Hopefully NZF, can find the AWs some pre WC friendlies in early November, before WC kicks off 21st Nov. Would have to be in Europe or the Middle East.
But if they can't, what about a 2 game series in NZ, the Phoenix verus 'AWs selection'?
ALM is stopping for the World Cup (Nov 18th-Dec 8th) having only been going for 6 weeks. So Nix fans you are just getting into the new season, maybe excited if the team actually start the season well for a change - when bang it's a 3 week break. You get live football withdraw symptoms.
So what about 2 Nix games at the ROF and Eden Park, against the best NZ football talent based overseas. Players you see so so rarely in the flesh. When is the last time ex Nix Academy boy, Joe Bell played in Welly. A distraction to the pain of the AWs not actually being in Qatar.
Probably be the highest quality 'AWs' game at the ROF in maybe 8 odd years. 2017-2025. First time any AWs team will have played in Welly for 5 years. I reckon you'd go close to sell out, depending on who was available. Then a pretty reasonable crowd also in Auckland for game 2.
Wouldn't surprise if Newcastle had a training camp planned in Saudi the home of their paymasters, so the Woodsman maybe unavailable to trek downunder. But otherwise I reckon it could be close to a full strength AWs side, guys keen to come home for 1-2 weeks of NZ sun, see whanau, whilst their Euro club leagues are in WC hiatus. Most of the USA, Scandi, Irish league guys would be on their way to NZ anyway their seasons having finished (or winter break in Denmark)
The Nix's AWs would probably play for the Nix, but could play for either depending on who's available. Maybe David Ball could guest for the AWs team, since he his future international ambitions!!
Useful exercise for Uffie keeping his players fit, plus some handy on the grass time for Hay or whoever is the AWs gaffer. Pretty cheap exercise for NZF re getting 2 high profile 'AWs selection' games in NZ, with likely real good gate receipts. Pragnell wants the AWs playing in NZ more, but that's going to be very hard before OFC WC qualifying kicks off again. A series like this could be as good as it gets re games that would grab the public's attention.
Was hoping on a November WC warm up friendly but Pragnell made it pretty clear in the press release about the Brisbane game that these September fixtures would be the last we see of the AW's until at earliest March when they look to start building towards the 2024 Olympics and 2026 WC campaigns.
The September fixtures will be the last All Whites games of the year as New Zealand Football shifts focus to planning activity in 2023 and the start of campaigns for the Paris 2024 Olympics and FIFA World Cup 2026.
New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell said:
“It is fair to say the whole country was gutted with the result against Costa Rica. It is now important as we look forward to 2024 and 2026 that we evaluate the qualifying and identify lessons we can take into the next campaign, that will begin in March 2023.
“It is great to close the year for the All Whites by finally bringing the team home so that fans in Aotearoa can experience this generation of players, many playing at home for the first time, ahead of an exciting future for this young side.”
Hopefully NZF, can find the AWs some pre WC friendlies in early November, before WC kicks off 21st Nov. Would have to be in Europe or the Middle East.
But if they can't, what about a 2 game series in NZ, the Phoenix verus 'AWs selection'?
ALM is stopping for the World Cup (Nov 18th-Dec 8th) having only been going for 6 weeks. So Nix fans you are just getting into the new season, maybe excited if the team actually start the season well for a change - when bang it's a 3 week break. You get live football withdraw symptoms.
So what about 2 Nix games at the ROF and Eden Park, against the best NZ football talent based overseas. Players you see so so rarely in the flesh. When is the last time ex Nix Academy boy, Joe Bell played in Welly. A distraction to the pain of the AWs not actually being in Qatar.
Probably be the highest quality 'AWs' game at the ROF in maybe 8 odd years. 2017-2025. First time any AWs team will have played in Welly for 5 years. I reckon you'd go close to sell out, depending on who was available. Then a pretty reasonable crowd also in Auckland for game 2.
Wouldn't surprise if Newcastle had a training camp planned in Saudi the home of their paymasters, so the Woodsman maybe unavailable to trek downunder. But otherwise I reckon it could be close to a full strength AWs side, guys keen to come home for 1-2 weeks of NZ sun, see whanau, whilst their Euro club leagues are in WC hiatus. Most of the USA, Scandi, Irish league guys would be on their way to NZ anyway their seasons having finished (or winter break in Denmark)
The Nix's AWs would probably play for the Nix, but could play for either depending on who's available. Maybe David Ball could guest for the AWs team, since he his future international ambitions!!
