Flying Kiwis – January 23
Milly Clegg – Racing Louisville (American National Women’s Soccer League)
Things never worked out for Milly Clegg at Western Sydney Wanderers. Joining them after a solid season with the Wellington Phoenix, a few months after her national team debut but prior to making the cut for the World Cup squad, she ended up playing just 56 minutes.
At first she was hampered by technicalities, having to wait until her 18th birthday a few weeks into the season before she was allowed to play for a foreign professional club (despite already having a season under her belt in the same league with the WahiNix lol). Then when she finally did make her debut she went off injured with a hamstring strain that she later re-aggravated and that was that. A bummer of a time for one of Aotearoa’s finest footballing prospects. Luckily it turns out she had a backup plan...
Racing Louisville in the NWSL on a three-year contract. There she will play alongside Abby Erceg, probably this country’s ever greatest female footballer. Yeah nah that sounds like a pretty good plan.
Based on how it’s been reported, it seems that RL caught sight of Clegg at her youth World Cups in 2022 and first made contact when they claimed her “discovery rights”... which is a typically American thing of putting dibs on non-Draft eligible players in case they sign in the NWSL. It’s a weird system... but it’s where you end up that matters, not how you get there. Racing Louisville then attempted to sign her properly but by then Clegg had already committed to Western Sydney, so a compromise was made that she’d move to the USA after the A-League season. Thanks to that pesky hamstring, that moment has arrived sooner than anticipated.
Ryan Dell, RLFC general manager: “Milly is a generational player who already has significant international experience at a young age. We cannot wait to see her grow and develop at Racing. She has a unique ability to score goals with exceptional pace, and she will play an important role for us for years to come.”
Bev Yanez, RL head coach: “Milly has shown incredible ability at such a young age. We are not only very excited to have her in our environment, but we are also looking forward to continuing to push her game to new heights in helping her develop in specific areas. We’re thrilled to welcome her to Racing!”
Clegg had retained her amateur status during her ALW stuff in order to preserve the option to go to college in the USA. That would have been with the intent of getting drafted into the NWSL down the line but as we can see there was no need... might as well just skip the four years and sign pro right away. It is becoming more and more common for teenagers to sign with NWSL clubs since they began lifting a few of those barriers in order to compete with foreign opportunities.
And because it was Racing Lou who came calling, she’ll now get to learn under the wing of Abby Erceg who herself joined this team a year ago in a trade from North Carolina. The latter was rebuilding, the former were only founded in 2021 and wanted some veteran help to take them to the next level. That didn’t lead to a playoff berth in 2023 but Erceg still had a typically excellent season at the back. RL have swapped coaches since then, while their general manager is also a new hire (Ryan Dell was the long-time GM for the USWNT, finishing up that tenure after the World Cup in New Zealand/Australia). They’ll have a more determined focus on post-season footy this time around.
Only six NZers have played NWSL since this version of the American top club league was established in 2012, so Clegg is also a breath of fresh air to boost our presence in one of the world’s top competitions at a time when our two other current NWSLers are in their mid-30s. Abby Erceg has made 179 appearances (plus a few more in Challenge Cups) with a list of accolades too long to mention while Ali Riley has made a splash on and off the pitch in her three years there.
Katie Bowen, Rosie White, Rebekah Stott, and Emma Kete have also played NWLS plus Erin Nayler did get signed though never actually played a game. Glad to see that the Yanks are still open-minded to the scouting the big wide world around them – Racing Louisville more than most. Last year this squad featured a player from every single FIFA confederation.
Up Next: Better get that hamstring right first... but there’s time since the NWSL season doesn’t begin until March
Chris Wood - Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)
It’s a good week of Flying Kiwis action when we get to dine upon a Chris Wood winning goal. These days every week is a good week of Flying Kiwis action but it’s even better when this is the case. We’re talking FA Cup replay yarns away against League One’s Blackpool, on a frozen coastal Wednesday evening. Nottingham Forest found themselves in a spot of bother so up stepped The Woodsman to continue his great form under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo. A true striker’s goal, with only a gentle tap-in required to set up the victory...
