July 10, 2024 • 34 mins
Piney and Bonnie break down the OlyWhites squad for the Paris Olympics, including some notable omissions.
They also run an eye over the comings and goings at Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix, including Ben Old's move to top French club St. Etienne.
There's a wrap of our under-20 sides and the latest New Zealand men and women playing overseas.
Football Fever with Jason Pine & Bonnie Jansen is the weekly podcast to keep up with all the action from the beautiful game!
Our voice of football Jason Pine and sport journalist Bonnie Jansen follow the Wellington Phoenix on their quest for an A-League title - all the goals, all the drama, all the glory!
Plus, the latest Auckland FC news, and updates from around the world including the English Premier League!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Football Fever with News Talks MB's voice of Football Jason
Paine and Bonnie Jansen.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Hello and welcome into a fresh episode of Football Fever.
We're here in association with FIFA Plus stream New Zealand
football live and free on FIFA plus dot com. My
name's Jason Pine. Bonnie Jensen also here.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Hello, Bonnie, Hello pariney two weeks away? Is it to
the Paris game?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Absolutely, we're getting closer, aren't we to the Paris Olympics?
And on that? Should we start there? Because the Olie
Whites have been named. The squad's been named for the
men's competition. I'll quickly go through Alex Pauson and Case Sims.
Are the goalkeepers Tyler Binden, Michael Boxer, Lucas Kelly Healed,
Matt Sheridan, Sam Sutton and Finn Sermon. The defenders Joe
Belfin Conchie, Matthew Garbett, Ben Olden, Sarpretch Sing. The midfielders Riley,
(00:50):
Jay Herdman, Jesse Randall, Oscar van Hattam and Ben Wayne
of the Strikers. The four four alternate players who will
travel with the team Lachland Bayless, Liam Gillian, Isaac Hughes
and Henry Gray is the reserve goalkeeper. Actually he won't travel,
he'll stay with his club and it's which unless he
is called upon overage players Boxel, Bell Sing. I guess
(01:12):
the big story though, is no Chris Wood, no Libby Cacacchi,
no Marco Staminitch not released by their clubs. What do
you make of this?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
It's such a shame. I think I'm especially feeling for
Marco right now. He you know, it's an underage tournament.
He's an underage player. He could have, you know, rarely
gone out and had a really good tournament, especially you know,
the key is kind of need it. But in saying that,
you know you still look at this rossy you've just
named and it's it's still bloody strong painting.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah, it's a good team. It's a good team. And
I think the other one who isn't there, who would
have been if he was an in I think was
Tim Pain. I think Tim Pain probably would have gone
as an overage player ahead of I think Michael Boxel
had he been fit, because he covers that right back
center back. Without him, there's no real first choice right back.
(02:03):
I think Matthew Sheridan's probably the obvious one. Sam Sutton
played over on the right during the Nation's Cup of
This is an entirely different kettle of fish. I wonder
whether they might play Tyler Binden at right back, even
though he's a center back by trade.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Yeah, potentially.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
I also think they might look at it a back
three as well, now that they've got Boxer in there,
who is you know, a strong experience center back. And
then you know you've got the likes of Sam Sutton
or Lucas Kelly hild who could push up again and
play in one of those wing back positions. There's also
you know, like you look at those midfielders and attackers
(02:40):
and you kind of want as many of them on
the field as possible, So you know, maybe that's what
Bays will look at doing. And yeah, going with a
three at the back so he can have more attackers
going forward.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah, I guess the other way he could do it
is have the back four with two sitting Joe Beallen
Finkanchi maybe, and then you do get Garbett, seeing Old
and Wayne for Ample all on the pitch. At the
same time. I think you're overage players. They play every game,
don't they. That's why they're there. I don't think you'd
pick an overage player if he wasn't going to play.
So it feels like box all, Bell and Sing are
(03:12):
part of the first eleven. You got guys like Jesse Randall,
Oscar Van Hattam, Jay Hrdman, Riley Bidwell, quite a few
impact attackers if you need them. I don't mind the
balance of the side, all all things being equal.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Yeah, that's what I mean, like a midfield of Bell
and Sing obviously, you know, and then Matt Garbett as well,
and then you've got you know, they might even look
at playing Ben Old in a more attacking role or
maybe as a wing back, and then yeah you played
Ben Wayne someone like Jesse Randal as well, who had
a great recent campaign with the All Whites. So yeah,
(03:47):
definitely a lot of options there. And that's why I'm
not too down about those those boys and Chris Wood
and Libby and Marco not being there. Yes, I would
have loved it, but it's still a strong team.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Yeah. Darren basically put a positive spin on by saying that, hey,
now our players are in demand at top clubs. They're
in the position where clubs don't want to release them
because they are too important to their clubs, which I
thought was a nice way to positively spin it. Interesting
to see Lachlan Bayliss as one of the alternates. He's
at Newcastle. The Newcastle Jets had eleven games in the
last A League men's season. I think he's also eligible
(04:21):
for Australia from memory, so interesting to see him kind
of throw his lot in with New Zealand. Not that
it'll matter. It's not a senior tournament, so if he
does play, it doesn't tie him to New Zealand necessarily,
but interesting to see his name amongst the alternates. As
I say, Henry Gray is the third goalkeeper Darren Base.
He said in the media during the week that he
won't come with the team to Paris, but if there
(04:43):
is an injury to either Alex Paulson or case Sims,
then he'll just jump across from the UK to France,
which is only a small hop anyway, isn't it. So Yeah,
overall they play Guinea, the United States and France at
the Olympics. Tough group right to get out of.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Yeah, yeah, I'm yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
I mean both both men's and women's teams have the
hosts for ut so that's that's a tough ask in itself.
I think, you know, the US are obviously what top ten,
top fifteen in the world for their men's first team,
maybe they're a little bit weaker. I think that's that's
the game they're going to want to be, you know,
(05:21):
getting points from especially. I think France is a tough
ask about Guinea and USA, that's the ones they really
should be.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Targeting, absolutely right. I noticed a rule change mentioned by
Emma Hayes actually during the week when she was up
for media she's the boss of the United States women's
team now, of course, and she said that if you
give six hours notice, you can bring in one of
your alternates, one of your traveling reserves, and then when
to cover an injured player, and then if that injured
(05:50):
player then comes right, they can come back into the squad.
I think previously, an injured player, if they were out,
they were out. If you replace them, they couldn't come back.
But to intimate on on her media call this week
that you can you can bring one of those players
in and then swap them back out again, I think
that's I think that's quite sensible, wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Yeah, I quite like that as well.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
I mean, you know, these people diagnosing these injured players
likely in the team, so there might be a few
tactics being played out. One of those alternate players might
have had a great training session or things like that,
and maybe they want to make a late change.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
I quite like the idea of that.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yes, so do I. So the Football Funds are already
in France. They're playing a warm up game against Zambia
Sunday morning. They speaking of tough Paul's We've mentioned this
a few times on the podcast Canada Columbia France. They
are going to have to play so well to get
out of that group, aren't they.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Ah, piney, I mean, yeah, it's I'm trying to be
optimistic here and you know, find you know the positives.
I guess they're only positive. It's quite a young team.
They're going to get a lot out of this tournament.
But we know their whole circumstances. And I just like
with what's happened with the Yeka and everything's tough ask.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Indeed well, regardless of what happens in these three games
for the Football Ferns and the three games initially for
the Olie Whites as well, Bonnie and I are teaming
up for commentary of these games on Gold Sport during
our Olympic Games coverage. So yeah, looking forward to to
watching these games unfold and hopefully calling a a few
New Zealand goals and who knows a few New Zealand
(07:22):
results as well. Looking forward to doing a bit of
commentary during the games Bond.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Yeah, it'd be awesome.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
You know, no reason why the Kiwi fans back home
can't get up and pull a couple of.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
All nighters call and sick to work.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Maybe you knows that time of the yearning happens once
every four years, so it's going to be fun. There's
some good games on, so yeah, we're really looking forward
to it.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah, and those games are early on in the Olympics
as well. In fact, the first game for the men
is actually before the opening ceremony. It's one of the
quirks of the way they've set it out so early
on on the first week to ten days the group
games for the football at the Paris Olympics.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Football fee on a heart radio.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Let's have a look at a couple of bits of
transfer news. Ben Old this week confirmed going to Saint
Etienne in the French Top flight. They were promoted from
League up to League. I think I've got the French
right there, Bonnie. So they're going to be in the
top flight next season. What a move for Ben Old?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
So good? I mean we're not surprised, are we? Like this?
