Surprise: the Football Ferns are playing games in the September transfer window. They’ve had a match booked in for October against Japan going all the way back to June but these two upcoming games against Mexico and the Philippines weren’t announced until a couple week out from the fixtures themselves. The tour announcement and the squad announcement were the same announcement. No doubt they’ve been pencilled in for a wee while waiting on details to be finalised... the fact that they’re playing in neutral territory California, USA is probably a clue towards any complications.

Playing Mexico in California isn’t quite neutral territory, to be fair. But that’s not important. The important thing is more games as the Ferns seek to put their best foot forward for the home World Cup next year. These are good fixtures too. Competitive but winnable. Exactly what this team needs following on from a loss to Norway and a draw with Wales in June.

Mexico and Aotearoa drew 1-1 at the recent U20 World Cup but the Mexican senior team is in a bit of a state. They were seemingly on the rise going into the recent CONCACAF Championships, with a number of quality players both overseas and in their own ever-improving Liga MX. But despite hosting those Champs they were an absolute shambles, losing all three games to Jamaica (1-0), Haiti (3-0) and USA (1-0).

Not only did that represent a terrible tournament in and of itself... but it also meant they failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup. Top two in their group would’ve meant automatic qualification. Third place meant Intercontinental Playoffs. Fourth means nada. They sacked coach Monica Vergara last week after the usual extensive review process. Miguel Angel Gamero and Cristian Flores have been announced as interim coaches for El Tri Femenil and will lead them against New Zealand.

As for their team, Kenti Robles is the superstar. She captains the team from defence and features for Real Madrid in her club footy. Emily Alvarado is a good young goalie who plays for Reims in France. Midfielder Stephany Mayor will be making her 99th cap if she plays, currently plying her trade in her homeland though she previously played for several years in Iceland. And up front it’s the NWSL duo of Maria Sanchez and Diana Ordoñez who are the dangers. Sanchez of the Houston Dash where she’s featured in 15 games this year and Ordoñez is a teammate of Abby Erceg and Katie Bowen at North Carolina Courage (more on them soon). Ordoñez just broke the record for the most goals as an NWSL rookie (11 goals and counting) and is only two off the golden boot leader.

The Philippines are less of a known prospect. They’re coached by former Aussie boss Alan Stajcic, who has gone from the Matildas to the Malditas which is bound to be confusing for the fella. Malditas means ‘feisty ladies’. One of the great team nicknames. Philippines are definitely the ones that the Ferns should be expecting to beat and up until a few years ago that would’ve been a safe enough bet. But the Malditas have been different lately.

At the Asian Cup back in February this year they earned group stage wins over Thailand (1-0) and Indonesia (6-0) either side of a 4-0 loss to Australia, then beat Chines Taipei on penalties in the quarters before losing 2-0 to South Korea in the semis. A famous effort, the nation’s best ever, which qualified them for their first World Cup. They followed that up by winning the AFF Championship in July, a tournament mostly involving Southeast Asian teams (as well as the Aussie U23s).

This is a team on the up and up. Still a team the Ferns should beat but not one they can get away with lightly. Wouldn’t say there are too many notable names amongst the Philippines players. They’re a mostly young team with a lot of dual-nationals, particularly stemming from the USA development system. Jaclyn Sawicki recently signed for Western United in the A-League. Tahnai Annis captains them.

For a bit of OFC reference, the Philippines played friendlies against Fiji and Tonga back in April. They won 7-2 and 8-0 against Fiji. They won 16-0 and 5-0 against Tonga. The 16-0 doesn’t seem to have been a fully recognised international. No idea what the various squads looked like on that day but something to ponder anyway. Only lost 1-0 to Ireland in June as well. This team ain’t bad.

Okay, that’s what the Ferns are up against. Now onwards with their own squad. It’s a 22-woman group which has been selected, two less than they took to face Norway and Wales although the necessary cuts are covered by the fact that most players are in-season now and injuries are happening. Indiah-Paige Riley, as expected, is straight into the squad after switching allegiances from Australia back to her home nation of Aotearoa. She earned one cap (and two call-ups) for the Matildas – 15 mins off the bench against Germany in April 2021. NZ Football’s squad announcement claimed she played against Ireland. She was called up for that Ireland game but didn’t play... though it’d be kinda cool if NZF were just like ‘yeah we don’t care enough about Australia to look this up’. Rate that from them.

