Now that Marco is playing again and Kosta is back in form, it's going to be great to see Wood get some actual assistance from the rest of the frontline rather than having to put up with the likes of Just, Mata & Grieve who just have not delivered in a white shirt
Kosta is on fire this season. But his last act in an AWs shirt was getting sent off in the WC Playoff verus Costa Rica.
Kosta has 4 goals (1 against non OFC teams - El Salvador in 2012) in 52 AW games. Rojas 5 goals (1 against non OFC teams - Mexico in 2016) in 43 games.
Yes they have fairly average records in a white shirt, but to be fair to them, the vast majority of their games were under post-WC Herbert or Hudson which were awful years. But they are players who are undeniably goal/assist threats and have proven that consistently as two of the best ever foreigners in the A-League. Bazeley would be a fool to not try a Kosta/Wood/Marco front 3.
He played fantastically in his last game (or half game) for the AWs vs Qatar. He did miss a couple of chances but he was making things happen and getting into scoring positions constantly. If fit he has got to be back in the squad on the back of that performance alone
I agree out go Grieve and Mata. I'd also say out goes Champness - who maybe injured anyway. But madness to bin Just. Go back and watch the Irish game. Made an impact when he came on. His record/performances in a white shirt as good as either Kosta or Rojas.
Anyway yes lets see how Marco goes in the ALM, after a long time out. Great to see him back.
Rufer surely has to take the place of Bell on form. Rufer in career best form, leading and scoring whereas Bell can't even make the bench as things stand.
Bell needs to have a good season in Norway to get back as an AW starter (squaddie even) for me.
Bell’s a starter? Granted, not lighting the league on fire, but he’s playing every single game
Eliteserien is more popular here than I realised; a lot of people seem to be watching Bell week-in-week-out to judge his club form so negatively.
In my view, he was really not in that poor a form. He was in a team that finished basically where they were predicted to finish, and one that lost their best - and one of the league's best - central defender (David Brekalo) to injury just as their results started to trail off. We need to dispel any theory that he was responsible for Viking not winning the league.
Even still, Bell individually stacks up really well statistically against Rufer (no discredit to him); essentially out-performing him across the board on-the-ball. Rufer outperforms Bell off-the-ball. They are different players with different skillsets (also probably influenced by how their respective teams are set up). If anything, they'd probably complement each other quite well together.Picture1.png99.49 KB
Rufer surely has to take the place of Bell on form. Rufer in career best form, leading and scoring whereas Bell can't even make the bench as things stand.
Bell needs to have a good season in Norway to get back as an AW starter (squaddie even) for me.
Bell’s a starter? Granted, not lighting the league on fire, but he’s playing every single game
After joining Viking again in August from Brondby, Bell made 7 starts, and 4 times came on as a sub. Near the end of the season young Aussie Yazbek (on the Socceroos fringes now) was often picked ahead of him to start. Maybe Bell was carrying a niggle.
His time in Denmark let's be honest was disappointing. Most of the criticism there seemed to be that whilst he has great passing stats, he mostly lacked that killer final pass or assist that Brondby's coaches were looking for. It's fair to say Brøndby (currently second in Denmark) have done better since Bell & others left. But that could all be about the structure Brondby set up in.
Hopefully the Eliteserien is not his ceiling. But he's still absolutely crucial to the AWs this WC cycle. He's the guy who goes back to get the ball from the CBs, to kick things off. Almost Mooy like. He'll have the most touches of any AW in a game. Sometimes it can be a poor touch like from memory a goal hard pressing Sweden scored in Stockholm, but his build up play is so important to how the AWs want to play. Not sure Stamenic, Lewis & Rufer are like for like in that regard. Dibley-Dias might be, we don't know yet.
And off field he is the obvious captain in waiting, and the bridge between the older players and the younger brigade. Is no doubting his leadership qualities, prime example being the HT walk off against Qatar, the right call.
It’s not his ceiling. But like Pennington or Singh or even Marco and a lot if midfield players, he needs a coach who wants to play a specific way and has a bunch of complementary characters in the squad if he’s going to play his best football.
It’s not his ceiling. But like Pennington or Singh or even Marco and a lot if midfield players, he needs a coach who wants to play a specific way and has a bunch of complementary characters in the squad if he’s going to play his best football.
Speaking of Pennington, 2.5 more years until he should be able to naturalise (if he chooses).
Honestly would be kinda keen on him as a fringe All White, he’ll only be 27-28 as well.
