First win for the U20's since May 2011. Lets hope we don't have to wait another 3 years for the next one.
So how did we qualify for the 2013 World Cup then? By winning four games. That's how.
I forgot to mention first win against a team from outside Oceania since May 2011. Since they wont be playing 3 Oceania teams in their group next year things aren't looking too good. I hope I'm proved wrong.
Surely you aren't surprised by that? We've never won a game at a world cup. This will be our best chance, but still a long shot from qualifying for the next round.
Surely you aren't surprised by that? We've never won a game at a world cup. This will be our best chance, but still a long shot from qualifying for the next round.
Not at all. Its probably disappointing that we expect to lose to teams outside of Oceania on a regular basis. If the team is to ever go to the next level against other top junior teams then celebrating wins over teams like American Samoa isn't going to cut the mustard. It'll be interesting to see if Hudson has any input into the set up of the junior teams. I think Morocco was a good start. I expect a draw, a win and a loss is probably the best to expect at the WC.
From the latest u-20 World Cup newsletter - some interesting video highlights of NZ coach Darren Bazeley's playing career:
"For a glimpse of Darren in action before the stress of coaching turned him grey, follow the links below. A couple of cracking goals and arguably the worst goal celebration in history."
"Born in Northampton, Bazeley crafted a more than respectable career in English football that spanned 15 years. He spent his early years playing for Watford's youth team before gaining his first senior appearance for the Hornets at the tender age of 17. The 1991/92 season saw him become a more regular fixture in the side and he notched his first goal for the club at Barnsley during that campaign. In 1999 he helped Watford secure promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, scoring a penalty in their semi-final shoot out with Birmingham City and playing a prominent role in their 2-0 final triumph at Wembley.
He left Watford after that game, having made 239 appearances for them, moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers and then Walsall notching up another 159 senior appearances before moving to New Zealand and joining former Wolves team-mate Neil Emblen at the Knights. Who knows how many games he would have played had his career not been interrupted by a couple of serious knee injuries.
Bazeley had a taste of international youth football with a solitary appearance for England U-21 so will know what an honour it is for his charges to get the chance to represent their country on the global stage. If he can impart his work ethic and experience to his side there is no doubt they will do themselves and New Zealand proud at next year's tournament."
With the competition in less than a year what will the squad and starting team look like?
Sail
Messenger Mitchell ?(Maybe Brotherton) Brown
Ridenton Rufer Den Heijer
Patterson? ? ?
Who am i missing
Wynne and De Jong?
That Aussie guy - (the tall timber) up front?
Howieson?
Yes. Lost v Hawkes Bay Utd. at Ellerslie. They play every weekend. Mostly they look like a middling NPL outfit IMO.
They should look a lot stronger with Edge, Thomas, Tuiloma, Ridenton, Wynn and Rufer in the squad.
Plus Corey Brown who I rate highly.
They should look a lot stronger with Edge, Thomas, Tuiloma, Ridenton, Wynn and Rufer in the squad.
Plus Corey Brown who I rate highly.
Thomas too old - turns 20 next month. Others eligible.
Howieson and Boyd also just a little too old.
With the competition in less than a year what will the squad and starting team look like?
This is the NZ u-20 squad that went to China for friendlies earlier in the year:
Goalkeepers
Damian Hirst (Birkenhead Utd AFC)
Oliver Sail (Central Utd FC)
Defenders
Cory Brown (Western Suburbs)
Jesse Edge (Vicenza Calcio, ITA)
Brock Messenger (Sunshine Coast Fire, AUS)
Adam Mitchell (Central Utd FC)
Te Atawhai Wihongi Hudson (Real Salt Lake, USA)
Midfielders
Daniel Bowkett (Miramar Rangers)
Andre de Jong (East Coast Bays AFC)
Michael den Heijer (Kashiwa Reysol, JPN)
Monty Patterson (Ipswich Town FC, ENG)
Matthew Ridenton (Wellington Phoenix)
Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix)
Birhanu Taye (Braga FC, POR)
Bill Tuiloma (L’Olympique Marseille, FRA)
Forwards
Judd Baker (East Coast Bays AFC)
Stuart Holthusen (Onehunga Sports)
Joel Stevens (Miramar Rangers)
Tomislav Trbuhovic (Whittlesea Rangers FC, AUS)
Wihongi Hudson has since left Real Salt Lake Academy in Major League Soccer in the USA, and after trialing in Italy, has signed for Wanderers SC in the ASB Premiership.
