Speaker 1: Football Fever with News Talks Envy's Voice of Football Jason
Speaker 1: Paine and Bonnie Jensen.
Speaker 2: Hi.
Speaker 1: There, welcome, and it's Football Fever and it's February and
Speaker 1: there's lots to talk about. I'm Jason Pine, Bonnie Jensen.
Speaker 3: See hello, Bonnie, Shelda Parney.
Speaker 1: How are you very good? We've had our first national
Speaker 1: squad of the year, well, senior national squad of the
Speaker 1: year named today. Three senior players have been left out
Speaker 1: of the Football Ferns squad for their first matches of
Speaker 1: twenty twenty five. The squad named today by interim coach
Speaker 1: Michael Maine a couple of games away to Costa Rica
Speaker 1: at the end of the month. No CJ Bott, No
Speaker 1: Rebecca Stott, No Katie Bowen, forward Kelly Brown, goalkeeper Joe
Speaker 1: Candy and midfielder Maya Hahn have been caught up for
Speaker 1: the first time. Without any further ado, We're going to
Speaker 1: hear from Michael Maine. Bonner, you spoke to him a
Speaker 1: short time ago about some of his selections.
Speaker 2: C J Bott FIFA Best Finalists, Katie Bowen I doably
Speaker 2: the best Ferns player in the last eighteen months. And
Speaker 2: Rebecca's who led Melbourne City to a League premiership last
Speaker 2: season have all been omitted.
Speaker 3: What's the reason behind this?
Speaker 4: Yeah, Look, I think with those three players as well
Speaker 4: as the other players that also have been selected, I think,
Speaker 4: as you can imagine, everybody wanted to be part of
Speaker 4: this new cycle. I think for me going into this tour,
Speaker 4: there's a winner of opportunity here for us to test
Speaker 4: some new ideas and for me to have a good look.
Speaker 4: I guess that's some new players when it's early in
Speaker 4: the piece. So yeah, I think it just comes back
Speaker 4: to kind of what we try and achieve towards twenty
Speaker 4: seven and that's really understanding where the strengths lie in
Speaker 4: the squad long term.
Speaker 2: And yeah, does this decision kind of contradict what you
Speaker 2: spoke to me about last week in terms of not
Speaker 2: wanting to change the guard?
Speaker 4: No, No, I think when you asked that question, it
Speaker 4: was more around is that my role I need to play?
Speaker 4: And that wasn't the case then and it's not the
Speaker 4: case now. I think I guess the conversation that I'm
Speaker 4: having with my coaching staff and when I'm looking at
Speaker 4: the squad and again where we are at the start
Speaker 4: of this new cycle I think, like I said, there's
Speaker 4: an opportunity to take some.
Speaker 5: New players, which I think is exciting for us and
Speaker 5: we get to test them at international level, but also
Speaker 5: gives me an opportunity to revisit some players and just
Speaker 5: really be clear going forward on the players we've got in.
Speaker 4: Our system, and that's all geared towards one thing, and
Speaker 4: it's just making sure that we understand come twenty seven,
Speaker 4: who are strong as teams at that point.
Speaker 2: So just to be clear, you spoke last week about
Speaker 2: wanting the best players in the squad, it's not necessarily
Speaker 2: a case for these three that they're not the best players.
Speaker 2: More you want to see different personnel in the group.
Speaker 4: Yeah, that's a great weab, but on well across where
Speaker 4: they're at and what they're doing in their clubs. They
Speaker 4: are players that have been around this team for many years,
Speaker 4: have got great deal of caps. For me this tour,
Speaker 4: it's a chance to test some new ideas under streaming
Speaker 4: with the strengths line the squad going forward and you know,
Speaker 4: start to build some competition in the team as well
Speaker 4: for the future.
Speaker 2: Absolutely, and g O Candy debut call up outstanding opportunity
Speaker 2: for her. She's only played one A League game though
Speaker 2: in the last two years. Are we short on keepers?
Speaker 4: Look again that the keeping spaces there was an opportunity.
Speaker 4: One of the injury concerns that unfortunately ruled were oute
Speaker 4: was with Anna and so again it's the same process
Speaker 4: I've had, is having a look at what we've seen before,
Speaker 4: what we're currently got in the in the group. And
Speaker 4: then for this one it was it was more of
Speaker 4: I've heard some really positive things about Geo after speaking
Speaker 4: to coaches, looking through some of the footage, it was, Yeah,
Speaker 4: this is an opportunity for her to come in and
Speaker 4: for Jeo to come and make sure that Yeah. I
Speaker 4: just felt like Jia has an opportunity here to come
Speaker 4: in and work with the team and for me to
Speaker 4: have a good look at it, like, yeah, where the
Speaker 4: levels at. And I think that that can only help
Speaker 4: Jero as well in the future. You know, I could
Speaker 4: think if if jer can come in and perform well,
Speaker 4: then that that may also help who I guess club
Speaker 4: position going forward.
Speaker 2: And you've obviously spent a lot of time with the
Speaker 2: Wellington Phoenix. Paul Temple said, You've you've been down there,
Speaker 2: which has been great, But players like a list of
Speaker 2: one in Lara Wall close to a.
Speaker 4: Call up, definitely. In the conversation Bonnie there there's there's
Speaker 4: a number of players that in that conversation, I think
Speaker 4: both of those that you've mentioned, I've been watched it closely,
Speaker 4: but more importantly having really good discussions with the co temps.
Speaker 4: And again there's other opportunities ahead that if they continue
Speaker 4: to keep progressing well, I believe that they'll get the
Speaker 4: opportunity at some point. But for this tour, again looking
Speaker 4: at the balance of the squad, what I need to see,
Speaker 4: what I was interested in seeing. I've obviously opted to
Speaker 4: go different directions and with different players for this one.
Speaker 4: But no, Alyssa, I'm well across the work she's doing.
Speaker 4: And like you said, I've been down to the Phoenix
Speaker 4: a handful of times in the past couple of months
Speaker 4: and what's your train and what's your play And yeah,
Speaker 4: I think Lara is a bit of a ball to
Speaker 4: in that team as well. For a first first year,
Speaker 4: I think she's doing really well.
