All Whites' Dead End Road To Russia 2018

Tony Lochead got dropped by the nix and was a starter in the MLS.

I will raise you a Boxall 

He's more than just a starter in the MLS, he had a breakout season last season, was MLS player of the month once and this is a league with 20 odd teams and some true ex world stars. Not just a comp of 10 teams. He got an injury for Nth American tour and yes MLS league is just about to start. However surely Hudson takes him to Confeds Cup?!  

He also gets exposure to playing with and against Hispanic players on a weekly basis - an added bonus given what lies ahead in November.

I imagine the standard of the MLS has improved since Lochead was  a starter as well.

can someone tell me where the all whites will be training on the 19th please

As much as people bag Moses Dyer, he has scored five goals for Eastern Suburbs, which I believe would put him only behind Tinashe Marowa when it comes to under-20 eligible players in the SS Premiership but he's in a slightly more defensive position.

Not that I think he should be in this squad, but he's clearly been touted as one of the better under-20 players. Do people forget that he's only 19?

Most people have no issue with him when considered as an 'under-20,' it's that he was first an All White when he couldn't even get an SSP deal, and only has one now because of expansion. At under-20 level he's one of the best, considering players of all ages, it's hard to understand why he gets above other options, starting with the bloke who plays next to him and better than him every week in the SSP.

I don't think so, I just don't think it's particularly relevant.  This isn't the U20's.

Details in the Fiji match thread

Don't think it's bagging Dyer. Sure there'd be chatter about him and people mentioning his name as a promising player. It's his constant selection that's being bagged. They keep saying get a contract overseas...

Clayton Lewis looks pretty slick for ACFC at the moment.

In my opinion Gleeson is by far the best gk, he was statistically one of the best in the mls last year, against top players like Tim Howard and Jamaican gk Blake. None of our other goalkeepers, can compete with that calibre. 

The next week of south American qualifying will go some way to firming up who we will play come November.

At this stage, with six games left for each South American side, any one of several teams could finish in the fifth spot and face NZ.

Presently, the most likely candidates are: Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay (points: 20, 20, 19, 18, 15)

I hope that it doesn't end up being Ecuador or Paraguay because they're not as glamorous.

Next South American qualifiers are Friday NZT and Wednesday next week on beIN Sport 2.

Friday games (NZT):

9.30 am live: Colombia v Bolivia

12.30 pm live: Argentina v Chile

3.30 pm: Venezuela v Peru

5.45 pm: Paraguay v Ecuador

8 pm: Uruguay v Brazil

10 pm: Highlights Show

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/907...

Not bad for someone with an apparently pretty weak connection to NZ.

I'm annoyed I didn't know about this... would have gone down for sure.

https://www.westpacstadium.co.nz/fanzone/news/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=63&cHash=22939f1119710f9351bcff4d005f2436

Reid only likely to be out injured for five weeks and will probably return for last three weeks of EPL season and the Confeds Cup.

Yay!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/907...

If Reid returns for the Confeds Cup, then he can replace Tommy Smith who apparently is getting married in June.

Why the hell would you set your wedding down in an international window if you were an international footballer?

Seems some here will go out of their way to attack Smith for everything. Seems he thought his time in the AWs was done as well as the rest of us. Weddings get booked a long way in advance, this is entirely reasonable.

You don't know Tommy Smith, do you?

At the time he didn't think his time was done, it was when he announced that he had missed the Oman game to propose to his girlfriend. He then said the wedding was set for June 2017 and he'd checked and it didn't clash with any All White's fixtures. 

NZ hadn't qualified for the Confederations Cup at that stage, so he either didn't think we would, or more likely didn't realise the Confeds Cup was on in June 2017

My mistake, obviously just a cock up on his part then.

If this is true, then I hope this is the last time we see Smith with the fern

I wouldn't say the blame neccersarily lies with Smith here, he probably contacted NZF and asked if there was any fixtures in June and they said no. That is the most logical way for him to check.

or just look on the internet! I thought the lack of communication between Smith and NZF was one of the issues here

they should send him home in cattle class today

Disgusting

The dates of his wedding are not fully confirmed, the date is most likely to be near the end of the tournament.

Any number of countries could finish fifth in South America after last Friday's games.

Colombia, Ecuador and Paraguay all looked very ordinary in last week's round.

I think that Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile should get the automatic places on current form with five games left.

Another round tomorrow.

Current South American table:

1. Brazil: 30 pts.

2. Uruguay: 23 pts

3  Argentina: 22 pts

4. Colombia: 21 pts

5. Ecuador: 20 pts

6. Chile: 20 pts

7. Paraguay: 18 pts

8. Peru:  15 pts

9. Bolivia: 7 pts

10. Venezuela: 6 pts

Tomorrow (Wednesday) beIN Sports 2 (NZT):

8.45 am Bolivia v Argentina

10.45 am Chile v Venezuela

1.30 pm Brazil v Paraguay

4.10 pm Ecuador v Colombia

? pm Peru v Uruguay

10 pm Review Show

Which team do you think we would have the most chance against? I think it would be Ecuador

Yes but realistically a better side like Chile or Colombia are most likely to finish 5th (if Brazil, Argentina & Uruguay become shoe ins).

Probaly like the CONCACAF qualifying 4 years ago, when Mexico just pipped Panama at the end for the playoff spot - will go down to the wire/last round of qualifying games.

Could we possibly get to see Messi play in New Zealand with him being banned for the next four qualifying games the Argies just might find it a bit harder and the 5th position is pretty tight.On one had would love to see him play live but really dont want them to be who we have to play.

I read that Tommy will adjust his wedding to suit the tournament?

Remember when Mexico qualified for the world cup it was with a squad of mostly domestic players, Argentina might very well do the same thing.

Meanwhile Argentina just lost to Bolivia 2-0... Looks like they will drop to 5th place with 4(?) games remaining

Bolivia are 2nd bottom as well with a goal difference of -20. Argentina now 5th.

I read that Tommy will adjust his wedding suit when he realises he's missed the tournament.

fixed

sorry if I missed this - what are the potential dates of the play off game in Wellington?