Them old Friday afternoon press releases tend to be a little sneaky, slipping in just before the weekend when they might get forgotten about. A Friday afternoon national football team announcement is less nefarious than some political scandal or business setback but the effect can be the same. Tell you what though, this squad that Jitka Klimková has named for her second camp with the Ferns... it’s a pretty fascinating one. Deserves more than a cursory yarn.

A-League players have come back into contention. A slight easing of the borders and quarantine in Oz means that those ladies can pop away for Football Ferns duty and then get back just in time for the first round of games. No Wellington Phoenix players in the squad – a reflection of the youth of that team – but three players from other Aussie clubs were selected. That means a few of the USA college students drop out... a few but not all of them. A couple have earned further consideration after how they tracked vs Canada last time.

Also a handful of veterans are unavailable for various reasons which isn’t such a bad thing as it leaves room for Klimková to cast the net a little wider – which is exactly what she’s done. Some recalls and some absolute bolters. One of them being such a bolter that she’s not actually eligible yet, hasn’t completed the paperwork, and is only there as a training companion as a way of bringing her into the fold.

Same as with the Canada tour, playing time will still mostly be dominated by the usual names and faces. Any perceived experimenting with this squad only applies to the back end of it – players who’ll mostly be competing for cameos off the bench. And this is the time to do that. Early in a new coach’s reign, early in a new tournament cycle. Get a good hard look at as many options as possible and even if they don’t play you still get a good look at them in training and they get to see where the level is at. Klimková basically admitted as much in the press release...

“As we build towards 2023, it’s important that we keep looking at players who we think have the potential to add the depth and breadth of the squad. Now is the time to invite players to come into camp and see how they fit into the Ferns environment.”

The Ferns play South Korea twice in four days. Both games at Goyang Stadium in... well, Goyang. Saturday 27 November at 6pm NZT and Tuesday 30 November at 11pm NZT. Last time the Ferns played South Korea was a 2-0 defeat in Melbourne back in early 2019 in that little invitational tournament that Australia held, four months out from the 2019 World Cup. A difficult opponent, especially away from home. But a more competitive opponent than Canada were which hopefully gives the Ferns the type of challenge they need to build on what we saw in that second Canadian match.

GOALKEEPERS

Victoria Esson – Avaldsnes, NOR (3 caps/0 goals)

Anna Leat – West Ham United, ENG (6/0)

Erin Nayler – Umeå IK, SWE (74/0)

There’s heaps to talk about with this squad but nothing much to say about the keepers. These are the three standouts, the three with the best pedigree and performance. It may get more curious when starting teams are named as there’s a blossoming case for Anna Leat to start ahead of long term incumbent Erin Nayler, considering how long Nayler’s been out of action. Nayler looked rusty against Canada and then Leat impressed in the second match. She has signed for Umeå in Sweden in 2022 which is a strong level of footy and a great chance for EN to reassert herself after a tricky couple years (even though NZF listed her as unattached – guess that contract hasn’t officially begun yet) but right now it’s definitely a debate... and it’s not like Leat’s career is stalling either. Two games for West Ham in EFL Cup action and two clean sheets. She’s only getting better, and fast.

However with two games on offer it’s most likely we see one start for each of them. Then Vic Esson is there as GK3 having just barely survived relegation on the last day of the season with Avaldsnes thanks to goal difference. Would’ve gone down without her, that’s for sure. Lily Alfeld is the closest to breaking up this trio so we’ll see how she tracks when the Welly Nix get underway in a few weeks.

DEFENDERS

CJ Bott – Vålerenga, NOR (29/1)

Claudia Bunge - Melbourne Victory, AUS (5/0)

Meikayla Moore – Liverpool, ENG (46/3)

Ali Riley – Orlando Pride, USA (139/1)

Ashleigh Ward – Actonians, ENG (0/0)

*Grace Neville – London City Lionesses, ENG (0/0)

Okay so here’s where things get funky. When we’re talking about throwing out a wider net, Ashleigh Ward and Grace Neville are who we’re talking about in particular. Neville is only a train-on squad member but Ward’s a full-timer. You may recall Ashleigh Ward from earlier on in the Canterbury Pride’s domestic dynasty. Yet another player off that production line... though while Ward did have a decent youth international career, she hasn’t exactly been on the Ferns scene lately. These days she’s playing as a left-back for Actonians in England which sees her in the fourth tier of English football... and there’s actually a kiwi fullback playing third tier who hasn’t been in the Ferns mix either: Laura Merrin.