Speaker 1: All right, that's the voice of Michael Maine, interim coach
Speaker 1: of the football firm, still interim. One thing I was
Speaker 1: say at the start is he doesn't talk like an
Speaker 1: interim coach. He's not talking like he's in a holding pattern.
Speaker 1: I like it. He's talking like he's a head coach
Speaker 1: and he's going to be in charge of this team,
Speaker 1: you know, through to the next World Cup. I do
Speaker 1: really like that. I'm still to be convince about the
Speaker 1: omission of C. J. Bot, Katie Bowen and Rebecca Stott.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree, Piney. I think Michael Maine speaking with
Speaker 2: him a week ago, I was really excited about what
Speaker 2: he envisioned for this team. But to see this news today,
Speaker 2: I am a little bit shocked and the way he
Speaker 2: answered my questions. I know he's a coach and he's
Speaker 2: got to be careful about what he kind of can
Speaker 2: and can't say, but I would have He's obviously, you know,
Speaker 2: strong in his opinions and what he wants to do
Speaker 2: with this team, so I wish he kind of owned
Speaker 2: that decision a little bit more. He speaks about wanting
Speaker 2: to bring in the younger players and seeing new faces
Speaker 2: and things like that, but I would have liked him
Speaker 2: to kind of, you know, go stronger on on that thought.
Speaker 1: I also would like to have seen him keep three
Speaker 1: of his senior players in there. Yes, he's got a
Speaker 1: bit of seniority there because he's got Annalie Longo in there,
Speaker 1: one hundred and thirty six caps for her, others who
Speaker 1: have played quite often for New Zealand. But I I
Speaker 1: don't know. I might be this might be drawing a
Speaker 1: very long bow, and it might be way off But
Speaker 1: I just got the feeling when I saw that squad
Speaker 1: that CJ Bot, Katie Bowen and Rebecca Stott are strong
Speaker 1: voices in that playing group and I just don't know whether,
Speaker 1: Look again, this could be way off base, but I
Speaker 1: wonder whether Michael Maine just doesn't want those voices at
Speaker 1: the moment.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I see that as well, and I get that.
Speaker 2: You know, it's not like it's a World Cup year,
Speaker 2: it's not an Olympic year. But at the same time,
Speaker 2: you know they have rightfully earned their spot in the
Speaker 2: football ferns and if there is a World Cup tomorrow,
Speaker 2: you would take those players because they are the best.
Speaker 2: It's not like it's club football or junior football where
Speaker 2: you can kind of you know, or age group football
Speaker 2: rather where you share around the minutes. It's you pick
Speaker 2: the best players every time you have a camp. You know, depending.
Speaker 2: Maybe if you're going to the OFC qualifiers, that's a
Speaker 2: different story. But you know, these players have earned the opportunity,
Speaker 2: and yes, Piney, you might be right. They might be
Speaker 2: his strong voices and I wouldn't be surprised if they are.
Speaker 2: But here's the time to bring them in. Set the
Speaker 2: record straight, you know, yicks out, this is the new
Speaker 2: way forward.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I totally agree with that. CJ Bot, Katy Bow
Speaker 1: and Riquastott would all be in our best eleven. You know,
Speaker 1: I think if you said, if you're naming a World
Speaker 1: Cup tomorrow, they'd be in the squad. I think if
Speaker 1: you're naming your first eleven, they're in the squad those three.
Speaker 1: So it seems curious to me they haven't been together
Speaker 1: since Paris. So you know, as you say, the chance
Speaker 1: at the start of a new year, the start of
Speaker 1: a new World Cup cycle, to say, right, this is
Speaker 1: how we mean to go on. He's named twenty three players,
Speaker 1: so it's not as though he can't bring in some
Speaker 1: new faces and has you look at the players who
Speaker 1: haven't played for New Zealand before, Kelly Brown, g O
Speaker 1: Candy Maniah Elliott Meyer, Hahn Emma Piningberger is there. Brianna
Speaker 1: Edwards has only played one game. There are others with
Speaker 1: only a handful of matches, Hannah Blake with six, Ruby
Speaker 1: Nathan with five, even Macy Fraser I think deserves to
Speaker 1: be their only six games for New Zealand. So yeah,
Speaker 1: like I say, I yeah. It was the thing that
Speaker 1: raised my eyebrows the most was the omission of those
Speaker 1: three players. We don't know beyond Costa Rica when the
Speaker 1: football Ferns will play next there they're keen, I'm sure
Speaker 1: to play in every window. So it'll be interesting to
Speaker 1: see how he integrates those three back into back into
Speaker 1: a squad. You know, apart from some of her best players.
Speaker 1: They're playing at the best level. Ce j Bots playing
Speaker 1: in the Super League, Katie Baren's playing in Serie. Are
Speaker 1: Rebecca Stott, as you say, is leading the you know
Speaker 1: she led Melbourne City last year to the Women's A
Speaker 1: League title, and is you know on track to to
Speaker 1: you know, to repeat the dose this year exactly.
Speaker 2: And later in that interview, I asked Michael Maine, you know,
Speaker 2: so results potentially don't matter as much for this tour
Speaker 2: because you know you're taking a young inexperience side, and
Speaker 2: he said, no, no, we want to win. And for him,
Speaker 2: who's kind of you know, this is this is his interview,
Speaker 2: his audition type camp. You know, they're going to hire
Speaker 2: a replacement probably you know, in the next few months.
Speaker 2: So he wants to win. And why wouldn't you take
Speaker 2: your best players who are likely.
Speaker 3: Going to do that?
Speaker 2: I don't know, you know, you bring them in for
Speaker 2: the next tour or the tour after. And I'm furious
Speaker 2: if I'm CJ. Bott who's a fever best finalist.
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's the thing too. You're right, she was recently
Speaker 1: named as well one of the twenty best defenders in
Speaker 1: the world by that metric. And you can't make your
Speaker 1: own national team.
Speaker 3: Yeah, insane.
