Great Points AV and Martinb
Let's me just add to it....
1. Gold Cup and Copa America would be awesome but not a long term approach to improving the AW.
2. One has to absolutely complement the NZF for arranging quality opponents for 21 of the 22 Windows.
Where I differ with you (or maybe not) is that these two tournaments offer the AW anything. And yes maybe from a points point of view that might be true. I really think there is too much of a hyper focus on the AW 1st eleven which is not healthy for the squad. Looking back, most fans realise that some players were getting picked for their past performances. That their current form did not help the AW but the coach felt he had not choice but to field them because there was nobody else. There was clearly a ceiling.
I believe going forward there has to be more focus on the AW majority under 23 B squad. Those players just on the outside who need international minutes to see if they can make it or not. This is where I believe smaller unfanccied tournaments like ASEAN or COSAFA Cup can help the AW in the long term.
Maybe looking at the very short term that's the squad that should play India. It's not about winning or losing but a process to building a bigger, stronger AW squad. Yes the losing will annoy fans but they will come to understand that it's a 4 year cycle.
Let's me just add to it....
1. Gold Cup and Copa America would be awesome but not a long term approach to improving the AW.
2. One has to absolutely complement the NZF for arranging quality opponents for 21 of the 22 Windows.
Where I differ with you (or maybe not) is that these two tournaments offer the AW anything. And yes maybe from a points point of view that might be true. I really think there is too much of a hyper focus on the AW 1st eleven which is not healthy for the squad. Looking back, most fans realise that some players were getting picked for their past performances. That their current form did not help the AW but the coach felt he had not choice but to field them because there was nobody else. There was clearly a ceiling.
I believe going forward there has to be more focus on the AW majority under 23 B squad. Those players just on the outside who need international minutes to see if they can make it or not. This is where I believe smaller unfanccied tournaments like ASEAN or COSAFA Cup can help the AW in the long term.
Maybe looking at the very short term that's the squad that should play India. It's not about winning or losing but a process to building a bigger, stronger AW squad. Yes the losing will annoy fans but they will come to understand that it's a 4 year cycle.