The cameras caught the coaching staff hugging after the final whistle and deadset lip reading Simon Elliott looked like he was whispering to him "The Job's yours, mate"
Kinda sucked how we conceded at the end but a well deserved win otherwise against a non-OFC opponent and we get that long awaited goal, well done Matty!
Even though the first goal was an own one, it was still a great delivery from the free kick by Rojas. we all knew Wood would've easily converted that penalty, unlucky for Grieve, just lacked the power or direction. Also great to see Adams make his debut.
I do however hope this result doesn't convince NZF to give Bazeley the job.
Anyway, we celebrate Garbett's goal and the win and move on to Sweden. We will very likely get smashed, but hopefully we'll have our best possible squad available including Wood, Thomas, and Singh to keep the score a bit more respectable and of course a permanent replacement for Hay by then.
The atmosphere was amazing thanks to the Chinese fans mostly. Next time the all whites play at home they should invite a team with a large immigrant community here.
exactly, dont really care how we got it, just stoked we managed to grab a couple of goals and hold onto the lead. More of a composed game than in Auckland and we actually tested their keeper more often, through the ref was horrid though, lett way too much go and then calling a ball that hits the chest a handball?!? OFC refs are god awful! We missed the Woodsman! he offers something different upfron, Grieve and McCowatt are quick, but neither is going to hold the ball up really wel or win a header from deep. Mata looked ok when he came on, as did Garbett albeit against a defence that was tiring. I'm now hoping that NZF do not give Bazely the job, there was nothing in these two games that indicated he has the pla to use the players we have. It looked like his plan was hit it long and hope (back to the bad old days of the 80's)
Who was everyone's man of the match? A 10k crowd is not too bad is it, considering only 12k in Auckland and the ticket prices? Perhaps playing at Hutt Rec may have been better option for atmosphere and spectacle for this sized crowd or attracted a lower crowd due to location? What do people think of the chances of Bazeley being made permanent now? I think the last I read is that they wanted to announce after these two games and before Sweden game? Ok, what they say does not carry much weight/wait.
Rollo saying Stamenic was the best NZ player on the park and that Boxall was offside contesting for the ball for the goal.
The atmosphere was amazing thanks to the Chinese fans mostly. Next time the all whites play at home they should invite a team with a large immigrant community here.
Tonga, Samoa? Victorian England?
I'm sure NZF would love to get say Korea, or Argentina for the Waiheke FC inchas - but we take what we can get. Well done to NZF for getting China here, so soon after Australia. Hopefully can do the same in 2024.
I thought Bell had a good game, and that pass to Garbett for the goal was pinpoint. Impressive midfield performance all round. It's probably going to be the strength of this AWs team now for the next 10 years, which is unheard of in a NZ football context.
If Garbett, Just & Stamenic can develop into legitimate goal threats, and Singh slots in - that's likely where we will score from if Wood is absent. So as someone else mentioned, do we bother with a striker if the Woodsman is in sick bay? A fit Thomas as a false 9?
Also thought Elliot did well in both games. I sense an SPL offer happening soon.
12k on a Thursday night in a gridass city on a Thursday night is by far better then a 10k crowd on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It is bad and I would not be happy with that if I was Wellington.
12k on a Thursday night in a gridass city on a Thursday night is by far better then a 10k crowd on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It is bad and I would not be happy with that if I was Wellington.
Watch Auckland to get the one off games from here
Inflammatory. Was a chance Wood would play in Auckland, but he was scrubbed in advance for the ROF. Still would have been interesting the crowds if the schedule was reversed. 09's traffic really is terrible midweek around the Penrose environs. Auckland did already have games at both EP (Blues) & Mt Smart (Warriors) today. But makes sense to share games between the 2 cities, each window - though Cantabs will disagree.
The cameras caught the coaching staff hugging after the final whistle and deadset lip reading Simon Elliott looked like he was whispering to him "The Job's yours, mate"
He isn't an out-and-out striker or winger... not particularly quick, not a great dribbler, not a great passer... just average.
Not trying to knock him as a player, I just don't see value added to the team. Might explain why Just got picked up, but he didn't??
He's now playing as a midfielder for Helsingor. Be interesting to see what he does if they don't get promoted to the Danish Superliga. But yes him & Howieson you think would drop out if Singh & Thomas both returned in June.
He isn't an out-and-out striker or winger... not particularly quick, not a great dribbler, not a great passer... just average.
Not trying to knock him as a player, I just don't see value added to the team. Might explain why Just got picked up, but he didn't??
I thought he played quite well.
He doesn't have the highlight plays of a Rojas, but more effectiveness than dribbling two then being tackled. He plays in a midfield role at club kind of similar to a box to box, so when he was out wide it was a bit different. That's why he picked the ball up in deeper positions than Just or Rojas. His drawing of the defender then pass round the corner set Just up for the run that won the penalty.