Oli Sail with two Perth starts in a row. If he keeps his spot until March I don't want to see any keepers in the AWs squad apart from Crocombe, Paulsen & Sail. Unless Kees Sims gets starts in the Swedish top tier this month. Tzanev and Woud should be playing games consistently before getting picked in the AWs. Usually I wouldn't mind if lesser keepers make international squads because they usually don't play, but Bazeley can't help himself playing average players so I'd prefer he didn't have the choice.
Though perhaps Sail would like to stay in Aus and make sure Cook doesn't take his spot back, especially if a move to Auckland isn't already all but signed on the dotted line...
ALM is observing the March FIFA window, so should be no concerns for Sail if Bazeley picks him. Agree Crocombe, Sail & Paulen are the logical 3 GK picks.
As unfortunately seems the way it maybe Crocombe who has to choose club over country, if Burton Albion have games through the window - and they are still battling to avoid relegation.
ALM is observing the March FIFA window, so should be no concerns for Sail if Bazeley picks him. Agree Crocombe, Sail & Paulen are the logical 3 GK picks.
As unfortunately seems the way it maybe Crocombe who has to choose club over country, if Burton Albion have games through the window - and they are still battling to avoid relegation.
On form Paulsen should be our starting keeper now anyway.
ALM is observing the March FIFA window, so should be no concerns for Sail if Bazeley picks him. Agree Crocombe, Sail & Paulen are the logical 3 GK picks.
As unfortunately seems the way it maybe Crocombe who has to choose club over country, if Burton Albion have games through the window - and they are still battling to avoid relegation.
On form Paulsen should be our starting keeper now anyway.
For now I'd go Crocombe. Experienced voice at the back. In career best form. Been around the AWs scene awhile, if not that many games. Less risk of bad error than AP. Less likely to be overawed by the big occassion. I'm tired of the AWs giving away soft goals through a Woud or Sail error. I want boring solidity.
Paulsen is very talented, but still a kid learning his craft. Lets see how he goes at the Olympics on a big stage, and go from there. But yeah by the 2026 WC, Alex maybe in Europe, have banked some good experience, doing very well and be the AWs no 1.
Could be all moot in March. At this early stage Burton Albion (17th in L1, 5 pts above the drop zone) are scheduled to play games through the March window. As per the windows late last year, Crocombe and Bazeley could face a juggling act. Another reason why it would be great if he did get with a Championship club, as that league stops for FIFA windows.
ALM is observing the March FIFA window, so should be no concerns for Sail if Bazeley picks him. Agree Crocombe, Sail & Paulen are the logical 3 GK picks.
As unfortunately seems the way it maybe Crocombe who has to choose club over country, if Burton Albion have games through the window - and they are still battling to avoid relegation.
On form Paulsen should be our starting keeper now anyway.
For now I'd go Crocombe. Experienced voice at the back. In career best form. Been around the AWs scene awhile, if not that many games. Less risk of bad error than AP. Less likely to be overawed by the big occassion. I'm tired of the AWs giving away soft goals through a Woud or Sail error. I want boring solidity.
Paulsen is very talented, but still a kid learning his craft. Lets see how he goes at the Olympics on a big stage, and go from there. But yeah by the 2026 WC, Alex maybe in Europe, have banked some good experience, doing very well and be the AWs no 1.
Could be all moot in March. At this early stage Burton Albion (17th in L1, 5 pts above the drop zone) are scheduled to play games through the March window. As per the windows late last year, Crocombe and Bazeley could face a juggling act. Another reason why it would be great if he did get with a Championship club, as that league stops for FIFA windows.
If enough players from BA or the teams they are scheduled to play get called up, the matches will be rescheduled.
He may just feel in his heart he’s really an Aussie (like Stensness did after Toyo Olympics). Or they have looked into it and he’s not eligible. Pragnell who knows his Mum from their NZ team judo days, said NZF were checking it out
I believe this has hit a dead end for now, but not for a lack of interest on either side.
The thing with Iredale right, is that how did he play for Aussie at youth level?
He's lived for longer in NZ than Aus, and neither of his folks are Strayan.....and I'm doubting that Granny came from Toowoomba....
So, unless he picked up Australian citizenship or a passport.....and even then, does that mean he is eligible?.....how come he's eligible for Australia and not NZ?
My info was he just wasn't that keen, but just want to clarify how he is cleared for them but not us.
Andrew Voerman said he's keen (and he will know better than any of us), but his eligibilty for the moment is at a brick wall. And he left NZ age 10, after arriving as a Scottish born toddler. Left Australia for UK around age 19-20. So likely had more years in Oz. Was on youth books at Perth Glory. He's now 27. Maybe he has UK & Aus passports but not a NZ one.