It took a wobbly old game to get to that point. Forest had scored nice and early through debutant defender Andrew Omobamidele – who has Nigerian heritage but was born and raised in Ireland and played the full game against the All Whites a few months back. Tidy finish at the back stick after a corner in the 16th minute. That’s how it remained until just after half-time when Danilo made it 2-0 after Blackpool had gotten stuck trying to pass through the NFFC press (Wood leading that press, though he was peripheral in the goal itself).
That should have led to Forest coasting towards victory against a team two divisions beneath them... but it did not. Blackpool gave it a nudge and pulled one back on the hour through a sweet Albie Morgan finish. Wood tried to spark something with a great run up the left wing but it didn’t quite open up from there – though Neco Williams did force a good save from that move. However Forest continued to look vulnerable at the back, often through hints of complacency, and on 78’ they were hauled back level when Kyle Joseph rose highest for a close range header. They’d drawn 2-2 in a sloppy initial game. They were all tied at 2-2 again in the replay... so it was off to extra time.
And that’s where Chris Wood got it done. Not before Blackpool skewed a couple of great counter attacking chances, but after it had begun to feel like we were destined for a penalty shootout. In which case Woodsy would’ve had a chance to add to his incredible penalty record, having not missed one for club or country in-game or in shootouts since 2016. He’s at 27 in a row. However it didn’t need to come to that conclusion as Ryan Yates was able to squeeze that low cross over to Wood a couple yards out and there was no missing from there. 110th minute of the contest.
Forest saw it through to advance to the fourth round where they will face... Bristol City away. Championship level opponents, dodging their fellow Premier Leaguers for the second consecutive round. Good good (although Bristol City did just knock West Ham out). Ben Waine’s Plymouth are also still in the hat – facing Leeds away in the fourth round. And if Matt Dibley-Dias is fit then there is a small chance he could be involved for Fulham vs Newcastle. Barring any transfers, that’s where it sits for the remaining kiwi involvement.
You might have also noticed a unique aspect to Wood’s celebration. Amidst the usual shouts and chest-bumping from teammates, Wood kept his cool running back to halfway with just a quick point up towards the stands. Then he wandered over to the bench and held up a Forest jersey that read: “Thinking of you Kouyaté”.
That was in honour of teammate Cheikhou Kouyaté whose father recently passed away while CK was away with Senegal at the African Cup of Nations. Omobamidele had done the same thing after his goal, with Wood right there alongside him. They didn’t get the jersey out for the second goal. Wood recently did a video for the NFFC channel in which he described teammates with a single word and for Kouyaté he said: “Leader”. The respect runs deep. Note that Kouyaté was also a teammate of Winston Reid’s at West Ham for several years.
That was 120 minutes of football for Chris Wood, yet it didn’t stop him from adding another 90 a few days later as Nottm Forest took on Brentford in a lower-table Premier League battle. There’s not much choice at the moment with the likes of Taiwo Awoniyi, Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Divock Origi all out injured (and a bunch of their midfield/defence away at AFCON). Squad is skint. Lads gotta do the hard yards. Only two changes were made despite only two days off between games.
Initially that didn’t bother Forest as Danilo gave them a third minute lead. Beautiful dipping volley from outside the area following some scrappy stuff in which Wood’s presence had helped keep the move alive via aerial pinball. Alas, this was England striker Ivan Toney’s return from suspension and in the 19th minute he scored a direct free kick to tie things up (despite Forest having looked pretty good to that point). There was controversy about the goal as replays showed Toney had actually moved the ball, and the evaporating spray, a few inches off the spot in order to get a better angle. NFFC have officially complained about it. Also gotta blame the keeper for his wall placement though, because surely a few inches did not change the angle that much.
This game was good fun. Chances at both ends, exciting intent from both sides. Brentford hit the crossbar ten minutes later. Forest kept the shots flowing. In the 58th minute Brentford took the lead through Ben Mee’s powerful header off a corner kick but that lead only lasted six minutes before Callum Hudson-Odoi chopped back onto his right foot from the left wing and fizzed a gorgeous cross over to where Chris Wood’s sharp movement and guiding touch off the noggin did the rest...
