Flying Kiwis – October 5
Ryan Thomas – PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)
We didn’t get to see Ryan Thomas in the Europa League this week. PSV were away to Sturm Graz of Austria and they strolled to a 4-1 win thanks to an excellent second half. Ibrahim Sangaré (32’), Eran Zahavi (51’), Philipp Max (74’) and Yorbe Vertessen (78’) all scored to send them top of the group after two rounds with a win and a draw. Sturm Graz did pull it back to 2-1 at one point but PSV were too good. This was a strong performance from them. Only bummer was that Sangaré got sent off with a minute to go... which might bring Ryan Thomas back into the mix next game with the Ivorian suspended. This after he had to sit on the bench watching the whole thing unfold in Austria.
That was that game. Now we speed forward to the weekend’s match against Sparta Rotterdam where again Thomas was named on the bench (remember he’s only started one game this season so yeah) but this time he did get the summons from his coach. PSV had been bossing the contest and needed something different to break the frustration. An hour gone and it was still 0-0. Off came Ritsu Doan and Marko van Ginkel and on came Carlos Vinicius and Ryan Thomas.
It had been one-way traffic most of the game as Sparta Rotterdam immediately set up in a low block. Sangaré was twice denied by wonderful saves in the first twenty minutes. Sparta did sneak a toepoke into the net in the 25th but there had been a foul in the move so crisis averted and back to regular transmission as Eran Zahavi had a couple attempts that got the crowd rising. But for all their ball, PSV weren’t creating enough of those big chances. Hence they went to the bench.
Thomas came on in a midfield role yet with Sparta sitting so deep he was given instructions to push up in support of the forwards. They nearly got iced on the counter straight away as Thomas ran in behind and Sangaré’s pass was intercepted but in the 64th there was a great example of what RT was there to do. Thommo rushed a holding mid and won the ball high up, Cody Gakpo grabbing the loosie and dribbling to the byline but his low cross to Mario Götze was a bit too hard for the German to get a controlled touch upon. There was the blueprint though. Remember that moment.
Elsewhere Andre Ramahlo had a header/shoulder cleared off the line. Eran Zahavi hit the post with a shot peeling to his right. Zahavi then had a back-post header brilliantly pawed away by the goalie. Still the breakthrough wasn’t coming (although the quality of chances was definitely there now). Finally, 81 mins played, Sangaré delivered that package they’d been waiting for. A magnificent goal, stepping up past a couple defenders and striking his shot into the top corner from the edge of the box. This guy is capital-p Player, let it be known. Though as good as that goal was, it wasn’t quite as delightful (for us anyway) as what happened a few minutes after...
The very definition of a deft touch is what that is. Deceptively tricky finish to control given how hard the cross comes at him from Cody Gakpo – recall how Götze earlier missed a similar look? This was the first goal that Ryan Thomas has scored for PSV since November 2020. His fourth overall for the club (to go with seven assists).
Preeetty important one too because Sparta Rotterdam dragged one back soon after via a defensive turnover on halfway. But thanks to their second goal PSV were able to close it out for a 2-1 victory that even gains a little ground on Ajax, who unexpectedly lost 1-0 at home to Utrecht this week. PSV are a point behind them in second (and somehow, only eight games in, they’re 20 goal difference points behind too). Feyenoord also lost so that was handy.
He did miss that Europa game as an unused sub, but Ryan Thomas has played every Eredivise game he’s been available for. It’s only the injuries that have ever kept him out. Still, a lot of those games he was coming on in short substitute cameos late on so a crucial goal like that one will do plenty for his candidacy as a potential starter. There are definitely factions of PSV’s fanbase who don’t feel like he’s at the required level for this club but there are also factions who understand how difficult it’s been for him with knocks.
Thommo’s skipping the All Whites fixtures over the international break for that reason hence the next game he’ll play is against the club he got his start with in the Netherlands. Good time to play them too as PEC Zwolle are dead last without a win this season. Here’s hoping this goal is a kickstarter for RT.
