September 15, 2024 • 32 mins
Piney and Bonnie discuss the circumstances surrounding the departure of Football Ferns head coach Jitka Klimkova.
We also hear from NZF CEO Andrew Pragnell and discuss possible successors at the helm of our national women's side.
The All Whites earn a credible 1-1 draw with the United States, there are new signing rumours for Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix and a wrap of kiwis playing overseas.
Football Fever with Jason Pine & Bonnie Jansen is the weekly podcast to keep up with all the action from the beautiful game!
Our voice of football Jason Pine and sport journalist Bonnie Jansen follow the Wellington Phoenix on their quest for an A-League title - all the goals, all the drama, all the glory!
Plus, the latest Auckland FC news, and updates from around the world including the English Premier League!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Football Fever with News Talks MB's voice of Football Jason
Payne and Bonnie Chansen. Hello and welcome into a fresh
episode of Football Fever. We're here in association with FIFA
Plus stream New Zealand football live and free on FIFA
plus dot com. I'm Jason Pine alongside me Bonnie Jens
and how was your weekend, Bonnie?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah, Piney, not bad. Thanks.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Obviously we had that big football news on Friday, so yeah,
pretty crazy weekend.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Yeah, I want to start with that. Other things to
cover off today the All Whites we last spoke after
their first game in their two match tour against Mexico.
We were pretty underwhelmed. A lot better against the United States.
Want to cover that off. And a lot of keeper's
playing overseas, and still a few tbc's as far as
where people might turn up for their next footballing challenge.
(00:51):
Let's start though with, as you alluded to, the big
news on Friday, the inevitable news it felt like, of
Yetka Klimkova's departure a ball Ferns coach, having been the
subject of an employment matter which saw her miss two
games earlier this year against Japan, and then rather mysteriously
stand down for the Paris Olympics. Her continuation in this
(01:13):
role seemed untenable and so it proved. Did this come
as a surprise when this news.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Dropped, certainly not a surprise still, you know a bit
of a bit of a shock, and while that happened. Yeah,
it's just just crazy and it baffles me how much
under the radar it's kind of been and still like
there's so many questions about what happened, why she's still
(01:40):
working there, why the contract was six years, just everything
about it is just so fishy and it makes me
really gutted that it's happening in the football space and
particularly women's football.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Yeah, we can look at who might potentially replace her
in a little while, but if we just pair it back,
Bonnie and you sent me an email with the list
of all a sorry football firms results since Yetka took charge,
and if we discount the last six games which were
matches when she wasn't in charge of the team, thirty
(02:12):
nine games as head coach, eleven wins, seven draws, twenty
one losses, and of the eleven wins, five of those
were an Oceania Olympic qualifying against Pacific Island sides which,
let's be honest, would struggle probably in our local league.
So six wins, seven draws, twenty one losses against non
Oceania opposition, even the results themselves bear further scrutiny, further
(02:38):
examination of the coach, don't they.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Oh, one hundred percent? And I mean that's half of it.
I mean even the media since the World Cup has ended,
or even I remember before the World Cup, we've been
asking these questions about you know, surely there should be
more accountability, responsibility from the coaching stuff and the players.
To be fair as well, we can't put all the
blame on Yika, but that in itself was really concerning.
(03:05):
And I think the fact that her contract was six
seven years, however long it was till the end of
twenty twenty seven, that's not right in itself. That it
was clear that she had that much time to get
it right, and for a coach with that much responsibility
to you know, just focus on the next six years. Yeah,
(03:26):
it's so wrong, it's not right. And I go back
to how much they New Zealand football seemed to focus
on that one win at the World Cup last year,
and gosh it was amazing, and I don't want to
take anything away from the team and the girl that
that night was something special. But the fact that they're
just so happy with that speaks volumes and that they
(03:48):
didn't think they should be potentially striving for more.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Yeah, the six year contract is something it's just about
unheard of right in professional sport you at any level,
in any co Really, I'm struggling to remember any coach
who has been given a contract there that duration. She
took over after the last Olympic Games, which were delayed
by a year by COVID, so she took over in
twenty twenty one. Surely, Bonnie, you say, look, we'd like
(04:14):
you to take us to the next World Cup in
twenty twenty three, Big One, of course co hosted Buy
New Zealand we want you to take us to that.
We hope you're the person to take us beyond that.
But let's see how you go up to the World
Cup and in the World Cup, and then we'll have
another chat after that.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Oh exactly.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
And that home World Cup was such an opportunity, and yes,
we made the most of it to some extent, but
at the same time, I think we completely missed that opportunity.
That should have been the focus when Yitka came in
or any whoever that coach may have been came in
from New Zealand Football. They should have said, we want
to do well at this. We want to do more
(04:49):
than get our first win at the World Cup. We
want to get out of the group and we want
to change the game of women's football in New Zealand.
And I honestly think they only did one of those,
and that that was winning. I don't think you know, Yes,
there might be a few more football fans and few
more young girls playing football now, but the New Zealand
hasn't done anything like what Australia have.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
No.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Look, it's a great comparison you make, and I saw
you may made that comparison in a column you wrote
for the New Zealand Herald. Yeah, Australia have just gone
on leaps and bounds, and yes they are a better
football side, let's make no mistake about it. But they're
still selling out wherever they go, way more tickets sold
than the Soccer US. They've got incredible engagement with football
(05:33):
fans male and female. On the other side of the
Tasman and look, oddly enough, Bonnie, I think if they
had renegotiated after the World Cup, she probably would have
got an extension because of that result against Norway. You
know which I would that have been, right? I don't know,
But I come back to it, a six year contract
and apparently without any performance triggers either, which I find
(05:54):
almost impossible to believe that you know that it didn't
have in it something like you know, you're not not
even quantifiable, You've got to win X, y Z number
of games something around you know, improvement of the team
or improved results or better performance is something like that,
because isn't that the job of a head coach to
you know, at the elite level it is a results
(06:16):
based game.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
And like it's it's a comfort thing, right, like they've
not gone out of their comfort zone. Giving her six
years is just like, oh yeah, well, you know, we've
got six years to get it right.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
That's a long time in football. And honestly, I put
it back to the respect on the woman's game. I
think it comes across as New Zealand football have gone.
Yet you know, she's worked in our system before, we
know what she can do. She doesn't have too much
experience at this level, but she's available and let's just
chuck her in and see how she goes. And I
(06:48):
think there is a real urgency, a real need for
a mind sht mindset shift in this this space in
the woman's game, because gosh, it's growing so quickly around
the world and New Zealand are falling fast behind.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
All Right, we can talk about the possible contenders to
replace her in just a moment, and also be keen
to hear what you think the players might think about this.
But Andrew Pragnell, CEO of New Zealand Football, join me
on news talks hereb over the weekend. I asked him,
first of all, what actually has played out here?
Speaker 4 (07:19):
I think that's for her to speak to in terms
of you know, I don't think it's right that I
would speak on her behalf, but I think that at
the end of the day, she's put it in pretty
hard yards. She's achieved some things we've never achieved before.
She's transitioned the team in a way that we hadn't
seen her at the part of ten years, and she
fills her.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Times up, has she though? Andrew?
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Yeah, I said this is a good one. I'm glad
you asked that because I think there's obviously different views
on that. I think there's a couple of things that
we need to do when we look at yas tenure,
as you should do with every coach, and the first
thing is have a look in the rearview mirror and
take a few steps back, because for more than thirty
years we've been trying to get a win at the
(08:02):
Women's World Cup. The reality is she made a breakthrough
that we haven't been able to make as her leadership.
