both kiwis were back to where they’re used to being as unused subs on the Willem bench, so it goes. Hence this one is all about Ryan Thomas.
Part of the gig was that PSV changed up their usual 4-3-3 formation, instead going with a 4-4-2 that allowed Thommo to play basically as a second striker behind Sam Lammers (who himself is coming back from a long injury layoff and is also more of an attacking mid than a striker but okay). Thommo himself said afterwards that he hasn’t played this far forward since he was back in Aotearoa but he seemed to make a good go of it, getting involved in everything as PSV started the game positively. From knocking it around outside the area and creating space for his buddies to a blocked shot and a header under pressure that went over. It was a free roaming role for him. Plenty of scope to play the puppetmaster. As interim gaffer Ernest Haber said prior to the game: “We think Ryan's ability to handle this is good, we have trained for it all week”.
PSV took the lead in the 32nd minute. Denzel Dumfries charging into the area and cutting inside with a nice first touch before slamming it past Wellenreuther for the goal. Michael Woud woulda saved it, of course. Ryan Thomas was cut out by the ball over the top there but a deserving goal for PSV who were looking revitalised in an important game yet needed that goal to show for it. Then they needed that second and it proved just as tricky to find, although Thommo did drive one narrowly over the top at the end of the half after combining beautifully with Dumfries.
Nah, it wasn’t until that 70th minute strike from Ryan Thomas that they got the comfort of a second goal. Up until then Willem II produced a few half-chances in a much better second stanza performance which had PSV nervously biting their nails. It was just starting to get panicky when Thomas scored that goal and eased all the pressure. PSV then added a third in the final few seconds of injury time... or rather Willem II gifted it to them as Mike Tresor Ndayishimiye passed a gentle one back to Wellenreuther only to realise too late that the keeper was not where he thought he was and the ball rolled casually over the line for a hilarious own goal. Again, wouldn’t have happened with Michael Woud in there.
But this was Ryan Thomas’ big day. Check out the reactions, mate...
Ernest Faber: “[Thomas] is perfectly suited to commute between the attack and the midfield, he did well. If you see how he has been doing the last few months, he continues to work incredibly hard and is committed to the team. You can't have a better example right now.”
Harry Lubse, Former Dutch international & current footy pundit: “[Ryan Thomas] seemed to feel in his element and played football as I know him. Thomas was very busy and did not hesitate to make a lot of dirty metres. He has put a lot of energy into the game and his teammates seemed to feed on it. That energy is also needed to get out of the trough that PSV is in. Whether the missing puzzle piece fell into place with Thomas? That remains to be seen, but he filled the gap well next to Lammers. Due to a cruciate ligament injury he was out for a long time, but on Saturday night he was really dragging and fighting again.”
So a decent night’s football for Ryan Thomas then.
Up Next: ADO Den Haag vs PSV Eindhoven, Sunday at 7.45am (NZT)
Sarpreet Singh - Bayern Munich II (German Liga 3)
Oh so you’ve been waiting for some new Sarpreet Singh news? Yeah, it’s been a little while. The German league went on its winter break for a month or so and Singh, you may recall, got sent off in his last game prior to Christmas and still had to serve that suspension. So he missed the first couple Bayern reserves games of 2020 and when he was finally back available (it was a pretty rough red card decision by the way) he was named on the bench for the game away to Viktoria Köln.
All goods. He was subbed on in the 65th minute of the game, replacing Oliver Batista Meier in midfield, with the scores tied at 1-1... and within minutes he’d put his dudes in front. Ball falls to him on the edge of the area and he volleys it low into the bottom corner. Through the traffic, out of the reach of the keeper. Viktoria Köln went on to equalise again in the 83rd minute but then Chris Richards headed in an 89th minute winner and with the clock ticking down towards the end of stoppage time and VK committing everybody including the goalkeeper forwards... BM2 broke on the counter attack and Sarpreet casually nudged one into an empty net from about 40 metres out or something. Two goals in 25 minutes in a 4-2 win in his first game of the new year. Magnificent. Picking wonderfully up where he left off.
