Well done NZF for getting 2 actual home games, against a reasonable level opponent. Won't be easy to do it again this cycle once, the various confeds start their various WC qualifying programs.
MLS ain't unfortunately observing the March FIFA window. Portland Timbers play a game 26th March, so maybe not so smart using Tuiloma in the promotion flyer! Minny have a game the same day, so I'd also rule out Mickey Boxall. His club coach Heath is difficult at the best of times, let alone this early in the WC cycle.
I imagine there will be a few others (Rojas comes to mind) who won't make the long trek to NZ. League One in the UK (Waine, Crocombe, Tzanev & Smith) also plays through the window. Waine's Plymouth have a game March 22nd (23rd in NZ), but then don't play again until 8th April.
But hopefully the new gaffer can roll out a pretty strong side, for the starved AWs fans. Anyway this early in the cycle is the perfect time to experiment a bit. Bringing some of Surman, Sutton, Paulsen, Old, Jelacic etc into camp for a looksee. It could be an enlarged training camp with the U23s by looks of it - with one big eye on OFC Olympic Qualifying.
good job NZF, keep the good news coming, now we just need a gaffer to select the best team to play. Hopefully they have more than a few weeks in the seat to assess the players fully.
Well done NZF for getting 2 actual home games, against a reasonable level opponent. Won't be easy to do it again this cycle once, the various confeds start their various WC qualifying programs.
MLS ain't unfortunately observing the March FIFA window. Portland Timbers play a game 26th March, so maybe not so smart using Tuiloma in the promotion flyer! Minny have a game the same day, so I'd also rule Mickey Boxall. His club coach Heath is difficult at the best of times, let alone this early in the WC cycle.
I imagine there will be a few others (Rojas comes to mind) who won't make the long trek to NZ. League One in the UK (Waine, Crocombe, Tzanev & Smith) also plays through the window. Waine's Plymouth have a game March 22nd (23rd in NZ), but then don't play again until 8th April.
But hopefully the new gaffer can roll out a pretty strong side, for the starved AWs fans. Anyway this early in the cycle is the perfect time to experiment a bit. Bringing some of Surman, Sutton, Paulsen, Old, Jelacic etc into camp for a looksee.
Rojas' journey shouldn't be too arduous, direct flight Santiago to Auckland on a nice LATAM 787-9 would be easier than everyone bar the A League crew or possibly Michael Woud. If he's injured then all moot, but he might be itching to play, given, since Lima, he's only played the Lithuania game in November 2019 and the never-before-seen Oman game. Colo Colo play on the 20th though, but hopefully he comes west.
Sarpreet and Thomas might be similarly up in the air. March will be five years (crazy) since Sarpreet debuted, but he's yet to play for the AWs in NZ, so a match in his hometown would be a welcome break from the current winter relegation battle in Regensburg. Thomas has also only played once since Lima, in the Republic of Ireland match in Dublin. The Peru match at the then-Westpac was when he was a 22-year-old kid - a lot of water has gone under the bridge since.
Tommy Smith might have had his race run as it is, so him potentially missing out isn't disastrous. He'll be 36 or so come 2026 and is in the fourth tier now, so might well look at guys like Kyle Adams as your depth centre-backs. I'm sure USL clubs will be cooperative for the rare occasions their players get call-ups, so less room for strife than with Adrian Heath up in MN or Giovanni Savarese in Portland.
Jelacic will be interesting for me, as he's probably done enough to get a call-up, if not the first team then definitely the U23s, so March would be the first indication of which way he's leaning - NZ or Aus. Neither the U23 match nor the senior match would cap-tie him - Stensness played U23s and Tyler Boyd half-a-dozen senior matches, so it wouldn't be the end of that potential saga however.
Given Bazeley will be taking the side, their might be a couple bolters from the U20s, to get them a taster of high-level international football ahead of May, even if it's just rubbing shoulders with Woodsy, a la Ben Waine. Colloty, Jay Herdman and the aforementioned Surman could be a couple to possibly get named.