That did it. I know there's a lot of commentary
on her win loss record. It's pretty consistent with previous coaches.
I think that. I also think there's a little bit
of I think we need to clarify as well. From
(08:22):
our end, our focus is weally on Women's World Cut results.
So you know, she chose to you know, she chose
to play top twenty teams in the build up to
that Woman's World Cup because she thought that's what would
get us some results. And you know that impacted the
win loss record ultimately, but it did get us to
(08:43):
a place we haven't been before. I think when we
look back, we'll look back obviously the ones will cut
with real mixed feelings. It's all very well to win
the first game changed the course of the Women's World Cup,
but there's no doubt they want to get out of
the group, and often your results and feelings sing your
last game. So that's that's one thing that I don't
think we should ever take from her. But the one
(09:05):
that I think will be genuinely longer lasting is the
transition of the team. So if we step back again
we look at the ferns over the last ten years,
I think we'd be right to acknowledge there hasn't been
any true until yet has come along true transition of
the team. We haven't had a professional pathway up till recently.
(09:25):
It's meant that you know a very few group of players.
Lect players accumulated literally hundreds of STAPs. I don't think
that was necessarily healthy thing to do, and yet could
transitioned it. She didn't, and some people would say she
should have transitioned it faster, But at the end of
the day, she basically brought him eighteen new players, introduced
ten new players to Woman's Will Cup, certainly a bigger
(09:46):
transition than any coach in the history of the football ferns.
So I don't think we should take those from and
and he goes she gives with good wishes from outside.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Did you try to convince her to stay?
Speaker 4 (09:57):
It's a great question as well. Look, I think ultimately,
you know, these things should come from the heart. She's
a good person. She waged it up. I think she's
given her all one hundred percent. She's been incredibly proud,
she's got you know, she's a key with check at
the end of the day, she's been here. For those
(10:18):
that know her history, she's ten years prior, she's been
involved in our age group side. She's been in out
and out. I feel like she'd given everything. She put
it hard and soul into it, and the team isn't
a better place for it, although I appreciate it may
not seem like it at times as well, but that
transition should not be understated.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
What's this player driven?
Speaker 4 (10:39):
It's a good question. I think. I always say we
can talk about player voice, and you know what, what
do the players? I always say, And it's got to
twenty three people, there's twenty three different views. I would
say we've got some pretty diverse views amongst the score
we've still got transitions happening. There's wide public sentiment on
again as to whether it should be happenings or not.
(11:02):
I think I think fair to say there's there's there's
some players obviously who weren't yelling. There's some players who
were so look, I think there's a player dynamic that's
always complex, was a player driven players haven't impact on all. Right.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
So that's Andrew pregnant with some of his comments when
he spoke to me on Saturday afternoon on News Talks.
Here be the full interview, incidentally available on the news
Talks hed B website. The bit at the end is
interesting to me, Bonnie about the players. What do you
think the players think about this?
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I think, you know, it's it's clear that there were
there was some discontent in there within the group. I think,
you know, you could notice it in the attitude of
the players over the.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Last few years.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
And and while we don't know what this incident exactly was,
I don't think they all. I mean, I can't speak
for everyone, but I do get a good feeling that
that they didn't get along with Yika and maybe in
probably half of that's down to the performances so I
don't know, maybe there's a sense of relief that she's
(12:10):
gone again. I think it's an opportunity. New Zealand Football
really need to look at themselves in the mirror and
look at the plan for the woman's game, because even
though Yika is gone now, they still seem from that
interview Piney with You, Andrew Pragnell still seemed really confident
in the plan going forward, and he spoke about who
(12:30):
will potentially come in to replace Yika and not wanting
them to come in with a new fresh perspective, but
rather just coming in and filling filling the gap and
just you know, going forward with it.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
So who are the candidates then? Is Michael Maine a
candidate to be upgraded permanently to the to the head
coach role.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
I mean I don't know the guy a whole lot.
I think if you base, if you look at their
Olympic performances, I think they've played really well the Ferns
by their standards. Yes they didn't get a win, but
yeah that they scored a couple of goals and played
pretty decently under him. So potentially again I'd like to
see what he does and what his mind is, and
(13:11):
maybe we'll see that in the next international window they have.
I don't think there's one coming up in October, but yes,
I think potentially he's a candidate, maybe someone else to
look at as Paul Temple.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Yeah, I was going to ask about that. I've got
that written down. Wellington Phoenix women's coach has coached the
under seventeen New Zealand side as well. That was at
the World Cup in two thousand and eight. From memory,
member Rosie White got a hat trick in Wellington. I
remember Paul Temple and in the players just absolutely going
mental on the bench when she completed her hat trick.
(13:43):
He's obviously been in and around the women's game and
has coached the men's game as well. Would he be
or would he a be popular with the players and
be be a good choice?
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah, that's the thing.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
And I think as well, we need to remember what
I was mentioning before about I'm not sure the playersally
got it along with ye. And yes, players are going
to have their preferences and coaches and coaches are going
to have their preferences and players and you can't change that.
And so while Paul might you know, not get along
with every player, or every player might not get along
(14:15):
with with Paul, or the same for Michael Maine. I
think the important thing for the Ferns camp is that
there's professionalism and there's a kind of holistic mindset and
a bigger picture of view and I think that's key.
And you know, there's there's always politics in sport, but
it seems to be particularly around this this woman's game,
(14:36):
which which doesn't help at all for the game as
they're trying to get you know, investment and things like that.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
But yes, I think based.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
On what Paul did with the with the Phoenix last year,
there's there's a good case for him.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
It's also, let's make this clear, it's not the It's
not to the players to choose the coach, don't They
don't sit on the appointment panel. They shouldn't have any
say in who the coach is. Once they're together as
a as a playing group with their coach, you hope
that they'll gel and as has been proven in this case,
that doesn't always happen. But it's not up to the
players to choose who their coach is. They simply have
(15:10):
to implement the strategy that the appointed coach comes up with.
Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. But Andrew Pragnell said
another interesting thing in the interview. He said that the
average lifespan of an international coach is eleven months, which
actually makes the six year contracts seem even more farcical.
But anyway, I don't know. I just hope they get
(15:32):
this decision right because as you also outlined in your
in your piece, you know there's been there's been a
couple of incidents now with the Yipka with we all
know what happened with Andreas Haraf and the raft of
problems that he caused. Tom Somani I think was a
good coach of the Football Ferns, but I'm not sure
what the situation was around him. Leaving what about Tony Gustaffson,
the former Matilda's coach. Would he be an option?
Speaker 3 (15:55):
I would love to see, love to see Tony in there.
He's such a carre and I mean we we all
know what he did for for the Matildas and how
good they were.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
At the World Cup last year. So yeah, I would
love that.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
I don't know, maybe he's a little bit beyond the
football fin's role. At the same time, maybe he's ready
for a challenge, and I feel like he would be
a coach as well that sticks, you know, sticks to
his word and sticks to his ways, and you know,
would potentially help create, you know, a mindset shift and
in the NZF camp also. Another one would be Joe Montemurrow.
(16:29):
I think that's how you say his last name. He
coached the A League All Stars last year. He he
would be another one that is quite a good coach,
I believe.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
What about vlood Coo and Aanofsky for former US coach.
