Starting XI
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over 9 years
Good win and good use of gametime to develop some depth and using a different tactical setup ✅✅

Objectives achieved, good squad run-out. Roll on The 🇬🇲!
Legend
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almost 9 years
Who knows how good Algeria 'A' were, but Smith & Boxall aside, that was either a very young or inexperienced internationally starting 11. de Vries on debut age 26, de Jong 25, Collier 26, so I'd call them the later.

Putting aside the opposition, 3 wins in a row must be building some confidence, and that can only be a good thing. On the back of a pretty good finish at the Olympics as well. So some momentum building. Though would be nice to play say a full strength top 50 side in that January window. However realise it will be very hard for NZF to find anyone fitting that.

But that's where the old Confederations Cup games were so handy (when AWs qualified for it), a few months prior the Intercontinental Playoffs. Got 3 tough quality pool opponents, for a true benchmark. Plus a good solid 3 week squad training warmup buildup prior. Also games with a true edge played in front of crowds. A link perhaps between the AWs worst performance in the playoffs (Mexico 2013), and not being in the Confeds prior that year (Brazil 2013).

Whoever the AWs play in June next year (yes providing they win the OFC tourney), is going to be a big jump in quality, plus a very different atmosphere from playing friendlies in front of no one. That's where the playoff opponent having played several high stakes, qualifying games with high tension, will have a big edge.

and 1 other
First Team Squad
2K
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1.9K
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almost 17 years
coochiee
AucklandPhoenix
No idea on the quality of the game or opponents but nevertheless any time and game together is good and solely based upon the score line it was competitive and a wins a win

https://www.faf.dz/equipe-nationale-a-les-dernieres-retouches-avant-daffronter-la-nouvelle-zelande/


https://twitter.com/lesverts

They had one very tall guy.
 

Or 10 very short guys?
Starting XI
2K
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4.7K
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almost 17 years
Glad to see some of the players many of us (myself included) knock regularly contributed with goals.  

Pity it was a non official game as I'd venture that that Algeria team would have been better then the Kenya and Canada sides we lost to.
Starting XI
550
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2.4K
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over 14 years
Algeria are a class football side but being there A team i still didn't think they would lose but great stuff from the AW, proved me wrong and Hey is def building up this team nicely. 
First Team Squad
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over 14 years
I would hope that this match forges a positive connection with the Algerian FA, hopefully yielding friendlies against their full side in the future (especially if the UAE proves a mutually beneficial location).
and 1 other
One in a million
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9.5K
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almost 17 years
Great news re Winston. Looking forward to this game.
WeeNix
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900
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almost 11 years
Wasn't there a twit the other day of Reid training and the fitness trainer saying how in terms of movements and loads they were replicating and actual game... sounds like football specific training to me. It's not like he hasn't kicked  a ball 
Legend
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almost 9 years
watching_from_far
Wasn't there a twit the other day of Reid training and the fitness trainer saying how in terms of movements and loads they were replicating and actual game... sounds like football specific training to me. It's not like he hasn't kicked  a ball 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVPsawmJC_l/

But Hay is seeing him every day and will know where he is at, plus Reid and his trainer will have a specific plan about having his body match ready for a January club signing.

Sounds like he is close but maybe a bench cameo against The Gambia it is for now, if at all. He played injured at the Olympics so you can’t fault his commitment to the cause.

WeeNix
390
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900
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almost 11 years
My comment was more around Hay saying he hadn't been doing any football specific training. Not so much if he plays or not.
Lawyerish
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4.8K
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about 13 years
watching_from_far
My comment was more around Hay saying he hadn't been doing any football specific training. Not so much if he plays or not.
Would be good for his marketability in January however to have a game on his recent CV
Legend
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21K
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almost 9 years
AucklandPhoenix
watching_from_far
My comment was more around Hay saying he hadn't been doing any football specific training. Not so much if he plays or not.
Would be good for his marketability in January however to have a game on his recent CV

Sounds a bit like his trainer in Dubai is pretty well regarded and known in UK football circles.

I'm sure there will be eyes on Reid, and info going back to various UK clubs (if not Euro clubs - many of whom have a winter break in the UAE), looking to make a CB signing in January.

But yeah 30 min trot with AWs you'd think, would be useful.
Getting paid to be here
700
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970
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over 6 years
watching_from_far
My comment was more around Hay saying he hadn't been doing any football specific training. Not so much if he plays or not.
And he hasn't been doing football-specific training, he's been doing fitness work. Even if it has been done with football movements in mind, it's not quite the same, hence the initial caution.
WeeNix
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980
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about 3 years
Pretty decent results for Hay with the national teams this year, especially considering his apparent ineptitude according to some. Including the U23 results, he got:

2-0 win vs Australia U23
0-1 loss vs Australia U23
1-0 win vs South Korea U23
2-3 loss vs Honduras U23
0-0 draw vs Romania U23
0-0 draw vs Japan U23
2-1 win vs Curaçao 
1-0 win vs Bahrain
2-1 win vs Algeria A
2-0 win vs The Gambia

P10/W6/D2/L2 GF12/GA6

Only two losses, with both coming off the back of goalkeeping errors, and 6 wins outside of OFC nations is probably the best year results wise since 2010. 

