I dont like Hudson and this will seem a bit weird in that it will sound like I am defending him.
He said at the beginning that one of his aims was to try and create more competition and depth with respect to AW positions. So when does that process end and when does he start to solidify his team?. Maybe he hasnt yet finished his depth and competition phase?, maybe the Myanmar game was the last of that process?.
I'll also list players that can fill in with Brockie, Boxall, Payne, Keat, Henderson, James (ok its a marginal call), Smeltz, Musa, Adams, Howieson and that's without really racking my brains too hard. Out of that, I can at least make a 3-5-2
Not once there did I have to pick a player that was ineligible or playing NZ regional club football. I would not have Wynne near my side anyway.
We have some players EG, but not ones that are being picked. At the end of it though, we wont be going to Russia cause we wont be going past the qualifier against South America and we may struggle with the Island sides if we persist so I guess its all just hot air from me.
While this may go to a different thread (producing good national team players), I agree that more could be done with players we have (and did not pick) - and i am not entirely confident with Hudson's gameplan so far.
Someone mentioned Guus Hiddink - he is a good example. Yes he is one of the world's top coaches and was already ten years ago. But he did not have a wholesale change to the Socceroo team for the 2005 playoffs against Uruguay. He largely worked with the team he had inherited from Graeme Arnold and instead worked to their strengths to prepare a strategy (for two games against a decent opposition) that secured the qualification. He only picked new people once Australia qualified.
Haha, my thoughts exactly. Sack Ricki! No, bring back Ricki!
The bottom line is, we don't have enough good players at this level to be a consistently competitive unit. And we don't have enough money to bring in expensive overseas coaches and overhaul the domestic set-up. In other words, it's a long haul type exercise, with no easy-fix answers.
.......We should play in a way that maximises the impact of our strengths and minimises the impact of our weaknesses.
Agreed. Any half decent coach should be building a style of play around that, not trying to shoehorn players into a style of play that they are technically not suited to
So what Ricki did?
Haha, my thoughts exactly. Sack Ricki! No, bring back Ricki!
The bottom line is, we don't have enough good players at this level to be a consistently competitive unit. And we don't have enough money to bring in expensive overseas coaches and overhaul the domestic set-up. In other words, it's a long haul type exercise, with no easy-fix answers.
What you have just said is we should beat teams like Myanmar.... whom are no better/different than teams currently in OFC like Fiji, Tahiti, New Caledona, Solomons. If Myanmar is the standard of opponent we are targeting to play against to get wins on the baord, we should be going to OFC 1st. The only thing I can think of is money reasons in that the hosting team is paying. It would probably help our relationship with OFC no end of good if we did choose to play the Island teams (PNG, the home of Mr Chung?)
I dont like Hudson and this will seem a bit weird in that it will sound like I am defending him.
He said at the beginning that one of his aims was to try and create more competition and depth with respect to AW positions. So when does that process end and when does he start to solidify his team?. Maybe he hasnt yet finished his depth and competition phase?, maybe the Myanmar game was the last of that process?.
.......We should play in a way that maximises the impact of our strengths and minimises the impact of our weaknesses.
Agreed. Any half decent coach should be building a style of play around that, not trying to shoehorn players into a style of play that they are technically not suited to
We have 4 quality players in the front half of the field in Thomas, Kosta, Wood and Rojas. To me, that's a front 4 that other than Wood being a big strapping lad, are players that are quick, nippy, have good footwork and like to either run at defenders or whip in low dangerous balls. (think Marco to Archie at MV for example). This is our current strength. These 3 (K,M,T) should all start every game in that band across the field behind Wood but not limited to getting up there as well. Experienced and proven performers. Why do we need wingbacks when we have those guys that can sit out wide and are dynamic footballers. The only thing you ask of them is to drop 10y when we don't have the ball to help out. Not revert to FBs. We don't need big loopy balls into the box so we do away with that immediately.
It does not need McGlinchey to sit as high for this so you can realistically use him more as a straight CM and link those guys with Tuiloma. I have never been a fan of Tuiloma but the difference was noticeable once he came off so I have to eat my hat and admit that he is growing into that role. He is not a distributor and should immediately be looking for simple passes to players that will do that. I felt he tried to distribute a little against Myanmar and its not his strength in my opinion. He needs to screen, intercept and protect the 25y space in front of goal and the back 4. Thats all.
