does it matter? Still come second in the group? make final and lose to Soli but still qualify? Or have I got it wrong?
New Zealand Men's U-17s
does it matter? Still come second in the group? make final and lose to Soli but still qualify? Or have I got it wrong?
We gotta get past PNG first
does it matter? Still come second in the group? make final and lose to Soli but still qualify? Or have I got it wrong?
We gotta get past PNG first
aren’t they rubbish?
does it matter? Still come second in the group? make final and lose to Soli but still qualify? Or have I got it wrong?
We gotta get past PNG first
aren’t they rubbish?
does it matter? Still come second in the group? make final and lose to Soli but still qualify? Or have I got it wrong?
We gotta get past PNG first
aren’t they rubbish?
Well they also lost to Solomons 5-0 like us and beat Vanuatu 5-0 when we beat them 8-0. So maybe only just a bit more rubbish then us. Really we should get past them but it's maybe losing to Tahiti or New Caledonia on other side of the draw before the finals is the problem. Don't make the finals, don't make the World Cup.
Solomons could go for a world record in their last match vs Vanuatu! But I think their coach said he was going to play their reserves against them.
The other group tight and hard to call at this stage, with both of the first games only being decided by one goal. Fiji coming back from 2-0 down to beat Samoa 3-2, and Tahiti beating New Caledonia 2-1.
I only watched about 20 minutes in the first half and was suprised to see us 1 - 0 down and then conceed another... up to that point I thought we were edging the game... but clearly we fell away.
The write ups tomorrow will be interesting, i'm predicting a lot of BS around conditions.
In fairness to the island teams, this had to happen eventually. They are getting more funding and are a better organised opponent than in the past... this may happen more and more at the earlier age groups.
Not a bad thing for us arguably in the long run as it means better games in the future at all levels.
Still that doesn't hide the fact, that this is an embarrasing result for NZ football.
I only watched about 20 minutes in the first half and was suprised to see us 1 - 0 down and then conceed another... up to that point I thought we were edging the game... but clearly we fell away.
The write ups tomorrow will be interesting, i'm predicting a lot of BS around conditions.
In fairness to the island teams, this had to happen eventually. They are getting more funding and are a better organised opponent than in the past... this may happen more and more at the earlier age groups.
Not a bad thing for us arguably in the long run as it means better games in the future at all levels.
Still that doesn't hide the fact, that this is an embarrasing result for NZ football.
Not a bad thing. What a load of crap.
I only watched about 20 minutes in the first half and was suprised to see us 1 - 0 down and then conceed another... up to that point I thought we were edging the game... but clearly we fell away.
The write ups tomorrow will be interesting, i'm predicting a lot of BS around conditions.
In fairness to the island teams, this had to happen eventually. They are getting more funding and are a better organised opponent than in the past... this may happen more and more at the earlier age groups.
Not a bad thing for us arguably in the long run as it means better games in the future at all levels.
Still that doesn't hide the fact, that this is an embarrasing result for NZ football.
Not a bad thing. What a load of crap.
It's not a bad thing at all... we'll still smash them at senior level but it's nice to see them get funding and get better
I only watched about 20 minutes in the first half and was suprised to see us 1 - 0 down and then conceed another... up to that point I thought we were edging the game... but clearly we fell away.
The write ups tomorrow will be interesting, i'm predicting a lot of BS around conditions.
In fairness to the island teams, this had to happen eventually. They are getting more funding and are a better organised opponent than in the past... this may happen more and more at the earlier age groups.
Not a bad thing for us arguably in the long run as it means better games in the future at all levels.
Still that doesn't hide the fact, that this is an embarrasing result for NZ football.
Not a bad thing. What a load of crap.
It's not a bad thing at all... we'll still smash them at senior level but it's nice to see them get funding and get better
We've drawn with them a couple of times at senior level and had some other dodgy performances against others in recent years so could be a bit arrogant to say "we'll still smash them at senior level". Though yes, we did smash them in the World Cup qualifying and mostly do...
