There was also a 0-0 vs Oman behind closed doors mixed in there. Even the 1-0 win we had against Jordan - the last goal against non Oceania opposition - was via a penalty.
I think that is why most are so frustrated about the China game. We 'dominated possession' in the first half but never scored or even had their keeper make a tough save, which has been the trend for a very long time now and it makes for very boring viewing.
Haven't scored a home goal (let alone a win) against non Oceania opposition in nearly 10 years, since Nov 2013 against Mexico in 4-2 loss. That includes matches against China, Australia, Peru and South Africa.
Jordan was a 3-1 loss, but yes you are right our goal a Wood pen. Last open play goals against a non OFC team, Wood a double in a 2-0 win over The Gambia (November 2021).
If I see anymore high crosses to our shortass forwards I swear to God... Remember the goal Cacace scored in the Olympics? We have the talent to score more of those if we dare, but the muppets running the tactics haven't got the knowhow to get them playing that way. I'd rather lose 3 - 2 getting caught on the counter than another 1-0 loss or a 0-0 draw.
That was a freak goal. But I remember that for half that tournament we played 4 at the back and looked like Des' u20s. For the other half of that tournament we played a back 5 and looked like Bazeley's All Whites. Simply subtract a CB, will be far less tempting for us to pass it back and forth across our back 3, especially if there is another option in central areas. When Singh and Thomas are back fit we don't want to be leaving out a player like either of them, or Joe Bell, because we can't have three central midfielders because we NEED to play Sligo's Pijnaker or Mr Average Tim Payne. I was actually very happy when Tommy got sent off, there is a chance it reminded Darren that it is actually possible to only play a pair of centre backs
That was a freak goal. But I remember that for half that tournament we played 4 at the back and looked like Des' u20s. For the other half of that tournament we played a back 5 and looked like Bazeley's All Whites. Simply subtract a CB, will be far less tempting for us to pass it back and forth across our back 3, especially if there is another option in central areas. When Singh and Thomas are back fit we don't want to be leaving out a player like either of them, or Joe Bell, because we can't have three central midfielders because we NEED to play Sligo's Pijnaker or Mr Average Tim Payne. I was actually very happy when Tommy got sent off, there is a chance it reminded Darren that it is actually possible to only play a pair of centre backs
If we are being realistic, it is very unlikely Thomas is coming back and playing regularly over the next 3 years due to the type of injuries he has had and if he does come back what level is he going to be at but fingers crossed. What concerns me is, I don't know why we plan to head in to a 2026 World Cup with a 34 year old Wood, 36 Year old Smith, 36 Year old Barbarouses, a 34 year old Rojas, 32 year old Payne and even Thomas would be a few months short of 32 at the next tournament. Do we want to see these guys chasing Mbappe in his prime around the field? I mean Smith would not have even had time to trip Mbappe up if the same situation occurred vs France and that is if we played them right now, let alone in 3 years.
Martinez has just recalled 40 yr old Pepe for Portugal. CR is 38.
It’s not as if the AWs have a massive player pool to pluck the next quality youngster from. Let’s see how the U20s go in May or even the U23s again on Sunday.
It’s still overall a young AWs team, and to ditch Wood just because he will be 34 by 2026 is pure lunancy
Martinez has just recalled 40 yr old Pepe for Portugal. CR is 38.
It’s not as if the AWs have a massive player pool to pluck the next quality youngster from. Let’s see how the U20s go in May or even the U23s again on Sunday.
It’s still overall a young AWs team, and to ditch Wood just because he will be 34 by 2026 is pure lunancy
Smith is not at and never was at the same level as Pepe or Wood as Ronaldo! Ronaldo is also playing in a Camel herding league and is a national icon that any manager is too afraid to drop. Portugal did better without him at the WC vs Switz in any case.
