Cant wait for these game, gonna be great to see the team in action live again.
Predictions?
2-0 to us. I've got a good feeling.
Would be happy with a return to some goal scoring form to be honest.
Seeing Ryan Thomas & Sarpreet Singh back in the fold would help that cause immensely.
To be honest I haven't been keeping up with media releases or coverage for the matches, is there a date where we can expect a squad announcement?
Going on previous I'd say 7-10 days before the first game. So in about 3 weeks
I'd say before then we will get a list of the unavailables.
Are we expecting a bulk of the U20's to be named for the U23 fixtures? Seems logical to me. Chuck in a few guys like Jesse Randall, Keegan Jelacic etc as well. Strike while the iron is hot so to speak and get them playing together as much as we can before the U20 WC in May/June.
Cant wait for these game, gonna be great to see the team in action live again.
Predictions?
2-0 to us. I've got a good feeling.
I will go on the record as 0-0 in the first and 1-1 in the second.
It's absoluely pointless even having a guess, until we know who is available or not for the AWs.
Singh, Thomas & Wood all front up and is reason to be optimistic. Should finally score some goals. Singh is already showing his class at J-R, and how he was missed for the CR playoff. But just as easily all 3 may not be present, depending on how their clubs are going, injury niggles etc etc. It's a very long return flight, for in some eyes meaningless friendlies, under a stop gap coach, 3 years away from a WC, at the pointy end of the Euro club seasons.
Cant wait for these game, gonna be great to see the team in action live again.
Predictions?
2-0 to us. I've got a good feeling.
I will go on the record as 0-0 in the first and 1-1 in the second.
It's absoluely pointless even having a guess, until we know who is available or not for the AWs.
Singh, Thomas & Wood all front up and is reason to be optimistic. Should finally score some goals. Singh is already showing his class at J-R, and how he was missed for the CR playoff. But just as easily all 3 may not be present, depending on how their clubs are going, niggles etc etc. It's a very long return flight, for in some eyes meaningless friendlies, under a stop gap coach, 3 years away from a WC, at the pointy end of Euro club seasons.
I don't care if all are best players are available. That's my guess under all scenarios.
China can be a good team, they did draw Australia in the AFC qualifier unlike NZ
They also recently drew with Japan albeit an NZ special 0-0. I expect they will out do us on Cardio and be quicker than us but our advantage with be our physical size and presence.
I guess that would be an interesting exercise- given everyone available and on talent/ or formation what would be our top team and then our reserve team and third team? Would our second team have a good chance? With some third level players?
I guess that would be an interesting exercise- given everyone available and on talent/ or formation what would be our top team and then our reserve team and third team? Would our second team have a good chance? With some third level players?
I think if we played a team exclusively from the best national league players the result would not be much different.
Early stab at a AWs squad for the China matches. Hope I'm wrong but expect a few players to be unavailable, given being pointy end of many European seasons, the long flights required to NZ, guys with a few niggles, guys whose clubs might be in tight pro/real battles, and just being friendlies so early in the WC cycle under an interim coach.
Also note the MLS/USL and UK League One & Two play through the March window. You definitely leave Crocombe & Tzanev in Blighty. But fans shouldn't sweat if a few are unavailable. It's now that you want to experiment at the start of a WC cycle, and have a bit of a look at likes of Kyle Adams. In brutal reality these Chinese games will soon be forgotten as the AWs progress through the remaining 3 years of the WC cycle.
Taking a bit of a spineless approach by naming all & sundry as a chance of being picked, but hard to get a beeline on who will definitely be unavailable this far out. No doubt I've left out someone who should be picked.
Keepers - Sail, Woud & Marinovic (3) Big Stef who became a first time Dad late last year, might be trialling somewhere from his German base. Paulsen as the 3rd keeper in need
CBs- Payne, N Boxall, Pijnaker & Tuiloma (4). Think Tuiloma is more likely to travel than Mikey Boxall. If both are unavailable, or they pick 5 CBs, Adams comes in. Or Surman gets his first taste of an AWs squad. He'll be around with the U23s anyhow. Colchester may actually release Tommy Smith, as they look pretty safe now from relegation. Sam Brotherton a chance now that he’s back in a pro environment, if Bazeley needs to dig deep.
