Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eerste Divisie)

Sometimes you’ve gotta take a step back in order to take two forward, right? When Ryan Thomas left PEC Zwolle for PSV Eindhoven back in 2018, it was on glowing terms with the club that had given him his big chances as a professional footballer. They knew that he was too good to be contained once PSV had come calling. But within a week of that transfer he’d busted his knee in a training session and the subsequent four years have been a blighted by further injury setbacks.

Thomas still had some lovely days with the Dutch giants. He played in 8 Europa League matches plus several more qualifiers. No Eredivisie titles but he got two runners-up medals. The club also won the KNVB Cup and Super Cup titles last season although Thomas wasn’t part of either squad (no dramas, he’d already won them both with underdogs PEC Zwolle). And when he did play he often played quite well, filling in across a number of positions and earning the trust of multiple managers. But when you only make 48 appearances across all competitions over four seasons... it wasn’t much of a shock that they released him last offseason when his contract ended (after declining his fifth-year option).

PSV were nice enough to allow Ryan Thomas to continue to use their training and medical facilities as a free agent as he worked to return from the latest surgery. Now, finally, it seems he’s getting close to a return to the football pitch. Close enough that he’s chosen his next club... and it’s the same as his old club. Full circle for Thommo. Back to PEC Zwolle, a familiar and comfortable setting to reignite his career.

Ryan Thomas has only signed on a short-term deal until the end of the season - although there is an option for a longer stint (dunno if the option is his or the club’s). He joins for free after the club sold him for €3m four years ago. Thomas played 143 times for Zwolle in his first stint winning the KNVB Cup in 2013-14 (scoring a double against Ajax in the final – which he still refers to as the best moment of his career) as well as being beaten finalists a year later. Also won the Johann Cruyff Shield with them too.

PEC Zwolle technical director Marcel Boudesteyn: “Ryan has a fantastic history here, of course. The fact that he is now returning is very good news for us on several fronts. With Ryan we have added a strong and now very experienced player to our roster who will be of great value in our midfield. At 27 years of age, there are still many beautiful football years ahead. Ryan has had a long rehabilitation in Eindhoven and is now training on the field again. I am hopeful that he can join the selection before the end of this year. Finally, I wish Ryan welcome home in Zwolle and good luck in the coming months.”

PEC Zwolle were reportedly one of a couple of teams that attempted to get Thomas on loan at the start of last season. They can’t have had a very decent backup plan because they ended up finishing last in the Eredivisie with only 27 points from 34 matches to end up relegated. However things have been better for them in the second tier winning 8/13 games so far to be sitting third on the ladder. Top two get automatic promotion.

As far as the club are concerned, they’re welcoming back an old favourite but they’re also boosting their chances of getting back into the Dutch top flight. Plus he’s a free agent, therefore low risk. For Thomas he’s clearly better than this level... but talent’s not the issue. Fitness is the issue. This is about allowing him to get back into match rhythms – and it’s a relief to hear the sporting director there say that he’s now back in training and potentially on track for a return before the end of the year.

Ryan Thomas: “At PEC Zwolle I experienced the best day of my football career, but it’s not only that. I owe a lot to this club. They gave me the chance to play professional football in Europe almost ten years ago. Zwolle feels like home to me and my family. After a very nice period in Eindhoven with ups and downs, I feel stronger than ever and I'm really looking forward to playing football again.”

Up Next: Just waiting for that return to the footy field now

Marco Rojas – Colo-Colo (Chilean Primera División)

Last week Colo-Colo clinched the Chilean league title with a couple of games to spare. The club’s first since 2017 though a record 33rd overall. The game that clinched it was also Marco Rojas’ first start although he was back on the bench for the follow-up: a home game against O’Higgins which would end with the trophy presentation afterwards. Luckily for Rojas his team was rather substandard in the first half so he was subbed on at the break.

Subbed on to outstanding effect. Because in the 64th minute there he was in space down the right with the patience to pick out the best possible pass, setting up Gabriel Costa to send the home side into the lead of a game that had been very even in most areas to that point.