Useful exercise for Uffie keeping his players fit, plus some handy on the grass time for Hay or whoever is the AWs gaffer. Pretty cheap exercise for NZF re getting 2 high profile 'AWs selection' games in NZ, with likely real good gate receipts. Pragnell wants the AWs playing in NZ more, but that's going to be very hard before OFC WC qualifying kicks off again. A series like this could be as good as it gets re games that would grab the public's attention.
Hopefully NZF, can find the AWs some pre WC friendlies in early November, before WC kicks off 21st Nov. Would have to be in Europe or the Middle East.
But if they can't, what about a 2 game series in NZ, the Phoenix verus 'AWs selection'?
ALM is stopping for the World Cup (Nov 18th-Dec 8th) having only been going for 6 weeks. So Nix fans you are just getting into the new season, maybe excited if the team actually start the season well for a change - when bang it's a 3 week break. You get live football withdraw symptoms.
So what about 2 Nix games at the ROF and Eden Park, against the best NZ football talent based overseas. Players you see so so rarely in the flesh. When is the last time ex Nix Academy boy, Joe Bell played in Welly. A distraction to the pain of the AWs not actually being in Qatar.
Probably be the highest quality 'AWs' game at the ROF in maybe 8 odd years. 2017-2025. First time any AWs team will have played in Welly for 5 years. I reckon you'd go close to sell out, depending on who was available. Then a pretty reasonable crowd also in Auckland for game 2.
Wouldn't surprise if Newcastle had a training camp planned in Saudi the home of their paymasters, so the Woodsman maybe unavailable to trek downunder. But otherwise I reckon it could be close to a full strength AWs side, guys keen to come home for 1-2 weeks of NZ sun, see whanau, whilst their Euro club leagues are in WC hiatus. Most of the USA, Scandi, Irish league guys would be on their way to NZ anyway their seasons having finished (or winter break in Denmark)
The Nix's AWs would probably play for the Nix, but could play for either depending on who's available. Maybe David Ball could guest for the AWs team, since he his future international ambitions!!
Useful exercise for Uffie keeping his players fit, plus some handy on the grass time for Hay or whoever is the AWs gaffer. Pretty cheap exercise for NZF re getting 2 high profile 'AWs selection' games in NZ, with likely real good gate receipts. Pragnell wants the AWs playing in NZ more, but that's going to be very hard before OFC WC qualifying kicks off again. A series like this could be as good as it gets re games that would grab the public's attention.
I remember watching AW games like this in the '90s at the Mount. Not a fan personally, rather have an Oceanian based squad play a game or two against Fiji/Tahiti/Solomon Islands/Malaysia etc.
But those games 25-30 years ago would just have been a bunch of guys based in NZ or Aus (old NSL) playing each other. I'm talking about an AWs selection of guys based overseas, who the football public in NZ so rarely see live.
Anyway seems there is unlikely to be anymore AWs games post Australia this year. Pragnell has said as much. Bit of a shame, and not getting that $16.5M FIFA payday will have an effect on the AWs programme through 2023-2024.
However I reckon a Nix verus 'AWs selection' series in Nov would draw reasonable crowds (10K plus), because people will just be interested in live football with ALM on a 3-4 week pause. Then if by chance the big names like Wood, Cacace, Reid, a mended Singh etc turned up - you would get real big crowds. Maybe you won't get many big names turn up (their Euro clubs may just say no, even if they are on a break during WC), but there would be at least 10 guys (those based in USA, Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Japan) who should be available being in their off seasons, plus others like in Denmark on maybe a long mid winter break.
There would be genuine interest because the football public at least, will know virtually all of the players in both teams.
With the OFC teams or someone like Malaysia, we don't know their players and honestly we don't care to know. That's the brutal truth. They are just the cannon fodder passing through, soon to be forgotten. So you are just going to watch the one team, and that can get a little boring.
But those games 25-30 years ago would just have been a bunch of guys based in NZ or Aus (old NSL) playing each other. I'm talking about an AWs selection of guys based overseas, who the football public in NZ so rarely see live.