Full backs- Cacace, Mcgarry, Elliott & Roux (4) Gone for an in form Mcgarry, ahead of Sutton, Dalton Wilkins & Deklan Wynne. Elliott deserves a first AWs call up. Toss of a coin but Roux shades Dane Ingham
Midfield-Bell, Stamenic, Howieson, Garbett & Thomas (5) Talay has targeted April 1st as a Nix return for Lewis, so can probably scrub him out. Oli Whyte a call up chance, if any of the above are unavailable. Or McCowatt drops into a deeper role. And of course Alex Rufer is an ex AW. I get the feeling Thomas will stay in Holland. Forwards/wingers- Just, Keegan Jelacic, Rojas, Singh, De Jong, Waine & Wood (7) Wouldn't surprise to see quite a number of these guys unavailable for various reasons. Sounds like Greive is out for awhile injured. Barba, McCowatt, Rogerson & Collier likely first cabs off the rank. Jelacic deserves his chance, and we want to sell him on NZ Football. But wouldn't be a shock if the FA gets in & pick him for the Olyroos. Ben Old, Max Mata, Myer Bevan & even Moses Dyer all in with a sniff. No one seems to know where Joey Champness is.
Then Bazeley might even dip into his U20s with Kian Doners & Oliver Colloty, if there are mass withdrawls and with one eye to the future. These guys will likely be in the U23 squad anyways, with likes of OVH.
Early stab at a AWs squad for the China matches. Hope I'm wrong but expect a few players to be unavailable, given being pointy end of many European seasons, the long flights required to NZ, guys with a few niggles, guys whose clubs might be in tight pro/real battles, and just being friendlies so early in the WC cycle under an interim coach.
Also note the MLS/USL and UK League One & Two play through the March window. You definitely leave Crocombe & Tzanev in Blighty. But fans shouldn't sweat if a few are unavailable. It's now that you want to experiment at the start of a WC cycle, and have a bit of a look at likes of Kyle Adams. In brutal reality these Chinese games will soon be forgotten as the AWs progress through the remaining 3 years of the WC cycle.
Taking a bit of a spineless approach by naming all & sundry as a chance of being picked, but hard to get a beeline on who will definitely be unavailable this far out. No doubt I've left out someone who should be picked.
Keepers - Sail, Woud & Marinovic (3) Big Stef who became a first time Dad late last year, might be trialling somewhere from his German base. Paulsen as the 3rd keeper in need
CBs- Payne, N Boxall, Pijnaker & Tuiloma (4). Think Tuiloma is more likely to travel than Mikey Boxall. If both are unavailable, or they pick 5 CBs, Adams comes in. Or Surman gets his first taste of an AWs squad. He'll be around with the U23s anyhow. Colchester may actually release Tommy Smith, as they look pretty safe now from relegation. Sam Brotherton a chance now that he’s back in a pro environment, if Bazeley needs to dig deep.
Full backs- Cacace, Mcgarry, Elliott & Roux (4) Gone for an in form Mcgarry, ahead of Sutton, Dalton Wilkins & Deklan Wynne. Elliott deserves a first AWs call up. Toss of a coin but Roux shades Dane Ingham
Midfield-Bell, Stamenic, Howieson, Garbett & Thomas (5) Talay has targeted April 1st as a Nix return for Lewis, so can probably scrub him out. Oli Whyte a call up chance, if any of the above are unavailable. Or McCowatt drops into a deeper role. And of course Alex Rufer is an ex AW. I get the feeling Thomas will stay in Holland. Forwards/wingers- Just, Keegan Jelacic, Rojas, Singh, De Jong, Waine & Wood (7) Wouldn't surprise to see quite a number of these guys unavailable for various reasons. Sounds like Greive is out for awhile injured. Barba, McCowatt, Rogerson & Collier likely first cabs off the rank. Jelacic deserves his chance, and we want to sell him on NZ Football. But wouldn't be a shock if the FA gets in & pick him for the Olyroos. Ben Old, Max Mata, Myer Bevan & even Moses Dyer all in with a sniff. No one seems to know where Joey Champness is.
