Football Ferns

Procrastinixing

Hope she isn't part of the yellow card syndicate as well, lol.

The assistant coach has every motivation to do a great job in Jitkas absence.

Fixed too many loses against shark teams maybe?

Stolen some NZF fax paper?

Interesting take on the above by SENZ yesterday on one of their afternoon shows.

He listed all the high performance coaches who have been accused of bullying (not saying this is the case) and that there may in the future be a reluctance on the part of male coaches going into women sports. He highlighted the kayaking, cycling, hockey to football prior etc.

Obviously the coach isn't male - but if once again if the issue is around bullying, at what stage do we look at the player/athlete group.

Have there been similar issues in Australia women's sport out of curiosity? Have there been similar issues in Mens sport in NZ? 

Do our female athletes have the resiliance/fortitude required to be delivered hard truths in straight terms? Is it reasonable for them to be given this way??

I don't have the answer - but I am over the drama.

For sure Australia had their own high profile comparison with Alen Stajcic sacked as Matildas coach. 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-22/matildas-environment-of-stress-and-fear/10734412

Interesting that most of these episodes seem to occur in the international,  rather than the club game. Heraf. Half the Spanish team pulling out before last year's Womens World Cup, plus their post WWC dramas.

Of course the Nix had Chloe Knott leave messily, but most of the mass team protest stuff seems to occurr on the international scene.

In my naviety I thought getting more quality female coaches, coaching female teams would be the answer and solve alot of this. But now seemingly we have a similar issue with Klimokova, and she ain't a man. 

Its a really hard one to get your head around aye. In NZ we've had a multitide of bullying comp[laints and issues in high performace sport, most male coaches of female athletes. Some cases it is genuinely overly aggressive and pushy coaches but on the flip side it is amatuer sports people not liking the change too the professional world where expectations and demands are higher. In the current Ferns setup I think there is a bit of player power coming to the fore again. Not saying that Klimkova should be staying, but it shouldnt be up to the player group solely.

theprof

Its a really hard one to get your head around aye. In NZ we've had a multitide of bullying comp[laints and issues in high performace sport, most male coaches of female athletes. Some cases it is genuinely overly aggressive and pushy coaches but on the flip side it is amatuer sports people not liking the change too the professional worl where expectations and demands are higher. In the current Ferns setup I think there is a bit of player power coming to the fore again. Not saying that Klimkova should be staying, but it shouldnt be up to the player group solely.

A lot of it feels like the ladies just want to party like amateurs in the pro sport environment. When push comes to shove and proper professionalism kicks in, they struggle. 

Interestingly, it seems be a lot more common in team sports where I guess it's a lot less cutthroat then the world of golf/tennis/swimming where you have to perform to gain sponsorship/be competitive to be in a position to live off your sport.

Is there a point where NZF say - this is the third time we have had these types of complaints... we need a culture shift.

Ladies, if you do something wrong, if you under perform, if you don't do the hard yards and the coach gives you a dressing down our message is simple as an organisation.

Work harder and do better - earn the praise you want.

I do think there is a double standard in expectations in womens sport right or wrongly in how players you can be treated, but also coaches. I honestly believe that if Kilmakova was a man, she would of been fired by now for her performance as coach.

MetalLegNZ

Is there a point where NZF say - this is the third time we have had these types of complaints... we need a culture shift.

Ladies, if you do something wrong, if you under perform, if you don't do the hard yards and the coach gives you a dressing down our message is simple as an organisation.

Work harder and do better - earn the praise you want.

I do think there is a double standard in expectations in womens sport right or wrongly in how players you can be treated, but also coaches. I honestly believe that if Kilmakova was a man, she would of been fired by now for her performance as coach.

I agree and at some point the players need to realise that being a pro doesnt just mean you get paid to play but it also means there are expectations from the organisation paying you and the fans that watch. Men's sport in general is so far ahead than the women, for obvious reasons. The big issue is the culture shock for the women. They havent had the time that their male counterparts have had to grow and learn in the professional environment, they've literally been thrown into this hyper pro, high performance demands from some very amature environments. That's not excusing the outcomes but it's clearly a big shock for someone coming from next to know training/demands into a full on "this is your job" kind of environment. 

I think in time it will balance itself out but I also think you've got a massive bunch of athletes (men and women) who have had their egos stoked by loads of people/coaches who come into a pro world expecting the same. When it doesnt happen and they have to work to be the best on the field they dont like it any more.

As I hinted previously - but none of you seemed to get it - a lot of people running to pre-determined ideological conclusion  based on nothing. Unless one you has heard good oil that Klimkova is being accused of "bullying"? Because that word is nowhere in the media reports.

Do we even know if this most recent issue is actually a players being soft and whining about coaches being mean thing again? For all we know it could be a completely different problem. 