The U23 matches also intrigue me, as it'll probably be 20-or-so extra players on top of 23-or-so senior call-ups, so we'll see a few wider names get a run. Paul Temple is taking it, so it could well just end up being mostly his Phoenix players, but if consideration is given beyond the walls it should be good practice for the OFC Olympic qualifiers later this year. I think they're here in NZ, but are pretty unlikely to have any pros available - certainly non-A League pros - so depth is essential.
Likely you'd think to have say 40 odd players named between AWs & U23s squads, with a lot of mixing & matching.
I sense Thomas doesn't have a strong tie to NZ these days. He's already stated he will live in Holland post retirement, and I think his UK born folks are now living back up north. He may just wait until the AWs get some rumoured friendlies up in Europe later this year, before returning to the fold. He is sort of playing for his career over the next few months with Zwolle.
Even the ever loyal Woodsman may be unavailable for friendlies so early in the cycle, with Forest seemingly in a relegation scrap, and again he is sort of battling to rekindle his club career. He's 31 now, and those long flights ain't so kind to an older body. Hay also mentioned the Italian club managers could be difficult to deal with, so Libby another who may not fly south - though of course he's hardly playing for Empoli. This is all noting that it seems for the China March games, you ain't even gonna be playing under the new boss for this cycle up to 2026.
A youngest, experimental side wouldn't be bad thing. Especially with Paris 2024 & the Olywhites (yes if they qualify) being the main international mens football focus, this year & next.
Well done NZF for getting 2 actual home games, against a reasonable level opponent. Won't be easy to do it again this cycle once, the various confeds start their various WC qualifying programs.
MLS ain't unfortunately observing the March FIFA window. Portland Timbers play a game 26th March, so maybe not so smart using Tuiloma in the promotion flyer! Minny have a game the same day, so I'd also rule out Mickey Boxall. His club coach Heath is difficult at the best of times, let alone this early in the WC cycle.
I imagine there will be a few others (Rojas comes to mind) who won't make the long trek to NZ. League One in the UK (Waine, Crocombe, Tzanev & Smith) also plays through the window. Waine's Plymouth have a game March 22nd (23rd in NZ), but then don't play again until 8th April.
But hopefully the new gaffer can roll out a pretty strong side, for the starved AWs fans. Anyway this early in the cycle is the perfect time to experiment a bit. Bringing some of Surman, Sutton, Paulsen, Old, Jelacic etc into camp for a looksee. It could be an enlarged training camp with the U23s by looks of it - with one big eye on OFC Olympic Qualifying.
That Plymouth Argyle gap includes the EFL trophy final though, which they are in the semis of. Can’t imagine Waine would pass up a trip to Wembley tbh.
Presale tickets now released for NZ v China. Kick-off 4pm. sign up to NZ Football - HOME to access. Interesting to see for Wellington they have the "White Noise Zone" as Aisle 22 (tickets $60) and Aisle 21 (YFZ) is $40. I know where I'm standing! PS: Aisle 21 also seems to be where the tickets are being sold!
Rojas' travel time could be longer if you're a flat-Earth believer!carlind
coochiee
Well done NZF for getting 2 actual home games, against a reasonable level opponent. Won't be easy to do it again this cycle once, the various confeds start their various WC qualifying programs.
MLS ain't unfortunately observing the March FIFA window. Portland Timbers play a game 26th March, so maybe not so smart using Tuiloma in the promotion flyer! Minny have a game the same day, so I'd also rule Mickey Boxall. His club coach Heath is difficult at the best of times, let alone this early in the WC cycle.
I imagine there will be a few others (Rojas comes to mind) who won't make the long trek to NZ. League One in the UK (Waine, Crocombe, Tzanev & Smith) also plays through the window. Waine's Plymouth have a game March 22nd (23rd in NZ), but then don't play again until 8th April.
But hopefully the new gaffer can roll out a pretty strong side, for the starved AWs fans. Anyway this early in the cycle is the perfect time to experiment a bit. Bringing some of Surman, Sutton, Paulsen, Old, Jelacic etc into camp for a looksee.
