Football Ferns vs Venezuela: The Mayne Reign (Properly) Begins
What were we hoping to see from the Football Ferns as they took on Venezuela? Probably just the usual objectives of scoring goals and winning games, alongside some more clues as to how Michael Mayne’s vision for this team will look. The Mayne Man had been in charge on an interim basis for more than a year (it’s a long story) but it was only against Costa Rica, as the new cycle began, that he was able to offer some personalised theries. The following tour against Chinese Taipei was a dud with no games being played but clearly he’d already showed what he needed to show because Mayne was hired as the permanent head coach of the Football Ferns shortly before this trip to Spain to face Venezuela. The audition was successful. Now it’s time to see the progress.
One thing that’s been obvious from NZ Football lately is a desire to put the Ferns into competitive situations. They’re not trying to get games against higher-ranked nations, it’s been Costa Rica, Chinese Taipei, and Venezuela since they came back from a post-Olympics hiatus. Games in which they’re pretty evenly matched, if not slight favourites (don’t let the FIFA Rankings fool you into complacency though). That led to a draw and a win against Costa Rica. Now it’s led to a loss and a win against Venezuela.
On both occasions, the Ferns were subpar in the first game but then made heartening improvements in the second. They’ve also scored in all four games this year and in 8/10 games under Mayne’s guidance... granted, this latest game was the first time they’d scored more than once in any of those matches. It’s early days in a new system and it should also be said upfront that the Ferns were missing several key players against Venezuela, with the likes of CJ Bott, Katie Bowen, Macey Fraser, Indi Riley, and Malia Steinmetz all absent due to injuries. If you scrambled together a ranked list of the Ferns players at the strongest club levels then it’s very possible that quintet forms the top five. So, all things considered, there’s plenty to be happy about from what we just saw.
Ideally, we could do without the sloppy game ones that we saw against both Costa Rica and Venezuela. But a lot of that is down to new combinations and inexperienced players within a new system... and the positive game two adjustments suggest those wobbles won’t be permanent (especially not as a few more of the best players return). Likewise, these are games that the Ferns were expected to do well in and there will be more difficult tests ahead. Nothing to get carried away with... but enough to be encouraged by.
We’ve seen fresh faces step up as key players (Kate Taylor, Katie Kitching, and Milly Clegg especially). We’ve seen others embrace new roles within the new system (especially in those wing-back spots). We also saw a pretty resilient team that not only bounced back from sub-par first games on both tours but also, against Venezuela, managed to win despite missing a first-half penalty and then conceding first. When was the last time the Ferns won after conceding first? September 2022 against the Philippines (2-1) is the answer to that question... and prior to that you’ve gotta go back to a 3-1 win vs Hungary in March 2017. It doesn’t happen very often. Usually they need to keep clean sheets in order to win games – as has been the case in 18 of the Fernies previous 22 victories. File that under: ‘Pleasant Developments’.
Game One: New Zealand 1-3 Venezuela
The series began in Marbella, one of the many picturesque Spanish locations where the Football Ferns and All Whites have played neutral ground friendlies in front of mostly empty stadiums across the past decade. It’s like our home away from home except that it doesn’t look or feel like home. Although it may have done for the Spanish-speaking Venezuelans, several of whom play for Spanish clubs. One of them also played for a club in Aotearoa: Mariana Speckmaier, the Wellington Phoenix’s top scorer from two seasons ago. Nice little reunion for her and Kate Taylor, Mickey Foster, Grace Wisnewski, Kelli Brown, Brianna Edwards, Manaia Elliott, and Annalie Longo who were all part of that 2023-24 Nix squad. Looks like only Elliott will still be there next season. Specky was all business during the games though.
Michael Mayne (or Michael Jackson as he was named in the livestream graphic) went with a starting line-up that only featured two players with 40+ caps (Longo and Moore). Somehow there’s still this idea getting floated about that the Ferns need to move past their veterans and bring through some younger players, that theirs is an ageing squad full of the same old players, but if you see/read/hear that then that’s how you know a person hasn’t been paying attention. That process started years ago. Literally two-thirds of this current squad (16/24) debuted under either Jitka Klimkova or Mayne himself. Most of the team’s centurions have already retired, with Bowen, Stott, and Hassett the only ones with a chance of being involved beyond the 2027 World Cup. On the contrary, this is actually a very young and inexperienced squad. Only two of this eleven made starts during the 2023 World Cup...
