Picture the scene... the North London Derby, Tottenham vs Arsenal at a stacked out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 38,262 people were in attendance to watch these two teams compete for the first time since Arsenal hammered Spurs 10-0 in an FA Cup game a couple years ago.
It was only a few years ago that Hawke’s Bay United were regular semi-finalists but with the way they’ve tumbled out of contention the last couple seasons it’s easy to forget that. But under the throwback tutelage of Chris Greatholder and Bill Robertson it’s looking like The Bay might be rediscovering some of that old magic.
Two losses in a row isn’t the prettiest sight in the world but after 525 days between games, and even longer since our top players all featured, any result’s a good result because it means the All Whites actually did something.
The Football Ferns departed the FIFA World Cup in June 2019. The Olympics take place in July 2020. That’s thirteen months between major tournaments, thirteen months to correct the things that held them back at the World Cup and hopefully catch some waves with the world watching in Tokyo.
Chris Wood has signed an extension to his deal at Burnley which will keep him in town until the end of the 2022-23 season – so three more seasons after this one. His previous deal was due to expire after next season so we’re talking a two year extension here... and presumably a cheeky little payrise too.
A crazy few hours of Premiership footy had already unfolded as Auckland City and Team Wellington walked out at Kiwitea Street in a replay of last season’s semi-final and a trio of grand finals before that.
If it weren’t for the pressure of the last four weeks then a draw away to Melbourne Victory would be an undeniably good result. Those four defeats in a row to start the campaign can’t be ignored... but a winless streak is better than a losing streak and the Nix now get the bye week to work on some things with their first point finally on the board.
It’s been a while. The last time an All Whites squad was named was when Fritz Schmid picked his battlers for the Intercontinental Cup in India back in June 2018 and safe to say a lot has happened since then.
For a team that was forced to cram an entire World Cup cycle into a single year and which now immediately turns its focus towards the Olympics next year... that’s a lot of change. But then the World Cup had its disappointments, as we all know.
Away to SV Meppen and Sarpreet’s footprints were on this one as early as the 21st minute before he curled in a picture perfect free kick delivery from the left side of the penalty area right onto Timo Kern’s head and Kern made it 1-0. Assist number five for Sarpreet Singh since he joined BM2.
The wait is over. The 2019-20 ISPS Handa Premiership is underway. Can’t you hear that gentle dripping of perspiration on a rock-hard dirt surface? Summer football is here, baby.
No, the Wellington Phoenix didn’t lose because of a shocking refereeing decision. But it sure doesn’t help when a team which has struggled to score goals this season, without a point from their opening three games, away to the top team on the ladder, goes from 2-1 down to 3-1 down in a circumstance like that.
Will Team Welly keep pace at the very top of the table again? Any of the next crew of WeeNix prospects gonna push for A-League honours this season? Who’s gonna score the goals for Tasman? What happened to all of those missing Canterbury Utd fellas? Will Southern crack the top four?
Seven out of ten managers have changed, the champs have lost ten of their eleven starters from the grand final, nobody’s going to the Club World Cup this year, and amidst all this chaos is all kicks off again this weekend.
There it is. Back to back NWSL championships for Abby Erceg as captain and her third in four seasons overall. Just gotta rock back in your chair and throw them hands up for one of Aotearoa’s finest.
Sooner or later it all gets real. And it tends to happen quicker than anyone’s prepared for. The Wellington Phoenix lost their first two games but any sense of panic was offset by the progress that this team in transition was showing, however a third loss, 2-1 at home to Perth Glory, really ramps the pressure up.
We’re less than two weeks out from another delightful summer season of kiwi Premiership football and that means we’re probably about a day short of that date from getting those beautiful complete squad lists... but more than ever before the clubs (well, most of them) have been getting in on the fun and announcing new signings as things have gone along.
It was a perfect little representation of what Wood offers as a striker. Brought down the ball on his chest, laid it out wide to Dwight McNeil, drifted into the penalty area looking for the cross, and then timed a perfect late run to the far post to win what was quite honestly a brilliant header into the top of the goal. After ten games without a goal the Woodsman now has four in his last four.
The theme of that opening game was that the Wellington Phoenix are a work in progress, so it stands to reason that their second game, away to the defending champions, has to be viewed in that light as well. But it looks like the work is working.
We don’t to worry about that missing import striker anymore because a big old beautiful #PhoenixAnnouncement came along on Thursday arvo (with a quality bit of suspenseful promo work) and Gary Hooper is our fella.