Speaker 3 (08:24):
He just said, such a great season. He's going to
be the next best footballer in New Zealand. I mean
he's already one of the best. So yeah, really really
please for him. I am a little bit worried about
the Phoenix, so I have to admit they're losing a
lot of players.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, they have signed one this week. We'll get to
Marco Rohas in a minute. And in many ways, Marco
Rojas is kind of a like for like, not an
exact like for like, but he he will slot into
where Ben Old was last season, albeit probably with a
tactical tweak or two. He's He's not, you know, not
the kind of guy's going to pop up on the
on the on the wing and beat a whole lot
of players. But in that little pocket I think he
(08:58):
can still be very effective. But yeah, I hear what
you're saying, because the other strong male weare hearing is
that Finn Sermon is off as well about to sign
with Portland Timbers in the MLS. So you know, a great,
a great move and you can always tell when these
transfers are coming Bonny. Because Finn Sermon and the Portland
Timbers have followed one another on Instagram.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Yeah, that's great. Invested to give journalism from you, Piineyer.
Did you find that out?
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Have you?
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Have you been watching Finn Sermon's Instagram account and see
who he's following?
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Well, not religiously, no, but I just didn't. I had it.
In fact, I had it pointed out to me that
the two I haven't been. That doesn't That's not how
I do my journalism.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I was like, I know you're obsessed with football, but
surely not that obsessed party.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
No.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Although, just speaking of social media, did you happen to
see the welcome video that Saint etty En did for
Ben Olt Oh the painting the painting year?
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Oh awesome? Yeah, I loved it.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
And then I also saw Alex Paulson's video when he
arrived at Burmouth and yeah that was he got his
medicals done.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
Yeah, they're they're great over there. I love it.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Yeah, there's I think clubs more and more now are
just doing different things, aren't they with their social media
and you know video contents, and I mean Alex Paulson,
he must be looking around thinking to himself, what is happening?
You know a year ago he was battling, battling with
Jack Duncan in the off season to be the number
one Phoenix goalkeeper. And now he's at a Premier league club.
(10:20):
You know, and for being old, you know, he's exactly
the same. He's now the subject of a social media
campaign based around somebody painting a big picture of them.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Yeah, like, do you reckon? They're you know, like a
little bit shitting themselves. I don't know if that's appropriate
to so on the podcast, but you know, do you
think they're nervous or they're just rolling with it and
owning at meeting? You know, these top players that they're
coming into these teams.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
I just felt like I would go over and kind
of be fangirling a little bit. You know, you deserve
to be there, but clearly, but yeah, i'd surely be nervous.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
I think they'd probably have those kind of pinch me
moments early on, and then I think, you know, this
is the thing these other things that both of these
players have worked for basically since they were you know,
in their early teens. Really they've targeted a professional football career.
And I mean listening to both of them, particularly Ben Old,
I have to say, who I had the chance to
(11:13):
chat with this week. You know, he's such a mature
young man. So is Alex Paulson. They both are, you know,
and and but they are totally comfortable in their own
skins and also are not just happy to be there.
I think, you know, Ben Old wants to play for
the team, Alex Paulson wants to push for minutes for
Bournemouth in the Premier League. So you know, I think
there would be I think it would be nervous excitement probably.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
And you have to go in with a little bit
of arrogance as well, right, like you can't be there otherwise.
They know that they deserve the spot and that's with
a bit of arrogance. That's how they've got to this
place in there in the first place.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
So yeah, good on.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Them, absolutely right. Can't wait to see how they go,
both of them off to the Olympics. Of course, in
the squad we just read out Ben Old doesn't have
to go very far from France to France and Alex
Paulson across from the UK. So I mean, so cool
for them. They get to go to the Olympic Games
and then get back into pre season and then you know,
ready make a real guy of it at their new clubs.
(12:09):
So Marco Rojas's back. This was announced this week as well.
He had two seasons with the Phoenix all the way
back in O nine to ten and ten eleven. Then
he went to Melbourne Victory. Had three stints there was
it Brisbane Raw last season also overseas time in Germany, Switzerland,
the Netherlands, Denmark and Chile. Forty six New Zealand Caps.
It's an impressive CV. I feel like Marco Rohas can
(12:32):
still do a job in the A League.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Yeah, it's exciting party. I mean, he's definitely not what
he used to be. But I think for those loyal fans,
you know, they'll be excited to have Rojas come back.
And we hear that name, that nickname Kiwi Messi throwing around.
I'll tell you a story. Obviously, I was around when
the Phoenix first started. I was about eight years old
and walked out with the Phoenix couple of times as
(12:56):
a bull kit and everything, but Leo BeRTOS was all
my favorite player.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
I loved him.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
And then I remember when Marco Rojas came along and
he was just insane and I was like, no, but
I want him to be my favorite player. But I
felt really bad, you know, switching allegiances and switching favorite players.
I always loved, yeah, both Marco and Leo. So yeah,
for fans like that had been around from the get go,
and when Marco first joined the club, I think, yeah,
(13:22):
it's cool to happen back.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Well his story of coming into the team all those
years ago is famous. You know, it's a Yellow Fever scholarship. Basically,
the fans got together and paid for him to come
down to Wellington to have a trial. Ricky Herbert was
the coach. Then they liked what they saw and you know,
he didn't get a lot of opportunity in his first season,
but in that twenty ten to eleven season, Paul I
(13:44):
for got injured and Marco got a run of games
and showed what he could do and then was snapped
up by Melbourne Virtuary. I know the Phoenix wanted to
keep him, but he headed off to Melbourne victory and
had you know, big success over their thirty nine goals
and one hundred and nine teen games across his three
stints there. So yeah, great to see him back. He's
(14:05):
he I went to his media conference during the week
when he was announced or unveiled, and he's a very
different guy now to the Marco Rojas who left. Clearly
he's about twelve years older. Of course he's going to
be different, but he just seems to be a very
deep thinker now And one thing I liked that he
said was that he hopes that now he can use
his experience if some of the younger boys coming into
(14:26):
the team need a bit of advice or just want
to know what it's like to play overseas or whatever
it is, that he can be you know, he can
be someone who they can they can get that advice from.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
And I also think it's a bit of a statement
signing from the Wellington Phoenix. I mean they've lost their
top players from the last season overseas to other clubs
and meanwhile Auckland f C have been signing a whole
bunch of big names, so to have this one and
no doubt Auckland f c would have been having discussions
(14:56):
with Marco, so to secure him down in Wellington was
was pretty ideal.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
We'll get to a Walkland FC's signing news in a moment.
Just with the Phoenix, though, discussions are still ongoing with
bodjed R Krajev. He's the only player from last season
who hasn't been confirmed as either staying or going. I
get the feeling they really want them to stay, especially
with Ben Old going. I think they would really love
to keep him. It's just whether they can afford to
(15:22):
do that. They've got seventeen players signed. That includes Vinn
Sermon though, who we believe to be leaving, so that's sixteen.
The big hole though is at goalkeeper because Alex Paulson's gone.
Jack Duncan has now also gone to Melbourne Victory. The
only number one only goalkeeper in the men's squad now
is LB Kelly Healed, and he's never played an a
league game. I don't think he's even played a cup
(15:43):
game for Wellington Phoenix, so very very raw and probably
far too early for him to be the number one.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Yeah, no, one hundred percent. That'll probably be first on
the Phoenix recruitment list. I guess as a keeper for sure,
big shoester Phil. I was excited for Jack Duncan to
have the go this year. I mean we've talked about
it before. Apparently he's a great guy, great player. So
it's a shame we won't get to see him. But yeah,
(16:10):
they definitely need to be getting a keeper fast.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Do you reckon they might go for an import keeper?
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Yeah? Maybe? I mean who else is there?
Speaker 3 (16:20):
There's been a couple of young boys trailing up and
up in Auckland for Auckland FC.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
But yeah, I mean.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
You might have another story of Alex Paul's an unbelievable season,
But I don't know.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
Was that just a one off? We have to see well.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
I think with her May with Alex Paulson had been
around the team for a bit. I don't think the
Lbi Kelly Healed coming in now is the same as
Alex Paulson coming in a year ago. I think ap
had had a lot more time with the squad, he'd
played a couple of games. I think you have to
compare Albi Kelly Healed with the Alex Paulson of three
years ago. Probably, And so I just don't think he's
(16:55):
ready and Chief even said that in the press conference
when he was asked about this, you know other player signings,
he said, it would be I think wrong to throw
LB Kelly healdon to an A league season. He's going
to start the first Australia Cup game which is in
the next little while. But they are in the market
for another keeper and I don't know. You look around
and there are a lot of New Zealand keepers and
(17:15):
Australian keepers as well, but most of them have clubs.