Was just doing a bit of reading on Solomon Islands as a place and how football is a way of life etc. They have 550,000 people there, but scattered over hundreds of islands. I love passion like this over football:
"Rival tribes dropped their weapons during the civil unrest sparked by the elections of 2006 and met at the ground to watch football. Once the game was finished, they dispersed and commenced fighting again.
Sometimes it gets out of hand and in 2009 a riot broke out at a game between Honiara and Malaita over a disputed goal. Children as young as 10 burned down a building at the ground but the game continued regardless _ former Kingz striker Batram Suri scored the winner for Malaita"
I am quite sympathetic to most the Oceania football teams, and I don't mind if they scrape the odd tight victory against us over there etc as long as we still qualify for the tournaments we're trying to get to...
Guy I was at school with (in the 90s) went over to the islands with the under-16s in this same tournament. He said he felt like a bit of a dork as they were ultra kitted out etc, and other teams ultra weren't. Like, he felt like a real show-off compared to them. as if the other teams were the Mighty Ducks, and he was the bad guys (remember at that age you're a lot more self-conscious!). He didn't feel bad when thrashing them though! It's probably a bit different now, but some of the sympathy for the pacific teams he had that he told me about has always stuck with me. But jeez, I want them to compete, and go well, have moral victories while we still come out on top... Not thrash us!!!!
The XI that started was not our best XI. So Jose felt this game was either going to be reasonably comfortable in NZ favour or he is happy to get second in the group.
Even if he did rotate - losing 5-0 is a terrible result.
Happy with the concept of rotation, but maybe make sure you have qualified first, atleast for the semis.
We got rinsed, absolutely battered.
Mostly been said above - yes they looked and played like Brazil in the yellow and blue.
I reckon this NZ age group are better skills-wise than the under 19s; Solomons though were just outstanding - too skillful, too fast, too determined.
We started OK but Solomons always looked more dangerous on attack, and eventually took over the mid as NZ faded. They were better in the air than NZ, which shouldn't be. Outstanding leap and header for the first goal, even if unchallenged.
It'd take a bit of luck for NZ to beat them if they do play again, but one major problem for NZ was a player who gave the ball away over twenty times with bad passes, and getting caught in possession. Beaten several times. Directly at fault for two, maybe three of the goals.
Nathan Lobo at left back looked good, but seemed to tire second half - unsurprising given his workload. He's fast and hard to get past, good touch and pass too. Plenty of talented L backs in NZ just now.
One NZ player was playing B team football for his club a couple of years ago, and he hadn't just started playing.
If NZ had a talent like Le'ai, or their #7, we'd be pretty excited. Even their subs looked great. Le'ai is very fast, great touch, truly two footed, and creative. Six goals in three games? The way the Solomons played reminded me of the emergence of African nations a few world cups ago - Cameroon and the like. They're football crazy, and don't have to compete with rugby in the Solomons so 500,000 of them is probably equivalent to at least 1.5m of us.
Rather than complain about how crap we are (we weren't), why not get in first, and do some recruiting there?
solomons were so quick wow could have been. 10
No2 for NZ had a beast
solomons were so quick wow could have been. 10
No2 for NZ had a beast
10 - yes.
#2 - good in H1, patchy in H2, but not the main culprit.
Of the 11 who started against Vanuatu, 9 started yesterday. Only changes were at GK and one outfield player. Doesn’t smack of widespread rotation to me. Yes , the subs were different ( but 2 of them yesterday were Wests players who weren’t available for the first game).
I doubt the way the Solomons played will have come as a surprise. The NZ boys watched at least the first half of the Solomons first game and were stuck by the physicality of the Solomons as well as the pace of the front 2.
highlights
looked like all Solomons. even the fouls in the build up to the 1st and 2nd goals don't takeaway from the dominance in chances created.
The XI that started was not our best XI. So Jose felt this game was either going to be reasonably comfortable in NZ favour or he is happy to get second in the group.
Dunno. Who do you think is the best starting 11?
Only one outfield change for the second game - Bright for Aish (and Bright was subbed off vs Solomons).