Anyway seems there is unlikely to be anymore AWs games post Australia this year. Pragnell has said as much. Bit of a shame, and not getting that $16.5M FIFA payday will have an effect on the AWs programme through 2023-2024.
However I reckon a Nix verus 'AWs selection' series in Nov would draw reasonable crowds (10K plus), because people will just be interested in live football with ALM on a 3-4 week pause. Then if by chance the big names like Wood, Cacace, Reid, a mended Singh etc turned up - you would get real big crowds. Maybe you won't get many big names turn up (their Euro clubs may just say no, even if they are on a break during WC), but there would be at least 10 guys (those based in USA, Ireland, Sweden, Finland) who should be available being in their off seasons, plus others like in Denmark on maybe a long mid winter break.
There would be genuine interest because the football public at least, will know virtually all of the players in both teams.
With the OFC teams or someone like Malaysia, we don't know their players and honestly we don't care to know. That's the brutal truth. They are just the cannon fodder passing through, soon to be forgotten. So you are just going to watch the one team, and that can get a little boring.
tbh am with Marto on this one - would rather see full international matches, even against Island teams, that seeing our national team play club sides (am just old fashioned like that). But I'd also return to the idea posted a while back about running a locally based/Australasian squad and a Northern Hemisphere squad to keep things ticking over and relevant players part of the international setup. If we had an All Whites side drawn from the A-League hosting the likes of Indonesia or Fiji or whatever, couple of times a year where possible, would be good for all involved. If you get the timing right, and the venue right, for a Fiji match in Auckland, you will definitely get a decent crowd - just possibly not too many cheering for NZ...
Yeah true Fiji is the one OFC team in NZ that would draw a bit of a crowd outside a WC qualifier.
Esp at Mt Smart a bit closer to Papatoetoe and a largish Fijian Indian popn
But personally watching the AWs play an OFC team bores me to tears most often. However I’d be curious to watch AW wannabe David Ball up against M Boxall, B Tuiloma & N Pijnaker (who should have all finished their club seasons). But that’s just me
Yeah true Fiji is the one OFC team in NZ that would draw a bit of a crowd outside a WC qualifier.
Esp at Mt Smart a bit closer to Papatoetoe and a largish Fijian Indian popn
But personally watching the AWs play an OFC team bores me to tears most often. However I’d be curious to watch AW wannabe David Ball up against M Boxall & B Tuiloma. But that’s just me
With the exception of the most recent games in Qatar, OFC teams have been reasonably competitive against the AWs, and even the PNG and Tahiti games were tight in March. Those games were also an unfair representation of how good those teams can be, with most of the teams being out of season and unable to train due to Covid. Before those, only four out of 22 games in the last decade saw the AWs win by more than two.
The crowd factor is also a tough one, because no realistic friendly (bar this Australia game probably) is getting a big crowd. The biggest draws will be far too expensive/apathetic to bring to New Zealand, and if you go the level below, the crowds drop accordingly; the average punter isn't scrambling to go watch El Salvador. No European team is coming, between Nations' League, Euros' qualifiers and WC qualifiers they have no time; no South American team is with their schedules either. So you get left with the weak CONCACAF, CAF or AFC sides that can't progress far in qualifying; in other words, countries that are probably smaller draws than our local OFC friends anyway.
We brought out two World Cup teams in Honduras and Paraguay (who were quarterfinalists) on the back of South Africa and 'only' got 18k and 16.5k, and the only friendlies since were Jamaica in 2012 ("over 15k") and South Africa in 2014 which got only 9k. We got 10k to both the Fiji and Solomon Islands games in 2017, so its possible to get reasonable crowds, even discounting for the difference between friendlies and competitive matches.
The complaint about the AWs not reaching their potential because they don't play enough is even more applicable to the other OFC nations. They probably won't ever be world class, but more games will only improve them, and a better Tahiti/PNG/Solomons etc is better for NZ. The whole desire to move to AFC isn't because we want to win, its because we want to lose, because that makes winning better. I'd love more stuff like that 4 team 'tournament' Schmid had in India in 2018, and with a local squad there would be genuine competition with nowhere near the same costs as the Middle East games (let alone bringing two 23-man squads over from Europe), plus it could help guys like Talay scout guys. I might well be in the minority, but I'd prefer home games against OFC opposition with local squads over having the AWs play behind-closed-doors, untelevised games at 5am against Oman.
