Speaker 1: Football Fever with News Talks, enb's Voice of Football, Jason
Speaker 1: Paine and Bonnie Jensen.
Speaker 2: Yes it is. It seems like a long time since
Speaker 2: we sat in the Football Fever studio to bring you
Speaker 2: a Football Fever episode and association with FIFA Plus stream
Speaker 2: New Zealand Football live and free on FIFA plus dot com.
Speaker 2: I'm Jason Pine Bonnie Jensen here, So it's been too long, Bonnie,
Speaker 2: how are you?
Speaker 3: We're back Piney, We're back. I'm so excited. It feels
Speaker 3: like summer foot is right around the corner.
Speaker 2: Indeed it does. Heaps to get through today. Let's hope
Speaker 2: for a bumper edition. There's a lot of stuff to
Speaker 2: cover off. Can we start with summer football in the
Speaker 2: form of the A League Men's competition starting officially next
Speaker 2: month now w to September, less than fifty days away
Speaker 2: from kickoff. Opening weekend, Auckland FC will play their first
Speaker 2: ever A League Men's game against Brisbane raw Mount Smart
Speaker 2: at five o'clock on Saturday, October nineteen. The next day
Speaker 2: it's the Phoenix against Western United Sky Stadium four o'clock,
Speaker 2: so home games for both sides to start. Then the
Speaker 2: first derby, which we're really looking forward to Saturday November
Speaker 2: two at sky Stadium. Two more derbies in Auckland as
Speaker 2: the season goes on. How are you feeling about Auckland
Speaker 2: FC in terms of the squad they've put together for
Speaker 2: their debut season. Are you feeling confident about them hitting
Speaker 2: the ground with a bit of a bang?
Speaker 4: Yeah, I am.
Speaker 3: I think they've put together a really really strong roster
Speaker 3: and it's kind of a statement roster in my opinion.
Speaker 3: They've named a lot of Kiwi's, probably Kiwis that the
Speaker 3: Phoenix have been trying to get for years, but just
Speaker 3: potentially the connection to AFC.
Speaker 4: Bournemouth and.
Speaker 3: Auckland being potentially a bit more of a destination. They
Speaker 3: seem to have pulled a lot of good names in.
Speaker 3: So yeah, really excited about Yeah, who's on this list?
Speaker 2: Yeah? I think it's a good roster, really good roster,
Speaker 2: and I guess one of the most exciting parts. But
Speaker 2: also something I want to get your view on is
Speaker 2: the fact that only one import's been confirmed so far,
Speaker 2: Hirocki SARKI. So that means there are all import spots left,
Speaker 2: which is great, and then they can come from anywhere
Speaker 2: in the world. They can be any type of player.
Speaker 2: But are we getting a bit close to the start
Speaker 2: of the season for Steve Carriker to integrate them effectively
Speaker 2: into his team in time?
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think.
Speaker 3: I think definitely it's concerning about the lack of imports
Speaker 3: in saying that. Obviously the key weis have named have
Speaker 3: experience overseas, but I'm sure Steve Coricker has a plan
Speaker 3: and you compare it to someone like the Phoenix though,
Speaker 3: and they've just got more experience with this type of stuff.
Speaker 3: So yeah, potentially leaving it cutting it fine.
Speaker 2: Yeah, but I still, as I say, I don't want
Speaker 2: it to come across as being a bad thing because
Speaker 2: you know, this often happens. Players you know, need to
Speaker 2: get clearance from their clubs or from wherever they are,
Speaker 2: they need to get their work visa, all that sort
Speaker 2: of thing. Had Terry mcfunn, the director of football, on
Speaker 2: the radio a couple of weeks ago, and he was
Speaker 2: he said, look, we're down the track with these guys,
Speaker 2: we just haven't announced them yet. So at the squad,
Speaker 2: Auckland FC have got twenty two in the squad. Seven
Speaker 2: of those are scholarship players though, and still four import
Speaker 2: spots available and as you say, there's some you know,
Speaker 2: there's some good key we players there, the likes of
Speaker 2: Logan Rogerson, Joey Champness, Max Marta, Cam Howison has been
Speaker 2: a good player for a long time. Tommy Smith. There's
Speaker 2: a bit of mail around about another center back perhaps
Speaker 2: coming back to Auckland. Can you tell us anything there?
Speaker 3: Yeah, no, I am hearing Nando might potentially be back.
Speaker 3: But you know he's left his club. Where is it
Speaker 3: Poney over in Ireland?
Speaker 2: Yes, slogo rovers they this morning. We're recording this on
Speaker 2: Monday the second. This morning announced on the website that
Speaker 2: he was leaving and in the release it said to
Speaker 2: move to a club closer to home. So I guess
Speaker 2: that means well, that could be anyway because they're twelve
Speaker 2: thousand miles away. But yeah, I'm sort of hearing the
Speaker 2: same things you are.
