Winston Reid (Unattached FC)

Well said. He has been a consistent performer in the EPL for the last season and a bit so give him the credit. He doesn't have the eloquence of (Stanford educated) Ryan Nelsen, but that doesn't mean he can't be even more of a star than Ryan. Frankly I don't care if he doesn't speak with the same passion and drive as Ryan, who is probably the most well spoken Kiwi sportsman ever.

Winston is one of the classiest players NZ has ever had, and I wish him all the best wherever he ends up

Big Sam ankle tapped him - no idea how Wood and Smith will make it to LA now + no Winston for Mexico....they will have to make a movie about it if we win.........w.a.f. disaster

Sad how out of touch sports bodies are in NZ - Winston is currently nominated for "Oceania Footballer of the Year" but pathetically is not  seen as good enough to be nominated for "Senior Māori Sportsman of the Year" in the "National Maori Sports Awards", none of whose nominees is anywhere near the same level as him:

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/19797064/maori-sports-awards-finalists-announced/

The reality is the kind of people who make up such lists of nominees know nothing beyond the egg ball codes, netball and a couple of Olympic athletes. 

Write (politely) to point out their stupid omission  to them here: [email protected]

My e-mail to them: 

Hi,

 I've just seen your list of finalists for the National Maori Sports Awards and was shocked to notice you haven't included one of the highest profile and successful Maori sports people of the last year, Winston Reid, the captain of the NZ All Whites national football team and a player for West Ham United in London in the English Premier League, widely regarded as the best soccer league in the world. Winston's father is Tainui and his mother Te Rarawa.

   His omission is especially shocking when you consider Winston was voted both "West Ham United Player of the Year" and "West Ham Players' Player of the Year" in May. He is a current finalist for "Oceania Player of the Year" in football. Winston is not only New Zealand's most internationally famous soccer player (regarded as one of the best defenders in the English Premier League) but one of the most internationally famous current New Zealand sportspeople of all, and arguably the most famous current Maori sportsperson in the world (soccer players like Winston in the English Premier League have a much higher profile than any All Blacks or League players).

 Winston was promoted to captain the NZ soccer team this year too. He is a fine professional athlete (probably currently the highest-paid Maori athlete in the world) and a good role-model for young Maori. 

 I hope it is not too late to remedy Winston Reid's omission or I worry that your credibility will suffer.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OFC MEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:

(The winners will be announced Monday 18 November, 2013)

http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/b1264b34-9657-4d0f-a2df-be153aeafb28/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Georges GOPE-FENEPEJ - ESTAC Troyes (France) / New Caledonia
Ryan NELSEN - Tottenham Hotspur/Queens Park Rangers/All Whites, OlyWhites
Nicolas VALLAR - AS Dragon/Tahiti
Chris WOOD - WBA (Birmingham City/Bristol City/Millwall)/All Whites, OlyWhites
Marco ROJAS - Melbourne Victory/All Whites, OlyWhites
Michael McGLINCHEY - Central Coast Mariners/All Whites, OlyWhites
Benjamin TOTORI - Wellington Phoenix/Solomon Islands
Winston REID - West Ham United/All Whites
Jeremy BROCKIE - Wellington Phoenix/All Whites
Alvin TEHAU - AS Tefana/Tahiti

10 weeks by the sounds of it.

Still injured and the Hammers are suffering

"The manager pointed to the injuries suffered by Winston Reid, James Collins and Tomkins as the major reason for his side's recent defensive woes."

Winston says he wil be back playing later this month:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/west-hams-winston-reid-aims-2941137

His Twitter: https://twitter.com/WinstonReid2

Rehabilitating in Dubai recently before Xmas:

Xmas with his mum and step-dad in Denmark.

From his Danish language blog: http://blog.wunderelf.com/

(scroll down to find it)

Winston Reid Wunderelf blog:

"I  of course had surgery for my injury and still have many weeks until I'm ready to fight for West Ham again, so for me it is quite monotonous program of rehabilitation, physical therapy, rehabilitation ...

It's not the most fun for a football player, but fortunately my club really good understanding of the situation, so they are actually quite large.

