Former Phoenix striker bolsters TW
Stuff’s football writers look at the five talking points ahead of round 13 of the men’s national league.
TEAM WELLINGTON WIN THE TRANSFER WINDOW
When the league’s transfer window closed on Wednesday night, defending champions Team Wellington were the big winners. Having already signed promising English striker Ross Allen, who scored on debut last Sunday, they added another striker, Hamish Watson, and young defender Liam Wood, both released by the Wellington Phoenix. They have also picked up Kyung-Dong Kim, a South Korean attacking midfielder who is in New Zealand to study.
MAROWA BACKED TO REDISCOVER MOJO
Hawke’s Bay United coach Brett Angell is backing Tinashe Marowa to rediscover the form that saw him spend the preseason with the Wellington Phoenix, after luring the talented winger to Napier. Marowa failed to recapture his electric form in his second season with Tasman United, having made the decision to step away from the Phoenix system when he was not offered a professional contract. Having scored a league-low 13 goals, Hawke’s Bay were in the market for another forward. ‘‘He’s just lacking a little bit of confidence,’’ said Angell of Marowa. ‘‘ We are hoping for the rest of the season we can rekindle that confidence and squeeze out those performances ...’’
LOCAL PLAYERS SHOW MORE FIGHT
Davor Tavich says he will build a team around Nelson-based players in the future, as the Tasman United coach looks to avoid another mass exodus in the transfer window. 48 players have departed their respective teams this month, with Tasman losing six regulars. Tavich said one way to restrict this would be to sign more local players, who take pride in representing their region. ‘‘The answer is to have as many local players as possible, which we will be closer to next year and the year after,’’ he said.
WANDERERS NEAR RECORD WINLESS RUN
When will Hamilton Wanderers find a win? It feels like they are getting closer, but beating Auckland City in Tauranga on Sunday might be a bridge too far, and they seem destined to equal the league record of 23 games without a win, jointly held by YoungHeart Manawatu and Otago United. They will do that with a draw or a loss, and will then have to beat Waita¯kere United the following weekend to avoid setting a new mark of 24. Wanderers have scored 14 goals in their past six games, more than eight other teams, but have conceded 20, more than every other team.
No team in this league changes from week to week as much as the Wellington Phoenix reserves, but centre back Liam Wood had been their rock, appearing in 36 of their
43 games since the start of the
2015-16 season. He’s now left for Team Wellington, while Luke Tongue has gone to Canterbury United, and the WeeNix suddenly look even more inexperienced than usual. Senior pro Hamish Watson played a big part in their win over Waita¯ kere last weekend, but he’s gone too, also to Team Wellington, and it’s hard to see the WeeNix pulling off any more upsets. Canterbury United stand to gain the most, as they still have to play the WeeNix twice, including this Saturday in Christchurch.
ISPS Handa Premiership, round 13
Saturday 2pm: Tasman United vs Team Wellington; Saxton Field, Nelson Sunday 2pm: Hawke’s Bay United v Eastern Suburbs; Memorial Park, Palmerston North Sunday 2pm: Southern United v Waita¯kere United; Sunnyvale Park, Dunedin Sunday 2pm: Canterbury United v Wellington Phoenix reserves, English Park, Christchurch Sunday 4.35pm: Hamilton Wanderers v Auckland City; Links Avenue, Tauranga
Points: Auckland City 24, Eastern Suburbs 23, Team Wellington
23, Canterbury United 17*, Tasman United 17, Waita¯kere United 16, Hawke’s Bay United 13, Southern United 12, Wellington Phoenix reserves 12*, Hamilton Wanderers
3
* Denotes game in hand