2013 Friendly Discussion

it's infuriating.  these guys are complete idiots. 

By the way, how is your list of games coming along. 0 for 20?

Latest from Ricki - news in the next week to ten days:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9018980/Paston-retires-Lochhead-keeps-coach-on-toes

"The long wait for confirmation of All Whites' warm-up games would end within 7-10 days, Herbert said.

It was hoped there would be four games two in each of the September and October international windows.

New Zealand has been linked with a tournament in Saudi Arabia in September while Herbert hoped to play games in the United States in October.

"If we based ourselves in America, there's El Salvador's, those types of teams who have been close to qualifying themselves and play a similar way [to other Concacaf teams]. The efforts have been directed at that area if we can."

someone else said the same a couple of months ago

On the Roon Ba website it lists the four team Saudi Cup kicking off on 6th September with Saudi Arabia vs New Zealand followed by UAE vs Trinidad & Tobago. Final and third placed playoff matches four days 

pretty galling to see yet another international window pass by with no games for the all whites in a year that they are meant to be peaking

Apparently they using Saudi tournament to give players on the verge an opportunity to show what they can do which I think is a good idea. Heard Jake Butler made the squad :)

Aussies have France lined up now at Parc des Princes in Paris as well as Brazil.

I'd be wary though if I were a Socceroo, of long French memories... :)

I tend to think its a bit late to beblooding new players at this stage (unless they are the Reid, McGlinchy, Smith type scenarios. our top side should be getting all the minutes on the pitch, we are severely underdone.

I think it's unfounded rumours Ricki will be using the Saudi tournie to try out new players - maybe will try out just one or two.

This from assistant Neil Emblen in the Herald today (end of article): 

 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11113988

Meanwhile, with the club season almost over, Emblen's focus will soon switch to the All Whites. There are four games in the September and October Fifa windows, before the World Cup qualifiers in November.

"The games in September will probably be more about looking at who is in good form, with a couple of positions up for grabs," says Emblen. "In October, we might have to play the shape we are going to play (in November)."

Beyond this campaign, Herbert has indicated he will be stepping down as head coach, whether the end comes in late November or next June. Given his domestic and international experience, Emblen would be seen as one of the leading local contenders to replace him.

"It would be a huge job," says Emblen. "I am not sure when I would be ready for it. I feel like one day I would love to do it if I keep proving myself and being successful with whatever level I am working at.

"Right now, we are just focused on this campaign. I desperately want to go to Brazil, like everyone else involved in the squad."

rumors are all well and good, but more weeks have passed and we still don't have any confirmed games.  i'm really stunned what a terrible job they appear to be doing and the chances of me being wrong about what a load of idiots they are is diminishing by the week

You were not wrong to begin with Reg.

To be honest, this has fiasco all over it. Lets not host the OFC nations cup here because it will cost us 500k. Well not going cost you $1.3m

Lets not prepare for the upcoming games because it will cost us money. Not preparing could cost us $14m.

My 18 for Saudi if happening

Moss, Gleeson

Tuiloma, Reid, Sigmund, Durante, Smith

Barbarouses, McGlinchey, Fitzgerald, Vicelich, Keat, Henderson, Howieson

Wood, Brockie, Payne & Killen

N/A: Rojas, Smeltz

Starting

Moss

Tuiloma Reid Durante Smith

Vicelich Howieson

Barbarouses McGlinchey Henderson

Wood

Bench; Gleeson Sigmund Fitzgerald Keat Brockie Payne Killen

...yes im bored

the start of the football revival was getting the AWs playing games against good sides...Not a lot of action leading up to the play off as far as I can tell at the moment...

1: Ricki is going to play 3-4-3 regardless of what anyone thinks.

2: Bertos and Lochhead will be in there regardless of what anyone thinks.

3: You can pretty much guarantee Tuiloma and Fitzgerald wont be there. Henderson has always been injured when he has called up and Keat does not seem to be in favour. He would start Brockie on one of those flanks before Henderson and he prefers Payne to Howieson in that DM role even that's not really his favoured position.

I personally think the formation you have is the one I would use (the one Ernie is using)

My prediction:

                       Moss

Sigmund         Reid       Smith
        Durante       Payne/Vicilich

Bertos      McGlinchey   Barbarouses/Killen

                         Wood

i.e. same old, same old.

Bench: Gleeson, Brockie, Howieson, Lochead plus Butler & another wild card (Fenton?) to show he's 'unafraid to experiment'. And don't rule Fallon out if Smeltz is looking dodgy for November.

that formation has Killen as a left wing back, which is mental - everyone knows he is holding midfielder.

How much does herbert get for "coaching" the AW's obviously not a pay as you play role.

I thought it was 50k p.a.

I reckon more than 50k .Don't think Payne and Fallon going.

not a bad wage for doing Sweet.F.All

it's actually a crap salary and not the sort of salary that you can expect any decent results from

with the talent we currently have, i imagine that the all whites job would be a fairly hot ticket, if it weren't for this pathetic salary

i'd be happy to get that and do nothing for it!

If everyone is fit and available I think Ricki will pick a 523 formation

                          Moss

    Reid,   Vicilich/Dura    Smith

Leo                                           Lochy

            Dura/Vicilich   McClinchey

         Rojas       Wood    Smeltz

Bench from  Killen, Costa, Siggy, Brockie, + keeper

If Smeltz can walk he will play. He will trial Dura as  a DM and if he is OK he will play there as Ricki is obsessed with having a big unit at DM. Vicilich is probably too old and slow to play DM against a quick Central American midfield but Ricki will want his experiance so he will probably play CB if Dura goes to DM. McClinchey played OK against Bahrain in CM when Brown was injured and Ricki will want someone to do the Elliot longball stuff. Smeltz will play in behind Wood to pick up the knockdowns.

Not the team I would play but its Ricki's head on the block so its his choice. With only 4 warmup games this side should start every game...no time now for trialing players. As a park the bus away side this side could probably defend for 90 minutes and be hard to break down. My only concern would be how much defensive tracking would you get from your forwards. Costa would be a better bet if you wanted someone to put in a shift constantly tracking back.

 Not optimistic.....but there is always hope!

Rojas injured so moot...

Needs more flaliing elbows.

Saudi tournament participation confirmed - only two games:

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=2504&tx_ttnews[backPid]=10&cHash=d780c5481a

OSN Cup 2013 Tournament Details

Thursday September 5
King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

UAE v Trinidad & Tobago
Kick Off: 18:45pm AST (3:45am NZT)

Saudi Arabia v New Zealand
Kick Off: 21:15pm AST (6:15am NZT)

Monday September 9
King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

3rd Place Match
Kick Off: 18:45pm AST (3:45am NZT)

OSN Cup 2013 Final
Kick Off: 21:15pm AST (6:15am NZT)

In a rare occurrence in a tournament outside Oceania, we'll be the highest-ranked team - by far:

"New Zealand are currently ranked 57th in the FIFA World Rankings with Trinidad & Tobago in 78th, UAE in 84th and Saudi Arabia 107th"

Better to win playing dirty than not win.

Best I've seen them play in the last few years was the second half in our draw against china recently when Brockie and Bertos got subbed on 4-1-4-1 i think? The 3-4-3 formation when we beat Honduras 1-0 or when we beat Solomon Islands 6-1 whatever formation we played in that game? I suspect Ricki will pick one of these formations. Although I wouldn't be surprised to see Durante and Vicelich in front of the back 3/4/5