So I wonder whether they've got to do it, do
a Philip Kurto for example, and go and get an
overseas keeper.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Yeah, surely, and maybe you know, the budgets are tight
this season, as there was we've discussed, so I think
they're probably holding out for a keeper for sure.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
The women have signed an overseas keeper by the way,
Portuguese under twenty three international Carolina Vilal from ben Fica.
They've got Amy Danielly on their books as well, but
Riley Foster and Brianna Edwards have both left. I was
sad to see Brianna Edwards go. I know that there
were issues around her mental health that she was very
(17:53):
public about and she pulled out of various games and
squads for personal reasons. But I thought at her best
she was a bloody good goalkeeper.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Yeah, I thought so as well.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
I think she was unlucky, lucky not to get the
number one jersey this past season. Obviously, Riley Foster came
in and she was good, she was solid. She obviously
came in with an impressive resume. But yeah, I felt
the same Piney. I think as well Brown Edwards could
have been going to the Olympics. I'm not sure you
know what's going on with her personally, and it's a
(18:25):
real shame and I hope, you know, she can overcome
it because she's, as you say, a really really good
goal goalkeeper.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Yeah, I think she'll pop up somewhere in Australia, maybe
in state league football, initially in goalkeepers, as we know,
have a long, long life. So yeah, I'd love to
see breback. And I think I think she is the
third keeper, So she probably you're right, would have been
going to Paris as that as that, you know, I
think Murphy Sheafster the alternatives and she so I think
Brianna Rebberts would have been the third goalkeeper anyway, Be
that as it may. The Phoenix have also re signed
(18:53):
Australian defender Tiana Jaber. This happened on the same day.
Did you see this news about MAURICEA. VanderMeer in your
podcast notes? But no, Well she's terrible. She was she
rupts you her ACL She's six months into her rehab
and she's reruptured it the same one. The name well
I think no, I think it's the same one. And
she's also got medial and lateral meniscus tears in her
(19:16):
right knee. So here she is putting all of this
time into rehabbing. Now she's reruptured it. It's gutting for hers.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
Yeah, that's terrible.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
I mean I've heard stories of players, you know, rerupturing
the a cl but not this quickly. It's something's got
to give a pinty like, you know, we're seeing more
and more of it now, and I know there's more
discussion around it, and that's maybe why it seems like
there's more a cls, But just it's trending far too
quickly upwards for a CLS in the woman's game, and
(19:45):
I just really hope someone can get on to some
study because yeah, it's it's gutting and players are missing
you know, big events and pinnacle events and it's important
times in their career like it is for Marisa.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Yeah, and it's only, as we know, it's only a
short window that you have to play at the top
level and to have what'll be now for MAURICEA. Vandermere
a year plus taken out of that small window. It's
just so gutting because she's such a positive force around
that team as well, even when she was rehabbing, you know,
all the social media I saw on the a couple
of times I saw around and at the nzcis always
(20:18):
had a smile on her face, always positive. But it's
got to be tough, doesn't it When you get six
months in and then all of a sudden you've got
to start all over again. Just so gutting for her.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
Yeah, I can't even imagine.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
I mean, I was not at her level of my
football career, but I was really lucky where I didn't
have bad injuries and they was you know, looked at
my teammates and just couldn't even imagine how hard it
is for them.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
So you're really really gutted for it all right.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Final piece of Phoenix news. Oscar Zavada has a new club.
We knew he was leaving, we just didn't know where
he was going to turn up. This week it was
confirmed he's gone to the Netherlands. We'll play in the
Dutch erdivisi for RKC Volvik. So look forward to seeing
how Oscar Zavada goes at his new club. Feel all right,
(21:09):
let's get to your neck of the woods. Auckland FC.
Another signing this week, Jake Brimmer. You have the chance
to chat to him. What did you make of the
signing and how did Jake Brimmer grave you when you
had the chance to meet him.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Oh, yeah, he was awesome. I really liked him. He
was a little bit.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Arrogant, as you know a lot of footballers are, but
I think that was one of the reasons that the
club were quite interested in him, because he just was
clearly wanting to win and has really high expectations of
himself and the teams he plays. And he said the
reason he came to this club obviously was was, you know,
(21:44):
the appeal of the owner, Bill Foley, being connected to
so many other big clubs around the world, but also
he loves Steve Coricker and he said, he quoted quote
him that he said, Steve Corocker is a winner and
he doesn't have a lot of Premiership trophy and his
you know, on them yet, So that's that's what he
(22:04):
wants to do here at Auckland f C.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Johnny Warren medal winner in twenty twenty one, twenty two,
so pretty recent. Sixty games and three seasons at Perth Glory,
then ninety nine across the last four seasons at Melbourne Victory.
Good player, you know, really good good player, you know,
in the upper echie line of a league players, certainly
those who aren't imports. So Auckland FC now have eleven
players on full time contracts and the six scholarship players
(22:29):
as well, and they still haven't signed any imports. So
it's as I think I said last week on the podcast,
they're building a very very solid base.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
Oh they're looking pretty good, Piiney. You just wait, mate,
they're going to be on fire come what October nineteen,
which will get too soon in their first home game
of the season. But now we went out to their
training and they were looking pretty good. It was so
early early days, doing a lot of fitness and things
like that. But their bases out at North Harbor Stadium
and he's currently setting up their offices. So I was
(23:00):
lucky enough to get a little bit of a tour
of you know, like where the team hangs out and
where the chief will be and the offices and meeting
rooms and things like that. I mean, it's no n
z cia is building that the Wellington Phoenix have, but
it's not too bad.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Are you going to be like they're like, you know,
when they have their number one fan, you'll get an
Auckland f C jersey with one and Jensen across the back.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
I was actually Nick nick Becker, the Auckland f C CEO.
We were talking about the kits, saying they're very nice
and didn't the Warriors send out jerseys to media once
and were trying to get them to send them out
to users cross. The thing is, I'm into minds. I
feel the same when I come down and watch the
Wellington Phoenix. It's like I want to be working at
(23:43):
these games. Great for the career, but I also just
want to be a fan and have a bear in
the stance.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Well maybe what you do as you say, right, Okay,
Auckland f C are my team to be a fan of,
and I'll work Wellington Phoenix or vice versa. But then,
having said that, you are a journalist, to be fair
meant to be impartial, you know, and so am I.
So I think we just have to will put any
biases about where we live or where we come from
(24:08):
to one side, go media Stadium. Mount Smart is officially
their home ground for at least the next five years.
You were at this announcement yesterday as well, obviously.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Yeah, no, it was good.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
I mean there was As Nick Becker said again, it
was the worst kept secrets because they've already sold a
lot of tickets membership tickets to the stadium. So yes,
officially announced and they announced their home game, their first
home game, October nineteen, first game of the season. And
they also announced that they're trying to schedule majority of
their home games, if not all of them, at five
(24:41):
pm on a Saturday afternoon, which is not a bad time.
But immediately I jumped to the fact that the top
national league in Auckland, or the national league in the country,
the men's league, they kick off at three pm and
getting to Mount Smart for five pm kick off.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
After that they finish it's not ideal at all.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Not just that league though, Bonnie, what about all of
the social leagues exactly? And they all Saturdays as well.
Speaker 3 (25:07):
Yeah, exactly, and hopefully by then, you know, because obviously
the A League runs over summer, so there shouldn't be
too many weeks crossover. But you know, that's also when
the National League runs and that's quite a big competition,
and you know that there's more than just that league,
but that's majority of your fan surely that are turning
up for a league game.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
So yeah, I spoke with Nick.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
Becker about it and he said that's coming to consideration
and they might you know, liais with New Zealand Football
about potentially bringing those games forward. So yeah, I guess
we'll have to wait and see. But yeah, you definitely
don't want to be missing, you know, those fans at
the game, because they're the future of this team really.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Asually, you know, right. I mean, of course it's played
over summer, so the Winter League will be finished, but
they would start up again around April, so of Auckland
f C go deep into the A League, which I'm
sure they plan to do, then maybe the start of
the new winter season might might be affected, but I'm
sure they'll I'll have it all worked out yr first
home game of the season October nineteen. I also caught
win today and this is not official. I must absolutely
(26:09):
make this clear. This is not official. But what I'm
hearing is the first derby between Auckland FC and Wellington
Phoenix may well be in week two and it'll be
in Wellington.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Right, nice, that's what I heard. It would be in
Wellington as well. Again, not official, but oh.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
It's so exciting.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
And then I think the first derby in Auckland has
been has been sort of penciled in for early December.