Then Bazeley might even dip into his U20s with Kian Doners & Oliver Colloty, if there are mass withdrawls and with one eye to the future. These guys will likely be in the U23 squad anyways, with likes of OVH.
I agree with most of that, so in lieu of doing it all again, I'll just build off it.
I'm not sold on Woud or even Marinovic - despite being a big fan of his - given neither are playing and both are based quite far away - assuming Marinovic is still in Europe. Flying them long-haul would be a bit unnecessary if they don't plan on rotating the 'keepers as in September. Paulsen could well be there just for the sake of it really despite only playing one first team and two reserve games since January last year.
One goalkeeper I'd be keen to see, even if it's probably not going to eventuate, is Conor Tracey. He's probably the best NZ-based goalkeeper and his shot-stopping stats from the NL/CWC surpass any top-level NZ 'keeper this season, as do his passing stats. If you go by 'goals prevented per 90' (GP/90) (ie post-shot xG divided by 90s played minus goals against per 90), then he has the best figure at 0.45 goals prevented per game - the next best are Tzanev (0.15), Gauci (0.13 and probably Australian too) and then Sail (0.12). Yes, the NL level is lower, but if there's ever a time to try someone out then a home friendly three years out is up there with the best. Bazeley knows him from taking him to the U20 World Cup in 2017 as well. For what it's worth, Marinovic's 22/23 stats have him with -0.43 GP/90 and a save percentage of 48.57% and Woud's 2022 stats have him at -1.04 GP/90 and a save percentage of 55%, so hardly career-leading form that warrant them a call up.
I reckon Tommy Smith will still be there, to give the option of three centre-backs if nothing else. Bazeley's selections probably won't be a massive departure from Hay's given he was there. Until the Costa Rica game and the Australian matches which he was injured for, Smith played in every game back to the very first pre-Covid games under Hay. He could well have that late-match finisher role, depending on the score of course. I also have faith in MN Utd that Michael Boxall will be there instead of his brother - who's only played the CWC 90 minutes since July last year.
I'd have McCowatt in over Howieson in midfield, Callum's been playing in a midfield three a bit and, despite Helsingør not reaching last year's heights, it's still a higher level that does stop for the international breaks. His versatility allowing him to play really anywhere across midfield or a front three will help him as well. Howieson will have the two-legged OFC CL playoff against Wellington Olympic the two weekends before to get minutes in the legs if need be though. In the not-unlikely situation that Thomas isn't there, then I'd have the toss-up between Howieson and Whyte more-so than McCowatt-Howieson, and Howieson could win out just through locality.
Maybe I'm too pessimistic and have been preparing for the potential disappointment, but I don't think Jelacic will be there. Australian born-and-bred kid getting into form and higher recommendations just smells bad and you could hardly blame the kid if he does. If he is there, it'd be interesting what role he'd play, he seems to play half as a defensive midfielder and half as an attacking midfielder; he has great defensive stats and leads NZ midfielders in ground duels won and attempted per 90 yet on the ball his involvement is similar to guys like Dyer and Whyte. I reckon Rojas (though he does give off 'won't be there' vibes, possibly because he's only played vs Oman since Covid)/Old (local) will be there instead though.
I guess I'd think/have it look like: Sail, Tracey, Paulsen; M Boxall, Payne, Pijnaker, Smith, Tuiloma; Cacace, Elliot, Roux, McGarry; Bell, Garbett, McCowatt, Singh, Stamenic; Barbarouses, De Jong, Just, Rojas, Waine, Wood.