That quick burst to get in front of his marker. Anticipating the cross. Sweetly done as the bro added yet another goal to his recent tally. He has six goals and an assist in six games (across all comps) since Nuno Espirito Santo took over as manager. It goes far deeper than the goals too. He’s played every single possible minute under the new gaffer and is contributing in a bunch of ways. His hold-up play is as effective as it has ever been and he’s now thriving at bringing others into the action. He had four key passes against Brentford, and he’s largely doing that with lay-offs and flicks. Not to mention his sudden surge in dribbling. He was excellent in this game and his manager loves him already.
NES on Chris Wood’s run of form: “He is playing well, not only with the goal but also the way he helps the team. He is doing fantastic for us. I hope that continues.”
Only problem was that Brentford retook the lead within three minutes of Wood’s goal, old Neal Maupay with a sharp finish on the spin to set up a 3-2 win for Brentford. Right after Oriel Mangala had driven his effort wide from one of those aforementioned Wood lay-offs. Brentford were a little more clinical where it mattered and that’s why they won this game of football.
That’s a damaging loss for Forest who were also slapped with a financial fair-play case this past week. Not to mention all the unavailable players they’re dealing with. Forest have fallen behind Brentford in the standings and if they end up with a points deduction from the FFP stuff then they could be in serious relegation trouble. Chris Wood is up to eight Premier League goals this season and his team are going to need a bunch more where those came from.
Up Next: Saturday at 8.45am it’s Bristol City vs Nottm Forest in the FA Cup fourth round (NZT)
Vic Esson - Rangers FC (Scottish Premier League)
The fact that Vic Esson was given consecutive starts straight out the winter break with a League Cup semi-final beckoning,was a pretty good sign that she’d be playing that latter one too. Just had to give her some match rhythm first, having hardly played at all in recent months. As it happens, Rangers won those previous two matches (a Scottish Cup early rounder and a league game against a lower-table side) by a combined 22 goals to nil and Esson literally did not need to make a save in either. So maybe not the ideal preparation for a knockout game against Celtic... but better than nothing.
Rangers have been a few steps ahead of Celtic in the SWPL this term, and the first half of this game showcased that edge – although the first major chance did fall the way of the team in green and white, as Esson came out and punched a free kick but then got lobbed as the ball dropped for a Celtic player outside the area. No dramas. There was a defender covering the line. Other than that it was Rangers looking more likely, apart from not figuring out how to get those shots on target instead of fizzing past the post or onto the crossbar.
Then things got funky in the second half. First, Celtic were awarded a penalty. Slightly dubious handball shout in which the ball was smashed at Kathryn Hall from close range, granted she did have her arm raised as it struck her elbow. Esson faced up to Chloe Craig but dove right as Craig sent her spot kick down the middle and thus Celtic had the 55th minute lead. Wouldn’t you know it though, Hill herself was the one to level things back up on 68’ as she converted a goalmouth scramble. Then Kirsty Maclean gave Rangers the lead on 81’ with a ferocious finish off a cut-back.
It looked like Rangers had done the business until another dubious penalty was awarded against them near the end. Looked like a clean challenge from Tessel Middag but with no video assistance on offer there was no recourse. Esson had the chance to seal the deal with a penalty save... and she dove the right way except this time Craig’s kick was perfectly into the bottom corner. Drama with the 90th minute equaliser. Even more drama as Rangers won an even later penalty of their own. This was also a soft one given for a tug on the arm of Rio Hardy running in behind – but, soft or not, it was completely unnecessary contact with the keeper seemingly on course to comfortably collect the through ball. Rio Hardy scored it herself, a 90+5th minute League Cup semi-final winner.
Rangers took it by a scoreline of 3-2 and are into the final where they’ll face Partick Thistle, who beat Hibernian 2-0 in their own match. Rangers won this competition last season but Vic Esson was an unused substitute in the final so hopefully this year it’s her turn. Rangers also lost the Scottish Cup final in 2022-23 (vs Celtic) so this is their third cup final in a row. The season prior, Celtic won the cup double with Olivia Chance a key member of that side.
Decent performance from Esson here. Didn’t have too many saves to make once again but this time it wasn’t through a lack of pressure. She had that early punch. Lots of touches in the build-up, knocking the ball around to her centre-backs. The two times she was beaten were from the penalty spot. Rangers have now won an incredible 15 games in a row across all competitions and are undefeated all season through 19 games – their last defeat being that Scottish Cup loss to Celtic that concluded the previous term.