There is a good reason for Ward’s promotion though. AW is 27 years old so she missed Klimková’s time in charge of the U17s back in the day... however she was in the 2014 U20s for their World Cup when Klimková was assistant to Aaron McFarland. Katie Bowen captained that squad, while CJ Bott, Meikayla Moore, Emma Rolston, and Daisy Cleverley were all also involved. In other words, she’s someone that the coach has worked closely with before (that past youth level experience really does come in handy for JK). Also Ward captains Actonians, who’ve been in some decent form so far this season, and it you’ve always gotta rate some leadership potential.

Klimková used the same back four both games against Canada: Bott, Moore, Bowen, Riley. With A-League players now available again, that means Katie Bowen’s freed up to return to the midfield with Claudia Bunge coming in... but only Claudia Bunge. It’s still a skint selection of central defenders with Abby Erceg and Rebekah Stott remaining unavailable (Erceg having just finished her season, Stott about to start hers). Liz Anton would have been a possibility but isn’t here. Obviously Anna Green can’t make it being stuck in Aotearoa and all. It is what it is. Ward effectively comes in for Tahlia Herman-Watt who didn’t feature on the last tour in her maiden call-up. Bott and Riley have just finished their club seasons so they’ll get a wee break after all this.

Which brings us to Grace Neville. 21 year old right back for London City Lionesses in the English Championship (second tier – same as Moore’s Liverpool). No relation to that other English right back named G.Neville, by the way... although she does list David Beckham as her favourite player on her team profile. Neville is eligible for New Zealand but needs to formally change her allegiance before she can play (s’pose it’s not exactly a guarantee that she will, either – this might still be part of the recruitment process).

That’s because she’s been an England age-grade international going back to her time in the Arsenal academy. Most recent seems to be her selection for the 2019 UEFA Women’s U19 Finals – alongside the likes of Lauren James, Ebony Salmon, Laren Hemp, Esme Morgan and a few other names you may recognise.

Here’s a quote from Grace Neville from January this year talking about how much she loves England...

FAWSL Full Time: “Being in the England setup from such a young age has given me all of the tools both as a player and as a person to really kick on. There’s nothing better than pulling on an England shirt. My ambition is to always be playing for England and I have got the support at London City Lionesses. My goals and ambitions personally are to be in the England setup and hopefully in the years to come I’ll be there.”

Bit awkward now that she’s training with New Zealand... but we’d be glad to have her. That same article lists Rehane Skinner (former England U19s coach) as being a major influence in Neville’s career. Coincidence: Skinner is now managing Tottenham where Ria Percival is one of her key players. Wonder if there’s something in that.

One other thing about Neville is that she’s been at London City Lionesses a few years now and re-signed with them earlier in the year after a breakthrough season last time. Started 17 out of 20 league games in 2020-21 and was a part of some very good defensive performances. However this season her games have been limited to one substitute appearance in the WSL Cup – which was a couple days ago in a 1-0 win over Brighton. After missing the first month and a half of the season she has at least been in the matchday squad the last six games in all comps (she was on the bench when they lost to West Ham earlier in the group stage, the game in which Anna Leat made her WHU debut). The scout report is of a very good 1v1 defender who maintains a high level of fitness (her side hustle is as a personal trainer) though maybe has more work to do when it comes to the attacking aspects of her game.

MIDFIELDERS

Hannah Blake – University of Michigan, USA (4/0)

Katie Bowen – Kansas City Currents, USA (75/3)

Olivia Chance – Celtic, SCO (24/1)

Daisy Cleverley – Georgetown University, USA (14/2)

Betsy Hassett – Stjarnan, ISL (124/14)

Ria Percival – Tottenham Hotspur, ENG (155/14)

Jana Radosavljević – Arminia Bielefeld, GER (3/0)

Malia Steinmetz – Western Sydney Wanderers, AUS (3/0)

There were ten current USA uni students in the last Ferns squad. Two of them would have been there regardless: Daisy Cleverley and Gabi Rennie. The other eight were there as a matter of circumstance (though not all of them were first-time selections, a couple having made squads prior to leaving for America). Four of those uni students have missed out on selection this time around with the scope for selection having been widened to include A-League players. Three of those who dropped out didn’t actually take the field against Canada: Tahlia Herman-Watt, Sam Tawharu, and Aniela Jensen. The only one of them who did play against Canada, making her debut in the first game off the bench, was Amelia Abbott.

