Ah yes both Wynne brothers in town. Cool opportunity for some of these young U23 guys to rub shoulders with Wood, Libby, Bell etc. The path some of them will follow with luck
What min in the video are they on at (assuming it was Tues morn episode?). Trying to find it on TVNZ+ and it's impossible as it's a > 2hr show and everytime I try and skip to any part (with no thumbnail previews) it plays me 45 seconds of ads.
Edit, nevermind I found it. They are on at 1:17:30.
Wood’s status will only be confirmed once that session is complete, while Bazeley is also keeping a close eye on three players who only arrived in New Zealand from Denmark on Wednesday.
Joe Bell was the last to make it into camp around dawn, with fellow midfielders Elijah Just and Marko Stamenic arriving in the middle of the night.
If he isn’t deemed fit enough to start, Alex Greive and Max Mata would be the potential replacements at the pointy end of what is expected to be an attacking trio, with Wood’s leading understudy, Ben Waine, not part of the squad this week.
Bell and Stamenic were the starting midfield duo the last time the All Whites played, but if their late arrivals preclude them from starting on Thursday, Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer and team-mate Clayton Lewis could be called upon to step in.
Could be a scratchy first game especially. Guys coming in late, whilst Chinese are basically a club side, virtually all from their domestic league and been in camp awhile as the Chinese Super League is yet to start.
Anyway 32 yr old Tommy Smith wants to hang in there for the 2026 WC, and interesting that he now regrets making himself unavailable in the early Hudson days. After obviously not being happy at the time, with AWs setup/preparation at the end of Herbert's era.
Any Charleston Battery fans out there? Horsens FC? Colo Colo? It's a team from wide & far the AWs.
Tomorrow the AWs take the field in NZ
The team has seen the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and want to contribute to the recovery effort
Starting tomorrow each player will auction a signed club shirt on TradeMe with all proceeds going towards the recovery effort 🤍🖤🌿 pic.twitter.com/1d8GKuzAug
So who is picking a score? I am still going with 0-0 in the first match and 1-1 in the second match.
Don't know enough about China (and how much in season their players are) so not going to predict a score. Hope its not 0-0 though (last time we played at Mt Smart was a boring 0-0 vs South Africa if my memory is correct). Would rather lose 4-2 and at least show we can score goals (particularly if Wood doesn't play the 90 mins).
So who is picking a score? I am still going with 0-0 in the first match and 1-1 in the second match.
Don't know enough about China (and how much in season their players are) so not going to predict a score. Hope its not 0-0 though (last time we played at Mt Smart was a boring 0-0 vs South Africa if my memory is correct). Would rather lose 4-2 and at least show we can score goals (particularly if Wood doesn't play the 90 mins).
South Africa game was 0-0, but boring certainly isn't my memory of it!!
We did put 2 past Jamaica at Mt Smart prior to that, and it is the site of arguably the greatest AWs goal ever, so here's hoping they can at least get on the scoresheet.
So who is picking a score? I am still going with 0-0 in the first match and 1-1 in the second match.
Don't know enough about China (and how much in season their players are) so not going to predict a score. Hope its not 0-0 though (last time we played at Mt Smart was a boring 0-0 vs South Africa if my memory is correct). Would rather lose 4-2 and at least show we can score goals (particularly if Wood doesn't play the 90 mins).
It's been quite a while since the All Whites managed to score more than twice against non-OFC opposition. 56 matches and 4,943 days since beating Jordan 1-3 in September 2009. That came only 91 days after the 3-4 loss to Italy.
Been even longer since they scored more than three times. 101 games and 8,664 days since beating Malaysia 1-5 in July 1999.
"But he felt they had been creating enough chances during their barren run to feel confident an end to it was just around the corner and wouldn’t require major tweaks – they’re expected to use the same 3-4-3 system they favoured throughout 2022."
Three centre backs in a home friendly against China. Really ambitious Darren. When I'm looking for a goal I'm always trying to squeeze in as many centre backs as I can
I noticed that Sky TV yesterday removed the u-23's game from their EPG. It had been up there since last weekend as a 3.30 pm broadcast on Sky Sport. Sky must have wanted too much money from NZ Football to broadcast it. Crazy that the football authorites in this country have to pay a broadcaster to screen games.
"But he felt they had been creating enough chances during their barren run to feel confident an end to it was just around the corner and wouldn’t require major tweaks – they’re expected to use the same 3-4-3 system they favoured throughout 2022."
Three centre backs in a home friendly against China. Really ambitious Darren. When I'm looking for a goal I'm always trying to squeeze in as many centre backs as I can
"But he felt they had been creating enough chances during their barren run to feel confident an end to it was just around the corner and wouldn’t require major tweaks – they’re expected to use the same 3-4-3 system they favoured throughout 2022."
Three centre backs in a home friendly against China. Really ambitious Darren. When I'm looking for a goal I'm always trying to squeeze in as many centre backs as I can
"But he felt they had been creating enough chances during their barren run to feel confident an end to it was just around the corner and wouldn’t require major tweaks – they’re expected to use the same 3-4-3 system they favoured throughout 2022."
Three centre backs in a home friendly against China. Really ambitious Darren. When I'm looking for a goal I'm always trying to squeeze in as many centre backs as I can
"But he felt they had been creating enough chances during their barren run to feel confident an end to it was just around the corner and wouldn’t require major tweaks – they’re expected to use the same 3-4-3 system they favoured throughout 2022."
Three centre backs in a home friendly against China. Really ambitious Darren. When I'm looking for a goal I'm always trying to squeeze in as many centre backs as I can
I noticed that Sky TV yesterday removed the u-23's game from their EPG. It had been up there since last weekend as a 3.30 pm broadcast on Sky Sport. Sky must have wanted too much money from NZ Football to broadcast it. Crazy that the football authorites in this country have to pay a broadcaster to screen games.
That looks pretty good. Although, swap Just and Rojas sides around I think. I think most of the midfield there only arrived yesterday too, so might not see them starting. Wouldn't be surprised to see Rufer get a start.
Just realised that this game is on a Thursday in Auckland - I fear for the size of the crowd at Mt Smart. Anyone on the southern motorway is in for a hard time. For those who need a compass note the word southern.
Just realised that this game is on a Thursday in Auckland - I fear for the size of the crowd at Mt Smart. Anyone on the southern motorway is in for a hard time.
Just realised that this game is on a Thursday in Auckland - I fear for the size of the crowd at Mt Smart. Anyone on the southern motorway is in for a hard time. For those who need a compass note the word southern.
It's a rubbish time really. Plenty of first team footballers around Auckland will have their final training before the season starts this weekend and I wouldn't say too many would be keen on missing that for a friendly.
