Flying Kiwis – October 8
Chris Wood - Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)
Things have happened very quickly during the Ange Postecoglou reign at Nottingham Forest. Initially there was all this chatter about how Chris Wood simply didn’t fit the vibrant, energetic style of play that Big Ange was going to bring to the table. Last season’s 20-goal scorer was going to be collateral damage. Now nobody’s worried about Chris Wood... it’s all about how much longer Postecoglou is going to hang onto this job.
The Europa League game against FC Midtjylland seemed to be an ugly turning point. The custom has emerged that Igor Jesus starts in Europe and Chris Wood starts the more physically demanding Premier League matches so Woodsy was watching from on the bench as NFFC conceded two very weak set piece goals on either side of a Dan Ndoye effort. That had them 2-1 down after 24 minutes and it stayed that way for a long time, even as Forest controlled much more of the ball and created plenty more shooting opportunities.
With fifteen minutes to go, it was time to send Chris Wood out there. Jesus was on a yellow and hadn’t really done much. Wood, playing his first Europa League game for almost 14 years, was desperate to contribute and within five minutes had put the ball in the net twice only for offsides to spoil it for him. The first was Elliot Anderson offside before the low cross that Wood tapped home. The second was Wood himself running in behind. Both were clearly correct decisions. On it went until the 88th minute when Forest did that thing where they get countered after sending numbers forward for a corner kick. FCM attacked with a 3v2 and that ended up with a third goal in the net and the home fans looking for the exits.
Shame on those who left early because they missed a great moment in kiwi football after Anderson was fouled and VAR decided it was worthy of a penalty kick (following much deliberation). Morgan Gibbs-White scooped up the ball and held it by the spot as the review went on but he was only shielding Chris Wood from the nerves. Wood took the kick and he did what he’s done with every other penalty he’s taken for the past nine years by scoring from it. Discounting qualifiers, that was Woodsy’s first goal in European competition since his first with Birmingham City back in the 2011-12 season. Nearly broke a record.
But they still lost 3-2 which heaped more pressure upon Ange Postecoglou. That left NFFC with a massively important Premier League game against Newcastle United, also bang out of form, ahead of the international break. Postecoglou’s supposedly rigid demands were meant to bring the end of Chris Wood’s prominence at Forest yet not only has he continued to start every Premier League game (including this one) but those rigid demands haven’t even been that rigid. Forest lined up in an unexpected 3-4-3 shape against Newcastle and while they did keep 48% of possession... they didn’t do a whole lot with it. You can see how Postecoglou is trying to be pragmatic with what he inherited but right now it feels like his team has lost all direction.
Still, the first half wasn’t terrible. Newcastle shaded it but neither team really got up to much. There were a couple of crosses towards Wood that were intervened. Problem was that Newcastle had more in the tank and would take control in the second spell amidst a bunch of corner kicks (we know how Postecoglou teams struggle with set pieces). Chris Wood was there to hack a few of them to safety... but the resistance could only last so long. Bruno Guimaraes got bored of the crossing and decided to curl a great finish beyond Mats Sels for 1-0 after 58 mins.
Wood had a chance to make it 1-1 within a few ticks but the deep cross dropped right in front of him and he miss-kicked it off his shin. Trickier than it looked but we know he’s got higher standards than that. Turns out he was marginally offside so the goal wouldn’t have stood but that doesn’t change the fact that this was not a good look following a few other notable misses against Sunderland last week. That turned out to be Wood’s last contribution as Big Ange made a triple substitution that included our mate Igor Jesus. The Woodsman never really found a way to impact this game. Neither did Igor, as Forest conceded again through a Nick Woltemade penalty (84’) to lose 2-0.
That’s now seven games without a win for Ange Postecoglou – who needs to survive until 19 October in order to avoid becoming the shortest tenured Premier League manager in history (Les Reed did 40 days with Charlton in 2006-07). He still has a job at the time of publishing however the vibes have gotten absolutely rotten. This was the club’s sixth loss in ten games this season after it took them 28 games to reach that number last season.
