Well I wouldn't say we have have had success. These two solid wins might signal that we can step up the Ferns results. We have done good things in the past five or so years - but we were coming from a very amateur environment. Women's footy is in its infancy compared to men's. The first World Cup was 91. Therefore it isn't so hard to foot it on a world stage.
watched the last 15 or so minutes of the game at the gym, and they played very well (although they were 2-0 up at the time I started watching). Amber Heard up front looked very good and although I didn't see Ali Riley touch the ball, she looked amazing. Biggest disappointment was the celebrations after winning the whole tournament. A bit messy with some "holding hands in a line and then raising them to the crowd" and some "ring-ring-a-rosies" but with no real conviction. We looked like a team that wasn't used to winning international competiitions (which we are not, to be fair), which makes you wonder what the coaches have them doing at trainings?
Worst part of the celebration was my Ali hugging the male coaches - I nearly threw my treadmill through the TV.
All I do is make the stuff I would've liked
Reference things I wanna watch, reference girls I wanna bite
Now I'm firefly like a burning kite
And yousa fake fuck like a fleshlight
I think this highlights a huge issue in football in NZ at the moment. It may well be just huge as I see it so someone can help me out here if I totally have this ass about face.
I don't rate womans football. Don't like it, not a fan, does nothing for me. There, I said it. HOWEVER I do take an interest in the national teams and can name players and I respect what they are doing. Milicich said on Stuff or Herald that the woman's game has alignment and you can really see that from the girls coming through the u17s to 20s to seniors across the last 6 or so years. We talk about the investment in players at u17/20 but yet they may not kick on to the senior side for the men's game. On appearances it would seem that this is not the case in the women's game and they stick. Why? What do they do differently? How are they getting their success on (and I make an assumption) less cash invested.
I think the men's program (and I guess that falls to Fred feet and also Ricki as the current head of the men's team) really needs to sit up and look hard at itself and take some notes and lessons from the woman's program. I respect that what they do may not work on the men's side but at the very least, you cannot ignore it when they are getting results like they are. We are naïve to this that in a male dominated sport, that running the men's program its way (and I take only what I read from Milicich and see on the field to see there is not much alignment between teams, personnel and playing style) to suggest we have the answers. If replicating what the women do will give us results, we should be getting the women to run the men's program. At the end of the day, results tend to solve problems and I heard on the radio from Maia that they are funded from Higher Performance Sport NZ and results like this, ensure continued investment in their program. Results keep people on board and engaged, sponsors happy to see ROI and players buying into being part of something bigger.
Am I out of line here on this?
So are you saying women are inferior to men?
Uh... no.
I think my ultimate point was that the women's programme has it right and the men could learn a trick from them. I was looking for someone to prove/disprove my point (or tell me its bollocks) as I have no idea about it.
Grumpy old bastard alert
The women are guaranteed a major tournie every two years. They also have other tournament they attend. They don't have issues with getting full strength sides together. So kinda different to the men
Founder
Ok so then I guess my next question is why do the womens team not the issue with getting a full strength team together.
Sorry if I am going on but I guess I don't really feel my question has been answered yet but I appreciate your info.
Grumpy old bastard alert
Congratulations to Football Ferns, finally a team that can win a Trophy !!!
Ok so then I guess my next question is why do the womens team not the issue with getting a full strength team together.
Sorry if I am going on but I guess I don't really feel my question has been answered yet but I appreciate your info.
They don't have club sides paying decent $
Founder
Uh... no.
I think my ultimate point was that the women's programme has it right and the men could learn a trick from them. I was looking for someone to prove/disprove my point (or tell me its bollocks) as I have no idea about it.
I wasn't disagreeing with you brah
Ah ok. I was just worried my post was taken the wrong way.
Grumpy old bastard alert
"Phoenix till they lose"Fantastic result. Tv3 manage to show about 30 seconds on the news and only show two goals... After showing us 30 mins plus of losers of the (grrrrr) yacht race...
The women are guaranteed a major tournie every two years. They also have other tournament they attend. They don't have issues with getting full strength sides together. So kinda different to the men
One of the key things in their favour is also that Sport NZ (being the Govt) aren't sexist, and therefore the Ferns get a decent chunk of money related to their success ($800k per year in 2013 and 2014) none of this "but the women's game is inferior to the men's" nonsense). That's how they can afford to be playing these kinds of tournaments quite regularly.
Thats a crack up. What I would give to be 40 years younger and take a run at Rosie White. Smokin!