Speaker 2: And I get he wants to see new faces, but
Speaker 2: I just don't think now was the time, you know,
Speaker 2: when the group is clearly unsettled. They're going through this,
Speaker 2: you know, this whole new cycle and wave of seeing
Speaker 2: you know, saying goodbyey yitka, and there was a massive disconnect.
Speaker 2: You know, we've seen it all in the media. Now
Speaker 2: is not to time to build that rift even further.
Speaker 1: Costa Rica are forty third in the world incidentally, New
Speaker 1: Zealander thirty second, so not a lot of room between them.
Speaker 1: So I feel like it's not it's not a game
Speaker 1: where you can bananaskin yourself either or games she can
Speaker 1: bananaskin yourself. Anyway, I think we've labored the point, probably
Speaker 1: a little bit too much. We both think they should
Speaker 1: be there. They're not. Congratulations to those who have been
Speaker 1: chosen in terms of those who didn't earn inclusion, but
Speaker 1: we're at the Olympics last year. We've talked about c
Speaker 1: J Bot, Katie Bowen and Rebecca Stott. Ali Green is
Speaker 1: also not there, an elite who I think might be
Speaker 1: injured as well as being unattached. Otherwise I think she
Speaker 1: would be there. Gabby Rennie not there, Alie Riley is injured,
Speaker 1: Melia Steinmetz is injured, and those who have come back,
Speaker 1: and I mentioned some of the debutants. But you know,
Speaker 1: there's a corps of players who who you know, may
Speaker 1: well take us forward. You look at at the likes
Speaker 1: of Katie Kitchen, who's you know, looked really good in
Speaker 1: a football fer and shirt, Jackie Hand as well, Massy Fraser.
Speaker 1: I mentioned Mickey Foster. You know Millie Klegg, Kate Taylor
Speaker 1: in the page, Riley or playing professionally at a good level.
Speaker 1: You know, despite the omissions, I'm looking forward to seeing
Speaker 1: the games.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, I'm really excited. And good times for once. Finally,
Speaker 2: I think it's at like one pm and eleven am
Speaker 2: in the day, so yeah, perfect timings for us for
Speaker 2: us to watch. And it's a good group that Michael
Speaker 2: Main's name, no doubt about it. No disrespecting any of
Speaker 2: those players called up, you know, but yeah it is.
Speaker 3: It is very interesting.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and good too that we can talk about competition
Speaker 1: for places in the football Ferns. I think goalkeeper is
Speaker 1: a bit of an issue. I you know, below the
Speaker 1: top keepers and the top keepers for the last little
Speaker 1: while have being vick Essen and Elite and Brianna Edwards.
Speaker 1: There's clearly no depth whatsoever. Geocandy, I'm sure as a
Speaker 1: promising keeper. But as you said to Michael, mate, she
Speaker 1: hasn't played, she hasn't played an a leaguet. She'll be
Speaker 1: one a league game and that was in March of
Speaker 1: twenty twenty three. So but then I think to myself,
Speaker 1: well who else can he have taken for his third keeper?
Speaker 4: Yeah?
Speaker 2: Well, maybe Amy Danielli, but she's she's injured. I think
Speaker 2: she was off the Phoenix roster yesterday as well, so
Speaker 2: she would probably be the next in line. But probably
Speaker 2: the reason you know that we are lacking depth is,
Speaker 2: you know, the coaches before Michael Maine stuck with the
Speaker 2: likes of Aaron Naylor for so long. It's only been
Speaker 2: since yet could come has come in that she's kind
Speaker 2: of changed at and given vick Eson, who has actually
Speaker 2: been pretty good a lot more minutes and hopefully, you know,
Speaker 2: when an elite is back, she'll get that number one jersey.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'd like to see Brie Edwards and Vackessen get
Speaker 1: a game each. Yeah. I know. Darren Baseley, for example,
Speaker 1: has gone with Max Crokham in the last few games,
Speaker 1: even in two match windows. He said, no, you're my
Speaker 1: number one, that's who it is. So you know, Michael
Speaker 1: mayin may decide that I would say vick Essen is
Speaker 1: this number one and give her both games. But I'd
Speaker 1: love to see Briedwarods given a go. Yeah. I think
Speaker 1: I think Geo Candy is certainly the third keeper here
Speaker 1: and we wait to see what happens with an elite.
Speaker 1: Just on an elite no club at the moment. I
Speaker 1: know you've talked about her being a target for Auckland
Speaker 1: f C. I would love to see her at Auckland
Speaker 1: f C. A is one of the foundation players.
Speaker 3: I think it would be such statement to have an
Speaker 3: elite in Alex Paulson.
Speaker 2: Obviously we don't know how long Alex Paulson's going to
Speaker 2: be at that club, but it would just be such
Speaker 2: Auckland FC to do something like that. Yet saying you
Speaker 2: know yet, we're signing arguably the two best young keepers
Speaker 2: New Zealand's ever seen.
Speaker 3: So yeah, I hope that's the case.
Speaker 1: Two Piney all Right games against Costal Recreation say, very
Speaker 1: friendly times for us to watch Sunday the twenty third
Speaker 1: of February at one in the afternoon and Wednesday, the
Speaker 1: twenty sixth of February at eleven am, both being played
Speaker 1: at the Estadio Alejandro Morerasto in cost I wonder if
Speaker 1: I passed my audition for commentary the FFFE with Finy
Speaker 1: and Bonny. Let's go to the A League Saturday afternoon sweltering. Man,
Speaker 1: was it hot on Saturday? Or do I just get
Speaker 1: really really hot?
Speaker 2: Oh?
Speaker 3: I got sunburn? I was sitting on the.
Speaker 2: I want to say, the North stand, and I got sunburned,
Speaker 2: like I was dripping with sweat, like I had to
Speaker 2: move like slide over from my boss who was sitting
Speaker 2: next to me, because I was like it was real swety.
Speaker 2: Hopefully that's not too much information. But then I got
Speaker 2: some burnt like after the game. So yeah, really hot.
Speaker 1: Yeah hot to watch, hot to play, in no doubt.
