Flying Kiwis – December 13

Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)

In Slaven Bilic’s first season in charge he took West Ham to a league double very Liverpool – something that they hadn’t achieved in over 50 years. To quote Slim Charles from The Wire, “The thing about the old days... they the old days.” This season the Hammers have been a mess and answers are proving hard to come by.

What they do have, aside from the legend Winston, is a chap like Dimitri Payet who ensures they’re never completely out of a game even if they concede a couple shambolic goals every game. Liverpool have been ploughing through teams but they also have the habit of conceding a few shambolic goals. If you were betting on this one, the ol’ ‘both teams to score’ ticket was a good option.

Liverpool held up their end of the bargain within five minute as Adam Lallana put one away on his return to the starting team from injury. Sadio Mane was too fast to handle and then Angelo Ogbonna had been sucked into the battle with Divock Origi, man-marking him halfway across the field, and as he turned to shut down Lallana he slipped and the England midfielder wasn’t missing from there the form he’s been in this season.

It was a slightly different defence for West Ham. Reid was joined as usual by Ogbonna but with James Collins and Cheikhou Kouyate both injured that meant Havard Nordtveit got another run in defence. They’re named here as a back four but really Cresswell pushed forward into a wing back position with Andre Ayew and Mikhail Antonio swapping places, Antonio up top with Ayew as a lopsided RWB, trending very far forward. It definitely worked for Antonio, he was a pest from the outset as he threatened Loris Karius a couple times, first going for a header which Karius flapped at then with a shot into the side-netting having snuck behind the defensive line.

For the record, Liverpool had Joel Matip back, who is fast becoming their defensive anchor, though they were without Emre Can and Coutinho who have been so influential in their run so far. WHU’s back three had Roberto Firmino, Divock Origi and Sadio Mane to deal with up top, no pressure.

Right on the tick of 27 minutes, Dimitri Payet struck a free kick within shooting range. You know what happens when that happens… GOAAAL. Karius got a weak hand on it and has copped some blame for that but Payet’s made muppets of much better keepers in the past.

And then… DRAMA! … as Matip fluffs a bouncing ball at the back and Karius doesn’t come out to claim it. Antonio says don’t rightly mind if I do, son and again creeps in behind, gets onto the loose ball and flicks it past Karius for the go-ahead goal. That’s his seventh goal of the season and his first that wasn’t a header. Matip guided a header onto the crossbar with the last action of the first half but 2-1 it remained at the break.

However two minutes after the restart, Liverpool were level. Winston Reid posted up Sadio Mane down the right defensive edge of the box, showing some slick footwork and blocking the first attempted cross in the gut. Mane appealed for a handball which the ref ignored then swung in a second go. This one drifted way too close to the keeper… except Darren Randolph spilled it and Origi had a sitter for 2-2. Aside from a diving Andre Ayew header at the far post from a deep Payet free kick, West Ham didn’t have too many chances at a third goal. But they did show plenty of spirit in defence for once. You might call this save redemption for Randolph:

FINGERTIPS! Winston was immense in the second half, Randolph was way better as it went on. Despite the best efforts of Liverpool’s attacking group they couldn’t breach the lines again and West Ham clung to a valuable 2-2 draw that lifts them out of the relegation zone. A massive 17 clearances for Winston, his 109 for the season has him eighth in the league and he’s played at least two games fewer than every player ahead of him. Only Steve Cook of Bournemouth averages more per game. He’s also tied eighth in shots blocked with another couple here.

The Guardian: “They were under siege throughout the second half and cracked when Randolph gifted an equaliser to Divock Origi but, with Winston Reid and the goalkeeper impeccable thereafter, they held firm.”

ESPN Player Ratings: “DF Winston Reid, 7 -- Magnificent at the heart of the Hammers defence, stood strong throughout.”

Jurgen Klopp: “We tried everything. One West Ham goal was a free-kick and one was lucky. They were 2-1 up and we had some great offensive situations and should have had more. We tried everything. We were often in the box, a lot of situations. It felt like the whole time we were in their box. We needed a bit of luck. A draw doesn't feel too good, doesn't feel too bad.”