Up Next: PSV vs PEC Zwolle on Sunday 17 October at 8am (NZT)
Chris Wood - Burnley FC (English Premier League)
‘Twas a bottom of the table clash as Burnley hosted Norwich. A couple winless teams, each starting to get a little desperate about their situation, each targeting this game for that first three-pointer that’ll get them going. Chris Wood has a good record against Norwich too, having scored five times in four previous starts against the Canaries.
Burnley weren’t messing about. In times of trouble you revert to what you know and there was a clear directive to get the ball into the box. That didn’t lead to anything obvious in the early stages but Norwich’s defence was having to hang tight, and there was a Chris Wood chance that he put over the top after a flick-on from Matej Vydra where he was already offside. Vydra had a couple penalty appeals declined. All about grinding Norwich down, trying to wear them out and then capitalise on any eventual mistakes.
Chris Wood was booked in the 24th min for sliding in on a fella after letting a ball roll across his body on the edge of the box. A bit of scrappiness after the challenge too which saw Matt Lowton also pick up a yellow. Bookings were flying around all over the place in fact. Five in the first 33 mins. Meanwhile Matej Vydra used that break to get a bit of physio treatment and, while he did carry on for about ten more minutes, he eventually did need to be replaced by Jay Rodriguez. Wood had another moment before the half as a ball was swung in low in his direction but just out of his reach. Still goalless at the half (though not for lack of trying).
Nervous times early in the second half. It may have begun with Dwight McNeil testing Tim Krul’s glove quality from distance but Norwich caused some havoc, especially Mathias Normann’s free kick that Nick Pope dove to deflect away from right on the edge of the area after a great run from Ozan Kabak. Much more open game all of a sudden. McNeil missed a good chance at the back stick. Chris Wood kept wrestling with Grant Hanley for position on the end of crosses. He had a shot blocked after drifting out to the left, that one going out for yet another corner.
Then he got subbed off. Not Chris Wood’s day unfortunately as Ashley Barnes replaced him for the final ten. Burnley never did find a goal. Held 0-0 as the winless streak continues.
Up Next: International break... then it’s away to Man City on Sunday 17 Oct at 3am (NZT)
Ria Percival – Tottenham Hotspur (English Super League)
The FA Cup took a bit of a hiatus for the ladies. Didn’t even start until December 2020 and then they had to delay some rounds with the covids and the round of 16 happened without crowds and in the end they decided to push the last three rounds until next season. Which is now this season. So Tottenham’s quarter-final against North London rivals Arsenal finally happened last Thursday morning NZT... four months after the previous matches.
Not that it bothered Spurs, they came into this one in a bit of form after three straight single-goal wins to start the WSL season including one over Manchester City. The only team ahead of them on the ladder was the team they were playing in the quarters of the cup. Then barely three minutes into the game Rachel Williams dispatched a recycled ball into the roof of the goal and go on then, high upset alert.
Not for very long though. Spurs went something close to full strength for this game albeit with a more defensive set up. Ria Percival wasn’t defensive though. She was in the centre of the three in a 4-2-3-1 formation, not dissimilar to how she’s been used in the league, which allowed her to support the lone striker and to bring a heap of energy on the press when those rare moments occurred. Her workrate is unparalleled so fair enough. But even though Arsenal had rested quite a few of their top strength players, the depth at that club is nuts. You sit out Vivianne Miedema and in comes Tobin Heath.
Heath was causing chaos from the outset on the left wing and eventually the all-out pressure from Arsenal burst the dam. Maya Iwabuchi levelled up with a lovely strike after quarter of an hour. An own goal from Asmita Ale and then goals from Caitlyn Foord and Nikita Parris made it 4-1 by the half. Aussie international Foord added her second later on as the Gunners advanced to the semis with a 5-1 win. Full game for Percival, who moved back into a deeper midfield role in the second half, but honestly they didn’t stand too much of a chance against the top team in the country once Arsenal got it rolling. The Gunners second XI is probably good enough to make the Champions League right now.