Assists are nice. Especially coming off the bench to put your team into the lead. But you know what’s better than an assist? A goal. Marco was still waiting for one of those for his new club though he didn’t have to wait much longer.

With O’Higgins gunning for an equaliser they sent everybody forward including their goalkeeper for a stoppage time set piece. That led to nothing but trouble as Marco Rojas picked up the clearance and out-ran the retreating goalie past half-way on the break, then calmly curled the ball into the empty net from 40+ metres. It was the last kick of the game. The crowd and the Colo-Colo sideline all went into raptures. Amazing visions. This is what Rojas was chasing when he went back to the familial homeland.

A goal and an assist in a 2-0 victory. They gave him the man of the match award afterwards, giving Marco the opportunity to show off his perfect (kiwi-accented) Spanish on live television. Then everybody gapped it for a quick spell then came back out one by one to the cheers of the crowd, collecting their winners medals and then scooping up a large trophy for their troubles.

This was one of the days that footballers dream about. One of those career highlight evenings.

(There’s a chat with Marco at 1:10:30 in that vid though you’ll need to speak Spanish to understand it)

Also while we’re at it, there was an article in DaleAlbo about Marco Rojas in the wake of this game in which they pointed out some of his off field contributions. Apparently one of the first things he did when he joined the club was ask about their social outreach efforts and since then he’s been personally involved in food drives for the local homeless community which he continues to help out with. He also made a point of asking about the women’s team at the club, even requesting to attend a training session which was gratefully accepted by the coach and players. Supporting all aspects of Colo-Colo. What a guy.

Up Next: Still two more games to go, first is away to Ñublense at 8am on Monday (NZT)

Anna Leat – Aston Villa (English Super League)

Anna Leat has had a little run of games in the absence of regular number one Hannah Hampton but probably would have been playing Conti Cup games regardless. The first Continental Tyres Cup group stage match saw Villa draw with Manchester United before Anna Leat saved an incredible four penalties in the shootout for a bonus point. The second was against Everton, just days after the two teams met in the WSL with Everton victorious on that day.

Everton made eight changes to that team. Villa made three to theirs – Anna Leat not amongst them meaning another game amongst the starting eleven. Not too much for her to do as AV started brighter, Kenza Dali and Rachel Corsie both forcing a very good saves. There was also a penalty shout turned down. Then another Corsie shot tipped over this time. They could’ve been up by multiple goals.

Four mins into the second half they finally did score as Natasha Harding slipped the ball home. However Everton made a couple subs and that changed the game. On 62’ Aggie Beever-Jones broke the offside trap and rounded Leat to equalise. Villa went back on the attack but couldn’t respond. Everton might’ve won it had they been able to get some more of their shots on target (nah jokes Leat woulda saved them). 1-1 after ninety minutes... and so it was off to another penalty shootout. This had gone pretty well for Leat in the last round as she saved four on the way to a bonus point against Manchester United. This time was not so flash.

Leat went the wrong way for the first spot kick (something she never did against MUFC, incredibly). A brilliant kick from Sarah Mayling made it 1-1. Again Leat was beaten diving the wrong way for the next... and this time Anna Patten couldn’t repeat as her kick was palmed away by Emily Ramsey. Everton scored their third as Leat dove to her left this time but again guessed wrong. Natasha Harding responded with a quick dispatch into the bottom corner to make it 3-2... then Leat made a wonderful save off Everton’s next to give Laura Blindkilde the chance to tie it back up. Except Blindkilde’s take was saved almost as well by Ramsey. Leat then couldn’t stop Everton’s fifth and that was that. Bonus point went to the Toffees.

That brings us to a strange situation because Leat joined Aston Villa expecting to be the backup to Hannah Hampton, who was part of England’s European Championship squad (they’re the same age but Hampton’s the incumbent, fair enough). Last week it was said that Hampton was missing for a head knock. That may well have been true but this week she was missing again for the meeting with Chelsea despite being confirmed to be available a day or so earlier.