Randolph was, erm… not entirely in the mood for the microphone in his face afterwards either:

As for Winnie, he had more cultured media to speak with:

Up Next: WHU vs Burnley, 8.45am Thursday & WHU vs Hull, 4.00am Sunday (NZT)

Chris Wood – Leeds United (English Championship)

Last week Leeds were on national telly as they beat Aston Villa 2-0 for a huge statement win, Woody grabbing the second goal towards the end. This week they were on telly again though against a very strong Brighton team which have been up around the playoffs for the last five or so years, it didn’t go nearly so well.

The game took a huge swing in the 23rd minute when Kalvin Phillips handballed on the line to save Lewis Dunk’s shot from crossing the line. Sure, he saved the goal… but Glenn Murray scored from the spot anyway and Phillips was given his marching orders. With eleven men Leeds were already on the back foot. With ten they didn’t really stand a chance.

Although they clung in there until pretty late when Tomer Hemed buried an 82nd minute spottie to make it 2-0, Kyle Bartley had fouled Dunk and Brighton got the result they were worth. Leeds defended well despite the disadvantage but they rarely threatened to score – you always wanna keep yourself in touch in case you get lucky, yet it didn’t happen for them here. Brighton’s midfield of Olly Norwood and Dale Stephens was really good, almost as good as the central defensive pair of Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy behind them. B&H had 60% possession and 18 shots, with Leeds mustering just two and both were off target.

Credit to Woody, he had one of those shots but he also only had 34 touches all match and was pretty much isolated all night. His most memorable moment was late in the first half where he and Dunk collided in a challenge and both had to go off to the side to get treatment and a change of jersey.

Chris Wood: “We were all frustrated and it was a game where we couldn’t really show what we were all about.”

With Huddersfield and Derby winning, Leeds drop to sixth, though they stay in the playoff spots thanks to a few other results.

Garry Monk: “I'm frustrated. Brighton are a very good side but had we kept 11 men on the pitch it could have been different. Brighton deserved to win, but we didn't do ourselves justice. It was a tough night and we didn't make it easy for ourselves.”

In other news, Leeds’ controversial owner Massimo Cellino has been slammed by the FA with an 18 month suspension (and a fine) which begins in February, all down to some sneaky agent payments. There are words now that he’ll look to sell the club before then. Cellino’s been a mess since he’s been there, being way too involved and sacking coach after coach but under Monk they’d been more consistent on the field and Cellino’s not been such a looming figure. Eh, so it goes. Arrivederci, lad.

Chris Wood: “I think it’s good we have stability back again. After the last three or four seasons, it hasn’t worked like that. We’ve chopped and changed the managers or the players and the club hasn’t been settled. The consistency going on now shows our true colours and how we want to play.”

Up Next: Home vs Reading on Weds at 8.45 and then home to Brentford at 4.00am Sun (NZT)

Jeremy Brockie & Michael Boxall – SuperSport United (South African Premier Soccer League)

The good news is that Brockie was fit to play the Telkom Knockout final on the weekend, although it didn’t play out the way he’d have hoped. Having qualified for the trophy game without conceding a goal all tournament, they were behind within 15 minutes – Aubrey Ngoma did the business with a strong shot low past the SSU keeper Reyaad Pieterse. Although… SuperSport were a little pissed about a possible foul in the lead-up.

SSU were under a bit of pressure, trying to get back into the game without also exposing their defence. Which is exactly what Clayton Daniels did with a weak back-header which was pounced on by a striker only for the Pieterse to come flying out.

Kickoff.net: “At the other end the long throws of Michael Boxall were proving difficult to deal with at times and Phala almost profited as the ball fell to him at the back post but he was under too much pressure to make the most of the chance.”

After the break the SuperSport threat improved. Thabo Mnyamane drew a good save while Kingston Nkhatha drew a corner from a deep shot and Morgan Gould headed that corner over the bar. Eventually they did find the equaliser, Nkatha poking home after a bit of pinball in the penalty area, but within two minutes Cape Town had regained the lead thanks to Judas Moseamedi’s header. There were some desperate late efforts, however it wasn’t to be. Cape Town won it 2-1 and took the trophy.

The worst part from a Flying Kiwis perspective is that the defeat meant a couple NZers went down to Aussie Matt Sim in the process. Sim being the same Matt Sims that used to play for Central Coast in the A-League, so all three were well accustomed already.