This was Voerman's brief update on Iredale's AWs eligibilty status, a few months back.
I believe this has hit a dead end for now, but not for a lack of interest on either side.
The fact his 28 yr old Welsh raised/Aussie born team mate at Bolton, Gethin Jones came from nowhere to start 3 matches at the Asian Cup for the Socceroos, might incentivise Iredale to keep chasing international football. Just rather for NZ not Oz.
Andrew Voerman said he's keen (and he will know better than any of us), but his eligibilty for the moment is at a brick wall. And he left NZ age 10, after arriving as a Scottish born toddler. Left Australia for UK around age 19-20. So likely had more years in Oz. Was on youth books at Perth Glory. He's now 27. Maybe he has UK & Aus passports but not a NZ one.
This was Voerman's brief update on Iredale's AWs eligibilty status, a few months back.
I believe this has hit a dead end for now, but not for a lack of interest on either side.
The fact his 28 yr old Welsh raised/Aussie born team mate at Bolton, Gethin Jones came from nowhere to start 3 matches at the Asian Cup for the Socceroos, might incentivise Iredale to keep chasing international football. Just rather for NZ not Oz.
yes, know all that.....though I think he was in NZ one year longer than in Australia, and neither country with the required 5+ years after 18 years old.
I don't think a passport makes one eligible for a country (see Wynne, Deklan).....so the question remains; how one country but not the other?
Andrew Voerman said he's keen (and he will know better than any of us), but his eligibilty for the moment is at a brick wall. And he left NZ age 10, after arriving as a Scottish born toddler. Left Australia for UK around age 19-20. So likely had more years in Oz. Was on youth books at Perth Glory. He's now 27. Maybe he has UK & Aus passports but not a NZ one.
This was Voerman's brief update on Iredale's AWs eligibilty status, a few months back.
I believe this has hit a dead end for now, but not for a lack of interest on either side.
The fact his 28 yr old Welsh raised/Aussie born team mate at Bolton, Gethin Jones came from nowhere to start 3 matches at the Asian Cup for the Socceroos, might incentivise Iredale to keep chasing international football. Just rather for NZ not Oz.
yes, know all that.....though I think he was in NZ one year longer than in Australia, and neither country with the required 5+ years after 18 years old.
I don't think a passport makes one eligible for a country (see Wynne, Deklan).....so the question remains; how one country but not the other?
The rules have changed since then. A passport doesn't necessarily make one eligible to play for a country, but the lack of a passport does make one ineligible. Hence why NZ born-in-bread Michael Fitzgerald can't play, as he gave up his NZ passport to get a Japanese passport due to them not allowing dual-passports.
If you live three years before ten in a country, or five years after the age of ten, then you can be considered to be eligible, per Article 7(1)d of FIFA's eligibility statutes. For players after the age of ten, it must be confirmed their move was not for football reasons.
So based on that, Iredale would meet the requirements of time spent in the country.
Maybe it's one more year in NZ than Aus, maybe, but that's almost splitting hairs. Seems from this article his folks left for NZ (his mum got a job tutoring at Waikato Ploytech) just after he was born in Scotland. Quite a cool yarn about as a 4 yr old cheering on Mum at the Sydney Olympics.
Then yeah moving to Aus at age 10 & Scotland (Greenock Morton) age 19-20. I'm sure after the Wynne saga, NZF these days do their full DD on who's eligible & who's not.
It might be any age group games Iredale had for Australia, that at age 27 now make him ineligible for NZ. ie he had to change allegiance at an earlier age? Wiki says he played once for Australia U17s in 2012. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_eligibility_rules
Surely there must be others out there eligible. We had a big hunt years ago and found Smith and Reid...
That was David Cross and me in like 2008, maybe even 2007 but I think 2008, telling NZF about Reid and McGlinchey. I had a mate who lived in Herning, where Reid played, so had an insight there. Forget how we found out about McG. Thanks to Transfermarkt I posted about Dibley-Dias and Till Esterman .....not claiming I "found" them though!
OVERNIGHT EDIT: now I've had a few hours to think about it, most of the stuff related to 2010 is crap. Dave and I emailed each other about potential AWs, and most likely I emailed NZF in 2007, but their eligibility would have been public knowledge by then. My mind was playing tricks on me, trying to piece together stuff from almost 20 years ago. We were talking about creating a 'bring them home' website, but it was just talk.
Andrew Voerman said he's keen (and he will know better than any of us), but his eligibilty for the moment is at a brick wall. And he left NZ age 10, after arriving as a Scottish born toddler. Left Australia for UK around age 19-20. So likely had more years in Oz. Was on youth books at Perth Glory. He's now 27. Maybe he has UK & Aus passports but not a NZ one.