Coach Carla Ward later revealed that Hampton had been dropped for an unspecified reason. In her words: “something happened yesterday and we decided yesterday it was in the best interests of the team and the squad for her to stay at home”. Hampton still attended the game but she did so as a fan in the stands and didn’t travel with the squad. Hence the strange situation. But it did mean another big game for Leat and it also gave Ward, who was clearly reluctant to talk too much about this drama, room to really hype up her kiwi keeper...

Then it got even weirder because a couple days later there was a Guardian article about how Hampton has been dropped from recent England squads for “behaviour and attitude” issues. Not that anybody was being specific, presumably to protect a 21 year old player which is understandable. Hampton then issued a statement that she’s going to undergo a “small procedure” for some sorta medical issue that’ll keep her out a few weeks. Whatever’s going on, the consequence is that Anna Leat is going to get an extended run as Aston Villa’s number one.

In the middle of all that was the match against Chelsea. Always going to be a tough one against a Champions League calibre side and that’s exactly how it went down. Lauren James put the Blues in front midway through the first half with a quality strike low into the bottom corner. Rachel Daly then levelled up on 38’ after a sharp run to the near post to ensure that the game was all tied as the oranges were served. However Chelsea hit back merely two minutes into the second half as Lauren James produced an even better finish for her second and Sam Kerr scored from a James assist on 63’ to give Chelsea full control. They went on to take it 3-1.

But in amongst all that was probably Leat’s best game yet in a Villa jersey (excluding penalty shootouts). She’d already denied Kerr a couple times when the Aussie finally scored. A relatively comfortable save from a header was one but there was also a great bit of keeper rushing out to smother the ball on the angle, refusing to get rounded. And early in the game she offered up as good a save as you’ll see all season...

Disappointing result but not an unexpected one. More importantly it seems we can get used to a few more weeks of highlights like that one from Anna Leat.

Up Next: Monday at 3am away to Liverpool (NZT)

Logan Rogerson & Ollie Whyte - FC Haka (Finnish Veikkausliiga)

After their impressive fourth-placed finish in Finland, FC Haka still had two more games to play: a double-legger playoff for the nation’s final European spot. Tthe two teams below them in the champo rounds and the two teams at the top of the relegation rounds played off to see who Haka would face there. In the end VPS (the lowest ranked team in the playoffs) were the ones who came through it all. They hosted the first leg. Haka hosted the return leg. A place in the Europa Conference League qualifiers was on the line.

Match one went just about perfectly for Haka. Both Ollie Whyte and Logan Rogerson started and it took less than three minutes before we first saw Rogerson gassing it down the right wing and sliding a mean ball across goal... where Elias Mastokangas wasn’t able to sneak it past the keeper from six yards out. But thirty seconds later Rogerson was freed again, this time getting to the byline where he chipped across for Lee Erwin and boom 1-0 off the Scotsman’s head.

Rogerson lifted a sliding attempt to get on the end of a bouncing cross in the 20th minute, couldn’t keep it under the bar on the stretch. Big chance. Then a cheeky touch from Whyte nearly set up Erwin who blasted over from range. In the 27th min, Whyte dropped in to collect the ball in transition and sent it quickly out towards the run of his compatriot on the wing. Rogerson then held off his closest defender before pulling the ball back to Erwin who buried his second of the evening. Both assisted by Logan Rogerson.

Four mins before the half, Rogerson pushed a pass into the middle for Ollie Whyte who was trod on for a penalty. Erwin scored that too and it was 3-0 to FC Haka, away from home, at half-time of the first leg with two assists for Rogerson and a penalty won by Whyte.