Birhanu Taye is from an Ethopian refugee family in Wellington and has left Sporting Braga's youth team in Portugal and has been playing in the Under-21 team for major club FC Slovan Liberec in the Czech Republic since late September. He's listed in the team on their website a few times - first one here:
Seems to be mentioned in this report if anyone can translate it:
Judd Baker was briefly at Swansea City's academy earlier this year but is now playing for Wanderers SC.
Stuart Holthusen was one of our best players in the u-17 World Cup in the UAE last year and played last season for Wanderers SC. He has since signed for the University of Akron, USA:
http://www.gozips.com/sports/msoc/2014-15/bios/hol...
Mid-American Conference Season just finished: Played: 19 Started: 9 Goals: 4 Assists: 3
Now in the national NCAA Finals (Akron are one of the top ten college sides in the USA - were #1 in 2010):
"Akron opens its run in the NCAA Championship battling Ohio State on Thursday, Nov. 20, in the opening round of the 48-team tournament.
Under the guidance of second-year head coach Jared Embick, the Zips stand 13-6-1 overall after a 2-1 triumph over Bowling Green on Sunday, Nov. 16, in the MAC Championship.
After 20 matches, sophomore midfielder Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) is the Zips' leading scorer with 13 goals, four assists, and 30 points. Freshman forward Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) follows with four goals, four assists, and 12 points."
Tomislav Trbuhovic has returned from Australia to now play for Wanderers SC.
This is the NZ u-20 squad that went to Qatar to play Qatar, Chile and Morocco in September with a few changes from the China tournament squad due to player unavailability (some had signed for US universities and a couple in the All Whites squad vs. Uzbekistan):
Goalkeepers
Oliver Sail - Central Utd FC/NZ
Zac Speedy - Three Kings Utd/NZ
Defenders
Spiros Agathos - Sydney United 58/AUS
Brock Messenger - Sunshine Coast Fire/AUS
Adam Mitchell - Central Utd FC/NZ
Jesse Edge - Vicenza Calcio/ITA
Deklan Wynne - East Coast Bays AFC/NZ
Midfielders
Andrew Blake - Miramar Rangers/NZ
Andre de Jong - East Coast Bays AFC/NZ
Michael den Heijer - Kashiwa Reysol/JAP
Clayton Lewis - Wellington Olympic/NZ
Matthew Ridenton - Wellington Phoenix/NZ
Alex Rufer - Wellington Phoenix/NZ
Gowan Stares - Pulse Premier Academy/UK
Birhanu Taye - Braga FC/POR
Forwards
Elijah Neblett - Birkenhead Utd AFC/NZ
Joel Stevens - Miramar Rangers/NZ
Tomislav Trbuhovic - Whittlesea Rangers FC/AUS
Wanderers SC (NZ u-20) Squad in the ASB Premiership 2014-15 Season:
Gowan Stares is English-born and immigrated to NZ as a kid, playing youth football in Wellington before returning to England to play the 2012-13 season for Cheltenham Town FC's academy. Last season he attended private UK football academy "Pulse Premier" before returning to NZ to play for Wanderers this season.
Is Gowan any good?
I really hope we are trying to get Jordan to come over from SA. We have some decent mids and a fairly solid back line but we miss having some real quality up top. He's already on the radar of clubs overseas in Europe... putting himself in the biggest shop window for a young player has got to be appealing.
Overall, i think the possible starting 11 looks reasonably strong. Here's hoping they get a good amount of build up games prior to the tournament as I think this will be key to seeing them be competitive.
Getting excited!!
It actually looks like there is a lot of talent in that U20 area. Would be interesting to see who gets in and who misses out.
I really hope we are trying to get Jordan to come over from SA.
Forget this idea, it wont happen
Looking at these names, possible lineup could be
Sail
Agathos Mitchell Edge Brown
Tuiloma
Ridenton Rufer
Patterson Trbuhovic Stevens
Not sure about the front 3 or right back which may be a tossup between Messenger and Agathos. But I think thats a real solid midfield and Den Heijer can always slip in. Stevens should be in the lineup I would presume
The recent All Whites call ups certainly make that Under-20 squad look stronger on paper, which is the whole idea.