There have been a heap of interviews with and articles about Sarpreet Singh recently, from the local crew in Aotearoa to a handful of newspapers and websites from India. Too many to keep up with. But this exclusive yarn with Bundesliga.com was one of the best. Here’s a taster...
On making his Bundesliga debut:
“The coach is never going to tell you if you're going to come on or not before a game. For me, it's like any other game I play. I don't change my routines or anything like that. It's important to be consistent, so I prepared in the same way as I have done for every other game in my career. That will never change. For me, it was an amazing feeling to make my debut. It was a dream come true. For someone of Indian background, growing up in New Zealand, it's quite a big moment, a special moment, and hopefully I can inspire the next generation of kids to work hard and push on to bigger and better things.”
On learning from the likes of Lewandowski and Coutinho:
“Basically, I've learned what it takes to be a professional at this level. It's not easy. These guys don't become who they are without hard work. To be able to learn from the world's best players is really special. I continue to work hard and try and be like them. To have them in the dressing room, watch them play games, and play with them, is a dream come true, but at the same time, I'm here now, I have to try and push and compete with them. But I learn lots every day from these sorts of guys, and I try and add all that into my game.
[Lewandowski] knows how to score goals! His record is incredible, he's an absolute goalscoring machine. For me, it's great to learn about which part of the foot he uses and at what time in which situation, it does come down to specific small details like that. It's all about decision making. With Coutinho, I'm looking at what he does in tight spaces, how he scans over his shoulder and gets out of tight situations. I play number 10 too, so there is no-one better to learn from than Coutinho.”
On the future of the All Whites:
“I think we're on the right track. The players coming through and the set-up we have, it's going in the right direction. Hopefully in the future we can make the World Cup, I certainly believe that. The way we're playing, and the players that we're producing, they want to play good football, they're brave in possession. The coach is also trying to drive that, change the environment and the way we play, because we feel we've got the players now. We've got Winston [Reid], Woodsy [Chris Wood], Ryan [Thomas], players playing at a good level. I think it's possible for us to change how we play now, and I think that's happening in New Zealand too. We're on the right path, and hopefully you'll see us at the next World Cup.”
And this next one’s more a formality, he was already in the squad for the group stages and they haven’t signed enough dudes for him to be dropping out having only improved his stocks since then... but Sarpreet Singh’s got the nod in Bayern Munich’s Champions League squad for the knockout stages.
Up Next: Tuesday at 7am, Bayern II vs Hallescher (NZT)
Ali Riley – Orlando Pride (American National Women’s Soccer League
Yeah alright, here we go. It’s a bit of a shame to see Ali Riley leaving Bayern Munich but after sitting on the bench for the majority of the first half of the season (same as she mostly did for Chelsea before that) you can’t really blame her, particularly not when the NWSL comes calling. After all, Ali grew up in California and while she’ll find herself on the opposite coast here with Orlando, it’s still a bit of a surprise that she hasn’t ever played NWSL. She did get a couple years of the previous iteration WPS (Women’s Professional Soccer, pretty lazy name lol) before the NWSL was established in 2012 right at the start of her career but then of course she went to Sweden with Rosengård for all those years.
Orlando Pride is a useful landing spot too. As the GM there says they’ve been chasing her for a little while and despite only finishing seventh last season in a World Cup affected campaign they do still have a very strong roster that includes Brazilian great Marta – a teammate of Riley’s at several clubs in the past (FC Gold Pride, Western New York and FC Rosengård) – as well as USA star Alex Morgan (who Riley played with in 2011 at WNY). Also on the books are Aussie regulars Alanna Kennedy and Emily van Egmond. Perhaps relevant too is that current Footy Ferns manager Tom Sermanni was not so long ago the head coach of the Orlando Pride prior to the NZ job. Ali Riley joins on a one year deal but with an option for 2021 and it’ll be hoped she can go a fair way towards improving a defence that conceded an NWSL-worst 53 goals in 2019.