With those 6 players and taking into account you are going to have Kosta/Thomas/Rojas on 2 flanks, it does not require wingbacks so you can use Smith, A-Z, Reid, Smith and Fenton (for his pace if necessary and realistically, he is our best RB). You then find a keeper. We seem to have a few of them and Hudson has gotten one thing right and unearthed a number 2 in Marinovic.
Defensively, you can use Wood to shepherd balls into the corners and force them to play out from there. The 3 behind him are quick enough to harrow in and recover if the ball gets out and because you don't need McGlinchey to sit as high, you are not left with a gaping hole behind your front guys but in front of your DM.
So I think we shape best like this
I didn't really see our strengths being utilised. Not ragging on them but Kosta he didn't do as much defensive duty because that's not his game. Doyle didn't do as much attacking duty because that's not his game and one could argue he is more CB than WB if there was a choice. One side you have Doyle set up for loopy crosses when he does get up and Kosta to work with Rojas on the other or put in loopy crosses. When those 2 work together, it looked good. Smeltz and Brockie never really got the type of service they prefer in part because they are not guys that get loopy crosses from the left and Kosta was never allowed to whip in low dangerous crosses all game. It just had tactical dumbness all over it. If Brockie is not and AW then neither is Boxall because I thought he was poor. When you play a back 3, if you make a mistake, the exposure is greater with less numbers back there.
These are arguably our best players in their best positions. It does not need shoehorning. It requires a flexible formation, one that Hudson does not have the ability to implement.
So much this. Hudson really needs to start playing our best XI and this is it. I'm tired of watching players like Dyer (Hudson's Christie), Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, Lewis or even worse, Higgins, Raniga! I liked the idea of Hudson trying to make the AW playing modern possesion-based football but we are now playing the same as always, long balls to the tall guy up front.
I understand the need of having at least 30 decent players who can perfom at international level but this is not the way. Younger players should be around more experienced guys like Reid, Smeltz, WeeMac, Kosta, Moss. Not making the U23s play an entire game. Would be better to see van den Broek, Harry Edge, Old or Bright, who at least can get a pro contract, getting picked over this overrated kids.
I'd go balls-out to get Fitzgerald back into the fold, arrange for him to get trials in Europe if need be and renounce his Japanese citizenship. If he was back in, either he or Themi can play in a DM role (both their number 2 position, which isn't ideal, but both have experience there), with the other to be backup for the Smith/Reid partnership.
Get Keat as the number 8 midfielder, with Henderson as the number 10 - both instead of McGlinchey who can go to the bench. (so a midfield trio of Themi/Fitzgerald, Keat, Henderson), with Rojas and Thomas patrolling the flanks as well as swapping positions with Henderson. Wood upfront.
Mobile midfield, threats from the flanks, a secondary striker, and a solid DM.
But y'know......Moses Dyer is good too.....(shrugs)
Hong Kong - October 8.
Lebanon - Nov 17.
Annnd el grap were unlikely to get south american opp as every window theres a game for each of the 10 teams. NZF taking an advantage of acailable afc sides during these windows - i.e not as far to travel
What's wrong with Central American sides? Mexico haven't started their campaign yet, don't think Honduras have either. And I can't imagine these places are that much more difficult to get to than Myanmar.
We do have fairly recent history of playing CONCACAF sides in the US of A. Yes, easier to get to than Myanmar.
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So much this. Hudson really needs to start playing our best XI and this is it. I'm tired of watching players like Dyer (Hudson's Christie), Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, Lewis or even worse, Higgins, Raniga! I liked the idea of Hudson trying to make the AW playing modern possesion-based football but we are now playing the same as always, long balls to the tall guy up front.
I understand the need of having at least 30 decent players who can perfom at international level but this is not the way. Younger players should be around more experienced guys like Reid, Smeltz, WeeMac, Kosta, Moss. Not making the U23s play an entire game. Would be better to see van den Broek, Harry Edge, Old or Bright, who at least can get a pro contract, getting picked over this overrated kids.
[/quote]
Reminds me of Berti Vogts' time in charge of the Jocks - he was handing out caps left, right, and centre to anyone who could sing "Flower of Scotland", because the team he inherited was old and a bit shark.....so a lot of tradesman-like players got caps
Difference with Hudson is he is giving them to kids who, to my mind, come lower on the pecking order.....say a kid is 18 or 19 now, by the time of the WCQ (if we qualify) he will be 20 or 21 - unless the kid is Martial or whoever, don't expect anything from him......in fact, I wouldn't expect these kids Hudson is picking to really contribute until the 2026 qualifiers....so that's one hell of a long term plan......