No I would not drop Wood because he is solely 34 coming up on 35. I would also not pick him because of how he was playing 8 years ago as that would be "pure lunacy". I would not pick him because he was not quick to begin with and he is only going to get slower with age. What level do you think Wood is going to be player at in 2026? Sure won't be the premier league. Looks like this season might be his last taste of PL action. If we are going to re-build with younger players time to do it is now. For better or worse you have to select the youth. Half these guys had their chance over the last 2,3 or 4 cycles. Times up.
Martinez has just recalled 40 yr old Pepe for Portugal. CR is 38.
It’s not as if the AWs have a massive player pool to pluck the next quality youngster from. Let’s see how the U20s go in May or even the U23s again on Sunday.
It’s still overall a young AWs team, and to ditch Wood just because he will be 34 by 2026 is pure lunancy
Smith is not at and never was at the same level as Pepe or Wood as Ronaldo! Ronaldo is also playing in a Camel herding league and is a national icon that any manager is too afraid to drop. Portugal did better without him at the WC vs Switz in any case.
No I would not drop Wood because he is solely 34 coming up on 35. I would also not pick him because of how he was playing 8 years ago as that would be "pure lunacy". I would not pick him because he was not quick to begin with and he is only going to get slower with age. What level do you think Wood is going to be player at in 2026? Sure won't be the premier league. Looks like this season might be his last taste of PL action. If we are going to re-build with younger players time to do it is now. For better or worse you have to select the youth. Half these guys had their chance over the last 2,3 or 4 cycles. Times up.
All well and good but apart from Wayne and Grieve, we don't any decent young strikers. The Nix are proof of this. Likewise calling up players in pub leagues (Ireland and whatever the NZ national League is called now) doesn't help matters.
Completely understand about not selecting Smith and Kosta (particularly Kosta) with views to thinking long term, because there are players around the same level (and arguably better) who are younger. It's obvious both of those aren't going to be around in over 3 years time for the next WC.
But talking about dropping Wood is insane.
He's the first name on the team sheet if fit... he's someone who fans want to see since he's played PL (sorry but Kosta isn't going to be getting any extra fans along to games or watching on TV). Even if he isn't going to be available for the next WC he is one of the rare few who deserves to be picked.
I think that even If he doesn't get injured, he'll still be good enough for this team in 3 years time (even if he's likely in the lower English leagues or similar, or only good off the bench for x minutes) given there aren't any kiwis around the world scoring goals. It's very lean striker pickings compared to the days of Wood/Killen/Smeltz/Fallon all being available a decade back.
For me I would like to see an NZ team play the way it has been shown possible for an NZ team to play even with average players, like U20 under Buckingham and also the U23 team in the two games vs Australia also under Buckingham.
We seem to be reverting to type and saying how we don't have any good players and we have to be reliant on one or two. This despite having more professionals than ever before.
So what is the goal?
1) To qualify for the World Cup in 2026?
This could be done with the best domestic players if it only requires beating Oceania. So what is the goal? Is it a style of play? Or just the result?
2) To go to the WC in 2026 and play exactly the same style and mentality of 2010?
i.e. Baton down the hatches and defend for our lives and hopefully get a win by nicking a goal against some other poorly ranked team, then a bore draw in another game and hopefully going through to the next round and trying to take that game to penalties? That is supposed to be the brand of NZ football?
What are we trying to achieve?
I am Bazed and Confused after the China performance and the delusional press conference after, in which Sail said this team is going to put "4 or 5 past another team any time now" and Bazeley saying they dominated all areas of the game for 60 minutes despite only having 2 shots on target the whole game. Also, although he said correctly that the red card changed the game he then completely ignored the reason for the red card, which is the management, coordination, communication and structure of the defense which should have been covered in the preparation. Also blaming the travel when pre-game he was talking about how the players are professionals and they have a team of experts who help the players with the travel etc.
So in 2026 we are now pinning our hopes on wheeling out a 34 almost 35 year old Wood who will be in the goal box trying to turn on the defense like a pensioner who has dropped his change at the Supermarket and we are going to put him up against the best defenders in the world? We think they are going to be bamboozled by him?