I also feel that players wouldn't be that enthusiastic to come all the way over from Europe to play a game against the Phoenix. It would be a very expensive exercise in avoiding injuries, and turn into a carnival game, and the European clubs would probably view it similarly. The biggest issue is, neither are going to happen unfortunately. Also, if a 35/36-year-old David Ball is waltzing into an AWs squad ASAP, then the 'golden generation' tag should never be used again.
Olympics again in only 2 years. What about more games for our age group teams against the Island nations. Worked pretty well last time we had an U23 team entered into an OFC comp. Good for team cohesion to get some games. And alot more of those players will be NZ based.
Yeah true Fiji is the one OFC team in NZ that would draw a bit of a crowd outside a WC qualifier.
Esp at Mt Smart a bit closer to Papatoetoe and a largish Fijian Indian popn
But personally watching the AWs play an OFC team bores me to tears most often. However I’d be curious to watch AW wannabe David Ball up against M Boxall & B Tuiloma. But that’s just me
With the exception of the most recent games in Qatar, OFC teams have been reasonably competitive against the AWs, and even the PNG and Tahiti games were tight in March. Those games were also an unfair representation of how good those teams can be, with most of the teams being out of season and unable to train due to Covid. Before those, only four out of 22 games in the last decade saw the AWs win by more than two.
The crowd factor is also a tough one, because no realistic friendly (bar this Australia game probably) is getting a big crowd. The biggest draws will be far too expensive/apathetic to bring to New Zealand, and if you go the level below, the crowds drop accordingly; the average punter isn't scrambling to go watch El Salvador. No European team is coming, between Nations' League, Euros' qualifiers and WC qualifiers they have no time; no South American team is with their schedules either. So you get left with the weak CONCACAF, CAF or AFC sides that can't progress far in qualifying; in other words, countries that are probably smaller draws than our local OFC friends anyway.
We brought out two World Cup teams in Honduras and Paraguay (who were quarterfinalists) on the back of South Africa and 'only' got 18k and 16.5k, and the only friendlies since were Jamaica in 2012 ("over 15k") and South Africa in 2014 which got only 9k. We got 10k to both the Fiji and Solomon Islands games in 2017, so its possible to get reasonable crowds, even discounting for the difference between friendlies and competitive matches.
The complaint about the AWs not reaching their potential because they don't play enough is even more applicable to the other OFC nations. They probably won't ever be world class, but more games will only improve them, and a better Tahiti/PNG/Solomons etc is better for NZ. The whole desire to move to AFC isn't because we want to win, its because we want to lose, because that makes winning better. I'd love more stuff like that 4 team 'tournament' Schmid had in India in 2018, and with a local squad there would be genuine competition with nowhere near the same costs as the Middle East games (let alone bringing two 23-man squads over from Europe), plus it could help guys like Talay scout guys. I might well be in the minority, but I'd prefer home games against OFC opposition with local squads over having the AWs play behind-closed-doors, untelevised games at 5am against Oman.
I also feel that players wouldn't be that enthusiastic to come all the way over from Europe to play a game against the Phoenix. It would be a very expensive exercise in avoiding injuries, and turn into a carnival game, and the European clubs would probably view it similarly. The biggest issue is, neither are going to happen unfortunately. Also, if a 35/36-year-old David Ball is waltzing into an AWs squad ASAP, then the 'golden generation' tag should never be used again.
Bally could maybe play the 2024 OFC Nations Cup if he gets his citizenship done in time, but I’d be hoping that the likes of Singh, Just, McCowatt, Old, Champness, Rogerson, Whyte, Mata, even Otto Ingham and Kingsley Sinclair would’ve kicked on to the next level at that point. Plus if Bally shifts deeper with age then he’s competing with the likes of Garbett, Stamenic, Bell, Lewis etc.
But with it not being a WC year, some of those higher level players might not come over, leaving a spot for Ball.
Yeah true Fiji is the one OFC team in NZ that would draw a bit of a crowd outside a WC qualifier.