Obviously that formation is wrong because as we now know the Fernies are all about that 3-5-2 life. It was Vic Esson in goal; a back three of Meikayla Moore, Kate Taylor, and Claudia Bunge; Grace Neville at right wing-back and Grace Jale at left wing-back; Mickey Foster as the holding midfielder with Annalie Longo and Maya Hahn for company; and Katie Kitching partnering Milly Clegg up top.
The Ferns began smoothly with decent intent in possession – showing a clear intent to hit crossfield switches out to the wingbacks (Moore, Taylor, and Foster all possess a mean long pass). They were also working it nicely around the back and into the midfield. The problem was, it just wasn’t progressing to the strikers... with the exception of a few timely high presses. One of those led to NZ’s first major chance after Grace Jale’s good work had poked the ball away. Milly Clegg’s first touch was beautiful as she created space on her right foot but she couldn’t convert the shot past Nayluisa Cáceres, who made several good stops in this match.
Alas, there were also many glimpses of defensive inefficiencies. Things like clearances that didn’t actually go clear, being slow to rotate or slide, not closing down soon enough in the midfield, overcommitting in the challenge and getting dribbled past... that sorta thing. It was through those inefficiencies that Venezuela scored all three of their goals, albeit they were also all brilliant top corner finishes. The first came after 25 mins as Dayna Castellanos collected a cut-back in acres of space (Mickey Foster slow to close) and curled in a banger from outside the area. The second came on 40’ straight after Katie Kitching had equalised. This time Jale got cut past in the box by Michelle Romero who whipped her strike in from a tricky angle. The third only arrived in the 86th min but again it was a case of slack marking as 17yo sub Melanie Iscala whipped one in over Vic Esson from range.
Venezuela’s ability to convert from half-chances was the decisive aspect of this match. NZ had fewer chances overall but probably created as many clear ones as Venezuela did only for Cáceres to make saves that Esson didn’t... in large part because of the quality of those finishes. Even Kitching’s goal required two attempts. That chance arose from another instance of high pressing (Annalie Longo won the tackle this time) with Clegg swiftly shifting the ball to her strike-partner. First shot was saved. Second shot was almost saved but it squeezed through and dipped down under the bar.
The most fruitful stuff for the Ferns came on the press but even that option disappeared in the second spell as Venezuela improved their passing tempo. The Ferns couldn’t keep the ball high enough to threaten another levelling goal without the pressing turnovers, even though they were in range for most of it. The substitutions didn’t really add anything. It was a disappointing outing and a frustrating result but a deserved one from what made it onto the pitch. Luckily, a good response would follow.
Game Two: New Zealand 2-1 Venezuela
From there we shifted roughly 80 kilometres southwest along the Spanish coast to Algeciras, where there was another largely empty stadium and some more magical Andalusian weather, with the vision of the Rock of Gibraltar in the distance framed by an extensive collection of shipping containers. It might as well have been a New Zealand National League fixture...
Coach Mayne made five changes to his starting eleven. Liz Anton swapped in for Bunge at LCB, Rebekah Stott took Foster’s place in midfield, Jacqui Hand (R) and Manaia Elliott (L) were the wing-backs (a first international start for Elliott in her third cap), and Katie Kitching dropped into midfield with Maya Hahn stepping out and Kelli Brown starting alongside Clegg. Venezuela also made changes, including a 15yo debutant keeper, though the star players (Castellanos, Speckmaier, et cetera) remained. Similar approach from both sides.
Similar approach but a very different game of football. This time the Ferns were much more cohesive, much more assured. They picked a midfield with Longo/Kitching/Stott that had plenty of mobility and bounce, lots of that good Small Ball stuff that the Wellington Phoenix claimed to play but never really did (except for Longo and Fraser), and it made a big different to NZ’s ball retention. Venezuela were up against a different challenge as the Ferns went from 41% possession to 48% possession, winning nearly 50% more tackles yet conceding fewer fouls, and limiting Venezuela to just a handful of clear chances.
Even still, things got slippery. It should have been 1-0 early after Kate Taylor won a tenth minute penalty having been wrestled to the floor by her marker on a corner kick. Don’t often see those called but it was pretty blatant. Except that Kitching missed the spot kick. She’s scored two previous penalties for NZ but she struck this one off the base of the post. Keeper wasn’t even in the picture, couldn’t have missed by less, but it was still a miss. Then NZ’s mettle was tested further when that blow was followed by Venezuela taking a 41st minute lead after Esson badly parried a miss-hit shot that Speckmaier was able to pounce upon. Extremely soft way to go behind in a game that they had been in control of... fortunately, the lead only lasted about a minute until Taylor threaded a pass forward to Stott in the oppo half, who slipped it through for Brown running the channel, and KB whacked an early cross into the middle that picked out Clegg wide open eight yards out. Only ever going to be one outcome there.