Mike Boxall played the whole game, Jeremy Brockie was removed in the 59th minute clearly not looking 100% which is understandable. It sounds like he won’t be at 100% for quite a while either, planning on playing through the discomfort of a ruptured ligament in his ankle.

Brox: “I think it’s going to be a long time before I recover fully from it. The ligament is completely ruptured and it’s not an injury that you can snap your fingers and everything is back to normal," says Brockie, who will watch on as SuperSport battle Cape Town City tonight for TKO honours at Peter Mokaba Stadium. I would just have to manage it and there’s plenty of rehab that needs doing in the mid-season break coming up.”

He’ll get a little extra time to rest up this week, with their midweek game against Mamelodi Sundowns postponed due to the latter’s being away at the Club World Cup. They lost 2-0 to the team that beat Auckland City in the quarters, that lot being Japan’s Kashima Antlers, and will play off on Wednesday night (NZT) for fifth place against Jeonbuk of Korea. SSU instead next play… Cape Town City. In the league this time.

Up Next: CTC vs SSU, 5.00am Saturday (NZT)

Bill Tuiloma – Olympique de Marseille (French Ligue 1)

Not a huge amount to say. Tui got himself a full game against Sete for the CFA side, though they fell behind on the brink of half time thanks to a penalty kick and would lose 2-1. Tuiloma was booked in the 70th minute, naughty boy. That’s their second loss in a row and an especially disappointing one coz it’s their last home game until after the winter break. Here, watch the highlights:

Up Next: Nice II vs OM II, 6.00am Sunday (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)

It’s not a win but a 0-0 draw at home against Willem II means that the three game losing streak comes to an end. It doesn’t get them out of the relegation playoff spots, playing against a team only a couple places above them, but at least they’ve stopped the tailspin. Plus lil Thommo had a good one, making four key passes and completing 83% of his passes from the left attacking mid slot. He swung in five crosses as well, though only one found a teammate. Possession overall was pretty even, though with seven shots on target Zwolle can be disappointed they didn’t find a winner and Thomas had a couple chances to nab an assist had others been more clinical. Those numbers are way up on what he normally does. Also, this is the first time since August that he’s played 90 minutes in consecutive games. Yo.

(“Nice move from Ryan Thomas, who fakes to shoot and passes the ball to Queensy Menig. The shot is saved.”)

Up Next: Heracles vs PEC Zwolle, 2.30am Monday (NZT)

Some Club World Cup Stuff

So the Auckland City side went down 2-1 to Kashima Antlers in their FIFA Club World Cup clash, not looking all that great to be honest but defending well in numbers and sneaking the lead early in the second half. Although their good work had a lot to do with a pretty complacent game from the Japanese club, they still took advantage of that and were unlucky not to hold on for extra time – conceding the winner with three minutes left. Highlights follow:

A few notes emerged around all this, one was the odd chat with one of the forgotten Flying Kiwis in Michael Fitzgerald. Being as the dude plays in Japan and the CWC was hosted by Japan and Auckland City were playing the Japanese reps, he was in a poised position to spin a few yarns about it while also clarifying his international intentions:

Fitzy: “I’m currently a Japanese citizen but if I play for New Zealand I risk giving up my citizenship which allows me right now to play in the J-League as a Japanese player. It’s been a very difficult four or five years since I made this decision and it’s been very difficult to watch New Zealand compete in international competitions. I would really love to be a part of that but I have my family to take into consideration. But one day I would really love to play for New Zealand again.”

The lad’s married to a local and they’ve got a kid so it makes sense from a personal point of view why he’d have to sacrifice the internationals. In the last four seasons he’s started 93 times in the J-League for Albirex Niigata, the 28 year old defender out of Tokoroa making a regular of himself.

And another NZ Football interview had some interesting quotes from Clayton Lewis ahead of this game, speaking on a few issues such as his failed drug test, the All Whites team future and then also his two week trial with Burton a bit back. They reckon he’s likely to head on back for a second trial sometime soon…

Clayton Lewis: “My long-term goal is obviously to get into a professional environment and, if it’s with Burton or somewhere else, I’m looking forward to taking whatever opportunity comes my way.”

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Written by Nick Robinson On Tagged