I think the first weekend in December, so in the
first six seven weeks of the season maybe a bit
more than that. We're gon we're gonna have the first
two derbies, one in each city, which is great. I
quite like the five o'clock Saturday, I must say over summer.
(26:49):
I don't mind that as a time, No.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
Yeah, same, I think it's an unreal time and like
it's definitely more more appealing, especially with kickoff out at
Mount Smarts. It's a little bit tricky to get to
than it is Eden Park. I was trying to think
Ponty when do the Phoenix typically kick off their home games.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
It was kind of all over the place, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Yeah, they changed it last season or sorry, the season
before the one that's just completed. They tried. They experimented
with a three o'clock kickoff on a Saturday and a
Sunday and it didn't really work, so they went back
to sort of five o'clocks for the most part. On
there was the odd four o'clock, but yeah, four o'clock,
five o'clock for the most part. They tried to get
a couple of Friday night games, and I must say
(27:27):
I really enjoyed the Friday night games when they were scheduled. Yeah,
but often there was only one game on a Friday
night across the entire A league and that was often
given to an Australian fixture. So I used to really
enjoy the Friday nights as well.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
I was talking with Steve Corrik at the head coach
of Auckland f C, and he said he doesn't mind
a Friday night game as well.
Speaker 4 (27:47):
So I suspect, well, we might see a few of those.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Scheduled and you know, maybe a different time or a
Sunday game kickoff for the for the Derby games. So yeah, no,
it's going to be interesting to see what they do.
But obviously you want to get as many fans there
as possible.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Well, and good to have that little nugget of information dropped.
I think we all assume that would be the weekend.
I think it's Labor weekend, isn't it. The first time
game of the season for Auckland FC and for the
entire league will be across that weekend of what October eighteen,
nineteen twenty and I think Labour Day is the twenty
first from memory anyway, it's that weekend anyway, with the
(28:23):
official drawer as I understand it, due out before the
end of July, so hopefully won't be too far before
we know all of the fixtures and we can start
doing some planning around Derby's etc.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Football Fever on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
A couple of bits of news around the New Zealand
underage teams. Our under twenties are playing a two match
series against Australia's under twenties. This is in the lead
up to the upcoming Under twenty Women's World Cup in
Columbia in September. They're playing at Jerry Collins Stadium and
Potty do it you know where that is, Bonnie, You've
attended games there. That's this afternoon as we record this
(28:57):
the Thursday. Another game out at nz cis on Sunday,
but that one's behind closed doors so that the teams
can work on a few things. And the New Zealand
Under twenty men, in fact the under nineteen men, as
they are currently defending their title at the OFC Under
nineteen Championship. In some more they've beat on New Caledonia
and Somemoa five nil, five mil sum New Caledonia three nil,
(29:20):
one more group game and then on towards the Semis
in the final. Chris Greenacre, of course, is the coach
of that side. Kiwi's overseas. A couple of bits of
signing news for us in the women's game.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Bond Yeah, an Elite has extended her contract with Aston
Villa until June twenty twenty five. I'm stoked for her
because she obviously got minutes towards the end of the
season there, so it's yeah, it's good that they want
her back. Grace Neville has signed a new one year
contract with London City Lionesses and Hannah Blake huge signing.
She's joined Durham FC is the a SAT Piney and
(29:54):
the English second tier, so that's pretty cool for her.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Yeah, she was AEGE Women's last year. Wasn't yet memory, yes, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
I think she's done well in the A League and
I think this move is going to be good for her.
I've someone I'm someone who's been a fan of the
way she plays for years and I think, you know,
maybe with different coaching perspectives in the Football Ferns camp,
she could have been called in, So maybe this move
might spark new insights.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
Now tell me this. With the Olympics on and the
Women's Olympics being a senior women's competition, does the NWSL
take awa break?
Speaker 4 (30:30):
Yes they do. They were going to be playing in that.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
It's like an NWSL Challenge Summer Cup type thing, but yeah,
the actual competition is not on, so they've got a
month off.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Excellent, excellent news. That's that's good. That because I just
wondered whether you know, teams might not release their players,
but if you had, like the United States, not really
they all play pretty much in the NWUSL, don't.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
They Yeah, no, yeah, exactly, a lot a lot of
those players play there. Yeah, you just wouldn't be able
to have a component without taking break.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
So that's good, good stuff. Good to hear, all right.
A couple of bits of men's news. Alex Greeve has
a new club. He's joined Bohemian FC in Ireland. There
was a photo that the club put up during the
week of fellow key we who have played there. Jason Batty,
Raft deg Gregorio, Harry Nata and David Dodd all played
there at the same time in the late nineteen nineties.
(31:22):
They put a photo up of the four of them.
I had no idea that those four had played at
this club, but it's an island, so Alex Greeve, hopefully
we'll get some minutes there and score a few goals.
James Mooser, he's a name from the past. He's left Colorado.
He's now with Elliott Collier at Indy eleven. Got his
first game time in about three months over the weekend.
James Mooser and Elliott Collier got a goal in that
(31:43):
game as well, and Joe Bell continuing to really play
well in Norway ninety minutes as Viking scored a couple
of late goals to beat Oslo two one and stay
fourth in the Norwegian top flight. Great though that Joe
Bell has been released by his club to attend the
Olympic Games. Finally, on the podcast, which has become a
bumper edition, Bonnie you were. You were in amongst a
(32:04):
bunch of English and Dutch fans this morning watching the
semi final. I noticed you had an orange shirt on it.
I forgot that you were you had Dutch heritage.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Yeah, Pine, If you ain't Dutch, you ain't much. That's
what my dad's family say, the Bonnie Bonnie Junsen. Some
people call me not really, but yes, half Dutch and
so was. We were absolutely robbed with that penalty call.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
I must say.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
However, England were better, and I'm glad for England because
you know, it's hard not to chair for England being
a KIWI for some reason, and they'd just been so
rubbish or tournament. So I was finally glad to see
some sort of good performance from them.
Speaker 4 (32:43):
But gut it against it. It was against the Dutch.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
It was the first half. The first half was very good,
wasn't it by England? That easily miles better than anything else.
I put on the pitch so far. Second half they
kind of reverted back to being a bit sluggish and
passing the ball back. But Ollie Watkin's coming on scoring
that goal. What a moment for him, I mean, just
tremendous for a kid to come on like that and
score the winning goal. In the semi final, they take
on Spain Monday morning, seven o'clock New Zealand time. Have
(33:09):
you gotten that?
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Definitely Spain. These look so good and that kid what
is his name, Leamin Yamarl Yep, he's just incredible. Sixteen
years old. I think he'll be seventeen, just turned seventeen
for the final. Yeah, he's incredible, and I'd love to
see both Spanish men's and women's teams on top of
the world.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Yes, of course, because yeh, because Spain have won. Yeah,
they won the women's World Cup, didn't they last year? Yeah?
I mean Spain. Look, I mean since kind of I
was going to say since since the knockout rounds. Really
even in group play they've looked very, very good. But
you know what, England are there? You know, Germany aren't there,
you know, France aren't there. It's only aren't there the
Netherlands aren't there. England are there. They're still in with
(33:49):
a chance, you know, they might fluke it.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
You know, Yeah, there's I mean again as a key
we I don't know what it is, but there is
something that kind of ties me to England and I
would like to see them, to see them when that
And at the same time, you know, despite what I
just said about the Spanish, if England men win, then
both men and men and women's teams would have won
the Euros.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Yeah, fantastic, we'll see, we'll see. Indeed, all right, Well,
that wraps football fever today. There has been plenty for
us to get our teeth into. You're off on a
we junk it shortly. I think you're going actually going
sailing and All Blacks rugbying or something.
Speaker 4 (34:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
I'm heading over to San Francisco later today for the
sale GP final, doing some work over there, and then yeah,
off to the All Blacks as well. So looking forward
to that, but excited to get back for the Olympic
commentary on God's Sport.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Yep, looking forward to that. All right. Well here you
have an awesome time, safe travels, and at some point
when there's a bunch of news to tell the people about.
We'll get in touch with one another and put out
another episode of of Football Fever, But thank you for
listening to today's episode
Speaker 1 (34:54):
The FF with Finy and Body
Football Fever with News Talks MB's voice of Football Jason
Paine and Bonnie Jansen.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Hello and welcome into a fresh episode of Football Fever.