Hopefully they can get the January games sorted, and get A League guys involved for the first time since Ireland and Lithuania, which feel so long ago they barely count as canon for Hay’s tenure. Given it’s not a UEFA window might struggle to get Chris Wood, among others, but that might not be such a bad thing, as we saw vs Peru that we didn’t really have a contingency plan for if Wood was unavailable, so could be a chance for De Jong, Waine, Collier etc to stake a claim.
Getting paid to be here
700
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970
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over 6 years
carlind
Pretty decent results for Hay with the national teams this year, especially considering his apparent ineptitude according to some. Including the U23 results, he got:

2-0 win vs Australia U23
0-1 loss vs Australia U23
1-0 win vs South Korea U23
2-3 loss vs Honduras U23
0-0 draw vs Romania U23
0-0 draw vs Japan U23
2-1 win vs Curaçao 
1-0 win vs Bahrain
2-1 win vs Algeria A
2-0 win vs The Gambia

P10/W6/D2/L2 GF12/GA6

Only two losses, with both coming off the back of goalkeeping errors, and 6 wins outside of OFC nations is probably the best year results wise since 2010. 

Hopefully they can get the January games sorted, and get A League guys involved for the first time since Ireland and Lithuania, which feel so long ago they barely count as canon for Hay’s tenure. Given it’s not a UEFA window might struggle to get Chris Wood, among others, but that might not be such a bad thing, as we saw vs Peru that we didn’t really have a contingency plan for if Wood was unavailable, so could be a chance for De Jong, Waine, Collier etc to stake a claim.
The January window not being a Uefa window only means that Uefa teams can't call players up. The English Premier League and La Liga are both breaking for it, for example.

Edit: Had a mistake re: Conmebol in here.
Legend
11K
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almost 9 years
Strange that CONMEBOL teams can't call up Euro based players in that Jan 2022 window. According to Soccerway is another round of 2 cut throat WC qualifiers in that Jan window for the Sth American sides.

But good news that EPL will be on a break. Hopefully Bundesliga 2, and Eredivisie are as well. Really hope Thomas (who's having minor surgery?) and Singh can play some games together before June next year.

Getting paid to be here
700
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970
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over 6 years
coochiee
Strange that CONMEBOL teams can't call up Euro based players in that Jan 2022 window. According to Soccerway is another round of 2 cut throat WC qualifiers in that Jan window for the Sth American sides.

But good news that EPL will be on a break. Hopefully Bundesliga 2, and Eredivisie are as well. Really hope Thomas (who's having minor surgery?) and Singh can play some games together before June next year.

This was a mistake from me. I had completely missed that Conmebol is playing in that window, I thought it was the two big federations absent, but it's just Uefa.
Trialist
120
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81
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over 2 years
See Algeria (“A) have made the final of the FIFA Arab Cup - knocking out the hosts in the semis.

Not sure how many players backed up from our friendly game but still pretty good endorsement that we managed to beat them with essentially our B team. 
Appiah without the pace
6.4K
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19K
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over 16 years
On the flip side, Bahrain lost all three games and didn't score a goal. 
Starting XI
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4.9K
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over 15 years
Yeahcoulddo
See Algeria (“A) have made the final of the FIFA Arab Cup - knocking out the hosts in the semis.

Not sure how many players backed up from our friendly game but still pretty good endorsement that we managed to beat them with essentially our B team. 
Won by Algeria A using players only from leagues in Algeria, Tunisia and the Middle East.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_FIFA_Arab_Cup
Since their game against our reserves was one of their last friendlies before the Arab Cup, you'd think they would have fielded a pretty strong side.
Officials from OFC presided over some matches in the Arab Cup.
Our own Matt Conger reffed two group games and was 4th offical for the final and a 1/4 final.
The AW's recent friendly opponent Bahrain only managed a draw with Iraq and two losses to host  Qatar and Oman - but that was a tough group with two opponents currently in the final stage of World Cup qualification plus World Cup host & reigning Asian champions Qatar.
Phoenix Academy
140
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160
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over 2 years
who thinks the All whites should arrange a friendly with one of the four qualified South American teams before the playoff in June like with Brazil or Argentina?. CONMEBOL are free during that period. UEFA and CONCACAF are not due to nations league
Legend
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21K
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almost 9 years
morgenstern12
who thinks the All whites should arrange a friendly with one of the four qualified South American teams before the playoff in June like with Brazil or Argentina?. CONMEBOL are free during that period. UEFA and CONCACAF are not due to nations league

Yipe a good idea. May depend who CONCACAF opponent is. Could be USA or Canada, and maybe they are both setup more like a European team?? Or like Socceroos??

But yeah playoff game (if AWs win through OFC tourney) is June 13th or 14th. 

So hopefully NZF can organise a tough friendly late May/early June after Euro club seasons are finished. Like a top 50 FIFA ranked type opponent.

AWs have played (or will play in January) teams ranked what 80-120 odd. All of whom you would think are likely a step down in quality from that 4th ranked CONCACAF team. So some danger that playing Panama, Costa Rica, Canada or whoever could be sudden shock in standard.