I don't know whether he's turned up anywhere.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Oh he has.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
He's currently coaching the KC Current, the Kansas City Current
and the NWSL and they're like top of the table,
so I'm pretty.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Sure he'll be He'll be pretty settled there. Maybe I'd
like to see Emma Hayes. Is that too much to us?
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Yes? To us?
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Yeah, I can't see Ema Hay's breaking. Look if if
anybody's six year contract, it's her.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Yeah, exactly, and she I'm pretty sure she's not even
on something like that. So it's just Steell baffles Meyk
was on that.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
All right? Will you wait and see? Andrew Pagnell said yeah,
they're not going to play in the October window. There
are no scheduled games as far as I can see
for the Football Ferns at all. But there will be
World Cup qualifiers of course coming up in the next
little while. But they have to get back together. But yeah,
the first point of business is finding a new head coach.
After what has been a drawn out and at times
fairly sad chapter in the history of New Zealand women's
(17:34):
football in this country, the ff with piny and body.
Let's move on to rather brighter things. All Whites won
United States of America one. This was the second game
in the two match window, with the All Whites losing
three Northern Mexico. This was much better, wasn't it. I
thought this was a huge improvement in game two.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Yeah, it's a great result.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
First and foremost, what their top twenty in the world,
the USA, so yeah, and they played in America as well,
in front of home crowds.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
So yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
By all means unreal from the All Whites, And I've
spoken about it lots of times, but they're in that
World Cup cycle now twenty twenty six. They've got to
start getting results like these under their belt. And that's
exactly what they've done.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Indeed, far more intense, less possession actually than they had
against Mexico. We spoke last week and possession was about
fifty to fifty ready, but there was just so little
in the wave of end product for New Zealand against Mexico.
Way way better this time. Lots more chances created at
the other in Max Crokam, I thought he had an
excellent game and goal. Probably couldn't do too much with
the goal that gave the United States the lead, but
(18:41):
made some terrific saves. Marko Staminitch good again. Finn Sermon
I thought was very good. And Ben Wayne's goal I mean, yeah,
I've heard it suggested that it was a fluke and
it was. There's no way Ben Wayne had anything to
do with getting his body into the right position to
deflect a clearance up and over the goalkeeper and into
the back of the net. But the fact remains he
had to be there, and I think New Zealand's performance
(19:04):
deserved a goal no matter how it came.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Yeah, Ben Wayne's a finisher. I don't I don't suggest
anything else, you know, I really rate him. He's a
great player to bring off the bench as well, and
I guess Beas is trying to figure out a good
way to use him leading into that twenty twenty six
Wheeld Cup. So good on him, however he scored that goal,
But yeah, you're right. And something else really positive as
(19:28):
seeing the stats that I'm just reading over again now
eight shots off, which is pretty unheard of for the
men or woman to be frank, you know from these
New Zealand sides. So yeah, good to that it's hitting
in the right direction.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
They had a couple of really good opportunities. Libby Cacachi
had a good opportunity. Matt Garbutt had a chance right
at the start. Libby Cocacci drew a good say from
the keeper so did he lie just in the second half,
So yeah, they were. There was just a lot more
to like about it, you know. I called both games
for fee for plus and there was just so little
to enthuse about in the first game, you know, the
second game was a lot more exciting as far as
(20:05):
you know, a New Zealand lens was concerned. They can
look forward now to World Cup qualifiers of course over
the next two windows. Just mentioned Max crokeum I thought
perhaps and I think you shared the view that maybe
Alex Paulson might get a go, but it feels us
so Darren basically at the moment is all in on
Max Crokum.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Yeah, how old is Max Crokum? I feel like you'll
know that stat.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
I'm going to say twenty seven twenty eight old. Google
it while you're chatting. Yeah, he's older than he's older
than Alex Paulson. If that's what you're asking.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Yeah, no, Well That's what I'm wondering, is like, has
he got another couple of years in him? And he
clearly does if Bays is keen to invest in Croakum
now and see him through wearing that number one jersey
to twenty twenty six, So yeah, he's by all means
a great keeper. My reasoning was just why not give
Alex Paulson a go and try and yeah, test the
(20:58):
waters and try and figure out that number one. But
it's clear that that's their direction that BES is going,
and I mean Alex, Alex Paulson is a reserve keeper
not too shabby as well.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
No, indeed, Max Crogan will love me for saying twenty
six twenty seven he's thirty one?
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Oh okay, yes, that changes things then, but then keep
the keepers are generally older.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
They can go until their forty if they want to.
I quite liked the I quite liked quite liked it
in one way, and that you know, he played well
against Mexico for the most part. As we mentioned on
the pod last week. Probably could have done better with
the first goal, but other than that he was he
was pretty solid. I don't mind to keep her being
backed and like that. Having said that, I would quite
like to have seen Alex Paulson have a game. He's
(21:39):
still only got the one cap for New Zealand and
that was at the Oceanian Nations Cup, and we know
he's going to play a lot for New Zealand. You know,
he's what's Alex Paulson. He's twenty one is and he
compared to Max Crocum's thirty one, so you know, we're
talking to players a decade apart in age. So we're
going to see a lot of Alex Paulson in the
in the time ahead. But yeah, good to have competition
Ollie Sale. You know, a year ago we thought he
(22:02):
was the number one and now he's you know, he's
he's probably under challenge for the third spot in an
all white squad. All Whites Power rankings are out on Wednesday, Bonnie,
I'm excited. New Zealand Herald website five o'clock Wednesday morning.
I'm told they'll hit online. This is where this is
(22:23):
extremely arbitrary. Of course, it's really just my opinion, but
ranking the fifty most important male players at the moment
going around, and yeah, there's a bit of movement. There's
a bit of movement from the last time.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
I did them.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
Yeah, well I obviously had a little sneak peek and
I know we can't give any sneak peeks out to
our listeners now, but I mean it's it's so good
how much depth that All Whits camp has. And we've
talked about this before, but I mean you and I
had a little debate on different rankings and things like that,
and it's good. It's it's only positive for the group. Again,
(23:00):
I'm gonna mention it or in this World Cup cycle,
our tickets to the World Cup is all but guaranteed
and we need that. We need to have as much
competition as.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
We can, absolutely right, So yeah, that's Injured Herald dot
co dot NZ at five o'clock Wednesday Morning Football Fever,
it's look at domestic football. Auckland f C continuing to
put their squad together. Even though these aren't confirmed, some
names are being bandied around as possible imports for Auckland
f C. One year, hear a lot as chile and
(23:29):
midfielder Felipe Galaghos. This has been widely reported by a
number of well a number of people on Twitter for
starters and another number of overseas media that he will
he will be signed by Auckland f C. Also hearing
of a Belgian midfielder and a Uruguayan striker that'll make
(23:49):
four if those two and Galagos are signed. We've got
Rocky Sarki of course there already, so there would be
one more to add. And as far as the Phoenix concerned,
they've their imports sorted for the meantime. But just hearing
in the last little while that twenty one year old
defender Corbyn Piper out of Birkenhead who has been trialing
(24:10):
with the Phoenix. According to Nicholas Lennon, who's become a
very good source on x as it is now Twitter.