Joining Indi Riley in the squad having not been there last time are CJ Bott and Anna Leat. Bott has returned from injury. Leat has returned from taking a couple tours off to focus on her club stuff. Both of them are playing English WSL this season, Bott with Leicester City and Leat with Aston Villa. Neither were involved in either of the last two tours and Leat also missed the one before that... leading to some funky battles in their absences but we’ll come back around to that.

Missing from the Norway/Wales games are: Katie Bowen, Rebekah Stott, Emma Rolston, Lily Alfeld, and Ashleigh Ward. Three of them are because of injuries. Ward did play for Southampton on the weekend but was subbed off early in the first half. Rolston hasn’t featured for Avaldsnes since the Norway league came back from the Euros hiatus. Stotty’s also hurt having not been a part of Brighton’s only preseason game to date. As for Lily Alfeld, she misses out because of Leat’s return.

Bringing us to Katie Bowen who is missing for personal reasons. There was a tinge of hope that maybe with the games being in America that Bowen’s club teammate Abby Erceg might be available but not only is that not the case but Bowen’s absent too. Obviously we don’t know what the personal circumstances are. But we do know that there’s a history of the NC Courage organisation being kinda stingy with these things. Abby Erceg has preferred to focus on club yarns rather than friendly internationals, effectively doing a Trent Boult before doing a Trent Boult became a formalised thing.

And that’s fine. No dramas. She’s played 146 times for her country – only Ria Percival has more caps. Can’t fault that. Erceg is a player of such a high level that you can slide her into the team without a worry whenever she’s available and if that only happens at major tournaments then to be honest it’s not the worst thing in the world to have that space to develop other CBs. Meikayla Moore has thrived in Erceg’s absence in the past. Claudia Bunge is currently thriving in the same way. Soon enough Kate Taylor will be next.

On the other hand, Katie Bowen hadn’t missed a single squad for at least six years. Only Betsy Hassett, Erin Nayler, and Ali Riley have longer active selection streaks in this team. Bowen is always there... except this time which comes at a time when she’s barely gotten a minute of action for the Courage having signed in the offseason. That felt like a perfect move at the time. Bowen was linking up with Erceg at club level plus she went to university in North Carolina. But maybe it was too convenient. A random pickup without a plan for how to use her, hence Bowen, who has been on the bench for all but one of NCC’s 13 NWSL games (a covid absence), has so far made just one measly appearance... as a 94th minute substitute.

Problem is, the NWSL doesn’t necessarily break for this window and the Courage have quite a few previously postponed games that they need to play soon. The Ferns games are on Sep 2 and Sep 6. The Courage have games on 29 Aug and 5 Sep. You can’t be available for both. If Bowen asked for it then they’d have had to release her – Ali Riley is playing (although Angel City don’t have a game between 29 Aug-15 Sep) so no doubt there’s pressure on Bowen to skip this Ferns tour. Hopefully this ingratiates her with the coach enough that he actually gives her some game time because if she’s still sitting on the bench as an unused sub on September 5 then that’s going to be rather infuriating.

(Theory: with her lack of minutes this NWSL season and the relationship between the NWSL and the ALW... it feels like KB is a great shout for an offseason loan deal to an A-League club. The Phoenix are an option but honestly Katie Bowen should walk into any ALW team)

GOALKEEPERS

Victoria Esson – Rangers, SCO (8 caps/0 goals)

Anna Leat – Aston Villa, ENG (7/0)

Erin Nayler - Umeå IK, SWE (77/0)

Lily Alfeld never actually played despite being in the last three squads while Anna Leat was unavailable (She Believes Cup, Australia & Norway/Wales). Even before Leat took that wee break there was a lot of rotation going on at goalkeeper with Leat and Nayler involved in an arm-wrestle for alternating starts – the first time that Nayler had been truly challenged as the number one for several years.

Since then Vic Esson has stormed the castle. Kept a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over South Korea (the Ferns’ only win in their last 23 matches... hopefully that changes in a hurry) and also in 0-0 draws against Czechia and Wales to go with a starring effort in that agonising 2-1 loss to Aussie. Quite literally, the Ferns’ best defensive efforts under Jitka Klimková have all been with Victoria Esson in goal.

