Football Ferns
IMO when she starts we concede more goals than we should and for whatever reason the defense's confidence looks decidedly low when they are in front of her.
Serious questions need to be asked about the coaching staff's competence to coach and manage the national team.
I think Nayler is 3rd choice. She had a least 1 howler going back to the 2019 WWC from memory as well. But she has a lot of experience that will be useful for Esson & Keat to continually learn from in squad settings.
But you wonder if there is little bit of player power from some of the older heads, that Nayler is still getting starts in these windows rotating with Esson, who's been very good since coming in.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/128351712/football-ferns-to-keep-seeking-matches-against-higherranked-opponents
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/128353861/momentum-building-for-all-whites-and-socceroos-to-play-for-first-time-since-2011
NZ Football is also confident the Football Ferns will play at home at least once in the second half of the year.
International football – the road ahead
Football Ferns
IMO when she starts we concede more goals than we should and for whatever reason the defense's confidence looks decidedly low when they are in front of her.
Serious questions need to be asked about the coaching staff's competence to coach and manage the national team.
We have no idea how Alfeld compares to Esson and Naylor because she hasn’t had an opportunity. The She believes cup was a perfect chance to play each of the keepers. Klitka needs to give the players a decent opportunity to show what they can do. Two seasons ago Perth were probably stoked they had Alfeld in goal, she was the best part of their squad. They gave her a chance.
I think Bott, Bowen and Rosie White could be a great midfield combo with skill, athleticism and balance- so long as White is fit again.
That would leave Chance, Stachell, Rollston, Rennie, Jale, Wilkinson as options up front. With the likes of Kaite Rood, Aimee Philips and Jacqui Hand and are their any others that are left field options that may have breakout seasons to force their way into the Ferns reckoning?
I think we have lots of options in defence - just depends on who is on form and good flexibility with players being able to play a couple of different positions.
Looking back to when John Herdman was in charge of the U20 womens team (I think Russia- when Hasset and Percival were in that age group) then the Ferns the team has evolved and increased hugely in depth. Back then most of the squad was from domestic club sides, so the improvement and changes for the players has been a huge adaptation too.
Looking forward to continued progress with the female teams. That’s massive if they can get a further 8 games this calendar year.
So Anna Leat stayed behind at West Ham rather than go on tour with The Ferns so she could focus on club. But since the international break hasn't even made a squad last two games. Did she injure herself?
Also still no sign of CJ Bott at Leicester. Still injured I presume. Anyone know how bad the injury is?
On a brighter note.
In the NPL Vic Women.
Looks like Grace Jale has been scoring goals for Heidelberg.
2 in a cup game last week and another this weekend.
And Malia Steinmetz is playing in midfield with Izy Gomez (from the Nix team) for Northern Tigers who are two wins from two so far in the NPL NSW Women league.
This league is full of quality ALW players even some Matilda's. So a good league for these girls to be playing in before they move further overseas. Good level, close to home, same culture as NZ etc.
Note Aimee Philips plays for Sydney Olympic in the same league. Potentially more NZers there that I don't know of.
The Football Ferns are heading to Europe to play Norway and Wales next month. 3am and 5am not great kickoff times for the New Zealand audience though. https://t.co/kNmXnFi1e3
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) May 4, 2022
💥 Behind the Scenes 💥@HannahWilkinso1 explains how she came up with her @edenparknz mural design, shares the secrets behind her art style, and talks about the connection between art and football 🎨⚽️ pic.twitter.com/vSjyHn0D8h
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) May 11, 2022
And Jacquie Hand with an assist in Finland in a 4-1 win.
Women’s International Player of the Year:
Ria Percival (Ford Football Ferns/Tottenham Hotspur)
Women’s Domestic Player of the Year:
Annalie Longo (Canterbury United Pride)
Women’s Young Player of the Year:
Anna Leat (Ford Football Ferns/FFDP/West Ham United)
Women’s Coach of the Year:
Gemma Lewis (FFDP/Wellington Phoenix)
Best Moment:
Rebekah Stott returning to football after recovering from cancer
We're pleased to confirm our Ford Football Ferns squad for our upcoming games against Norway and Wales 🇳🇿
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) June 16, 2022
They have there world cup in India in October
Latest squad has 11 players with less than 10 caps. Some big names missing though
Percival, Erceg, Bott, Leat. also White still not involved.