It was always going to be a brutal task going between such tactically opposite managers without even the benefit of a preseason to embed any changes. Perhaps they can get something cooking during the international break? Wood (New Zealand) and Jesus (Brazil) are both away with their countries so they won’t be around but it’s the defence that’s conceded 15 goals in those seven Ange games. It was during the September window that Nuno Espirito Santo was fired. At least the conversation has moved on from Woodsy’s fits in the team. Turns out all we had to do was wait that nonsense out.
Up Next: Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea on October 19 at 12.30am (NZT)
Callum McCowatt - Silkeborg IF (Danish Superliga)
That’s six goals and an assist for Callum McCowatt in his last seven Superliga matches. Including a hatty against the defending champs at their own ground. The lino thought he could take this one from him but when you’re on, you’re on and McCowatt just cannot stop scoring at the moment. Perfect form to take into the international break at a time when Eli Just is injured and even Chris Wood has been a tad sketchy lately (from open play, at least). As it stands, McCowatt is the second-equal top scorer in the entire division.
Nooooot the best from Silkeborg as a wider club though. That McCowatt goal was to cut the deficit after they’d already conceded twice inside half an hour away against AGF. But they were outplayed here, plain and simple. Only had one other shot on target all game and ended up losing 3-1 after AGF added another goal in the second half. Fair play to AGF because they’ve been amazing lately... currently on an eight-game winning streak to sit top of the table by four clear points at the October internationals. Meanwhile SIF are second to last with only one win from their last six.
Another way to look at that is that McCowatt has scored six of the club’s last nine goals. They’ve only taken five points from those six games but if you take out CM’s contributions then that would have only been two points. At first they were struggling because of their European commitments, now they’re just struggling. It hasn’t gotten better since they’ve reverted to one game per week instead of two, so it’s a lucky thing they’ve got Cal because he’s keeping them afloat right now. But the Danish league is very competitive below the top four so it would only take a couple of good weeks to go surging up into the top half.
Up Next: After the break they’re home against Copenhagen – the team that CM scored his hat-trick against – on Saturday 18 October at 6am (NZT)
Gabi Rennie - Eskilstuna United (Swedish Elitettan)
Eskilstuna United didn’t score a single goal during the month of September which wasn’t scored or assisted by Gabrielle Rennie. To begin their October slate, they hosted IK Uppsala in a top of the table clash. Both teams level on points. Enormous fixture as we near the conclusion of this Swedish second tier season... and not only did Rennie not score, she went the other way by giving her opponents a goal. That happened early in the second half, rushing back on defence, when she seemed to get her laces caught with those of an IKU forward and they both took a tumble. The ref decided it was Rennie’s fault and gave a penalty. Very unlucky (but probably the right call in light of who had the ball and was obstructed).
Fortunately, EU were already leading 1-0 after a corner kick went directly after 19 minutes (via a mistake by the keeper) so that penalty only made it 1-1. Rennie had been as prominent as ever driving up the right wing and getting the ball into the box. After the penalty, she was a woman on a mission nearly setting up a goal with a flick header and then twice shooting just past the far post after making overlapping runs. Nothing to show for that but they retook the lead with a header from a corner on 68’ and then Rennie finally got her own assist with a low ball across goal that was touched in by Villi Ollonqvist (82’). There was also a late red card for IKU. 3-1 final score in favour of Eskilstuna United.
It’s still close quarters at the top of the division but right now, as it stands, Eskilstuna United occupy the top spot. They’re on 50 points, three clear of IKU and four clear of third-placed Umeå. Trelleborgs are in fourth a further point behind. There are six games left and the top two get promoted while third gets a playoff. Got some tough fixtures left but EU just beat IK Uppsala and Umeå in consecutive weeks, meaning they’ve taken 22 points from the last possible 24. They’ve gotten themselves into an amazing position, just gotta finish the job now.