We have more NZ's playing professionally than ever before in better leagues than ever before and this is the worse we have ever played / done in my memory.
How does that work?
NZF seems to be moving from one shambolic performance to the next. The only difference in the playing surface (boardroom or turf). Either ways... "third world" footballing nations are killing us!!!
"Is Hudson picking the right players?" and as much as we have our own favourites whom should be in and out, not one single person has said 'yup, he has got it right'. For the want of 1 or 2 players here or there, you might say 'yeah he is largely on the money' too but I don't think anyone is even supporting that position.
Thats how bad it is. I just don't to hear him talk about the players he is not picking then the frustration of not being able to pick his best team. He chose to leave out Smith, Thomas and Wood, and Fenton and Moss are out for other reasons so those 2 are unfortunate. Either way, in some respects, he picked his own sword to go into battle with so he has to wear it when it fails and it failed miserably.
Difference with Hudson is he is giving them to kids who, to my mind, come lower on the pecking order.....say a kid is 18 or 19 now, by the time of the WCQ (if we qualify) he will be 20 or 21 - unless the kid is Martial or whoever, don't expect anything from him......in fact, I wouldn't expect these kids Hudson is picking to really contribute until the 2026 qualifiers....so that's one hell of a long term plan......
Difference with Hudson is he is giving them to kids who, to my mind, come lower on the pecking order.....say a kid is 18 or 19 now, by the time of the WCQ (if we qualify) he will be 20 or 21 - unless the kid is Martial or whoever, don't expect anything from him......in fact, I wouldn't expect these kids Hudson is picking to really contribute until the 2026 qualifiers....so that's one hell of a long term plan......
Doesn't have to be an either or thing though - and the issue is if they aren't playing professionally where will they be in 3 years? The gap gets bigger the longer you are out of international football
Whats wrong with you lot watched Fred on the news and him and his forked tongue dont seem to think there is to much of a problem us fans just need some patience.
What does Fred know..nothing. I want that prick gone as well there all USELESS
The problem is that he has selected 'kids' who have barely proven themselves at age group or even ASB Premiership level and then they start playing them away from the positions they have been seen playing.
I have no evidence but it strikes me that the players in question have passed a set of prepared criteria in training that arbitrarily (and on paper) means they should be good players in certain positions. They score this on the beep test, they control the ball in this % of situations, they controlled a pass this percentage of times, they covered this much ground therefore they will be a good central midfielder ignoring the player's history or demonstrated actual ability.
and this is why Bahrain suffered under hudson's watch
The problem is that he has selected 'kids' who have barely proven themselves at age group or even ASB Premiership level and then they start playing them away from the positions they have been seen playing.
I have no evidence but it strikes me that the players in question have passed a set of prepared criteria in training that arbitrarily (and on paper) means they should be good players in certain positions. They score this on the beep test, they control the ball in this % of situations, they controlled a pass this percentage of times, they covered this much ground therefore they will be a good central midfielder ignoring the player's history or demonstrated actual ability.
Agree with your first par. As to second par. ...ohmygawd, I hope not!
I think playing week in week out as a contracted professional is probably a better indicator of 'potential' than unproven kids playing at amateur level. We're good for forwards in that regard, but our young (under 25) midfielders and defenders with pro contracts are limited to: Tuiloma, Rufer, Ridenton, Fenton, Doyle, Boxall, Fitzgerald, Roux, Edge, anyone else? As with any group that age some will kick on, some won't, some aren't even playing first team footy; plus 2 of them are not currently eligible. However I'd sooner select from that lot than what Hudson has been selecting. As contracted professional players I think they're a better bet to meet 'criteria'.
The problem is that he has selected 'kids' who have barely proven themselves at age group or even ASB Premiership level and then they start playing them away from the positions they have been seen playing.
I have no evidence but it strikes me that the players in question have passed a set of prepared criteria in training that arbitrarily (and on paper) means they should be good players in certain positions. They score this on the beep test, they control the ball in this % of situations, they controlled a pass this percentage of times, they covered this much ground therefore they will be a good central midfielder ignoring the player's history or demonstrated actual ability.
Agree with your first par. As to second par. ...ohmygawd, I hope not!