Orlando Pride GM Erik Ustruck: “We’re delighted to finally come to terms with Ali and Bayern, who we’d also like to thank in making this deal happen. We targeted Ali last year and were unable to come to terms but with the new allocation money, it has provided more roster flexibility and allowed us to go after additional players that historically haven’t been available to the NWSL. From an on-field standpoint, Ali solidifies and improves our backline heading into 2020, which was a key area of improvement for us this offseason. She provides many things we are looking to add to the team: experience, both domestically and internationally, additional energy to our outside back position and is a perfect fit to the culture we’ve worked to establish over the last year.”
Ali Riley: “I heard really great things [about Orlando] from an old friend of mine, Marta, and I also have a lot of respect for [Head Coach] Marc [Skinner] and seeing how his teams play. I think all around — this league, this country, the interest of the women’s game and the growth of this sport, the attention from the media and the fans — it’s something I want to be a part of. I hope both the mentality and attitude I bring, but also the technical ability and the learnings I’ve had playing at some of the best teams in the world, will help bring a little more confidence and a little bit of something different to contribute to a better season this year.”
This signing brings the number of kiwis in the 2020 NWSL up to four, with Abby Erceg at the North Carolina Courage, Katie Bowen at the Utah Royals, and Rosie White at the Seattle Reign... all three of whom were at those same clubs last year.
Up Next: New season should begin in April
CJ Bott - Vålerenga (Norwegian Toppserien)
This one snuck all the way under the radar. CJ Bott, following on from an excellent season with Vittsjö in Sweden where they almost almost almost cracked the Champions League places but not quite... has now signed in Norway on a one year deal with Vålerenga.
CJ Bott: “I am very happy to have signed with Vålerenga and excited to start my next chapter of my career at such a professional and hard-working club. Hopefully I can also take new steps as a football player and at the same time help the team do the same.”
Sports Manager Eli Landsem: “She can basically cover both fullback roles and substitute in defensive midfield if needed as well. It's a versatility that we like. She did her job well for Vittsjø, who finished in third place in the Damallsvenskan last year, so she is a player we are looking forward to having at our club.”
At first thought it’s a shame she’s left Vittsjö considering how well both she and that club performed in 2019 but there’s a reason for the transfer season and this is a very exciting move and a step up for CJB in her career. Vittsjö were an underdog team battling to be where they were – most years they’re scrapping to avoid relegation. Vålerenga, on the other hand, finished second in both the league and the cup in Norway last year and are seeking to go one better in each this time around... as well as seeking to get through to the Champions League knockouts too having done enough in 2019 to enter the qualifying rounds this year.
The Swedish league is probably slightly stronger overall than the Norwegian league... but this is a stronger club she’ll be playing for. Vålerenga’s top two scorers last year were Natasha Dowie (currently leading the lines at Melbourne Victory as a teammate of Annalie Longo) and Ajara Nchout Njoya (Cameroonian international who scored both goals in their dramatic World Cup win over the Football Ferns last year). And of course finishing fifth last year in Norway was Avaldsnes, who boasted both Rebekah Stott and Victoria Esson in their ranks.
Up Next: Gotta wait another month and a half for the footy to start
Elliot Collier – Chicago Fire (American Major League Soccer)
After a year and a half spent working on his game on loan in the USL, Elliot Collier had to trial to earn another chance at the Chicago Fire. But you know what? He’s done it. Fully contracted for this 2020 season and with club options for the following two years after that.
Plenty has changed since he was getting regular games in the first half of the 2018 season, there’s no Bastian Schweinsteiger these days and they’ve got a new head coach in former Swiss international Raphael Wicky who took over in December. There’s been heaps of squad overhaul (including trading their captain to Nashville). There’s even been a rebranding of the logo and club brand. Collier was around for most of that even if he was out on loan but no doubt it’s a good sign that he’s earned a new deal under a new manager.
Head Coach Raphael Wicky: “Elliot has fully earned this new contract. He has impressed our staff with his desire to come in and work hard and he has continuously shown improvement after every training session.”
