Yup! Just as i thought. Woods yellow card for signing autographs is going global. Already one of the lead stories here in France on France24 and Radio France International
Yup! Just as i thought. Woods yellow card for signing autographs is going global. Already one of the lead stories here in France on France24 and Radio France International
If you're comparing them to Vanuatu, I remember it was 1-1 after about 25 minutes in the game against them, and Vanuatu were easily holding their own before NZ took the initial lead, and while their goal was a bit of a fluke they really looked like they deserved to be level when they did equalise.
Of course that equaliser woke us up and we went on to steamroller them, but it is to be noted that at no point did Vanuatu try to park the bus, they were positive throughout and that is what led to us running up the score. If they had been willing and able to park the bus at 1-1, who knows what might have happened?
Fiji will be coming to park the bus, and if it is a sharkty and windy day in Wellington, and if they keep it scoreless for 25-30 minutes then you know that a little bit of panic could set in in the minds of our players. Another thing that could happen is Wood could pull a hammy 15 minutes in, that'd be a huge boost to Fiji's confidence and dent in ours.
I'll honestly be very surprised if we win by more than 3.
hey, it's good to be proven wrong. We really struggled to put OFC nations away for pretty much all of the 2010s, even Hay's All Whites battled at times against OFC teams. I was conditioned by that into thinking that we might fail to turn our superiority into scoreline dominance when it really mattered. But this NZ team really is different, and unfortunately the Island nations have regressed in recent years too. We are consistently putting these teams to the sword in a way I haven't personally seen in my football watching lifetime. coochiee
imanixsupporter
If you're comparing them to Vanuatu, I remember it was 1-1 after about 25 minutes in the game against them, and Vanuatu were easily holding their own before NZ took the initial lead, and while their goal was a bit of a fluke they really looked like they deserved to be level when they did equalise.
Of course that equaliser woke us up and we went on to steamroller them, but it is to be noted that at no point did Vanuatu try to park the bus, they were positive throughout and that is what led to us running up the score. If they had been willing and able to park the bus at 1-1, who knows what might have happened?
Fiji will be coming to park the bus, and if it is a sharkty and windy day in Wellington, and if they keep it scoreless for 25-30 minutes then you know that a little bit of panic could set in in the minds of our players. Another thing that could happen is Wood could pull a hammy 15 minutes in, that'd be a huge boost to Fiji's confidence and dent in ours.
I'll honestly be very surprised if we win by more than 3.
Hard to read much from that game given how superior we were and the fact that the whole team apart from Payne had flown halfway across the world a few days ago. Probably helped Payne to stand out. Stamenic the other standout for me, along with Singh and Wood (but that's always a given with those two).
Everyone else was solid too, except for McCowatt. Garbett wasn't as impressive as his usual self but wasn't downright bad like McCowatt. Eli Just the most impressive of the subs and should start on Monday.
We were a bit disjointed, even when ignoring whatever it was McCowatt was doing. A bit worrying that it took until Fiji were wiped out from all their pressing for our midfield to really click into gear. I think we could do with more midfield presence, you can get away with the 4-2-3-1 against Island nations but I'd rather see a 4-3-2-1, with the fullbacks bombing forward to provide width. Sacrifice Garbett as his lack of gametime seems to have affected him.
I'd start this team on Monday:
Crocombe Payne Boxall Bindon Cacace Bell Rufer Stamenic Singh Just Wood
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
imanixsupporter
Hard to read much from that game given how superior we were and the fact that the whole team apart from Payne had flown halfway across the world a few days ago. Probably helped Payne to stand out. Stamenic the other standout for me, along with Singh and Wood (but that's always a given with those two).
Everyone else was solid too, except for McCowatt. Garbett wasn't as impressive as his usual self but wasn't downright bad like McCowatt. Eli Just the most impressive of the subs and should start on Monday.