The WSL has been Spurs’ happy place lately so a trip to promoted Leicester City was a nice opportunity to bounce back... and bounce back they certainly did. This was as dominant as Spurs have been all season. 22 shots to 3. 9 shots on target to 0. 61% possession. 12 corners to 2. Ria Percival found herself in a more traditional midfield role and she was fully in control throughout.
A Percival corner kick was the first good chance to get that crucial opening goal as Ash Neville’s header was tipped wide by a diving keeper. Then there was a good stop off a Chioma Ubogagu shot. However that same Leicester keeper wasn’t as glorious in the 38th min though as she dropped a corner from the other side and after a bit of pinball Rachel Williams was able to stab it home for the lead. Then the next corner kick they had was taken low to the near post where Ria Percival dashed in unmarked but her shot was pushed over the bar. Back to impressive goalkeeping business for Kirstie Levell.
Playing from in front, Spurs looked relatively untroubled. Percival was able to keep stepping up in support of the attack knowing that French CDM Maeva Clemaron had things covered and Percy probably should’ve scored in the second half when a well worked move found her unmarked eight yards out but the ball was a little behind her and she rushed the shot which allowed Levell to save. Both times she maybe could’ve taken a touch. Her third shot was more typical of her reputation. Heavy challenge won in midfield then a long range strike sent just wide. By this time Spurs were getting wasteful. Kit Graham and Rachel Williams both missed good looks. But finally in the 88th min Angela Addison polished off a sweeping counter attack and finally it was 2-0. Spurs with their fourth WSL win from four and they remain second on the ladder, equal points with Arsenal but way behind on goal difference. Catch the highlights here.
No idea how Ria Percival still hasn’t scored a Women’s Super League goal. She had those two golden chances in this game plus the long-ranger and given that she’s been playing a little higher up the pitch this season there have been chances in other games too. She has scored in League Cup play for Spurs. Surely it’s only a matter of time. Regardless, this was a milestone appearance for Percy so it would have been sweet to celebrate it with a win...
Up Next: Monday at 2am away to Brighton (NZT)
Olivia Chance - Celtic FC (Scottish Premier League)
Celtic have arguably already gotten most of their toughest games out of the way already. The Champions League qualifiers are done. They came back to draw 2-2 against title rivals Glasgow City on the back of a Liv Chance double-banger. Then they squeezed past Hibernian 2-1 thanks to a late winner. Rangers have also been good to start the new term but other than those fixtures they’re all games that the hoops are expected to win. This week they had two such games... and they won them both handily.
Midweek was Motherwell away. Relatively simple one here as Charlie Wellings got them on the board with an easy finish after 15 mins and before long she had a second from a very similar opportunity. Up early and they’d never look like relinquishing that lead. Midway through the second half that they found a third, this one via an own goal. Then with ten to play Olivia Chance struck a free kick that was parried away by the goalie and tapped in by Larissa Clarisey. We can count that as an assist, surely. 4-0 the final score.
That one was a rearranged fixture and doesn’t seem to have been broadcast... but there was a camera out there to catch the Celts dropping Partick Thistle 6-0 on the weekend and once again Liv Chance was deep amongst the festivities. She’s pretty much a locked on starter at this point, bringing the ball forward through that midfield, and it was her superb pass that slid Wellings in for the opening goal after 13 minutes.
Thistle had actually put the ball in the net just before but there’d been an offside flag, other than that it was all Celtic. One became two when Kathleen McGovern struck a free kick into the bottom corner in the 31st. Then closing in on the half-time break there was a repeat performance of the first goal as Chance played a low splitting pass in behind the defence for Wellings to run onto and score from. The second half doesn’t even matter. Chance was subbed off at the break for a well-earned rest and they’d go on to add another three – including Wellings completing a hat-trick. 10 goals scored and none conceded makes for a solid week’s work, as Celtic keep pace at the top of the ladder.
Up Next: Hamilton vs Celtic, Monday at 4am (NZT)
Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)
The rest of the season starts now for Viking. Having come through a really tough run of fixtures with some mint results, they’ve now got a favourable run to the finish line as they try and wriggle up the ladder. And home against Sandefjord everything seemed to be going sweet as. They were tightening the screws through early set pieces, Yann-Erik de Lanlay had a great chance. Then their goalie got sent off.