12k on a Thursday night in a gridass city on a Thursday night is by far better then a 10k crowd on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It is bad and I would not be happy with that if I was Wellington.
Watch Auckland to get the one off games from here
Your city is like 5x the population of ours. Plus there is a very large Chinese migrant population in Auckland, much bigger than Wellington. So the crowd figures seem pretty reasonable to me.
12k on a Thursday night in a gridass city on a Thursday night is by far better then a 10k crowd on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It is bad and I would not be happy with that if I was Wellington.
Watch Auckland to get the one off games from here
How many people live in your oversized suburb? About 1.5 million if my memory serves me right. The mere fact that you lot can't fill your stadiums every time tells us all how shark jafas actually are at showing up to events.
But hey, it's always an excuse about how far away stadiums are and whether or not they're in the right suburb. Doesn't matter, Auckland still can't fill them.
12k on a Thursday night in a gridass city on a Thursday night is by far better then a 10k crowd on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It is bad and I would not be happy with that if I was Wellington.
Watch Auckland to get the one off games from here
Your city is like 5x the population of ours. Plus there is a very large Chinese migrant population in Auckland, much bigger than Wellington. So the crowd figures seem pretty reasonable to me.
At least half (possibly more) of the crowd today were Chinese. It was a similar thing a few years ago when NZ played China at basketball. A couple of tips for new Auckland A League owners - sign a Chinese marquee and bring over a Cinese club side for pre season games.Ninja
AucklandPhoenix
12k on a Thursday night in a gridass city on a Thursday night is by far better then a 10k crowd on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It is bad and I would not be happy with that if I was Wellington.
Watch Auckland to get the one off games from here
Your city is like 5x the population of ours. Plus there is a very large Chinese migrant population in Auckland, much bigger than Wellington. So the crowd figures seem pretty reasonable to me.
Well he did what many on here were asking. Went 4 at the back, and Rojas into central midfield.
That was a side today without 3 of our best 4 standout players. Only Libby was there. Tuiloma & Waine not big absentees, but Wood, Singh & Thomas all are. A fairly comfortable 2-1 win against a team ranked 25 spots above us (for what it's worth).
I'd prefer NZF take their time and try find someone else. There is no rush. But if no luck before June, keep Bazeley as interim coach for Sweden in Stockholm. That will be a really tough litmus test - though they'll likely play a bit of a B team. If we can still play like today, and have at least 45% possession against the Swedes, and create some chances - then maybe Bazeley deserves a crack at it permanently. But I don't think you can give it to him just off these China games at home. They were pretty limited, barely pressed at all, and all of their squad are basically still in pre season.
I wonder if NZF made some nice money from TV rights to China? Surely there must be a good following in a country of 1.4 billion. Are people criticizing that half the crowd was Chinese and that is bad because of what reason? That NZ support should out number the away team? True I guess but on the other hand China has zero stars with wider name recognition or marketing value so the expat Chinese community coming out added good money to NZF finances or at least avoided a loss. I would like to see some games going to Dunedin and Christchurch. Have the All Whites ever played in Dunedin? Ah I see, New Caledonia in 2013 and Australia in 1988, twice in the last 36 years! Lets get Scotland down to Dunedin. It would have been great if we could have got Ecuador over after they played Australia instead of two games against China but credit nevertheless to Pragnell for getting these games and the Sweden game.
I like this part (as an aside, there is a small spelling mistake with the word "predictable")
" Sharing the Burden
The game saw the All Whites line up without their talisman, Chris Wood. However, for all that Wood brings, it was interesting to see the team share the attacking threat. In previous All Whites fixtures I see a tend to always play through Wood in the final third. An over reliance that becomes predicable. This showing was different as you had Just, Rojas, Grieve and McCowatt readily looking to get a shot away. Not to mention the various shots from outside of the box, including efforts from Pijanker and Boxall no less.
Not to say we didn’t miss Wood, but it was good to see players creating chances for themselves and not feeling they have to go through one focal point all the time."
It's highly highly unlikely that a non OFC or non AFC team would travel all the way down to NZ for friendlies. Most national teams have very full programs, and 40 hours round trip to NZ would just not be popular with the players or their clubs for seemingly meaningless games. Pipe dream stuff really without some seriously big cash inducements, as the FA have done with likes of Argentina & Brazil coming to Aus in the past.
China were likely happy to have these 2 games, as they haven't played in a year. So for them just great to be back playing again. NZF will find it tough to repeat this in 2024, as the various WC qualifying programs start up. But touch wood they can. Then in 2025 the AWs will start their own H&A OFC WC qualifying.
If you got out and supported great. The Chinese expat population has done well with their support. I thought they were good value. I can’t understand why their defender didn’t get tight on Garbett the way they did on other incursions, particularly the incisive pass to Mata.
Nothing we hit from distance remotely troubled their defense or keeper.
It’s mental we have so many top creators, but not a goal scorer anywhere to get on the end. Hence why Mitch Duke is such a favourite of Arnold I guess.