Speaker 1: But then having said that, you know they go to Australia,
Speaker 1: these teams and play in the likes of Newcastle and
Speaker 1: Adelaide and even Melbourne can get really really hot in
Speaker 1: those places too. It was a beautiful day to watch
Speaker 1: a game of football and another win for Auckland FC
Speaker 1: two one over MacArthur Nato Moreino, who you and I
Speaker 1: are on record a number of times are saying, no,
Speaker 1: he should be off the bench, his role as an
Speaker 1: impact player, come off the bench and score. Well, he
Speaker 1: started nine minutes and he scores a goal.
Speaker 3: I know, I felt bad.
Speaker 2: I said, you know, under my breath, they actually should
Speaker 2: take that back on the podcast on Monday, because yeah,
Speaker 2: he scores what first ten minutes, last ten minutes, I'm
Speaker 2: not sure.
Speaker 3: I'm still not sure. About him.
Speaker 2: But he can finish, and that's what you need in
Speaker 2: these games. You need someone to be clinical.
Speaker 1: It's funny you say that about not being sure about him.
Speaker 1: I'm still a little bit the same. I'm not exactly
Speaker 1: on the fence about him. I think, you know, he's
Speaker 1: their leading goal scorer. It seems such a weird thing
Speaker 1: to say about their leading goal scorer. But after he scored,
Speaker 1: I don't remember him doing any couple lot.
Speaker 2: I don't know, no exactly, and I think someone like
Speaker 2: Jim or mart he was. I thought, you know, another
Speaker 2: great performance from him. Yes he's not on the score sheet,
Speaker 2: but he's creating a lot of opportunities. And I guess
Speaker 2: it depends what a coach is looking for. Do you
Speaker 2: want someone to have an average game but find the
Speaker 2: back of the net or the opposite. So, yeah, it
Speaker 2: is a tricky one. But if he keeps scoring goals,
Speaker 2: I'm not complaining.
Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely right. MacArthur, though, didn't drop their lip. They
Speaker 1: came back and had what I thought was a dead
Speaker 1: set penalty turned down. Actually was nateal Monina who came
Speaker 1: through the back of the MacArthur player. I've looked at
Speaker 1: that on Repline I've got no idea how var has
Speaker 1: not given that as a penalty.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it was a bit interesting. I thought it was
Speaker 2: a penalty as well, and they were very lucky, so
Speaker 2: I guess probably fair and enough that they scored shortly after.
Speaker 1: Yep vleisure Man with the header which Alex Paulson saved
Speaker 1: very well but only parried into the path of Jake Holman,
Speaker 1: who charged in and made it one one. And around
Speaker 1: about that same time, Nando Pineker went off injured. Now
Speaker 1: I don't know whether you've heard anything more about his
Speaker 1: ankle injury, have you.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I've heard it's just a rolled ankle, and by
Speaker 2: the second half i'd heard that he was okay and
Speaker 2: it probably wasn't as serious as it seemed two days
Speaker 2: since then it could be worse. I understand he was
Speaker 2: getting scans today, so no doubt we'll hear an update soon.
Speaker 2: But yeah, it was a shame he just kind of
Speaker 2: went over and I thought at that moment Steve Corricer,
Speaker 2: who had said to you Piney, I think earlier that
Speaker 2: day that he decided not to replace Dan Hall the
Speaker 2: center back and the January transfer window, so I.
Speaker 3: Think he would have been switting that decision.
Speaker 1: Well, hopefully, hopefully Nando's okay, just a rolled ankle. They've
Speaker 1: got a good thing for him is they've got a
Speaker 1: bye this week, so he's gone extra week to try
Speaker 1: and get it right. But you're right, Bonnie, without without
Speaker 1: Nando Pineker and Dan Hall who you know, obviously with
Speaker 1: the starting center backs at the start of the season.
Speaker 1: I'm not saying Tommy Smith and a Rokie Sarky isn't
Speaker 1: a very serviceable central defensive pairing. But you wouldn't more
Speaker 1: wanted them to get in jib, would you.
Speaker 2: No, exactly, it wouldn't. I don't even know what they
Speaker 2: would do. Maybe someone like drop Louis Vistrata back you
Speaker 2: wouldn't want to lose, you know, Franny Francis Debrees, who's
Speaker 2: so attacking.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it would.
Speaker 2: It would cause a lot of headaches for for old
Speaker 2: Steve Okorrika.
Speaker 1: Well, let's wait with interest on Nando Pinaker's ankle. Just
Speaker 1: on Francis Devrees. What a weapon, what a player he's
Speaker 1: become for this team.
Speaker 2: Oh so good. I just like in the highlights, like
Speaker 2: the whole highlights package. You know, you had the three
Speaker 2: minute one and then at the ten minute one that
Speaker 2: the A League cut up and like every single highlight
Speaker 2: is him crossing the ball or just about every single highlight,
Speaker 2: and they're so good, and the fact that we can
Speaker 2: only score two goals, like he's putting them in the
Speaker 2: perfect perfect spot for these for these forwards, like yeah,
Speaker 2: it's just insane and good on him, Like he's grown
Speaker 2: so much into this team, and if he's not starting
Speaker 2: for the All.
Speaker 3: Whites, like that's, yeah, that's.
Speaker 2: Serious concern because I've watched the All Whites the last
Speaker 2: couple of tours obviously, and that's been my number one
Speaker 2: critique as the balls being fed into the box. So yeah,
Speaker 2: surely he's asuing for that. But it's over Libby.
Speaker 1: Yeah, but I think I think that. But you've always
Speaker 1: got it. You always pick somebody else. Well, two things here,
Speaker 1: you're right, Libby is he's one of probably only two
Speaker 1: or three players in the team who just plays, you know,
Speaker 1: because he is who he is. Chris Wood another one.
Speaker 1: But then you think to his O, Okay, well, EMPLEI
Speaker 1: been playing Libby a bit further forward. He's been playing,
Speaker 1: so they've been playing like a three four three, so wingbacks,
Speaker 1: I guess you'd say, and Libby's been playing in a
Speaker 1: wingback role, so imagine that.
Speaker 3: Yeah, but both on that side.