It could be a different issue all together fer sure, but given the current environment and the long list of "bullying" accusations in the sporting world - it would be a shock.

Womens sport is not = to mens sport.
Physically, mentally in pay equality and audience target.
Interesting here reading a bunch of middle aged men (presumably) argue that women's sport should be much more like men's sport to be successful.
I'm just not quite sure if that's the answer. 
But I don't have all the answers for you.

Ranix

Womens sport is not = to mens sport.
Physically, mentally in pay equality and audience target.
Interesting here reading a bunch of middle aged men (presumably) argue that women's sport should be much more like men's sport to be successful.
I'm just not quite sure if that's the answer. 
But I don't have all the answers for you.

Dont think anyone is arguing that, what I'm saying is that the male atheltes today have had grown up with professional environments being in their sports for a long time. Women, not so much. I'm sure the first pro male athletes found it tough to move into the pro environment - but this would have been easier given the pro environment was just finding out what it was. Now we have amatuer women walking into a well defined pro environment, and maybe they are finding it harder to adjust.

Bonnie Jansen on the radio Football Show with Piney, said in her view Klimkova leaving the Ferns could be a good thing. Basically that Jitka is not up to up to it, and Ferns results haven't been good enough. Whether that's just her view, or she is close to some of the actual playing group who knows.

It's really all just complete guess work, as to what the issue is. NZF have done a good job keeping it all very in house to date.

Whether they were very incompetent was giving Klimkova a 6 year deal from 2021 to 2027. It made no sense then, and definitely makes no sense now.

100% Kilmokova's signing for 6 years was a dumb move. She has proven her tactics, development skills, planning etc are nowhere near the level the team needs to show improvement. 

Stupid twitter embed not working.

Screenshot_2024-05-30-13-54-45-23_0b2fce7a16bf2b728d6ffa28c8d60efb.jpg 375.31 KB

Oh... that's odd. Is it related to the coaching situation perhaps?

Personal reasons ?. Well its not a family issue if she's returning to her club. Certainly adds to the intrigue and you further suspect all is not well in the Ferns environment.
This is a real shame. was looking forward to seeing her in midfield for that Ferns team and staking a claim for an Olympic spot.

dont think she even went to train with the ferns squad to begin with, she wasnt in any of the training footage that I saw 

Ranix

Personal reasons ?. Well its not a family issue if she's returning to her club. Certainly adds to the intrigue and you further suspect all is not well in the Ferns environment.
This is a real shame. was looking forward to seeing her in midfield for that Ferns team and staking a claim for an Olympic spot.

Football40s

dont think she even went to train with the ferns squad to begin with, she wasnt in any of the training footage that I saw 

Ranix

Personal reasons ?. Well its not a family issue if she's returning to her club. Certainly adds to the intrigue and you further suspect all is not well in the Ferns environment.
This is a real shame. was looking forward to seeing her in midfield for that Ferns team and staking a claim for an Olympic spot.

If she didn't travel. Then maybe its due to club commitments. Being newly at Utah. Would help dispel bad speculation if NZF made this clear though, as they have done previously with other players. Leat, Percival ect.

That Burgess article says almost nothing at all.

Sumo's not impressed with the situation:
https://x.com/SENZ_Radio/status/1795999457604976837?t=nUL-q-IIWO8ysDKyCE-BWQ&s=19

coochiee

Bonnie Jansen on the radio Football Show with Piney, said in her view Klimkova leaving the Ferns could be a good thing. Basically that Jitka is not up to up to it, and Ferns results haven't been good enough. Whether that's just her view, or she is close to some of the actual playing group who knows.

It's really all just complete guess work, as to what the issue is. NZF have done a good job keeping it all very in house to date.

Whether they were very incompetent was giving Klimkova a 6 year deal from 2021 to 2027. It made no sense then, and definitely makes no sense now.

Yes, results under Jitka have been poor and NZF stuffed up royally with a 6 year contract.

But how much of this is also down to the players, especially the senior ones, who from the outside looking in, seem to rule the roost at the expense of younger, more technically gifted, players?

Marto

coochiee

Bonnie Jansen on the radio Football Show with Piney, said in her view Klimkova leaving the Ferns could be a good thing. Basically that Jitka is not up to up to it, and Ferns results haven't been good enough. Whether that's just her view, or she is close to some of the actual playing group who knows.

It's really all just complete guess work, as to what the issue is. NZF have done a good job keeping it all very in house to date.

Whether they were very incompetent was giving Klimkova a 6 year deal from 2021 to 2027. It made no sense then, and definitely makes no sense now.

Yes, results under Jitka have been poor and NZF stuffed up royally with a 6 year contract.

But how much of this is also down to the players, especially the senior ones, who from the outside looking in, seem to rule the roost at the expense of younger, more technically gifted, players?