Speaker 3: Yeah, no, yeah, definitely getting strong mail as you say
Speaker 3: around this. Obviously need to wait for it to be confirmed,
Speaker 3: but as you said with Terry, he seems to have
Speaker 3: already made a lot of progress with players that they
Speaker 3: just haven't announced it yet, so who knows.
Speaker 4: It could be in the coming days.
Speaker 2: Alex Paulson, of course will play for Auckland FC. This
Speaker 2: has been the subject of a lot of chatter around
Speaker 2: the place. Obviously, he left Wellington, we all know the story.
Speaker 2: He left Wellington been excited for Born with Born that
Speaker 2: have since loaned him back to Auckland f C. They
Speaker 2: are the parent club, of course of Auckland f C.
Speaker 2: Or they're in the same ownership group with Bill Foley.
Speaker 2: The so called Cassera's clause has been relaxed, which previously
Speaker 2: would have prevented this. Now it's allowed. How are you
Speaker 2: feeling about this?
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm obviously excited in terms of being a fan
Speaker 3: and getting to watch Auckland this season up close. It's
Speaker 3: going to be great for the derby. It's going to
Speaker 3: be great for the team. In terms of him, feel
Speaker 3: gutted for him not going to lie. I think he
Speaker 3: was destined for bigger and better things. He's moved on
Speaker 3: from the A League, so it's a shame he has
Speaker 3: to come back. Whether he's happy about it or not,
Speaker 3: I'm not too sure. But in terms of what he
Speaker 3: will you know, keep and bring back to the A
Speaker 3: League is really exciting.
Speaker 2: Yeah, he's a name, he's a you know, he's a
Speaker 2: he was the best keeper in the league last season.
Speaker 2: And while at the time, I think you and I
Speaker 2: spoken and I said, look, I thought it was a
Speaker 2: shame for him that he had this big, you know,
Speaker 2: this big buzz of signing for Bournemouth. They put all
Speaker 2: the social media out of a meeting all his teammates
Speaker 2: and that sort of thing, and being involved in a
Speaker 2: Premier League club, and then all of a sudden he's
Speaker 2: back in the A League. Look, I've sort of since
Speaker 2: changed my view a little bit. I think he should
Speaker 2: be playing. I would prefer that that was at a
Speaker 2: higher level than the A League because I think he's
Speaker 2: kind of he's clocked the A League for me, But
Speaker 2: I mean to have him playing here is awesome for
Speaker 2: the Phoenix. They've moved quickly to replace him. Josh Olaway
Speaker 2: m me, the English Nigerian goalkeeper has turned up. From
Speaker 2: what I hear Bonnie an absolute unit, an absolute unit
Speaker 2: of a man that's unreal.
Speaker 4: That's great for the Phoenix.
Speaker 3: I'm you know, they've obviously got big shoes to Phil
Speaker 3: and Alex Paulson as we know, so yeah, really exciting.
Speaker 2: Apparently, when he took a shirt off in the change
Speaker 2: room for the first time, people's eyes were popping out
Speaker 2: of their heads.
Speaker 3: Wow, okay, I just hope he can get up and
Speaker 3: down off the ground quickly. That those big muscles don't
Speaker 3: weigh him now well.
Speaker 2: I don't think they will. I don't think they will.
Speaker 2: As far as the Phoenix are consumed, we'll jump around
Speaker 2: between the two franchises. It's great to have two to
Speaker 2: talk about, isn't it. The Phoenix have signed two Japanese players,
Speaker 2: Kazuki Nagasawa and today the announcement of Hideki a Shiga.
Speaker 2: Of course, Auckland have their own Japanese player in Hiroki Sakai,
Speaker 2: so it looks like there'll be a real Japanese influence
Speaker 2: in the two New Zealand teams. Who knows Auckland might
Speaker 2: sign one or two more as well. So yet interesting
Speaker 2: the different markets that you know are turning up. In
Speaker 2: the A League there have been a few Japanese players,
Speaker 2: but Wellington had never had one. Now they've got two.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm really excited again about this. I just love
Speaker 3: the way that Japanese players play. I've obviously watched a
Speaker 3: lot of women's football and I love the way that
Speaker 3: they play. The Japanese national team I mean, I've also
Speaker 3: had Japanese imports come to my club East and Suburbs
Speaker 3: and play and just their football. They're so smart. So
Speaker 3: I think, yeah, these players in the men's teams will
Speaker 3: add a lot.
Speaker 2: How good would it be if in the future the
Speaker 2: Wellington Phoenix and Auckland if C women's team can attract
Speaker 2: Japanese players, Because you're so right, I just absolutely love
Speaker 2: watching the Japanese women's team play, and not just the
Speaker 2: senior side, but the underrage sides. They all seem to
Speaker 2: be technically brilliant, don't they.