He writes for the Raw Sports and has got a
lot of good sources. By the looks of it, he
is reporting that that is a done deal. That Corbyn Piper,
the twenty one year old KIW defender slash defensive midfielder,
I think we'll sign for Wellington Phoenix. Have you seen
(24:32):
him play for Burko at all?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
No, I haven't, but that name rings about in one
of my contacts, and the domestic league also said, hey,
keep an eye on this kid. He's bloody good, so
it doesn't surprise.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
Me, all right, So if he does sign, that'll be
twenty three in the Phoenix squad. That includes two scholarship
players Luke brook Smith the striker and Dublin Boone the goalkeeper,
so they could add more, but that'll be twenty three.
Let's say twenty one full time contracted play for Wellington Phoenix,
which I think is a you know, a good number
(25:03):
to have for Auckland f C. Just bring up their
latest roster and how many they have twenty two, but
seven of those of scholarship and they still have the
four imports to add. So yeah, you know, we're less
than five weeks away now, Bonnie. I you know, we've
been saying it every week. It's it's getting closer. We're
seeing lots of footage on social media of Auckland f
C in particular and their training sessions. Yeah. Look, it
(25:26):
just continues to the excitement continues to build ahead of
the first A League men's season with two New Zealand
teams in it.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Yeah, no, super pumped for that.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
I'm thinking I need to go out after that we
record this podcast and book My flat's already done for
that first starve you do. It's just crazy like that. Yeah,
we're going to have for the first time to professional
teams in the country. And yeah, really really excited for
what's to come.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
I heard there are a few a few Auckland f
C fans coming. I've heard that. Yeah, there's a few
who are booking flights and ready to It'll probably be
the biggest waste support that there's ever been for a
Phoenix game. It's guys. I remember Western Sydney wander has
brought about five hundred over one year. That was amazing,
My god, it was so good. So if Auckland f
C can bring a few hundred down, how goods are
(26:16):
going to be?
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Do you reckon? It'll sell out the game.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
I've already told my family down in Wellington to get
tickets early.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I think it will well.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
I mean, i'd love to think that it would. I
don't know whether it will. I would love to think
that it was kind of the fifteen twenty thousand mark
for that. I guess it'll depend, like if both teams
start really well, and once the season starts, it'll be
front and center of our consciousness, so there'll be a
lot more you know, well, will it'll feel more real?
I like the fact that it's quite early. A question
(26:45):
for you when the Phoenix come to Auckland to play
derby matches, how many I feel like there'll be more
Phoenix fans because there are already Phoenix fans in Auckland
who won't championship? Is that the feeling you get that
there'll be so who, even though they now have an
A League side in Auckland to support, will remain loyal
to the team that they've followed up until now.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Yeah, I think they will and we'll see a lot
of that.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
You know that when it comes to the derbys, they're
sicking with the Phoenix, but every other week they'll back
Auckland f C. I mean, I'm one of them, I
have to admit you know, I'm from Wellingtonough growing up
with the Phoenix, so I feel like it would be
terrible to jump ship just because I'm here up in Auckland.
But yeah, no, that's definitely the case. And I do
think as well, Auckland would be more of a more
(27:32):
of a likelihood mount smart of selling out that they're
Derby that they have here, just from as you say,
the amount of Phoenix fans that are that are already
up here in Auckland.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Yeah. Again, Also, it'll the season will be what's seven
or eight weeks old by then, won't it, or maybe
even a couple of months in, so we'll get a steer,
especially if both teams are playing well. I know that
there's only part of it a Derby should it shouldn't matter,
but yeah, if they're both playing well, both in top
six contention, which I think looking at their squads they
should be. They honestly should be both in top six contention,
(28:03):
then I think, yeah, we're in for it. Well, the
one down here and Wellington will be great. The couple
up in Auckland to be great. I mean, just bring
them on. Bring on some a league derby's football fever.
Let's finish with keeper's playing overseas. You've got a few
of the women to tell us about. Just a quick
look at the men. Chris Wood didn't score over the weekend,
but it was part of the Nottingham Forest side that
beat Liverpool one nil at Anfield, first time Nottingham Forest
(28:25):
have won at Anfield since nineteen sixty nine. Even I
wasn't even. I wasn't born then, so no, not great.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
No.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
The following year I popped up, so no, even I
wasn't around. Ben Old off the bench and helped Saint
Ettie into their first one of the season and league
in France. Joe Bell with Viking Viking rather continuing to
play well another three points for them. Matt Garbett started
and helped Nack Budda to another one in the air
at a visit. Elliott Collier scored yesterday for Indy eleven
(28:55):
as well. And I must think one of our listeners
he goes by Young heart Hm on Twitter, who pointed
out to us that it was the fiftieth first team
appearance for reading for Tyler Binden over the weekend in
a loss to Leyton Orient. But he's chalked up fifty
appearances for reading already and he is still a teenager.
(29:15):
He has got a bright future, Tyler Binden, and I
think it'll be beyond reading as well. And of course
for the national team, what about our women playing around
the world, bonny unreal.
Speaker 4 (29:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
Gabby Rennie on the score sheet again for a Land
United and a three ye all drawer in their latest
game in Finland. Hannah Blake on the scad in her
first game for Durham FC in the Women's Championship League
in England, her new club over there. And vickieson She
was in goal for Rangers in their six to one
win in the Scottish Premier Women's Premiership League this morning.
(29:47):
They've won six from six, which is unreal, Katie Bowen,
and into a two from two in the Italian Women's
Serie A League. They've beaten Napoli for one this morning.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
All right, it's time for feature. Where is Jackie Hand?
Where is Jackie Hand?
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Jackie Hand isn't replying to my messages and I just
want to know where she's going, because she's too good
not to be playing anywhere. So yeah, who knows, planey,
I haven't figured that one out yet.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
All right, Well, you messaged her that to all you
could do. She hasn't replied. I'll ask the question again
on the feature next week on the Pod where is
Jackie Hand? If anybody knows where Jackie Hand is, just
to either of us up on social media and give
us the steer, because I mean, all joking aside, she
is far too good a player not to be playing.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
Football exactly, and even if I mean we spoke about
it last week, even if she does just need to
come back to the A League for six months to
get some footy under her belt and you know, just
get minutes then and you know, be in the comfort
of home as well, then why not? So I know
that's easier said than done, but fingers crossed, Sh'll be
(30:53):
popping up somewhere soon.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
And we know Mickey Foster isn't coming back to Wellington
when I had that confirmed, even though we it was
kind of common knowledge and you've sort of told us
that last week on the Pot. It was confirmed during
the week in a release from The Phoenix that she
wouldn't be returning any idea where Mickey Foster might be
playing her football.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Next No, not too sure.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
She is going overseas obviously outside of the A League
can confirm that I am hearing strong mail or seeing
it on Twitter or x rather that potentially could be
popping up at Durham where Hannah Blake plays, who we
just mentioned, but only because they follow each other on Instagram,
(31:34):
So I mean that's something in itself. The internet sleuths
have done their slothing, so yeah, who knows that'd be
good for her to get to England. She's obviously another
bloody good player, so we'll see.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
Yeah, absolutely, that's how we find out these days. You're right,
it's when a that's how people used to find out
and still do whether a player as signed for the
Phoenix and now Auckland FC. You check their Instagram and
if they've followed that team, they know it's a done deal.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Well, I follow Arsenal and obviously like I'm going to
be signing for them soon, so it just makes sense.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
All right. Well, we'll keep eyes on that life that
we might have to have a plan B for the
podcast in the meantime. In the meantime, I hope you
can stay with us until that contract arrives. Thank you
for listening to Football Fever today. Lots and lots of
stuff to talk both on and off the grass. If
you subscribe, fresh episodes will pop into your podcast feed
each and every Monday, that is when we record these
(32:28):
these podcast episodes. Have an excellent week, Bonnie, We'll check
checking again next Monday.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
We'll see you then The f F
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Feed with Piny and Bonny
Football Fever with News Talks MB's voice of Football Jason
Payne and Bonnie Chansen. Hello and welcome into a fresh
episode of Football Fever. We're here in association with FIFA
Plus stream New Zealand football live and free on FIFA
plus dot com. I'm Jason Pine alongside me Bonnie Jens
and how was your weekend, Bonnie?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah, Piney, not bad. Thanks.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Obviously we had that big football news on Friday, so yeah,
pretty crazy weekend.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Yeah, I want to start with that. Other things to
cover off today the All Whites we last spoke after
their first game in their two match tour against Mexico.