We're here in association with FIFA Plus stream New Zealand
football live and free on FIFA plus dot com. My
name's Jason Pine. Bonnie Jensen also here.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Hello, Bonnie, Hello pariney two weeks away? Is it to
the Paris game?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Absolutely, we're getting closer, aren't we to the Paris Olympics?
And on that? Should we start there? Because the Olie
Whites have been named. The squad's been named for the
men's competition. I'll quickly go through Alex Pauson and Case Sims.
Are the goalkeepers Tyler Binden, Michael Boxer, Lucas Kelly Healed,
Matt Sheridan, Sam Sutton and Finn Sermon. The defenders Joe
Belfin Conchie, Matthew Garbett, Ben Olden, Sarpretch Sing. The midfielders Riley,
(00:50):
Jay Herdman, Jesse Randall, Oscar van Hattam and Ben Wayne
of the Strikers. The four four alternate players who will
travel with the team Lachland Bayless, Liam Gillian, Isaac Hughes
and Henry Gray is the reserve goalkeeper. Actually he won't travel,
he'll stay with his club and it's which unless he
is called upon overage players Boxel, Bell Sing. I guess
(01:12):
the big story though, is no Chris Wood, no Libby Cacacchi,
no Marco Staminitch not released by their clubs. What do
you make of this?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
It's such a shame. I think I'm especially feeling for
Marco right now. He you know, it's an underage tournament.
He's an underage player. He could have, you know, rarely
gone out and had a really good tournament, especially you know,
the key is kind of need it. But in saying that,
you know you still look at this rossy you've just
named and it's it's still bloody strong painting.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah, it's a good team. It's a good team. And
I think the other one who isn't there, who would
have been if he was an in I think was
Tim Pain. I think Tim Pain probably would have gone
as an overage player ahead of I think Michael Boxel
had he been fit, because he covers that right back
center back. Without him, there's no real first choice right back.
(02:03):
I think Matthew Sheridan's probably the obvious one. Sam Sutton
played over on the right during the Nation's Cup of
This is an entirely different kettle of fish. I wonder
whether they might play Tyler Binden at right back, even
though he's a center back by trade.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Yeah, potentially.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
I also think they might look at it a back
three as well, now that they've got Boxer in there,
who is you know, a strong experience center back. And
then you know you've got the likes of Sam Sutton
or Lucas Kelly hild who could push up again and
play in one of those wing back positions. There's also
you know, like you look at those midfielders and attackers
(02:40):
and you kind of want as many of them on
the field as possible, So you know, maybe that's what
Bays will look at doing. And yeah, going with a
three at the back so he can have more attackers
going forward.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah, I guess the other way he could do it
is have the back four with two sitting Joe Beallen
Finkanchi maybe, and then you do get Garbett, seeing Old
and Wayne for Ample all on the pitch. At the
same time. I think you're overage players. They play every game,
don't they. That's why they're there. I don't think you'd
pick an overage player if he wasn't going to play.
So it feels like box all, Bell and Sing are
(03:12):
part of the first eleven. You got guys like Jesse Randall,
Oscar Van Hattam, Jay Hrdman, Riley Bidwell, quite a few
impact attackers if you need them. I don't mind the
balance of the side, all all things being equal.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Yeah, that's what I mean, like a midfield of Bell
and Sing obviously, you know, and then Matt Garbett as well,
and then you've got you know, they might even look
at playing Ben Old in a more attacking role or
maybe as a wing back, and then yeah you played
Ben Wayne someone like Jesse Randal as well, who had
a great recent campaign with the All Whites. So yeah,
(03:47):
definitely a lot of options there. And that's why I'm
not too down about those those boys and Chris Wood
and Libby and Marco not being there. Yes, I would
have loved it, but it's still a strong team.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Yeah. Darren basically put a positive spin on by saying that, hey,
now our players are in demand at top clubs. They're
in the position where clubs don't want to release them
because they are too important to their clubs, which I
thought was a nice way to positively spin it. Interesting
to see Lachlan Bayliss as one of the alternates. He's
at Newcastle. The Newcastle Jets had eleven games in the
last A League men's season. I think he's also eligible
(04:21):
for Australia from memory, so interesting to see him kind
of throw his lot in with New Zealand. Not that
it'll matter. It's not a senior tournament, so if he
does play, it doesn't tie him to New Zealand necessarily,
but interesting to see his name amongst the alternates. As
I say, Henry Gray is the third goalkeeper Darren Base.
He said in the media during the week that he
won't come with the team to Paris, but if there
(04:43):
is an injury to either Alex Paulson or case Sims,
then he'll just jump across from the UK to France,
which is only a small hop anyway, isn't it. So Yeah,
overall they play Guinea, the United States and France at
the Olympics. Tough group right to get out of.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Yeah, yeah, I'm yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
I mean both both men's and women's teams have the
hosts for ut so that's that's a tough ask in itself.
I think, you know, the US are obviously what top ten,
top fifteen in the world for their men's first team,
maybe they're a little bit weaker. I think that's that's
the game they're going to want to be, you know,
(05:21):
getting points from especially. I think France is a tough
ask about Guinea and USA, that's the ones they really
should be.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Targeting, absolutely right. I noticed a rule change mentioned by
Emma Hayes actually during the week when she was up
for media she's the boss of the United States women's
team now, of course, and she said that if you
give six hours notice, you can bring in one of
your alternates, one of your traveling reserves, and then when
to cover an injured player, and then if that injured
(05:50):
player then comes right, they can come back into the squad.
I think previously, an injured player, if they were out,
they were out. If you replace them, they couldn't come back.
But to intimate on on her media call this week
that you can you can bring one of those players
in and then swap them back out again, I think
that's I think that's quite sensible, wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Yeah, I quite like that as well.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
I mean, you know, these people diagnosing these injured players
likely in the team, so there might be a few
tactics being played out. One of those alternate players might
have had a great training session or things like that,
and maybe they want to make a late change.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
I quite like the idea of that.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yes, so do I. So the Football Funds are already
in France. They're playing a warm up game against Zambia
Sunday morning. They speaking of tough Paul's We've mentioned this
a few times on the podcast Canada Columbia France. They
are going to have to play so well to get
out of that group, aren't they.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Ah, piney, I mean, yeah, it's I'm trying to be
optimistic here and you know, find you know the positives.
I guess they're only positive. It's quite a young team.
They're going to get a lot out of this tournament.
But we know their whole circumstances. And I just like
with what's happened with the Yeka and everything's tough ask.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Indeed well, regardless of what happens in these three games
for the Football Ferns and the three games initially for
the Olie Whites as well, Bonnie and I are teaming
up for commentary of these games on Gold Sport during
our Olympic Games coverage. So yeah, looking forward to to
watching these games unfold and hopefully calling a a few
New Zealand goals and who knows a few New Zealand
(07:22):
results as well. Looking forward to doing a bit of
commentary during the games Bond.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Yeah, it'd be awesome.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
You know, no reason why the Kiwi fans back home
can't get up and pull a couple of.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
All nighters call and sick to work.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Maybe you knows that time of the yearning happens once
every four years, so it's going to be fun. There's
some good games on, so yeah, we're really looking forward
to it.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah, and those games are early on in the Olympics
as well. In fact, the first game for the men
is actually before the opening ceremony. It's one of the
quirks of the way they've set it out so early
on on the first week to ten days the group
games for the football at the Paris Olympics.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Football fee on a heart radio.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Let's have a look at a couple of bits of
transfer news. Ben Old this week confirmed going to Saint
Etienne in the French Top flight. They were promoted from
League up to League. I think I've got the French
right there, Bonnie. So they're going to be in the
top flight next season. What a move for Ben Old?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
So good? I mean we're not surprised, are we? Like this?
Speaker 3 (08:24):
He just said, such a great season. He's going to
be the next best footballer in New Zealand. I mean
he's already one of the best. So yeah, really really
please for him. I am a little bit worried about
the Phoenix, so I have to admit they're losing a
lot of players.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, they have signed one this week. We'll get to
Marco Rohas in a minute. And in many ways, Marco
Rojas is kind of a like for like, not an
exact like for like, but he he will slot into
where Ben Old was last season, albeit probably with a
tactical tweak or two. He's He's not, you know, not
the kind of guy's going to pop up on the
on the on the wing and beat a whole lot
of players. But in that little pocket I think he
(08:58):
can still be very effective. But yeah, I hear what
you're saying, because the other strong male weare hearing is
that Finn Sermon is off as well about to sign
with Portland Timbers in the MLS. So you know, a great,
a great move and you can always tell when these
transfers are coming Bonny. Because Finn Sermon and the Portland
Timbers have followed one another on Instagram.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Yeah, that's great. Invested to give journalism from you, Piineyer.