The second half wasn’t quite so fun. Rogerson played in Whyte but the offside flag went up. There was another mean low cross from Rogerson turned wide this time by Stavros Zarokostas. Then defender Jude Arthur was sent off with a couple mins remaining amidst some decent pressure which Haka had to withstand – in a two-legged game even late consolation goals can be crucial. Whyte blasted one on target that was well saved near the end (Rogerson would’ve gotten that assist too), then their own keeper made a cracking stop deep in injury time as it ended 3-0. FC Haka in a brilliant position to bring European footy to their ground next year. Here are the full highlights.

The home leg was four days later but in between those two games we had another lovely development...

FC Haka triggered the option in Rogerson’s contract to keep him around for another year with the club. This was his first full season with Haka having spent half of 2021 on loan with them before making that move permanent at the start of 2022. Ollie Whyte’s current deal expires at the end of the year, we’ll find out soon enough if he’s got a contract option too or what’ll happen there. Rogerson’s one of a few players re-signed lately so they’re definitely in stocktake mode.

FCH Head coach Teemu Tainio: “Logan's season has been great! It has been wonderful to watch his development and we believe that we will still be able to take big steps forward together. We are really happy about Logan's continuation and his incredible amount of work day after day is a good example for other players.”

Logan Rogerson: “I am very happy and excited to stay in Haka for one more season. This has been a good year for me personally and for the team as well, so hopefully we can continue the same next year, the striker rejoices. I have enjoyed my time here on and off the field, especially with my great teammates. One of the best things in Haka and Valkeakoski is the support of the fans and the togetherness I get here.”

The return leg didn’t have the same quantity of kiwi excellence... but it didn’t need to. Again we got starts for both the brothers, with Whyte going into the book early on for an alleged high elbow whilst shielding the ball. It turned out to be a crucial decision because a deep ball in from the resulting free kick was headed in by Antti-Ville Räisänen. Debatable about the free kick, looked like incidental contact, but the goal did reflect a hot start from the visitors in trying to overcome that first leg deficit.

More pressure where that came from... but half an hour in the home side got that settling goal they were after for themselves. Started with Whyte dinking a smart ball down the line. The initial cross was meant for Rogerson but it evaded him. Then Atte Sihvonen headed in the second cross from the other side. That restored the three-goal margin and gave Haka some room to defend.

Whyte almost won a penalty but the foul was given outside the area. They still scored from the free kick but the close range finish was ruled out. Rogerson smashed one on target from a tight angle later on, good save there. Eventually VPS did score again with quarter of an hour remaining but it never got any closer. A 2-1 defeat still means a 4-2 aggregate victory and FC Haka are headed for the Europa Conference League next year. Great way to cap the season. Lovely yarns.

By the way, those two assists in the first leg? Means that Logan Rogerson finishes second-equal for assists across the entire Veikkaugsliiga. Rui Manuel Modesto of FC Honka had 12, then Tete Yengi of VPS and Logan Rogerson of FC Haka. Rogerson played more games than those two but fewer minutes. He also scored 4 goals in the league. Ollie Whyte scored 2 goals and had 3 assists. Hopefully plenty more where that came from in 2023.

Up Next: End of season down time

Liberato Cacace – Empoli (Italian Serie A)

A tweet like that has been a long time in coming. Empoli played Atalanta on the weekend and for the first time all season Libby Cacace was named amongst the starting eleven. Old mate Fabiano Parisi, who signed a new contract in the offseason then had a blinder of a start to it, finally got to watch one from the bench.

It was the twelfth league game of the campaign and Cacace had only previously played once off the bench for 38 minutes against Roma. Stark contrast to the previous manager who pretty much alternated Cacace and Parisi with each passing game. So it goes, nobody said it was supposed to be easy to crack it in Serie A. But against second-placed Atalanta the hidden hard work finally brought reward. Parisi was fit. He was on the bench, no suspensions. It was simply Cacace’s turn.