Rojas' journey shouldn't be too arduous, direct flight Santiago to Auckland on a nice LATAM 787-9 would be easier than everyone bar the A League crew or possibly Michael Woud. If he's injured then all moot, but he might be itching to play, given, since Lima, he's only played the Lithuania game in November 2019 and the never-before-seen Oman game. Colo Colo play on the 20th though, but hopefully he comes west.
Sarpreet and Thomas might be similarly up in the air. March will be five years (crazy) since Sarpreet debuted, but he's yet to play for the AWs in NZ, so a match in his hometown would be a welcome break from the current winter relegation battle in Regensburg. Thomas has also only played once since Lima, in the Republic of Ireland match in Dublin. The Peru match at the then-Westpac was when he was a 22-year-old kid - a lot of water has gone under the bridge since.
Tommy Smith might have had his race run as it is, so him potentially missing out isn't disastrous. He'll be 36 or so come 2026 and is in the fourth tier now, so might well look at guys like Kyle Adams as your depth centre-backs. I'm sure USL clubs will be cooperative for the rare occasions their players get call-ups, so less room for strife than with Adrian Heath up in MN or Giovanni Savarese in Portland.
Jelacic will be interesting for me, as he's probably done enough to get a call-up, if not the first team then definitely the U23s, so March would be the first indication of which way he's leaning - NZ or Aus. Neither the U23 match nor the senior match would cap-tie him - Stensness played U23s and Tyler Boyd half-a-dozen senior matches, so it wouldn't be the end of that potential saga however.
Given Bazeley will be taking the side, their might be a couple bolters from the U20s, to get them a taster of high-level international football ahead of May, even if it's just rubbing shoulders with Woodsy, a la Ben Waine. Colloty, Jay Herdman and the aforementioned Surman could be a couple to possibly get named.
The U23 matches also intrigue me, as it'll probably be 20-or-so extra players on top of 23-or-so senior call-ups, so we'll see a few wider names get a run. Paul Temple is taking it, so it could well just end up being mostly his Phoenix players, but if consideration is given beyond the walls it should be good practice for the OFC Olympic qualifiers later this year. I think they're here in NZ, but are pretty unlikely to have any pros available - certainly non-A League pros - so depth is essential.
Friend: Tickets to the match are $60. Me: Well, in that case, I am not going at that price! Then I emailed NZ Football to moan and had a quick reply pointing out there are also tickets at $20 and $40.
Would be bookended by two Blues games both at EP (Crusaders 18th March & Western Force 26th March) - so maybe NZF did the maths and not worth the extra costs they'd be charged for removing rugby posts/markings and then reinstalling same. Something like that.
Yes Auckland has a large Chinese community, but how many of them are football fans? Making money seems more their recreation of choice.
Yep, but I think if the location was better then they would have came.
I just can’t see them heading to South Auckland.
Likewise actually the non kiwi football fanatic.
The crowd was respectable at Eden Park for Australia. I just think that China is actually potentially a gun of a crowd/game in this city with its demographics and once more NZ football have mucked it up.
Penrose is not South Auckland. It's actually much closer for the large Chinese community in Pakuranga/Botany
What would you call it then?
East, central, north? West?
It’s much more accessible for many people in Auckland than Eden Park
Goes both ways, it’s a lot further away for many other people as well. People do live north of the Harbour Bridge, contrary to popular belief whenever you hear about how North Harbour Stadium is ‘too far away’
decision will have nothing to do with whre the Chinese population do or do not live in Auckalnd. It'll purely be down to cost, size of ground and availablility.
Rumoured to have a friendly against Jordan on 20th June, to be played in Austria.
3 weeks ago Might have a coach by then. Lost to them 3-1 last January in UAE.
Optimistically might be a chance of a friendly against Sweden around the same time. They travel to Austria for a EC qualifier in June, but being in a 5 team group, the Swedes have the bye in the 1st round of that two round June window. AWs are often pseudo Australia why not Austria.
Rumoured to have a friendly against Jordan on 20th June, to be played in Austria.
Suppose that would rule us out of making another appearance at India's intercontinental cup do Hickey. Wouldn't have minded a return to that. Still good the NZF are being proactive about finding opponents. Hope we can make a better account for ourselves than last years game against them. I remember that as being probably the worst we looked during the Hay tenure up until that point. Even if we did manage a goal in that one.