Esp at Mt Smart a bit closer to Papatoetoe and a largish Fijian Indian popn
But personally watching the AWs play an OFC team bores me to tears most often. However I’d be curious to watch AW wannabe David Ball up against M Boxall & B Tuiloma. But that’s just me
With the exception of the most recent games in Qatar, OFC teams have been reasonably competitive against the AWs, and even the PNG and Tahiti games were tight in March. Those games were also an unfair representation of how good those teams can be, with most of the teams being out of season and unable to train due to Covid. Before those, only four out of 22 games in the last decade saw the AWs win by more than two.
The crowd factor is also a tough one, because no realistic friendly (bar this Australia game probably) is getting a big crowd. The biggest draws will be far too expensive/apathetic to bring to New Zealand, and if you go the level below, the crowds drop accordingly; the average punter isn't scrambling to go watch El Salvador. No European team is coming, between Nations' League, Euros' qualifiers and WC qualifiers they have no time; no South American team is with their schedules either. So you get left with the weak CONCACAF, CAF or AFC sides that can't progress far in qualifying; in other words, countries that are probably smaller draws than our local OFC friends anyway.
We brought out two World Cup teams in Honduras and Paraguay (who were quarterfinalists) on the back of South Africa and 'only' got 18k and 16.5k, and the only friendlies since were Jamaica in 2012 ("over 15k") and South Africa in 2014 which got only 9k. We got 10k to both the Fiji and Solomon Islands games in 2017, so its possible to get reasonable crowds, even discounting for the difference between friendlies and competitive matches.
The complaint about the AWs not reaching their potential because they don't play enough is even more applicable to the other OFC nations. They probably won't ever be world class, but more games will only improve them, and a better Tahiti/PNG/Solomons etc is better for NZ. The whole desire to move to AFC isn't because we want to win, its because we want to lose, because that makes winning better. I'd love more stuff like that 4 team 'tournament' Schmid had in India in 2018, and with a local squad there would be genuine competition with nowhere near the same costs as the Middle East games (let alone bringing two 23-man squads over from Europe), plus it could help guys like Talay scout guys. I might well be in the minority, but I'd prefer home games against OFC opposition with local squads over having the AWs play behind-closed-doors, untelevised games at 5am against Oman.
I also feel that players wouldn't be that enthusiastic to come all the way over from Europe to play a game against the Phoenix. It would be a very expensive exercise in avoiding injuries, and turn into a carnival game, and the European clubs would probably view it similarly. The biggest issue is, neither are going to happen unfortunately. Also, if a 35/36-year-old David Ball is waltzing into an AWs squad ASAP, then the 'golden generation' tag should never be used again.
The South Africa friendly was played midweek at night, in winter from memory. Never easy to get people off their warm couch for that.
Whilst those 2017 Fiji & Solomons games were played in the slightly warmer months (March & September) and I think were both weekend day games??
I reckon Cacace, Bell & Singh (if by chance fit) would be keen to return to play against the club, where it all started for them. Bit of novelty value, and chance to see family for an extended 2 week break (their club seasons stop for over 3 weeks during the WC). They will only be in Auckland for 3-4 days for the Socceroos friendly. Won't get to Welly at all. I doubt a friendly against Fiji would have much allure, especially not having long played the OFC teams in March.
But yeah their clubs would likely not be keen on the idea. Wood will probaly be heading off to Saudi for a training camp with NUFC. However even if none of the Euro players in season came, you'd still have a reasonable number of guys having finished their seasons. Many would be flying home for a NZ summer anyways. Something most wouldn't have done for 2-3 years due to the borders shut/MIQ requirements. So NZF shouldn't have to pay for their flights.
Stamenic, McCowatt & Just if all still in the Danish 2nd tier about to start a long mid winter break. Same Dalton Wilkins.
Throw in the Kiwis at other ALM clubs. McGarry, Ingham & Storm Roux. Keegan Jelacic. Rojas if he's not Chilean bound. The odd domestic based guy like Howieson. Yes some younger domestic guys with an eye to next year's U20 WC in Indonesia (provided we qualify)
You'd have a team lacking all the big names, but getting those guys above together would hopefully have some use for Hay or whoever the gaffer is. And more fun for them keeping fit playing, than slogging away in Coach Sunz's Auckland gym - where some of them trained in their off seasons pre Covid.
Anyway was always a left field idea, and ain't gonna happen. But going to kinda suck the Nix going into a 3-4 week hiatus, only 6 weeks after the A League kicks off. And god knows when the AWs (in any shape or form) will next play in NZ, after the Socceroos.
