Likely at least another 10 days before the AWs squad is announced. Not much happening at the moment with European based players. Hopefully Wood & Garbett can return from injury in time for this UAE tourney. Forest host Liverpool tomorrow, but that seems unlikely to be a taster Woodsman v Salah matchup.
Barba, Old & Rufer you would think all have to be picked given their recent form.
New Year, new All Whites fixtures 🥳
We kick-off 2024 as part of the W Cup this March in the UAE alongside Croatia 🇭🇷, Egypt 🇪🇬 and Tunisia 🇹🇳
Will be picking Sail to come back in as one of the three GK options. Alongside Paulsen & Crocombe.
Finn Surman and Payne to get their ticket as a result of their good seasons with the Nix so far as well. But I'm picking a bolter in the squad for these two matches - Lukas Kelly-Heald.
Maybe I'm being overly optimistic in regards to the kid rising straight in to national team duties, but he's been solid, especially as the season has gone on. Could cover LB, LWB and fill in as a left sided CB if need be too. Would likely need Tommy Smith to drop out of contention for selection in all honesty as well.
Hossam Hassan names the foreign-based players participating in the March camp in preparation for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers 🇪🇬#egyptntpic.twitter.com/ZpxToPTfeM
Liverpool have asked the Football Association of Egypt to exclude Mohamed Salah from their March internationals for fear of aggravating his current hamstring injury further.https://t.co/copoqd64DS
Chiefy said that Baze said 5 Nix players were on the shortlist for the March squad and two others were on standby. Any guesses of who they are?
I personally think Paulsen, Payne, Surman, Rufer, Old, Kosta should be in the squad, and that would likely leave LKH as the 7th player. I think Sutton should be in the conversation but hasn't been playing enough to earn a spot, and LKH's versatility might help his chances of getting selected, but I think McGarry is likely to get the second LB spot seeing as he was picked previously & only dropped out of the squad due to injury, and is fit again.
Surely Marco should be in the squad again too now that he is starting & scoring again, and considering how good he looked in the Qatar half game not so long ago.
Chiefy said that Baze said 5 Nix players were on the shortlist for the March squad and two others were on standby. Any guesses of who they are?
I personally think Paulsen, Payne, Surman, Rufer, Old, Kosta should be in the squad, and that would likely leave LKH as the 7th player. I think Sutton should be in the conversation but hasn't been playing enough to earn a spot, and LKH's versatility might help his chances of getting selected, but I think McGarry is likely to get the second LB spot seeing as he was picked previously & only dropped out of the squad due to injury, and is fit again.
Surely Marco should be in the squad again too now that he is starting & scoring again, and considering how good he looked in the Qatar half game not so long ago.
Game against quality footballing nation, Wood injured, Kosta and Marco available???
Chiefy said that Baze said 5 Nix players were on the shortlist for the March squad and two others were on standby. Any guesses of who they are?
I personally think Paulsen, Payne, Surman, Rufer, Old, Kosta should be in the squad, and that would likely leave LKH as the 7th player. I think Sutton should be in the conversation but hasn't been playing enough to earn a spot, and LKH's versatility might help his chances of getting selected, but I think McGarry is likely to get the second LB spot seeing as he was picked previously & only dropped out of the squad due to injury, and is fit again.
Surely Marco should be in the squad again too now that he is starting & scoring again, and considering how good he looked in the Qatar half game not so long ago.
Only 5 Nix players on the AWs shortlist for March. Who of Paulsen, Surman, Payne, Rufer, Old or Kosta misses out?
Maybe Surman, with Tuiloma who missed the Nov window comes back in? Or maybe Paulsen if he is only going to be 3rd keeper anyway behind Crocombe & Sail? Deemed not worth flying him all the way to the UAE just to do that. Or the midfield is just too clogged (Bell, Dibley-Dias, Lewis, Stamenic, Garbett) and Rufer misses out
Chiefy said that Baze said 5 Nix players were on the shortlist for the March squad and two others were on standby. Any guesses of who they are?
I personally think Paulsen, Payne, Surman, Rufer, Old, Kosta should be in the squad, and that would likely leave LKH as the 7th player. I think Sutton should be in the conversation but hasn't been playing enough to earn a spot, and LKH's versatility might help his chances of getting selected, but I think McGarry is likely to get the second LB spot seeing as he was picked previously & only dropped out of the squad due to injury, and is fit again.
Surely Marco should be in the squad again too now that he is starting & scoring again, and considering how good he looked in the Qatar half game not so long ago.