Early stab at a AWs squad for the China matches. Hope I'm wrong but expect a few players to be unavailable, given being pointy end of many European seasons, the long flights required to NZ, guys with a few niggles, guys whose clubs might be in tight pro/real battles, and just being friendlies so early in the WC cycle under an interim coach.
Also note the MLS/USL and UK League One & Two play through the March window. You definitely leave Crocombe & Tzanev in Blighty. But fans shouldn't sweat if a few are unavailable. It's now that you want to experiment at the start of a WC cycle, and have a bit of a look at likes of Kyle Adams. In brutal reality these Chinese games will soon be forgotten as the AWs progress through the remaining 3 years of the WC cycle.
Taking a bit of a spineless approach by naming all & sundry as a chance of being picked, but hard to get a beeline on who will definitely be unavailable this far out. No doubt I've left out someone who should be picked.
Keepers - Sail, Woud & Marinovic (3) Big Stef who became a first time Dad late last year, might be trialling somewhere from his German base. Paulsen as the 3rd keeper in need
CBs- Payne, N Boxall, Pijnaker & Tuiloma (4). Think Tuiloma is more likely to travel than Mikey Boxall. If both are unavailable, or they pick 5 CBs, Adams comes in. Or Surman gets his first taste of an AWs squad. He'll be around with the U23s anyhow. Colchester may actually release Tommy Smith, as they look pretty safe now from relegation. Sam Brotherton a chance now that he’s back in a pro environment, if Bazeley needs to dig deep.
Full backs- Cacace, Mcgarry, Elliott & Roux (4) Gone for an in form Mcgarry, ahead of Sutton, Dalton Wilkins & Deklan Wynne. Elliott deserves a first AWs call up. Toss of a coin but Roux shades Dane Ingham
Midfield-Bell, Stamenic, Howieson, Garbett & Thomas (5) Talay has targeted April 1st as a Nix return for Lewis, so can probably scrub him out. Oli Whyte a call up chance, if any of the above are unavailable. Or McCowatt drops into a deeper role. And of course Alex Rufer is an ex AW. I get the feeling Thomas will stay in Holland. Forwards/wingers- Just, Keegan Jelacic, Rojas, Singh, De Jong, Waine & Wood (7) Wouldn't surprise to see quite a number of these guys unavailable for various reasons. Sounds like Greive is out for awhile injured. Barba, McCowatt, Rogerson & Collier likely first cabs off the rank. Jelacic deserves his chance, and we want to sell him on NZ Football. But wouldn't be a shock if the FA gets in & pick him for the Olyroos. Ben Old, Max Mata, Myer Bevan & even Moses Dyer all in with a sniff. No one seems to know where Joey Champness is.
Then Bazeley might even dip into his U20s with Kian Doners & Oliver Colloty, if there are mass withdrawls and with one eye to the future. These guys will likely be in the U23 squad anyways, with likes of OVH.
I agree with most of that, so in lieu of doing it all again, I'll just build off it.
I'm not sold on Woud or even Marinovic - despite being a big fan of his - given neither are playing and both are based quite far away - assuming Marinovic is still in Europe. Flying them long-haul would be a bit unnecessary if they don't plan on rotating the 'keepers as in September. Paulsen could well be there just for the sake of it really despite only playing one first team and two reserve games since January last year.
One goalkeeper I'd be keen to see, even if it's probably not going to eventuate, is Conor Tracey. He's probably the best NZ-based goalkeeper and his shot-stopping stats from the NL/CWC surpass any top-level NZ 'keeper this season, as do his passing stats. If you go by 'goals prevented per 90' (GP/90) (ie post-shot xG divided by 90s played minus goals against per 90), then he has the best figure at 0.45 goals prevented per game - the next best are Tzanev (0.15), Gauci (0.13 and probably Australian too) and then Sail (0.12). Yes, the NL level is lower, but if there's ever a time to try someone out then a home friendly three years out is up there with the best. Bazeley knows him from taking him to the U20 World Cup in 2017 as well. For what it's worth, Marinovic's 22/23 stats have him with -0.43 GP/90 and a save percentage of 48.57% and Woud's 2022 stats have him at -1.04 GP/90 and a save percentage of 55%, so hardly career-leading form that warrant them a call up.