Did you find that out?
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Have you?
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Have you been watching Finn Sermon's Instagram account and see
who he's following?
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Well, not religiously, no, but I just didn't. I had it.
In fact, I had it pointed out to me that
the two I haven't been. That doesn't That's not how
I do my journalism.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I was like, I know you're obsessed with football, but
surely not that obsessed party.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
No.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Although, just speaking of social media, did you happen to
see the welcome video that Saint etty En did for
Ben Olt Oh the painting the painting year?
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Oh awesome? Yeah, I loved it.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
And then I also saw Alex Paulson's video when he
arrived at Burmouth and yeah that was he got his
medicals done.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
Yeah, they're they're great over there. I love it.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Yeah, there's I think clubs more and more now are
just doing different things, aren't they with their social media
and you know video contents, and I mean Alex Paulson,
he must be looking around thinking to himself, what is happening?
You know a year ago he was battling, battling with
Jack Duncan in the off season to be the number
one Phoenix goalkeeper. And now he's at a Premier league club.
(10:20):
You know, and for being old, you know, he's exactly
the same. He's now the subject of a social media
campaign based around somebody painting a big picture of them.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Yeah, like, do you reckon? They're you know, like a
little bit shitting themselves. I don't know if that's appropriate
to so on the podcast, but you know, do you
think they're nervous or they're just rolling with it and
owning at meeting? You know, these top players that they're
coming into these teams.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
I just felt like I would go over and kind
of be fangirling a little bit. You know, you deserve
to be there, but clearly, but yeah, i'd surely be nervous.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
I think they'd probably have those kind of pinch me
moments early on, and then I think, you know, this
is the thing these other things that both of these
players have worked for basically since they were you know,
in their early teens. Really they've targeted a professional football career.
And I mean listening to both of them, particularly Ben Old,
I have to say, who I had the chance to
(11:13):
chat with this week. You know, he's such a mature
young man. So is Alex Paulson. They both are, you know,
and and but they are totally comfortable in their own
skins and also are not just happy to be there.
I think, you know, Ben Old wants to play for
the team, Alex Paulson wants to push for minutes for
Bournemouth in the Premier League. So you know, I think
there would be I think it would be nervous excitement probably.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
And you have to go in with a little bit
of arrogance as well, right, like you can't be there otherwise.
They know that they deserve the spot and that's with
a bit of arrogance. That's how they've got to this
place in there in the first place.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
So yeah, good on.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Them, absolutely right. Can't wait to see how they go,
both of them off to the Olympics. Of course, in
the squad we just read out Ben Old doesn't have
to go very far from France to France and Alex
Paulson across from the UK. So I mean, so cool
for them. They get to go to the Olympic Games
and then get back into pre season and then you know,
ready make a real guy of it at their new clubs.
(12:09):
So Marco Rojas's back. This was announced this week as well.
He had two seasons with the Phoenix all the way
back in O nine to ten and ten eleven. Then
he went to Melbourne Victory. Had three stints there was
it Brisbane Raw last season also overseas time in Germany, Switzerland,
the Netherlands, Denmark and Chile. Forty six New Zealand Caps.
It's an impressive CV. I feel like Marco Rohas can
(12:32):
still do a job in the A League.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Yeah, it's exciting party. I mean, he's definitely not what
he used to be. But I think for those loyal fans,
you know, they'll be excited to have Rojas come back.
And we hear that name, that nickname Kiwi Messi throwing around.
I'll tell you a story. Obviously, I was around when
the Phoenix first started. I was about eight years old
and walked out with the Phoenix couple of times as
(12:56):
a bull kit and everything, but Leo BeRTOS was all
my favorite player.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
I loved him.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
And then I remember when Marco Rojas came along and
he was just insane and I was like, no, but
I want him to be my favorite player. But I
felt really bad, you know, switching allegiances and switching favorite players.
I always loved, yeah, both Marco and Leo. So yeah,
for fans like that had been around from the get go,
and when Marco first joined the club, I think, yeah,
(13:22):
it's cool to happen back.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Well his story of coming into the team all those
years ago is famous. You know, it's a Yellow Fever scholarship. Basically,
the fans got together and paid for him to come
down to Wellington to have a trial. Ricky Herbert was
the coach. Then they liked what they saw and you know,
he didn't get a lot of opportunity in his first season,
but in that twenty ten to eleven season, Paul I
(13:44):
for got injured and Marco got a run of games
and showed what he could do and then was snapped
up by Melbourne Virtuary. I know the Phoenix wanted to
keep him, but he headed off to Melbourne victory and
had you know, big success over their thirty nine goals
and one hundred and nine teen games across his three
stints there. So yeah, great to see him back. He's
(14:05):
he I went to his media conference during the week
when he was announced or unveiled, and he's a very
different guy now to the Marco Rojas who left. Clearly
he's about twelve years older. Of course he's going to
be different, but he just seems to be a very
deep thinker now And one thing I liked that he
said was that he hopes that now he can use
his experience if some of the younger boys coming into
(14:26):
the team need a bit of advice or just want
to know what it's like to play overseas or whatever
it is, that he can be you know, he can
be someone who they can they can get that advice from.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
And I also think it's a bit of a statement
signing from the Wellington Phoenix. I mean they've lost their
top players from the last season overseas to other clubs
and meanwhile Auckland f C have been signing a whole
bunch of big names, so to have this one and
no doubt Auckland f c would have been having discussions
(14:56):
with Marco, so to secure him down in Wellington was
was pretty ideal.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
We'll get to a Walkland FC's signing news in a moment.
Just with the Phoenix, though, discussions are still ongoing with
bodjed R Krajev. He's the only player from last season
who hasn't been confirmed as either staying or going. I
get the feeling they really want them to stay, especially
with Ben Old going. I think they would really love
to keep him. It's just whether they can afford to
(15:22):
do that. They've got seventeen players signed. That includes Vinn
Sermon though, who we believe to be leaving, so that's sixteen.
The big hole though is at goalkeeper because Alex Paulson's gone.
Jack Duncan has now also gone to Melbourne Victory. The
only number one only goalkeeper in the men's squad now
is LB Kelly Healed, and he's never played an a
league game. I don't think he's even played a cup
(15:43):
game for Wellington Phoenix, so very very raw and probably
far too early for him to be the number one.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Yeah, no, one hundred percent. That'll probably be first on
the Phoenix recruitment list. I guess as a keeper for sure,
big shoester Phil. I was excited for Jack Duncan to
have the go this year. I mean we've talked about
it before. Apparently he's a great guy, great player. So
it's a shame we won't get to see him. But yeah,
(16:10):
they definitely need to be getting a keeper fast.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Do you reckon they might go for an import keeper?
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Yeah? Maybe? I mean who else is there?
Speaker 3 (16:20):
There's been a couple of young boys trailing up and
up in Auckland for Auckland FC.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
But yeah, I mean.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
You might have another story of Alex Paul's an unbelievable season,
But I don't know.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
Was that just a one off? We have to see well.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
I think with her May with Alex Paulson had been
around the team for a bit. I don't think the
Lbi Kelly Healed coming in now is the same as
Alex Paulson coming in a year ago. I think ap
had had a lot more time with the squad, he'd
played a couple of games. I think you have to
compare Albi Kelly Healed with the Alex Paulson of three
years ago. Probably, And so I just don't think he's
(16:55):
ready and Chief even said that in the press conference
when he was asked about this, you know other player signings,
he said, it would be I think wrong to throw
LB Kelly healdon to an A league season. He's going
to start the first Australia Cup game which is in
the next little while. But they are in the market
for another keeper and I don't know. You look around
and there are a lot of New Zealand keepers and
(17:15):
Australian keepers as well, but most of them have clubs.
So I wonder whether they've got to do it, do
a Philip Kurto for example, and go and get an
overseas keeper.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Yeah, surely, and maybe you know, the budgets are tight
this season, as there was we've discussed, so I think
they're probably holding out for a keeper for sure.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
The women have signed an overseas keeper by the way,
Portuguese under twenty three international Carolina Vilal from ben Fica.