Speaker 3: Yeah, No, you're absolutely right, And I think you know,
Speaker 3: New Zealand is such a destination place. Yes, so as Australia,
Speaker 3: and there might be a little bit more money over
Speaker 3: there might be a bit nicer weather, but you know,
Speaker 3: New Zealand has a lot to offer, and I think
Speaker 3: that's something Auckland and Wellington are seemingly playing off this
Speaker 3: year like it's an opportunity for potentially more senior Japanese players.
Speaker 3: I know Hiroki Sakai for Auckland FC is bringing his
Speaker 3: family down and that's something they're really excited for. So yeah,
Speaker 3: I think for the Phoenix and Auckland f C to
Speaker 3: play off that more in the future will be really promising.
Speaker 2: Good to see also some investment into Aukland f C
Speaker 2: or further investment Winston Reed, Noahickey, Tim Brown, three former
Speaker 2: all Whites and three men who have gone on to
Speaker 2: good things in the in the case of Tim Brown
Speaker 2: and no Ahicy, big big things in the business world
Speaker 2: since they've retired. Good to see them joining the Auckland
Speaker 2: FC ownership group. Did you did you like this news
Speaker 2: when you heard it?
Speaker 4: Yeah, no, it was. It was good.
Speaker 3: Some big names there obviously, and I understand, you know,
Speaker 3: I don't know specifics of the deal and the stake
Speaker 3: that they've got in the club, but they were just
Speaker 3: kind of like, sign me up. You know, it's going
Speaker 3: to be super promising business prospect, I think for for Auckland.
Speaker 3: So they were, you know, sign me on.
Speaker 2: All right, and okay, well, just before we move on
Speaker 2: from the from the A League men's what's your prediction,
Speaker 2: Bondy for these two sides? Are we looking at two
Speaker 2: top six rosters here?
Speaker 3: I'm nervous about the thing just because they've lost, you know,
Speaker 3: some of their key players from last season and saying
Speaker 3: that we were sitting here this time last year saying
Speaker 3: the same thing that we're not confident about the Phoenix roster,
Speaker 3: and they proved us all wrong. So yeah, definitely capable.
Speaker 3: I think Auckland f C without a doubt by the
Speaker 3: names that they've signed, knowing that they've still got a
Speaker 3: few more imports to sign, and I just think this
Speaker 3: derby is going to push them, push each team more
Speaker 3: and they're going to be super competitive.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree with you about the Phoenix because you're
Speaker 2: right they have lost players. But then you're right if
Speaker 2: we looked at the at the twenty strong squad or
Speaker 2: whatever it was at this time last year that the
Speaker 2: Phoenix had, and you look at the names they've got now, yes,
Speaker 2: some of them are unknown. In terms of the two
Speaker 2: Japanese guys and such like bart, I actually think it's
Speaker 2: a better squad than they had than what we thought
Speaker 2: it was going to be last year. Whether it turns
Speaker 2: out to be a better squad once they hit the
Speaker 2: grass remains to be seen. But you know, you look
Speaker 2: at as you say, the two Japanese players, a new goalkeeper,
Speaker 2: and we weren't sure about Alex Paulson at this time
Speaker 2: last year. We didn't even know if he was going
Speaker 2: to be the first choice keeper, we thought Jack Duncan
Speaker 2: might be up. I think paul A Rettrey is a
Speaker 2: great signing, a guy with really good A League pedigree.
Speaker 2: And if some of these you know Marko Rohas, let's
Speaker 2: not forget him, if he can recreate his form, some
Speaker 2: of these youngsters Gabrielle Sloan Rodriguez, Luke Brooks, Smith and
Speaker 2: Luke Souper who might get more of a chance this season.
Speaker 2: And then you're right. You look at Auckland FC and
Speaker 2: you think, man, that's a very very solid roster. I
Speaker 2: reckon they'll both be top six.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I agree absolutely, Pioneer. As I mentioned, I think
Speaker 3: this derby is going to push them even more. You know,
Speaker 3: they're gonna go into every game with a little bit
Speaker 3: more hunger and wanting to get one up over over
Speaker 3: each other. I think as well, going back to the
Speaker 3: Phoenix chief, he has another season under his belt now
Speaker 3: and he'll take so many lessons from last season where
Speaker 3: they just unexpectedly, unexpectedly performed. So that's another positive positive
Speaker 3: out of that camp.
Speaker 2: YEP. Seven weeks to go until the new A League
Speaker 2: Men season gets underway. Can't wait the.
Speaker 5: FF with Finy and Bonnie.
Speaker 2: Let's have a quick look at the Wellington Phoenix Woman
Speaker 2: because their draw is not yet confirmed for the new season,
Speaker 2: but the first round will be in the first weekend
Speaker 2: of November, so two weeks after the men's season starts.