Only 5 Nix players on the AWs shortlist for March. Who of Paulsen, Surman, Payne, Rufer, Old or Kosta misses out?
Maybe Surman, with Tuiloma who missed the Nov window comes back in? Or maybe Paulsen if he is only going to be 3rd keeper anyway behind Crocombe & Sail? Deemed not worth flying him all the way to the UAE just to do that. Or the midfield is just too clogged (Bell, Dibley-Dias, Lewis, Stamenic, Garbett) and Rufer misses out
Whoever it is will be unlucky.
AT CB surely Surman is a nailed on starter along side Boxy.
Chiefy said that Baze said 5 Nix players were on the shortlist for the March squad and two others were on standby. Any guesses of who they are?
I personally think Paulsen, Payne, Surman, Rufer, Old, Kosta should be in the squad, and that would likely leave LKH as the 7th player. I think Sutton should be in the conversation but hasn't been playing enough to earn a spot, and LKH's versatility might help his chances of getting selected, but I think McGarry is likely to get the second LB spot seeing as he was picked previously & only dropped out of the squad due to injury, and is fit again.
Surely Marco should be in the squad again too now that he is starting & scoring again, and considering how good he looked in the Qatar half game not so long ago.
Only 5 Nix players on the AWs shortlist for March. Who of Paulsen, Surman, Payne, Rufer, Old or Kosta misses out?
Maybe Surman, with Tuiloma who missed the Nov window comes back in? Or maybe Paulsen if he is only going to be 3rd keeper anyway behind Crocombe & Sail? Deemed not worth flying him all the way to the UAE just to do that. Or the midfield is just too clogged (Bell, Dibley-Dias, Lewis, Stamenic, Garbett) and Rufer misses out
Whoever it is will be unlucky.
AT CB surely Surman is a nailed on starter along side Boxy.
I’d have Bindon decently ahead of Surman. Bindon’s been one of the best defenders in the entirety of League One in 2024
Chiefy said that Baze said 5 Nix players were on the shortlist for the March squad and two others were on standby. Any guesses of who they are?
I personally think Paulsen, Payne, Surman, Rufer, Old, Kosta should be in the squad, and that would likely leave LKH as the 7th player. I think Sutton should be in the conversation but hasn't been playing enough to earn a spot, and LKH's versatility might help his chances of getting selected, but I think McGarry is likely to get the second LB spot seeing as he was picked previously & only dropped out of the squad due to injury, and is fit again.
Surely Marco should be in the squad again too now that he is starting & scoring again, and considering how good he looked in the Qatar half game not so long ago.
Only 5 Nix players on the AWs shortlist for March. Who of Paulsen, Surman, Payne, Rufer, Old or Kosta misses out?
Maybe Surman, with Tuiloma who missed the Nov window comes back in? Or maybe Paulsen if he is only going to be 3rd keeper anyway behind Crocombe & Sail? Deemed not worth flying him all the way to the UAE just to do that. Or the midfield is just too clogged (Bell, Dibley-Dias, Lewis, Stamenic, Garbett) and Rufer misses out
Whoever it is will be unlucky.
AT CB surely Surman is a nailed on starter along side Boxy.
I’d have Bindon decently ahead of Surman. Bindon’s been one of the best defenders in the entirety of League One in 2024
Except for when he was dropped - or played as a RB. Whist getting praise it has been noted he did make some errors early on... and he's playing for a team that is struggling.
Surman is a starter in the top team in the A League, which is a better comp and standard than League 1 IMO. Surman should be ahead based on that.
Tuiloma can't defend, and so cannot be trusted as a CB in a back 4. Payne is a better RB. He should not be starting for the All Whites. Could be our second best RB option currently given Roux is never given a chance, Elliot hasn't been playing and who knows how good Kirwan is anymore post ACL.
Edit: and for me, Surman has got to be the man who partners Boxall. I haven't watched enough of Bindon to know how good he is but top of the A-League is probably better than bottom of League One. Bindon while very promising also looks like he has a bit of growing/filling out to do, Surman already looks more like the finished product.
Judging off league level isn’t ideal - Bindon is a better football player than Surman.
He’s is in the form of his life, and is a monumentally better ball-player than Surman. Reading aren’t struggling anymore, btw, and Bindon’s play has been central to their resurgence (potentially being their best player through the stretch). He also has more experience as a LCB and has a better weak foot. Complements Boxall far better
Quibbling over who's better between Bindon and Surman seems to miss the point. One is 19 and one's 20. I love Boxall but he'll be 36 this year. I think Bindon and Surman both need to be in the squad and both need to get time out on the pitch alongside Boxall. If Boxall makes it to the next world cup he'll likely be one of the oldest outfield players in the tournament. Don't get me wrong, the man is impressively fit and can turn on the gas when he needs to, but he's no guarantee, so we need to develop these young guys. Fortunately both their clubs are doing a good job developing them as well.