Patrik Sigurdur Gunnarsson with the 18th minute red card for absolutely clattering a striker way outside the box. Gone went the early dominance as VFK had to adjust things on the fly with ten men... though they did keep it tight for the rest of the half, arguably having the best opportunity there too as Veton Berisha headed another one of those wicked Joe Bell free kicks over the top.
Viking then made another couple changes at the break (they’d subbed on a new goalie after the red, obviously)... and almost immediately took the lead. Four mins into the second half Veton Berisha dropped in to collect the ball and played a gorgeous first-time reverse towards Harald Nilsen Tangen who played it back to him on the wrap-around and Berisha lashed it into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Sandefjord levelled it up in the 57th as Martin Kreuzriegler headed in a corner kick from the near post, pretty much unchallenged within a crowded six yard box. It was starting to feel like the visitors were the team most likely to win it now as the backup keeper had to make a couple excellent saves for Viking, who perhaps were tiring as they neared an hour with ten men. But then Veton Berisha did another Veton Berisha thing. 77 mins gone and a long throw into the area was flicked on and he pounced at the far post. From there they were able to close it out. Probably shoulda scored a third in injury time but Samuel Kari Fridjonsson hit the post with the goalie out of position and only a defender on the line to beat. No dramas. A 2-1 win under those circumstances is huge for Viking. Full game for kiwi Joe Bell and a full game for ex-kiwi Gianni Stensness. VFK up to fifth on the ladder at the international break.
Up Next: Stromsgodset vs Viking, Monday 18 October at 4am (NZT)
CJ Bott - Vålerenga (Norwegian Toppserien)
It hasn’t been a season that’s broken right for Vålerenga. Last season’s double winners have struggled during their league title defence, falling well short of contention in the end thanks largely to the points they dropped around the time of their Champions League qualifying endeavours... which also didn’t go as hoped. Tough draw in the final round and they were well beaten by Häcken (Sweden). However there is still the Norwegian Cup to play for and up against Rosenborg in the semi-finals they could hardly have asked for a better start as Agnete Nielsen charged down the goalkeeper in the third minute for an early strike.
Then it got better. 21st min and Thea Bjelde picked up the rebound from a blocked shot in the area and picked her spot for 2-0. It was a 2-1 defeat against Rosenborg just before their second leg UCL qualifier against Hacken that pretty much ended their title chances but here against the same opponents they were up bright and early and loving it. Could have been more had Marie Dølvik Markussen’s shot not hit the post later in the half.
Nah, there was only one team in this game. One of VIF’s very best performances all year. A performance which included CJ Bott starting at right back, in fact she was one of the many who threatened a third goal as she snuck in behind but shot across the face of the goal from an angle. That third goal finally arrived with Rikke Marie Madsen tackling a defender then lashing it home in the 82nd min and then Dølvik Markussen added a fourth on 86’ just for fun. Great to see Bott starting in a big game like this (the cup semis were the only games on this weekend so can’t talk about squad rotation or anything). Vålerenga will try defend their cup title against Sandviken in a month’s time after they beat Lillestrøm 2-0 in the other semi.
Up Next: Away to Lyn at 2am on Sunday (NZT)
Logan Rogerson - FC Haka (Finnish Veikkausliiga)
Nobody can say that wasn’t coming. Logan Rogerson set one up last week and he’s had numerous close calls himself since joining Haka on loan. A goal was only ever a matter of time away... and 24th minute of the game against HIFK, the last game before the league split into championship and relegation rounds, he delivered the goods. Wouldn’t have guessed it would be a header, more likely a speedy run in behind the defence and a sharp finish 1v1 or something. But it was a quality nod all the same and it set Haka up towards a 2-0 win. Donaldo Acka scored the second with ten minutes remaining.
