Apparently global pandemics don’t really work to anyone’s preferred schedule, so after last season was abandoned early and this season was delayed it had been one day shy of eight months in between Premiership fixtures.
We made it. Here we are and a new Premiership season is about to begin. This very weekend in fact. How about that?
Twenty players signed including all the youthers they need. Eleven of those twenty are New Zealanders. They have two imports on lock with room for three more which would take them to the maximum squad size of 23... let’s roll through each spot and see what the depth looks like.
If the first week turned out to be a little wonky, the second week of the ISPS Handa Women’s Premiership for 2020 seemed to offer a whole lot more steadiness. Three matchups which all, on paper, felt pretty even.
They call it Decision Day in the MLS, the final day of the regular season when those final playoff positions are settled once and for all, paving the way for the knockouts to follow.
Hey check it out, National League footy’s begun. The Women’s Premiership swinging around the bend with goals a-plenty and even a cheeky upset result.
He’s the only kiwi bloke playing in the competition proper of either major European competition this season. No pressure or anything, even having one fella is pretty rare.
It’s a tough one being a Phoenix fan sometimes (often), and this offseason has been more evidence to that as everyone else seems to be getting back into preseason and churning out the transfers and here we are just watching players leave and leave and leave.
This was Cacace’s fourth consecutive start and it seems he’s pretty much first choice in that position already. The fella’s going good (this in a week when he also cleaned up at the Wellington Phoenix awards).
Yeah mate you put one on a platter for Bill Tuiloma like that and there’s only one outcome gonna happen. He might not be overly tall but he’s got a huge leap on him and he’s a great header of the ball.
The theme of this article is the ones that got away for New Zealand Football. No shortage of those out there but this week has offered up a few more such tales than usual, tales which might not ordinarily qualify for write-up status. Yet put together... yeah might as well.
The Premiership has carried itself back to us unspoiled from across that lonesome ocean of global pandemicry. Or... mostly unspoiled.
It’s been a stuttering time for Winnie at Sporting KC but no better way to announce yourself truly than to score a match-winning goal. For all his defensive excellence at West Ham he’s still best known for the goal he scored to beat Man United in the final game at Upton Park.
Back amongst the starters for the first time since August and it was like riding a bike for Winnie. The fella looked comfortable as he took care of business throughout a 2-1 win over Houston Dynamo.
Rosie White’s goal came in the 28th minute, a real banger from the edge of the area which was by no means the only banger of the match either. Utah had taken the lead in only the ninth minute as Aminata Diallo whacked one in low from distance and in the 22nd minute it was very much advantage Bowen as the Royals took a 2-0 lead.
Once upon a time the thought that a New Zealander might score even ten goals in a Premier League season either meant that prime Wynton Rufer had moved to England or else watch out for Freddy Kruger because you’re probably dreaming.
Lol, remember a week ago when we were all relieved because at least the Wellington Phoenix wouldn’t have to go through a third consecutive squad rebuild? Such innocent days.
No kiwi male footballer other than Chris Wood is playing consistently at a higher level than Ryan Thomas, whose general excellence gets a little slept upon if we’re being totally honest.
If you thought that Flying Kiwis Transfer Season was just gonna be a one week thing then, mate, you were sorely mistaken. Just ask Rebekah Stott, Marko Stamenic, and Callum McCowatt.
No sooner does one season end than the next one begins. That’s the way of professional sports, in fact to be even more honest the seasons tend to overlap way beyond the borders of fixtures lists and playoffs.