Speaker 2: Grace Charlie back at the Phoenix. Bonnie, she was what
Speaker 2: top goalscorer in their first season. What did you make
Speaker 2: of Grace Jarlay's return.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I had a feeling this might be the case.
Speaker 3: I did think when I saw the headline to come
Speaker 3: through that it was a football Ferns forward. It may
Speaker 3: have been Hannah Wilkinson. I thought maybe Grace Charlie would
Speaker 3: have kept, you know, having another crack across the ditch.
Speaker 3: But huge signing for the Knicks. I'm a real fan
Speaker 3: of Grace's. She can play out wide, in the midfield,
Speaker 3: or up the top.
Speaker 2: No, none of those, none of them, not the first two. Bonnie.
Speaker 2: Let's be let's be Let's be deadly serious from the
Speaker 2: start about this. Grace Jarlay is a center forward. All
Speaker 2: of this, I can still not comprehend her playing in
Speaker 2: other positions. Yes she can, of course, She's got of
Speaker 2: at a pace and is effective in a wide area.
Speaker 2: But she's a center forward. She should have the number
Speaker 2: nine on her back.
Speaker 4: She should have the number nine.
Speaker 3: I completely agree, party and I got so frustrated during
Speaker 3: the World Cup last year. Y Yea kklem Kova the
Speaker 3: football fans he coachedn't back that.
Speaker 4: Yeah, no, I completely agree.
Speaker 2: But she is versatile, yeah, I look, and versatility is
Speaker 2: a great thing. I mean, chief he just going back
Speaker 2: to the men's team has talked about the two Japanese
Speaker 2: imports being able to plan about five different positions. So yes,
Speaker 2: But if you are naming your best eleven from the
Speaker 2: current sixteen players in the squad at Paul Temple's disposal,
Speaker 2: I don't know a lot about Olivia Ferguson, the new
Speaker 2: English striker, but unless she's a similar kind of player
Speaker 2: to Grace Jarlie, a big, strong number nine, then I'd
Speaker 2: have Jarlay starting at nine every day of the week.
Speaker 2: Olivia Ferguson, as I say, one of the new imports,
Speaker 2: and new goalkeeper too. We lost both goalkeepers from last year,
Speaker 2: the first choice ones anyway, Riley Foster and Brianna Rewards.
Speaker 2: In fact, I think their departures were announced on the
Speaker 2: same day. So when from having two keepers to none
Speaker 2: Carolina Vilau from Portugal as their new goalkeeper, I thought
Speaker 2: Brie might stay, but clearly there are things happening behind
Speaker 2: the scenes. She's off to Sydney FC. I was never
Speaker 2: really convinced by Riley Foster. I have to say good
Speaker 2: pedigree obviously, but I was just never really convinced by
Speaker 2: her as the Phoenix goalkeeper last year. In fact, I
Speaker 2: thought Brian Edwards was actually a better keeper.
Speaker 4: No, I completely agree, Piney.
Speaker 3: I felt felt sad for Brie that she couldn't get
Speaker 3: that number one jersey. You obviously felt a sense that
Speaker 3: maybe because Riley Foster was the import, that they had
Speaker 3: to kind of give it to her. So yeah, massive
Speaker 3: to lose bre Edwards from the Phoenix. But in terms
Speaker 3: of for her, I'm really excited for her because I
Speaker 3: think Sydney FC is there've always been a top club
Speaker 3: in this woman's a league, so really really promising for
Speaker 3: her looking forward to, you know, playing for New Zealand.
Speaker 2: Real shame to see Marisa Vandamer ruled out for the season.
Speaker 2: We know she suffered the ACL last season when she
Speaker 2: was away with the Football Ferns actually and then was
Speaker 2: recovering from that, and I think has she done the
Speaker 2: same one or the other one? Regardless, she's out for
Speaker 2: another season. Such a talented player, and what a shame
Speaker 2: for Marisa vandamer I think you had the chance to
Speaker 2: chat to it, didn't you. Yeah.
Speaker 3: I caught up with Maria, just absolutely gutted for her.
Speaker 3: I believe it was the same knee and she was
Speaker 3: doing it while at physio, while rehabbing the existing aco.
Speaker 4: I mean, what are the chances.
Speaker 3: The irony of all of this is she's a physio herself,
Speaker 3: so yeah, just just absolutely insane and she's gutted obviously,
Speaker 3: and that's why she kind of well, they mutually terminated
Speaker 3: her contract the Phoenix and Marisa because she kind of
Speaker 3: wanted to not sit you down in Wellington for another
Speaker 3: season not playing, and she wanted to be up in
Speaker 3: Auckland with family and friends and working. So she's going
Speaker 3: to be doing that up in Auckland and rehabbing as
Speaker 3: she works as a physio.
Speaker 2: But if they've said, haven't they that if she recovers, okay,
Speaker 2: she's got a contract for next season.