That made it three wins in a row for Haka although still not enough to dodge those relegation rounds. Granted it did give them a healthy little boost in points. Speaking of the relegation rounds, Haka played Oulu on the weekend in the first of these final five games and despite ninety minutes for Logan Rogerson they weren’t able to find a winning goal. Stuck with a 0-0 draw... although that’s not the worst result ever. Keeps a six point buffer between themselves and Oulu who are in the relegation playoff spot (one team goes down automatically, one plays of with a second tier team).
Up Next: Sunday 17 October vs FC Lahti (NZT)
Nikko Boxall – SJK (Finnish Veikkausliiga)
Meanwhile SJK bagged themselves a spot in the championship rounds by sitting fourth ahead of the final five games with a decent chance of sneaking up to third which would mean a place in the Europa Conference League first round of qualifying (they’re already guaranteed a second chance with a spot in the national Europa Conference League qualification tournament). And those chances took a huge boost with a massive result against defending champs HJK.
It was Auckland City old boy David Browne who got things started in the fourth minute by giving HJK the lead. His low free kick from the right edge was surely intended as a cross but it took a deflection off a defender and there ya go. But Nikko Boxall and the lads buckled up after that. Their back three was put under plenty of pressure, some of it self-inflicted, but they repelled everything that came their way and to be honest were a tad unlucky not to be level at the break after a flurry of shots of their own.
Turns out they were just timing their run. After offering an increased threat as the game went along they finally equalised in the 73rd when Cristian Valencia headed in from a corner kick. Parity didn’t last too long because HJK snapped back to focus and Santeri Hostikka ‘megged Boxall and buried his shot on 82’. Perhaps that played a part in Boxall being subbed off soon after as they chuck on an extra attacker to go for a second equaliser. Eh, it worked. Danys Oliynyk from the penalty spot on 86’ after a free kick just outside the box was blocked by a defender’s arm.
Only that wasn’t all. HJK then went feral for a winner that’d keep them from dropping points in the title race and it backfired. Left themselves short of numbers in defence and although Jake Jervis couldn’t score his initial attempt, he recycled the loose ball and Ariel Ngueukam curled in a brilliant finish for a dramatic 95th minute winner. How about that, aye?
Up Next: HIFK vs SJK on Sunday 17 October at 3am (NZT)
Moses Dyer – Valour FC (Canadian Premier League)
Oh you know just a couple more instances of Moses Dyer getting on the scoresheet in Canada. Nice that they let him take the penalty again, it was much better the second time around.
The first game saw Pacific come back to win it 3-1 though they Valour get a 1-1 draw vs Edmonton in the second. Probably should have won it given their superior possession and shots on target but that’s the way it’s been going for Valour lately. These two results make it seven league games in a row without a win plus they got knocked out of the cup competition in amongst all that. Dyer has played in all but one game for Valour in 2021. That’s 20 appearances (13 starts) with 5 goals... four of them penalties.
Up Next: 1pm on Wednesday against Cavalry (NZT)
Sarpreet Singh - SSV Jahn Regensburg (German 2. Liga)
The man is a marketing icon, what can we say?
Can’t say too much about his recent games, to be fair. He’s not played badly but there has been a reverting to the mean for SSV Jahn after their glittering start and Singh hasn’t been involved directly in a goal for a wee while. The team did show some big cojones to come back from a couple goals down against Karlsruher to draw 2-2 on the weekend though and it was Singh’s free kick that led to the equaliser. Not quite an assist because it was flicked on but the next best thing.
Up Next: Gonna have to miss it as SSV Jahn are away to Augsburg on Friday at 3am (NZT)
Callum McCowatt, Elijah Just & Nando Pijnaker - FC Helsingør (Danish Division 1)
Well, the unbeaten streak is gone. Just a bad day at the office for FCH which began in the 18th min when Frederik Bay scored an own goal and then the lead was doubled by opponents Nykøbing ten minutes later. FCH, playing from behind, were able to hold a lot of the ball and work quite a few shots the rest of the way as Nykøbing stayed careful with that lead so the stats don’t quite tell the full story. But then they got hit on the counter attack late on to polish things off.