Before we get carried away, Atalanta did win 2-0 and it was relatively safe. Cacace did some nice work getting forward up the left wing but there wasn’t much support. Great block against Ederson to keep the game level. There were a couple more where that came from too, just not as crucial. Also got stuck in with plenty of tackles working very hard on his defensive antics. That tweet above cites 84 touches and 21 duels which were both the most in the match. Did have one shot off target and a few unsuccessful crosses. Mostly there was only one team looking like scoring the goals though and those eventually came via Hans Hateboer (32’) and Ademola Lookman (59’). Atalanta missed a penalty in between – a wonderful foot-save by Guglielmo Vicario.

Still, ninety minutes for Libby and he made a solid impression. Let us pray this is the first of a run of games for the fella.

Cacace, post-match: “Atalanta is a great team. We played an excellent match. When you face an opponent like that you have to stay focused for 95 minutes considering the quality they have. I'm happy about [making a first start of the season], the coach always tells me to train hard and to continue like this because then when he puts me on the pitch I have to do like today. [Serie A] is a league that I like very much, I would like to grow in the defensive phase. When I am called into question, I always want to give one hundred percent.”

Up Next: Empoli vs Sassuolo on Sunday at 3am (NZT)

CJ Bott - Leicester City (English Super League)

Not a fantastic week here, to be fair. A Conti Cup midweek fixture gave CJ Bott another chance to start but the Foxes were smoked 4-0 away at Liverpool. They did hit the crossbar when the score was only 1-0 but only had one shot on target so a very comfortable win for the Reds. Bott played 65 minutes, replaced while the score was still at threes.

Then on the weekend she was subbed into the WSL game away to Reading in the 89th minute. A first half goal from Natasha Flint goal had put Leicester City in prime position for a first league win of the season and Bott’s introduction was very much as a defensive-plug – the player she replaced ended up being shoved off the pitch by a Reading player for taking too long strolling off, LCFC happy with what they had and seeking to hold it. Bott went on as a left winger and immediately pressed the ball... but she hadn’t actually made a touch when Rachel Rowe curled directly in from a corner kick with a wicked inswinger. And with six minutes of injury time there was still plenty of room for Rowe to score again with a brilliant strike from range.

Meaning that from being 1-0 up after 89 minutes, the Foxes ended up losing 2-1. They also conceded a very late winner against Everton a few weeks ago. You can’t get these points back. Not good for Leicester City as they sit in last place without a point after six matches.

The team directly ahead of them is Brighton & Hove Albion and that’s the club that Rebekah Stott plays for. Stotty was an unused sub again this week as she works her way back from ankle surgery. Not a game worth partaking in as Brighton lost 8-0 to Tottenham... a loss so bad that manager Hope Powell resigned in the aftermath. There had been some frustrations with investments but also four losses out of five and 19 goals conceded speaks for itself. Remains to be seen how that will affect Stott given that she’s not a hundred percent fit right now... but Powell signed her twice and has now left the club.

Up Next: Doesn’t get any easier for Leicester City hosting Arsenal at 3am on Monday (NZT)

Nando Pijnaker & Max Mata – Sligo Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division)

Chuck another one on the mantelpiece, Max Mata capping a fine year with a sneaky award. Young player of the year for the club. Both he and Nando Pijnaker were also nominated for overall Player of the Year although no surprises that Aidan Keena won that one.

It was Keena who scored the crucial goal from the penalty spot as Sligo Rovers bagged a fantastic 1-0 win against St Patrick’s Athletic this week. Mata celebrated his award by being an unused sub but Pijnaker got the full thing as Sligo kept that clean sheet against the immediately above them on the ladder (albeit way out of reach) meaning that they’ve now secured fifth place on the ladder. Won’t get them European footy again but it’s been a strong finish to the season having had their struggles earlier on.

A heavy backpass from Pijnaker nearly caused carnage inside three minutes but they survived that one and otherwise defended really well. Keeper made a few cracking saves. Then Keena both won and scored a penalty early in the second half and they held firm from there. Good win.