Speaker 3: Yeah, and smart by the Phoenix, I mean with the
Speaker 3: Auckland FC team supposedly coming in. You know, they'll definitely
Speaker 3: have their eyes on Marisa, and I'm sure Maurice is
Speaker 3: probably considering that too. Should be silly, not too so. Yeah,
Speaker 3: the Phoenix keeping that open is really promising.
Speaker 2: A lot of change in the Phoenix women's side from
Speaker 2: last season. Four of the imports at least are gone.
Speaker 2: Rightley Foster, Hailey Davidson, Hope Briesland, Marty Anaspeckmyer all gone,
Speaker 2: Macy Fraser has gone, Grace Wishnishki Kate Taylor, Bri Edwards,
Speaker 2: and Kellie Brown. I've got a couple of places here.
Speaker 2: I don't know whether you know anything about whether they're
Speaker 2: coming back or not. I've written down here Mickey Foster,
Speaker 2: Isabelle Cox, Mickey Robertson, and Annalie Longo. Do you know
Speaker 2: for sure whether any of those four are definitely coming
Speaker 2: back or definitely not coming back?
Speaker 3: So the three Kiwi's Mickey Foster, Mickey Robertson, and Annaliela Ago,
Speaker 3: I'm not sure on I haven't heard from them, but
Speaker 3: I would suspect they're not returning if they haven't already resigned.
Speaker 4: I don't know.
Speaker 3: I just just feel like they've already. The Phoenix have
Speaker 3: already resigned a lot of players and announced them and
Speaker 3: why why not Probably the three with the most experienced,
Speaker 3: So a few questions around that. One Isabel Cox. I
Speaker 3: have a very good feeling she is not coming back
Speaker 3: because she's signed for one of the new American teams
Speaker 3: in the new league under the NWSL or alongside the
Speaker 3: NWSL and the US and that's already been announced by
Speaker 3: that club over there. So it's interesting why the Phoenix
Speaker 3: haven't announced that yet. But yeah, she's over there, I
Speaker 3: think playing for the same team as Hope Breslin.
Speaker 2: Oh good stuff. Okay, So so in that case, then
Speaker 2: all five imports from last year gone. We can add
Speaker 2: in Olivia Ferguson the English striker and Carolina Vilao the
Speaker 2: Portuguese goalkeepers. There are still some spots up for grabs
Speaker 2: there as Paul Temple wants to build a squad with
Speaker 2: a new assistant coach as well. Amy Shephard is his
Speaker 2: new assistant coach, with Callum Holmes moving into an academy role.
Speaker 2: I believe with the Wellington Phoenix women set.
Speaker 1: Up football Fever with Jason Vine and Bonnie Jensen.
Speaker 2: Let's move to international football. Two games for the All
Speaker 2: Whites coming up on Sunday. They play Mexico in California,
Speaker 2: then the United States in Cincinnati, two teams inside the
Speaker 2: world's top twenty. We're currently ninety fourth, for what that's worth.
Speaker 2: But the squad that was named by Darren Baisley, I
Speaker 2: don't know about you, Bonnie, I think this is the
Speaker 2: strongest all white squad I've seen for maybe ever.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, I messaged you party and I was like,
Speaker 3: what are the talking points?
Speaker 4: And we both said there are nothing.
Speaker 3: Really, there's no real names missing off this list, and
Speaker 3: you know, just so many good players, and I'm excited
Speaker 3: for these matchups. They're going to be They're going to
Speaker 3: be a really good challenge for the All Whites. Looking
Speaker 3: forward to that kind of twenty twenty six World Cup.
Speaker 2: I think the talking point is that a lot of
Speaker 2: good players aren't there. You know. I made a list
Speaker 2: of players who have played recently for New Zealand and
Speaker 2: are playing at good clubs around the place who aren't there.
Speaker 2: I've got about twenty players who aren't there, and the
Speaker 2: only one I can see as injured is Callumm Cowart.
Speaker 2: But otherwise the twenty one strong squad is yeah, I
Speaker 2: mean all the Ryan Thomas is the other one, and
Speaker 2: I don't know what the situation is with his injury
Speaker 2: or whether he will ever play for New Zealand again.
Speaker 2: I hope he does. I would love to see him
Speaker 2: play for New Zealand again. But they're all there, aren't they.
Speaker 2: The ones playing in the UK, are the ones playing
Speaker 2: in Europe over in the United States. Darren Baseley's got
Speaker 2: some thinking to do around naming his best eleven in
Speaker 2: the squad, hasn't he.
Speaker 3: Yeah, well that's where the other main talking point is
Speaker 3: going to come from. Who are the eleven taking the pitch?
Speaker 3: I mean even goalies for a start? You know, do
Speaker 3: you put in there? I mean you and I would
Speaker 3: probably I don't want to speak for you, Piney, but
Speaker 3: we'd probably back Alex Paulson, right.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I had goalkeeper written down as a question to
Speaker 2: ask you. Olli sale, Max Crocum and Alex Paulson at
Speaker 2: the Nation's Cup over and over in the Pacific Islands recently.