This was Voerman's brief update on Iredale's AWs eligibilty status, a few months back.
I believe this has hit a dead end for now, but not for a lack of interest on either side.
The fact his 28 yr old Welsh raised/Aussie born team mate at Bolton, Gethin Jones came from nowhere to start 3 matches at the Asian Cup for the Socceroos, might incentivise Iredale to keep chasing international football. Just rather for NZ not Oz.
yes, know all that.....though I think he was in NZ one year longer than in Australia, and neither country with the required 5+ years after 18 years old.
I don't think a passport makes one eligible for a country (see Wynne, Deklan).....so the question remains; how one country but not the other?
The rules have changed since then. A passport doesn't necessarily make one eligible to play for a country, but the lack of a passport does make one ineligible. Hence why NZ born-in-bread Michael Fitzgerald can't play, as he gave up his NZ passport to get a Japanese passport due to them not allowing dual-passports.
If you live three years before ten in a country, or five years after the age of ten, then you can be considered to be eligible, per Article 7(1)d of FIFA's eligibility statutes. For players after the age of ten, it must be confirmed their move was not for football reasons.
So based on that, Iredale would meet the requirements of time spent in the country.
Therefore that would make him eligible for us, too? Unless his U17 appearance somehow makes him ineligible? I bet if NZF were bolshie about it, and the player was keen, they'd get the paperwork through.
Why wouldn't NZF be bolshie about it? Iredale is primarily a LB/LWB, but he's also played at CB. I'd say he would already jump ahead of Pijnaker & Smith in the queue, if he was eligible, plus all the LB options except Libby. I'd say Bazeley would be very keen if the feedback was Iredale was also motivated for the right reasons. He's recently pursued both Bindon & Dibley-Dias.
The other recent snippet on Iredale was that his mum & NZF CEO Pragnell knew each other well. Both NZ judokas around the same era. Interesting that within 4 years of moving to NZ (1996), Iredale's mum Fiona was competing at the Sydney Olympics for NZ. I thought that Olympics eligibility was actually more difficult at one point than FIFA eligibility.
You also started the Iredale thread RD, so more kudos maybe if he ever does become eligible! But that one Australia U17 appearance could well be the problem.
Why wouldn't NZF be bolshie about it? Iredale is primarily a LB/LWB, but he's also played at CB. I'd say he would already jump ahead of Pijnaker & Smith in the queue, if he was eligible, plus all the LB options except Libby. I'd say Bazeley would be very keen if the feedback was Iredale was also motivated for the right reasons. He's recently pursued both Bindon & Dibley-Dias.
The other recent snippet on Iredale was that his mum & NZF CEO Pragnell knew each other well. Both NZ judokas around the same era. Interesting that within 4 years of moving to NZ (1996), Iredale's mum Fiona was competing at the Sydney Olympics for NZ. I thought that Olympics eligibility was actually more difficult at one point than FIFA eligibility.
You also started the Iredale thread RD, so more kudos maybe if he ever does become eligible! But that one Australia U17 appearance could well be the problem.
Well, that's true....but I have little faith in NZF. Dias and Bindon were probably easy wins, eligibility wise, as they were born here. Part of me thinks NZF feel they've been burned by Wynne, Boyd, Stensness, and are reluctant to go for anything that is not cut and dried.
Andrew Voerman said he's keen (and he will know better than any of us), but his eligibilty for the moment is at a brick wall. And he left NZ age 10, after arriving as a Scottish born toddler. Left Australia for UK around age 19-20. So likely had more years in Oz. Was on youth books at Perth Glory. He's now 27. Maybe he has UK & Aus passports but not a NZ one.
This was Voerman's brief update on Iredale's AWs eligibilty status, a few months back.
I believe this has hit a dead end for now, but not for a lack of interest on either side.
The fact his 28 yr old Welsh raised/Aussie born team mate at Bolton, Gethin Jones came from nowhere to start 3 matches at the Asian Cup for the Socceroos, might incentivise Iredale to keep chasing international football. Just rather for NZ not Oz.
yes, know all that.....though I think he was in NZ one year longer than in Australia, and neither country with the required 5+ years after 18 years old.
I don't think a passport makes one eligible for a country (see Wynne, Deklan).....so the question remains; how one country but not the other?
The rules have changed since then. A passport doesn't necessarily make one eligible to play for a country, but the lack of a passport does make one ineligible. Hence why NZ born-in-bread Michael Fitzgerald can't play, as he gave up his NZ passport to get a Japanese passport due to them not allowing dual-passports.