Up Next: Last game of the season and it’s away to Bohemians on Monday at 8am (NZT)

Vic Esson - Rangers FC (Scottish Premier League)

Bit of midweek catch-up footy after Rangers’ Champions League qualifiers slowed things down. Home to Spartans on a Wednesday evening local time and Vic Esson was back between the sticks. Spartans are a pretty handy team, shaping as one of the best from outside the big three – in fact they knocked Celtic out of the League Cup on penalties last week. Not an easy game by any means.

And so it proved despite an early goal from Chelsea Cornet giving RFC the lead. Sharp header in the sixth minute. It wasn’t then until into the second half that Kayla McCoy finally extended that. To be fair, Esson had limited work to do in goal so the result was rarely under threat – the only time you see her in those highlights is watching a couple shots sail over her crossbar – though failing to win by more than the 2-0 margin they ended up with was a slight aggravation as it meant they stayed behind Celtic on the league ladder by a goal difference margin of just one.

Esson then retained her spot for the visit from Dundee United on the weekend and... she had a pretty simple day there too. A 5-0 win means that this time Rangers did return to the top of the ladder. Two goals for Colette Cavanagh as well as Kayla McCoy, Rachel McLauchlan, and Lisa Martinez strikes were what did the damage. It was 2-0 inside six minutes and they never looked back from there. You barely even get a glimpse of Esson in the highlights, one of the easier clean sheets she’s ever had.

Up Next: Away to Spartans in the League Cup semi-final on Monday TBD (NZT)

Olivia Chance - Celtic FC (Scottish Premier League)

The reason that Rangers went top again was that Celtic and Glasgow City had themselves a derby game on the weekend, ensuring a close contest one way or the other. Also ensuring at least one of them would finally drop points – the first meeting between any of the top three teams in Scotland this season. Liv Chance started and played the entire thing for Celtic. Meikayla Moore, unfortunately, was an unused substitute for Glasgow City.

Quite a game. Celtic thought they should’ve had a penalty mid-first half. Then they thought they should’ve had a goal soon after but an incredible save denied Kelly Clark. Next it was Celtic’s goalie Pamela Tajonar’s turn as she tipped a Priscilla Chinchilla attempt onto the woodwork. Somehow it was still goalless after 45 minutes but early in the seconds Tajonar made a blunder rushing out and taking down a GC forward and Lauren Davidson made it 1-0 from the spot.

The second half was a lot quieter overall, with Glasgow City enjoying their lead... until Celtic eventually got back in it when Shen Menglu’s cross from wide left evaded everybody on its way inside the far post. Level terms again with fifteen minutes remaining. Yet Celtic couldn’t see it out. Clarissa Larisey missed a 1v1 chance to put Celtic in front and then in the final minute of the ninety they were unable to clear their own lines and Hayley Lauder popped up with the winner. 2-1 to Glasgow City thanks to the last gasp goal. Celtic are the first of the big three to slip up... but they’ll have chances for revenge in due course.

Up Next: No game next week with the League Cup semis on and it’s an international break soon after

Erin Nayler - Umeå IK (Swedish Damallsvenskan)

It ain’t good news. Umeå played Brommapojkarna in their most winnable game left, the one they’ve been targetting for weeks against a rare team below them on the ladder... and they lost 2-1. At home no less.

Both teams were desperate and unleashed shots at the first opportunity though the finishing wasn’t always there. Still goalless after the first half. But UIK hit early in the second half when Alice Dahlqvist turned home a low cross at the near post after 48 mins. Sweet as, right where they wanted to be.

Then they conceded a penalty for a lunging tackle on 56’ which was scored even as Nayler dove full strength in the right direction. Perfect spotty. And three minutes after that BP scored a long ranger in off the underside of the crossbar which Nayler couldn’t get a hand upon. UIK tried to break the walls down for an equaliser. Several shots. None that could beat the oppo goalie. Highlights here. UIK now drop below BP on goal difference and into the automatic relegation spots with one game left and it’s away to the fourth placed team. At the very least they’ll need to win a playoff to avoid the drop.