This time the subs all made an impact as the Ferns continued to dig for a second goal. Deven Jackson and Claudia Bunge came on at half-time (Brown and Moore off), with Maya Hahn and Emma Pijnenburg joining in the midfield twenty minutes later, replacing Stott and Longo in one of the most drastic difference in experience you’ll ever see with a double substitution: 7 caps on, 248 caps off. Betsy Hassett and Ally Green would also join the action soon enough.
Those subs kept up the energy and the Ferns eventually found that goal they were seeking with slightly under twenty minutes to go. It arrived as Manaia Elliott regathered a deep cross, burned her marker on the byline, and cut the ball back to Jacqui Hand for the finish. Hand had moved to striker about a minute earlier after Betsy Hassett replaced Milly Clegg. It was a well-deserved moment amidst a much-improved performance and the Ferns were never under much threat the rest of the way. Bit more imposing, bit more aggressive, bit more class in possession, and that’s how it’s done.
Thoughts & Reaction
Started Both Games: Esson, Moore, Taylor, Longo, Kitching, Clegg
Played Both Games: Bunge, Hahn, Hand, Stott, Elliott, Brown, Hassett, Pijnenburg
Played Once: Neville, Anton, Foster, Jale, Jackson, Green
Didn’t Play: Wisnewski, Santos, Edwards, Nathan
That’s the second tour in a row where Ruby Nathan’s not gotten any minutes. Deffo one for the future but it continues to be a little surprising how she keeps getting picked so soon when there are a lot of attacking options deserving of a look-see. Grace Wisnewski saw Pijnenburg getting subbed on in midfield ahead of her, although based on club levels and match fitness that shouldn’t be controversial. The other two were who didn’t feature were goalkeepers. Maybe if Claudia Jenkins hadn’t withdrawn injured then she might have played the second game but there was too much of a drop from Vic Esson to the others for any deeper rotation.
Esson could have done better for a couple of the goals she conceded in these games. Not at her best after limited game time for her club lately. Her distribution was fine and she was pretty good in the air... but she’s set high standards as a shot stopper that weren’t fully met here. While Anna Leat is unavailable there’s really no challenge to her as the number one but that state of affairs won’t last forever so it’ll be interesting to see if Esson stays at Rangers after spending the last few months stuck on the bench. It’s a bit like Max Crocombe with the All Whites where staying put might mean falling behind by this time next year. Esson’s 34 years old so this is a window that may not come again.
By the sounds of his media quotes, Mayne attributed a lot of the difference to individual improvements and competition for places. That was definitely part of it, as is to be expected in the early days of a new system. Lots of thinking rather than doing, reacting rather than anticipating. In other words they were figuring things out and that’s a process that’ll continue for a wee while yet... but there’s a nice foundation coming along already.
For Deven Jackson, her game two appearance was only her second international cap following after a January 2023 debut against USA. This was an overdue reward for two very strong A-League seasons with Canberra and then Newcastle... where, as long as she re-signs, she’ll be coached by her former Eastern Suburbs boss Stephen Hoyle next season. Fingers-crossed he’s able to sign a few more of the Lilywhites old girls too.
Those wing-back positions are absolutely essential in this formation... they almost need to be your best players given the pressure on them to provide almost all the width both on attack and defence. And it may take some time to get the balance right. Mayne’s selections have made it clear that he sees these as attacking positions first and foremost (as he should), which you can see simply from the players he’s given starts to so far: Indi Riley (2), Hannah Blake, Grace Neville (2), Grace Jale, Jacqui Hand, and Manaia Elliott. Plus Betsy Hassett got some decent minutes there off the bench in this series – in keeping with how she’s been used for Stjarnan this season, even if Ferns fans won’t be too familiar with seeing her in that position - while Emma Pijnenburg cameoed there vs CRC but played midfield in these games. Ally Green also got a few minutes on the left towards the end of game two, though it’s notable that she – as a natural fullback – wasn’t picked for the previous two squads and played behind those others on this tour. This is without CJ Bott being involved yet either so you can see how everyone’s getting a chance to show what they can do.
The top choice WBs are surely CJ Bott and Indi Riley. But there were impressive stints there from Jale, Hand, and Elliott during this series that ought to keep everyone on their toes. Hand and Jale can get minutes in other positions (Hand up top, Jale up top or in midfield) so their opportunities out wide came with great interest. Elliott’s more of a specialist wide player at this stage of her career. All three of them offered robust defensive effort (especially Elliott), high work-rates, and a willingness to carry the ball forward. All valuable traits in those positions. Plus they all created attacking chances and that’s most valuable of all.