Completely understand about not selecting Smith and Kosta (particularly Kosta) with views to thinking long term, because there are players around the same level (and arguably better) who are younger. It's obvious both of those aren't going to be around in over 3 years time for the next WC.
But talking about dropping Wood is insane.
He's the first name on the team sheet if fit... he's someone who fans want to see since he's played PL (sorry but Kosta isn't going to be getting any extra fans along to games or watching on TV). Even if he isn't going to be available for the next WC he is one of the rare few who deserves to be picked.
I think that even If he doesn't get injured, he'll still be good enough for this team in 3 years time (even if he's likely in the lower English leagues or similar, or only good off the bench for x minutes) given there aren't any kiwis around the world scoring goals. It's very lean striker pickings compared to the days of Wood/Killen/Smeltz/Fallon all being available a decade back.
So you think in 3 years time that Wood will be the first name on the team sheet?
Can you expand a bit on what you mean by "deserves to be picked"? Is it just a reward for service to the game and not whether he can impact the game itself?
Ah I see it now, I agree with this bit you said here, mainly the "off the bench" bit:
"I think that even If he doesn't get injured, he'll still be good enough for this team in 3 years time (even if he's likely in the lower English leagues or similar, or only good off the bench for x minutes) "
Completely understand about not selecting Smith and Kosta (particularly Kosta) with views to thinking long term, because there are players around the same level (and arguably better) who are younger. It's obvious both of those aren't going to be around in over 3 years time for the next WC.
But talking about dropping Wood is insane.
He's the first name on the team sheet if fit... he's someone who fans want to see since he's played PL (sorry but Kosta isn't going to be getting any extra fans along to games or watching on TV). Even if he isn't going to be available for the next WC he is one of the rare few who deserves to be picked.
I think that even If he doesn't get injured, he'll still be good enough for this team in 3 years time (even if he's likely in the lower English leagues or similar, or only good off the bench for x minutes) given there aren't any kiwis around the world scoring goals. It's very lean striker pickings compared to the days of Wood/Killen/Smeltz/Fallon all being available a decade back.
So you think in 3 years time that Wood will be the first name on the team sheet?
Can you expand a bit on what you mean by "deserves to be picked"? Is it just a reward for service to the game and not whether he can impact the game itself?
Ah I see it now, I agree with this bit you said here, mainly the "off the bench" bit:
"I think that even If he doesn't get injured, he'll still be good enough for this team in 3 years time (even if he's likely in the lower English leagues or similar, or only good off the bench for x minutes) "
Regarding your post even higher up, not the one I quoted, I actually agree with most of your comments. It's just the ones regarding Wood that I don't.
When I said 'first name on the teamsheet' for Wood I meant now, if fit, not in 3 years. Although I do think in 3 years he will still very likely be good enough to make this team, which isn't so much a positive comment regarding Wood but a reflection on the low quality/depth of strikers we have right now. Waine is the only promising one I can think of and he's not even making the bench in League One and unlikely to ever get to the PL, let alone score 50 goals there.
By 'deserves to be picked' for Wood I mean:
In terms of his current quality compared to other kiwi strikers. Out of form in the Premier league is still streaks ahead of anyone else we have;
He has always made himself available for the All Whites, or Olympic team (unless genuinely injured) even in peak form. That wasn't always the case for Rufer/Nelsen/Reid if I recall correctly - that sets a good example for other players and 'deserves' credit imo;
He is the player most likely to attract fans to watch the All Whites at matches or on tv. Like it or not the guy playing in the PL is the draw card for many;
I'd imagine he is one of the most respected players in the squad who the younger guys can learn off. He's always talked highly of by ex teammates/coaches in the PL, a league most of the current All Whites could only dream of playing in.
If you want to focus on a few years time and the next WC there are several other guys to get rid of first.
Completely understand about not selecting Smith and Kosta (particularly Kosta) with views to thinking long term, because there are players around the same level (and arguably better) who are younger. It's obvious both of those aren't going to be around in over 3 years time for the next WC.