I reckon Tommy Smith will still be there, to give the option of three centre-backs if nothing else. Bazeley's selections probably won't be a massive departure from Hay's given he was there. Until the Costa Rica game and the Australian matches which he was injured for, Smith played in every game back to the very first pre-Covid games under Hay. He could well have that late-match finisher role, depending on the score of course. I also have faith in MN Utd that Michael Boxall will be there instead of his brother - who's only played the CWC 90 minutes since July last year.
I'd have McCowatt in over Howieson in midfield, Callum's been playing in a midfield three a bit and, despite Helsingør not reaching last year's heights, it's still a higher level that does stop for the international breaks. His versatility allowing him to play really anywhere across midfield or a front three will help him as well. Howieson will have the two-legged OFC CL playoff against Wellington Olympic the two weekends before to get minutes in the legs if need be though. In the not-unlikely situation that Thomas isn't there, then I'd have the toss-up between Howieson and Whyte more-so than McCowatt-Howieson, and Howieson could win out just through locality.
Maybe I'm too pessimistic and have been preparing for the potential disappointment, but I don't think Jelacic will be there. Australian born-and-bred kid getting into form and higher recommendations just smells bad and you could hardly blame the kid if he does. If he is there, it'd be interesting what role he'd play, he seems to play half as a defensive midfielder and half as an attacking midfielder; he has great defensive stats and leads NZ midfielders in ground duels won and attempted per 90 yet on the ball his involvement is similar to guys like Dyer and Whyte. I reckon Rojas (though he does give off 'won't be there' vibes, possibly because he's only played vs Oman since Covid)/Old (local) will be there instead though.
I guess I'd think/have it look like: Sail, Tracey, Paulsen; M Boxall, Payne, Pijnaker, Smith, Tuiloma; Cacace, Elliot, Roux, McGarry; Bell, Garbett, McCowatt, Singh, Stamenic; Barbarouses, De Jong, Just, Rojas, Waine, Wood.
I'd be disappointed if Marinovic didn't come. Should get one game and Oli one game.
Yipe with reflection agree with Carlind that McCowatt should be there ahead of Howieson. Probably moot though, as get similar feelings Thomas won't come. His club future is a bit up in the air (though Zwolle look good for promotion), and his links to NZ seem tenuous these days. Home for him is definitely Holland, and he's openly said he doesn't like leaving his young family for long. Be interesting to know the last time he actually visited NZ - might be 2017 verus Peru.
Rojas gives yes sort of similar vibes. Home for him seems well & truly Melbourne, despite the charms of his Tron birthplace. Both those guys coming from immigrant parents (British & Chilean), who may no longer be in NZ themselves. Rojas wasn't available for the Socceroos friendlies last year, though he had only just arrived in Chile from memory. Seems he is not a dead cert starter there at Colo Colo every week.
I'd be surprised if Woud wasn't picked. It's only 10.5 hours flying time Tokyo to Auckland. If he can rid those absolute howlers (nearly all at ground level, so a technical thing?) from his game, he'll end up a good keeper. But yeah unless Bazeley guarantees Marinovic at least one start (so sharing games with Sail), complete waste of time Big Stef flying the long haul downunder. Especially when he is busy scrolling though GK wanted adverts.
Good news if Boxall snr came. Has he ever been on the same AWs field as his younger brother? Chance to do that and announce his AWs retirement in his Auckland home town, all at the same time?! He'll be 35 in August. He'd likely only miss the one MLS game that Minny play 26th March, so coach Heath maybe okay with that, esp if it was to be Boxy's international football swansong.