Olympics again in only 2 years. What about more games for our age group teams against the Island nations. Worked pretty well last time we had an U23 team entered into an OFC comp. Good for team cohesion to get some games. And alot more of those players will be NZ based.
Yes makes sense to send an U22/23 team to 2023 Pacific Games. Nov/Dec in Honiara. Will be toasty warm for football!
Yeah true Fiji is the one OFC team in NZ that would draw a bit of a crowd outside a WC qualifier.
Esp at Mt Smart a bit closer to Papatoetoe and a largish Fijian Indian popn
But personally watching the AWs play an OFC team bores me to tears most often. However I’d be curious to watch AW wannabe David Ball up against M Boxall & B Tuiloma. But that’s just me
With the exception of the most recent games in Qatar, OFC teams have been reasonably competitive against the AWs, and even the PNG and Tahiti games were tight in March. Those games were also an unfair representation of how good those teams can be, with most of the teams being out of season and unable to train due to Covid. Before those, only four out of 22 games in the last decade saw the AWs win by more than two.
The crowd factor is also a tough one, because no realistic friendly (bar this Australia game probably) is getting a big crowd. The biggest draws will be far too expensive/apathetic to bring to New Zealand, and if you go the level below, the crowds drop accordingly; the average punter isn't scrambling to go watch El Salvador. No European team is coming, between Nations' League, Euros' qualifiers and WC qualifiers they have no time; no South American team is with their schedules either. So you get left with the weak CONCACAF, CAF or AFC sides that can't progress far in qualifying; in other words, countries that are probably smaller draws than our local OFC friends anyway.
We brought out two World Cup teams in Honduras and Paraguay (who were quarterfinalists) on the back of South Africa and 'only' got 18k and 16.5k, and the only friendlies since were Jamaica in 2012 ("over 15k") and South Africa in 2014 which got only 9k. We got 10k to both the Fiji and Solomon Islands games in 2017, so its possible to get reasonable crowds, even discounting for the difference between friendlies and competitive matches.
The complaint about the AWs not reaching their potential because they don't play enough is even more applicable to the other OFC nations. They probably won't ever be world class, but more games will only improve them, and a better Tahiti/PNG/Solomons etc is better for NZ. The whole desire to move to AFC isn't because we want to win, its because we want to lose, because that makes winning better. I'd love more stuff like that 4 team 'tournament' Schmid had in India in 2018, and with a local squad there would be genuine competition with nowhere near the same costs as the Middle East games (let alone bringing two 23-man squads over from Europe), plus it could help guys like Talay scout guys. I might well be in the minority, but I'd prefer home games against OFC opposition with local squads over having the AWs play behind-closed-doors, untelevised games at 5am against Oman.
I also feel that players wouldn't be that enthusiastic to come all the way over from Europe to play a game against the Phoenix. It would be a very expensive exercise in avoiding injuries, and turn into a carnival game, and the European clubs would probably view it similarly. The biggest issue is, neither are going to happen unfortunately. Also, if a 35/36-year-old David Ball is waltzing into an AWs squad ASAP, then the 'golden generation' tag should never be used again.
Bally could maybe play the 2024 OFC Nations Cup if he gets his citizenship done in time, but I’d be hoping that the likes of Singh, Just, McCowatt, Old, Champness, Rogerson, Whyte, Mata, even Otto Ingham and Kingsley Sinclair would’ve kicked on to the next level at that point. Plus if Bally shifts deeper with age then he’s competing with the likes of Garbett, Stamenic, Bell, Lewis etc.
But with it not being a WC year, some of those higher level players might not come over, leaving a spot for Ball.
Will 2024 OFC Nations Cup happen? Would NZF bother sending a team without the Confeds Cup carrot? If it happens, would the dates clash with 2024 Paris Olympics (July-August)?
If the Nations Cup was a month or so prior the Olympics (was last played in early June 2016), could NZF send their Olympics squad using it as a warmup? Again presuming Olywhites had qualified for Paris.
All in all there is probably a good chance of NZF running a domestic/ALM based U23 crew, in NZ/South Pacific for games. All leading up to Paris 2024.
