New Zealand U-23s - Quali Whites

lthomas20

Wood, Libby and Payne. First two are our best two footballers, then after that it's a needs must scenario where an experienced Payne can help out in CB or even RB. 

Our midfield is stacked with quality and this tournament is a great opportunity to get Old/Herdman confident in the national team fold. 

I get the thinking but I'd rather have an absolute proven game-changer in Singh (who can play alongside Old if we need, with one of them in a front three). I'm not sure how NZF views this tournament, but being such a huge occasion I'd love to treat this as a statement and not a developmental opportunity - we have many other options for that

Libby is great, but his inclusion would mean Sutton misses out, who I think is also a very good footballer.

The question is, where are our biggest holes, which is why Singh and Wood make the cut if available. From there, it'd be RB, so I take Payne who can also take on a leadership role.

Note it's Sarpreet being quoted, and not Libby who played at the Tokyo Olympics.

Surely you’d reckon Sarpreet Singh and Chris Wood will get two of the overage Olympics spots (if available)

Third spot probs depends on the balance of the squad, unless the strategy is just pick the best three dudes… in which case: Libby Cacace https://t.co/jUU3ArfvZo pic.twitter.com/tEEY1dw8oJ

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) April 21, 2024

🎙️ "We have to qualify first and then I’m sure we can create even more World Cup history if we do."

Sarpreet Singh is hopeful for a third #FIFAWorldCup for New Zealand! 🇳🇿

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) April 21, 2024

Weird comment about the WC. We must be one of, if not the only nation almost guaranteed to be there aside from hosts.

Aside from that I read that as Singh is not going to Paris in a couple of months.

Payne also said very recently that Bazeley hasn't spoken with him about the possibility either. What that basically means to me is that by far the most likely explanation for this is that Bazeley hasn't spoken to any of the over 23s about it at this stage, which I think is insane. Surely he should have floated it to a pool of say 6 players by now, in case his preferred 3 can't or get injured, so that 6 can begin to prepare for the possibility & ask their clubs. And surely Payne and Singh have to be in that conversation. Why hasn't Bazeley done this? 

The Olympics don't start until mid July, and before that we have the Nations Cup in June. I imagine Bazeley is waiting until then, and all the club seasons are over.
He might have chatted to likes of Wood, Libby, Singh, Payne etc in the March window, we don't know.

Singh needs to find a new club. That's his no 1 priority. He's had a frustrating time now pretty much since Covid started. Apart from a quality half season at Jahn Rensburg that attracted the interest of Werder Bremen. But he must be sick of it all, and so it's absolutely crucial he & his agent now find the right club, with hopefully Rostock releasing him on a free. He's likely speaking to his agent daily. So fair enough Bazeley gives him some space until the German season finishes.

Payne different story, but Nix have their best chance ever at an ALM title. So again just let him focus on that until early June. Bazeley may chat to him week of Elimination Finals, when presumably the Nix guys might get a few days off, with a fortnight between games.

There is plenty of time between now and the Olympics and depending how teams seasons end etc, a lot of water to go under the bridge.

If Forest stay up - they may ask that WOOD get a proper off season, if they get relegated, they might be happy for him to go in case it brings in more offers etc.

Also, the coach might want players to focus on the Nation Cup first and foremost.

MetalLegNZ

There is plenty of time between now and the Olympics and depending how teams seasons end etc, a lot of water to go under the bridge.

If Forest stay up - they may ask that WOOD get a proper off season, if they get relegated, they might be happy for him to go in case it brings in more offers etc.

Also, the coach might want players to focus on the Nation Cup first and foremost.

 Wood's a free agent after this year isn't he? So unless Forrest give him a new contract he will be hunting for a new club anyway.

While transfer market says otherwise, according to the forest for7ms he has one more year

imanixsupporter

Payne also said very recently that Bazeley hasn't spoken with him about the possibility either. What that basically means to me is that by far the most likely explanation for this is that Bazeley hasn't spoken to any of the over 23s about it at this stage, which I think is insane. Surely he should have floated it to a pool of say 6 players by now, in case his preferred 3 can't or get injured, so that 6 can begin to prepare for the possibility & ask their clubs. And surely Payne and Singh have to be in that conversation. Why hasn't Bazeley done this? 

Countries are supposed to have already submitted a long list to IOC for eligibility, doping tracking etc.