Hence why Esson started both games of the last tour as JK finally seemingly settled on a top choice goalie. Vic Esson has overtaken Erin Nayler and a couple of assured (if largely untroubled) performances in Champions League qualifiers for Rangers last week don’t harm her case either. Annoyingly, Erin Nayler has been on the bench for Umeå’s two games since the Euro break which probably does harm her case.

Meanwhile Anna Leat had been looking like the best option prior to her international sabbatical. Perhaps a touch below the other two in terms of shot-stopping but the best of them as a distributor and with the most impressive fundamentals. Now she’s back. However in her absence Vic Esson has raised the bar. Potentially fascinating goalkeeping areas here... love the depth. And this is with Lily Alfeld watching from home too!

DEFENDERS

Elizabeth Anton – Perth Glory, AUS (10/0)

Mackenzie Barry – Wellington Phoenix, NZ (0/0)

CJ Bott – Leicester City, ENG (34/1)

Claudia Bunge – Melbourne Victory, AUS (11/0)

Ally Green – Vålerenga, NOR (1/0)

Meikayla Moore – Glasgow City, SCO (55/3)

Ali Riley – Angel City, USA (145/1)

Kate Taylor – Wellington Phoenix, NZ (2/0)

Just gonna come right out and say it... there might be too many centre-backs in this squad. Particularly when the midfield is missing a couple of regulars and wouldn’t go astray with another body. Anton, Barry, Bunge, Moore, and Taylor are all CB specialists and there’s probably only two spots available in the team. Barry and Taylor are there for developmental purposes as much as anything (though wouldn’t be shocked if Taylor gets a start against Philippines tbh). This is without Erceg or Stott (or Bowen who’s played a bit of CB for this team lately). Definitely not fitting all of them into a World Cup squad, just quietly.

But then can’t forget that last tour Klimkova picked four CBs in both games with Moore at right back and Anton on the left. That was with Ali Riley and CJ Bott both injured so presumably they come back in and that’s no longer a worry. Ally Green is the backup left back with no Ashleigh Ward here to challenge her. Anton probably covers right back given that Moore and Bunge are the two best CBs in this group. Bunge has started the last six games in a row.

Interesting to see NZF list Claudia Bunge as a Melbourne Victory player... there had been some rumours about her signing with a WSL team (Manchester United or Brighton) but that hasn’t happened yet and their season is imminent. As it stands, Bunge hasn’t re-signed with Victory so counting her as their player is a bit sneaky although the announcement also listed the most recent ALW clubs of Malia Steinmetz and Hannah Wilkinson who themselves haven’t re-signed either. Wilkie probably will. Steinmetz might wanna switch clubs given she didn’t get a fair crack of it with WSW last season. All things in good time.

CJ Bott started 15 games in a row at right back prior to the injuries that kept her away from the last two tours. Felt like a decent chance to test the depth in her absence but instead Ali Riley made two RB starts and Meikayla Moore made two RB starts... neither exactly long term options in that spot. It looks like the backup here will be another out-of-position trip however don’t sleep on potential debutant Indi Riley who is a right winger by trade, and that’s a position we need depth in way more imminently, yet she’s been playing wing-back for Fortuna Hjørring lately which makes her a possible RB option as well.

MIDFIELDERS

Daisy Cleverley - HB Køge, DEN (22/2)

Betsy Hassett – Sjarnan, ISL (132/14)

Annalie Longo – Christchurch United, NZ (126/15)

Malia Steinmetz – Western Sydney Wanderers, AUS (9/0)

Where are all the midfielders? Ria Percival’s injured long-term. Rebekah Stott’s hurt. Katie Bowen’s unavailable. Liv Chance mostly plays on the left wing for the national team. That pretty much answers that question.

For the majority of Jitka Klimková’s reign she’s employed a midfield trio, though the last couple games saw a 4-4-2 shape with wide mids rather than wingers: Liv Chance and Katie Bowen, both natural CMs with the skill set that entails but also excellent crossing ability. Without Bowen that’s less likely to be repeated but we’ll see how it goes. That all means there’ve been 31 central midfield selections made by JK. Here’s the breakdown...

