Also there are heaps of random coincidences in the Flying Kiwis realm. It feels like every week there’s a yarn about how some dude used to play with one NZer and now they’re in the orbit of another NZer... here’s a fresh one because former Wellington Phoenix fella Brandon Wilson is joining SJK. How about that? The Aussie midfielder played 4 times for the Nix in between stints with Perth Glory. Now he’s a teammate of Nikko Boxall.
Up Next: The toughest game of the season, away to HJK on Sunday at 2am (NZT)
Battle of the Kiwi's in Finland. Boxall and his SJK side come out resounding 4-0 winners over Rogerson's FC Haka. SJK having a very solid season so far.
Full 90 for Boxall. And a starting debut and full 90 for Rogerson.
SJK up to 3rd in the Veikkausliga. FC Haka in 10th.
Not in match day squad as SJK (3rd) win 1-0 at KTP (last). Boxall may have been suspended, having accumulated 4 yellows for the season. Brandon Wilson 10 mins off the bench for SJK.
Subbed off at 84 mins, as SJK 1-2 down at top of table HJK (Rogerson's parent club) chase a win. And it works SJK (4th) with 2 late goals get up 3-2 in a upset.
Brandon Wilson subbed on earlier for SJK at 64 mins (HJK up 1-0).
HJK possibly fatigued from a trip to Armenia midweek, in UEFA Conference League 4-2 win. They fall to 2nd behind KuPS.
Returns for a 2-2 draw with KuPS (2nd). Full games both Boxall jnr & Brandon Wilson.
Massive game for KuPS because they drop 2 points, and go same points behind headers HJK (Rogerson's parent club) with 1 game left each. KuPS host HJK in the final game, in a winner takes all affair.
SJK will finish season 3rd or 4th, so not make Europe (top 2 teams only).
And Nikko makes it an all Kiwi central defence at San Diego Loyal!
𝐍𝐢𝐤𝐤𝐨'𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.
▪️ 3 international caps ▪️ 6-year professional in Europe ▪️ Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year@NZ_Football defender Nikko Boxall is officially SD Loyal! ✍️ pic.twitter.com/Qv1hO3QcV6
And Nikko makes it an all Kiwi central defence at San Diego Loyal!
𝐍𝐢𝐤𝐤𝐨'𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.
▪️ 3 international caps ▪️ 6-year professional in Europe ▪️ Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year@NZ_Football defender Nikko Boxall is officially SD Loyal! ✍️ pic.twitter.com/Qv1hO3QcV6
Bit of an odd move as he was one of those players who are first name on the team sheet over in Finland. Perhaps just decided it was time for a change, given he's 30 by the time his season starts stateside. Good on him though, a little closer to the older brother too.
Just as an aside, San Diego is a lovely city, I have some of the best memories from my youth visiting there, also, I'm a bit of a Padres tragic so maybe I'm being a little biased. 😅
Probably not a sound move for his AW's aspirations however, but there's a few guys at USL level now who, in my opinion are not a million miles away from the setup.
Bit of an odd move as he was one of those players who are first name on the team sheet over in Finland. Perhaps just decided it was time for a change, given he's 30 by the time his season starts stateside. Good on him though, a little closer to the older brother too.
Just as an aside, San Diego is a lovely city, I have some of the best memories from my youth visiting there, also, I'm a bit of a Padres tragic so maybe I'm being a little biased. 😅
Probably not a sound move for his AW's aspirations however, but there's a few guys at USL level now who, in my opinion are not a million miles away from the setup.
Certainly worse places to live than San Diego.
So by my reckoning, for USL crew (or MLS Reserve League or however it's being rebranded) that's -
Elliot Collier (San Antonio) Kyle Adams & Boxall jnr (San Diego) Max Mata (Real Monarchs) James Musa (still with Phoenix?) Deklan Wynne (Oklahoma/Phoenix?) Hunter Ashworth (Unattached) Noah Billingsley (Unattached)
Some of these guys maybe in line for an AWs call up, if Hay struggles to find bodies first 2 games OFC tourney, that's outside FIFA window. Collier seemingly most likely as called up by Hay, Nov 2021 window.
Bit of an odd move as he was one of those players who are first name on the team sheet over in Finland. Perhaps just decided it was time for a change, given he's 30 by the time his season starts stateside. Good on him though, a little closer to the older brother too.
Just as an aside, San Diego is a lovely city, I have some of the best memories from my youth visiting there, also, I'm a bit of a Padres tragic so maybe I'm being a little biased. 😅
Probably not a sound move for his AW's aspirations however, but there's a few guys at USL level now who, in my opinion are not a million miles away from the setup.
Certainly worse places to live than San Diego.
So by my reckoning, for USL crew (or MLS Reserve League or however it's being rebranded) that's -
Elliot Collier (San Antonio) Kyle Adams & Boxall jnr (San Diego) Max Mata (Real Monarchs) James Musa (still with Phoenix?) Deklan Wynne (Oklahoma/Phoenix?) Hunter Ashworth (Unattached) Noah Billingsley (Unattached)
Some of these guys maybe in line for an AWs call up, if Hay struggles to find bodies first 2 games OFC tourney, that's outside FIFA window. Collier seemingly most likely as called up by Hay, Nov 2021 window.