They have 2 games in 3 days. in Norway and Spain. And a lot of these girls have not been playing regular games of late. Going to be a bit of a juggle for Klinkova to manage. But plenty of the squad should get at least some game time.
Norway will be tough. Wales beat us 1-0 last time we played them.
Lily Alfeld; A-League Off Season Programme, NZ (0/0)
First Ford Football Ferns Oslo training session done ✅
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) June 18, 2022
Welcome to Ullevaal Stadion, Norway’s national stadium where the Ferns will be playing this weekend 🇳🇴🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/aSsPz2fcBW
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) June 22, 2022
GO THE FERNS! 💪⚽ Some more valuable playing time for our Ford Football Ferns as they continue their build-up to next year's FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ with matches against Norway & Wales - LIVE on Sky Sport!
— Sky Sport NZ (@skysportnz) June 22, 2022
📸 @photosportnz pic.twitter.com/Evi4kqJSwO
Who do you think is the fastest player in camp? pic.twitter.com/62lD7uaHXX
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) June 21, 2022
Final Ferns arrived in camp ❤️🇳🇿🌿 pic.twitter.com/DDS0QYPFmd
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) June 21, 2022
She should be getting blooded in now.
The second match, against Wales, will give the clearest indication of where the Ferns are at, just over 12 months out from the next Fifa Women’s World Cup, which New Zealand will host alongside Australia.
Here is how we start against @nff_landslag 🇳🇿🇳🇴
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) June 25, 2022
Annalie Longo comes back into the side to earn her 125th cap.
Rebekah Stott captains the team.
Ali Riley and Ashley Ward are both out injured. #NZLvNOR pic.twitter.com/yyVyEgva0E
How the first half looked at Ullevaal Stadium
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) June 25, 2022
📸 @PhotosportNZ pic.twitter.com/TN9CMyP8u2
Ada Hegerberg first-ever recipient of the Ballon d'Or Féminin, with Norway's 1st goal. Her 1st game for Norway in a few years.
Off NZF's twitter feed seems Ferns created a few chances at least.
They are missing alot players this window, so good that younger brigade will be getting some minutes. Plus Riley & Ward pulled up lame before kick off - that's both the main LB options ain't it?
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/06/25/world/friendly-women/norway/new-zealand/3768484/
The defeat to Norway, who are ranked 11th in the world by Fifa, means the Ferns have now gone six games without a win in 2022, while scoring just twice.
She should be getting blooded in now.
Sounds like Ferns have not called up U20 players for this window, so U20s can solely focus on preparing for their August WC in Costa Rica.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/129047223/football-ferns-insist-theres-momentum-to-be-built-on-as-they-seek-their-first-win-in-2022
Klimková has adapted her plans to avoid calling on players from the current under-20 setup until after their World Cup in Costa Rica in August, selecting centre back Kate Taylor for her first Ferns squad this time around.
Norway are ranked higher than the Ferns, and have one of the world's best female players in Hegerberg. They have a heap of players in English Women's Super League, and had 2 in the UEFA Women's Champions League Final (Hegerberg & another at Barcelona). Was also yet another away game for the Ferns.
As AV says in an article the Ferns should beat Wales next, who are ranked lower than them. Fail to win that game, then yes Klimkova will be under pressure.
But lets not forget the WWC next year will be at home. At home in a NZ winter, the Ferns could easily pinch a win over a Norway. It's the States, Matildas, Canada, Sweden, Japan and the like they probably end up getting knocked out by.
Edit - actually see Norway at 11th, ranked higher than both Australia (12th) & Japan (13th). So a 2-0 loss not unexpected, and the 2nd goal was conceded late on.
https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/women?dateId=ranking_20220617
Ferns have been playing teams ranked above them exclusively of late. But yeah Wales they need to beat.
She’s on a six year contract (until 2027!), she’s going nowhere unless she wants to
England 5 Netherlands 1
Germany 7 Switzerland 0
Spain 7 Australia 0
Every cloud has a silver lining. Ferns might have lost 2-0 but 7-0 is a hard to take game, especially with Australia and their win at any cost attitudes.
Some context. Was a very understrength, experimental Matildas. And their coach has copped some right flak about his selections.
https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/why-this-why-now-matildas-tactics-slammed-after-harrowing-70-loss/news-story/916f19096955fc4e301bdc637a4eb88b