I think playing week in week out as a contracted professional is probably a better indicator of 'potential' than unproven kids playing at amateur level. We're good for forwards in that regard, but our young (under 25) midfielders and defenders with pro contracts are limited to: Tuiloma, Rufer, Ridenton, Fenton, Doyle, Boxall, Fitzgerald, Roux, Edge, anyone else? As with any group that age some will kick on, some won't, some aren't even playing first team footy; plus 2 of them are not currently eligible. However I'd sooner select from that lot than what Hudson has been selecting. As contracted professional players I think they're a better bet to meet 'criteria'.
The problem is that he has selected 'kids' who have barely proven themselves at age group or even ASB Premiership level and then they start playing them away from the positions they have been seen playing.
I have no evidence but it strikes me that the players in question have passed a set of prepared criteria in training that arbitrarily (and on paper) means they should be good players in certain positions. They score this on the beep test, they control the ball in this % of situations, they controlled a pass this percentage of times, they covered this much ground therefore they will be a good central midfielder ignoring the player's history or demonstrated actual ability.
Agree with your first par. As to second par. ...ohmygawd, I hope not!
I think playing week in week out as a contracted professional is probably a better indicator of 'potential' than unproven kids playing at amateur level. We're good for forwards in that regard, but our young (under 25) midfielders and defenders with pro contracts are limited to: Tuiloma, Rufer, Ridenton, Fenton, Doyle, Boxall, Fitzgerald, Roux, Edge, anyone else? As with any group that age some will kick on, some won't, some aren't even playing first team footy; plus 2 of them are not currently eligible. However I'd sooner select from that lot than what Hudson has been selecting. As contracted professional players I think they're a better bet to meet 'criteria'.
and howieson at st mirren
True, although isn't Howieson more of a winger/forward these days?
We don't have the players to effectively play an intricate possession-based passing game (take a look at our central midfield). We also don't have the players to play hoof-and-hope longballs (Wood might look like a targetman but he doesn't play like one). What we do have the players for though, IMO, is a quick, direct counterattacking game played along the ground. Sit deep and let the likes of Rojas, Thomas and Kosta run at players or into space, and the they can pull the ball back or drive a low cross into the box for someone like Wood or Smeltz arriving late to turn into the net. It might mean that Rojas, Thomas and Kosta tire more quickly in games but then we have players like Fenton and Boyd to come on. Our strengths are our centrebacks, wingers and a poaching striker and our weaknesses are fullback and central mid. We should play in a way that maximises the impact of our strengths and minimises the impact of our weaknesses.
You are clearly out of #alignment - please report to your nearest alignment centre immediately.
.......We should play in a way that maximises the impact of our strengths and minimises the impact of our weaknesses.
Agreed. Any half decent coach should be building a style of play around that, not trying to shoehorn players into a style of play that they are technically not suited to
So what Ricki did?
For all the shark he got it worked (for a time).
Many of the established players were crap or anonymous in that game too: McGlinchy, Doyle, Smeltzy. Something is not working.
and this is why Bahrain suffered under hudson's watch
He was successful with the Bahrain youth team, I think he qualified for the Asian Cup with the senior team and then bailed to come to us.
I hope Hudson picks this team from our next game.. Riera is eligible in December. Should be putting his name through when we put Wynne, Musa, Roux and Smiths applications in.