Seems like the coach is trying to field his best team every game - seems unlikely he's rested his best players for two games in a row.
Why aren't some of these Solomon kids in the Phoenix academy system? Deff have more skill then what's currently around.
Wow how many of those goals came from bad decisions by the keeper?
Defence like a leaky bucket.
Solomon's number 10 will be a great in the future. Speed and skill, fantastic to watch
Of the 11 who started against Vanuatu, 9 started yesterday. Only changes were at GK and one outfield player. Doesn’t smack of widespread rotation to me. Yes , the subs were different ( but 2 of them yesterday were Wests players who weren’t available for the first game).
I doubt the way the Solomons played will have come as a surprise. The NZ boys watched at least the first half of the Solomons first game and were stuck by the physicality of the Solomons as well as the pace of the front 2.
The boys gave their best, but were they really the best.
Haven't they been let down by NZF in the selection of coaches, training, talent identification and policies.
How do coaches get dropped and then get reappointed 2 years latter when nothing has changed.
Is Phoenix or Ole really selecting the best or only those that have parents that can afford paid academies.
What school/coach you have seems to be a determining factor.
Does having a All White parent really guarantee talent or just advanced training from a young age.
I saw at NZSS nationals talent that has been overlooked and will be lost to the sport as they hit a dead end.
Paulsen, Garbett and Marko definitely should have started. Van Hattum at the point #9.
Get Manuel playing forward.
Wow how many of those goals came from bad decisions by the keeper?
Defence like a leaky bucket.
Solomon's number 10 will be a great in the future. Speed and skill, fantastic to watch
I think #10 is fantastic right now. Keeper made some great saves. Also some bad mistakes, but none led to a goal.
Lets sign their number 10 up... keep him in the country for five years, naturalise him and then have him play for the All Whites.
It's worked well in Rugby - why not football!
Lets sign their number 10 up... keep him in the country for five years, naturalise him and then have him play for the All Whites.
It's worked well in Rugby - why not football!
It won't work, it's against FIFA regulations.
In the other group Tahiti beat Fiji 3-0, putting them top of the group with 2 wins and making it very likely they'll top the group and face us or PNG in the semi-final.
Tahiti have come runner up in this competition 4 out of the last 6 times. NZ has won it every time since Australia stopped playing in it. In 2015 we beat them in the final on penalties.
Papua New Guinea don't have much of a record at this level, they've only come in the top 4 once, back in 1986. Their senior team have shown big improvements in recent years though, and given they are by the far the most populated Oceania nation (nearly twice as many people as us I think?), you'd expect them to have some good players.
This might be the World Cup we just had to miss!.
Wow how many of those goals came from bad decisions by the keeper?
Defence like a leaky bucket.
Solomon's number 10 will be a great in the future. Speed and skill, fantastic to watch
I think #10 is fantastic right now. Keeper made some great saves. Also some bad mistakes, but none led to a goal.
? Our keeper conceded some howlers he should have stopped. Yes the other 10 are guilty too but 2/3 of those goals are due to him.
Of the 11 who started against Vanuatu, 9 started yesterday. Only changes were at GK and one outfield player. Doesn’t smack of widespread rotation to me. Yes , the subs were different ( but 2 of them yesterday were Wests players who weren’t available for the first game).
I doubt the way the Solomons played will have come as a surprise. The NZ boys watched at least the first half of the Solomons first game and were stuck by the physicality of the Solomons as well as the pace of the front 2.
The boys gave their best, but were they really the best.
Haven't they been let down by NZF in the selection of coaches, training, talent identification and policies.
How do coaches get dropped and then get reappointed 2 years latter when nothing has changed.
Is Phoenix or Ole really selecting the best or only those that have parents that can afford paid academies.
What school/coach you have seems to be a determining factor.
Does having a All White parent really guarantee talent or just advanced training from a young age.
I saw at NZSS nationals talent that has been overlooked and will be lost to the sport as they hit a dead end.
