Imagine Bazeley will be cautious with Just, feel for Surman again, I don't think will see much of Smith or Kosta, otherwise pretty solid looking squad.
I'd say the squad reflects players making themselves unavailable, Surman is just getting established etc, to Sims maybe having a chance to grab the #1 spot. Why risk that to sit on the bench?
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
MetalLegNZ
I'd say the squad reflects players making themselves unavailable, Surman is just getting established etc, to Sims maybe having a chance to grab the #1 spot. Why risk that to sit on the bench?
MLS play through the window. Portland play Colorado 23rd March. Surman in a battle to keep his starter's role with Timbers having a few CBs returning from injury & suspension. He's not needed to get the job done against Fiji and Tahiti/NC.
Even more so with Tzanev, Sims or Gray - who are all better to stay in Europe for now. One of them will likely edge Sail out for the no 3 GK spot later this year. Especially for any games on the old continent like Norway.
Waine lucky. Mata is out with a calf injury.
Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Oli Sail
Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michaell Boxall, Liberato Caccae, Francis de Vries, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Storm Roux, Tommy Smith
Midfielders: Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Elijah Just, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic
Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Callum McCowatt, Jesse Randall, Logan Rogerson, Ben Waine, Chris Wood
I'd say the squad reflects players making themselves unavailable, Surman is just getting established etc, to Sims maybe having a chance to grab the #1 spot. Why risk that to sit on the bench?
MLS play through the window. Portland play Colorado 23rd March. Surman in a battle to keep his starter's role with Timbers having a few CBs returning from injury & suspension. He's not needed to get the job done against Fiji and Tahiti/NC.
Even more so with Tzanev, Sims or Gray - who are all better to stay in Europe for now. One of them will likely edge Sail out for the no 3 GK spot later this year. Especially for any games on the old continent like Norway.
Waine lucky. Mata is out with a calf injury.
Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Oli Sail
Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michaell Boxall, Liberato Caccae, Francis de Vries, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Storm Roux, Tommy Smith
Midfielders: Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Elijah Just, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic
Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Callum McCowatt, Jesse Randall, Logan Rogerson, Ben Waine, Chris Wood
I think the luckiest one in the squad is Randall. Hasn't been that outstanding for AFC and yes Sail and Waine should both be watching their backs.
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
Randall has scored 2 goals in his last 3 games. Only 1 a start. He's playing in a strong team yes, but those are some handy recent scoring stats. Showed some good courage on the weekend to bang in that header. Waine has by far the worst scoring record this season of any of the forwards selected.
But yeah plenty of competition for places now. All of Thomas, Rojas, Mata, De Jong, Gillion, Howieson could yet break into the squad. Old probably a certainty. Is going to be some hard luck selection stories come next year.
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
What's with the Rufer hate I keep seeing across a few places? Sure he's been injured but he's a leader of men and a good NZ midfielder regardless of how awful the Nix have been this year.
They should win this game by 8 goals surely?? Fiji are not exactly a powerhouse team.
The only thing they have going for them is they will have been in camp for 3-4 weeks prior, so as best prepared as they came be. Played some games together against Northern League teams. Rob Shearman a good coach, who knows NZ well.
The AWs on the other hand will have very limited prep. Maybe as little as 1-2 sessions together. Guys flying in late from Europe & the US. It could be a rusty first half especially, Fiji well drilled, parking the bus.
But as soon as the AWs score one, the Fijians will have to play. It's knockout football. A 3-0 loss is no more good than losing 8-2. That when it will open up & NZ should feed off that.
Think it's unfair on Rufer to say he's in 'pretty bad form right now,' considering the high physical toll glandular fever would've had on him, plus the last two Phoenix games have been his first starts since returning to the matchday squad against Victory at AAMI.
Think it's unfair on Rufer to say he's in 'pretty bad form right now,' considering the high physical toll glandular fever would've had on him, plus the last two Phoenix games have been his first starts since returning to the matchday squad against Victory at AAMI.
I think that's fair. His health has lead to bad form... he's not at his usual high level.
Still can't believe Sail made it based on his form.
Edit I think its 9 ex not 7. Forgot McCowatt and Joe Bell.
I think with Sail it’s being local-ish compared to the others.
But also of late he has made some absolutely outstanding saves, and it’s well known that he has been a great keeper in the past. He’s an excellent 3rd choice. No real threat to the starters currently, but plenty to offer them in training and great validation for him. Plus if there is an injury crisis and he’s called upon it’s better he’s spent time with the boys. He’s capable of much better than the A league, but it’s about concentration, defense partnerships and consistency. He’s unquestionably a great shot stopper.
You see the gulf in the teams when some Fijian players have had to return home because of work commitments. Obviously their employer(s) don't rate their chances of getting to a World Cup!
Fiji coach Rob Sherman has trimmed his wider training squad from 27 to 23 ahead of next week’s FIFA World Cup 26™ Oceania Qualifiers semi-final against New Zealand in Wellington.
Nabil Begg, Samuela Kautoga, Shivneel Sharma and Mohammed Shuiab Khan have returned home either due to injury or work related commitments.
The side has travelled this morning from their training camp base for the past 12 days in Auckland to Wellington where they will spend the next nine days fine tuning preparations for the March 21 encounter.
‘We’re playing a fully professional team, and therefore it’s a big step up.” Sherman said.
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
coochiee
You see the gulf in the teams when some Fijian players have had to return home because of work commitments. Obviously their employer(s) don't rate their chances of getting to a World Cup!
Fiji coach Rob Sherman has trimmed his wider training squad from 27 to 23 ahead of next week’s FIFA World Cup 26™ Oceania Qualifiers semi-final against New Zealand in Wellington.
Nabil Begg, Samuela Kautoga, Shivneel Sharma and Mohammed Shuiab Khan have returned home either due to injury or work related commitments.
The side has travelled this morning from their training camp base for the past 12 days in Auckland to Wellington where they will spend the next nine days fine tuning preparations for the March 21 encounter.
‘We’re playing a fully professional team, and therefore it’s a big step up.” Sherman said.
I won't get started... but for me this just shows how much a joke OFC is.
Just merge it was Asia already. It'd be harder for us to get to a world cup, but we would have really earnt it.
As someone from a family (mum's side) of diehard Charlton Athletic supporters, it's a shame that Fiji's best player (along with Roy Krishna) has not been called up. Joshua Laqeretabua - a 19 year-old at Charlton Athletic was not called up due to English League One not breaking for FIFA windows & he's been making appearances there lately. Just signed a new three and a half year deal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Laqeretabua Played for Fiji at the 2023 FIFA u-20 World Cup Finals.
Yeah that is a shame for them. Not calling up Laqeretabua, plus guys also leaving the squad in NZ to return to Fiji for work commitments, really says they rate themselves as a no chance at the ROF.
Yeah that is a shame for them. Not calling up Laqeretabua, plus guys also leaving the squad in NZ to return to Fiji for work commitments, really says they rate themselves as a no chance at the ROF.
Possibly they were injured; at least two of those guys (Begg and Khan) released are Auckland based.
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
coochiee
Bell is also out of season. Norwegian league yet to start in 2025.
Viking have been playing a hell of a lot of friendlies the last six weeks though, a game every week starting February 1st - six games so far. https://int.soccerway.com/teams/norway/viking-fotballklubb/1596/ Bell is not being released until his club absolutely have to, after Viking's friendly against Rosenborg on Monday morning NZT. Their season itself kicks off for Viking in two week's time. __________________________________________________- Callum McCowatt similarly isn't being released until after his club Silkeborg's big final regular season game in the Danish league against major side Brondby on Monday am NZT. https://int.soccerway.com/teams/denmark/silkeborg-if-fs/609/ It's a tussle between sixth (Brondby) and seventh (Silkeborg) on the table, both on 32 points. "Brøndby and Silkeborg will meet in the 22nd and final round, for the last spot in the coming "Championship rounds". Silkeborg and Brondby are going to end up thoroughly sick of each other. They are also meeting in the two-legged Danish Cup semi-final starting May 1 NZT. Although Silkeborg's schedule means McCowatt will arrive later than is ideal for All Whites duty, it works out well for his club since they have no games between Monday morning's final league game and the Championship or Relegation rounds starting on March 31 NZT.