Bit stink for her then, but this midfield’s tough to break into. Bowen’s back in contention as a CM again having had to cover defence last time. Liv Chance and Ria Percival are in great form for their clubs. Betsy Hassett is a locked-on veteran. Daisy Cleverley’s been really good for the Ferns lately. Doesn’t leave a lot of room for anyone else.

However Malia Steinmetz has finally been recalled having not featured for the Ferns since the 2018 Oceania Nations Cup. She’d been on a run of consecutive selections at that point but went off with what looked like heat stroke in a game against the Cook Islands and has been off the Ferns scene ever since. Steinmetz moved to Aussie in that time and last year was part of a trio of kiwis at Perth Glory – though she’s transferred to Western Sydney for the upcoming season. At her best she’s an excellent midfielder with a fantastic ability to win possession back and is well worth this recall based on her time with Perth. It was odd how suddenly she went from the in group to the out group but she’s earned her way back now.

Then there’s Jana Radosavljević. A couple of bad injuries have really hampered her international career. Out injured for the 2019 World Cup as she recovered from an ACL tear, then out injured for the Olympics as she recovered from a meniscus tear. That latter worry seemingly caused her to be released by Werder Bremen having been going pretty well for them in the German top flight up until that point. Mostly as a back-up wing-back for Werder though ideally she’s more of an attacking playmaker. The timing of her recovery has led her to drop not just one but a couple of divisions to sign with Armenia Bielefeld. As much as anything this Ferns call-up is a chance to see where she’s at these days physically. Despite missing both those major tournaments, Rado did feature in three of the five games that the Ferns played in between them.

FORWARDS

Ava Collins - St John’s University, USA (2/0)

Jacqui Hand – Colorado College, USA (2/0)

Maggie Jenkins – University of Central Florida, USA (1/0)

Gabi Rennie – Indiana University, USA (5/1)

Katie Rood – Southampton, ENG (13/5)

Paige Satchell – Sydney FC, AUS (21/1)

And finally the striker stocks... which were looking skint last tour and are arguably even more skint this time around. Hannah Wilkinson was available but an injury niggle leading into Melbourne City’s season has kept her out. Rosie White hasn’t been included for personal reasons after not featuring at all for OL Reign since making her return to the playing field with the Ferns against Canada. She’s not really match-fit right now and her club season has just ended. Plus Emma Rolston is also missing because she returned to Aotearoa at the conclusion of her season in Norway and probably wasn’t even out of MIQ when the squad was picked.

Therefore we’ve got four of the six uni students selected in this area of the park. Maggie Jenkins hanging in there after not playing against Canada, Collins and Hand hanging in there after playing and impressing on that tour. Bit of this, bit of that. Gabi Rennie woulda been there anyway but now looks like she’s probably in line to start at centre-forward (as she did in game two vs Canada).

Also there are welcome recalls for Paige Satchell and Katie Rood. A couple of wider players who’ll particularly suit a 4-3-3 formation, Satchell with that insane pace and Rood with a dose of trickery. Neither is overflowing with international caps but compared to the other striking options here they add a massive chunk of experience. Satchell is about to start an A-League campaign with Sydney FC having transferred from last season’s beaten semi-finalists to last season’s beaten finalists – that’s called ‘progression’. Rood is a couple months into her time with Southampton though a pesky injury did stutter her start there.

Keep in mind that Olivia Chance played on the left wing in both Canadian games and thus is a good bet to do so here as well. Ideally Chance would be playing as a box to box midfielder but this was it allows Klimková to be able to pick Chance, Percival, Hassett, and Bowen all in the same eleven. Jana Radosavljević will also be in contention for a wing position. So maybe not quite as skint in the front-line as it first appears given the versatility of others.

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