If Sail makes the wider squad he has to be behind Crocombe and Paulsen.
Assuming there's only 5 Phoenix players in contention, then it's got to be Paulsen, Surman, and Kosta (given Wood's likely absence) alongside two of Rufer, Old, and Payne. I can't make the call between those three.
Tuiloma shouldn't be playing. Squad player at best. I feel he's snuck into the squad in recent years on the basis of MLS being a higher level than A-League. But he doesn't seem to be performing at that level, whereas plenty of the A-League guys are performing to a high standard down under.
Really hope Bindon & Surman are the Olywhites Paris CB pairing. Will be fascinating to watch them on that big stage, against some of the world's best young players. Wouldn't surprise to see Surman head north after this ALM campaign plus Olympics.
Bazeley & Hay before both love a left footed CB. So don't rule out Pijnaker from staying in the AWs squad, and even starting alongside Boxall. Sure Nando is in a very average league, but don't think Baze is going to discharge him completely just yet. He's played in alot of big AWs games now. Jack Iredale also a possibility.
Watched highlights of Minnesota verus Columbus yesterday in the MLS. Columbus have a gun striker 24 yr old from Colombia. Scored 21 MLS goals (33 games) last year as the Crew won the title. From highlights Boxy looked somewhat his 36 years as he and his team mates struggled to close down the Crew. So yeah is going to be tough for him to hang in for the 2026 WC, played in a US summer - but he'll be desperate to do so.
A WC possibly a career highlight for a guy like Boxy, and yeah seems he keeps himself in top physical shape. Tough bootcamping in the NZ summer his regular thing with Coach Sunz (AWs trainer, plus Adesanya and Kai Kara France).
Tuiloma was on goal scoring fire for Portland in 2022, and so Hay picked him alongside Pijnaker and Reid in the big Costa Rica playoff - when apart from the Wood the AWs goal scoring threats were limited. Great at attacking headers & also a free kick threat. But yeah his defensive frailities are always there, and he may not have played a MLS game by this UAE tourney. He could drop out.
Chiefy said that Baze said 5 Nix players were on the shortlist for the March squad and two others were on standby. Any guesses of who they are?
I personally think Paulsen, Payne, Surman, Rufer, Old, Kosta should be in the squad, and that would likely leave LKH as the 7th player. I think Sutton should be in the conversation but hasn't been playing enough to earn a spot, and LKH's versatility might help his chances of getting selected, but I think McGarry is likely to get the second LB spot seeing as he was picked previously & only dropped out of the squad due to injury, and is fit again.
Surely Marco should be in the squad again too now that he is starting & scoring again, and considering how good he looked in the Qatar half game not so long ago.
Good to know I was on the money with that call. But it makes sense - All are getting good minutes and are in excellent form. You should be rewarded for that. Good mix of youth and experience in there too.
As for the chat around Tuiloma, well he simply hasn't done enough on a football pitch recently to earn a call up. Early days in 2024 MLS season as well, but it's looking likely to be another bench warming role this term.
It's not his fault whatsoever, because he doesn't get a say in the move, but that transfer from Portland was possibly the worst move of his career. Nailed on starter in the West, to being on the periphery in North Carolina. Football can be a cruel game.
As for Bindon v Surman - Bindon takes it for me. He's earning rave reviews over in England. Great reading (😎) of the game and has a slightly better technical level than Surman (not by much though) Wasn't he also being scouted by Arsenal or Tottenham or some London PL club not that long ago too?
Just my opinion of course - Surman is really not far behind at all, and as someone above alluded to, he already has more to the physical side of his game than Bindon, who should be looking at smashing the gym in the upcoming off-season. But for all that chat around those two lads I don't get all the squabbling either. It's just great to have a couple of quality young CB's coming through at club level an hopefully shining in the national team setup. I hope they both keep progressing at the rate they have been - Could easily be a cornerstone AW's CB pairing for the next 10-15 years all going well.
I thought it had been confirmed Iredale was not an option NZ could go for unless we tried the ol' Declan Wynne approach.
Our Olywhites squad is shaping up to be a strong one and I'm looking forward to it. I do hope we get another year out of Surman in Wellington though. We shouldn't hold onto people just for the sake of it, but we've seen enough Kiwi's go to Europe possibly too early and fail to thrive.