They've got Amy Danielly on their books as well, but
Riley Foster and Brianna Edwards have both left. I was
sad to see Brianna Edwards go. I know that there
were issues around her mental health that she was very
(17:53):
public about and she pulled out of various games and
squads for personal reasons. But I thought at her best
she was a bloody good goalkeeper.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Yeah, I thought so as well.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
I think she was unlucky, lucky not to get the
number one jersey this past season. Obviously, Riley Foster came
in and she was good, she was solid. She obviously
came in with an impressive resume. But yeah, I felt
the same Piney. I think as well Brown Edwards could
have been going to the Olympics. I'm not sure you
know what's going on with her personally, and it's a
(18:25):
real shame and I hope, you know, she can overcome
it because she's, as you say, a really really good
goal goalkeeper.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Yeah, I think she'll pop up somewhere in Australia, maybe
in state league football, initially in goalkeepers, as we know,
have a long, long life. So yeah, I'd love to
see breback. And I think I think she is the
third keeper, So she probably you're right, would have been
going to Paris as that as that, you know, I
think Murphy Sheafster the alternatives and she so I think
Brianna Rebberts would have been the third goalkeeper anyway, Be
that as it may. The Phoenix have also re signed
(18:53):
Australian defender Tiana Jaber. This happened on the same day.
Did you see this news about MAURICEA. VanderMeer in your
podcast notes? But no, Well she's terrible. She was she
rupts you her ACL She's six months into her rehab
and she's reruptured it the same one. The name well
I think no, I think it's the same one. And
she's also got medial and lateral meniscus tears in her
(19:16):
right knee. So here she is putting all of this
time into rehabbing. Now she's reruptured it. It's gutting for hers.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
Yeah, that's terrible.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
I mean I've heard stories of players, you know, rerupturing
the a cl but not this quickly. It's something's got
to give a pinty like, you know, we're seeing more
and more of it now, and I know there's more
discussion around it, and that's maybe why it seems like
there's more a cls, But just it's trending far too
quickly upwards for a CLS in the woman's game, and
(19:45):
I just really hope someone can get on to some
study because yeah, it's it's gutting and players are missing
you know, big events and pinnacle events and it's important
times in their career like it is for Marisa.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Yeah, and it's only, as we know, it's only a
short window that you have to play at the top
level and to have what'll be now for MAURICEA. Vandermere
a year plus taken out of that small window. It's
just so gutting because she's such a positive force around
that team as well, even when she was rehabbing, you know,
all the social media I saw on the a couple
of times I saw around and at the nzcis always
(20:18):
had a smile on her face, always positive. But it's
got to be tough, doesn't it When you get six
months in and then all of a sudden you've got
to start all over again. Just so gutting for her.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
Yeah, I can't even imagine.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
I mean, I was not at her level of my
football career, but I was really lucky where I didn't
have bad injuries and they was you know, looked at
my teammates and just couldn't even imagine how hard it
is for them.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
So you're really really gutted for it all right.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Final piece of Phoenix news. Oscar Zavada has a new club.
We knew he was leaving, we just didn't know where
he was going to turn up. This week it was
confirmed he's gone to the Netherlands. We'll play in the
Dutch erdivisi for RKC Volvik. So look forward to seeing
how Oscar Zavada goes at his new club. Feel all right,
(21:09):
let's get to your neck of the woods. Auckland FC.
Another signing this week, Jake Brimmer. You have the chance
to chat to him. What did you make of the
signing and how did Jake Brimmer grave you when you
had the chance to meet him.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Oh, yeah, he was awesome. I really liked him. He
was a little bit.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Arrogant, as you know a lot of footballers are, but
I think that was one of the reasons that the
club were quite interested in him, because he just was
clearly wanting to win and has really high expectations of
himself and the teams he plays. And he said the
reason he came to this club obviously was was, you know,
(21:44):
the appeal of the owner, Bill Foley, being connected to
so many other big clubs around the world, but also
he loves Steve Coricker and he said, he quoted quote
him that he said, Steve Corocker is a winner and
he doesn't have a lot of Premiership trophy and his
you know, on them yet, So that's that's what he
(22:04):
wants to do here at Auckland f C.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Johnny Warren medal winner in twenty twenty one, twenty two,
so pretty recent. Sixty games and three seasons at Perth Glory,
then ninety nine across the last four seasons at Melbourne Victory.
Good player, you know, really good good player, you know,
in the upper echie line of a league players, certainly
those who aren't imports. So Auckland FC now have eleven
players on full time contracts and the six scholarship players
(22:29):
as well, and they still haven't signed any imports. So
it's as I think I said last week on the podcast,
they're building a very very solid base.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
Oh they're looking pretty good, Piiney. You just wait, mate,
they're going to be on fire come what October nineteen,
which will get too soon in their first home game
of the season. But now we went out to their
training and they were looking pretty good. It was so
early early days, doing a lot of fitness and things
like that. But their bases out at North Harbor Stadium
and he's currently setting up their offices. So I was
(23:00):
lucky enough to get a little bit of a tour
of you know, like where the team hangs out and
where the chief will be and the offices and meeting
rooms and things like that. I mean, it's no n
z cia is building that the Wellington Phoenix have, but
it's not too bad.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Are you going to be like they're like, you know,
when they have their number one fan, you'll get an
Auckland f C jersey with one and Jensen across the back.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
I was actually Nick nick Becker, the Auckland f C CEO.
We were talking about the kits, saying they're very nice
and didn't the Warriors send out jerseys to media once
and were trying to get them to send them out
to users cross. The thing is, I'm into minds. I
feel the same when I come down and watch the
Wellington Phoenix. It's like I want to be working at
(23:43):
these games. Great for the career, but I also just
want to be a fan and have a bear in
the stance.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Well maybe what you do as you say, right, Okay,
Auckland f C are my team to be a fan of,
and I'll work Wellington Phoenix or vice versa. But then,
having said that, you are a journalist, to be fair
meant to be impartial, you know, and so am I.
So I think we just have to will put any
biases about where we live or where we come from
(24:08):
to one side, go media Stadium. Mount Smart is officially
their home ground for at least the next five years.
You were at this announcement yesterday as well, obviously.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Yeah, no, it was good.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
I mean there was As Nick Becker said again, it
was the worst kept secrets because they've already sold a
lot of tickets membership tickets to the stadium. So yes,
officially announced and they announced their home game, their first
home game, October nineteen, first game of the season. And
they also announced that they're trying to schedule majority of
their home games, if not all of them, at five
(24:41):
pm on a Saturday afternoon, which is not a bad time.
But immediately I jumped to the fact that the top
national league in Auckland, or the national league in the country,
the men's league, they kick off at three pm and
getting to Mount Smart for five pm kick off.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
After that they finish it's not ideal at all.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Not just that league though, Bonnie, what about all of
the social leagues exactly? And they all Saturdays as well.
Speaker 3 (25:07):
Yeah, exactly, and hopefully by then, you know, because obviously
the A League runs over summer, so there shouldn't be
too many weeks crossover. But you know, that's also when
the National League runs and that's quite a big competition,
and you know that there's more than just that league,
but that's majority of your fan surely that are turning
up for a league game.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
So yeah, I spoke with Nick.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
Becker about it and he said that's coming to consideration
and they might you know, liais with New Zealand Football
about potentially bringing those games forward. So yeah, I guess
we'll have to wait and see. But yeah, you definitely
don't want to be missing, you know, those fans at
the game, because they're the future of this team really.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Asually, you know, right. I mean, of course it's played
over summer, so the Winter League will be finished, but
they would start up again around April, so of Auckland
f C go deep into the A League, which I'm
sure they plan to do, then maybe the start of
the new winter season might might be affected, but I'm
sure they'll I'll have it all worked out yr first
home game of the season October nineteen. I also caught
win today and this is not official. I must absolutely
(26:09):
make this clear. This is not official. But what I'm
hearing is the first derby between Auckland FC and Wellington
Phoenix may well be in week two and it'll be
in Wellington.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Right, nice, that's what I heard. It would be in
Wellington as well. Again, not official, but oh.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
It's so exciting.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
And then I think the first derby in Auckland has
been has been sort of penciled in for early December.
I think the first weekend in December, so in the
first six seven weeks of the season maybe a bit
more than that. We're gon we're gonna have the first
two derbies, one in each city, which is great. I
quite like the five o'clock Saturday, I must say over summer.