But talking about dropping Wood is insane.
He's the first name on the team sheet if fit... he's someone who fans want to see since he's played PL (sorry but Kosta isn't going to be getting any extra fans along to games or watching on TV). Even if he isn't going to be available for the next WC he is one of the rare few who deserves to be picked.
I think that even If he doesn't get injured, he'll still be good enough for this team in 3 years time (even if he's likely in the lower English leagues or similar, or only good off the bench for x minutes) given there aren't any kiwis around the world scoring goals. It's very lean striker pickings compared to the days of Wood/Killen/Smeltz/Fallon all being available a decade back.
So you think in 3 years time that Wood will be the first name on the team sheet?
Can you expand a bit on what you mean by "deserves to be picked"? Is it just a reward for service to the game and not whether he can impact the game itself?
Ah I see it now, I agree with this bit you said here, mainly the "off the bench" bit:
"I think that even If he doesn't get injured, he'll still be good enough for this team in 3 years time (even if he's likely in the lower English leagues or similar, or only good off the bench for x minutes) "
Regarding your post even higher up, not the one I quoted, I actually agree with most of your comments. It's just the ones regarding Wood that I don't.
When I said 'first name on the teamsheet' for Wood I meant now, if fit, not in 3 years. Although I do think in 3 years he will still very likely be good enough to make this team, which isn't so much a positive comment regarding Wood but a reflection on the low quality/depth of strikers we have right now. Waine is the only promising one I can think of and he's not even making the bench in League One and unlikely to ever get to the PL, let alone score 50 goals there.
By 'deserves to be picked' for Wood I mean:
In terms of his current quality compared to other kiwi strikers. Out of form in the Premier league is still streaks ahead of anyone else we have;
He has always made himself available for the All Whites, or Olympic team (unless genuinely injured) even in peak form. That wasn't always the case for Rufer/Nelsen/Reid if I recall correctly - that sets a good example for other players and 'deserves' credit imo;
He is the player most likely to attract fans to watch the All Whites at matches or on tv. Like it or not the guy playing in the PL is the draw card for many;
I'd imagine he is one of the most respected players in the squad who the younger guys can learn off. He's always talked highly of by ex teammates/coaches in the PL, a league most of the current All Whites could only dream of playing in.
If you want to focus on a few years time and the next WC there are several other guys to get rid of first.
I think it is far too early to be picking players solely on the basis of whether they'll be likely starters at the 2026 World Cup. Maybe by the first games of 2025 that will be decisive, but not now. I want to see the best team we have. I want us to establish a decent way of playing which we can then phase players like Wood and Smith out of if they prove to be past it.
In any case it's hard to be hopeful about 2026 anyway. Our current coach has no clue and it doesn't seem likely NZF will find anybody decent. Morons hired Klimkova and Heraf and Hay and Hudson and rejected Buckingham multiple times.
For me I would like to see an NZ team play the way it has been shown possible for an NZ team to play even with average players, like U20 under Buckingham and also the U23 team in the two games vs Australia also under Buckingham.
We seem to be reverting to type and saying how we don't have any good players and we have to be reliant on one or two. This despite having more professionals than ever before.
So what is the goal?
1) To qualify for the World Cup in 2026?
This could be done with the best domestic players if it only requires beating Oceania. So what is the goal? Is it a style of play? Or just the result?
2) To go to the WC in 2026 and play exactly the same style and mentality of 2010?
i.e. Baton down the hatches and defend for our lives and hopefully get a win by nicking a goal against some other poorly ranked team, then a bore draw in another game and hopefully going through to the next round and trying to take that game to penalties? That is supposed to be the brand of NZ football?
What are we trying to achieve?