We were pretty underwhelmed. A lot better against the United States.
Want to cover that off. And a lot of keeper's
playing overseas, and still a few tbc's as far as
where people might turn up for their next footballing challenge.
(00:51):
Let's start though with, as you alluded to, the big
news on Friday, the inevitable news it felt like, of
Yetka Klimkova's departure a ball Ferns coach, having been the
subject of an employment matter which saw her miss two
games earlier this year against Japan, and then rather mysteriously
stand down for the Paris Olympics. Her continuation in this
(01:13):
role seemed untenable and so it proved. Did this come
as a surprise when this news.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Dropped, certainly not a surprise still, you know a bit
of a bit of a shock, and while that happened. Yeah,
it's just just crazy and it baffles me how much
under the radar it's kind of been and still like
there's so many questions about what happened, why she's still
(01:40):
working there, why the contract was six years, just everything
about it is just so fishy and it makes me
really gutted that it's happening in the football space and
particularly women's football.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Yeah, we can look at who might potentially replace her
in a little while, but if we just pair it back,
Bonnie and you sent me an email with the list
of all a sorry football firms results since Yetka took charge,
and if we discount the last six games which were
matches when she wasn't in charge of the team, thirty
(02:12):
nine games as head coach, eleven wins, seven draws, twenty
one losses, and of the eleven wins, five of those
were an Oceania Olympic qualifying against Pacific Island sides which,
let's be honest, would struggle probably in our local league.
So six wins, seven draws, twenty one losses against non
Oceania opposition, even the results themselves bear further scrutiny, further
(02:38):
examination of the coach, don't they.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Oh, one hundred percent? And I mean that's half of it.
I mean even the media since the World Cup has ended,
or even I remember before the World Cup, we've been
asking these questions about you know, surely there should be
more accountability, responsibility from the coaching stuff and the players.
To be fair as well, we can't put all the
blame on Yika, but that in itself was really concerning.
(03:05):
And I think the fact that her contract was six
seven years, however long it was till the end of
twenty twenty seven, that's not right in itself. That it
was clear that she had that much time to get
it right, and for a coach with that much responsibility
to you know, just focus on the next six years. Yeah,
(03:26):
it's so wrong, it's not right. And I go back
to how much they New Zealand football seemed to focus
on that one win at the World Cup last year,
and gosh it was amazing, and I don't want to
take anything away from the team and the girl that
that night was something special. But the fact that they're
just so happy with that speaks volumes and that they
(03:48):
didn't think they should be potentially striving for more.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Yeah, the six year contract is something it's just about
unheard of right in professional sport you at any level,
in any co Really, I'm struggling to remember any coach
who has been given a contract there that duration. She
took over after the last Olympic Games, which were delayed
by a year by COVID, so she took over in
twenty twenty one. Surely, Bonnie, you say, look, we'd like
(04:14):
you to take us to the next World Cup in
twenty twenty three, Big One, of course co hosted Buy
New Zealand we want you to take us to that.
We hope you're the person to take us beyond that.
But let's see how you go up to the World
Cup and in the World Cup, and then we'll have
another chat after that.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Oh exactly.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
And that home World Cup was such an opportunity, and yes,
we made the most of it to some extent, but
at the same time, I think we completely missed that opportunity.
That should have been the focus when Yitka came in
or any whoever that coach may have been came in
from New Zealand Football. They should have said, we want
to do well at this. We want to do more
(04:49):
than get our first win at the World Cup. We
want to get out of the group and we want
to change the game of women's football in New Zealand.
And I honestly think they only did one of those,
and that that was winning. I don't think you know, Yes,
there might be a few more football fans and few
more young girls playing football now, but the New Zealand
hasn't done anything like what Australia have.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
No.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Look, it's a great comparison you make, and I saw
you may made that comparison in a column you wrote
for the New Zealand Herald. Yeah, Australia have just gone
on leaps and bounds, and yes they are a better
football side, let's make no mistake about it. But they're
still selling out wherever they go, way more tickets sold
than the Soccer US. They've got incredible engagement with football
(05:33):
fans male and female. On the other side of the
Tasman and look, oddly enough, Bonnie, I think if they
had renegotiated after the World Cup, she probably would have
got an extension because of that result against Norway. You
know which I would that have been, right? I don't know,
But I come back to it, a six year contract
and apparently without any performance triggers either, which I find
(05:54):
almost impossible to believe that you know that it didn't
have in it something like you know, you're not not
even quantifiable, You've got to win X, y Z number
of games something around you know, improvement of the team
or improved results or better performance is something like that,
because isn't that the job of a head coach to
you know, at the elite level it is a results
(06:16):
based game.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
And like it's it's a comfort thing, right, like they've
not gone out of their comfort zone. Giving her six
years is just like, oh yeah, well, you know, we've
got six years to get it right.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
That's a long time in football. And honestly, I put
it back to the respect on the woman's game. I
think it comes across as New Zealand football have gone.
Yet you know, she's worked in our system before, we
know what she can do. She doesn't have too much
experience at this level, but she's available and let's just
chuck her in and see how she goes. And I
(06:48):
think there is a real urgency, a real need for
a mind sht mindset shift in this this space in
the woman's game, because gosh, it's growing so quickly around
the world and New Zealand are falling fast behind.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
All Right, we can talk about the possible contenders to
replace her in just a moment, and also be keen
to hear what you think the players might think about this.
But Andrew Pragnell, CEO of New Zealand Football, join me
on news talks hereb over the weekend. I asked him,
first of all, what actually has played out here?
Speaker 4 (07:19):
I think that's for her to speak to in terms
of you know, I don't think it's right that I
would speak on her behalf, but I think that at
the end of the day, she's put it in pretty
hard yards. She's achieved some things we've never achieved before.
She's transitioned the team in a way that we hadn't
seen her at the part of ten years, and she
fills her.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Times up, has she though? Andrew?
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Yeah, I said this is a good one. I'm glad
you asked that because I think there's obviously different views
on that. I think there's a couple of things that
we need to do when we look at yas tenure,
as you should do with every coach, and the first
thing is have a look in the rearview mirror and
take a few steps back, because for more than thirty
years we've been trying to get a win at the
(08:02):
Women's World Cup. The reality is she made a breakthrough
that we haven't been able to make as her leadership.
That did it. I know there's a lot of commentary
on her win loss record. It's pretty consistent with previous coaches.
I think that. I also think there's a little bit
of I think we need to clarify as well. From
(08:22):
our end, our focus is weally on Women's World Cut results.