Deklan Wynne just started two games for the All Whites yet he's still probably behind Cory Brown in the pecking order (assuming Brown would've started at LB for the All Whites if he was released by Xavier).
Brown is playing CB now though, so maybe he might be there for the NZ team too.
The recent All Whites call ups certainly make that Under-20 squad look stronger on paper, which is the whole idea.
Deklan Wynne just started two games for the All Whites yet he's still probably behind Cory Brown in the pecking order (assuming Brown would've started at LB for the All Whites if he was released by Xavier).
Brown is playing CB now though, so maybe he might be there for the NZ team too.
Would be the shortest NZ rep CB ever? He stands about 5 ft 8.
[quote=ColeWorld]
Looking at these names, possible lineup could be
Sail
Agathos Mitchell Edge Brown
Tuiloma
Ridenton Rufer
Patterson Trbuhovic Stevens
Not sure about the front 3 or right back which may be a tossup between Messenger and Agathos. But I think thats a real solid midfield and Den Heijer can always slip in. Stevens should be in the lineup I would presume
The squad as you say looks quite decent, especially when we add in the Nix boys.
A little hard on De Jong to miss out in the mids as I believe he has been the best player in the Wanderers this season. Also, I would possibly look to move Tuiloma into RB and have the kid (Tabu? the name escapes me) who was at Braga last year and is now in the Czech to possibly start as the DM.
He looked to be one of the better players in their u20 games.
The great thing is we have Brown and Wynn for example fighting for spots which shows a level of depth we have not had before.
The squad as you say looks quite decent, especially when we add in the Nix boys.
A little hard on De Jong to miss out in the mids as I believe he has been the best player in the Wanderers this season. Also, I would possibly look to move Tuiloma into RB and have the kid (Tabu? the name escapes me) who was at Braga last year and is now in the Czech to possibly start as the DM.
He looked to be one of the better players in their u20 games.
The great thing is we have Brown and Wynn for example fighting for spots which shows a level of depth we have not had before.
Yeah De Jong has been excellent when i've seen him but I still think Ridenton and Rufer will start over him. But yeah this team looks like it could be very solid
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- 20 per cent discount off the individual match day ticket price
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- 5 per cent cash back rebate will go back to New Zealand football clubs
Clubs and GroupsGet your team together and you can get an even bigger discount of up to 25% off match day ticket prices when you purchase 8 or more Venue Packs."
asst coach been dumped
asst coach been dumped
So Willy G "didn't fit in with NZF's aligned vision" or somesuch. Embers the 'temporary replacement'.
Bring on Ramon asap, that's what I reckon.
Willy? Wow.
Seems NZF are going to have another of their interminable selection processes to find Gerdsen's replacement when the biggest football tournament ever to hit these shores is just around the corner.
At least we all get to play the guessing game once again. Including Bazeley.
NB Andy Martin is on annual holiday.
was he no good at filling up the drink bottles?
was he no good at filling up the drink bottles?
probably wanted to fill them with the wrong sort of drink.
Seems NZF are going to have another of their interminable selection processes to find Gerdsen's replacement when the biggest football tournament ever to hit these shores is just around the corner.
At least we all get to play the guessing game once again. Including Bazeley.
NB Andy Martin is on annual holiday.
It does seem a strange time to do this - in a matter of a few months we will be on the world stage.
East Coast Bays at least get his full attention again - perhaps partly reason for their decline last season??
asst coach been dumped
Wish I could feel sorry for him, but after using the U20's as a unofficial recruiting ground for ECB it's kinda hard.
asst coach been dumped
Wish I could feel sorry for him, but after using the U20's as a unofficial recruiting ground for ECB it's kinda hard.
You won't be the only one who doesn't sympathise with him. Not a well liked man in football circles.
Most coaches choose their assistants. Was this the head coaches appointment?
Most coaches choose their assistants. Was this the head coaches appointment?
they worked together in U17's as well then got promoted to the 20's - maybe there has been a falling out? or maybe Embers is just better?
TBF baezley and embers go way back too.
Sorry was Emblen the replacement?
interim
Embers, the permanent temp.
I like Emblem... this in my mind can only strengthen the u20 campaign.
Do they have any warm up tournaments coming up... I hope they get a good run of games to imbed the "international players".
I think that this is unfortunate when you put so much of you time into a tournament like this and then being so close, you are no longer there. Not sure whom made the call but you have to admit that's a bit of a waste.
