Didn't a 2nd sting u23 team go up to the islands and win pacific games under des? Did they play full national teams in that?
Yep, and even if we do have to have a full amateur team made up of national league and college soccer guys it would almost definitely be better than that Pacific Games squad. That being said that tournament wasn’t a sure thing, and they had a couple tight games. They were insignificant at the time as who really cares about the Pacific Games, but would be worrying if qualification was riding on it.
To look on the bright side, OFC gave us the competitive qualifiers we’ve been asking for, they’ve flattened the playing field, so it’ll probably end up one of the tightest qualifying campaigns we'll actually have to go through in OFC since Australia left.
It's a double edged sword. On the one hand I am chuffed that as you say suddenly we have got the most competitive qualifiers in a long, long time on our hands. On the other hand I don't know how other fans feel but I can say at least for myself since the August olympic campaign, I've really bought into this team. I believe in them. There's a sense of pride they really make me feel that has been lacking since 2010. For me this team is the depth of youngsters we have coming through the ranks. It's Joe Bell, it's Sapreet and Cacace taking Europe by storm screaming "F you if you haven't heard of New Zealand before, you've definitely heard of us now." It's long term servants of the New Zelaand game like Wood and Winston finally getting what they are owed after sticking it out through the tougher times. We are playing a confident and controlled, attacking and more importantly competent brand of football like we never have before. With Danny Hay at the helm, everything is coming up milhouse! I would hate for the dream to be over before it even began through no fault of their own. Whatever amateur side we end up with come march I suppose it'll be an awesome experience for them as players to be able to up their game and find out the new level that is expected of an all white I just hope they too buy in and are able to lift their game the same way we have seen the regular boys do over the last 6 months.
No way will it be a bunch of amateur College kids. They will all be pros
But likely to be shorn of 6-10 top players who have been recently involved. Can get the A League guys in, who will be in season, and many played under Hay at the Olympics - quell the nerves somewhat
Need likely 1 win from those first 2 pool games with under strength squad. That should happen
And who knows Burnley get on a winning run, push mid table Dyche is nice and lets loyal Woody leave a week early for Qatar. Same Singh at JR, Helsingor lads, Kirwan, Reid, Bell, Thomas, Cacace, Champness, Marinovic, Smith, MLS guys - their coaches know WC opportunities are huge in a players career. It will be that sort of uncertain, messy, week by week buildup that Hay will have to deal with. He’ll need to pick an enlarged squad always planning for the worst that first week.
If AWs had drawn the joke Tonga/Cooks pool fixture Hay wouldn’t be venting half as much.
Bit he’s quickly gone from a fist pump with OFC drawing CONCACAF, to some white fisted anger with OFC tourney setup. And fair enough. But he now needs to start smooth talking Talay, Poppa and Corica