So you know, she chose to you know, she chose
to play top twenty teams in the build up to
that Woman's World Cup because she thought that's what would
get us some results. And you know that impacted the
win loss record ultimately, but it did get us to
(08:43):
a place we haven't been before. I think when we
look back, we'll look back obviously the ones will cut
with real mixed feelings. It's all very well to win
the first game changed the course of the Women's World Cup,
but there's no doubt they want to get out of
the group, and often your results and feelings sing your
last game. So that's that's one thing that I don't
think we should ever take from her. But the one
(09:05):
that I think will be genuinely longer lasting is the
transition of the team. So if we step back again
we look at the ferns over the last ten years,
I think we'd be right to acknowledge there hasn't been
any true until yet has come along true transition of
the team. We haven't had a professional pathway up till recently.
(09:25):
It's meant that you know a very few group of players.
Lect players accumulated literally hundreds of STAPs. I don't think
that was necessarily healthy thing to do, and yet could
transitioned it. She didn't, and some people would say she
should have transitioned it faster, But at the end of
the day, she basically brought him eighteen new players, introduced
ten new players to Woman's Will Cup, certainly a bigger
(09:46):
transition than any coach in the history of the football ferns.
So I don't think we should take those from and
and he goes she gives with good wishes from outside.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Did you try to convince her to stay?
Speaker 4 (09:57):
It's a great question as well. Look, I think ultimately,
you know, these things should come from the heart. She's
a good person. She waged it up. I think she's
given her all one hundred percent. She's been incredibly proud,
she's got you know, she's a key with check at
the end of the day, she's been here. For those
(10:18):
that know her history, she's ten years prior, she's been
involved in our age group side. She's been in out
and out. I feel like she'd given everything. She put
it hard and soul into it, and the team isn't
a better place for it, although I appreciate it may
not seem like it at times as well, but that
transition should not be understated.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
What's this player driven?
Speaker 4 (10:39):
It's a good question. I think. I always say we
can talk about player voice, and you know what, what
do the players? I always say, And it's got to
twenty three people, there's twenty three different views. I would
say we've got some pretty diverse views amongst the score
we've still got transitions happening. There's wide public sentiment on
again as to whether it should be happenings or not.
(11:02):
I think I think fair to say there's there's there's
some players obviously who weren't yelling. There's some players who
were so look, I think there's a player dynamic that's
always complex, was a player driven players haven't impact on all. Right.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
So that's Andrew pregnant with some of his comments when
he spoke to me on Saturday afternoon on News Talks.
Here be the full interview, incidentally available on the news
Talks hed B website. The bit at the end is
interesting to me, Bonnie about the players. What do you
think the players think about this?
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I think, you know, it's it's clear that there were
there was some discontent in there within the group. I think,
you know, you could notice it in the attitude of
the players over the.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Last few years.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
And and while we don't know what this incident exactly was,
I don't think they all. I mean, I can't speak
for everyone, but I do get a good feeling that
that they didn't get along with Yika and maybe in
probably half of that's down to the performances so I
don't know, maybe there's a sense of relief that she's
(12:10):
gone again. I think it's an opportunity. New Zealand Football
really need to look at themselves in the mirror and
look at the plan for the woman's game, because even
though Yika is gone now, they still seem from that
interview Piney with You, Andrew Pragnell still seemed really confident
in the plan going forward, and he spoke about who
(12:30):
will potentially come in to replace Yika and not wanting
them to come in with a new fresh perspective, but
rather just coming in and filling filling the gap and
just you know, going forward with it.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
So who are the candidates then? Is Michael Maine a
candidate to be upgraded permanently to the to the head
coach role.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
I mean I don't know the guy a whole lot.
I think if you base, if you look at their
Olympic performances, I think they've played really well the Ferns
by their standards. Yes they didn't get a win, but
yeah that they scored a couple of goals and played
pretty decently under him. So potentially again I'd like to
see what he does and what his mind is, and
(13:11):
maybe we'll see that in the next international window they have.
I don't think there's one coming up in October, but yes,
I think potentially he's a candidate, maybe someone else to
look at as Paul Temple.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Yeah, I was going to ask about that. I've got
that written down. Wellington Phoenix women's coach has coached the
under seventeen New Zealand side as well. That was at
the World Cup in two thousand and eight. From memory,
member Rosie White got a hat trick in Wellington. I
remember Paul Temple and in the players just absolutely going
mental on the bench when she completed her hat trick.
(13:43):
He's obviously been in and around the women's game and
has coached the men's game as well. Would he be
or would he a be popular with the players and
be be a good choice?
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah, that's the thing.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
And I think as well, we need to remember what
I was mentioning before about I'm not sure the playersally
got it along with ye. And yes, players are going
to have their preferences and coaches and coaches are going
to have their preferences and players and you can't change that.
And so while Paul might you know, not get along
with every player, or every player might not get along
(14:15):
with with Paul, or the same for Michael Maine. I
think the important thing for the Ferns camp is that
there's professionalism and there's a kind of holistic mindset and
a bigger picture of view and I think that's key.
And you know, there's there's always politics in sport, but
it seems to be particularly around this this woman's game,
(14:36):
which which doesn't help at all for the game as
they're trying to get you know, investment and things like that.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
But yes, I think based.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
On what Paul did with the with the Phoenix last year,
there's there's a good case for him.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
It's also, let's make this clear, it's not the It's
not to the players to choose the coach, don't They
don't sit on the appointment panel. They shouldn't have any
say in who the coach is. Once they're together as
a as a playing group with their coach, you hope
that they'll gel and as has been proven in this case,
that doesn't always happen. But it's not up to the
players to choose who their coach is. They simply have
(15:10):
to implement the strategy that the appointed coach comes up with.
Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. But Andrew Pragnell said
another interesting thing in the interview. He said that the
average lifespan of an international coach is eleven months, which
actually makes the six year contracts seem even more farcical.
But anyway, I don't know. I just hope they get
(15:32):
this decision right because as you also outlined in your
in your piece, you know there's been there's been a
couple of incidents now with the Yipka with we all
know what happened with Andreas Haraf and the raft of
problems that he caused. Tom Somani I think was a
good coach of the Football Ferns, but I'm not sure
what the situation was around him. Leaving what about Tony Gustaffson,
the former Matilda's coach. Would he be an option?
Speaker 3 (15:55):
I would love to see, love to see Tony in there.
He's such a carre and I mean we we all
know what he did for for the Matildas and how
good they were.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
At the World Cup last year. So yeah, I would
love that.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
I don't know, maybe he's a little bit beyond the
football fin's role. At the same time, maybe he's ready
for a challenge, and I feel like he would be
a coach as well that sticks, you know, sticks to
his word and sticks to his ways, and you know,
would potentially help create, you know, a mindset shift and
in the NZF camp also. Another one would be Joe Montemurrow.
(16:29):
I think that's how you say his last name. He
coached the A League All Stars last year. He he
would be another one that is quite a good coach,
I believe.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
What about vlood Coo and Aanofsky for former US coach.
I don't know whether he's turned up anywhere.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Oh he has.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
He's currently coaching the KC Current, the Kansas City Current
and the NWSL and they're like top of the table,
so I'm pretty.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Sure he'll be He'll be pretty settled there. Maybe I'd
like to see Emma Hayes. Is that too much to us?
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Yes? To us?