Then the AWs just playing friendlies in Europe or CONCACAF, sadly never coming to NZ. I'd put money on that sort of scenario.
Yeah true Fiji is the one OFC team in NZ that would draw a bit of a crowd outside a WC qualifier.
Esp at Mt Smart a bit closer to Papatoetoe and a largish Fijian Indian popn
But personally watching the AWs play an OFC team bores me to tears most often. However I’d be curious to watch AW wannabe David Ball up against M Boxall & B Tuiloma. But that’s just me
With the exception of the most recent games in Qatar, OFC teams have been reasonably competitive against the AWs, and even the PNG and Tahiti games were tight in March. Those games were also an unfair representation of how good those teams can be, with most of the teams being out of season and unable to train due to Covid. Before those, only four out of 22 games in the last decade saw the AWs win by more than two.
The crowd factor is also a tough one, because no realistic friendly (bar this Australia game probably) is getting a big crowd. The biggest draws will be far too expensive/apathetic to bring to New Zealand, and if you go the level below, the crowds drop accordingly; the average punter isn't scrambling to go watch El Salvador. No European team is coming, between Nations' League, Euros' qualifiers and WC qualifiers they have no time; no South American team is with their schedules either. So you get left with the weak CONCACAF, CAF or AFC sides that can't progress far in qualifying; in other words, countries that are probably smaller draws than our local OFC friends anyway.
We brought out two World Cup teams in Honduras and Paraguay (who were quarterfinalists) on the back of South Africa and 'only' got 18k and 16.5k, and the only friendlies since were Jamaica in 2012 ("over 15k") and South Africa in 2014 which got only 9k. We got 10k to both the Fiji and Solomon Islands games in 2017, so its possible to get reasonable crowds, even discounting for the difference between friendlies and competitive matches.
The complaint about the AWs not reaching their potential because they don't play enough is even more applicable to the other OFC nations. They probably won't ever be world class, but more games will only improve them, and a better Tahiti/PNG/Solomons etc is better for NZ. The whole desire to move to AFC isn't because we want to win, its because we want to lose, because that makes winning better. I'd love more stuff like that 4 team 'tournament' Schmid had in India in 2018, and with a local squad there would be genuine competition with nowhere near the same costs as the Middle East games (let alone bringing two 23-man squads over from Europe), plus it could help guys like Talay scout guys. I might well be in the minority, but I'd prefer home games against OFC opposition with local squads over having the AWs play behind-closed-doors, untelevised games at 5am against Oman.
I also feel that players wouldn't be that enthusiastic to come all the way over from Europe to play a game against the Phoenix. It would be a very expensive exercise in avoiding injuries, and turn into a carnival game, and the European clubs would probably view it similarly. The biggest issue is, neither are going to happen unfortunately. Also, if a 35/36-year-old David Ball is waltzing into an AWs squad ASAP, then the 'golden generation' tag should never be used again.
showing my age a bit, but I used to go to AWs games where the idea of 15K people would have been a miracle, and even 9K would've been remarkable... I saw a WCQ at Western Springs (no, seriously...) where there may have been a couple of thousand, tops. And another WCQ at Mt Smart where the crowd was so small that I could hear me and my school mates shouting in the grandstand when I watched the video later on... sure, we'd love the national side to regularly pull crowds the way the All Blacks do, but I'd settle for a regular crowds of 10K plus, simply because I lived through the era where that would basically never ever happen...
And to be honest, when the matches really matter, the numbers do swell - even leaving aside Bahrain, Mexico and Peru, there have been matches against Aus in 1993 and 1997 where the stadium gave the impression of being full. If there's ever the chance to get a decent side here, people will come watch.
Whilst it's nice to reminisce about the good bad old days, NZ football needs to have bigger ambitions than the past. 40,000 plus (an early guess) at Eden Park for a friendly in September will be testament to that.
The Socceroos used to play most of their games at that little concrete dump of a ground Olympic Park in Melbs. Capacity about 25,000. Contrast that to selling out Homebush (82,000) verus Uruguay in 2005 or same hosting Asian Cup final 2015. They pull in big crowds when hosting likes of Japan, Sth Korea, Saudi in Asian qualifying. The code has come a long way in our part of the world, and the aims more ambitious.