If you live three years before ten in a country, or five years after the age of ten, then you can be considered to be eligible, per Article 7(1)d of FIFA's eligibility statutes. For players after the age of ten, it must be confirmed their move was not for football reasons.
So based on that, Iredale would meet the requirements of time spent in the country.
Therefore that would make him eligible for us, too? Unless his U17 appearance somehow makes him ineligible? I bet if NZF were bolshie about it, and the player was keen, they'd get the paperwork through.
It should mean he is, but don't know all the facts around his situation. Perhaps he never got citizenship? I, otherwise, can't think why he wouldn't be eligible. I'm not entirely sure on the legal-ese of FIFA's statutes but it seems he'd fulfil all the requirements listed in Article 9(2)a/b (dependent on his personal situation).
Besides, the precedent has been set with all the previous players to have represented other countries at age-group (Reid, McGlinchey, Smith etc). Even if he hadn't acquired NZ citizenship at the time, Bruno Fornaroli playing for Australia (with no heritage) despite playing in the 2003 CONMEBOL U17s for Uruguay, shows that that is still a viable way.
Surely there must be others out there eligible. We had a big hunt years ago and found Smith and Reid...
That was David Cross and me in like 2008, maybe even 2007 but I think 2008, telling NZF about Reid and McGlinchey. I had a mate who lived in Herning, where Reid played, so had an insight there. Forget how we found out about McG. Thanks to Transfermarkt I posted about Dibley-Dias and Till Esterman .....not claiming I "found" them though!
Football Manager. All 3 were in there as kiwis way before their NZ alliance switch. Those if us in the know knew about Winnie from about 05/06 thereabouts.
Surely there must be others out there eligible. We had a big hunt years ago and found Smith and Reid...
That was David Cross and me in like 2008, maybe even 2007 but I think 2008, telling NZF about Reid and McGlinchey. I had a mate who lived in Herning, where Reid played, so had an insight there. Forget how we found out about McG. Thanks to Transfermarkt I posted about Dibley-Dias and Till Esterman .....not claiming I "found" them though!
Smith and his family moved to live in NZ when he was young, and he went to high school here... even though he played England U17 when he went to Ipswich, his family was still living here, as far as I know, so he wasn't exactly a "find".
Yes, Reid and McGlinchey was thanks to some sleuthing, and both were interviewed for the old Soccer Talk magazine... at that time, Michael was open to the idea, but Winston was totally committed to Denmark... and that only really changed after the All Whites qualified and he wasn't in the frame for the Danish senior squad... and only then after Andrew Gourdie reached out...
But yes, with the way Kiwis move around the world, there are bound to be other players out there eligible - who knows what riches may be out there waiting for a call...
Do you suppose NZF has a list, maybe on Microsoft Excel 95, of players who are eligible to play that we don't know about?
I'm betting no, unless the players were from non-Emglish speaking countries (for instance, Themi would have been impossible to uncover for your average fan without some inside Greek-Wellington knowledge).
What with Google, Transfermarkt, Football Manager....there can't be many surprises.
Surely there must be others out there eligible. We had a big hunt years ago and found Smith and Reid...
That was David Cross and me in like 2008, maybe even 2007 but I think 2008, telling NZF about Reid and McGlinchey. I had a mate who lived in Herning, where Reid played, so had an insight there. Forget how we found out about McG. Thanks to Transfermarkt I posted about Dibley-Dias and Till Esterman .....not claiming I "found" them though!
Perhaps once we start getting the $$ from WC qualification on the regular, especially now that women will get the same purse we can afford to hire more scouting staff etc to find said players with potential eligibility.
Perhaps once we start getting the $$ from WC qualification on the regular, especially now that women will get the same purse we can afford to hire more scouting staff etc to find said players with potential eligibility.
There is also an onus on the player. If they really want to play for NZ they reach out to NZF. Ali Riley's dad did just that, sending off a video to Albany. It's not like you have to send a letter, fax or make a collect call anymore.
If you have some NZ heritage, think you are are maybe eligible and really want to play for Aotearoa, then yeah make contact. Otherwise maybe it's not for you, and you are just taking the spot of someone who's wanted to play for the national team all their life.
Tweet at Voerman who interviews Bazeley around international windows to get him to ask why Roux still isn't getting picked. It can't just be a case of him not wanting to play for the All Whites because he has been picked sporadically.
He's the Rodney Dangerfield of NZ football. The likes of Kip Colvey and Dane Ingham consistently getting picked ahead of him.