Up Next: Saturday/Sunday at midnight against Kristianstads (NZT)

Stefan Marinovic - Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israeli Premier League)

Another victory for Big Stef. He’s slowly starting to rack them up after a terrible start to the season at his new club (terrible from the club, not from Marinovic who’s been doing his best for a battling team). Seems they might be figuring that out now.

This one was a 2-1 away win against H. Kiryar Schmona in which they conceded first after quarter of an hour and it was one that no goalkeeper would accept. An absolute hospital pass from a defender who didn’t notice the striker bearing down. Marinovic was tackled and the ball squeezed over the line. Yikes.

But a lunging tackle with the sprigs showing saw HKS reduced to ten men after half an hour and Hapoel Tel Aviv soon equalised via an Alen Ozbolt penalty. Even against a team with a red card, it took a long while to grind them down, though eventually Daniel Einbinder whipped in an outside of the boot cross which the goal and a striker both attacked and neither got a touch thus the ball crept in. Good win. Seven points from their last three games.

Up Next: Ashdod vs HTA on Sunday at 6.30am (NZT)

Daisy Cleverley - HB Køge (Danish Kvindeligaen)

Cleverley hadn’t played since August due to injury. It cost her two Footy Ferns tours and even more pertinently it cost her a chance to play some Champions League qualifiers. That’s the nature of the sport sometimes. But good news: she’s back.

Yep, subbed on at half-time of a 4-0 win over Nordsjælland. All four goals were scored in the first half and there were some rippers amongst. That gave HBK plenty of time to run the subs with the game under control. Happy days for Cleverley – you get a couple long range glimpses of her 14 jersey in the clips here. Her third appearance for her first professional club. This was a positive way for the team to bounce back after a 1-0 loss to Brøndby last week. Keeps them five points clear at the top of the Kvindaliga table after ten matches.

Two spots back, nine points off first and four points off second, are Indi Riley’s Fortuna Hjørring. They made it three wins on the trot with a 3-1 victory over Kolding this week. Riley continues to start whenever available although usually as a wing-back this season. But a good win for them too.

Up Next: Sundby vs HBK at 1am on Sunday (NZT)

Ally Green - Vålerenga (Norwegian Toppserien)

That’s what we wanna see, Vålerenga getting back into the Champions League and taking Ally Green with them. This after a 1-1 draw with Brann in the final game of the season. Brann had already won the title and VIF were almost certain to finish second anyway but now it’s all confirmed.

Alas, we didn’t actually get to see Ally Green in that game as she was stuck on the bench as an unused sub. That’s a common place for her to be lately. In her first season in Europe she only ended up getting 91 minutes in the Toppserien across six substitute offerings. Some visa hold-ups meant she missed the start of the season despite being over there. Once she was finally registered properly she was a regular in match-day squads but was an unused sub 11 times getting only one cameo for two minutes during the six championship round matches. Definitely frustrating at times... at least she’s playing for a very good team with high standards.

That wasn’t the case for Emma Rolston with Avaldsnes as they never figured things out under coach John Arne Riise. A 2-1 win against Røa in their final game was at least enough to salvage them a relegation playoff match (thanks to a 90th minute winner) though Rollo wasn’t anywhere to be seen in that game. Nor has she been for a while. All up she made 11 appearances this year (8 starts) for 662 minutes with one goal, playing a mix of positions, however almost all of that was early in the season. Since she got injured midway through the year she’s mostly disappeared from the team with only three matchday selections in the last four months (all on the bench, only once did she actually play).

That’s probably because by that stage it was a foregone conclusion that she wasn’t going to be with the team next year, Rollo stating as much to kiwi media a few months back. Sure enough she’s now signed with the Wellington Phoenix for their upcoming campaign – a Wellington girl returning to Wellington. Rate that. Hopefully Avaldsnes avoid the drop... but it’s no longer any of our business. Rolston’s already in training with the Nix so yeah, no more Norway.

Up Next: The offseason for Greenie, the preseason for Rollo

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