Speaker 1: But imagine Chris Wood must I don't know where I
Speaker 1: presume he he watches the A League. He must see
Speaker 1: Francis dev Reees putting these balls into the box and
Speaker 1: be licking his lips.
Speaker 2: Oh exactly, And that's what I mean. I think Chris
Speaker 2: Wood was really hard done by. And I want to
Speaker 2: say it was towards zend last year when they played
Speaker 2: Malaysia out at North Harbor Stadium, and I just remember
Speaker 2: watching that game, going these balls aren't aren't great, you know,
Speaker 2: maybe and I thought maybe it was the runs as
Speaker 2: well into the box.
Speaker 3: But when you.
Speaker 2: See how many goals Chris Wood's scoring in the Premier
Speaker 2: League right now, and you see how many exceptional balls
Speaker 2: Francis de Reese is putting into the box in the
Speaker 2: A League, Yep, they'll go hand in hand.
Speaker 1: Yeah, one plus one allegal two, that's for sure. Yeah.
Speaker 1: I Well, there's a and I think we have mentioned
Speaker 1: this before on the podcast. There's a bit of a
Speaker 1: long jam of potential backups to Libby. If you say, okay,
Speaker 1: Libby's the first choice left back. If you're playing a
Speaker 1: World Cup game. But the backups there are a few,
Speaker 1: the likes of Francis Devrees and Sam Sutton and Lucas
Speaker 1: Kelly Healed and James mcgowry and Dalton Wilkins. There's quite
Speaker 1: a few. But for me, Francis Devreees, I think would
Speaker 1: I think he'll be in the squad for the for
Speaker 1: the All Whites in the in these World Cup qualifiers
Speaker 1: in March. I just think he has to be.
Speaker 2: Yeah, he offers something else, and I've I've kind of
Speaker 2: seen Franny over the last couple of years play for
Speaker 2: Eastern Suburbs. He actually coached me on a couple of sessions.
Speaker 2: But he's got this great mindset where it is so
Speaker 2: so calm and he never gets angry at himself that
Speaker 2: I know of, and he's yeah, he's just so in
Speaker 2: control of his emotions. And I wonder if more players
Speaker 2: need to learn that skill because it's it's clearly working
Speaker 2: for him. I'd love to go and pick his brain
Speaker 2: at some point. But yeah, as you say, Piney, he's
Speaker 2: he's surely issueing for for the All Whites. He just
Speaker 2: offers something else, even even a dead ball, you know,
Speaker 2: a corner cack or a free kick.
Speaker 3: It's yeah, really really good left foot.
Speaker 1: Yeah. Look he's he's for me. He's been one of
Speaker 1: the most impressive players in this team. What I also
Speaker 1: like the fact that he gave it a crack Overseas
Speaker 1: did and he spent some time up in the United
Speaker 1: States and then he was over in Europe for a while,
Speaker 1: you know, in Sweden or Denmark or Norway or something. Yeah,
Speaker 1: and it didn't quite work out for him, so he
Speaker 1: came back played for Eastern Suburbs, as you say, and
Speaker 1: has proved that the step from national league to a
Speaker 1: league is doable if you're a good enough player, and
Speaker 1: you know, you can add Liam Gilly into that, you
Speaker 1: can add Cam Howison to that. So I think it's
Speaker 1: looking great for the women's team when they get together,
Speaker 1: you know, for next season, because a number of them
Speaker 1: are going to be drawn from the national league that
Speaker 1: you know, the best ones can make the step up,
Speaker 1: and I think Francis Devrez is a great example of that.
Speaker 1: He put the cross in for Louis via Strata to
Speaker 1: score his first goal for Auckland FC. It was the
Speaker 1: winner late again, although by comparison to some of the
Speaker 1: other goals it was actually quite early in the eightieth minute.
Speaker 1: The only only I guess blot on this was that
Speaker 1: Louis Strata picked up a yellow card late in the
Speaker 1: game and that's five now, so he'll miss the next game.
Speaker 1: Thankfully it's not the derby, and you know, many ways,
Speaker 1: Steve Coriker probably is as secretly a little bit pleased
Speaker 1: that lous Estrada is not going to play against Western
Speaker 1: United when when they travel over there in a couple
Speaker 1: of weeks he'll be nice and fresh and available for
Speaker 1: the derby. But you take him out of the team
Speaker 1: and it is a big loss.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it is a big loss.
Speaker 2: But you know, with cam House and you know, on
Speaker 2: his road to recovery getting more minutes over the weekend,
Speaker 2: they do have options now in the midfield.
Speaker 3: That's you know, I mean that's that's.
Speaker 2: Including Nando Pinekes who plays also down down the middle
Speaker 2: of the park. So yeah, you definitely, I'd still worry
Speaker 2: about the depth in the squad. I think just because
Speaker 2: their starting team is so good, you know, and they're
Speaker 2: not there, you do.
Speaker 3: Worry a little bit.
Speaker 2: But I want to give a special shout out as
Speaker 2: well to call and Elliott. I thought he's come on
Speaker 2: and done his job so well. Again, I think he
Speaker 2: got player of the match. You know, it's such a
Speaker 2: tough ask to come on and replace the skipper or
Speaker 2: he didn't replace him, but you know, moved into his
Speaker 2: position and he does his job. No, he's not Hiroki Sakai.
Speaker 2: He knows that as well. But he offers a lot
Speaker 2: to this team and I think he should be really
Speaker 2: proud with the mentality that he brings when he comes on.
Speaker 1: Yeah. I could not agree more. And it might be
Speaker 1: that Steve Kreker says, right, Nando, I don't want you
Speaker 1: to be risked against Western United. I mean we're starting
Speaker 1: to talk about two or three players not going to
Speaker 1: Western United, who let's not forget beat Auckland FC four
Speaker 1: nil before Christmas and what is looking more and more
Speaker 1: like an outlier, but the fact remains. But like if
Speaker 1: he does have to line up with Callen Elliott, Hiroki Sakai,
Speaker 1: Tommy Smith and Francis Devrees, it's a pretty serviceable sort
Speaker 1: of a back four. And in front of them. I
Speaker 1: saw Cam Howison after the game actually and he's and
Speaker 1: he said, I see I'm now taking over the role
Speaker 1: of closer. Because of course he came on laving the game.