Having one full professional stable club with both mens & womens teams, maybe a 2nd pro club in a few years, teams going to age World Cups playing a good style and actually competing, co hosting a Womens World Cup - these are just some of the bench marks to show real progress in the code. Staying in OFC will always limit how far football can go in NZ, but of course joining AFC (discussed to death) won't be happening any time soon, if at all ever.
That will be the only good thing about a 48 team WC. A regular 4 yearly $US10M plus paycheck, that will allow NZF to plan ahead with some cash, and hopefully aim for actual AWs games in NZ against just more than just the OFC minnows. But for this next cycle it could be more of the same, which would be a real shame, given the talent in the team.
Remember there being a few comments here about how pricy the tickets for the Socceroos game in Auckland were, actually just went on today and seen cheapest tickets are only $23 in category D?
Obvs the others are a bit more expensive, but that's honestly pretty affordable for a big national team game.
Emailed NZF last week to see if they are bringing our a special jersey for the game considering it is our 100 year anniversary... no reply yet.
Would be awesome if they did it!
If I get a reply... and it feels like a big if, I will post on here.
I hope it's a stripy. We played in that strip for a long time and it would make a change given all NZ sports teams play in either all black or all white:
Got a reply - they have a new strip/shirt coming out, but it won't recognise the centenary.
FFS , Just how hard would that have been to do?? They certainly like to shoot themselves in the foot don't they. The Stripey jersey with 1922-2022 stitched under the fern shouldn't be that difficult should it??
Any idea how sales are going? Should we be expecting any where near a sell out?
Still lots of aisles unsold given they have only opened 3 stands. Think there is about 800-1000 in each aisle depending on size. So I'd guess something like 12-13k? image.png136.7 KB
Good to see Wynne back after his recent resurgent form! Likewise good to see Pauslen in the international setup although I doubt he'll play. Kyle Adams an alright shout at backup CB given the injuries we have in that position at the moment, although Surman could have been in with a shout too. Howieson still a head scratcher.
Would’ve preferred Olly Whyte in honesty. I don’t watch any northern League being from CHCH, but surley someone like Olly Whyte getting consistent minutes in a European 1st division (all be it in Finland) must be in with a better shot.BrockieTheGOAT
Good to see Wynne back after his recent resurgent form! Likewise good to see Pauslen in the international setup although I doubt he'll play. Kyle Adams an alright shout at backup CB given the injuries we have in that position at the moment, although Surman could have been in with a shout too. Howieson still a head scratcher.
Did Olly White turn it down? He is still getting himself settled overseas (after 2 failed attempts previously) and their season is coming to the business end. Just a wondering.
Are Storm Roux and Dane Ingham more deserving the Elliott as a RB option?
No Rogerson or Whyte? 🤔 I know they're still in season, unless there is no break for them?
Howieson? 😶
I can't imagine that their club would stand in the way of them, especially considering they aren't in a title/relegation fight, and I'd be even more surprised if the players turned down a chance to play in a match like this. I guess there was only one wide attacking role spot available and it went to Old instead of Rogerson, and Garbett/De Jong got that attacking midfield spot over Whyte.
No Rojas or Marinovic either which is surprising, given they'd be much more senior players than Rogerson. Both of their clubs observe the window, so they wouldn't miss important matches by coming down. Not often you have two goalkeepers from the same team, because, by definition, only one can play. I guess it could just be to save money by not having two cross-world flights, and give experience.
Also it's nice to see all my Deklan Wynne prop has worked.
Good to see Wynne back in the fold after looked for awhile, his football career dead and buried. Didn't play at all for about 12 months. Though Sutton is a bit unlucky.
Hay obviously watching some of the USL now, with Adams also called up.
Hopefully Pijnaker is fit. Came off at HT on the weekend. And yeah Howieson, why is Hay bothering.
I imagine Marinovic is unavailable. Long trip downunder to sit on the bench behind Sail, and his career maybe on thin ice at his new club Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Kosta's AWs career over? Neither Smith or Champness have played for a few months so understandable neither picked. Smith may still be injured.
Joining de Vries, Kirwan and midfielder Clayton Lewis, all said to be injured, in missing these matches after being part of the squad in June are goalkeepers Matt Gould and Stefan Marinovic; defender Tommy Smith; and forwards Kosta Barbarouses, Joey Champness, Logan Rogerson and Marco Rojas.