Up Next: Aberdeen vs Rangers in the SWPL on Monday at 3am (NZT)
Indiah-Paige Riley - PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)
Third goal of the season for Indi Riley. She’s gone out on her own with the switch to PSV, rather than following the usual A-League processions towards Britain and Scandinavia (as she did last time), but don’t let what she’s doing slide under the radar. She’s a regular starter for a team hoping to get a crack at European footy soon. That crack probably won’t happen next season as they’re currently fourth and need to get to second. But Ajax have dropped a few points in recent games so we’ll see. Regardless, Indi Riley’s doing her part.
IPR’s goal was an 18th minute effort to make it 2-0 early away to Telstar. Joelle Smits had already given them the lead five minutes earlier - making good use of a commanding start to the match. Love that underlapping run from Riley which led to her goal, drifting in from her left wing position. An offside flag was then all that halted Smits from making it 3-0... though Telstar began to get a few things going after that and it was they who scored next after an hour. A well-worked move finished off by Chinatsu Kira. Weak defending from the PSV defence. Weak enough that the manager felt the need to solidifying things, making a double substitution with Riley and Smits (the two goal scorers) both subbed. All goods. PSV did indeed steady the ship and Zera Hulswit put one away near the end to confirm a 3-1 win.
Up Next: PSV vs Den Haag at 12.15am on Monday (NZT)
Callan Elliot – Motherwell (Scottish Premiership)
Ah, there he is. It’s been a while. Callan Elliot last played a competitive game of football back in May 2023 – the Wellington Phoenix’s finals defeat against Adelaide United – but after an eight-month sabbatical he’s now found his way to Motherwell. A top flight Scottish club, returning to the land of his birth. He had apparently been hanging around at Hearts a few months back although whether that was a genuine trial or if he was just hanging with the bro Cammy Devlin is unconfirmed. But yeah nah here he is with a contract until the end of the current Premiership season.
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: “Callan has good quality and has impressed out in the A-League. I’m trying build a squad here and we have been looking to add quality and depth in this area of the park. Callan ticks both of those boxes so it’s great to get him in the squad. He’s an international player and someone I think can add a lot to the team.”
It’s only a short-term deal and, based on the manager’s words there, he’s hardly expected to stroll straight into the starting line-up and contribute. But he’ll provide good depth in a position where the club needs plenty more of it and opportunities should arise from there. CE will wear the 29 jersey. He joins fellow ex-Nix fullback James McGarry as the two NZers in the Scottish top flight, swiftly replacing Alex Greive after AG’s loan move to second tier Dundee United. Chris Killen, Rory Fallon, Steven Old, Michael McGlinchey, and George Stanger are the other NZers to have played in this division over the past two decades.
Motherwell are still in the Scottish Cup having progressed past third tier Alloa Athletic in the fourth round, though are sitting dangerously low on the league standings. Much work yet to be done on that front: they’re two points above the second relegation zone spot having played more games than the teams directly below them. Defensively they’ve been very sketchy, hence that area has proved a focus of their January transfer efforts, plus their best attacker just got recalled by Arsenal halfway through his loan so that he could be loaned somewhere else instead (Mika Biereth). They’re not in a great financial position either. But they did sign Callan Elliot so they’ve got that going for them.
Up Next: St Johnston vs Motherwell at 4am on Sunday (NZT)
Scott Morris - Stoke City (English Championship)
It turns out we didn’t give Stoke City enough credit last week because not only did they announce this move after all (albeit after he’d already featured in a matchday squad with the reserves) but they threw a few nuggets into that announcement too. First was that the deal was listed in the First Team section of their website. Second is that the deal is until the end of the 2024-25 season.
Those are crucial points because he’s already 22 years old so he can’t just hang around the U21s forever... and he’s not going to because apparently they have bigger plans for him. You can believe that because on the day this was announce they also chucked up a training compo vid on their YouTube in which you can spot Morris several times (especially in the last few minutes where they play a small sided game and then do some finishing practice). He makes a couple of ripping saves in amongst. What initially looked like a great wee development opportunity for the best goalie in the National League last year now turns out to be one of the biggest moves of this entire transfer window. That’s what we love to see.