McCowatt and Just were both replaced for the last quarter of an hour, straight after Nykøbing scored the third goal. Helsingør are still first after 11 games though only just. But on the plus side, Nando Pijnaker made his debut! Got the last ten mins off the bench with the result all over but the shouting. Now the three of them get to fly to Bahrain for a pair of All Whites fixtures. Not a bad time for the international break to roll around.
Up Next: FCH vs Esbjerg, Friday 15 Oct at 6am (NZT)
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
Not a lot of good to talk about here as The Loons got dropped 3-1 midweek by DC United. Considering that he’s coming back from injury, it was decided to rest Emanuel Reynoso but without him Minnesota barely even threatened in his absence. They lost 3-1 and they were lucky to get the one (xG ratings of 3.44 vs 0.20 for this game, yeesh).
Coach Adrian Heath had probably hoped to get away with that rotation by naming a surprise back three formation, with Boxall on the right of the trio, but then they conceded a (somewhat debatable, but upheld by VAR) penalty twenty mins in which Ola Kamara converted and it’s hard to sit deep and soak it all up when you’re losing. A wonderful Bakaye Bibassy header on the end of a free kick did briefly level things back up after 40 mins but then Julian Gressel scored before the half was out. Then it was all DCU in the second stanza. Kamara missed a penalty and they still looked comfortable, Junior Moreno eventually clinching it in the 85th with a deflected effort.
Then on the weekend it was back to their usual soldiers but they weren’t able to find away through FC Dallas in Texas. This one finished 0-0. It was a game which either team could have won and both goalkeepers were excellent. FCD had a goal disallowed in the second half for a handball after Boxall’s defensive clearance had hit a striker’s arm, pretty clear-cut VAR decision. But Minnesota’s struggles in the final third have plagued them for at least a month now and were clear and obvious here again, even with Reynoso playing.
And they’ll be worse next week because not only will Michael Boxall be away with the All Whites but Reynoso will be suspended after he snapped up an 89th minute red card... which did look accidental, in fairness. Then again when you stomp on a bloke’s ankle and there’s a VAR screen around, it tends not to matter if you were genuinely going for the ball. Goalless draw ain’t great for Minny who are very vulnerable in the last playoff spot as things stand. Gotta get back to winning ways soon as there’s only seven games remaining in the regular season.
Elsewhere in the MLS it was a great week for the Portland Timbers who won twice to give themselves a large buffer in fourth place, with a genuine chance of pushing higher with the form that they’re in. Seven wins and a draw in their last eight matches. But Bill Tuiloma was an unused sub for both the 2-1 win away to LAFC and the 1-0 win at home against Inter Miami. Elliot Collier did get fifteen mins off the bench in Chicago’s latest but they’re way out of playoff contention and EC’s minutes have been scarce for ages. 15 mins was the most he’s played in a game since mid-August.
Up Next: Minnesota vs Colorado, Monday at 8am... though Michael Boxall won’t be there (NZT)
Nik Tzanev – AFC Wimbledon (English League One)
Not much fun in a 3-0 loss to Rotherham. Maybe it’s because their opponents were wearing a very similar kit to Arsenal that the game went a lot like that League Cup tie. Residual habits or something. The Dons nearly survived until the half but then a great Will Grigg header in off the post left Tzanev with no chance and Michael Smith scored in stoppage time to hammer home Rotherham’s dominance through their speedy attacks (although the second goal came via a corner). Wimbledon were better in the second half but still only managed four total shots all game and Smith scored again with a minute left to ice the cake.
But the game against Burton Albion was way more like the Dons that’ve been so enjoyable to way this season. Not so much the first half which was dull other than a good low save and regather from Tzanev at one point but in the second it opened up. Jack Rudoni should have scored for Wimbledon but blasted over. Then they fell behind as an errant pass in the backline went straight to Kane Hemmings and Tzavev was out of position trying to be an option for the ball so Hemmings whipped it past him to score.
