2016 Friendly Discussion

US date. 8 p.m. ET

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2016/08/17/15/02/160817-mnt-to-face-new-zealand-at-historic-rfk-stadium-on-oct-11-in-washington-dc

That's niggly - that makes the game Wednesday arvo our time, meaning they probably won't be able to get away until Thursday our time.

There's gonna be some tired players there.

Had a quick nosey. Leave on Wed (US time) and arrive on Friday morning (Perth time). Via Dubai.

That's basically 24 hours straight on planes. Tough.

Thanks NZF, Fifa and Ghana.

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2016/08/17/15/02/160817-mnt-to-face-new-zealand-at-historic-rfk-stadium-on-oct-11-in-washington-dc

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2016/08/17/15/01/160817-mnt-gallery-looking-back-us-mnt-vs-new-zealand-2003

Would people be open to Smith being in the squad for these matches?  

He's a bell-end but I'd like to see the strongest XI on the park that we have.  

Would love to see Fitzgerald in the squad too, especially given that our defence is relatively weak right now, when normally its the AWs strongest position.

Take them both if they're committed and eligible 

I just don't get why he has to drop his Japanese passport to play for us when he already has... they're are so many players with duel nationality!!

Not to mention that fact, surely this is against some kind international labour law... because it prevents him from earning (match fee). Not a lawyer, but there must be something somewhere!

The only 'people' that count is Anthony Hudson and co., and I'm guessing they'd be "fudge no".

no chance of Tommy returning. Interesting that he isn't starting for Ipswich either. 

I'll be interested to see who partners Reid at the back. Luke Adams was the most impressive for me at the OFC but with Storm returning Boxall may come back into the central role (albeit he is playing right back for club). Themi will probably start with his experience but there are concerns over his lack of pace...I have premonitions of Hay and Che Bunce vs Costa Rica and Venuzuela in 2007. As an aside Brockie was in that squad!

I also wonder whether the 5-3-2 formation will stay from the OFC Cup. Against the OFCteams at home it'll be more like 3 at the back but I genuinely think for NZ sides playing that formation suits us. Even worked ok for the u20s. 

It's just so exciting to have quality matches to look forward to.

My starting eleven and squad as follows.

Marinovic

Roux, Adams, Reid, Themi, Doyle

Wee Mac, Tui, Thomas

Wood, Kosta

Rest of Squad- assume 22 - or 23 with 3 keepers

Smeltz

Rojas

Boxall

Cameron

Fenton

Gleeson

Watson

Hudson Wihongi

Patterson

Wynne 

Lewis 

he should at least fight for duel citizenship

Hmm, yeah.... trying to change the laws of a country which he accepted & would affect thousands of people so he can play a game of footy.....Good luck with that.

If he didint like/accept the law of having to have sole Japanaese citizenship & wanted to be a proud NZ representative he could have done so - he didnt.

Nice..:-)

edit: me bad

is he good enough now that he could rescind his Jap passport and continue playing in Japan as a foreigner?

Also would he be wanted by the Nix given we're still a bit pants in defence?

i think he's not interesed at all

Anyone know when squad will be announced? 

Also, anyone have any picks on who they think will make the squad? 

I think these 16 are locks

Marinovic

Reid, Tzimopolous, Boxall, Adams, Roux, Wynne

McGlinchey, Tuiloma, Thomas, Cameron, Rojas, Lewis

Wood, Barbarouses, Patterson

then 2 or 3 more, including one keeper - maybe Gleeson, Colvey, Wihongi?

Intrigued by no Durante in the Nix XI today that looked like a 'prep for R1 XI'

My guess is he take 23 players to try and do some 11 v 11 stuff and have a third keeper. So I'd prob add Smeltz to that squad. He'll need the experience and is knocking them in for his club. Doyle provides LB and CB cover (I'd play him ahead of Wynne anyway), TWH and, hold your breath, but he may also take his love-child Moses after his epic u20's performances. 

I think/hope he will pick less of the kids this time.

So Adams over Brotherton, Boyd over Rogerson

Adams seemed just as loved as Brotherton in PNG, off the top of my head. Might miss out if Durante does make a surprise return tho. Boyd would be in my squad, but seems to be in a group with the Swedish guys that Hudson isn't keen on. Smeltz and Dyer will be right on the fringe too - Dyer maybe even over TAHW - and I wonder if Myer Bevan might be a shout - though it probably isn't worth taking him out of the Nike Academy again, after the under-20s.

no captain Fallon?

Will Wisconsin have to release Brotherton to play? Or because the NCAA isnt a FIFA organization, does Wisconsin not have to? That could play into whether Sam goes. 

Brotherton was one of the weaker players in PNG. Adams was far more controlled and comfortable on the ball. I thought SB panicked every time the pill came anywhere near him. I can see something in TAWH and even Dyer to a degree but SB is another Steven Old or Andy Boyens for me- not a ball playing CB at all. 

We shouldn't be picking College players for the senior side. We need guys who play against men not kids.

I rate Brotherton, but Adams turned in a much better performance in this tournament. 

Different slant on who will be in the AWs - name the best XI who you think Anfony won't pick for these friendlies

Criteria - has to be eligible, and can't be injured/suspended

I'd go;

Tamati Williams

Brock Messenger

Cory Brown

Adam Mitchell

Steven Old (or Tom Schwarz, if he is eligible?)

Niko Boxall

Dan Keat

Benji van den Broek (or Andre de Jong, cant make up my mind as I've never really seen BvdB play)

Tyler Boyd

Jai Ingham

Hamish Watson

British defender at Canterbury United/Cashmere Technical, ex-Caversham. Has probably been here five years straight now so suppose he'd be eligible.

I would like to see the following players called up - Not so much an XI, just scattered everywhere. 

Pretty ambitious list as well - Not stating that they will get called up, just would like to see.

Nikko Boxall

Tom Schwarz - Actually a good shout. 

Kris Carpenter - Waitakere United - Yeah ambitious, but watched him play for Rovers and he is just quality. 

Dan Keat

Steven Old

Ben McKendry - Hopefully he changes his allegiance! 

Ryan De Vries - Hopefully eligibility is sorted - He single handedly tore Rovers apart

I honestly think when Hudson brought Themi, Henry Cameron and Van Den Broek into the squad after his world wide scouting SOS call over the radio, I think there is a few more players eligible for the All Whites playing at a high level. 

If so, I would like to see them called up and it be a surprise to fans. 

If this happens, I would ride my cow over the moon endlessly till the sunsets on Lake Taupo and Maui fishes up the sun again.

Can i ask what was going through your head when you typed out this passage of your post?

Lol didn't say it was gonna be realistic. But I rate him as a player. 

This. Although the grammar could have been better.

I was wondering who rovers were. Blackburn?

Really? How many games have you seen him play... The last time I saw him playing he was playing for Glenfield reserves