When I'm at home in London, so I can easily here in my injury break to have a day when I shall meet with club at 8 o'clock, and then work hard I with different exercises, treatment and planks pm. 16 in the afternoon.

So hart is really nothing in his head than his injury and how to be ready as soon as possible - but at the same time without going too fast, so you get set back. I can promise you that it is very important in one's life!

But as I said - the club know that it can rapidly deteriorating inside a player's head with such a program, so they give some liberties, you would not have.

I was, for example, sent seven days in Dubai on a genoptræningstur where I might as well be able to do my exercises in nice weather and beautiful surroundings - like being at home in London. Such a trip is of course not vacation in neutral, but gives a boost to it soon becomes everyday life again when you are at home everyday with rehabilitation.

Unfortunately, I can not play [the Xmas & new Year games] this year with my injury, but it goes really well with the rehabilitation and I am now without pain.

So the club has given me permission to go home to Sonderborg a few days at Christmas, and it's super that they understand that it's probably not very encouraging, mentally speaking, if you have to sit alone in his apartment without family that is far away in a different country when you are already unable to play the games.

My goal is to be fit again sometime in January, but when, I dare not predict...."

I would put money on him leaving the club if they continue down the road to relegation by seasons end. I would imagine there'd be a host of premier league and probably some bundesliga clubs out to get him.

It would be pretty sweet if he went to a club like Everton

Pumped 5-0 today in the FA Cup by Nottingham Forest, heading back to where West Ham normally reside.

Was their yoof side I think

Heard Big Sam on radio this a.m. saying they were close to signing a six foot nine African striker - someone new for Winston to look up to.

Lacina Traore i think?

Andy Carroll not tall enough??

^ spends most of his time on his back and arse.

Is winnie back in the team yet?

West ham got humped today by city

Think he's hoping to be back in the team late this month.

Why would he? Time Winston moved to a decent London EPL club. I think Arsenal would be good for him. Maybe Chelsea might come calling. Clearly West Ham's defence has been a right leaking bucket without him.

Similar to QPR without Nellie

Would rather he keep playing first team football than sit on the bench with us or Chelski. I reckon a team like Everton might be a good fit - obviously has tough competition in the likes of Jagielka there but easier to get past than a Mertesacker.

i know it is an ugly way to view football, but this guardian piece is interesting, and puts Winston right up there amongst the best players in the league, rating him 7.52, with Suarez the only player rating above an 8.

Hammers certainly need him back- and soon.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2014/jan/09/premier-league-midway-review-2013-14

Reid on 7.52, Jedinak on 7.51.

Win.

Fuck yeah.Up there with the best.

Good buzz.Go you Kiwi

Bluemagic:

Clearly West Ham's defence has been a right leaking bucket without him.

Reid has played about 80 games for West Ham, and has missed about the last ten. Hardly evidence of a curse 

Did Hay ever actually play in the Premier League? Remember him coming on as a sub against Barcelona, but can't remember if he ever actually took the field in a Premiership game.

The  chances of winston's westham staying in the premier league this season have been bolstered with the arrival of italian internationals Marco Borriello and Antonio Nocerino this mourning. Westham are looking into a loan move for former chelsea and liverpool playmaker raul merialles aswell. Hopefully this can help westham through until Reid recovers, although Nocerino is coming in off some exceptionally bad form.

The return of West Ham's key defender Winston Reid from injury can't come soon enough for Sam Allardyce. He told me he's never had a squad so decimated by injuries - Big Sam on Winston coming back tomorrow vs Chelsea on bbc

Unfortunately Winston won't be playing tomorrow:

http://www.whufc.com/articles/20140128/chelsea-match-preview_2236884_3640436

"Winston Reid is back in first team training after recovering from an ankle injury which has side-lined him for the best part of three months, but will not feature against the Blues."

Game is on Sommet Sports delayed at 7 pm Friday replacing scheduled programing (also on Saturday at 7 pm supposedly).

Apparently it's West Ham the Phoenix are negotiating with to bring out here in July, along with another club (not Arsenal or Spurs) - be great to see Winston playing here. On current form, a side the Phoenix could actually beat:

http://www.mathesonsportsmedia.com/exclusive-stories.html

Too much.Hope it happens

Paul Ifill hinted something completely opposite in this weeks pod