Grumpy old bastard alert
The women are guaranteed a major tournie every two years. They also have other tournament they attend. They don't have issues with getting full strength sides together. So kinda different to the men
One of the key things in their favour is also that Sport NZ (being the Govt) aren't sexist, and therefore the Ferns get a decent chunk of money related to their success ($800k per year in 2013 and 2014) none of this "but the women's game is inferior to the men's" nonsense). That's how they can afford to be playing these kinds of tournaments quite regularly.
Grumpy old bastard alert
Ok. I actually have no idea so made an assumption that it was and also Milicichs rant too.
How are they getting the success Feverish vs the men's programme? I am completely clueless to women's football but they have to be doing something. Its can't just be luck. If we are doing the same, why is it going wrong in the men's programme?
Not many age group reps at all in any country kick on to the senior men's team - maybe because there are greater numbers in male youth football and senior football - every country has way more male than female teams, hence it's harder to identify the best players at youth level and others come into the reckoning at senior level who weren't identified but were quietly advancing at their club - or sometimes not made available by their club (English Premier League clubs rarely release players to play age group football for England).
An example would be one of our greatest players, Mike McGarry, who never played for any NZ age group side but did play for Newcastle United u-18 in England with Paul Gascoigne.
Of current All Whites, McGlinchey, Reid, Smith, James and Durante all played age group football for other countries and not NZ. Smeltz and Moss have lived most of their lives in Australia, though they did play youth football for NZ (before they had ever lived here). We're a small country and many of our national team have grown up overseas (same situation as Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland or Wales).
Although a couple of the Football Ferns - Ali Riley, Rebekah Stott, grew up overseas, all the rest grew up in NZ and so were easy to identify for NZ age group sides. Also, our women tend to be a bit older when they sign for overseas clubs or attend US universities. Bertos, Killen, Wood, Payne and Howieson were all very young teenagers when they went to England and signed for clubs.
What the women's football authorities have been very successful in is getting our players into the very best women's leagues in the world - of the starting eleven against China this morning, four play in Germany (best women's league in the world, equiv. of the EPL), two in Sweden, one in England (for the impending champions Liverpool) and a couple at top US universities. Only two of the starting eleven play in NZ.
Comparatively we can't say many of the All Whites play in the best men's leagues in the world. The only one you could argue for would be Reid at West Ham. The A-League., English Championship, Finland etc. are way down the pecking order.
So, yes, we are producing quality female players and the age group reps are largely kicking on to the Football Ferns - but there are a number of factors whereby men's and women's football are very dissimilar. Not many countries take women's football seriously or have strong national women's teams, so success for the Football Ferns is always going to be easier than for the All Whites.
Just look at the "Kiwi Players Overseas" thread on this website to see a number of young Kiwis signing for overseas clubs - just this week Birhanu Taye from Wellington at Sporting Braga in Portugal and Scott Basalaj at Partick, Scotland; in August, Bill Tuiloma at Marseilles. But progressing to senior football is going to be that much harder for them than for our young female players due to the greater competition for places.
Howieson, Payne, Wood and Rojas have all made the progression from NZ youth sides to the All Whites in recent years. And others like Tuiloma and Fenton are waiting in the wings. However, it's true there isn't much depth and we are bereft of decent fullbacks or midfielders. But do local clubs produce the good new players or national academies and rep sides? Not enough young lads are taking a career in football seriously still maybe. And our national league is pretty weak , what to speak of local leagues.
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
Dates for Ferns next matches v USA confirmed. That'll be a real test:
"Next up for the Football Ferns is a pair of glamour matches against Olympic champions and World number one USA in San Francisco in October 27 and Columbus, Ohio on October 30."
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
I thought it might be Beiber or a One Direction person (as befits the demographic).
Nah mate, it's the world class player you allowed to come to Arsenal by selling your only world class player to Madrid. You'll know him soon enough.
Is Hannah Wall still involved?
I think it is ozil
Wall ain't involved. You can see her in capital NWL though.
Good to see the Ferns scoring goals
I used to rate her. Pretty handy on the pitch from what I recall too.
Congratulations to Football Fern Sarah Gregorius on winning the English FA Women's Super League with Liverpool Ladies this morning - for the first time in the club's history (after ten consecutive national titles to Arsenal !) after beating closest rivals Bristol Academy 2-0.
Liverpool had five players playing for England on Thurs. night + Gregorius racing back from Football Ferns duty.
46 goals in 14 games. 12 wins, 2 losses, no draws.Finished bottom previous two seasons - but new manager, new players...
A "red letter day" for Kiwi women's football expert Jeremy "Scouse Kiwi" Ruane !!!