Speaker 2: Max Crocum was the number one. Paulson was there, but
Speaker 2: Max Crocum was the number one. I think all three
Speaker 2: of them probably have a pretty good case don't they.
Speaker 2: So with only two games, I wonder how Bays will
Speaker 2: do it. You know, will he give two guys a game.
Speaker 2: Will he say, Okay, you're my number one, it's your
Speaker 2: jersey to lose. Eighteen months ago, Olie Sale was the
Speaker 2: rusted on number one in the All Whites.
Speaker 4: Yeah, it's actually crazy.
Speaker 3: And there's so much depth in that goalkeeper role, which
Speaker 3: is really really promising. I feel like something in the
Speaker 3: past potentially we haven't had as much depth again this
Speaker 3: whole roster. There's so much depth again, really really promising
Speaker 3: heading into that World Cup cycle in two years time.
Speaker 3: But yeah, I'm backing Alex Paulson, especially after the Olympics
Speaker 3: that he just had. I know that's under twenty threes,
Speaker 3: but he stood out.
Speaker 2: Even in midfield, Joe Bell, Matthew Garbett, Ben Old, Marco Staminitch,
Speaker 2: Alex Rufer, who you know has has had a very
Speaker 2: very good last eighteen months or so. You know, how's
Speaker 2: he gonna And then you get up front. You know,
Speaker 2: Chris Wood obviously plays. He's probably one of the only
Speaker 2: ones who is guaranteed him and probably Libby Cacaccio, I
Speaker 2: would say, would be the two who are absolutely guaranteed
Speaker 2: a spot in the best eleven. But you know you've
Speaker 2: got the likes of Eli just Ben Wayne knocking on
Speaker 2: the door. Cost of barbarusis we know what a good
Speaker 2: season he had. You know, it's everywhere you look in
Speaker 2: this team there are good quality players playing, you know,
Speaker 2: at excellent clubs and getting lots of minutes. So yeah,
Speaker 2: it's an exciting time and I think, I mean, what
Speaker 2: do you want to see out of these two games?
Speaker 2: Normally when we play teams in the top twenty, we're like, okay,
Speaker 2: let's let's just try and make sure that we don't
Speaker 2: in the past anyway. Let's make sure that this isn't
Speaker 2: in any way a cricket score. These players, I'm sure
Speaker 2: go out there, you know, believing they can win these games.
Speaker 4: Yeah.
Speaker 3: Absolutely, And I think just talking about that roster, Piney,
Speaker 3: our expectations are now so high of the capabilities of
Speaker 3: this side, and they should be. I think, you know,
Speaker 3: we've Bays has talked for so long about how he's
Speaker 3: got so many he's got such a big pool now
Speaker 3: of players that are available that he can pick from.
Speaker 3: And again I'm going to speak of the World Cup,
Speaker 3: but needs to be becoming more competitive and we need
Speaker 3: to be able to compete with these teams. So my
Speaker 3: expectations are high for them. I would like to see them,
Speaker 3: you know, if they don't get up on the result,
Speaker 3: at least they're competing and they've got a share of
Speaker 3: position or shots on goals or things like that.
Speaker 2: Ironically enough, the path of the win next World Cup
Speaker 2: is easier than it's ever been with the direct entry
Speaker 2: for Oceania. You know, you look at the squad that
Speaker 2: we've just been talking about and you're back that team
Speaker 2: and to continental playoff against someone like Costa Rica that
Speaker 2: probably in all likelihood won't need to be to be
Speaker 2: undertaken because with an expanded World Cup and direct entry
Speaker 2: for Oceania, all New Zealand have to do and I
Speaker 2: don't want to put the carp before the horse, but
Speaker 2: all they have to do is win the Oceania World
Speaker 2: Cup qualifiers and they're there so that starts next month
Speaker 2: as well. They play Tahiti in Vanahatu, then then Vana
Speaker 2: Watu in Hamilton and then one of the Round one
Speaker 2: qualifiers in Auckland. That's group play the top two from
Speaker 2: that group and the top two from the other group. Figi,
Speaker 2: Solomon's p ANDNG and New Caledonia go to the Semis
Speaker 2: and then a final. The Semis in the final are
Speaker 2: in New Zealand in March, so you know home conditions.
Speaker 2: So yeah, this could well be a team that that
Speaker 2: you know, fairly comfortably qualifies for the World Cup. And
Speaker 2: then they've got a couple of years or a year
Speaker 2: and a half to make sure that once they get there,
Speaker 2: that they are competitive, not just making a World Cup
Speaker 2: but being competitive at a World Cup.
Speaker 5: Good golf fevers talk.