Scott Morris: “It has been a long-held ambition to test myself in England, which was something I explored a couple of years ago, and it now feels like the right time and right opportunity to develop my game. My immediate goal is to adapt to the professional environment, learn from my new teammates and be the best version of myself in training every day. It’s a chance I want to grasp with both hands.”
SCFC Technical Director Ricky Martin: “Scott is a promising prospect, and we are looking forward to seeing how he develops with us. We hope that being in and around our environment, working with Darren Behcet alongside a close-knit group of fellow goalkeepers, will help Scott fulfil his long-term potential. He has the very best wishes of us all as he embarks on his Stoke City career.”
The goalkeeping situation at Stoke City is a slippery one. They changed goalkeeping coach when they changed managers a few weeks back, meaning no more Jonathan Gould (who no doubt had a big hand in getting Morris this opportunity). They’re also all over the place with contracts. Current number one Daniel Iversen is only there on loan from Leicester City while Frank Fielding and Blondy Nna Noukea, as it stands, will be free agents after this season. They do have two other very good youngsters with Jack Bonham having signed a new deal in November and Tommy Simkin currently on loan with Forest Green Rovers. But it’s a chaotic group for sure. And a bit of positional chaos might just help Scotty’s prospects.
Up Next: We’re probably looking at the U21s here for realistic chances so check out West Ham vs Stoke on Saturday at 8am in the Premier League Development stuff (NZT)
Liberato Cacace – Empoli (Italian Serie A)
When we checked in with Cacace last week, Empoli had just been beaten 2-1 by Verona. Since then they’ve done something drastic: they’ve sacked their manager. Out went Aurelio Andreazzoli, who himself had only been there since Paolo Zanetti was sacked in September. Now Davide Nicola is in charge. DN has coached a bunch of Italian clubs before but is probably best known for miracle relegation dodge with Salernitana a couple seasons ago. Well, he’s got a similar job on his hands here.
And that job could hardly have started better than this, with Empoli beating beating Monza 3-0 thanks to a super hat-trick by Szymon Zurkowski. It was a game in which the Azzurri had just 28% of the ball but they did so with solid shape and organisation and buried a few belters when the needed them. Slight issue though... Davide Nicola loves himself a back three with wing-backs so the base formation has now changed and Emmanuel Gyasi was picked at LWB ahead of Cacace for this match. Although Cacace still found himself introduced fairly early as part of a 61st minute double change (the first of the game for Empoli)... and not in place of Gyasi either, who swapped over to the right edge instead.
That win was huge for Empoli. They were the only side in the immediate relegation picture who didn’t lose this week so it was pure progress across the board. Another win next time and they might just climb out of the drop zone altogether... granted they’re playing Juventus so probs not. Maybe they’ll prefer a bit more defensive solidity in that LWB position for that one, let us see. A new manager is always an upheaval and some players benefit from that while others suffer. Right now it seems Cacace’s got to earn his starting spot back by proving himself to his third manager in barely half a season. Either that or wait until Mr Fourth comes along.
Up Next: Juventus vs Empoli on Sunday at 6am (NZT)
Jacqui Hand - Lewes (English Championship)
First game of the new year for Lewes and a club debut for Jacqui Hand. With their goal-scoring issues they were never going to hesitate to throw their new signing straight in there for the match against Durham. Hand played as an attacking midfielder with licence to drop deep and get things going. Just like she did in setting up an early chance for Maria Farrugia, whose long shot was too close to the keeper. There were a couple of instances of that Hand to Farrugia combination already expressing itself.
Durham hit the crossbar with a long-range effort so don’t go thinking Lewes were on top. But they were showing plenty of encouragement, which is a decent improvement from a side that had only scored seven times in eleven league games. Sure enough, you can make that eight in twelve now because Grace Riglar nodded home at the near post (from a cross that might have made it to Hand in the middle had she missed it) to give her side a rare lead ten minutes into the second half.
Alas, progress rarely happens in a straight line. Hand was subbed after an hour, probably to be expected given how this was her first club game since October with only a couple of Football Ferns starts in between. Then Lewes conceded a 90+4th minute own goal equaliser to force them to settle for a single point instead of three. Bugger. But there was promise from Jacqui Hand in there, as well as enough brightness overall to think they’ll be able to work their way up the table before the season is over.