So the Chinese have appointed a new national coach and selected their squad for AWs friendlies. Sounds like the new gaffer (a Serb) is their Bazeley equivalent - coming through age group ranks.
6 players from Wuhan. Not sure how many are naturalised foreigners with adopted Chinese names.
Hopefully for his sake the new gaffer can avoid jail time/re education, and China make the 2026 WC!
Liu Dianzuo, Deng Hanwen, Liu Yiming, Xie Pengfei, Ren Hang, He Chao (all Wuhan Three Towns), Wang Dalei, Liu Binbin, Liu Yang, Chen Pu (all Shandong Taishan), Wu Lei, Yan Junling, Zhang Linpeng, Jiang Guangtai, Li Ang, Xu Xin, Li Shuai (all Shanghai Port), Wang Shangyuan (Henan Songshan Longmen), Wu Xi (Shanghai Shenhua), Lin Liangming (Dalian Pro), Tan Long (Changchun Yatai), Wei Shihao (Guangzhou FC), Sun Guowen (Dalian Football Association), Ai Kesen (free agent).
The appointment by the Chinese Football Association comes after the national side fell short in their attempt to reach the 2022 World Cup under acting coach Li Xiaopeng, and the previous permanent head coach Li Tie was arrested and placed under investigation for corruption.
Jiang Guangtai and Ai Kesen are the naturalised players in the squad, otherwise known as Tyias Browning and Elkesen respectively. Browning has a Chinese parent, so has the heritage despite being English born and bred; Elkesen has no Chinese heritage. Elkesen was most recently at Gremio in Brazil, having only just left so could possibly be one of the bigger attacking threats, alongside Wu Lei.
Five of the 24 strong squad played in the last match between the All Whites and China, a 1-1 draw in Nanchang in 2014 with Chris Wood getting a late equaliser. That match was Anthony Hudson's second in charge, and possibly his first with a squad chosen by himself. Those five include goalkeeper Wang Dalei, defenders Ren Hang and Zhang Linpeng, midfielder Wu Xi and forward Wu Lei. Wood, Thomas, Rojas, Barbarouses, Tuiloma, Wynne, Smith, Boxall, Roux and Payne all also played that day.
Two of the squad (Wang and Zhang) also played in the match before that, in 2012, another 1-1 draw this time hosted in Shanghai. Wood, Rojas, Payne, Barbarouses, Smith and Howieson all featured in that match under Herbert.
Seven players in the squad were among the 15 players used in the 'home' World Cup qualifier 1-1 draw against Australia in November 2021.
The squad isn't really young, but also doesn't have that many extensively-capped players. The median birth-year is 1993 (for context, the median birth-year for the AWs squad against Australia was 1999), and the two youngest players were both born in 1997. Despite that, only seven players have more than 15 caps - two being goalkeepers - and only three have over 40. Three players are uncapped and a further eight have ten or less caps.
In terms of goals, Wu Lei cuts a Chris Wood-esque figure, with 27 goals in his 79 caps, and the next highest goal-scorer is 80-cap midfielder Wu Xi with nine. Defender Zhang Linpeng with five in 92 and Elkesen with four in his 13 caps round out the next top scorers.
Yep, McGarry was in the squad for the friendlies against Ireland and Lithuania. He was on the bench for the Ireland game but started the Lithuania game.
Can't wait for Elliot's call up, well and truly deserves it.
Plenty ex AWs now involved. Hopefully Elliott is a valuable sounding board for Bell, Garbett and Stamenic. Wealth of experience. Lewis might also be in the squad. But well done Bazeley for bringing these guys in
Squad naming Thursday (or today by the time you likely read this)
Looks pretty close to full strength, Only names I can think of that are missing are Singh, Thomas, Tuiloma and Waine, all of whom are understandable given they are bedding themselves into new sides and/or recovering from injury.
No third GK, Presumably one of the U23 lads will get to be used as target practice by Woodsie.