Gregorius came on as a second half sub - team details: http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/303020/teams
Footage of game featuring Sarah (#21): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XbB57AdBzQ
Celebrations and trophy presentation featuring Sarah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLVy7ULuB0g
Sarah with winner's medal celebrates with team: http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/70181000/png/_70181958_mmftbwsllivvbri.png
A feast of stories on the Liverpool FC website (and on Liverpool FC TV channel):
http://www.liverpoolfc.com/search/q/ladies
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
Wed, 02 Oct 2013 8:07a.m.
The football ferns have been brilliant lately and now we are joined by Abbey Erceg
http://www.radiolivesport.co.nz/Abby-Erceg/tabid/454/articleID/15813/Default.aspx
FOOTBALL FERNS v USA:
On Oct. 27 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco at 3:30 p.m. PT (USA) and Oct. 30 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, at 7:30 p.m. ET (USA). USA plays Australia prior to NZ on Oct. 20th in San Antonio (1:30 ET)
Wow! This hasn't been picked-up on in NZ but the new US Women's Team coach is a former Christchurch United player, Tom Sermanni !
Sermanni played for Christchurch United in the NZ National League in 1986.
“New Zealand is a much-improved side over the past few years,” said U.S. head coach Tom Sermanni, who saw quite a bit of the Kiwis during his two stints as head coach of Australia. “Qualifying for World Cups and Olympics have helped them significantly, and now they are a very composed and competitive team that plays with a great deal of confidence.”
His appointment to the US Women's job has lead to Christchurch United being mentioned in news reports all over the world.
Sermanni's playing career:
1973 - 78 - Albion Rovers (Scotland)
1977- 78 - Blackpool (England)
1978/9 - Dundee United (Scotland)
1979 - 82 - Torquay United (England)
1982/3 - Dunfermline (Scotland) .
1984 - 85 - Canberra City (NSL)
1986 - Christchurch United (New Zealand)
http://www.ussoccer.com/news/coaching-education/2013/06/sermannis-coaching-career.aspx
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/nov/07/uswnt-big-shoes-hair-to-fill
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
I'd hardly call a coach who's been in charge since January this year new, Big Pete!
He's twelve games into his tenure, and has overseen ten wins and two draws in that time. They play West Island (aka Oz, the Matildas) a week before our Candlestick Park encounter. (Strong) squad info here:
http://www.ussoccer.com/news/womens-national-team/2013/10/sermanni-names-us-wnt-roster-for-october-matches.aspx
Cheers,
JR
Ferns named for USA tour
October 14
AUCKLAND - Football Ferns coach Tony Readings today named a 20-strong squad that will face the world number one USAWNT in a two-match friendly series in America on 27th and 30th October in San Francisco and Columbus.
After victories over Brazil and China in the Valais Cup, coach Tony Readings is looking forward to the opportunity to test his team against the best in the world.
“USA will provide another step up in opposition from what the team has faced so far this year,” said Readings.
“They (USAWNT) have improved under their new coach this year and have added a lot of quality to an already impressive squad. These matches will place increased demands on the players and this is vital for our continued growth as we build towards the World Cup and Olympic Games.”
Ranked number one in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings USAWNT are two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winners and four-times Olympic champions, most recently in London 2012, where they beat the Football Ferns 2-0 in the quarter finals.
“USA have strength in depth in every position and some of the best players in the world. They are very hard to break down and have numerous quality attacking weapons at their disposal.
“They have a lot of pace throughout the team and are physically imposing. They are strong in all moments of the game and do not allow opposition to easily find any sort of rhythm.”
Readings has named a settled squad for the tour with several youngsters such as Stephanie Skilton, Megan Lee and Meikayla Moore coming into the squad, highlighting the strength in depth of the junior sides.
“The fact that we can easily bring young players such as Stephanie, Megan and Meikayla into a settled squad shows how much depth of talent there is available,” said Readings.
“It’s a testament to both the players and the people behind the Junior and Young Football Ferns that there is such talent available for selection. It shows the positive impact the investment into the future of the Ferns at all levels has had.”