Speaker 2: Can we get talk a bit about the football Ferns
Speaker 2: at the Olympic Games. Losses to Canada to one, Columbia
Speaker 2: two nil, France two to one. On the face of things,
Speaker 2: those results don't look too bad. What did you make
Speaker 2: of the football Ferns performances in Paris?
Speaker 4: I was impressed.
Speaker 3: I think, yes, the results speak for themselves, really really good,
Speaker 3: not really good, but promising results against three very very
Speaker 3: top teams and saying that I thought they played some
Speaker 3: good football by their standards, by the football fern standards. Yes,
Speaker 3: they really lacked position, they really lacked shots on goals,
Speaker 3: but I found it an improvement. And this was me
Speaker 3: kind of reaching for positives. I was confused afterwards when
Speaker 3: you know, most of the players posted saying really disappointed
Speaker 3: with how the tournament went. So that was confusing again
Speaker 3: considering what we know from the Ferns in the past
Speaker 3: and how this seemed like an improvement. So I don't know,
Speaker 3: something's just the mood doesn't feel right in that camp.
Speaker 2: Don't you think though, that that might be that that
Speaker 2: now there is a shifting of the mindset and that
Speaker 2: you know, they're no longer happy just being there, that
Speaker 2: that losses, regardless of whether they're close and regardless of
Speaker 2: whether they're as a result of an improved performance, are
Speaker 2: still losses.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think you're absolutely right, Piney, And it's it's
Speaker 3: you know, for so long, I mean, as a journalist
Speaker 3: interviewing these players and the coaching stuff, and they talk
Speaker 3: about processes, and they talk about how we're moving, you know,
Speaker 3: towards something bigger and and things like that, even though
Speaker 3: we're challenging the challenging them so many times on the
Speaker 3: lack of goals and things like that. So I completely
Speaker 3: agree with you, Pinney that potentially that their NATA set
Speaker 3: is a loss is a loss.
Speaker 2: Michael Maine took the side in Paris. What's your gut
Speaker 2: feel on whether yet kak Klimkova will return as head coach.
Speaker 3: I think the longer we're not hearing anything about it
Speaker 3: is the longer it's you know, she's she's probably. I mean,
Speaker 3: we know she's on a seven year contract or something
Speaker 3: like that, and I'm not even sure she's halfway through yet.
Speaker 3: So that's obviously probably what New Zealand footballer feeling challenged
Speaker 3: with right now is keeping her on that contract, not
Speaker 3: keeping her on that contract. But yeah, the longer we
Speaker 3: wait for an announcement, the more I feel that she's
Speaker 3: not coming back.
Speaker 2: I agree. If I had to pick it, I'd say
Speaker 2: she's not. And that's based on nothing other than exactly
Speaker 2: what you just said. The longest she's out, the least
Speaker 2: likely it feels like she's coming back. I don't know
Speaker 2: anything about the you know, the ins and outs of
Speaker 2: why she's not there. It was a very odd announcement
Speaker 2: just before the Olympics saying, you know, because she'd obviously
Speaker 2: missed those previous games, hadn't she went against Japan that
Speaker 2: she'd missed, and Michael Mayne had taken over. Basically he
Speaker 2: found out when he got on tour that he was
Speaker 2: in charge. At least got a couple of weeks or
Speaker 2: a month or so this time to get used to
Speaker 2: the idea. I don't know, it just seems like it
Speaker 2: just doesn't seem like the most likely outcome to me,
Speaker 2: this feels like a chance to reset things. There are
Speaker 2: some players who are now retired who have left the
Speaker 2: set up. Isn't this just a chance for a full
Speaker 2: reset ahead of the next World Cup?
Speaker 3: Absolutely agree, Piney. Yeah, I don't know the announcers as well.
Speaker 3: They've kept things pretty tight lipped, which makes me feel
Speaker 3: like it's quite serious. And yes, one hundred percent the
Speaker 3: chance for a reset. You know there's senior players potentially
Speaker 3: not one hundred percent locked in a spot, and maybe
Speaker 3: this is the chance to kind of bring in a
Speaker 3: new wave of young players. We know that there's some
Speaker 3: really really good younger players already playing overseas and things
Speaker 3: like that, so probably now's the time for a full reset.
Speaker 2: I don't think there are any game scheduled either. I
Speaker 2: couldn't see any record of games coming up. I mean
Speaker 2: there will be games, obviously, but I can't see any
Speaker 2: anything that's scheduled at the moment. So maybe it is
Speaker 2: just time to sort things out with ya, just to
Speaker 2: shake hands and walk off in separate directions and then
Speaker 2: reset what's happening in the Football Ferns environment because there
Speaker 2: are a lot of good young players coming through. We're
Speaker 2: about to see the best under twenty players in New
Speaker 2: Zealand take part in their World Cup. They'll have designs
Speaker 2: on getting up into the full side as well. So yeah,
Speaker 2: it just feels to me as though you bang on it,
Speaker 2: it might be time just to just to reset things
Speaker 2: and look towards the future of the Football Ferns without
Speaker 2: Yetka Comkova.