If only we had young technically gifted players. I’d guess everyone dislikes her anyway. 

Feverish

Marto

coochiee

Bonnie Jansen on the radio Football Show with Piney, said in her view Klimkova leaving the Ferns could be a good thing. Basically that Jitka is not up to up to it, and Ferns results haven't been good enough. Whether that's just her view, or she is close to some of the actual playing group who knows.

It's really all just complete guess work, as to what the issue is. NZF have done a good job keeping it all very in house to date.

Whether they were very incompetent was giving Klimkova a 6 year deal from 2021 to 2027. It made no sense then, and definitely makes no sense now.

Yes, results under Jitka have been poor and NZF stuffed up royally with a 6 year contract.

But how much of this is also down to the players, especially the senior ones, who from the outside looking in, seem to rule the roost at the expense of younger, more technically gifted, players?

If only we had young technically gifted players. I’d guess everyone dislikes her anyway. 

Indeed there are a lot of myths going on here from people who make assumptions and don't know the squad - there's actually been quite a few newer and younger players emerging into the side in recent years under Jitka.

Examples are Jale, IP Riley, Steinmetz, Bunge all becoming starters, and Meikayla Moore missing the 2023 WC squad/Nayler dropping off the radar.

I don't know who they want to be dropped, the "old heads" like Bowen, Ali Riley, Stott, CJ Bott and Wilkinson are all easily good enough footballers at club level to deserve a place in the squad.

Now that she is playing natural left backs on the left and vice versa RBs on the right, I think Klimkova is actually getting her selections pretty much right.

She has definitely refreshed the team, into being a younger side, far more than Sermanni. But then she's benefited from a Nix ALW team being setup and from that the likes of Barry, Foster, Taylor, Fraser, Clegg emerging.

At the same time there is still no one yet better than older heads like Stott, Ali Riley, Wilkinson etc.  

Whether Klimkova is up to the task of actually coaching the team. Different question.

coochiee

Now that she is playing natural left backs on the left and vice versa RBs on the right, I think Klimkova is actually getting her selections pretty much right.

She has definitely refreshed the team, into being a younger side, far more than Sermanni. But then she's benefited from a Nix ALW team being setup and from that the likes of Barry, Foster, Taylor, Fraser, Clegg emerging.

At the same time there is still no one yet better than older heads like Stott, Ali Riley, Wilkinson etc.  

Whether Klimkova is up to the task of actually coaching the team. Different question.

This and so this, picking a squad is vastly different to actually coaching them and setting them up tactically that works for the team. We dont have the masses of players at the international level so picking 23 is pretty straight forward beside maybe a couple of outliers. The younger players have been bashing the door down for a shot so easy to pick. It's how they are being asked to play that is the issue.

I know it's difficult for NZF, and they did manage to get Thailand to NZ in the last window. But Australia definitely making better use of the post WWC momentum and football goodwill.

Matildas to host China in front of 53,000 at the Adelaide Oval. Game selling out in almost a day I think. Great pity Ferns ain't playing Japan in NZ.

https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/media-releases/news-items/excitement-reaches-fever-pitch-for-historic-matildas-match-at-adelaide-oval

NZF have never been greta at piggy backing of world cup events. But you're right, we should be looking at what the aussies are doing and seeing if we can get the ferns playing the same teams just after they do either here or in aus.

There are whispers that maybe the coach is having an affair with the assistant coach....?? 

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coochiee

I know it's difficult for NZF, and they did manage to get Thailand to NZ in the last window. But Australia definitely making better use of the post WWC momentum and football goodwill.

Matildas to host China in front of 53,000 at the Adelaide Oval. Game selling out in almost a day I think. Great pity Ferns ain't playing Japan in NZ.

https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/media-releases/news-items/excitement-reaches-fever-pitch-for-historic-matildas-match-at-adelaide-oval

The Matildas have also sold out Stadium Australia for a few days after that Adelaide game - that's an 83,500 capacity and is apparently now 14 sell outs in a row for them. 

I too would've loved to see some of that for the Ferns as well

Thanks for the prurient rumour, person who appears to have signed up for this forum just to post that

Doloras

Thanks for the prurient rumour, person who appears to have signed up for this forum just to post that

Thanks Doloras, got me looking up the meaning of that word!

Excited for the game today. Lets see how the new coach gets on.

Not sure who's watching but really odd to see a drinks break given its only 25 deg c. 

Jale playing well. I like the starting line-up, no Wilko in sight!

1-0 Half time. Poor marking from experienced Ferns defenders leading to a softish Japanese goal.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350297851/football-ferns-beaten-japan-spain

Least we only lost 2 nil, but no shots.  Ugh

Can't find a replay anywhere. Not on Fifa+ or TVNZ Duke.
Anyone know how to watch a replay of this game?