Football Ferns Squad
(Caps/Goals)
Goalkeepers
Jenny BINDON (76/0)
Erin NAYLER (6/0)
Defenders
Abby ERCEG (86/4)
Anna GREEN (56/7)
Elizabeth MILNE (5/1)
Ria PERCIVAL (83/8)
Ali RILEY (74/1)
Rebekah STOTT (13/0)
Meikayla MOORE(1/0)
Megan LEE (0/0)
MidfieldersBetsy HASSETT (53/6)
Katie HOYLE (77/1)
Annalie LONGO (53/1)
Kirsty YALLOP (69/11)
Forwards
Helen COLLINS (8/0)
Sarah GREGORIUS (43/17)
Amber HEARN (74/35)
Rosie WHITE (48/10)
Hannah WILKINSON (46/15)
Stephanie SKILTON (0/0)
Football Ferns | October schedule
USA v New Zealand
Sunday 27 October
Kickoff: 3.30pm (PT local time)
Candelstick Park, San Francisco
USA v New Zealand
Wednesday 30 September
Kickoff: 7.30pm (ET local time)
Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus
Founder
USA beat the Ferns 4-1 this morning in San Francisco in "the game nobody noticed" (including me!!!)
Wasn't on Sky Sport at all - despite all their BS advertising earlier in the year about Football Ferns coverage.
If it was broadcast in the States, then it really sucks - but if it wasn't, guess there was nothing Sky could do...
Worth contacting Sky to ask if they're broadcasting the second match Thursday 12.30 pm NZT
Match report:
Speaking from San Francisco soon after the final whistle, Football Ferns coach Readings acknowledged his side were slow out of the blocks, but highlighted the improvement of the team over the course of the 90 minutes.
“We were quite nervy in the first 10 minutes against a team who play at a different level from anyone else we’ve played this year,” Readings said.
“The United States make it hard to play the way we want to play but we got used to it and settled down nicely and it was disappointing to concede the goal late in the first half.
“A lot of things did work for us today and in terms of keeping the ball and dictating it was our best ever game against the USA.”
Readings spoke of several key performances across the team including solid contributions from Ria Percival, Ali Riley and Annalie Longo as the Football Ferns now look to Thursday’s second match of the series.
“The players are eager to get back out on the pitch and we’ll just look to get better,” Readings said.
The second match of the series is in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday 31 October, 12.30pm (NZ time).
International Friendly
United States 4 (Megan Rapinoe 7’, Carli Lloyd 12’, Christen Press 41’, Heather O’Reilly 87’)
New Zealand 1 (Hannah Wilkinson 54’)
Halftime: 0-3
Candlestick Park
San Francisco, USA
New Zealand: 21-Erin NAYLER (GK), 2-Ria PERCIVAL, 4-Katie HOYLE, 5-Abby ERCEG (capt), 7-Ali RILEY, 9-Amber HEARN, 10-Sarah GREGORIUS (13-Rosie WHITE 79’), 12-Betsy HASSETT (11-Kirsty YALLOP 60”), 15-Rebekah STOTT,16-Annalie LONGO,17-Hannah WILKINSON (20-Helen COLLINS 75’)
Substitutes not used: 1-Jenny BINDON (GK), 3-Anna GREEN, 6-Meikayla MOORE, 14-Elizabeth MILNE, 18-Megan LEE, 19-Stephanie SKILTON
Coach: Tony Readings
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
Neither game is being shown on US TV, only on www.ussoccer.com
Full report on today's game available via here: http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/FootballFernsInAction/us_centenary_tour_2013.htm
Cheers,
JR
I caught the first half on the US Soccer Live Stream. US were an obvious step up for us, which is fair enough, they are of course World #1.
Some class players on that US team and they really dominated us all over the pitch. Didn't catch the 2nd half but we must've done a lot better, I thought it might've finished up around 5 or 6.
Neither game is being shown on US TV, only on www.ussoccer.com
Full report on today's game available via here: http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/FootballFernsInAction/us_centenary_tour_2013.htm
Cheers,
JR
Cheers for that streaming info and the match review! Will watch online at lunchtime tomorrow.
But I found that link above doesn't take you to the US Soccer website.
Try here for the live stream: http://www.ussoccer.com/
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
Good start from Ferns- conceded in 44th minute though...
Salmon swim upstream
that is an UNREAL result! well done ladies, what a scalp (well, a draw) but against the world champs at home
Salmon swim upstream
Wow 1-1 is a massive result v USWNT. great work
Kotahitanga. We are one.
Wow 1-1 is a massive result v USWNT. great work
& their football is so good to watch, really calm and measured. They will surely rocket up the rankings now?
Salmon swim upstream
Wow 1-1 is a massive result v USWNT. great work
& their football is so good to watch, really calm and measured. They will surely rocket up the rankings now?
Very lucky to draw, US has a pen saved and missed several chances, having said that our girls never gave up and scored a very good goal to equalise late so was deserved.
Great result!
And sounds like a nice goal from Hannah Wilkinson to get the draw.
