Got to be pretty happy with this selection. Yes Klimkova would have also been a popular pick, But Sermanni has the background and experience in womens international football and NZ football to take this team to the world cup in france next year. Apparently he even played football for Christchurch united back in the day. And has lots of links back to football in this region.
Would be interesting, how well he knows some of the current ferns squad. Not alot but a few are playing in the NWSL where he has most recently been coaching. And does he know personally / has he been talking to Abbey Erceg. Is his selection as coach enough to bring her back into the fold.
Do we want her back though? I think she comes across as a bit of a premadonna and maybe destablising to the team. There's clearly a rift in the squad that need sorting of which she may or may not be a part of.
really? what she did had a significant on NZF putting in the pay parity deal.
How do you get there is a rift in the squad? one player told Muir she'd like to se Heraf stay - thats one player compared to 12 that complained - thats more a difference of opinion than a rift
Erceg is our best player and she should be back in the team - she's not in this squad though
Of the group that didn’t complain about Heraf, Muir only spoke to one player. She spoke to all 12 players who complained. Muir was then quoted as saying that unfortunately factions may have developed, btwn those who have complained and those that did not. Don’t forget there were 15 other squad members who didn’t for whatever reason, side with the 12 complainants.
She’s no football coach, but will have seen a few similar work place type little messes in the corporate world.
Anyway Sermanni is a very experienced coach - esp in women’s football- so looks well equipped to sort out any off field issues going forward.