I really hope Pijnaker doesn't start, but you never know with Bazeley.
AV on here a few months ago wrote along the lines of 'for now, things had hit a brick wall with Iredale's eligibility. Not for a lack of interest from both parties (NZF & Iredale)'. So for now yes, seems not a goer - but may not yet be dead in the water.
I'd keep an eye on Hughes as well as a future CB for the All Whites.
Has not put a foot wrong and is good with the ball.
Surman will leave after this season and Hughes will come in and shine... if Kelly Heald doesn't move back centrally.
Agree re Hughe's although he is a little small for a CB, but then maybe we've been blessed with big men lately. I'm not sure Surman is going anywhere just yet, this is his first season starting and yes he's done well but he's still has a way to go and is still young. I'd expect him to hang around for at least another season.
I'd keep an eye on Hughes as well as a future CB for the All Whites.
Has not put a foot wrong and is good with the ball.
Surman will leave after this season and Hughes will come in and shine... if Kelly Heald doesn't move back centrally.
Agree re Hughe's although he is a little small for a CB, but then maybe we've been blessed with big men lately. I'm not sure Surman is going anywhere just yet, this is his first season starting and yes he's done well but he's still has a way to go and is still young. I'd expect him to hang around for at least another season.
Surman is off contract next season (24/25). Welnix won't want to see him leave on a free. He's played 39 ALM games with 33 starts. Got 12 starts in season 20/21. U20s World Cup. Around the AWs. Fair amount of experience now.
NZ U20s captain, a leader and for sure will go to the Olympics which is a big potential shop window. Nix get a good offer I can see them taking it.
Like a few others, alot could depend whether Gill & Chiefy can get him to sign a 1-2 year extension, post this season. If not the club definitely won't want him leaving on a free. They had too much of that last season, with Sail, Lewis etc.
Feel bad for Rufer if he has missed out. Form midfielder in the comp and doesn't make the cut?
Have we selected a shadow u23 side for the games as part of our prep for the Olympics - would explain why he has missed out... assuming Lewis has not been selected as well.
Feel bad for Rufer if he has missed out. Form midfielder in the comp and doesn't make the cut?
Have we selected a shadow u23 side for the games as part of our prep for the Olympics - would explain why he has missed out... assuming Lewis has not been selected as well.
Rufer over Lewis this season IMO.
Lewis played really well for Mcarthur last game I saw. Offers quit a lot with that left foot option.
Rufer will be unlucky if he misses out. But yes I imagine Bazeley is keen to get Garbett, Stamenic & Dibley-Dias all together in AWs camp, with a big eye towards Paris.
Despite calls to, Baze ain't going to drop Bell, the AWs captain in waiting. So the DM space is crowded. Rufer may have to wait until the OFC Nations Cup in June, that a few Euro based AWs could miss. Like the Norwegian club season may play through that June window?
Anyway all highlights the unparalleled midfield riches, that by their historical standards the AWs now have.
Lewis & Bell have a really good understanding in midfield, and Lewis has obviously shown a lot more to date than Rufer in a white shirt, so can understand for now if there is only space for one of Lewis & Rufer that Lewis goes. But Bazeley won't be able to ignore Rufer forever if he keeps up this sort of form.
I get that it is hard to "drop" your captain but surely if his form in the AW's shirt has not been up to the standard he has set and his club form hasnt been flash it has to be considered. Bell is quality, but his form has dropped considerably over the last two campaigns. can't be afraid to make the tough calls, it's not like we are short on experienced midfield players.
I get that it is hard to "drop" your captain but surely if his form in the AW's shirt has not been up to the standard he has set and his club form hasnt been flash it has to be considered. Bell is quality, but his form has dropped considerably over the last two campaigns. can't be afraid to make the tough calls, it's not like we are short on experienced midfield players.
I agree. Players should be earning the Fern not just expecting it.
No one, not even Wood, should be there without form merit.
Gone of the days of Unattached FC or your a pro so here's a cap.
I get that it is hard to "drop" your captain but surely if his form in the AW's shirt has not been up to the standard he has set and his club form hasnt been flash it has to be considered. Bell is quality, but his form has dropped considerably over the last two campaigns. can't be afraid to make the tough calls, it's not like we are short on experienced midfield players.
Has his form really dropped much though? Or has that just become a bit of a peddled narrative. How many of us watch or follow the Eliteserien, as I think Carlind mentioned? I'd say yes he's stagnated, when we had all hoped he might be in a league like The Championship by now.