Up Next: Bollstanas vs Eskilstuna at 0:00 on Sunday (NZT)
Joe Bell – Viking FK (Norwegian Eliteserien)
Say would you look at that? Viking couldn’t do anything about Bodø/Glimt winning again and that game in hand is looking ominous since the two top clubs don’t face each other again this year. The hope is that B/G will drop points amidst a busy schedule as they balance a league title race with Champions League football. There is a pretty good chance of that happening... but as far as VFK are concerned, they’ve just gotta control what they can control and this latest round served up possibly their trickiest remaining game at home against third-placed Brann and you know what they did? They smoked them 3-0.
Viking took the lead in the seventh minute after a long throw was bobbled and bunted around the box before Peter Christiansen put it into the net. Bell played his part heading the ball back into the area during that melee. That got the flares going in the crowd... and the Vikes were hungry for more. Joe Bell went close when he ripped a shot with his left boot that was tipped wide by a one-handed save. Couple close calls from set pieces. A few more saves. Then Edvin Oestbø curled one in running from the left wing shortly before the break and the efforts were thus rewarded.
That gave Viking a solid lead to defend, allowing them to sit tighter and play on the break as they do very well. The second half was spent with Brann keeping almost all of the possession but barely threatening the goal outside of a good first 5-10 mins. Then Sander Svendsen slipped in a third from a quick counter and Viking FK were strolling the rest of the way. Full game for Joe Bell (naturally), whose passing was more erratic than usual but he made up for that with a very combative presence in the midfield contesting six tackles and winning a couple interceptions. Won three free kicks. Gave away two more.
This win only sees them hold serve with Bodø/Glimt in the title race... but it opens up a seven point gap between themselves and third-placed Brann (helped by fourth-placed Tromsø also losing). Brann has a game in hand but that’s still a really healthy advantage, especially since the top two clubs in Norway get Champions League qualification. If VFK wins 5/6 remaining games then they’ll have UCL qualifiers next year at the very least.
The Run Home...
Viking: Tromsø (A), Bryne (H), Strømsgodset (A), HamKam (H), Fredrikstad (A), Vålerenga (H)
Bodø/Glimt: Sarpsborg (A), Molde (H), Brann (A), Vålerenga (A), Bryne (H), KFUM Oslo (A), Fredrikstad (H)
Up Next: Tromsø vs Viking at 1.30am on 20 October (NZT)
Kees Sims - GAIS (Swedish Allsvenskan)
And so begins the great audition, as Kees Sims takes the gloves for the final five games of the Allsvenskan season with the intention of not only proving his abilities during his longest sustained run as a starter at this level but also trying to get GAIS into the European qualification spots. With Mergin Krasniqi’s shoulder dislocation having now been confirmed by the club’s medical staff, it’s Sims and an U19 goalkeeper the rest of the way. Absolutely massive month coming up for the former Western Suburbs and Ljungskile man and it began with a home fixture against IFK Norrköping.
Which they won 2-1. Goals to Rasmus Petrovic (22’) and Amin Boudri (43’) had GAIS deservedly in front at the break. Sims was confident and reliable but didn’t have an actual save to make until ten twelve minutes to go when he was beaten by a swirling cross from out on the sideline. Maybe should have been more alert... but that was a freak goal with zero intentions behind it. Other than that he did everything that was asked of him and his team emerged with a comfortable and valuable victory.
But wait it gets better: both AIK and Göteborg lost this week. That means that GAIS have jumped ahead of both of them into third place thanks to the win against Norrköping. Not gonna catch Hammarby with a seven-point difference and four matches left while Mjällby are miles ahead and will confirm their championship with one more victory. But third place means Europa Conference League qualifiers and that’s now entirely within GAIS’s own hands supposing they can win the rest of their games (or better the efforts of the four teams below that are within three points of them).
Down a division, Örgryte were not at their best as they faced Sandviken away. They were in big trouble when they conceded after an hour with their closest rivals for the title having both won already. They were missing their top striker, Noah Christoffersson, and wasted several good chances along the way. But William Hofvander stepped up with a deflected equaliser in the 81st minute to at least ensure they didn’t lose. Full game with a yellow card for Owen Parker-Price. Crazy how quickly he’s become a key player for this team... next time he pulls on that jersey he could be a capped All Whites player. The draw keeps Örgryte first on goal difference with four rounds left. ÖIS faces both Västerås (2nd) and Kalmar FF (3rd) within those final four fixtures so it’s all up for grabs. Promotion and a championship on the line.