• Ria Percival – 8 starts

• Betsy Hassett – 8 starts

• Daisy Cleverley – 7 starts

• Katie Bowen – 4 starts

• Annalie Longo – 2 starts

• Malia Steinmetz – 2 starts

A couple of them we’ve established are unavailable. Of the rest... it’s arguably the Steinmetz/Longo combo against Wales that performed the best. Steinmetz offers a point of difference as a hard-tackling ball winner - only Ria Percival can rival her in that regard - whereas Longo is an experienced and technical player capable of calmly controlling the passing tempo.

It’s possible that Liv Chance could play more through the middle, especially as a ten if they revert to a midfield trio. The form of Jacqui Hand and the arrival of Indi Riley means there are finally more genuine wide forward options to choose from. Regardless, it’s a good opportunity for whoever gets picked to stake a claim with the World Cup in less than a year. In a 23-woman World Cup squad with Katie Bowen and Ria Percival both presumptuously available that means someone’s gonna be unlucky.

Daisy Cleverley might have the most to prove. She started the first five games under JK but only 2/6 since and remember the first four matches were with weakened squads due to travel restrictions. She’s at risk of falling off the back of the wagon... so good thing then that she’s gotten started on a professional career with HB Køge, the reigning champs of Denmark, where she’s immediately getting good minutes for a strong team. Could be playing Champions League footy very soon if they can progress through their playoff tie. Exactly what we wanna see.

FORWARDS

Olivia Chance – Celtic, SCO (32/1)

Jacqui Hand - Åland United, FIN (8/1)

Grace Jale - Canberra United, AUS (7/2)

Gabi Rennie – Arizona State University, USA (14/2)

Indiah-Paige Riley – Fortuna Hjørring, DEN (0/0)

Paige Satchell – Wellington Phoenix, NZ (30/2)

Hannah Wilkinson – Melbourne City, AUS (107/27)

If Klimková does employ an attacking midfielder, it’s worth mentioning that’s where Jacqui Hand’s been playing lately. Not merely playing but dominating: she was recently nominated for Midfielder of the Month in the Kansallinen Liiga. Hand, like Cleverley, is in her first season as a pro after finishing up uni in the States. She’s scored 5 goals with 3 assists in 13 games for Åland United. That’s not the kinda thing you see too often from kiwi players in Europe. Almost never, to be honest. Let alone in year one. Plus she scored against South Korea last November.

Liv Chance is a rare example of someone who also scores and assists at a high rate at that level and what’s more is she does it from the midfield for Celtic. Only scored once for the Fernies but she did set up both goals in the 2-0 win over South Korea. One of the first couple names on the team-sheet these days and usually as a left-winger. Debate remains as to whether that’s the best way to utilise the most creative player in the team but she’s still clearly having a big effect.

Speaking of best utilising players, Hannah Wilkinson’s brilliant A-League season hasn’t quite translated into international form yet. Maybe this’ll be the window... although she’s very deep into her offseason at the moment and unlike some of the other ALW folks she hasn’t been keeping busy with NPL or NZ U20 teams. Pretty sure Paige Satchell, Liz Anton, and Mackenzie Barry are the others in that boat. Short on match fitness. Something to consider.

Rivalling Wilkinson at centre forward are Gabi Rennie and Grace Jale. Rennie is the more mobile option, someone who’ll press hard and run behind the lines. Jale is pretty mobile herself but also has size and strength on her side and probably a more refined technique as well. Hasn’t really played as a CF for the Ferns yet and was a left winger for the Nix. Canberra United feels like a good progressive move for her development.

Meanwhile Paige Satchell has made the right wing her own recently (even when playing as a second striker) with her searing pace and steadily improving end product. Still got a way to go in terms of making the most of the situations her speed gets her into but a season with the Welly Nix where she’ll be a top attacking option also feels like a fine progression for her.

Especially when Satchell’s suddenly got some right wing competition in the form of Indiah-Paige Riley. One of two potential debutants in the squad (along with Mack Barry), called up at the first opportunity after switching allegiances from Aussie back to Aotearoa. Recently started a couple Champions League qualifiers with Fortuna Hjørring. Has played UCL group stages in the past including 90 minutes against Barcelona the year that the Catalan club won the whole thing. Indi Riley is a legit attacking player in a strong club situation and considering the attacking deficiencies of this team, considering the fact that most of our top pros are defensive players, her sudden appearance is nothing short of a blessing. This’ll be the first chance to see her in action with a fern on her chest. Sweet as.

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