Speaker 5: This is football fever.
Speaker 2: Running out of time. There's a lot of keys playing
Speaker 2: around the world, but we can get to those on
Speaker 2: the podcast next week. But Heaps and Heaps are key.
Speaker 2: He's playing and playing well for their clubs. Just wanted
Speaker 2: to ask you, Hannah Wilkinson still unattached. You haven't heard
Speaker 2: anything about where she might turn up.
Speaker 3: No, I haven't, and I had a feeling Wellington would
Speaker 3: be the answer, but maybe you know she's one of
Speaker 3: the older senior players and the Football Ferns. She's obviously
Speaker 3: not returning to Melbourne City, so maybe she's someone that's
Speaker 3: hanging up her boots. Who knows, I'll do something. I'll
Speaker 3: do some digging this week, Piney.
Speaker 2: That'd be good. Yeah, if you could bring that to
Speaker 2: the podcast audience next week, that would be greatly appreciated.
Speaker 2: I see Kate Taylor has turned up at Dijon in
Speaker 2: the top league in France. I've seen a lot of
Speaker 2: social media content out of that club and she's front
Speaker 2: and center. So great to see Kay Taylor settling and well.
Speaker 2: Her season starts on the twenty second of September, just
Speaker 2: before we go. The under twenty women about to undertake
Speaker 2: their campaign in Columbia for the World Cup. They played Japan,
Speaker 2: Austria and Ghana in group play. They need to finish
Speaker 2: in the top two or be one of the four
Speaker 2: best third placed finishers. Leon Bernie's the coach. She's got
Speaker 2: sixteen of the squad that went to the Under seventeen
Speaker 2: World Cup a couple of years ago. Just quickly ken.
Speaker 2: Japan obviously, as we said before, very good at every level.
Speaker 2: Austria seeing what they'll be good. Ghana maybe might be
Speaker 2: a game where New Zealand could sense a result. Can
Speaker 2: you see us getting out of this group. What are
Speaker 2: you hearing?
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I don't think it's a super threatening
Speaker 3: group of group of oppositions. So positive there, And I
Speaker 3: just refeek back to the Under seventeen World Cup. God,
Speaker 3: that would have been over five six years ago now,
Speaker 3: but where they the junior football Ferns went on to
Speaker 3: win bronze at that World Cup. So yeah, I'm confident
Speaker 3: about this group of players. And you know there's so
Speaker 3: many names that have been other cap for the football
Speaker 3: Ferns been caught up to squads or play professional football already.
Speaker 3: So yeah, confident about what this group can do.
Speaker 2: Yep. Looking forward to their group games in the week
Speaker 2: ahead and this coming Saturday at Albany. You'll be in
Speaker 2: the commentary box for Chantham Cup and Kate Shepherd Cup
Speaker 2: finals Kate shepperd Cup Western Springs Auckland United at four
Speaker 2: o'clock and Chatham Cup Final Auckland City Wellington Olympic at
Speaker 2: seven o'clock. Who you got in these two games? Who
Speaker 2: are you picking?
Speaker 4: Yeah?
Speaker 3: Will Piney'll obviously be channeling my inner Jason Pine as.
Speaker 4: I call these games.
Speaker 3: But big big shoes there, But I think I have
Speaker 3: a feeling Wellington Olympic get up over Auckland City. Yes,
Speaker 3: they've probably had an easier regional season in the Central League,
Speaker 3: but I just feel like Auckland City aren't what there
Speaker 3: used to be, and in the women's Auckland United one
Speaker 3: hundred percent. They're so so dominant in the women's competition.
Speaker 2: It's Mickey Foster play for them at the moment, Yes.
Speaker 4: I believe.
Speaker 3: So there's obviously as well, like Chloe not gosh, just
Speaker 3: so so many strong players. I think Ruby Nathan's been
Speaker 3: there as well since she's been back. She obviously won't
Speaker 3: be she's at the World Cup right now. But yeah,
Speaker 3: they've got some really really strong players domestically or her,
Speaker 3: we've kind of stood out and probably could be knocking
Speaker 3: on the Phoenix door.
Speaker 2: All right, Well, enjoy the calls of those two games.
Speaker 2: Looking forward to hearing those and watching it all play out.
Speaker 2: That brings to an end a bumper addition of Football Fever.
Speaker 2: Sorry we have been away so long. We will bring
Speaker 2: you episodes weekly again from now on as the New
Speaker 2: A League season draws closer and kiwis continue to play
Speaker 2: football all around the world in various different capacities. Thanks Bonnie,
Speaker 2: we'll chat you again next Monday.
Speaker 4: We'll see you then
Speaker 1: Football Fever with Jason Vine and Bonnie Jansens