One major issue with the wing-back crop: they’re all right-sided. Even the ones who are equally good or better on the left (Ally Green, Manaia Elliott, Betsy Hassett... even Ali Riley if she’s got any more caps in her future) are naturally right-footed. We saw that clearly with Indi Riley against Costa Rica where she played a game on each side. On the right, she kept angling wide and looking to cross. On the left, she kept angling in and looking to shoot. Whoever settles quickest on the left edge is going to get to jump the queue.
By the way, Ally Green backed up with 45 minutes for Calgary Wild two days after playing in Spain and this is what she did so don’t discount her from the equation... and also don’t go thinking that cutting in and shooting doesn’t have its time or place...
Great to see Milly Clegg on the scoresheet because goals haven’t been as common as they used to be for her. That’s almost entirely down to a lack of games, as injury halted her Western Sydney tenure and then the rigours of the NWSL limited her Racing Louisville involvements before, more recently, a hamstring issue delayed her debut on loan with Halifax Tides in Canada. She’s now gotten a few games for the Tides (wearing heavy strapping around her right hamstring which, happily, was nowhere to be seen in Spain) but her match rhythm has been a work in progress. Ah but just look at the way she gobbled up that chance in the second game. No hesitation. No thought of how conveniently the ball had fallen to her. It was touch and shoot and score with pure ruthless instinct like a pure striker ought to. Clegg did score against Japan in a 4-1 loss prior to the Olympics so this wasn’t her first international goal. She also scored once at the U20 World Cup in between... but goals every six months isn’t really how she operates so hopefully this is a ripple that leads to a big wave now that she’s beginning to play regularly again. Her hold-up play was also really good in game two, in part thanks to a midfield that was able to get the ball to her.
Also, while this wasn’t a tour where things really went Maya Hahn’s way, and it’s obvious that she’s still building combinations having not been in the NZ system since the U17s, she’s so clearly been a great addition to the squad. It’ll be fascinating to see where she ends up next after leaving Turbine Potsdam because if she keeps up the good work she could be a starter for the national team before much longer. Technically gifted with a bit of flair and the willingness to get stuck in defensively... we don’t have a lot of two-way midfielders like her.
As usual, a lack of pace was pretty glaring throughout. Especially in the battles between our defenders and their forwards. That’s just the state of it at the moment and we’ve gotta avoid getting countered to limit the damage and hope that our superior strength and physicality shine through in other areas. The first game featured a lot of NZ players getting cooked for speed. The second game featured a lot of Venezuelan players getting shrugged off for a lack of strength. The results reflected each distinction.
Curious that Bunge played LCB in the first game, then Anton (a more natural on that side) took over in the second game. But when Bunge was subbed on at half-time in G2, she went straight to LCB again while Anton switched to the right. Feels like that could be an indication that Bunge is more in line to start there once everybody is available. Kate Taylor’s been the central CB in all four games under Mayne and her skill set suits that nicely with the passing range and the recovery speed. Katie Bowen already plays RCB in a three for Inter Milan so that’d surely be where she slots in for the national team once she returns. Ordinarily, Rebekah Stott would be the other CB but she was used in midfield in these games which would leave Bunge as the most in-form alternative (especially as we only saw Meikayla Moore at RCB here).
Annalie Longo captained in both matches... will this be the last we see of her for the national team? Time will tell. As it stands, there are no future games scheduled and it sounds like they might skip the September window entirely but October and November should be busy. When Longo was subbed in G2, she handed the armband across to Katie Kitching – a fitting deputy since Kitching is the closest thing to a Longo clone in this squad moving forward.
Quick last point from the club sphere... there’s been news from what’s now known as the WSL 2 (after a recent rebranding) that Blackburn Rovers have withdrawn from the English second tier for financial reasons. The same thing happened to Reading before last season. London City Lionesses have been promoted as champions and hopefully Grace Neville will remain with them in the top flight, while previous WSL 2 champs Crystal Palace were relegated with Indi Riley on the books. Nottingham Forest and Ipswich have been promoted from the third tier. Because of the two withdrawals, that means Sheffield United will no longer be relegated as they thought they were going to be... which is great news for Olivia Page and Jacqui Hand. Page might have stayed anyway but Hand surely would have departed if the team was dropping down. She can do better than that at this stage of her career. However, she might now choose to hang around in those familiar surroundings where she was getting plenty of playing time. Interesting development... particularly as she might have been one (might still be one tbf) for whom a rejuvenating season in the A-League made a bit of sense.
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