Position-----Name-----Date of Birth(age)-----Caps-----Goals-----Club
DF-----Winston Reid-----3 July 1988 (age 27)-----19-----1-----England West Ham United
DF-----Tommy Smith-----31 March 1990 (age 25)-----29-----2-----England Ipswich Town
FW-----Chris Wood-----7 December 1991 (age 23)-----38-----13-----England Leeds United
MF-----Ryan Thomas-----20 December 1994 (age 20)-----4-----0-----Netherlands Zwolle
FW-----Marco Rojas-----5 November 1991 (age 23)-----22-----1-----Switzerland Thun
FW-----Kosta Barbarouses-----19 February 1990 (age 25)-----29-----2-----Australia Melbourne Victory
FW-----Shane Smeltz-----29 September 1981 (age 33)-----51-----24-----Australia Sydney FC
GK-----Glen Moss-----19 January 1983 (age 32)-----26-----0-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
FW-----Tyler Boyd-----30 December 1994 (age 20)-----5-----0-----Portugal Vitória de Guimarães
DF-----Storm Roux-----13 January 1993 (age 22)-----7-----0-----Australia Central Coast Mariners
DF-----Themistoklis Tzimopoulos-----20 November 1985 (age 29)-----2-----0-----Greece PAS Giannina
GK-----Stefan Marinovic-----7 October 1991 (age 23)-----2-----0-----Germany Unterhaching
MF-----Albert Riera-----28 December 1983 (age 31)-----0-----0-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
MF-----Bill Tuiloma-----23 March 1995 (age 20)-----8-----0-----France Strasbourg
MF-----Michael McGlinchey-----7 January 1987 (age 28)-----31-----4-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
DF-----Michael Boxall-----18 August 1988 (age 27)-----13-----0-----South Africa SuperSport United
FW-----Kwabena Appiah-----19 May 1992 (age 23)-----0-----0-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
DF-----Sam Brotherton-----2 October 1996 (age 18)-----7-----1-----New Zealand Wanderers SC
DF-----James Musa-----1 April 1992 (age 23)-----1-----0-----United States Saint Louis
DF-----Louis Fenton-----3 April 1993 (age 22)-----2-----0-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
MF-----Tim Payne-----10 January 1994 (age 21)-----14-----2-----United States Portland Timbers 2
FW-----Monty Patterson-----9 December 1996 (age 18)-----0-----0-----England Ipswich Town
DF-----Deklan Wynne-----20 March 1995 (age 20)-----3-----0-----Canada Whitecaps FC 2
I hope Hudson picks this team from our next game.. Riera is eligible in December. Should be putting his name through when we put Wynne, Musa, Roux and Smiths applications in.
Position-----Name-----Date of Birth(age)-----Caps-----Goals-----Club
DF-----Winston Reid-----3 July 1988 (age 27)-----19-----1-----England West Ham United
DF-----Tommy Smith-----31 March 1990 (age 25)-----29-----2-----England Ipswich Town
FW-----Chris Wood-----7 December 1991 (age 23)-----38-----13-----England Leeds United
MF-----Ryan Thomas-----20 December 1994 (age 20)-----4-----0-----Netherlands Zwolle
FW-----Marco Rojas-----5 November 1991 (age 23)-----22-----1-----Switzerland Thun
FW-----Kosta Barbarouses-----19 February 1990 (age 25)-----29-----2-----Australia Melbourne Victory
FW-----Shane Smeltz-----29 September 1981 (age 33)-----51-----24-----Australia Sydney FC
GK-----Glen Moss-----19 January 1983 (age 32)-----0-----0-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
FW-----Tyler Boyd-----30 December 1994 (age 20)-----5-----0-----Portugal Vitória de Guimarães
DF-----Storm Roux-----13 January 1993 (age 22)-----7-----0-----Australia Central Coast Mariners
DF-----Themistoklis Tzimopoulos-----20 November 1985 (age 29)-----2-----0-----Greece PAS Giannina
GK-----Stefan Marinovic-----7 October 1991 (age 23)-----2-----0-----Germany Unterhaching
MF-----Albert Riera-----28 December 1983 (age 31)-----0-----0-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
MF-----Bill Tuiloma-----23 March 1995 (age 20)-----8-----0-----France Strasbourg
MF-----Michael McGlinchey-----7 January 1987 (age 28)-----31-----4-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
DF-----Michael Boxall-----18 August 1988 (age 27)-----13-----0-----South Africa SuperSport United
FW-----Kwabena Appiah-----19 May 1992 (age 23)-----0-----0-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
DF-----Sam Brotherton-----2 October 1996 (age 18)-----7-----1-----New Zealand Wanderers SC
DF-----James Musa-----1 April 1992 (age 23)-----1-----0-----United States Saint Louis
DF-----Louis Fenton-----3 April 1993 (age 22)-----2-----0-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
MF-----Tim Payne-----10 January 1994 (age 21)-----14-----2-----United States Portland Timbers 2
FW-----Monty Patterson9 December 1996 (age 18)-----3-----0-----England Ipswich Town
DF-----Deklan Wynne-----20 March 1995 (age 20)-----3-----0-----Canada Whitecaps FC 2
We have a better calibre of player than what is being picked currently.
Did you type that all in?
Respect.
(need to have a few spaces after Monty Patterson's name)
Nice interview with Hudson coming back to NZ
I'm going to assume you have not been reading the press? Smith was granted eligibility and I believe Musa is ok (over 23)
Otherwise thats not too bad. I'd find room for Brockie and Keat. Not Sure what Henderson is doing but he is another if he is not injured.
