ALL WHITES V BAHRAIN - Official 1st Leg T

i wouldnt be surprised

Mulligan.

Think it is quite funny how on this very Website, People are criticizing Ricki for being too attacking. After all that has gone before.

Although i would also prefer we played 2 up front and 5 across the middle.
scoop2009-10-09 12:12:51

5-2-3 or 5-3-2 with smeltz either as a third striker or third midfielder depending how you look at it.

This is crucial stuff. Very difficult decisions for Herbert. His career is going to be judged on these games. What formation he plays will be scrutinised big time.

Crucial alright, could all be part of the mind games pre match....Has Bahrain confirmed their formation yet?

I believe this to be hear'say. reckon Herbert is still trying to put formations in the media to try and bluff  Bahrain. Simple but yet effective tactics. 

Damn it. Working a night shift, but am taping it...

...NO ONE HAD BETTER TELL ME THE SCORE!!!

I don't think he will play 3 up front. Midfield would be too over worked, i think its just a smoke screan. McGlinchy is needed in the middle i feel. Attacking enough with him, and bertos on the wings. But will wait and see.. EXCITED!!!

3-4-3 with Lochead midfield..yeah right.  More like 4-3-3 which is still very brave....Im all for it although  I might have preferred to bring the 3rd striker on at halftime.. 

They go to great lengths to avoid seeing or hearing the result. Eight long hours are spent trying to find places where there won't be a radio or a television set. They spend the day wandering around town, giving blood and flower arranging with the Women's Institute. They even try, unsuccessfully, to find sanctuary in a local church.

SiNZ2009-10-09 13:09:11

that is what i am thinking...........

i mean, he has never told the media what formation he will play........

I heard "Sources from New Zealand have revealed to Fairfax Media that Herbert will play" Cristmas Tree

Different side, different type of game in terms of a home and away play off; not sure how it's relevant or really comparable to an A-League fixture.

doubt it.

1-2-3-4

5 6 7 8

We know how to speculate

Enjoying all this, knowing that we/anyone wont know till 4 on Sunday

Goals

Home

Away

Total

F

A

F

A

F

A

NZ

7

1

7

4

14

5

Ave

3.5

0.5

1.75

1

2.33

0.83

Bahrain

11

7

8

9

19

16

Ave

1.22

0.77

0.88

1

1.05

0.84

Jack2009-10-09 14:49:37

What is that? The qualifying record so far, home and away? If it is home and away, wasn't the Fiji home match played on neutral ground (New Caledonia) rather than away? Not sure that the table means anything - Bahrain played much tougher opposition than NZ to get to this stage.

The shirt wearing around Uni has been a huge success despite the piss poor weather. Already had a number of people approach me to talk about the game, this almost certainly wouldn't of happened if i just wore something more 'normal'.  

What Strip - White, Black or Blue? What are they wearing on Sunday?

Old Skool AWs home strip from 2003.

I think if we play 3 up front it will be like how the Phoenix play "3 up front" at home. We should just be conservative and play 4-4-2 with a diamond formation. Bring on a third striker in the second half when we know how tough it will be.

O god here we go. Tegal2009-10-09 15:23:04

according to the article on stuff, Ricki is playi9ng three up front, Killen, Fallon and Smeltz. 4 in the mids and 3 backs.

I personally feel we should play paston upfront and smeltz in the goal.

   NOT !!!!!!!

Why would we not start McGlinchey, he has got to be our best/almost best midfielder?

Well no. Bertos is better then him and Brown/Elliott play in different positions but he should play in front of putting a striker into the midfield.

From what i've seen I would have McGlinchey over Bertos

But who has the better organisation skills....weeMac or bertos

I know there are plenty who dont like him but Simon Elliott is our best player. Everything flows through him and he does all the very simple things very well. Despite what some think he gives the ball away far less than any other player we have. Sadly he seems to spend most of his time at the bottom of the diamond in midfield where he gets the ball from the defenders and moves it on. He is a natural 2 footed player happy to switch play with either foot. If you watch closely you will see him in space every time we have possession and when he has the ball he looks first to go forward with it. Sadly some of the runs from other players dont always give him that option.
Ive been fortunate to have seen the stats from our last dozen games and his passing and defensive work tops the teams stats.

I dont know how many realize just how hard this is going to be, we have about a 30% to 40% chance, fingers crossed.