I am Bazed and Confused after the China performance and the delusional press conference after, in which Sail said this team is going to put "4 or 5 past another team any time now" and Bazeley saying they dominated all areas of the game for 60 minutes despite only having 2 shots on target the whole game. Also, although he said correctly that the red card changed the game he then completely ignored the reason for the red card, which is the management, coordination, communication and structure of the defense which should have been covered in the preparation. Also blaming the travel when pre-game he was talking about how the players are professionals and they have a team of experts who help the players with the travel etc.
So in 2026 we are now pinning our hopes on wheeling out a 34 almost 35 year old Wood who will be in the goal box trying to turn on the defense like a pensioner who has dropped his change at the Supermarket and we are going to put him up against the best defenders in the world? We think they are going to be bamboozled by him?
It is natural that we would have more professionals than ever - every country outside of the well established elite is probably doing likewise as professional football industry forever increases and the size of the world forever decreases. The more pertinent question is whether we are moving forwards relative to our competition. Every country is trying to improve and probably able to call on much greater populations, financial investment and knowledge to do so. It basically echoes what we see with the women.
The self-stated goal for New Zealand Football is to win a game(s) at a World Cup now that we have an automatic qualifying spot in the most talent-disparate confederation. Given that NZ would definitely be a Pot 4 side at the World Cup, they would be up against much better teams - though that goes without saying as they'd likely be the worst team there. With the format change eight third-place-finishers will go into the Rd of 32, so group progression is possible.
I can't see us dominating any team at a World Cup - I can see it very much happening the other way around. We can try play a high-line four at the back on halfway and watch Mathys Tel bag a first-half-hour hattrick for France - but what's the point? Look what they did to Australia who are a few levels above us. I think it's obvious any chance of 'success' will come from the back rather than the front. If we somehow get a whole bunch of elite players in the next three and a quarter years I'll reevaluate.
Also I'll re-engineer the point about Chris Wood. I'm not against replacing him, but with who? None of our players are remotely troubling any UEFA Champions League players or even players a bit below that level.
Martinez has just recalled 40 yr old Pepe for Portugal. CR is 38.
It’s not as if the AWs have a massive player pool to pluck the next quality youngster from. Let’s see how the U20s go in May or even the U23s again on Sunday.
It’s still overall a young AWs team, and to ditch Wood just because he will be 34 by 2026 is pure lunancy
Smith is not at and never was at the same level as Pepe or Wood as Ronaldo! Ronaldo is also playing in a Camel herding league and is a national icon that any manager is too afraid to drop. Portugal did better without him at the WC vs Switz in any case.
No I would not drop Wood because he is solely 34 coming up on 35. I would also not pick him because of how he was playing 8 years ago as that would be "pure lunacy". I would not pick him because he was not quick to begin with and he is only going to get slower with age. What level do you think Wood is going to be player at in 2026? Sure won't be the premier league. Looks like this season might be his last taste of PL action. If we are going to re-build with younger players time to do it is now. For better or worse you have to select the youth. Half these guys had their chance over the last 2,3 or 4 cycles. Times up.
All well and good but apart from Wayne and Grieve, we don't any decent young strikers. The Nix are proof of this. Likewise calling up players in pub leagues (Ireland and whatever the NZ national League is called now) doesn't help matters.
Question for anyone who knows, what level is League of Ireland at? I know next to nothing about it. Is it fully pro or only semi?
What a load of rubbish has been said up there about Chris Wood. In three years time if he is injury free he will still be one of our best players and one of the first names on the team sheet. He is one of our greatest strikers (we can argue if he is better then Rufer) contracted to forest for the next two years and even if he was let go, it is highly likely that a promoted team would snap him up. Worst case he is playing in three years time in the championship, Scottish Premiership or with the Auckland team in the A league. Irrespective unless we get two Halands coming though in the next three years (and Van Hattem is not one of them) he will be there. If one Haland comes through he will still be there.
Martinez has just recalled 40 yr old Pepe for Portugal. CR is 38.
It’s not as if the AWs have a massive player pool to pluck the next quality youngster from. Let’s see how the U20s go in May or even the U23s again on Sunday.