USL probably isn’t too bad in relation to the Finnish Veikkausliiga, which is ranked as 36th in the UEFA coefficients, between Bosnia and Luxembourg and that is up from 44th for last season (between Georgia and Moldova). Main thing for AWs duty is that it’s a lot further from San Diego to the Gulf than Finland to the Gulf. USL does not stop for international breaks (they have games on the 20th and 27th March), so Hay might try negotiate their release for the games against PNG on the 18th and Fiji on the 21st, then let them back once the window opens.
USL is staying as it is format-wise, but there is a separate MLS reserve league being set up this year as ‘MLS Next Pro’, which will take all the reserve teams from the USL by next year. Three reserve teams have left this season for Next Pro, one of which being the Real Monarchs franchise (Real Salt Lake reserves), hence why Adams has left to join San Diego, who are a proper independent USL franchise. OKC Energy (Wynne’s loan club) are also out of USL Championship this season, though just on a one year hiatus as they renovate their stadium.
Apparently Max Mata is back in NZ at the moment doing pre season with Eastern Suburbs, though might go back overseas. Real Monarchs being in Next Pro means he’ll have to find a new place to go if he does. Ashworth has seemingly retired, on similar Kip Colvey terms, to go into a business career.
Bit of an odd move as he was one of those players who are first name on the team sheet over in Finland. Perhaps just decided it was time for a change, given he's 30 by the time his season starts stateside. Good on him though, a little closer to the older brother too.
Just as an aside, San Diego is a lovely city, I have some of the best memories from my youth visiting there, also, I'm a bit of a Padres tragic so maybe I'm being a little biased. 😅
Probably not a sound move for his AW's aspirations however, but there's a few guys at USL level now who, in my opinion are not a million miles away from the setup.
Certainly worse places to live than San Diego.
So by my reckoning, for USL crew (or MLS Reserve League or however it's being rebranded) that's -
Elliot Collier (San Antonio) Kyle Adams & Boxall jnr (San Diego) Max Mata (Real Monarchs) James Musa (still with Phoenix?) Deklan Wynne (Oklahoma/Phoenix?) Hunter Ashworth (Unattached) Noah Billingsley (Unattached)
Some of these guys maybe in line for an AWs call up, if Hay struggles to find bodies first 2 games OFC tourney, that's outside FIFA window. Collier seemingly most likely as called up by Hay, Nov 2021 window.
USL probably isn’t too bad in relation to the Finnish Veikkausliiga, which is ranked as 36th in the UEFA coefficients, between Bosnia and Luxembourg and that is up from 44th for last season (between Georgia and Moldova). Main thing for AWs duty is that it’s a lot further from San Diego to the Gulf than Finland to the Gulf. USL does not stop for international breaks (they have games on the 20th and 27th March), so Hay might try negotiate their release for the games against PNG on the 18th and Fiji on the 21st, then let them back once the window opens.
USL is staying as it is format-wise, but there is a separate MLS reserve league being set up this year as ‘MLS Next Pro’, which will take all the reserve teams from the USL by next year. Three reserve teams have left this season for Next Pro, one of which being the Real Monarchs franchise (Real Salt Lake reserves), hence why Adams has left to join San Diego, who are a proper independent USL franchise. OKC Energy (Wynne’s loan club) are also out of USL Championship this season, though just on a one year hiatus as they renovate their stadium.
Apparently Max Mata is back in NZ at the moment doing pre season with Eastern Suburbs, though might go back overseas. Real Monarchs being in Next Pro means he’ll have to find a new place to go if he does. Ashworth has seemingly retired, on similar Kip Colvey terms, to go into a business career.
Forgive my ignorance but interested in how the US are setting up this “Next Pro” league?
Will it be MLS remaining as the “top tier” followed by Next Pro and then USL? Or will USL essentially just be a stand alone league by itself to prepare any new teams who are looking to enter MLS in future?
I know America likes to do things “uniquely” in regard to their sport competitions!
MLS Next Pro will just be a reserve league for all the MLS franchises to more easily play their younger players without loaning them to USL affiliates.
If anything, this move will improve USL Championship, as the reserve teams were focused more on development than results. Teams like this are always less successful and have the smallest crowds, for example, last year the bottom four Eastern Conf teams were all reserve sides, and three out of the bottom five in the West as well.
MLS Next Pro will just be a reserve league for all the MLS franchises to more easily play their younger players without loaning them to USL affiliates.
If anything, this move will improve USL Championship, as the reserve teams were focused more on development than results. Teams like this are always less successful and have the smallest crowds, for example, last year the bottom four Eastern Conf teams were all reserve sides, and three out of the bottom five in the West as well.
Edit 2 - Unfortunately San Diego concede in 94th min (when down to 10 men) to make it a 1-1. Full games Adams (got a yellow) & Boxall jnr. SD stay 3rd for now.
Edit - San Diego up 1-0 until 76th min, go on to lose 2-1. Full game Adams. But Boxall one of 3 guys subbed at HT, which is a little strange considering they were 1-0 up. SD stay 3rd for now.