With a minute to go that seemed to be the end of it. Then a long throw was flicked on, cleared, recycled out wide, sent back in, and lashed into the roof of the net by Luke McCormick for the 90th minute equaliser. There was still time for the Dons to nearly lose it as a similar ball over the top to Rotherham’s third goal a few days earlier led to a cross that was bobbled between defenders and looped over the top. But nope. 1-1 the final score. That was the tenth goal that AFC Wimbledon have scored in the final twenty mins of League One games. They outscored teams 10-2 in mins 71-90 and are outscored themselves 7-17 in the seventy mins prior (including a shocking 0-7 in the five mins before and after half time).
Up Next: AFC Wimbledon vs Sheffield Wednesday, Sunday 17 October at 3am (NZT)
Michael Woud – Almere City (Dutch Eerste Divisie)
Yikes, Woudy. To make matters worse Almere City ended up losing this one 3-2 (although their second goal came in second half stoppage time tbf). He does have a wonky error in him from time to time though in the interests of fairness he also made an absolute ripper of a save on 55 mins, tipping a low thumper onto the post and away to safety.
This loss merely continues the poor form that AC have brought into the new season, only two wins from nine having been hoping for promotion as things started. Everyone else is dropping points this season too which helps, they’re only nine points off top, but it’d be nice if they turned things around sooner rather than later.
Up Next: All Whites duty which means he misses the game vs De Graafschap on Monday at 7am (NZT)
George Stanger - Hamilton Academical (Scottish Championship)
Here’s an odd one. You don’t normally see fellas being released outside of transfer windows like this... it means you can’t register for a new club until the next one opens so you’re better off getting paid to sit on the bench if it comes to that. And Stanger had been getting a few games with the Accies in the second tier this season. Not a lot but he’d made two starts filling in at right back (before they signed a loanee from England) and was on the bench as recently as last week when they drew 0-0 with Dunfermline. That suggests that either he’s off backpacking around the world with Winston Reid for the next few months or perhaps he already has something lined up overseas. Don’t wanna mention any names but the A-League window is open right now. Just a thought. Or maybe he told the coach what he thought of him and they just ripped up his contract. We’ll find out soon enough.
Up Next: Dunno
Joel Stevens & Francis De Vries – IFK Värnamo (Swedish Superettan)
Those highlights there are from a few weeks back. Värnamo losing 2-0 to Öster. Most Superettan footage is buried behind paywalls and the social media stuff isn’t the best so it’s not always an easy league to track... which is the only reason why there hasn’t been more of this yarn because it’s truly amazing. Since that loss to Öster, the Varnies have not been beaten again. Five games with three wins and a couple draws. The latest being a 1-1 draw with Vasalund (a 66’ goal from Christian Moses cancelling out a concession ten mins earlier).
What started as a nice little run from Värnamo has continued and continued and now with only six games remaining in their season they’re four points clear in first place (albeit having played one game more) and perhaps more importantly are seven clear (with equal games played) of third and nine clear of fourth. The top two spots are automatic promotion to the top flight in Sweden. Värnamo only just got promoted to this level so to be on the brink of another jump is incredible.
Plus they’re doing this with a lot of the same players from the third tier... players like Francis De Vries (who has played the third most mins in the squad) and Joel Stevens (who is in and out sometimes but has started more games than he’s been on the bench for). Keep in mind that they did stumble pretty badly down the stretch last season... but recent form suggests they’ve learned a few lessons there. If they can hold on then it’ll be the first time in IFK’s history that they’ll find themselves in the Allsvenskan.
Joel Stevens to the ODT: ‘‘It’s pretty crazy. None of us really expected to be doing so well, especially after last year coming up a league, and we have a pretty similar team. It’s pretty awesome. ‘Winning the first couple of games... confidence is a big key in that role.’’
Up Next: Week off then it’s GAIS away at midnight on Saturday/Sunday 16/17 October (NZT)
Support what we do on Patreon if you appreciate the yarns, gotta make a buck somehow
Also whack an ad, sign up to our Substack, do all the social media stuff, and tell a mate about us