All Whites' Dead End Road To Russia 2018

I was a little surprised that he took up the Toronto gig (probably talked into it by ex DC boss), if he was really interested in a coaching career he would have gotten some coaching qualifications. Don't see him being of much value other than a Braveheart inspired speech before a big game.

Alftstamp you may well be right and Nellie, may have little to no interest in getting involved with AWs. Though of course this is just another opinion piece by a journo, where they didn't even bother to track down the subject for actual facts.

I'm not saying Nelsen should be involved in any real serious coaching capacity, just when AWs are playing in his part of the world (States/Central America) he be invited in as a type of mentor. With a real focus on last few months before 2017 playoffs.

Not just for a 'Braveheart' speech pregame (which he'd be bloody good at), but to impart some of his wisdom/knowledge from being a pro playing at the very top level for close on ten years. 

Looks AWs in 2017 playoffs will be a young team, faced with ammoth task of burgling a draw/low scoring loss in front of 60,000 plus very very unfriendly fans in a cauldron stadium - Lima/Santiago/Asuncion/Bogata etc.

Wouldn't a NZ football living legend (we don't have many) not be valuable in those circumstances - for just a quiet word in some kids ear.

Basically AWs will need every small advantage, plus a whale of luck to have a chance. Invite the man into the fold, he is born leader/motivator

I understand your thoughts on wanting him to be involved and I may end up being completely wrong in my belief that nelsen will never coach the AW's and that his coaching days are over. I hope I am completely wrong.

However a number of people on these forums will vouch for the fact that the journo here, Tony Smith, absolutely would have spoken to Nelsen, they have been on very very good terms for a very long time. I am pretty sure Tony Smith knew Nelsen when he was still at school. I would go as far to say that i believe they are friends.  Its also not the only story that has been along these lines. 

There is romantic wishful thinking and there is reality. Sadly.

Yeah AS aware that Smith had some sort of relationship with his fellow Cantab, but until I hear it from Nelsen's mouth himself that he has no interest in helping AWs I'll cling to some hope.

And again I don't want him to coach the team, but I imagine most the AWs would just love to have him around the team (even briefly)(, for a golden tidbit of advice or three. Just to give the young kids some self belief, pump their tyres that the impossible is possible

There I've flogged the 'bring in Nellie' nag to death.

After watching the first two rounds of the Conmebol qualifiers I can say the Oceania winner will face Brazil or Argentina in the playoff. Just like Mexico in 2014, great players but poor tactics

Seems like Papua New Guinea is to host 2016 OFC Nations Cup

In a further boost for Papua New Guinea’s football fans, the OFC President also confirmed that Papua New Guinea was the only Member Association to present a bid to host the 2016 OFC Nations Cup.

well they will have all those top notch Fifa approve venues sorted soon...

That's very poor if NZ didn't bid to hold it.

Maybe some behind-the-scenes political trade-off was done such as OFC won't impose any penalties on NZ for fielding ineligible players as long as PNG gets to host the Nations Cup.

Who knew that the draw for the Nations Cup has already been made:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_OFC_Nations_Cup...

"The draw for the 2016 OFC Nations Cup was held as part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw on 25 July 2015, starting 18:00 MSK (UTC+3), at the Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna, Saint Petersburg, Russia."

GROUP B

NZ

Solomon Islands

Fiji

Vanuatu

GROUP A

Tahiti

New Caledonia

Samoa

Papua New Guinea

First matches May 28 2016

Frank Farina recently signed on as Fiji national coach and their FA announced they are pursuing regular friendlies in both OFC and Asia in all FIFA windows. Frank's preparation starts with friendlies against Vanuatu and the Solomons next month:

http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticl...

Details on next The All Whites friendly announced. Against Oman in Muscat on November 13th. Not sure if now still due to play Lebanon in Beirut on November 17th? 

That game may have been canned due to security fears? From memory Hudson is against, playing 2 matches in a FIFA window.

Hope the gaffer knows what he is doing. Playoffs vs 5th placed CONMEBOL team are only 2 years away, and still we persist with playing Asian teams. I guess beggars (NZF) can't be choosers, but to me this is all heading towards another shambolic rushed buildup mess as in 2013, before the playoffs verus Mexico.

Should now be aiming to play CONMEBOL/CONACAF or 2nd tier UEFA teams now, in readiness for playoffs in late 2017. Whats the beat come early 2017, and all the AW will have done in the last 3 years is play a host of mediocre Asian/Oceania teams.