Up Next: GAIS vs Djurgården at 1am on Monday 20 October (NZT)
Grace Wisnewski – FC Nordsjælland (Danish A-Liga)
Grace Wisnewski has started the last five games in a row for FCN and has gotten at least 30 minutes in the past 11 in a row dating back to her debut against Fortuna Hjørring... where she only played 29 mins. She’s quickly become an important player for this club, although there does seem to be something missing from them lately. Not a lot of wins. Admittedly some difficult fixtures in there but their last three have been a 3-2 loss against HB Køge (despite being 2-0 up), a 0-0 draw with Brøndby, and now a 1-0 defeat away against Gintra in the playoff round of the Europa Cup qualifiers. This was the first of two legs and they played away in Lithuania so they should still be confident of turning things around and progressing to the competition proper. But it’s been a bit scratchy lately, is all. That’s why instead of bringing you footage of a goal for Grace Wisnewski from that game, we’ve gotta settle for a yellow card instead...
Up Next: Away to FC Midtjylland at 6am on Monday (NZT)
Kate Taylor - Dijon FCO (French Première Ligue)
Sometimes the result just doesn’t match the effort. Dijon were away against powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain this week, a Champions League club (albeit they did lose 6-1 to Lyon last round) with all sorts of international quality in their ranks, and Dijon held them at bay almost the entire way. It was very much a low block defensive shift with only two shots all game (both off target) for the team in red. But that defence was fantastic. Kate Taylor played on the right side of a back three and made nine clearances, an interception, two tackles... and also got a yellow card near the end. She was right there in the trenches.
Alas, Dijon lost 1-0 after Sakina Karchaoui converted from the penalty spot after 63 minutes. Excellent penalty right inside the post, no saving that – Taylor was the first one over to pat the keeper on the back and say hard luck. The annoying bit was how soft the penalty decision had been. Replays weren’t very conclusive yet it sure looked as though Emmi Siren got a foot on the ball with her stretching challenge. PSG’s dominance meant they were in position to catch a sneaky break, they earned their luck, though for that to be what prevented Taylor and the team from keeping a valiant clean sheet against one of the best teams in Europe was harsh to say the least. Dijon have lost three out of four games thus far, albeit it has been a tough schedule for them. Taylor has played every minute.
Up Next: Dijon vs Fleury at 4am on Sunday 19 October (NZT)
George Stanger - Kilmarnock (Scottish Premiership)
It took them long enough to get their first win, then the second came around straight away. Following a 2-0 win against St Mirren – courtesy of goals from David Watson (28’) and Marcis Dackers (36’), Killie have now won two in a row and have launched themselves up to third in the Premiership standings. George Stanger played the full ninety as St Mirren kept 64% of possession yet had exactly zero shots on target. Quality work from from the big defender fresh off his All Whites call-up... that’s a third clean sheet in seven games for Kilmarnock (and second which Stanger has been involved with).
Over at Motherwell, they were beaten 3-2 by Celtic. Gave them a good challenge but fell slightly short, probably because Elijah Just was still out injured. He’s back in training now but this game came a little too soon for him and having not played for three weeks it was understandable that he was also withdrawn from the All Whites squad for the international window. He should be ready to roll after the break.
Jens Berthel Askou, Motherwell coach pre-game: “We have had Elijah Just, Tom Sparrow, Callum Hendry and Callum Slattery out on the pitch this week, and we are hopeful that maybe one could play, but that will be a late, late call. When you’re called up, it’s in good time. Everyone is hopeful that [Just] will be ready for [international duty]. If he’s ready for the game on Sunday, then he might go. And if he’s not, then it’s very unlikely that he’ll go with the national team.”
Up Next: Hopefully an international debut for George Stanger
Abby Erceg - Deportivo Toluca (Mexican Liga MX)
Abby Erceg scoring a header from a set piece? Yeah we’ve seen that before... although not in Mexico. This was Erceg’s first goal for Toluca in 19 appearances. She was in and out to start the season, obviously not 100% fit, but in recent weeks Erceg has returned to being a ninety minute player for this club, putting up the level of excellence in her defending that we’ve long since come to expect.