(26:49):
I don't mind that as a time, No.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
Yeah, same, I think it's an unreal time and like
it's definitely more more appealing, especially with kickoff out at
Mount Smarts. It's a little bit tricky to get to
than it is Eden Park. I was trying to think
Ponty when do the Phoenix typically kick off their home games.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
It was kind of all over the place, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Yeah, they changed it last season or sorry, the season
before the one that's just completed. They tried. They experimented
with a three o'clock kickoff on a Saturday and a
Sunday and it didn't really work, so they went back
to sort of five o'clocks for the most part. On
there was the odd four o'clock, but yeah, four o'clock,
five o'clock for the most part. They tried to get
a couple of Friday night games, and I must say
(27:27):
I really enjoyed the Friday night games when they were scheduled. Yeah,
but often there was only one game on a Friday
night across the entire A league and that was often
given to an Australian fixture. So I used to really
enjoy the Friday nights as well.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
I was talking with Steve Corrik at the head coach
of Auckland f C, and he said he doesn't mind
a Friday night game as well.
Speaker 4 (27:47):
So I suspect, well, we might see a few of those.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Scheduled and you know, maybe a different time or a
Sunday game kickoff for the for the Derby games. So yeah, no,
it's going to be interesting to see what they do.
But obviously you want to get as many fans there
as possible.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Well, and good to have that little nugget of information dropped.
I think we all assume that would be the weekend.
I think it's Labor weekend, isn't it. The first time
game of the season for Auckland FC and for the
entire league will be across that weekend of what October eighteen,
nineteen twenty and I think Labour Day is the twenty
first from memory anyway, it's that weekend anyway, with the
(28:23):
official drawer as I understand it, due out before the
end of July, so hopefully won't be too far before
we know all of the fixtures and we can start
doing some planning around Derby's etc.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Football Fever on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
A couple of bits of news around the New Zealand
underage teams. Our under twenties are playing a two match
series against Australia's under twenties. This is in the lead
up to the upcoming Under twenty Women's World Cup in
Columbia in September. They're playing at Jerry Collins Stadium and
Potty do it you know where that is, Bonnie, You've
attended games there. That's this afternoon as we record this
(28:57):
the Thursday. Another game out at nz cis on Sunday,
but that one's behind closed doors so that the teams
can work on a few things. And the New Zealand
Under twenty men, in fact the under nineteen men, as
they are currently defending their title at the OFC Under
nineteen Championship. In some more they've beat on New Caledonia
and Somemoa five nil, five mil sum New Caledonia three nil,
(29:20):
one more group game and then on towards the Semis
in the final. Chris Greenacre, of course, is the coach
of that side. Kiwi's overseas. A couple of bits of
signing news for us in the women's game.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Bond Yeah, an Elite has extended her contract with Aston
Villa until June twenty twenty five. I'm stoked for her
because she obviously got minutes towards the end of the
season there, so it's yeah, it's good that they want
her back. Grace Neville has signed a new one year
contract with London City Lionesses and Hannah Blake huge signing.
She's joined Durham FC is the a SAT Piney and
(29:54):
the English second tier, so that's pretty cool for her.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Yeah, she was AEGE Women's last year. Wasn't yet memory, yes, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
I think she's done well in the A League and
I think this move is going to be good for her.
I've someone I'm someone who's been a fan of the
way she plays for years and I think, you know,
maybe with different coaching perspectives in the Football Ferns camp,
she could have been called in, So maybe this move
might spark new insights.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
Now tell me this. With the Olympics on and the
Women's Olympics being a senior women's competition, does the NWSL
take awa break?
Speaker 4 (30:30):
Yes they do. They were going to be playing in that.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
It's like an NWSL Challenge Summer Cup type thing, but yeah,
the actual competition is not on, so they've got a
month off.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Excellent, excellent news. That's that's good. That because I just
wondered whether you know, teams might not release their players,
but if you had, like the United States, not really
they all play pretty much in the NWUSL, don't.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
They Yeah, no, yeah, exactly, a lot a lot of
those players play there. Yeah, you just wouldn't be able
to have a component without taking break.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
So that's good, good stuff. Good to hear, all right.
A couple of bits of men's news. Alex Greeve has
a new club. He's joined Bohemian FC in Ireland. There
was a photo that the club put up during the
week of fellow key we who have played there. Jason Batty,
Raft deg Gregorio, Harry Nata and David Dodd all played
there at the same time in the late nineteen nineties.
(31:22):
They put a photo up of the four of them.
I had no idea that those four had played at
this club, but it's an island, so Alex Greeve, hopefully
we'll get some minutes there and score a few goals.
James Mooser, he's a name from the past. He's left Colorado.
He's now with Elliott Collier at Indy eleven. Got his
first game time in about three months over the weekend.
James Mooser and Elliott Collier got a goal in that
(31:43):
game as well, and Joe Bell continuing to really play
well in Norway ninety minutes as Viking scored a couple
of late goals to beat Oslo two one and stay
fourth in the Norwegian top flight. Great though that Joe
Bell has been released by his club to attend the
Olympic Games. Finally, on the podcast, which has become a
bumper edition, Bonnie you were. You were in amongst a
(32:04):
bunch of English and Dutch fans this morning watching the
semi final. I noticed you had an orange shirt on it.
I forgot that you were you had Dutch heritage.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Yeah, Pine, If you ain't Dutch, you ain't much. That's
what my dad's family say, the Bonnie Bonnie Junsen. Some
people call me not really, but yes, half Dutch and
so was. We were absolutely robbed with that penalty call.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
I must say.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
However, England were better, and I'm glad for England because
you know, it's hard not to chair for England being
a KIWI for some reason, and they'd just been so
rubbish or tournament. So I was finally glad to see
some sort of good performance from them.
Speaker 4 (32:43):
But gut it against it. It was against the Dutch.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
It was the first half. The first half was very good,
wasn't it by England? That easily miles better than anything else.
I put on the pitch so far. Second half they
kind of reverted back to being a bit sluggish and
passing the ball back. But Ollie Watkin's coming on scoring
that goal. What a moment for him, I mean, just
tremendous for a kid to come on like that and
score the winning goal. In the semi final, they take
on Spain Monday morning, seven o'clock New Zealand time. Have
(33:09):
you gotten that?
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Definitely Spain. These look so good and that kid what
is his name, Leamin Yamarl Yep, he's just incredible. Sixteen
years old. I think he'll be seventeen, just turned seventeen
for the final. Yeah, he's incredible, and I'd love to
see both Spanish men's and women's teams on top of
the world.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Yes, of course, because yeh, because Spain have won. Yeah,
they won the women's World Cup, didn't they last year? Yeah?
I mean Spain. Look, I mean since kind of I
was going to say since since the knockout rounds. Really
even in group play they've looked very, very good. But
you know what, England are there? You know, Germany aren't there,
you know, France aren't there. It's only aren't there the
Netherlands aren't there. England are there. They're still in with
(33:49):
a chance, you know, they might fluke it.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
You know, Yeah, there's I mean again as a key
we I don't know what it is, but there is
something that kind of ties me to England and I
would like to see them, to see them when that
And at the same time, you know, despite what I
just said about the Spanish, if England men win, then
both men and men and women's teams would have won
the Euros.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Yeah, fantastic, we'll see, we'll see. Indeed, all right, Well,
that wraps football fever today. There has been plenty for
us to get our teeth into. You're off on a
we junk it shortly. I think you're going actually going
sailing and All Blacks rugbying or something.
Speaker 4 (34:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
I'm heading over to San Francisco later today for the
sale GP final, doing some work over there, and then yeah,
off to the All Blacks as well. So looking forward
to that, but excited to get back for the Olympic
commentary on God's Sport.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Yep, looking forward to that. All right. Well here you
have an awesome time, safe travels, and at some point
when there's a bunch of news to tell the people about.
We'll get in touch with one another and put out
another episode of of Football Fever, But thank you for
listening to today's episode
Speaker 1 (34:54):
The FF with Finy and Body
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Decisions, Decisions
Welcome to "Decisions, Decisions," the podcast where boundaries are pushed, and conversations get candid! Join your favorite hosts, Mandii B and WeezyWTF, as they dive deep into the world of non-traditional relationships and explore the often-taboo topics surrounding dating, sex, and love. Every Monday, Mandii and Weezy invite you to unlearn the outdated narratives dictated by traditional patriarchal norms. With a blend of humor, vulnerability, and authenticity, they share their personal journeys navigating their 30s, tackling the complexities of modern relationships, and engaging in thought-provoking discussions that challenge societal expectations. From groundbreaking interviews with diverse guests to relatable stories that resonate with your experiences, "Decisions, Decisions" is your go-to source for open dialogue about what it truly means to love and connect in today's world. Get ready to reshape your understanding of relationships and embrace the freedom of authentic connections—tune in and join the conversation!