What else went down in the English Championship this week? Ria Percival was a 68th minute substitute introduction for Crystal Palace as they beat London City 2-0. Percy again used as a right back. Grace Neville also played right back in that game for LCL but there was no Paige Satchell again who seems to be out injured. That was an expected win for Palace.
Similar deal for Sunderland who won 3-0 against Sheffield United. Katie Kitching nearly scored the opener in that one but her running volley was tipped over the bar. It was Kitching’s run in behind that led to their eventual actual first goal in the second half though. Olivia Page was an unused sub for Sheff Utd once again. And that was that. Aston Villa played Leicester City in the WSL but Anna Leat was back to the bench while CJ Bott is still injured. Villa won that match 1-0.
LCFC manager Willie Kirk: “No, nothing [new]. CJ Bott is still out. She’s probably still a week away or two weeks away from coming back but apart from that we have a clean bill of health.”
Up Next: Thursday at 8.30am, Watford vs Lewes in the Conti Cup group stage (NZT)
Katie Bowen - Inter Milan (Italian Serie A)
Not all goals are made equal. Chris Wood scored from about three yards out to win an FA Cup tie in extra time. Katie Bowen scored from almost the exact same spot in a cup game against Fiorentina... but it was an own goal. Stumbled over the ball as she tried to cover the otherwise open attacker at the back post from a squared pass across goal. Not a pretty one. But these things do happen, especially when your team is in the process of getting smoked.
At least that’s how it felt when Bowen’s OG made it 2-0 to Fiorentina in the first leg of their Coppa Italia quarter-final. That scoreline was probably about right given that Fiorentina are one of the three teams (along with Roma and Juventus) who have pulled away at the top of the ladder. Inter are back in fourth but miles behind that trio. However they didn’t fling in the towel despite that rotten start. In fact they surged back with Michela Cambiaghi scoring a sweet finish on 42’ and then a great cross from Frederikke Thogersen was converted by Elisa Polli on 66’ and they ended up salvaging a 2-2 draw. This was the home leg so it’ll still be tough but they’re hanging in there... so we can just gloss over the oggie from KB.
Then came the absolute best result of Inter’s entire season as they beat league-leaders Roma 2-0 at home. These days Inter are playing a back three, which has done nothing to disrupt Katie Bowen’s prominence. Here was another ninety minutes for KB on the right side of that trio. Roma were the team that predictably looked to set the tone, though Inter held tight at the back. Then, in the 31st minute, Katie Bowen stepped through the press and picked out midfielder Frederikke Thogersen whose raking ball over the top was controlled, and then slotted into the net, by Agnese Bonfantini.
That gave Inter something to defend, and defend they did - frustrating Roma so much that their coach was sent off midway through the second spell. It was a relief to see a scooping deflection off Bowen pushed over the bar by the Inter keeper before it could dip under the crossbar. After the own goal the other day we don’t want to take any chances there. Roma kept knocking on the door. Inter kept repelling them. Then in the 89th minute Elisa Polli scored a wonderful solo counter-attacking goal and thus Roma’s 12-game winning streak in Serie A was over. 2-0 to Inter. An outstanding victory.
Up Next: Napoli vs Internazionale on Sunday at 12.30am (NZT)
Max Crocombe - Burton Albion (English League One)
Yep, it was another one of those weeks for Max Crocombe. He seems to have them all the time now. Man of the Match and Team of the Week honours following a 2-0 win against Charlton Athletic in which Crocombe made four saves, including one diving screamer. Mark Helm (24’) and John Brayford (47’) got the goals to send the Brewers onwards to victory. All in a day’s work for Crocs, this was his seventh clean sheet of the term. With 89 saves in 26 games he’s got the equal lead across all of League One, tied with Sam Tickle of Wigan who has played an extra game.
Up Next: Sunday at 4am away to Cambridge United (NZT)
Jay Herdman - Vancouver Whitecaps (American Major League Soccer)
Told ya last time how Jay Herdman had bounced back from injury to get an invite on Spanish preseason tour with the Whitecaps first team. Well, they got things underway with a 1-0 win against Hungarian first division team Diósgyőri VTK and Herdman played the second half alongside a selection of mostly reserve/academy/trial players... of which he is also one. Good stuff. Good stuff.