Speaker 1: I said, mate, you're going to probably have to start
Speaker 1: next week, so I wouldn't get too used to closing
Speaker 1: things out. But yeah, if Cam Howison's sitting in front
Speaker 1: of of a back four like that, I think it's
Speaker 1: pretty serviceable. You do worry though about what happens if
Speaker 1: there is another injury, and you know, I guess that's
Speaker 1: when we find out a bit about the depth of
Speaker 1: Auckland FC. But for the meantime, they remain five points
Speaker 1: clear of Adelaide who have a game in hand, so
Speaker 1: if they win that then it's just the two points
Speaker 1: Auckland FC have the buy, then Western United away and
Speaker 1: then Derby number three on the twenty second of February
Speaker 1: sept for another salout. I'm hearing only a few hundred
Speaker 1: tickets remain in various places around go Media Stadium, so
Speaker 1: that will be one to definitely put a ring.
Speaker 3: Around Football Fever with Jason Vine and Bonnie Jensen.
Speaker 1: Wellington Phoenix men had a buy over the weekend. We'll
Speaker 1: get to their upcoming game in a moment. The women's side, though,
Speaker 1: went to Perry Park and Brisbane last night and went
Speaker 1: down one nill to Brisbane. That's back to back one
Speaker 1: NILL losses for the Phoenix women away after they went
Speaker 1: down by the same score to the Central Coast marin
Speaker 1: Is a week ago. I thought the Phoenix deserved something
Speaker 1: out of this game.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I know, but we said that last week as well, Piney,
Speaker 2: And I'm starting to feel like they've got to be
Speaker 2: converting all these opportunities they're having in front of goal,
Speaker 2: don't you think?
Speaker 3: I know?
Speaker 1: One, they had twenty two shots. Twenty two shots to wait,
Speaker 1: so yeah, no, you're right, and you're so right. I
Speaker 1: can say all I like, II, they deserve to get something,
Speaker 1: They deserve to get something, but the table doesn't. The
Speaker 1: table doesn't demonstrate that, does it. You've got to actually
Speaker 1: get something to get something.
Speaker 2: Yeah, with twenty two shots, you know, converting some of those,
Speaker 2: you know, even one of those is what sets teams
Speaker 2: apart looking towards the playoffs. And you know, I think
Speaker 2: the Phoenix with a better team you sitay against Brisbane,
Speaker 2: but obviously they're they're more in line now for a
Speaker 2: playoff spot because they can convert in these big moments.
Speaker 2: It's like Auckland f C continue to do. Yeah, I
Speaker 2: think I don't know if we can keep kind of
Speaker 2: making excuses that you know that they were hard done
Speaker 2: to it and not saying you are party, but because
Speaker 2: I've been making that, you know, I still think they're
Speaker 2: a really, really good side, but they've got to find
Speaker 2: a way to be more clinical.
Speaker 1: Yeah, well, this is the true six pointer because Brisbane,
Speaker 1: by winning this game go to twenty four points. That's
Speaker 1: five points clear of the Phoenix. If the Phoenix are
Speaker 1: one that they would have jumped over Brisbane. So yeah,
Speaker 1: it's it's no, it's a very very well made point
Speaker 1: that you know, you can dominate, you can have all
Speaker 1: the chances, but if they don't go in the back
Speaker 1: of the net, then you're simply not going to pick
Speaker 1: up the points. Paul Temple was adamant that the Brisbane
Speaker 1: goal was a foul on his goalkeeper, Carolina Vlao. What
Speaker 1: did you think?
Speaker 2: Yeah, I do think it probably was a foul. And
Speaker 2: every time we talk about these kind of contentious points
Speaker 2: in a match, it riles me up even more that
Speaker 2: there's no var and I don't know how much, you know,
Speaker 2: how many more times crucial points like this have to
Speaker 2: happen in the game for there to be a change.
Speaker 2: I know, you know that the woman's game doesn't make
Speaker 2: as much money as the men's. I know all that crap,
Speaker 2: but I yeah, it's just you know, it lets these
Speaker 2: these players down that are actually, you know, putting in
Speaker 2: all this effort like the men are to play actually
Speaker 2: part time football or be kind of committing full time,
Speaker 2: but they're paid a part time salary just to not
Speaker 2: have some sort of help from from a var But
Speaker 2: in terms of that one incident, yes, I think it
Speaker 2: was a foul.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm not sure. I've had a look at it
Speaker 1: and it's not absolutely blatant. I think Carolynavilau is on
Speaker 1: the shorter side of goalkeepers, but she's still quite physically
Speaker 1: imposing in and around a penalty area, a great shot stopper.
Speaker 1: But I just think one thing that she's not is
Speaker 1: particularly tall. That's not her fault, you know, and often
Speaker 1: you hear, you know that that goalkeepers get a lot
Speaker 1: of protection. All you know, an attack has to do
Speaker 1: is touch them and they go to ground and they
Speaker 1: get a foul. So yeah, I'm not sure it's app
Speaker 1: absolutely blatant. I think Paul Temple's got a point, But
Speaker 1: I also wonder whether if it had been ruled out,
Speaker 1: whether you know whether Brisbane coach Alex Smith would have said, well, hey,
Speaker 1: that's definitely not a foul. He probably would have fact remains,
Speaker 1: it's a goal and Brisbane get the points. Amelia Abbott
Speaker 1: we finally saw her day bul off the bench. I
Speaker 1: thought she was quite solid.