Her goal against Mazatlan broke things open on the way to a 6-0 victory that saw Toluca snap a three-game stretch without a victory and leap up to fifth in the standings. Could yet climb a bit higher with three rounds left before the Apertura season reaches its playoffs. Toluca didn’t make the top eight in the Clausura after Erceg joined them and she didn’t make the NWSL playoffs in either year with Racing Louisville nor her last year with North Carolina. Hence Erceg’s on course for her first taste of knockout football since 2021 (NWSL Challenge Cup excepted).
Up Next: Atletico de San Luis vs Toluca at midday on Monday (NZT)
Hannah Blake & Michaela Foster – Durham FC (English Super League 2)
Well how about that, it’s a Wellington Phoenix reunion over in England. Paul Temple (whose daughter scored for the Phoenix Reserves in the National League on Sunday, by the way) is currently working as an assistant coach for Bristol City. Mickey Foster and Mariana Speckmaier are playing for Durham. Those two teams met each other over the weekend... although Specky was still injured, with her left leg strapped up, and never made it off the bench.
Mickey Foster did, she started in central defence for an unchanged eleven from last week – meaning that Hannah Blake was only on the bench to begin with. But a poor first half saw Durham trailing 1-0 and fortunate not to be down further. On came Blake as part of a double HT substitution... only for Durham to concede a second before she’d even touched the ball. But Blake definitely touched the ball when she worked a one-two with Mollie Lambert that ended with the latter whacking a goal in off the underside of the crossbar to make it 2-1 with half an hour left. Second assist of the season for Blake...
Alas, despite applying plenty of pressure in the latter stages (including some very tasty Foster corners), Durham just couldn’t find an equaliser. Blake had a shot blocked from one of those corner scrambles and one of the others nearly floated directly in from Foz. But considering how good Bristol City had been for the first hour the probably deserved the 2-1 result. It’s frustrating for Durham who have now gone four games without a win since getting three points against Portsmouth on opening weekend. They need Mariana Speckmaier back. They also need to be starting Hannah Blake.
Indi Riley was left on the bench again for Crystal Palace as they drew 2-2 with Newcastle United. She played 75 minutes in that crazy 4-4 draw with Southampton and otherwise hasn’t been seen. Curiously, Palace are now coached by Jo Potter who was the manager who left Vic Esson on the bench for so much of last season when they were at Rangers (Esson did have other extended spells starting under Potter, to be fair). This is turning into a very annoying situation. Particularly since Palace have been mixing up their formations so it’s not purely about positional fits.
Elsewhere there was a 2-0 loss for Sunderland against Charlton. Full game for Katie Kitching though she wasn’t able to spark much, finding herself isolated in attack against a very good Charlton team (Kitch has been used mostly as a second striker this season). Looked dangerous when she was involved. She just wasn’t involved enough. That’s the opposite of Grace Neville for Ipswich Town because she was too involved as her team found themselves 3-0 down after 50 minutes away against Sheffield United. Lots of defending to do there... then lots of attacking as Ipswich attempted a comeback but fell short at 3-2 after picking up a red with ten to go. Neville played 85 minutes. Long way to go yet but after five weeks of what’s supposed to be the most competitive WSL2 season ever, with 2.5 promotion spots available in a one year only situation, none of the four teams with kiwi players have winning records at this stage. Gonna need Paul Temple to pull a few strings in January and get some Nix players along.
Up Next: Durham vs Nottm Forest at 0:00 on Monday (NZT)
Matthew Garbett - Peterborough United (English League One)
We’re still waiting for Peak Garbett according to the man himself. That’ll be music to the ears of Peterborough fans because as good as he’s been in his first few weeks there... they’re still last in League One with the latest blow being a 2-1 defeat against Bolton Wanderers. Garbs was good but they probably need him to be great if they’re going to go anywhere. Fortunately he’s in a happy place where he’s being given licence to play the way he likes to play so those extra gears are definitely possible.
