Needs to have a break out season and see if someone else from a better league will take a punt on him. Irish premier league is not good enough long term.
Both Pijnaker & Mata come in to start as Sligo (4th), host Bohemians (8th). Mata playing as the central striker.
Edit - a 0-1 loss for Sligo. Looks like full games both Mata & Pijnaker.
Yeah, both played full 90s, Mata in the lone central striker role, and Pijnaker on the left hand side of a back three.
Mata had a couple chances on goal, the first one coming from a long ball from the back by Pijnaker which put Mata through on goal, but the keeper made a good one-on-one save. Second came in the second half from a free kick where he beat the marker but headed over. He held the ball up pretty well as the only outlet up top, and had some good touches to teammates, but they didn’t have many shots in total.
Pijnaker was typically pretty solid on the left side, and hit a few passes forward, best one probably the one forward to Mata. He did get beaten for the goal though, Bohemians attacker ran at him as he was backtracking just inside his own half, and he managed to nutmeg Pijnaker and get past before laying off for the goalscorer.
Good play from Mata, Cawley and Byrne who have been excellent with Cawley’s shot cleared off the line by Donelon but O’ Sullivan blocks it and the ball finds the net. Mata might have got the last touch. https://t.co/3HXx1ryuG4
Sligo (5th), hosting Drogheda United (7th). Pijnaker on the bench, and Mata (not in match day squad) "has a slight calf issue and is rested"
Edit - Sligo win 3-2. They were up 2-0 after 3 mins! Then Drogheda bought it back to 2-2, before having a player sent off in the 56th min. Sligo with a 93rd min winner.
Pijnaker an unused sub. Irish league games come hard & fast, so not surprising seeing him get a game off.
I half-watched it, I’m pretty sure he was on the left of the three. Also Mata's sub saw him limping off, it didn’t look too bad but probably the reason for taking him off when they did.
I half-watched it, I’m pretty sure he was on the left of the three. Also Mata's sub saw him limping off, it didn’t look too bad but probably the reason for taking him off when they did.
Still not fully recovered from his previous knock a few weeks back perhaps?
Probably lessens chance of him being recalled even more so, if he wasn’t considered good enough for the 2nd tier, and they do some summer recruiting as a promoted side
From Flying Kiwis AWs squad wrap up. To me it's a starting back 3 of Boxall, Reid & Tuiloma (on the left) Nando Pijanker’s had a wee injury recently that’s seen him drop to the bench for Sligo Rovers yet thankfully it doesn’t sound like anything to worry about. Similar deal to Chris Wood’s recent hip injury. Sligo Rovers did just sack their manager last week so that could make things a little slippery for him trying to impress a new gaffer but on the whole he’s been in really good form for Rovers in 2022, finally getting a run of senior footy and showing what he can do.
Hay has already touched on the gamemanship that the Ticos are likely to make a real feature of the playoff. Falling over at the slightest touch, trying to milk pens & free kicks. It's unfortunately going to be an annoying aspect of the game.
I just think older, wiser Boxall who comes up against Latino players every week in the MLS is best equipped to manage that. And you just can't leave out Tuiloma surely in the form he's in. Both him & Reid are well capable to ball up field accurately. And Billy T has an okay left foot.
Boxall is good without the ball but his distribution is definitely behind the other 4 CB options- especially if we want to run with 3 up high and the diagonal switch to isolate and bypass midfield.
If that’s the plan Boxall warms the bench Oska
I agree, Boxall's experience and solidity over Nando's sweet left peg for me.
Boxall is good without the ball but his distribution is definitely behind the other 4 CB options- especially if we want to run with 3 up high and the diagonal switch to isolate and bypass midfield.
If that’s the plan Boxall warms the bench Oska
I agree, Boxall's experience and solidity over Nando's sweet left peg for me.
But do you need all 3 CBs to be able to hit a sweet diagonal cross? Can't right footed Reid do that instead of Boxall? Tuiloma on the left.
Smith actually hits a mean diagonal switch up off his left foot often. But he's likely to come on as a 2nd half closer, if the AWs are up. That seems his role. Starting spot between Boxall & Pijnaker. Or maybe Hay surprises us and goes 4 at the back.
How much value/focus do you bring to the high level of Latino theatrics/gamemanship that Costa Rica will bring to the game, something that Boxall has lot more experience dealing with than young Nando? Judging when to tackle, when to not, controlling emotions, chatting to the ref etc.
And re Pijnaker's run on the bench at Sligo. They do have a new coach, and Nando has had an injury niggle. Who knows what's going on, but yes if he does have an injury probably reduces his chances of starting for the AWs.
Boxall is good without the ball but his distribution is definitely behind the other 4 CB options- especially if we want to run with 3 up high and the diagonal switch to isolate and bypass midfield.
