2024 All Whites International Fixtures

I'm stoked to actually be able to cheer on Gillion for once! He's looked an absolute livewire so far.  Agree he's raw, even as an ardent nix fan I can clearly see he's pretty exciting. He's more than qualified to give Samoa some trouble at least

In a serious country Smith would not be allowed to be picked. The media & fans wouldn't be having it. How long will him being picked because he is Chris Wood's best mate go on? And don't give me any nonsense about him being a big leader/personality. He quit the All Whites for years when it suited him. 

Interesting interview with Bazeley on SENZ today. He and the team are going all in on a back 4 & midfield 3 formation, the plan is to stick with that all the way through to the World Cup. None of this back 5 nonsense, none of this horses for courses mixing and matching formations. I don't mind this. But it makes it even weirder that we pick so many CBs (including Smith) every window.

I know everybody is excited about shiny new toy Gillion but I'm a massive sceptic. Can't see him making a difference at international level, from what I've seen of him so far. We won't learn anything about him from this window due to the poor quality of our opposition so I think he should have been left to make a consistent mark on the A-League before getting a call-up. We are no longer at a point where any kiwi playing semi-regularly in the A-League should get picked, they should be bossing the league like Rufer & Payne to be able to expect to be picked. McCowatt for Old was a like for like replacement from the last squad. De Vries is a justified replacement for Sutton because Sutton is still so raw and inconsistent and De Vries has looked miles better in the 3 games so far. 

Smith withdrew from the AWs setup, because he was fudgeed off with how incompetent NZF & Herbert were managing the buildup and Mexico playoff series itself in 2013. Going back to the Horror in Honiara. From memory he was captain once Reid pulled out with injury. He just felt the whole show was a clusterfudge of disorganisation, and the team was given no chance of sucess.

Not that different to Nelsen withdrawing from the AWs for a few years, and then when eventually coming backing still having to agrue with the NZ Soccer CEO for better everything, in the leadup to South Africa 2010.

With Smith it was only Hudson getting the job, and squeezing better resources out of NZF, that persuaded Tommy S to return to the fold. Smith and Nelsen being unavailable was as much about making a stand about useless NZF administrators as anything.

But yeah agree is getting to the point, where Smith's squad spot is now seriously under question. He struggled starting against Mexico (though so did Boxall). He just looks too slow now - maybe even for the ALM, let alone international football.

Smith yes the outlier, but otherwise the omission of guys like Sutton, Rojas, Howieson & ADJ - shows it's getting tougher and tougher to crack an AWs squad. That's what we want. I thought Cam H played well at the ROF. Be interesting if he keeps his starter's spot ahead of 2 goal hero Brimmer when AFC next play.

Anyone got tickets in the AW supporter section for the game in Hamilton? Ticketek is saying it's already sold out. 

Surely Smith is there almost as a member of the coaching setup now? Half for vibes, half for cover. 

Also I think Sutton has been fairly good! Just that De Vries is also a good player (and got Teflon on that pen.)

Hoping to see a 4-2-3-1 with Bindon/Surman as the CB pair and Bell & Rufer at the base of the midfield against Vanuatu. Stamenic as the 10 as it sounds like Sarpreet isn't ready to start, flanked by McCowatt & Just.

Not sure if this is the right place, but I enjoy the Football Fever podcast with Piney, but I struggle with his offsider, Bonnie.
In the most recent one she suggested that Tim Payne might be past it at right back and could be be replaced by Sam Sutton. Piney replied very kindly saying he's actually a left back.
She then said how about moving Libby to right back and bring De Vries in at left back.
Apparently she is a football journo - really?

Think Sutton was a bit hard done by. Would have had him in the squad instead of smith. Payne and De Vries can step into centre defense if need be but with four others there already and with the above cover there is no need for Smith.

I really wish we had better opposition.  Let's be honest, Samoa are going to be no better than a top club side in Wellington/Auckland.

I wouldn't be playing Wood etc in these games. There is just no point. 

People will say combinations etc. But they could just have an inter squad game or play against Auckland FC.

Dougie Rydal

Not sure if this is the right place, but I enjoy the Football Fever podcast with Piney, but I struggle with his offsider, Bonnie.
In the most recent one she suggested that Tim Payne might be past it at right back and could be be replaced by Sam Sutton. Piney replied very kindly saying he's actually a left back.
She then said how about moving Libby to right back and bring De Vries in at left back.
Apparently she is a football journo - really?

I think the intent is right, Payne is solid but nothing amazing at international level. I don't know who is the answer yet,... 

Elemenop

Dougie Rydal

Not sure if this is the right place, but I enjoy the Football Fever podcast with Piney, but I struggle with his offsider, Bonnie.
In the most recent one she suggested that Tim Payne might be past it at right back and could be be replaced by Sam Sutton. Piney replied very kindly saying he's actually a left back.
She then said how about moving Libby to right back and bring De Vries in at left back.
Apparently she is a football journo - really?

I think the intent is right, Payne is solid but nothing amazing at international level. I don't know who is the answer yet,... 

He's the best we have though. You can make the case for Roux, certainly off the back off last season. But there's no one else close to those two imo.

Jazzy Jeff

Elemenop

Dougie Rydal

Not sure if this is the right place, but I enjoy the Football Fever podcast with Piney, but I struggle with his offsider, Bonnie.
In the most recent one she suggested that Tim Payne might be past it at right back and could be be replaced by Sam Sutton. Piney replied very kindly saying he's actually a left back.
She then said how about moving Libby to right back and bring De Vries in at left back.
Apparently she is a football journo - really?

I think the intent is right, Payne is solid but nothing amazing at international level. I don't know who is the answer yet,... 

He's the best we have though. You can make the case for Roux, certainly off the back off last season. But there's no one else close to those two imo.

 I'd say Roux was better in the last game(s) and should have been ahead of him the past few years anyway.

In Bonnie Jansen's defence Bazeley moved Sutton to RB at the Paris Olympics. Remembering Payne was injured.

But to suggest playing Libby there is loopy stuff indeed.

Sorry to be a pain guys. What was the discount code for the Tron game?

I'm going to buy a whack of tickets for my whanau even though I'm stuck in England and could do with saving 10%

Am I right in thinking that this will be Singh's first competitive cap?

UK_ALLWHITE

Am I right in thinking that this will be Singh's first competitive cap?

 As far as I can think, yes. Which is genuinely crazy for a guy who debuted in March 2018 and has been arguably starter quality that whole time.

Well, he did play in those matches against Kenya, Chinese Taipei, and India, which were part of that inaugural Intercontinental Cup in 2018.

We ended up finishing third in that.

Wood, Reid, and Thomas didn't play in that though.

If we were just referring to WC qualification matches and OFC NC though, then ignore me.

Wasn't sure where to put this, Seven Sharp ran a story yesterday about a boy who won a Make-a-wish.  He wanted the All Whites to come to his school but got taken to their training instead in a limo.  Such a nice wee story. 

Dougie Rydal

Not sure if this is the right place, but I enjoy the Football Fever podcast with Piney, but I struggle with his offsider, Bonnie.
In the most recent one she suggested that Tim Payne might be past it at right back and could be be replaced by Sam Sutton. Piney replied very kindly saying he's actually a left back.
She then said how about moving Libby to right back and bring De Vries in at left back.
Apparently she is a football journo - really?

Averaging a goal every 9 minutes without conceding with Libby at RB and FDV at LB :-)

Its not unheard of for some right-footers to fill in at LB, so I don't think it is out of the ordinary for a left-footer to fill in at RB