Speaker 2: Yeah, she looked good. I think she came on in
Speaker 2: that right right full back position. It looked like but
Speaker 2: I remember her playing more midfield back at kind of
Speaker 2: age group level, but maybe that was a way to
Speaker 2: ease her into it, or maybe that's where she's been
Speaker 2: playing over in the States in college football. So yeah,
Speaker 2: really excited by her and to see how she kind
Speaker 2: of goes in these last, you know, second half of
Speaker 2: the season. Another one that I would just based on
Speaker 2: what I've seen from her in the last few years
Speaker 2: that you know, as I'm probably a football fin spot.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think she has played once, hasn't she She
Speaker 1: had she's got a solitary cap. I think it wasn't
Speaker 1: back in twenty twenty one against Canada or something similar. Anyway,
Speaker 1: she Yeah, you're right, she's clearly if she's playing professional football,
Speaker 1: then she's putting herself in the frame. So the Phoenix
Speaker 1: are eighth, only three points though outside the top six,
Speaker 1: and there are still nine games to go. And I
Speaker 1: say this every week, but it's similar to last year.
Speaker 1: They now have exactly the same number of points as
Speaker 1: they had at the same stage last year after fourteen games.
Speaker 1: Last year they had nineteen points after fourteen games. This
Speaker 1: year they've got nineteen points and it is now up
Speaker 1: to Wellington Phoenix to find a way of avoiding what
Speaker 1: happened last season. And happily for them, they've got a
Speaker 1: number of home games and they start with Melbourne Victory,
Speaker 1: which is a tough game this coming weekend. Then they're
Speaker 1: away at Perth and then four of their five games
Speaker 1: in March are at home. So I think their season
Speaker 1: rises and falls on what happens in March.
Speaker 2: I think if they can get a point against Melbourne
Speaker 2: Victory at home next weekend, that'll be huge. Melbourne Victory
Speaker 2: stole stole a couple of points from Melbourne City. They're
Speaker 2: obviously second on the table. They're a really good side,
Speaker 2: but the Phoenix are great at home. So if they
Speaker 2: can take a point this weekend, I'd be pleased with that,
Speaker 2: and then they go away to Perth who are near
Speaker 2: the bottom of the table. They should win that, So
Speaker 2: four points out of the next two games, and then
Speaker 2: when they get to March, let's go, let's bring on
Speaker 2: the playoffs.
Speaker 1: Yeah, indeed, I think they feel like a playoff team.
Speaker 1: They do.
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, that's I feel bad for kind of roasting
Speaker 2: them before saying they need to be more clinical, because
Speaker 2: that is the only positive to take out of it,
Speaker 2: as they are competing with these teams, which even though
Speaker 2: they were on the same amount of points last season,
Speaker 2: I don't think they were as competitive as they are now.
Speaker 2: So that is the only kind of confidence I'm taking
Speaker 2: from from these losses is that if they do make
Speaker 2: the playoffs, they could you know, they could get up
Speaker 2: there and have a really good, good crack at it.
Speaker 1: I think you're right to critique them because that's what
Speaker 1: top six teams are. They're clinical, they're ruthless. They score
Speaker 1: their goals. They don't have twenty two shots and not
Speaker 1: get any. They have twenty two shots and score a couple.
Speaker 3: That's why even if it's even if it's in the
Speaker 3: ninety seventh minute.
Speaker 1: Doesn't matter. They all count for one Bonnie. They all
Speaker 1: count for one. So yeah, next up against Melbourn Victory
Speaker 1: on Saturday. That's at pottydo A Park, the next game
Speaker 1: for the Wellington Phoenix women. Just a quick word on
Speaker 1: the Wellington Phoenix men who had to buy this weekend.
Speaker 1: But this coming Thursday, why Tongi Day, they welcome Brisbane
Speaker 1: to sky Stadium. This to me has has must win
Speaker 1: game written all over it. Brisbane have been really, really
Speaker 1: poor this season, just one win from fourteen games, two
Speaker 1: draws and eleven losses. I mean those are New Zealand
Speaker 1: Nights numbers from the deep dark past. The Phoenix haven't
Speaker 1: been great either with five wins, three draws and six
Speaker 1: defeats and worrying the only fifteen goals. Bruceb have scored
Speaker 1: more than them with sixteen. But for me, this has
Speaker 1: to be where where Wellington Phoenix not necessarily turn a corner,
Speaker 1: but because they've they've got points in their last three games.
Speaker 1: But they have to win this game.
Speaker 3: Oh yeah, they do.
Speaker 2: They really do have to, especially after you know, coming
Speaker 2: off off the back of a bye, they've rested. It's
Speaker 2: a midweek game, probably will be uncomfortable for Brisbane coming here.
Speaker 2: I don't know what else more to say, other than
Speaker 2: they need the points, you know, and and it'll give
Speaker 2: them a good a good boost on the ladder as well.
Speaker 2: You know, I think it'll take them up to eighth.
Speaker 2: So yeah, just keep them, keep them close and not
Speaker 2: too far out of reach from from that top six
Speaker 2: playoff spots. And I still think they've got something in
Speaker 2: them to prove, you know, especially with Alex Ruther and
Speaker 2: Tim Payne hopefully coming back soon.
Speaker 3: You don't have any updates on that point.
Speaker 2: I don't, Yeah, I just I think hopefully they come
Speaker 2: back at the right time when the team really need
Speaker 2: them and gives them the boosts before, you know, towards
Speaker 2: the playoffs. I'm not convince their top six side, but
Speaker 2: I think they could still do it.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think they can too. There's certainly enough points
Speaker 1: available to them as things stand. As you say, they're
Speaker 1: on eighteen points from fourteen games. It's a bit hard
Speaker 1: to judge. In the men's competition and the women's everybody's
Speaker 1: played fourteen games, so it's very easy to get a
Speaker 1: snapshot of where everybody is. But across the A League men,
Speaker 1: some teams have played fourteen, including the Phoenix, some have
Speaker 1: played fifteen, and there are three or four teams who
Speaker 1: have played sixteen games already, so there's games in hand
Speaker 1: all over the place. What we do know is that
Speaker 1: the Phoenix are on eighteen points. They are six points
Speaker 1: outside the top six, but they do have two games
Speaker 1: in hand over the team, the teams in fact Sydney
Speaker 1: FC and MacArthur who currently are in fifth and sixth place.