Their goal was just laziness by our defense. There are more red shirts in the box than white ones. And in a line of them in front of Sail. Very nice cross and finish, but it shouldn’t have been snapped up by a defense.
McCowatt is a bit of a tough one to classify. He’s undoubtedly talented, but also it’s a bit confusing where he should play. In Wellington it seemed like he was almost best doing the job Lewis does playmaker wise, but traditionally he plays further forward.
I think the team has substantially underperformed, but it’s also great to have AW football.
Who are our next games? Get marketing them! Cover the Garbett boys in a weekend magazine. Run a similar magazine on the Scandinavian lifestyles of our young heroes. Waine and Wood strike force in England. Slogging it out in the USA, riots and revolutions! Build the squad profile as an international one of young keen men, adventurers all around the world in exotic places flying the flag. Promote Cacace particularly! Friendlies are a harder sell, but don’t give up.
Also promote the opposition- who are their famous players, what are their dramatic stories. A good game is storytelling and if no one knows the characters and it doesn’t mean much to either side, then why should we watch it?
I like this part (as an aside, there is a small spelling mistake with the word "predictable")
" Sharing the Burden
The game saw the All Whites line up without their talisman, Chris Wood. However, for all that Wood brings, it was interesting to see the team share the attacking threat. In previous All Whites fixtures I see a tend to always play through Wood in the final third. An over reliance that becomes predicable. This showing was different as you had Just, Rojas, Grieve and McCowatt readily looking to get a shot away. Not to mention the various shots from outside of the box, including efforts from Pijanker and Boxall no less.
Not to say we didn’t miss Wood, but it was good to see players creating chances for themselves and not feeling they have to go through one focal point all the time."
I like this part (as an aside, there is a small spelling mistake with the word "predictable")
" Sharing the Burden
The game saw the All Whites line up without their talisman, Chris Wood. However, for all that Wood brings, it was interesting to see the team share the attacking threat. In previous All Whites fixtures I see a tend to always play through Wood in the final third. An over reliance that becomes predicable. This showing was different as you had Just, Rojas, Grieve and McCowatt readily looking to get a shot away. Not to mention the various shots from outside of the box, including efforts from Pijanker and Boxall no less.
Not to say we didn’t miss Wood, but it was good to see players creating chances for themselves and not feeling they have to go through one focal point all the time."
But we weren’t better without Wood. A good coach would create a variety of ways to score and to give Danny his dues I think we did use Wood as a decoy for knockdowns and other potential goal scorers.
Today perhaps it was the other way- our long shooting was…on target more often than not, but it too was predictable because no striker was looking to wrong foot their marker in the box and tuck a goal home. Long shots were the most likely and they, even some venomous and accurate ones, were low percentage.
It's highly highly unlikely that a non OFC or non AFC team would travel all the way down to NZ for friendlies. Most national teams have very full programs, and 40 hours round trip to NZ would just not be popular with the players or their clubs for seemingly meaningless games. Pipe dream stuff really without some seriously big cash inducements, as the FA have done with likes of Argentina & Brazil coming to Aus in the past.
China were likely happy to have these 2 games, as they haven't played in a year. So for them just great to be back playing again. NZF will find it tough to repeat this in 2024, as the various WC qualifying programs start up. But touch wood they can. Then in 2025 the AWs will start their own H&A OFC WC qualifying.
It's true of course but if we can get Newcastle and West Ham down here it is not impossible to come to some agreement or share with Australia. Would be curious to know how much they had to shell out for Ecuador. NZ is at least closer to Ecuador than Australia. Also LA and Vancouver are 13hr direct flights so perhaps USA and Canada are not beyond the realms of possibility. Especially with how much Herdman loves NZ it's a slam dunk! And the Hudson connection!
It's just the lack of available free windows that makes it highly unlikely, plus the unattractiveness of NZ being so far away. The Socceroos will begin prepping for Asian Cup soon (early 2024). They have locked in a friendly against England at Wembley in October. Their next home games could well end up being 1st round AFC WC qualifiers, which shuts out any potential co sharing with NZ.
Canada, USA & Mexico could be available for friendlies this cycle, as they host the next WC - so maybe ain't involved in CONCACAF WC qualifying?? But you can bet they will want those friendlies to be at home to build support up to their home WC. Or maybe they will target matches in Europe. Herdman has already stated Canada need to be playing 'bigger teams' more regularly to improve.
So China, Australia, Korea at home is as good as we can hope for. That's just the reality of where lowly NZ sits in the crowded international match schedule landscape. Which would still be a big improvement on previous cycles.
He isn't an out-and-out striker or winger... not particularly quick, not a great dribbler, not a great passer... just average.
Not trying to knock him as a player, I just don't see value added to the team. Might explain why Just got picked up, but he didn't??
He was like that at the Nix too. Really don't rate him and certainly not a true AW. Same goes for Mata. Neither should be picked again unless they start doing something at a reasonable level.