The Phoenix really get first pick at the best 14-15 year olds, but two years is a long time for a footballer at that age. Both they and Olé have a lot of scholarships, so it isn't just about who can pay, though an average 13 year old with wealthier parents and an excellent work ethic has some advantages over an average kid who just has the work ethic.
Paulsen, Garbett and Marko definitely should have started. Van Hattum at the point #9.
Get Manuel playing forward.
Agree with first points, even though I like Varney. But Oskar vH is not a #9. Can play at 10 coming through, but better on wing than 9 or at least than traditional 9. And at 10 leaves a hole on the wing where he did so much damage against Vanuatu and created half our chances against SI.
Moving Jacko forward leaves a hole at CDM unless one of the Ole boys does that role. Bright probably the pick for that for me but I wonder whether you’d want his experience in the back line.
Lets sign their number 10 up... keep him in the country for five years, naturalise him and then have him play for the All Whites.
It's worked well in Rugby - why not football!
It won't work, it's against FIFA regulations.
No it’s not.
5 years I country after turning 18 and naturalisation is FIFA rules for players without family ties to the country.
One player directly at fault for goals 2 and 3, and for some near misses, and for giving the ball away repeatedly in general play. Wonder if the coach noticed.
The boys gave their best, but were they really the best.
Haven't they been let down by NZF in the selection of coaches, training, talent identification and policies.
How do coaches get dropped and then get reappointed 2 years latter when nothing has changed.
Is Phoenix or Ole really selecting the best or only those that have parents that can afford paid academies.
What school/coach you have seems to be a determining factor.
Does having a All White parent really guarantee talent or just advanced training from a young age.
I saw at NZSS nationals talent that has been overlooked and will be lost to the sport as they hit a dead end.
Systems are in place to identify talent. That gets slightly let down by some organisations not buying into the NZF systems, but the philosophy behind the system is sound.
Coaches get dropped because new people in positions with powers that be decide it. What has changed since? Jose took Team Wellington to CWC. Hay took ‘most talented U17 squad in years’ to group stage exit.
Phoenix and Ole invite the best, but not all the best go. Sometimes that is money, sometimes that is personal sometimes other reasons. Feel free to mitigate the first by offering to sponsor some kids, and as pointed out elsewhere, there are some scholarships available
School and coach may be an influence of course, last squad had higher than average Sacred Heart bias, but see above
Not aware any of this squad have All White parents do they?
Name a kid at NZSS better than these. Keeping in mind half the kids you saw in chch are too old.
does it matter? Still come second in the group? make final and lose to Soli but still qualify? Or have I got it wrong?
You have it right.
Except the boys don’t believe they will lose to Solomon’s next time out.
Lets sign their number 10 up... keep him in the country for five years, naturalise him and then have him play for the All Whites.
It's worked well in Rugby - why not football!
It won't work, it's against FIFA regulations.
No it’s not.
5 years I country after turning 18 and naturalisation is FIFA rules for players without family ties to the country.
Can't play for your naturalised country if you have youth appearances for another country before naturalising
does it matter? Still come second in the group? make final and lose to Soli but still qualify? Or have I got it wrong?
You have it right.
Except the boys don’t believe they will lose to Solomon’s next time out.
Cool that the boys are positive, but if there's a Solomon Islands vs NZ final, I'd be putting my money on Solomon Islands. I am actually hoping they both make it that far, as I would like to see a rematch.
Lets sign their number 10 up... keep him in the country for five years, naturalise him and then have him play for the All Whites.
It's worked well in Rugby - why not football!
It won't work, it's against FIFA regulations.
No it’s not.
5 years I country after turning 18 and naturalisation is FIFA rules for players without family ties to the country.
Like MM said. You can't get naturalized after already making official youth appearances for one country. You can only switch in that scenario if you're eligible to represent both at the time of making the appearance for the first country, which is clearly not the case here.
If you think conditions in Honiara are not harsh...
Talking to one of the boys he lost nearly a kg during Solomon’s game;
And he only did the warm up and sat on the bench for 90.
Heavy rain overnight, sunny and no breeze at all. Very humid.
Hot seems an inadequate word to describe it today and it is still an hour to KO
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