2014 Friendly Discussion - China & Thailand in Nov

Simon Elliott had no club when he was picked for the 2010 world cup, and was one of our best players there.

You pick your best players when you can (although I am happy to see common sense being used in the cases of Smith and Reid).

I think lochy was left out also to help him settle in with his new club. But his his experience in the future will be useful.

I absolutely back having James in the squad too. He adds experience to a young squad and (apart from McGlinchey) an especially young midfield (Thomas, Payne, Howieson) selection. And it's only a friendly, so a chance to see if he's up to it.

Players get included in squads for football powerhouses too sometimes when they are between clubs, banned from playing for their club etc. And the Scandinavian leagues where he is probably looking for a club don't start until late March or April.

I think James' problem may be his fitness record - he is very injury prone and has had major problems in the past. He was okay for most of the last Finnish season but broke down at the end and missed the Cup Final. He was lucky to make the All Whites for Mexico, only just returning from injury. His club may have been acting on medical knowledge when they wouldn't extend his contract.

Chris James ‏@Chris26James        Feb 10

"Treat every game like it its your last" - I certainly will be....can't wait to get that shirt on again #13 ⚽ ?

Chris Wood has made himself available because he has only been on the bench recently and his club are not short of strikers. He has been playing regularly for the reserves at Leicester. Players often get selected for their country despite only being on the bench for their club just because they are regarded as amongst the best for their country. Happens to many players at Man City, Chelsea, Real Madrid etc.

Bit of a beat-up by Michael Brown in the Herald today, reeking of tabloid journalism, trying to fabricate a split between Tommy Smith and the All Whites management:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=11200224

By Michael Brown

5:30 AM Wednesday Feb 12, 2014

Commitment questioned after All Whites defender Tommy Smith chooses club over country.

Case of a journalist trying to attract attention to himself by exaggerating things.

Much more balanced report in the Fairfax media by Sam Worthington shows it's a beat-up:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9710326/Emblen-opts-for-form-youth-in-All-Whites-side/

Emblen said discussions with Reid and Smith had reached the conclusion that both were better off remaining with their English clubs...

..."Tommy's situation is slightly different ... he wants to basically put his club [Ipswich Town] first, for this occasion. We're not going to force the international ruling, that players have to come."

Emblen believed both players remained committed to the All Whites and would have made themselves available if it was a more important game.

Agree that Brown is trying to blow life into a story where there is none re: Smith.

Phoenix players will play 3 games in 11 days with a 4 hr time diff between NZ and Japan. Tough but do-able.

Tommy Smith would have been expected to play 5 games in 15 days with a 9 hr time diff between UK and Japan. Almost impossible.

Chris Wood barely playing for Leicester at the moment so not really in the same boat.

Also, this FIFA window is only for 48 hours so hardly worth NZF enforcing it for a one-off friendly in a non-competition year.

I'm normally a country before club guy but not in this case.

Fairly predictable squad and one that looks to the future. Overall the squad looks light on defenders.

 Not sure what Brockie is doing in there....he is currently way way out of form and you would not select him on past AW form either...no goals in 42 matches says it all. For a one off match Wood can lead the line and we have bucket loads of wide attacker who are streets better than Brockie.

I agree with those who said Billy T should play at DM. Thats the position Marseille are  grooming him for, its where he wants to play, its where he has been playing for OM all season. Its also been a bit of a problem position for the AW,s recently. Now is as good a time as any to get Bill into that position at international level and give him time to build his game. Roux LB and Boxall RB.....would love to see Boxall swatting away those Japanese tacklers.

Like I said, pragmatic to include James considering our overall stocks but I think we'll not be a credible force until we have guys all playing professional football.  Still he did do enough in the Mexico games so let's hope he finds a club soon and gets back playing.

Couple of guys there - Payne and Howeison - really need to look for a move as well.  Both are youngish kids - but they're  bother getting a bit older and need to move into first team football.  You'd love to see the Phoenix interested in both (Howieson especially I think would be a great A-League player).

Some good young talent, exciting to see us play under a new manager for the first time in a long time.  It's a pity we haven't got the full defence together as you can see us being a bit immobile against a good Japanese attack.  Tough on young guys when we're a bit inexperienced in defence and we'll have to defend deep because of a lack of pace in the centre which will probably play into the Japanese hands a bit.  Wouldn't mind seeing Boxall play centrally and agree we should use Tuiloma in the position he plays for his club.  Easier for Roux to switch sides than for  Tuiloma to completely switch positions.