Rumoured to have a friendly against Jordan on 20th June, to be played in Austria.
Suppose that would rule us out of making another appearance at India's intercontinental cup do Hickey. Wouldn't have minded a return to that. Still good the NZF are being proactive about finding opponents. Hope we can make a better account for ourselves than last years game against them. I remember that as being probably the worst we looked during the Hay tenure. Even if we did manage a goal in that one.
Was a bit of a scratch AWs side with many guys out of season/on mid winter breaks, plus the Italian based wingbacks (Cacace & Kirwan) not released by their clubs.
Yes Asian Cup was to be in June, when China were to host. They pulled out, and Qatar won the new bid to host.
As we all know June in Qatar is scorching hot, so Asian Cup will most likely be moved to late this year or early 2024 (same basically as last year's WC).
Might be chance of some AFC friendlies later this year once the Asian Cup draw is made, and Socceroo's pool opponents look at the AWs as a useful warm up.
Right - next time you go to a warriors game tell all the fans they are watching in central Auckland Doloras
AucklandPhoenix
Doloras
Penrose is not South Auckland. It's actually much closer for the large Chinese community in Pakuranga/Botany
What would you call it then?
East, central, north? West?
Penrose is the southern fringe of Central, like Onehunga
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suburbs_of_Auckland - Penrose listed in Central Auckland
https://www.nrf.org.nz/Clubs-1/Club-Directory - Onehunga Sports listed in Central West, Otahuhu listed in South Auckland
I'd say South Auckland begins with Mangere bridge and the little isthmus where the North Island is 1km wide, south of Penrose, Sylvia Park, north of Otahuhu.
If you take the 6 women NRFL clubs as representative sample and google maps McFetridge is 2 minutes closer to Eden Park Fred Taylor is 6 minutes closer to Eden Park Seddon Fields is 6 minutes closer to Eden Park Keith Hay is 2 minutes closer to Mt Smart Madills Farm is 4 minutes closer to Mt Smart Michaels Ave is 7 minutes closer to Mt Smart
There is not a big difference time wise between going to Eden Park and Mt Smart
Basic geography would suggest that West Auckland begins at the Whau River portage, and South Auckland begins at the Tamaki River portage. So, New Lynn and Ōtahuhu respectively. John Tamihere used to say West Auckland began at Avondale but I didn't believe him.
Anyway, anyone who thinks Warriors fans give a well-cooked damn about this geographical nitpicking has some... interesting presuppositions.
Rumoured to have a friendly against Jordan on 20th June, to be played in Austria.
I'm going to be in Italy at that time!! Could be awesome
Jordan also playing a friendly against Serbia on 16th June, again in Austria. Serbia have a Euro Qualifier on the 20th June away to Bulgaria, but wonder if we are also lining up a friendly with the Serbs 12/13th June?
Alternatively, both Poland and Sweden only have one Euro Qualifier scheduled in the June window and are free on 16/17th June. Possible?
You would make a great real estate agent Doloras Doloras
Basic geography would suggest that West Auckland begins at the Whau River portage, and South Auckland begins at the Tamaki River portage. So, New Lynn and Ōtahuhu respectively. John Tamihere used to say West Auckland began at Avondale but I didn't believe him.
Anyway, anyone who thinks Warriors fans give a well-cooked damn about this geographical nitpicking has some... interesting presuppositions.
I went to a NZ v China basketball game in Auckland not too many years ago and the place was packed with very loud and passionate Chinese fans.coochiee
AucklandPhoenix
Any reason why this game isn’t at Eden park?
Would be bookended by two Blues games both at EP (Crusaders 18th March & Western Force 26th March) - so maybe NZF did the maths and not worth the extra costs they'd be charged for removing rugby posts/markings and then reinstalling same. Something like that.
Yes Auckland has a large Chinese community, but how many of them are football fans? Making money seems more their recreation of choice.
Do the pre-2010–amalgamation local-government boundaries cover north, west, central, south with North Shore, Waitakere, Auckland City, Manukau? https://teara.govt.nz/files/30852-enz.jpg