If that’s the plan Boxall warms the bench Oska
I agree, Boxall's experience and solidity over Nando's sweet left peg for me.
But do you need all 3 CBs to be able to hit a sweet diagonal cross? Can't right footed Reid do that instead of Boxall? Tuiloma on the left.
Smith actually hits a mean diagonal switch up off his left foot often. But he's likely to come on as a 2nd half closer, if the AWs are up. That seems his role. Starting spot between Boxall & Pijnaker. Or maybe Hay surprises us and goes 4 at the back.
How much value/focus do you bring to the high level of Latino theatrics/gamemanship that Costa Rica will bring to the game, something that Boxall has lot more experience dealing with that young Nando? Judging when to tackle, when to not, controlling emotions, chatting to the ref etc.
And re Pijnaker's run on the bench at Sligo. They do have a new coach, and Nando has had an injury niggle. Who knows what's going, but yes if he does have an injury probably reduces his chances of starting for the AWs.
I reckon Tuiloma - Reid - Boxall start. Future of the NZ backline looks like Pijnaker and Tuiloma though, they’ll likely be the starting two for a long time after this WC cycle. Surman a chance to demand a spot in a back 3 in a few years if he keeps up his development too.
Hopefully I'm wrong, but Nando looks to have regressed from last time I saw him play. This is only based on the one game, against top class opposition.
Up until this season he has progressed by in large due to being a training pitch player. I thought that regular match appearances would see his ability increase significantly.
Hopefully I'm wrong, but Nando looks to have regressed from last time I saw him play. This is only based on the one game, against top class opposition.
Up until this season he has progressed by in large due to being a training pitch player. I thought that regular match appearances would see his ability increase significantly.
I thought he looked decent, but the Irish league is such a low level for a player of his ability it’s not even funny. If Rio Ave aren’t gonna play him then he needs to get a good loan move asap.
So many leagues like Belgium, the Netherlands (low Eredivisie or high Eerste Divisie), Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, top half of Scottish Premiership, 2. Bundesliga, Serie B, League One, even the top half of Norway would be far better for his development and I reckon he could hang at any of those leagues.
Edit - Mata with the equaliser as game tied up 1-1 in the first half
Edit 2 - a 3-1 win for Sligo. Mata with the assist for 2nd goal. Full games him and Pijnaker. Thomas an unused sub for Shelbourne
Was Mata’s 3rd league goal for the season. Playing as a right winger. Seems to be doing well in Eire
Mata looked to be more as a centre forward than out wide, with Aidan Keena running off him. He played quite well up top, made a good run for his goal before jinking outside the defender and finishing well on his left. He played a nice one-two with Keena for his assist, dragging the defenders towards him, plus a lot of hold up play towards the end at 2-1 up. Was a good day for New Zealanders beating Irish teams who also have New Zealanders it seems.
Sligo were perhaps a bit lucky to win this. Shels had two goals disallowed for offside which the (Sligo) comments man thought both should’ve stood, plus a shot just about cleared off the line. The penalty at the end was also a bit lucky, it didn’t really look like the keeper made any contact at all, but it was given. Mata was pretty keen to take the pen, but Aidan was Keena.
They’ve got a midweek trip across the Irish Sea to play Welsh side Bala Town in UECL qualifying. The game will be played at fellow Welsh side TNS’ ground (the creatively-named ‘The Venue’) which is actually in England. Apparently Sligo are taking over 440 fans to the 1000 capacity ground, so should be as good as a home atmosphere. Hopefully they can play some European football this season to showcase themselves at a higher level.
2-1 win for Sligo, but a slightly disappointing performance, given Welsh teams aren’t great, plus Sligo are in season and Bala are out. Nonetheless they’ll definitely take a one goal lead to The Showgrounds. Pitch was artificial which looked like it was slightly uncomfortable for Sligo, given the bounce of the ball and speed is all different to what they’re used to.
Pijnaker had a bit of ‘mare to be honest. He had a big air-swing for an incoming cross which let the ball through to the goalscorer who smashed it in in the first half. Then in the second half he miscontrolled a ball under not too much pressure, leading him to being tackled on the edge of his box, dragging the opponent down and getting a straight red card. Possibly a bit harsh, it was towards the corner of the box, but it is what it is; will mean he misses the return leg of course.
Mata did alright up top once again. Usual hold up role for him. He hit the post with a header in the first half, and had a shot well saved by the keeper in the second when he cut inside a defender. From the ensuing corner, the ball fell rather fortuitously to him from a contested header in the box and he side-footed it in the near post for his fifth goal of the season.
Win’s the important thing, but a mixed bag for the guys.