It’s still overall a young AWs team, and to ditch Wood just because he will be 34 by 2026 is pure lunancy
Smith is not at and never was at the same level as Pepe or Wood as Ronaldo! Ronaldo is also playing in a Camel herding league and is a national icon that any manager is too afraid to drop. Portugal did better without him at the WC vs Switz in any case.
No I would not drop Wood because he is solely 34 coming up on 35. I would also not pick him because of how he was playing 8 years ago as that would be "pure lunacy". I would not pick him because he was not quick to begin with and he is only going to get slower with age. What level do you think Wood is going to be player at in 2026? Sure won't be the premier league. Looks like this season might be his last taste of PL action. If we are going to re-build with younger players time to do it is now. For better or worse you have to select the youth. Half these guys had their chance over the last 2,3 or 4 cycles. Times up.
All well and good but apart from Wayne and Grieve, we don't any decent young strikers. The Nix are proof of this. Likewise calling up players in pub leagues (Ireland and whatever the NZ national League is called now) doesn't help matters.
Question for anyone who knows, what level is League of Ireland at? I know next to nothing about it. Is it fully pro or only semi?
Think it is mostly semi pro. When we played Dundalk in the Europa a few years ago they had players who had other jobs.
Interim coach Darren Bazeley confirmed Wood’s unavailability in his post-match press conference on Saturday, where he was flanked by midfielder Joe Bell, the likely deputy captain.
With centre-back Tommy Smith suspended after he was sent off in the first game, Bazeley will be forced to make at least one change to his starting 11.
However, he indicated more changes would be made, one of which will see Bell return to central midfield.
Bell started on the bench in the first game after he was one of the last players to arrive, only touching down in New Zealand on Wednesday, the day before the match, after making the long trek from Denmark.
A product of the Wellington Phoenix Football Academy, Bell spent his formative years in Wellington but, like a lot of his younger team-mates, has never played for the All Whites at Sky Stadium.
After watching the 2013 intercontinental playoff against Mexico there as a fan, he was excited about the prospect of returning 10 years later as an All Whites captain.
“It’s been six years since I’ve been back in Wellington and it’s going to be a fantastic game,” Bell said.
“There’s a sense of unfinished business [after Thursday]. The game did change quite drastically with the red card but we felt before that we were in a position to push on and win.”
“Hopefully Sunday is another chance to show what we can do on the pitch and come away [with a win] and score some goals.”
Reposting my comment from the other thread. Darren said in today's presser that Sail would start on Sunday and is for now the recognised no. 1. He was also asked if Joe Bell would be captain and didn't give a clear answer and said that would be talked about with the group, think it's a bit odd he doesn't have that figured out.
He also said that Marco would play some part in this game and was excited to see that, when being asked about him. Hope that's a start. Hoping for a Just, Grieve, Rojas front line myself.
That would be a very shortish front line, against a pretty tall Chinese side. I'd be tempted to give Mata another 45 mins, alongside Greive. Mata was very isolated in game 1, so a bit hard to judge him on that game alone.
Might as well give him a fair crack now. It might be his only chance in 2023, if Waine comes into the squad later this year.
But yeah Bazeley knows if he's any chance to get the job permanently he needs goals & a win tomorrow. Be very interesting how he sets up the team.
If height's the most important thing, why not throw M. Boxall up front? Max Mata is not playing at a particularly elite level and offered no evidence that he deserves to start up front for the national team on Thursday. Maybe we can use the absence of Wood as an opportunity to try and find ways to score other than crosses and headers.
Any idea of an expected crowd? The Thursday performance and Wood absence won't have helped sell any tickets, but this is the weekend game so if Wellington can't beat the 12k turnout then you'd have to be asking serious questions about whether Wellington should be the frontrunner for big fixtures in future.
