The Premmy Files – A Hefty 2018-19 Squad Analysis
The Premiership squads have been confirmed and the new season is about to begin. Better dig on in then, aye?
Another Aussie’s Joining the Rudan Revolution
We’re now just ten days and counting away from the Wellington Phoenix’s first game of the new A-League season and they still haven’t signed another… oh wait, what? They have!
The Premmy Files – Previewing The 2018-19 NZ Premiership Season
On Sunday afternoon the 2018-19 NZ Premiership season kicks off, Auckland City hosting Team Wellington in that Charity Cup thing they always do at the start of things which is really just a way of sneaking a game in early that they’d otherwise have to postpone when the World Club Cup comes around.
Flying Kiwis – October 9
Liam Ridgewell got sent off last week for Portland in a nil-all draw at home against FC Dallas. That meant an open spot at centre-back and there’s one dude in this squad who’s made an impressive fist of stepping in as cover in that position: Billy T.
Answering The Big Questions Ahead of the 2018-19 Wellington Phoenix Season
Less than three weeks out from the beginning of the new season and the Welly Nix currently have sixteen registered players. Same as they had in early August when Alex Rufer was announced as having re-signed with the club.
The Muir Report Into NZ Football Has Finally Landed…
Today is a day of reckoning for today was the day on which the much-awaited Muir Report was finally released to the public. At 1330 hours, specifically. It arrived on NZ Football’s website with a headline reading: ‘NZF apologises to Football Ferns’, and as far as the organisation in question went, things only got darker from there.
Flying Kiwis – October 2
Some stuff happened here, mate. Very curious indeed. The Whitecaps were expected to build upon 2017’s playoff appearance but instead they’re lingering on the outside of contention, playing some annoyingly defensive footy and paying the price.
What Will Winston Reid Be Returning To At West Ham?
Poor old Winnie hasn’t played a game since he mangled his knee in a heavy defeat against Swansea City in early March. He’s only played four competitive games in 2018.
It Kinda Seems Like Anthony Hudson's Making the Same Mistakes In Colorado As He Did With The All Whites
Anthony Hudson’s Colorado Rapids were eliminated from playoff contention two weeks ago when they lost 3-0 at home to Atlanta United. Six games still to play at that point but they had no mathematical chance of making the knockout stuff.
In Acknowledgement of the Continued Excellence of Abby Erceg
If Abby Erceg is a household name in Aotearoa then it’s because of her role as a catalyst in exposing the inequality in New Zealand Football’s treatment of our women’s national team. If Abby Erceg is a household name in Aotearoa then it’s not because of her club career and that’s a shame.
Flying Kiwis – September 25
No, your eyes do not deceive you. For the second time in three seasons Abby Erceg has lifted the NWSL championship trophy, as captain no less. A 3-0 win over Portland Thorns did the trick.
Still Waiting on a Few More Wellington Phoenix Signings… Obafemi Martins Anyone?
The Phoenix have never been ones to do things quickly. It took ages to appoint a new manager after Darije Kalezic parted ways with the club - even if you ignore the caretaker spell then it was still ages.
Flying Kiwis – September 18
These are odd times for Flying Kiwis with Ryan Thomas and Winston Reid both out injured. Tyler Boyd is on the way up but he had a week off this time, Abby Erceg always holds down the fort but her game was postponed. Ali Riley’s injured.
Previewing the (Expanded!) 2018 National Women’s League
New Zealand Football’s trying a little harder these days with the women’s side of things. Giving the Kate Sheppard Cup a name was a good move, as was the decision to expand the National Women’s League into a two-round competition.
Flying Kiwis – September 11
On comes Rosie White and she scores with her first touch of the ball, smashing it past the keeper after the deft assist from Aussie Sam Kerr, dropping it right at her feet. Bit of a trans-tasman connection over the in the dirty states, also Rosie’s first goal for Chicago after joining from the disbanded Boston Breakers in the offseason.
Celebrating Kiwi Cup Final Day 2018
Shout out to Kiwi Cup Final Day, the harmonious occasion when grassroots kiwi footy gets the spotlight it deserves. Gotta love it.
Andreas Heraf Said Some Things About New Zealand Football So Let’s All Freak Out
Heraf had to go, there’s no doubt about it. He had to go because it reflected an unacceptable lack of transparency and accountability to have him acting both as Tech Director and a national team coach – which is Andy Martin’s fault most of all and also why he had to go too, good riddance.
Flying Kiwis – September 4
Burnley needed goals if they were going to qualify for the Europa League group stages. Lots of goals, at least two of them, after losing 3-1 away to Olympiacos in the first leg.
Acknowledging The Massive Challenge Facing Mark Rudan and the Wellington Phoenix
This club has dealt us some real trash in the last twelve months and that’s before even bringing up the all or nothing gamble that was Darije Kalezic, a gamble that shredded their last bit of on-field credibility and led us to this point now where Mark Rudan is having to rebuild almost from scratch.
Flying Kiwis – August 28
Chris Wood always scores in the Europa League, it’s one of the things that he does. After putting one away against Olympiacos on Thursday night in Greece, he now has a second goal in three starts (plus one appearance off the bench).