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Yeah, I can't see Ema Hay's breaking. Look if if
anybody's six year contract, it's her.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Yeah, exactly, and she I'm pretty sure she's not even
on something like that. So it's just Steell baffles Meyk
was on that.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
All right? Will you wait and see? Andrew Pagnell said yeah,
they're not going to play in the October window. There
are no scheduled games as far as I can see
for the Football Ferns at all. But there will be
World Cup qualifiers of course coming up in the next
little while. But they have to get back together. But yeah,
the first point of business is finding a new head coach.
After what has been a drawn out and at times
fairly sad chapter in the history of New Zealand women's
(17:34):
football in this country, the ff with piny and body.
Let's move on to rather brighter things. All Whites won
United States of America one. This was the second game
in the two match window, with the All Whites losing
three Northern Mexico. This was much better, wasn't it. I
thought this was a huge improvement in game two.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Yeah, it's a great result.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
First and foremost, what their top twenty in the world,
the USA, so yeah, and they played in America as well,
in front of home crowds.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
So yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
By all means unreal from the All Whites, And I've
spoken about it lots of times, but they're in that
World Cup cycle now twenty twenty six. They've got to
start getting results like these under their belt. And that's
exactly what they've done.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Indeed, far more intense, less possession actually than they had
against Mexico. We spoke last week and possession was about
fifty to fifty ready, but there was just so little
in the wave of end product for New Zealand against Mexico.
Way way better this time. Lots more chances created at
the other in Max Crokam, I thought he had an
excellent game and goal. Probably couldn't do too much with
the goal that gave the United States the lead, but
(18:41):
made some terrific saves. Marko Staminitch good again. Finn Sermon
I thought was very good. And Ben Wayne's goal I mean, yeah,
I've heard it suggested that it was a fluke and
it was. There's no way Ben Wayne had anything to
do with getting his body into the right position to
deflect a clearance up and over the goalkeeper and into
the back of the net. But the fact remains he
had to be there, and I think New Zealand's performance
(19:04):
deserved a goal no matter how it came.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Yeah, Ben Wayne's a finisher. I don't I don't suggest
anything else, you know, I really rate him. He's a
great player to bring off the bench as well, and
I guess Beas is trying to figure out a good
way to use him leading into that twenty twenty six
Wheeld Cup. So good on him, however he scored that goal,
But yeah, you're right. And something else really positive as
(19:28):
seeing the stats that I'm just reading over again now
eight shots off, which is pretty unheard of for the
men or woman to be frank, you know from these
New Zealand sides. So yeah, good to that it's hitting
in the right direction.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
They had a couple of really good opportunities. Libby Cacachi
had a good opportunity. Matt Garbutt had a chance right
at the start. Libby Cocacci drew a good say from
the keeper so did he lie just in the second half,
So yeah, they were. There was just a lot more
to like about it, you know. I called both games
for fee for plus and there was just so little
to enthuse about in the first game, you know, the
second game was a lot more exciting as far as
(20:05):
you know, a New Zealand lens was concerned. They can
look forward now to World Cup qualifiers of course over
the next two windows. Just mentioned Max crokeum I thought
perhaps and I think you shared the view that maybe
Alex Paulson might get a go, but it feels us
so Darren basically at the moment is all in on
Max Crokum.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Yeah, how old is Max Crokum? I feel like you'll
know that stat.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
I'm going to say twenty seven twenty eight old. Google
it while you're chatting. Yeah, he's older than he's older
than Alex Paulson. If that's what you're asking.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Yeah, no, Well That's what I'm wondering, is like, has
he got another couple of years in him? And he
clearly does if Bays is keen to invest in Croakum
now and see him through wearing that number one jersey
to twenty twenty six, So yeah, he's by all means
a great keeper. My reasoning was just why not give
Alex Paulson a go and try and yeah, test the
(20:58):
waters and try and figure out that number one. But
it's clear that that's their direction that BES is going,
and I mean Alex, Alex Paulson is a reserve keeper
not too shabby as well.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
No, indeed, Max Crogan will love me for saying twenty
six twenty seven he's thirty one?
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Oh okay, yes, that changes things then, but then keep
the keepers are generally older.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
They can go until their forty if they want to.
I quite liked the I quite liked quite liked it
in one way, and that you know, he played well
against Mexico for the most part. As we mentioned on
the pod last week. Probably could have done better with
the first goal, but other than that he was he
was pretty solid. I don't mind to keep her being
backed and like that. Having said that, I would quite
like to have seen Alex Paulson have a game. He's
(21:39):
still only got the one cap for New Zealand and
that was at the Oceanian Nations Cup, and we know
he's going to play a lot for New Zealand. You know,
he's what's Alex Paulson. He's twenty one is and he
compared to Max Crocum's thirty one, so you know, we're
talking to players a decade apart in age. So we're
going to see a lot of Alex Paulson in the
in the time ahead. But yeah, good to have competition
Ollie Sale. You know, a year ago we thought he
(22:02):
was the number one and now he's you know, he's
he's probably under challenge for the third spot in an
all white squad. All Whites Power rankings are out on Wednesday, Bonnie,
I'm excited. New Zealand Herald website five o'clock Wednesday morning.
I'm told they'll hit online. This is where this is
(22:23):
extremely arbitrary. Of course, it's really just my opinion, but
ranking the fifty most important male players at the moment
going around, and yeah, there's a bit of movement. There's
a bit of movement from the last time.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
I did them.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
Yeah, well I obviously had a little sneak peek and
I know we can't give any sneak peeks out to
our listeners now, but I mean it's it's so good
how much depth that All Whits camp has. And we've
talked about this before, but I mean you and I
had a little debate on different rankings and things like that,
and it's good. It's it's only positive for the group. Again,
(23:00):
I'm gonna mention it or in this World Cup cycle,
our tickets to the World Cup is all but guaranteed
and we need that. We need to have as much
competition as.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
We can, absolutely right, So yeah, that's Injured Herald dot
co dot NZ at five o'clock Wednesday Morning Football Fever,
it's look at domestic football. Auckland f C continuing to
put their squad together. Even though these aren't confirmed, some
names are being bandied around as possible imports for Auckland
f C. One year, hear a lot as chile and
(23:29):
midfielder Felipe Galaghos. This has been widely reported by a
number of well a number of people on Twitter for
starters and another number of overseas media that he will
he will be signed by Auckland f C. Also hearing
of a Belgian midfielder and a Uruguayan striker that'll make
(23:49):
four if those two and Galagos are signed. We've got
Rocky Sarki of course there already, so there would be
one more to add. And as far as the Phoenix concerned,
they've their imports sorted for the meantime. But just hearing
in the last little while that twenty one year old
defender Corbyn Piper out of Birkenhead who has been trialing
(24:10):
with the Phoenix. According to Nicholas Lennon, who's become a
very good source on x as it is now Twitter.
He writes for the Raw Sports and has got a
lot of good sources. By the looks of it, he
is reporting that that is a done deal. That Corbyn Piper,
the twenty one year old KIW defender slash defensive midfielder,
I think we'll sign for Wellington Phoenix. Have you seen
(24:32):
him play for Burko at all?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
No, I haven't, but that name rings about in one
of my contacts, and the domestic league also said, hey,
keep an eye on this kid. He's bloody good, so
it doesn't surprise.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
Me, all right, So if he does sign, that'll be
twenty three in the Phoenix squad. That includes two scholarship
players Luke brook Smith the striker and Dublin Boone the goalkeeper,
so they could add more, but that'll be twenty three.
