WCQ Final All Whites v New Caledonia | Mon 24th Mar | 7:00pm | Eden Park

Joachim brother i hope you direct that same ire at phoenix fans who were booing Paulsen and De Vries against Fiji.

MetalLegNZ

Kosta looked good in both his cameos I thought - probably makes the best runs in the team. Has certainly moved up the pecking order I think.

A few good selection calls to make going forward. A big 12 months for lots of our players.

I think we need to consider a range of tactics with Wood. Honestly he looked a bit cooked today, backing up and on this pitch. And the New Caledonian defense was diligent and desperate. 

Players like Garbett and McCowatt, or others like Just, Waine, Kosta etc…might benefit from a set up where Wood drops deeper and releases their runs behind defenders. 

A large bunch of his club goals are simple finishes once Elanga or another of Forest’s speedy contingent has burned past the defense and squared it. Though NC we’re determinedly sitting deep in that low block. 

I think we tried a few things early on, such as Singh making that kind of run, but New Caledonia were alert to it, and Singh isn’t usually best making that run. 

I don’t think tbf you can read too much into the performance of the starting team playing Friday-Monday. 

The other thing to consider with the Libby/FDV conversation is that Libby has been playing LCB in a 3 half the time, but with a lot of license to pick up the loose ball and run forward from that position. He made one incredible run literally box to box. Thought though he could have done better when Garbett played him in. 

FDV/Libby/Garbett is a lot of firepower if we can get it working! All players who can produce moments to beat anyone. 

Buffon II

Joachim brother i hope you direct that same ire at phoenix fans who were booing Paulsen and De Vries against Fiji.

Wasn't at the Fiji game but can confirm I would have taken at least the same: Don't say anything at the game to not cause further fuss, then told them to STFU on a corner of the internet they may or may not find.

Actually given they're my fellow Phoenix fan, maybe I would have felt more comfortable giving it at least a polite 'Come on, they're all All Whites today' followed by a shrug if they pushed back and a message of 'let's not be tools' here, where they might see it.

There you go, my official stance.

Wood is fantastic but expect our opponents to try marking him out of the game. They'll know he is our main danger man it's hardly a secret. Why not put both your centre backs on Wood and trust your fullbacks against our wingers?

Point is we need to have other good attacking options too.

LT01

Wood is fantastic but expect our opponents to try marking him out of the game. They'll know he is our main danger man it's hardly a secret. Why not put both your centre backs on Wood and trust your fullbacks against our wingers?

Point is we need to have other good attacking options too.

"Mark" him out or "kick" him out of the game?? 

https://omny.fm/shows/the-front-page-1/why-the-all-whites-world-cup-qualification-matters

A good indication of how we'll go at the World Cup finals (regardless of the group) is by watching how New Caledonia fares in their playoffs.  Assuming they retain the coach and players etc.  If they are at all competitive and not the dead-end last, I would see it as a good sign for us assuming we are all fit.
I am hoping Singh gets back to where he used to be. He was relatively invisible in the final, probably due to physicality of the opposition. 

It's likely New Caledonia will only get one game at those 6 team Interconfederation playoffs. CONCACAF two teams, with AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL and OFC all having 1 team.

The 4 lowest ranked teams play each other (for sure that includes NC), with the 2 winners to then play the 2 highest ranked teams. And the winners of those 2 games qualify for the World Cup.

Odds on NC will play a CONCACAF, AFC or CAF team. All the CONMEBOL teams are ranked within the top 50 except Paraguay (53rd) & Bolivia (79th)

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football/all-whites/all-whites-fifa-world-cup-qualifying-jason-pine-rates-the-squad-performances-opinion/GXC27OT2YJADTG7MQNBXKXT7FI/

https://archive.md/C0Nhy

I love Piney being Piney.  But he does get emotional and pumped up at times.  His grades for the two games...very generous.

Nice little watch that. 

AWs fan in the same hotel as New Caledonia spots some their players having a relaxed pre game smoke on the hotel steps!