We have a better calibre of player than what is being picked currently.
He's 23 but he lived in England playing for Fulham and Hereford during 2013-14, so FIFA may say he hasn't lived in NZ for 5 consecutive years after the age of 18, and thus need an exemption (which you would expect to be given).
I hope Hudson picks this team from our next game.. Riera is eligible in December. Should be putting his name through when we put Wynne, Musa, Roux and Smiths applications in.
Position-----Name-----Date of Birth(age)-----Caps-----Goals-----Club
DF-----Winston Reid-----3 July 1988 (age 27)-----19-----1-----England West Ham United
DF-----Tommy Smith-----31 March 1990 (age 25)-----29-----2-----England Ipswich Town
FW-----Chris Wood-----7 December 1991 (age 23)-----38-----13-----England Leeds United
MF-----Ryan Thomas-----20 December 1994 (age 20)-----4-----0-----Netherlands Zwolle
FW-----Marco Rojas-----5 November 1991 (age 23)-----22-----1-----Switzerland Thun
FW-----Kosta Barbarouses-----19 February 1990 (age 25)-----29-----2-----Australia Melbourne Victory
FW-----Shane Smeltz-----29 September 1981 (age 33)-----51-----24-----Australia Sydney FC
GK-----Glen Moss-----19 January 1983 (age 32)-----0-----0-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
FW-----Tyler Boyd-----30 December 1994 (age 20)-----5-----0-----Portugal Vitória de Guimarães
DF-----Storm Roux-----13 January 1993 (age 22)-----7-----0-----Australia Central Coast Mariners
DF-----Themistoklis Tzimopoulos-----20 November 1985 (age 29)-----2-----0-----Greece PAS Giannina
GK-----Stefan Marinovic-----7 October 1991 (age 23)-----2-----0-----Germany Unterhaching
MF-----Albert Riera-----28 December 1983 (age 31)-----0-----0-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
MF-----Bill Tuiloma-----23 March 1995 (age 20)-----8-----0-----France Strasbourg
MF-----Michael McGlinchey-----7 January 1987 (age 28)-----31-----4-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
DF-----Michael Boxall-----18 August 1988 (age 27)-----13-----0-----South Africa SuperSport United
FW-----Kwabena Appiah-----19 May 1992 (age 23)-----0-----0-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
DF-----Sam Brotherton-----2 October 1996 (age 18)-----7-----1-----New Zealand Wanderers SC
DF-----James Musa-----1 April 1992 (age 23)-----1-----0-----United States Saint Louis
DF-----Louis Fenton-----3 April 1993 (age 22)-----2-----0-----New Zealand Wellington Phoenix
MF-----Tim Payne-----10 January 1994 (age 21)-----14-----2-----United States Portland Timbers 2
FW-----Monty Patterson9 December 1996 (age 18)-----3-----0-----England Ipswich Town
DF-----Deklan Wynne-----20 March 1995 (age 20)-----3-----0-----Canada Whitecaps FC 2
We have a better calibre of player than what is being picked currently.
Many of the established players were crap or anonymous in that game too: McGlinchy, Doyle, Smeltzy. Something is not working.
Haha, my thoughts exactly. Sack Ricki! No, bring back Ricki!
The bottom line is, we don't have enough good players at this level to be a consistently competitive unit. And we don't have enough money to bring in expensive overseas coaches and overhaul the domestic set-up. In other words, it's a long haul type exercise, with no easy-fix answers.
I don't disagree with you, if anything I see us around 80-90.
Q: You're going to pick the strongest squad from now on?
A: Absolutely yeh
He's a fringe Phoenix player that seems to be one of the criteria for making the aw squad.
Haha, my thoughts exactly. Sack Ricki! No, bring back Ricki!
The bottom line is, we don't have enough good players at this level to be a consistently competitive unit. And we don't have enough money to bring in expensive overseas coaches and overhaul the domestic set-up. In other words, it's a long haul type exercise, with no easy-fix answers.
I don't disagree with you, if anything I see us around 80-90.
For all those sticking the knife into Hudson, wasn't he the coach for the U-23 Olympic team? Before they were booted out there record in Papua New Guinea was played 4, won 4, 10 goals for, 0 against. When it mattered, he was delivering what was required.
Any idea what the rankings for the U23 Pacific Island teams were?
The senior teams are rather low.