Let's say twenty one full time contracted play for Wellington Phoenix,
which I think is a you know, a good number
(25:03):
to have for Auckland f C. Just bring up their
latest roster and how many they have twenty two, but
seven of those of scholarship and they still have the
four imports to add. So yeah, you know, we're less
than five weeks away now, Bonnie. I you know, we've
been saying it every week. It's it's getting closer. We're
seeing lots of footage on social media of Auckland f
C in particular and their training sessions. Yeah. Look, it
(25:26):
just continues to the excitement continues to build ahead of
the first A League men's season with two New Zealand
teams in it.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
Yeah, no, super pumped for that.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
I'm thinking I need to go out after that we
record this podcast and book My flat's already done for
that first starve you do. It's just crazy like that. Yeah,
we're going to have for the first time to professional
teams in the country. And yeah, really really excited for
what's to come.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
I heard there are a few a few Auckland f
C fans coming. I've heard that. Yeah, there's a few
who are booking flights and ready to It'll probably be
the biggest waste support that there's ever been for a
Phoenix game. It's guys. I remember Western Sydney wander has
brought about five hundred over one year. That was amazing,
My god, it was so good. So if Auckland f
C can bring a few hundred down, how goods are
(26:16):
going to be?
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Do you reckon? It'll sell out the game.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
I've already told my family down in Wellington to get
tickets early.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I think it will well.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
I mean, i'd love to think that it would. I
don't know whether it will. I would love to think
that it was kind of the fifteen twenty thousand mark
for that. I guess it'll depend, like if both teams
start really well, and once the season starts, it'll be
front and center of our consciousness, so there'll be a
lot more you know, well, will it'll feel more real?
I like the fact that it's quite early. A question
(26:45):
for you when the Phoenix come to Auckland to play
derby matches, how many I feel like there'll be more
Phoenix fans because there are already Phoenix fans in Auckland
who won't championship? Is that the feeling you get that
there'll be so who, even though they now have an
A League side in Auckland to support, will remain loyal
to the team that they've followed up until now.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Yeah, I think they will and we'll see a lot
of that.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
You know that when it comes to the derbys, they're
sicking with the Phoenix, but every other week they'll back
Auckland f C. I mean, I'm one of them, I
have to admit you know, I'm from Wellingtonough growing up
with the Phoenix, so I feel like it would be
terrible to jump ship just because I'm here up in Auckland.
But yeah, no, that's definitely the case. And I do
think as well, Auckland would be more of a more
(27:32):
of a likelihood mount smart of selling out that they're
Derby that they have here, just from as you say,
the amount of Phoenix fans that are that are already
up here in Auckland.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Yeah. Again, Also, it'll the season will be what's seven
or eight weeks old by then, won't it, or maybe
even a couple of months in, so we'll get a steer,
especially if both teams are playing well. I know that
there's only part of it a Derby should it shouldn't matter,
but yeah, if they're both playing well, both in top
six contention, which I think looking at their squads they
should be. They honestly should be both in top six contention,
(28:03):
then I think, yeah, we're in for it. Well, the
one down here and Wellington will be great. The couple
up in Auckland to be great. I mean, just bring
them on. Bring on some a league derby's football fever.
Let's finish with keeper's playing overseas. You've got a few
of the women to tell us about. Just a quick
look at the men. Chris Wood didn't score over the weekend,
but it was part of the Nottingham Forest side that
beat Liverpool one nil at Anfield, first time Nottingham Forest
(28:25):
have won at Anfield since nineteen sixty nine. Even I
wasn't even. I wasn't born then, so no, not great.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
No.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
The following year I popped up, so no, even I
wasn't around. Ben Old off the bench and helped Saint
Ettie into their first one of the season and league
in France. Joe Bell with Viking Viking rather continuing to
play well another three points for them. Matt Garbett started
and helped Nack Budda to another one in the air
at a visit. Elliott Collier scored yesterday for Indy eleven
(28:55):
as well. And I must think one of our listeners
he goes by Young heart Hm on Twitter, who pointed
out to us that it was the fiftieth first team
appearance for reading for Tyler Binden over the weekend in
a loss to Leyton Orient. But he's chalked up fifty
appearances for reading already and he is still a teenager.
(29:15):
He has got a bright future, Tyler Binden, and I
think it'll be beyond reading as well. And of course
for the national team, what about our women playing around
the world, bonny unreal.
Speaker 4 (29:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
Gabby Rennie on the score sheet again for a Land
United and a three ye all drawer in their latest
game in Finland. Hannah Blake on the scad in her
first game for Durham FC in the Women's Championship League
in England, her new club over there. And vickieson She
was in goal for Rangers in their six to one
win in the Scottish Premier Women's Premiership League this morning.
(29:47):
They've won six from six, which is unreal, Katie Bowen,
and into a two from two in the Italian Women's
Serie A League. They've beaten Napoli for one this morning.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
All right, it's time for feature. Where is Jackie Hand?
Where is Jackie Hand?
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Jackie Hand isn't replying to my messages and I just
want to know where she's going, because she's too good
not to be playing anywhere. So yeah, who knows, planey,
I haven't figured that one out yet.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
All right, Well, you messaged her that to all you
could do. She hasn't replied. I'll ask the question again
on the feature next week on the Pod where is
Jackie Hand? If anybody knows where Jackie Hand is, just
to either of us up on social media and give
us the steer, because I mean, all joking aside, she
is far too good a player not to be playing.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
Football exactly, and even if I mean we spoke about
it last week, even if she does just need to
come back to the A League for six months to
get some footy under her belt and you know, just
get minutes then and you know, be in the comfort
of home as well, then why not? So I know
that's easier said than done, but fingers crossed, Sh'll be
(30:53):
popping up somewhere soon.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
And we know Mickey Foster isn't coming back to Wellington
when I had that confirmed, even though we it was
kind of common knowledge and you've sort of told us
that last week on the Pot. It was confirmed during
the week in a release from The Phoenix that she
wouldn't be returning any idea where Mickey Foster might be
playing her football.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Next No, not too sure.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
She is going overseas obviously outside of the A League
can confirm that I am hearing strong mail or seeing
it on Twitter or x rather that potentially could be
popping up at Durham where Hannah Blake plays, who we
just mentioned, but only because they follow each other on Instagram,
(31:34):
So I mean that's something in itself. The internet sleuths
have done their slothing, so yeah, who knows that'd be
good for her to get to England. She's obviously another
bloody good player, so we'll see.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
Yeah, absolutely, that's how we find out these days. You're right,
it's when a that's how people used to find out
and still do whether a player as signed for the
Phoenix and now Auckland FC. You check their Instagram and
if they've followed that team, they know it's a done deal.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Well, I follow Arsenal and obviously like I'm going to
be signing for them soon, so it just makes sense.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
All right. Well, we'll keep eyes on that life that
we might have to have a plan B for the
podcast in the meantime. In the meantime, I hope you
can stay with us until that contract arrives. Thank you
for listening to Football Fever today. Lots and lots of
stuff to talk both on and off the grass. If
you subscribe, fresh episodes will pop into your podcast feed
each and every Monday, that is when we record these
(32:28):
these podcast episodes. Have an excellent week, Bonnie, We'll check
checking again next Monday.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
We'll see you then The f F
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Feed with Piny and Bonny
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