Back in 2017, AWs had Russia, Mexico & Portugal at Confeds Cup. Then a friendly in Japan. All good prep for Peru. You'd think they ideally need a similar real tough game 1-2 weeks prior 13th-14th June.

What maybe a problem, is if the finish to the Euro club seasons is extended into June, with lots of club games now being postponed due to Covid.


Phoenix Academy
140
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160
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over 2 years
they should probably have 2 friendlies before June 13/14
WeeNix
1.6K
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980
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about 3 years
Big Pete 65
Yeahcoulddo
See Algeria (“A) have made the final of the FIFA Arab Cup - knocking out the hosts in the semis.

Not sure how many players backed up from our friendly game but still pretty good endorsement that we managed to beat them with essentially our B team. 
Won by Algeria A using players only from leagues in Algeria, Tunisia and the Middle East.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_FIFA_Arab_Cup
Since their game against our reserves was one of their last friendlies before the Arab Cup, you'd think they would have fielded a pretty strong side.
Officials from OFC presided over some matches in the Arab Cup.
Our own Matt Conger reffed two group games and was 4th offical for the final and a 1/4 final.
The AW's recent friendly opponent Bahrain only managed a draw with Iraq and two losses to host  Qatar and Oman - but that was a tough group with two opponents currently in the final stage of World Cup qualification plus World Cup host & reigning Asian champions Qatar.
 
Of the 24 man squad, named for the game against us, 10 were also named in the 23 that went to the tournament. 9 of those 10 started in the All Whites game, and 8 of the 10 played in either the quarterfinal, semifinal or final of the Arab Cup. 
First Team Squad
1.2K
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1K
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over 14 years
coochiee
morgenstern12
who thinks the All whites should arrange a friendly with one of the four qualified South American teams before the playoff in June like with Brazil or Argentina?. CONMEBOL are free during that period. UEFA and CONCACAF are not due to nations league

Yipe a good idea. May depend who CONCACAF opponent is. Could be USA or Canada, and maybe they are both setup more like a European team?? Or like Socceroos??

But yeah playoff game (if AWs win through OFC tourney) is June 13th or 14th. 

So hopefully NZF can organise a tough friendly late May/early June after Euro club seasons are finished. Like a top 50 FIFA ranked type opponent.

AWs have played (or will play in January) teams ranked what 80-120 odd. All of whom you would think are likely a step down in quality from that 4th ranked CONCACAF team. So some danger that playing Panama, Costa Rica, Canada or whoever could be sudden shock in standard.

Back in 2017, AWs had Russia, Mexico & Portugal at Confeds Cup. Then a friendly in Japan. All good prep for Peru. You'd think they ideally need a similar real tough game 1-2 weeks prior 13th-14th June.

What maybe a problem, is if the finish to the Euro club seasons is extended into June, with lots of club games now being postponed due to Covid.


Japan match was good prep from Peru.  Confeds should/could have been, but it was pretty ugly viewing...
Legend
11K
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21K
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almost 9 years
Khalil Media
coochiee
morgenstern12
who thinks the All whites should arrange a friendly with one of the four qualified South American teams before the playoff in June like with Brazil or Argentina?. CONMEBOL are free during that period. UEFA and CONCACAF are not due to nations league

Yipe a good idea. May depend who CONCACAF opponent is. Could be USA or Canada, and maybe they are both setup more like a European team?? Or like Socceroos??

But yeah playoff game (if AWs win through OFC tourney) is June 13th or 14th. 

So hopefully NZF can organise a tough friendly late May/early June after Euro club seasons are finished. Like a top 50 FIFA ranked type opponent.

AWs have played (or will play in January) teams ranked what 80-120 odd. All of whom you would think are likely a step down in quality from that 4th ranked CONCACAF team. So some danger that playing Panama, Costa Rica, Canada or whoever could be sudden shock in standard.

Back in 2017, AWs had Russia, Mexico & Portugal at Confeds Cup. Then a friendly in Japan. All good prep for Peru. You'd think they ideally need a similar real tough game 1-2 weeks prior 13th-14th June.

What maybe a problem, is if the finish to the Euro club seasons is extended into June, with lots of club games now being postponed due to Covid.


Japan match was good prep from Peru.  Confeds should/could have been, but it was pretty ugly viewing...

The Confeds was good prep (as they were for Herbert in 2009), because was 3 very tough opponents. From memory Peru was FIFA ranked around 20-25 at the time, so you want to play a few high level teams like Portugal as some sort of simulation.

AWs were poor against Russia (2-0 loss), much better against Mexico (2-1 loss) and chasing Portuguese shadows (4 zip). 

But lets not forget Huddo had a midfield of Thomas, a faded Weemac, and 20 yr old Lewis still playing amateur football. And there were really no standout alternative options. Hay is blessed with a whole different level of midfielders (Thomas excepted) - and so can look to be less defensive.

What Hudson did find out from the Confeds Cup is that Doyle & especially Ingham were not his best wingback options. Not that again Kip Colvey & Deklan Wynne were brilliant either.

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