What a load of rubbish has been said up there about Chris Wood. In three years time if he is injury free he will still be one of our best players and one of the first names on the team sheet. He is one of our greatest strikers (we can argue if he is better then Rufer) contracted to forest for the next two years and even if he was let go, it is highly likely that a promoted team would snap him up. Worst case he is playing in three years time in the championship, Scottish Premiership or with the Auckland team in the A league. Irrespective unless we get two Halands coming though in the next three years (and Van Hattem is not one of them) he will be there. If one Haland comes through he will still be there.
"We can argue if he is better than Rufer" I hope you mean Alex?! He is not even close to the same class as Wynton. Can you imagine the World Champions saying if Chris Wood was from their country he would have been in their squad? Can you imagine Messi saying "Yeah it's a Shame Chris Wood is not from Rosario"? If Woods form is like it's is now in three years he would only be any use as a mascot or Rory Fallon role, which granted could have it's value too. The logic seems to be let's select a guy on what he did years ago and can't score because we have no one else who can score. The difference being would you prefer someone old and slow that can't score or young and quick that can't score? At least some one quick is going to be of use without possession. Sending a team out in a World Cup is not a time to get sentimental or nostalgic.
If the Woodsman was playing the Irish League (Mata), League One (where Waine ain't yet good enough), or the SPL (Greive) - he'd be netting 30+ goals per season. Like he was doing at Leeds in The Championship.
There will come a time when he does become a bench player for the AWs, but that is still a few years away. It may happen by June 2026, who knows. By then he maybe our own version of a 2019/20 Gary Hooper. But at the moment, he is by several rotations of Planet Earth the best striker we have.
Look at Costa Rica last year playing an aging team, after the younger guys were earlier not getting it done in CONCACAF qualifying. With smaller nations like us, you don't have a new EPL level striker, being revealed every 5 mins. You have to keep going back into your shallow talent pool until you do finally have a better option, or someone retires/is injured.
Anyway tomorrow you get your wish TS. Lets see how the AWs go, sans Wood.
A couple of seasons ago, when Wood was kicking arse for Burnley, it was not uncommon to see England fans criticiising Southgate for not calling up Chris Wood.
Not the best informed fans obviously. But quite a good giggle.
Nothing like Franz Beckenbauer, the actual coach of West Germany at the time, saying that Wynton rufer would be in his team if he was German
If the Woodsman was playing the Irish League (Mata), League One (where Waine ain't yet good enough), or the SPL (Greive) - he'd be netting 30+ goals per season. Like he was doing at Leeds in The Championship.
There will come a time when he does become a bench player for the AWs, but that is still a few years away. It may happen by June 2026, who knows. By then he maybe our own version of a 2019/20 Gary Hooper. But at the moment, he is by several rotations of Planet Earth the best striker we have.
Anyway tomorrow you get your wish TS. Lets see how the AWs go, sans Wood.
Hey, I wish he was in goal scoring form and not injured and playing regularly even at championship level. I would like to see how All Whites manage without Wood but unfortunately it will be heavily distorted by Bazeley and his tactical short comings. So I hold to the inevitable 1-1 draw that I have earlier predicted. That goal being a Chinese own goal or penalty.
Any idea of an expected crowd? The Thursday performance and Wood absence won't have helped sell any tickets, but this is the weekend game so if Wellington can't beat the 12k turnout then you'd have to be asking serious questions about whether Wellington should be the frontrunner for big fixtures in future.
How many people live in Wellington vs Auckland? Yeah, the same crowd would be fine.
A couple of seasons ago, when Wood was kicking arse for Burnley, it was not uncommon to see England fans criticiising Southgate for not calling up Chris Wood.
Not the best informed fans obviously. But quite a good giggle.
Nothing like Franz Beckenbauer, the actual coach of West Germany at the time, saying that Wynton rufer would be in his team if he was German
And the ones that knew would say to me ruefully if only! While his stint for Newcastle may have set him back, he’s been in England for a long time and also been a consistent goal scorer. There’s definitely a pocket of solid appreciation for his talents there.
But obviously Wynton is a step above any other OFC footballer in achievements, as he was deadly in European competition.