Nobody else had much fun across the EFL this week. Marko Stamenic was one of Swansea City’s best but that didn’t prevent them losing 3-1 at home against Leicester City. Max Crocombe has spent two more games riding the pine for Millwall, still waiting for that Championship debut. Libby Cacace should be back from injury for Wrexham after the international break. Tyler Bindon is back in the mix for Sheffield United but only on the bench. Ben Waine hasn’t made a matchday squad for Port Vale since August. Nik Tzanev’s Newport County are last in League Two having taken just one point from their last nine fixtures. Tanz has not kept a clean sheet for the club yet and currently has the worst save percentage in the division. Matt Dibley-Dias is out injured for many more weeks to come. Jeez, let’s move on, shall we?
Up Next: Lucky for Peterborough they managed to get their next game postponed so they won’t have to play it without their talisman Matty Garbs
Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)
See if you can spot Boxy and his kids in there. Big old team photo after a 3-0 win against Sporting Kansas City which has confirmed the Loons in the MLS Playoffs with a game to spare. They’re sitting third in the Western Conference and could technically still finish top if several results go their way. That makes it six years out of the last seven that Minnesota United has gotten to the postseason – they made it to the quarters last year and back in 2020 took it all the way to the semis. This is already their record season points haul and a top three conference finish would also be a new personal best for the club. They’ve done all that with Captain Michael Boxall leading the way.
Charlotte FC is also bound for the playoffs following a 1-0 win against nine-man DC United. That wasn’t a last-minute pair of reds either... those cards were handed down in the 21st and 30th minutes so DCU played a full hour down two players. And only lost by one goal. Well, a win is a win no matter how it comes around and this win featured a minute off the bench for Bill Tuiloma, who also got 25 mins in the 4-1 loss against Montreal. Those are significant cameos because for all the many times he’s been on the bench this year those two instances are the first where he’s actually been subbed on. He lost his brief gig as a starting right-back when he strained his hamstring but at least now he’s being considered as a genuine substitute option.
Portland Timbers would have joined those teams except they lost 1-0 to Seattle Sounders and will therefore have to wait a little longer since both FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake are within three points with a game in hand. At the very least, Finn Surman’s lads will have a play-in game... though you’d rather avoid the risk with one of those. Portland have won 11, drawn 11, and lost 11 with one game left. Consistently inconsistent. Some things don’t change though...
And Nashville SC are in a similar spot of needing a result in their last game to avoid the play-in. Tyler Boyd has been back from his ACL injury for a wee while now, grabbing his opportunities when they come along and trying to find some match fitness. He played 67 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Montreal most recently – his first MLS start since July 2024 in the game he busted his knee.
Up Next: International breaks for the three of them who still play for New Zealand
Alex Paulsen - Lechia Gdańsk (Polish Ekstraklasa)
Nothing fancy here, just accruing points. Lechia Gdańsk drew 1-1 at home vs Wisla Plock (currently fifth in the standings) as they continue the bump in performances since AP got involved. They had five points from six games before his debut conceding 17 goals. They’ve taken seven points from five games since his debut conceding 9 goals. The points deduction means they’re still last but it shouldn’t be long before they’re dragging themselves up out of the relegation zone.
Alex Paulsen: “If I'm involved in a team and can help them push to be better than what they were when I wasn't there, then I think I'm doing a good job. To be in the European competitions that's the type of leagues I want to be a part of. I always knew it was going to be another jump up and this is what I wanted in terms of my development was to put myself in an environment that's challenging and allowing myself to be open to new ideas and making sure that I can improve to become the best person that I possibly can be. It is a bit of a step up from the A-League, if you take into consideration some of the teams that are playing in the European competitions, whether that be the Champions League or conference league or the Europa League as well. It's a young squad that we have at Lechia as well and it just means that there's an opportunity for me to express a little bit more of my leadership skills and try and become a leader within that team as well, and encourage and support a lot of other boys as well.”
Up Next: After the FIFA window they’re away to Piast Gliwice at 11.15pm on Sunday 19th Oct (NZT)
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