Collier was drafted by Chicago 49th overall in 2018 and played 17 times for them that season, scoring one goal. He was then loaned to Indy Eleven for the second half of that year, scoring once in 11 games at USL level... which is where he also spent the 2019 campaign on loan at Memphis 901 where he scored seven goals in 29 games – including the first ever goal for that club. It’s also expected that he’ll be able to get his green card sooner rather than later to avoid using up an international roster spot.
This signing brings the number of kiwis in the MLS up to seven for the 2020 season, with a couple more weeks before the games begin. Tommy Smith is still unaccounted for as things stand, with Winston Reid’s situation up in the air as well so not impossible we stretch it even further. Sam Brotherton is the only dude locked in at USL level as we speak but a few of these MLS blokes could get time there on loan.
Up Next: Keep on doing what he’s doing, apparently
Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)
Huh, well on second thought then... things seemed to be all set for Winston Reid to move to Nashville SC on loan for at least the next six months but now it appears that deal has collapsed at the last moment. A hesitancy to commit to a guy with such an injury history, even on a temporary basis, was the final hurdle that couldn’t be cleared. He’d supposedly flown over for a medical so there must have been something in those results that they didn’t like, at least not when they were gonna pay a significant amount of his reported £70k/week salary and if the six-month loan thing was real (allowing him to return to West Ham for preseason) then he’d have only been there for half of the MLS season anyway. So it goes.
Then again, DC United and Sporting Kansas City were also mentioned as rumoured suitors for a Winston Reid loan (as covered last week it basically has to be a loan because Winnie has no reason to walk out of a huge contract which still has three and a half years to run) so there are other options to explore. Here’s what Davie Moyes had to say in his most recent press conference...
Moyes: “Winston is still here, he is still training, still working towards possibly going to America but we have not got that confirmed yet. The club he was due to go to is off but I think there might be somewhere else for him.”
This one throws a different shaped spanner into the works too...
There’s still plenty of time for something to happen with another club but we’ll just have to wait and see. Or maybe he’ll crack that West Ham starting team again after all.
Up Next: Only the fates can say
Hannah Wilkinson - Sporting CP (Portuguese 1a Divisão)
Three points from a 3-0 win. Away to Ovarense in the league. Doing what they’ve gotta do to stay in touch at the top there. Hannah Wilkinson started this one which isn’t always the case although she didn’t score any of the three goals. Nevena Damjanovic (29'), Diana Silva (75'), and Joana Marchão (89') took care of those duties and in the absence of any highlights, can’t tell ya if Wilkie set any up. Oh well. Onwards we march. Sporting remain three points behind SL Benfica in second place but six clear of third with 13 games out of 22 played.
Up Next: The big one... Sporting vs SL Benfica, Sunday 24 Feb at 5am (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
Good chat with Boxy there, you can listen to the full audio on the Minnesota website there or on their Sound of the Loons podcast but here’s the bit you wanna know about straight away... Michael Boxall talking about his new kiwi teammates...
“And then there are his countrymen — James Musa and Noah Billingsley — each of whom intersects with Boxall’s career across several dimensions, from playing on the same Wellington Phoenix team years apart to playing with Boxall’s younger brother, Nikko. Boxall praised Musa’s dependability as a holding midfielder and said everyone’s been blown away by Billingsley’s athleticism. Boxall’s always been one of the most down-to-earth and easy-to-talk-to Loons — a quality that both Musa and Billingsley seem to share as fellow New Zealanders. It’s one of the things that’s made it easy for Boxall and his countrymen to fit in — a must in a long MLS season that’s just getting started.
“It's just a way of life down there,” he said. “Wherever you grow up in New Zealand, the weather's pretty nice all year round. You've got the beaches to go chill out at. Twenty minutes from just about anyone's house, there's a nice beach to relax on. All of that comes together for all of us to be fairly happy-go-lucky.””
Up Next: First proper game of the 2019 is away to Portland Timbers on March 2 (NZT)
Steven Old – Morecambe (English League Two)
A late equaliser meant a 1-1 draw against Mansfield for the Shrimps. Every point counts at this stage and Stevie Old got ninety minutes at the back as per usual. Sweet as.
Up Next: Morecambe vs Macclesfield, Wednesday at 8.45am (NZT)
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