Earlier this week, Abby Erceg announced her retirement from the Football Ferns. The following day NZ Football CEO Andy Martin went on the radio to exercise his right of rebuttal.
It wasn't supposed to happen like this, not after the miracle we witnessed last season. But football is an unforgiving beast and nine months after leading Leicester City to the Premier League title, Claudio Ranieri has been sacked as their manager.
In the second half against Sevilla, there were shades, only shades, of the old Leicester hitting hard on the break and using their pace to stretch defenders. Jamie Vardy even scored!
"Due to the unfortunate and unfavourable circumstances within the organisation that is nzf, it is with regret and great sadness that today is the day that I announce my retirement from the international game."
Chris Wood scored his 22nd goal of the season but Winston Reid got to go to Dubai so it's hard to say who had the better week.
Last week it was the shambolic defence that got the microscope treatment. This week the Wellington Phoenix went right on ahead and conceded five goals at home to Melbourne City.
It was that devastating 5-1 Champions League defeat in Munich that convinced Arsene Wenger it was time to retire. Looking on at yet another humiliating defeat on the biggest stage he realised that his heart was no longer in it.
Godfather III, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Speed 2: Cruise Control, Anchorman 2, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Leicester City 2016-17. You already know what all of these have in common.
The All Whites are getting busy, people. Within a week of announcing a pre-Confederations Cup friendly against Belarus, they’ve now gone and added a game against Northern Ireland in there too.
Chris Wood is both the EFL and PFA Championship Player of the Month or January. Six goals in four league games will do that for ya, the man is on fire
Nobody really expected the Phoenix to beat Sydney anyway, right? Not over there. Even when it was 2-1 it should have been 4-0 to the Sky Blues, mostly it’s just cool that we got a goal out of the whole thing
Oh… hello, didn’t see you there. Yes I s’pose it’s time for a bit of Premier League picking then, aye? Or we could just watch Arsenal Fan TV rants all day.
West Ham fans apparently hate their ex-boy Dimitri Payet now, what with the whole public strike and the eventual transfer back home to Marseille. Not sure why, really.
This was a week of contrasts if ever there was one, right Winston?
It’s a good day when you wake up to news that there’s another New Zealand footballer in the Premier League. All White Sam Brotherton has put pen to paper on a two and a half year deal with the Black Cats.
The most important thing to come from that FA Cup weekend was the return of a great man… Dat Guy, in fact... Danny Welbeck.
Steve Evans, Leeds Manager, April 2016: “[Wood] has got himself in incredible shape, as good as it can get really. In that shape, he will get 20 goals”
Hey, a busy week for Chris Wood, aye? Big transfer rumours and a couple more goals... meanwhile Winston Reid got a new friend and Ryan Thomas' winless streak with Zwolle finally ended.
Vince Lia is not the most skilled player at the Wellington Phoenix. He’s not the fastest or the strongest, not the best tackler or passer... but he's one of the most important.
Transfers are a-happening and the games keep coming. This week is highlighted by a little thing we all like to call Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur.