https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350215916/questionable-penalty-sinks-all-whites-against-egypt
Changes I'd make game 2
In - Bindon, Rufer, Old & Barba
Out - Pijnaker, Lewis, Garbett & McCowatt
Might as well give the 3 Nix guys a chance to see what they can do. They have all been out of the AWs awhile, so a few extra training sessions should hopefully have them closer to ready. They will also have the club combination thing going on.
I thought Lewis played well, especially later in the game. Was a great inter change between him & Singh to create one of the AWs few really strong chances (for Libby/Mata).
But everyone's clamouring for Rufer - so yeah lets see what he can do at the international level. Stamenic to push a bit further forward without Lewis.
Garbett was scratchy but that's not surprising given he's hardly played the last 6 weeks after dislocating his shoulder.
And re the lack of goals (or a goal) yet again, it's hardly a surprise. Apart from Barba in the ALM, and Mata now back in the LOI there is no one in this squad scoring regularly in club football. So might as well give in form Barba, a start ahead of McC to see what he can do. But it's far from a given it will be any better, Kosta's scoring record over a long time for the AWs is poor.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350215915/all-whites-forced-make-changes-settled-front-six-against-egypt
Changes I'd make game 2
In - Bindon, Rufer, Old & Barba
Out - Pijnaker, Lewis, Garbett & McCowatt
Might as well give the 3 Nix guys a chance to see what they can do. They have all been out of the AWs awhile, so a few extra training sessions should hopefully have them closer to ready. They will also have the club combination thing going on.
I thought Lewis played well, especially later in the game. Was a great inter change between him & Singh to create one of the AWs few really strong chances (for Libby/Mata).
But everyone's clamouring for Rufer - so yeah lets see what he can do at the international level. Stamenic to push a bit further forward without Lewis.
Garbett was scratchy but that's not surprising given he's hardly played the last 6 weeks after dislocating his shoulder.
And re the lack of goals (or a goal) yet again, it's hardly a surprise. Apart from Barba in the ALM, and Mata now back in the LOI there is no one in this squad scoring regularly in club football. So might as well give in form Barba, a start ahead of McC to see what he can do. But it's far from a given it will be any better, Kosta's scoring record over a long time for the AWs is poor.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350215915/all-whites-forced-make-changes-settled-front-six-against-egypt