Speaker 1: So the mass would tell you'll win your two games
Speaker 1: in hand and you're right in there. It's a tough
Speaker 1: little run though. Beyond Brisbane for the Phoenix men, they
Speaker 1: are away at Melbourne victory at Amy Park, a place
Speaker 1: they had ever win, then the derby, Then they welcome
Speaker 1: Melbourne City, who are always a tough proposition. Then they're
Speaker 1: away at Western United and away at Sydney FC. I mean,
Speaker 1: there are no easy games in the A League, but
Speaker 1: that's a tough little run.
Speaker 3: Is it too soon to talk about the derby? Because
Speaker 3: I want the Phoenix to win that.
Speaker 1: Just for the narrative, I think it is too early
Speaker 1: to talk about it.
Speaker 3: You're talking about it next week, Well, you're.
Speaker 1: Talk about it next week or maybe even the week
Speaker 1: after that. I don't want to tell you for that
Speaker 1: one start talking about it three weeks out. But yeah,
Speaker 1: but then having said that, there is so much excitement
Speaker 1: around about it, and if it's anything like the other
Speaker 1: two then it's going to be going to be quite
Speaker 1: the contest and quite the occasion. So Phoenix Men Brisbane,
Speaker 1: five o'clock Thursday at Sky Stadium, Football Fever News Talk
Speaker 1: SIB I'm going to finish with Kiwis Overseas. Hard to
Speaker 1: find any more words for Chris Wood. What an incredible,
Speaker 1: incredible time he is having seventeen goals in the Premier
Speaker 1: League now this season, eighty six all up. That's inside
Speaker 1: the top fifty all time Premier League goalscorer since the
Speaker 1: Premier League started in nineteen ninety two. Forrest to third.
Speaker 1: They're having a dream run. A hat trick for Chris
Speaker 1: Wood over the weekend against Brighton. I'm not quite sure
Speaker 1: what else there is to say.
Speaker 2: I know, I feel like he's putting every game this.
Speaker 2: Every week this Premier League goes by and he scores
Speaker 2: another goal, He's putting his hand up even higher to
Speaker 2: be you know, the Hallberg.
Speaker 3: Supreme winner at the Sports Awards.
Speaker 2: I think it's I think it's this month, you know,
Speaker 2: I was sure Lydia Coe was a shoeing for that,
Speaker 2: but now I'm not sure because Chris Wood just yeah
Speaker 2: on fire.
Speaker 1: Well unhappily for him that what he's doing at the
Speaker 1: moment doesn't come inside the criteria, does it. So maybe,
Speaker 1: but then we need to bank this for next season.
Speaker 1: We need to thank this and say right next year
Speaker 1: he might be assurant forget Yeah, other players playing over
Speaker 1: So he's been all back in training. That's good news.
Speaker 1: He hasn't played for a while with the injury he
Speaker 1: picked up before Christmas. James mcgowry's gone out to a
Speaker 1: Greek club on loan from Aberdeen. George Stranger, who's a
Speaker 1: guy who played a little bit for the All Whites
Speaker 1: a little while ago. But it's kind of flying under
Speaker 1: the radar a little bit. He plays in Scotland for
Speaker 1: Air United, now the top of the Scottish Championship. He
Speaker 1: got a goal the other day. Has been linked with
Speaker 1: a move to Gillingham in the UK. There are rumors
Speaker 1: around Libby Kakachi and a possible move to Turkey for him.
Speaker 1: Tyler Binden continues to get talked about in a move
Speaker 1: from Reading to another club in England. Maybe someone up
Speaker 1: in the championship Blackburn Rovers gets thrown around a lot
Speaker 1: and Luke's superic. This one came out of the blue.
Speaker 1: Luke super out of the Wellington Phoenix linked with Stoke
Speaker 1: City during the week. I've got no idea where where
Speaker 1: this came from or whether there's any evidence to back
Speaker 1: it up, but Luke's superic. Apparently he's on the radar
Speaker 1: of Stoke City. Now A little was a Kiwi reunion?
Speaker 1: Was it this morning over in the UK?
Speaker 3: Yeah?
Speaker 2: It was Piney A bit of a Kiwi derby unfolding
Speaker 2: there in that Woman's Championship in England. That's the Seeking
Speaker 2: Tier competition. Mickey Foster and Hannah Blake both play for Durham,
Speaker 2: and Jackie Hand and Olivia Page, who is an age
Speaker 2: group football fern, both played for Sheffield. They drew one
Speaker 2: all this morning, Mickey Foster on the score sheet and
Speaker 2: Jackie Hand on the score sheet.
Speaker 1: Amazing, amazing. I think Mickey's was from a direct from
Speaker 1: a corner ray.
Speaker 3: I think so yeah, I think so yeah.
Speaker 2: I've been following those teams and it's quite cool and
Speaker 2: wouldn't Obviously three of those four names have been caught
Speaker 2: up to the football firms, but wouldn't be surprised if
Speaker 2: if Olivia Page is also knocking on the door. Also,
Speaker 2: Millie Kleig has been placed on on loan from Racing Louisville.
Speaker 2: She only got one cap I believe for that NWS
Speaker 2: NWSL side last season. She's been put on loan to
Speaker 2: Halifax Tights, which is a new Canadian team and the
Speaker 2: new Canadian Professional Women's Soccer League. And then Ali Green
Speaker 2: has moved to Calgary.
Speaker 1: I think that's Mikayla Moore's club, isn't it. Mikayla Moore
Speaker 1: is a Calgary the Calgary Wild that's another one in
Speaker 1: that Canadian league. So yeah, so Ellie Green linking up
Speaker 1: with MICHAELA. Moore so a key we influenced there. There
Speaker 1: you go, Okay, I think that's us, Bonnie. I think
Speaker 1: we've we've covered just about everything we needed to today,
Speaker 1: so yeah, we put it in the box. We look
Speaker 1: forward to the weekend ahead with the Wellington Phoenix men
Speaker 1: playing on Thursday, the Wellington Phoenix women playing on Saturday.
Speaker 1: Auckland FC with the bye, but I guess unless there's
Speaker 1: an urgent need for us to get back together, we'll
Speaker 1: reconvene again next Monday.
Speaker 2: Sounds good, Puny looking forward to it.
Speaker 1: This is football fever.