Up Next: A few more friendlies where this one came from, let’s see if he can keep getting minutes
Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)
When Ryan Thomas missed last week’s Eredivisie match, the first game back from the short winter break, they said he was only doubtful rather than anything serious. Either they were lying or they didn’t yet know. ‘They’, in this case, being local media reports. It’s not the news anyone wants to read but it turns out that Thommo needs yet another knee surgery and his season is over.
PEC Zwolle: “Ryan Thomas (29) has suffered a knee injury. Hospital scans have shown that the midfielder has to undergo knee surgery. As a result, the season for Thomas comes to an early end. After returning to PEC Zwolle in late-2022, Thomas made seven performances in the Eredivisie this season. He played his last game at home before the winter break against NEC Nijmegen. Good luck Ryan and on to a speedy recovery!”
This will be at least the third time that he’s required season-ending knee surgery in his career and he isn’t even 30 years old. Thomas has spoken several times about the mental toll these long recoveries have taken on him. Let’s just hope there’s another chapter or two remaining in this book, though you’d hardly blame him if he’s had enough of this. This one really sucks.
Up Next: That long, familiar road to recovery
Elliot Collier – Indy Eleven (American USL Championship)
Another USL fella signed up, it’s old mate Elliot Collier and he’s returning to Indy Eleven where he previously spent some time on loan from Chicago Red Stars. Collier may have won the USL Championship in 2022 (appearing off the bench in the final) but he’s yet to find a steady home in this division. Four different clubs and none of them for more than a single season – albeit that’s about to change as he kits up for Indy Eleven for a second stint six years after the first.
Ironically he got given more support in the MLS than he did in the USL. 54 games for Chicago Fire across three seasons (14 of them starts – with 1 goal and 1 assist). Meanwhile he’s provided 13 goals and 4 assists in 81 USL Championship games (47 starts). Hopefully this is the one where he finally gets to settle in. Collier joins James Musa (Colorado Springs), Moses Dyer (FC Tulsa), and Kyle Adams (Louisville City) as kiwis currently signed up for USL 2024.
Up Next: Still got a month and a half before the games begin
Sarpreet Singh - Hansa Rostock (German Bundesliga 2)
Sarpreet Singh spent his winter break steadily building up his reputation with his new/old manager, chipping away with an increased role in each of their friendly games. That led into the return of the 2.Liga and a game away to FC Nürnberg and guess what? He was back in the starting eleven. His first league start for the club and just his second overall, after a cup game in which he was subbed off at half-time. In fact by lasting 81 minutes against FCN he doubled his combined tally from the first half of the season. Beautiful.
Only issue was that they lost 3-0. So... a lovely personal milestone but another stinker of a day for the club. Singh did have a shot blocked after only 20 seconds, but his team’s defence just could not handle what Nürnberg threw at them. The margin of defeat was not misleading. Singh played on the right wing in a 4-4-2 formation, occasionally swapping over to the left. Maybe next week will be more fruitful. At least he’s back in the mix now.
Up Next: Hansa Rostock vs SV Elversberg on Sunday at 1am (NZT)
Michael Woud – Kyoto Sanga (Japanese J-League)
Michael Woud: “Thank you very much for your support over the past two years. I have been blessed with wonderful friends, and I wish everyone involved in the club happiness. Thank you very much.”
That’s the end of that situation. It had appeared that Michael Woud still had another year on his contract but after they stripped his squad number away last week (following the end of his loan move to Ventforet Kofu) the writing was on the wall. Either for a loan or, as has happened, an early release. Woud moved to Kyoto Sanga two years ago but never played a league game for them. Only ever appeared in cup competitions (8 games altogether). Then came that loan move to VK, where he played once in the J2-League and four times in the Asian Champions League.
The ACL experience probably salvages his Japanese stint, though at 25 years old he’s going to want to get back to playing regular football again in a hurry – particularly if that All Whites number one gig is in his priorities. There was that link last week to a third-tier Japanese club though things could change now that he’s a freebie. No longer got to deal with a parent club third-wheeling negotiations.
Up Next: That’s the big question, ain’t it?
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