Conmebol teams play each other on the November window, same as Concacaf and UEFA teams, they all have WC Qualifiers matches

Who cares who we play against. Regardless, we will end up with sub-standard players being called up, played out of position, playing rubbish and ultimately losing.

we need an argentine coach, they manage to work miracles. 

So does Ramon.

Only UEFA teams playing in November are the 8 involved in the Euro 2016 playoffs

Some good questions from Gourdie here. 

In particular near the end Hudson explains why we haven't been focusing on CONMEBOL opposition yet. The main focus is winning the OFC Nations Cup and qualifying for Confeds Cup, which I think is fair.

Fair enough and as Argie96, wisely points out both CONMEBOL & CONACAF confederations are involved in full rounds of WC qualifiers, come November FIFA windows..

Still I hope post OFC Nations Cup, NZF bend over backwards to secure friendlies in the Americas.

doesn't sound like he is overly optimistic about fielding a first choice XI or our chances against Oman. Hudson has gone from being Mr Positive to Mr Out of my Hands.

yeah. The old "they will play" line.... where is that now?

No WC qualifying matches in Europe yet, November window is for EURO playoffs. Meaning there's 40-odd European teams who have no official competition games in this window.

With the risk of sounding like an idiot, Im calling it now, we wont get out of our group at the OFC Nations.

Our overseas players will get slight injuries before the tournament, there is no way the clubs will release

them to go to freakin Papa new Guinea.

We will be staying at the worst hotels, the worst training facilities, everything will be against us, hell these

little island nation tems will have a better buildup.  We wont have to worry about the fourth place, South

American team, because we wont get that far. I can see us losing a game and drawing a game in our 

group.

i would say we'll get out of group but probably fall in the final. Would actually prefer to suffer ofc embarrassment than go onto another mexico

Yep there is no way we will win the OFC Nations, which as you say is a good thing, who wants to go through

the embarrassment which will be the playoff against the south american side.

We can lose the competition  and still make the playoff 

So its a four team play off for the WC??

So top two in our group?

Still say we wont get past the Ocenia stage.

Nah i'd quite like to see some top players come here from whichever SA nation finish 5th. 

Although it would be hilarious to see someone like Neymar play on a paddock in Fiji.

The first three teams make it to the next stage of the WC qualifiers and the top two to the OFC Nations Cup semifinals. I can't see us not even winning a game against Fiji, the Solomons and Vanuatu. I know the AW are not in their best form and will have to face a hostile enviorment but still the Islands are not that good. I also understand the fear that Honiara and Hudson have left but I think we will win the tournament. Not making through the group stage? You think playing Fiji and the Solomons is a better build up than playing Oman?

I wonder if common sense is going to be used when the scheduling is done for the Nations Cup. Hopefully they won't have to play a game every two days in ridiculous heat again

28 May – 12 June 2016

No flood lights in PNG so the heat of the day.

I think the average at that time of year is 30C.

I think what we have to do, is make sure we bring back our top squad, do everything in our power

to have our top squad and then, send  these Island nations back to the stone age.  Make them wish

they never took up football, run up the score, really make sure  that they know, they cant get anywhere

near a team which has a epl player in it. No mercy, treat them with zero respect.

why treat these island nations with respect. Aussie never did.

And what are they doing against us? NZF doesn't want to host the OFC Nations Cup, then some of them have to

racist

pls

Piney confirms the OFC Nations Cup will be played in PNG. From May 28 to June 11.

Five games in 15 days.

Do the All Whites have a major sponsor? I just read the Socceroo's may have Caltex as there major sponsor next month. I guess it brings in some much needed funds for the FFA and players too. I don't no if it covers the men's youth teams. Also the AFC have the most restrictions when it comes to sponsors throughout all FIFA confederations  - Making it near impossible to get one.

I know McDonald's and Milo sponsor the Jr football programs for NZF, As does ASB. Nike does our kits for men/women all ages.

Have we ever had a major sponsor for our men's national side. Did we have one before/during/or after the 2010 world cup?.

I know Fiji have Puma for there kit sponsors and Vodafone as there major sponsor.

Volkswagen were a major sponsor of the All Whites and other NZ Football programs like the Small Whites since May 2010.

http://stoppress.co.nz/news/volkswagen-puts-one-in-the-back-of-the-net

Don't know if they still are. I remember seeing Volkswagen logos on national team gear in the past.