The problem at Brondby reportedly was that though he had very good passing stats, there we very few assists, or quality attacking passes forward. They had a change of manager and Bell didn't fit in with what that manager wanted.
So back to Norway. He finished the season at Viking sometimes on the bench, but the whole team had a bad form slump, so who knows what the manager wanted then. Maybe Bell had a niggle, like some of the Nix's players have been on restricted mins of late. Be interesting to see whether Joe B's a starter immediatey in 2024.
Then for the AWs, I just remember 3 things about Bell in 2023. Lovely assist for Garbett to score againt China at the ROF. Being dispossessed against a hard pressing Sweden and the AWs concede, and then a few days later not bringing them back on after HT against Qatar.
I don't remember him as being particular bad for the AWs. And could he be as good as Rufer currently is, in the ALM? Good chance he would be I'd say. D'Agostino, Stensness, Yazbek & Lino have all left the ALM to sign for Viking. So the Eliteserien must be considered a step up? Keegan Jelacic didn't exactly star when on loan there last year.
I think the disappointment is that Bell hasn't kicked on we had expected, rather than him having any real form downturn. I mean look at Stamenic, he hasn't started a league game for Red Star since 25th Nov. Means for the last 8 league games he's been either on the bench (4) or missing altogether (4). Careers ain't always a straight path upwards.
Partly as well when he first was captain we had quite a smooth passing game, coming off our Olympic campaign.
Our game against Greece was poor, but that was later shown as Greece being particularly good with very good management.
We weren’t exactly poor, but started badly against Ireland and weren’t as cohesive as expected against Sweden.
It’s hard to say, because I think the game he and Rufer play are quite different. Currently Rufer has a club manager who has found the ideal role for him.
It’s hard to know really if Bell’s seeming drop off for the AWs is a manager out of their depth, which is certainly no crime against someone as steeped in the game as Gus Poyet, (or even most steady European club managers who have to battle once or twice a week) or that he’s not doing the things he could as well.
Stamenic is also not the guaranteed club starter he was and being honest we have strength there, but no one with Simon Elliot type experience yet.
We did rather feel that Singh/Bell/Stamenic and perhaps Garbett might be Championship level starters sooner rather than later, so that’s probably contributed to that feeling of not making progress.
It’s hard to say who has the greater talent or ceiling, but Rufer certainly has confidence and momentum in his game at the current time.
I get that it is hard to "drop" your captain but surely if his form in the AW's shirt has not been up to the standard he has set and his club form hasnt been flash it has to be considered. Bell is quality, but his form has dropped considerably over the last two campaigns. can't be afraid to make the tough calls, it's not like we are short on experienced midfield players.
Has his form really dropped much though? Or has that just become a bit of a peddled narrative. How many of us watch or follow the Eliteserien, as I think Carlind mentioned? I'd say yes he's stagnated, when we had all hoped he might be in a league like The Championship by now.
The problem at Brondby reportedly was that though he had very good passing stats, there we very few assists, or quality attacking passes forward. They had a change of manager and Bell didn't fit in with what that manager wanted.
So back to Norway. He finished the season at Viking sometimes on the bench, but the whole team had a bad form slump, so who knows what the manager wanted then. Maybe Bell had a niggle, like some of the Nix's players have been on restricted mins of late. Be interesting to see whether Joe B's a starter immediatey in 2024.
Then for the AWs, I just remember 3 things about Bell in 2023. Lovely assist for Garbett to score againt China at the ROF. Being dispossessed against a hard pressing Sweden and the AWs concede, and then a few days later not bringing them back on after HT against Qatar.
I don't remember him as being particular bad for the AWs. And could he be as good as Rufer currently is, in the ALM? Good chance he would be I'd say. D'Agostino, Stensness, Yazbek & Lino have all left the ALM to sign for Viking. So the Eliteserien must be considered a step up? Keegan Jelacic didn't exactly star when on loan there last year.
I think the disappointment is that Bell hasn't kicked on we had expected, rather than him having any real form downturn. I mean look at Stamenic, he hasn't started a league game for Red Star since 25th Nov. Means for the last 8 league games he's been either on the bench (4) or missing altogether (4). Careers ain't always a straight path upwards.
You're right I can't cvomment on how he's played at his club, but judging by their results the whole team has not ben doing well, he is part of that. Then add to the the very definite drop in his influence and form over the last couple of AW campaigns. Yes he's had moments of brilliance, but in general he has not been as influencial as in the past. Personally I'd be looking to either take the captaincy away from him and let him focus on playing or benching him.