There are obviously problems between Smith and NZF - let's not be naive.  Hopefully some good will here from the federation starts to get the relationship back on track.

Hopefully can find the game on TV somewhere in the UK!

Oh yeah agree with that. But remember it wasn't long ago that we only had 2 or 3 players in a professional environment. 

Some reports just coming out of Sweden and Norway have Craig Henderson signing for Stabæk in Norway, who have a new coach, high-profile former US national team coach Bob Bradley who was Egyptian national coach until November last year:

http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/fotball/article3752889.ece

Henderson has been busy negotiating signing for his new club (using a release clause in his current contract - Mjallby would have been happy to keep him). Stabæk last won the Norwegian Premier League in 2008 but were relegated in 2012 and promoted last season.

Yet again Jake Gleeson overlooked for an ASB Premiership goalkeeper. Full-time professional for more than 3 years at one of the best clubs in MLS and can't get a sniff.

Has the Costa Rican game been confirmed or is it still just rumours?

Gleeson hasn't played a game for the Portland Timbers first team for a long, long time and has been third choice keeper the last couple of seasons. Played only reserve team games last year (apart from one 45 min. spell in a friendly v Norwich City).

Portland have just signed a new second-choice keeper Andrew Weber from Montreal Impact, leaving Gleeson well on the outer.

Portland's assistant coach, Kiwi Cameron Knowles says he hasn't been playing much as their reserve team don't play enough games. He may be loaned out to a Sacramento side affiliated to Portland in the third tier of US football....

Radio interview with Knowles touching on Gleeson's situation about 5 mins in: 

http://www.radiolivesport.co.nz/Wynton-World-Of-Football-Cameron-Knowles/tabid/454/articleID/17111/Default.aspx

Follow his progress here on this Fever thread under Kiwi players overseas: 

http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/categories/kiwi-players-overseas/topics/jake-gleeson-portland-timbers/page/15

Scott Basalaj is playing regularly for Partick Thistle reserves so has as much (or as little) claim for All Whites selection:

http://ptfc.co.uk/teams/u20/seasons/2013-2014/fixtures_results/1102_st_johnstone_u20/match_report

http://ptfc.co.uk/teams/u20/seasons/2013-2014/fixtures_results (click on underlined opponents for match reports)

Anyone going to japan game? Email me at Dale@yellowfever.co.nz

Hello Dale. My name is Andy Martin and I have recently arrived in NZ from the UK. I would like to go to this game if you can arrange it. Cheers. AM.

^^^^ what the hell is that post all about?

"The New Zealand team look like Godzilla"

実行

"Run!!!"

ファロンは再生されていない

"Fallon is not playing."

http://translate.google.com/

I blame Google...

Sun, 23 Feb 2014 9:15a.m.
Wynton World Of Football. Neil Emblem.
http://www.radiolivesport.co.nz/Wynton-World-Of-Football-Neil-Emblem/tabid/454/articleID/17367/Default.aspx

Any word if the Japan game is going to be on Sky?

'In negotiations'

Unfortunately Ryan Thomas experiencing some injury problems at PEC Zwolle in the Dutch Eredivisie and may miss the Japan game.

Not in Zwolle's squad last weekend.

Hope he's fit by Wednesday next week...

Rojas out, clearance being sort for Fallon to join the squad.

Come on. Are we really surprised here?

Well I guess the question is 'who else is there?' and you wouldn't find too many answers but it's hardly a like for like replacement.

New kit has been revealed for the game:

http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=2791&tx_ttnews[backPid]=10&cHash=4dec4f20cd

I actually thought Fallon looked quite sharp against Mexico and made a big difference when he came on.

Definately not a player for the future, but at the same time I think its a reasonable call. Henderson is however unlucky to miss out.

Sorry haven't read up on the Fallon story. Is it a FIFA window? Crawley in middle of really busy fixture list. Fallon turfed out of previous club and just starting at new club.

Marco is having the season from hell!

No problem with Fallon....except Wood and Smeltz would be ahead of him for starting. Good way to shiite off your new employers......just get a new contract and bugger off to play a meaningless friendly on the other side of the planet. Kudos to Fallon for being loyal to the AW's though 

Rather we got Henderson in there

So yeah, how long was Sigmund banned for? Assuming only 1 game (against T&T), pretty sure I read it was a 2 match ban though 

Have seen evidence online that All Whites scheduled to play Colombia and Paraguay in May/June - away from home.

Any truths behind this?