We were a bit disjointed, even when ignoring whatever it was McCowatt was doing. A bit worrying that it took until Fiji were wiped out from all their pressing for our midfield to really click into gear. I think we could do with more midfield presence, you can get away with the 4-2-3-1 against Island nations but I'd rather see a 4-3-2-1, with the fullbacks bombing forward to provide width. Sacrifice Garbett as his lack of gametime seems to have affected him.
I'd start this team on Monday:
Crocombe Payne Boxall Bindon Cacace Bell Rufer Stamenic Singh Just Wood
This is a good team, but that double cdm pivot is probably over kill for the island nations, but was very effective when used for the USA match. I feel for waine he must be going through abit of lack of belief, I’d like to see us get a handy lead by half time in Auckland then sub wood and give Waine a half to help get his form and confidence up. Some definite positives, Singh looked almost back to his best, wood obviously on fire, Bindon a rock at the back and worked well with boxall even if they weren’t challenged a lot. Payne would have got a much needed confidence boost and hopefully Cheify was watching and realised we need a target man for those crosses. As for the “we must leave ofc” crowd, I personally disagree, it’s really only been this current team that has dominated and not played down to there level and we should make the World Cup again all going to plan which will put us on the global stage, we should get more air time in nz getting more fans excited, teams knowing we will most likely qualify and do it early have enabled us to book some pretty good friendly games, so we are testing ourselves against higher opponents and come World Cup we should be pretty well drilled, also the money we get for World Cup qualification will help keep nzf ticking and may even mean they can afford to bring a top team to play us in nz.
Bazely will want to get this team setup playing as often as he can, 2 CDM's maybe overkil for an island nation but it wont be at the World cup or in the quad tourney.
If you're comparing them to Vanuatu, I remember it was 1-1 after about 25 minutes in the game against them, and Vanuatu were easily holding their own before NZ took the initial lead, and while their goal was a bit of a fluke they really looked like they deserved to be level when they did equalise.
Of course that equaliser woke us up and we went on to steamroller them, but it is to be noted that at no point did Vanuatu try to park the bus, they were positive throughout and that is what led to us running up the score. If they had been willing and able to park the bus at 1-1, who knows what might have happened?
Fiji will be coming to park the bus, and if it is a sharkty and windy day in Wellington, and if they keep it scoreless for 25-30 minutes then you know that a little bit of panic could set in in the minds of our players. Another thing that could happen is Wood could pull a hammy 15 minutes in, that'd be a huge boost to Fiji's confidence and dent in ours.
I'll honestly be very surprised if we win by more than 3.
Hoping for a comfortable stress free win but not a thrashing like 7 zip. We want New Caledonia to do well come the intercontinental play offs and not embarrass themselves
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
we win and we go to the world cup.
sub plots like 'waino looks a little sad, lets give him minutes', and 'lets try this or that' dont matter until we have sealed the result.
(apologies for the intensity... ive seen us miss so many in the past. 1986 hurt the most)
a double pivot exists as much to dominate weaker opposition and build constructive play, as it does to stop better opposition. it's a shape we're bedding in to be effective in all games. i like that we're using it.
I would also hope nzf uses some money they get from World Cup to help the island nations
The new OFC pro league being essentially bankrolled by FIFA is the game changer the Island teams need.
They will always have limited ceilings they can get to, but this league will undoubtedly see some improvement
Have read that $40 million has been set aside for that league too, with Australian entrants having to fund their own way.
The other way that will improve these island nations is regularly qualifying for youth world cups (17's - 3 spots & 20's - 2 spots) this will arguably be better for their development in the long run if they can consistently make it to the world stage.
The island nations are in the same position we were 25 odd years ago. Exposure, pathways and money down will help them more than any handout that we could ever give them (not likely that we would in any case anyway).
I would also hope nzf uses some money they get from World Cup to help the island nations
The new OFC pro league being essentially bankrolled by FIFA is the game changer the Island teams need.
They will always have limited ceilings they can get to, but this league will undoubtedly see some improvement
Have read that $40 million has been set aside for that league too, with Australian entrants having to fund their own way.
The other way that will improve these island nations is regularly qualifying for youth world cups (17's - 3 spots & 20's - 2 spots) this will arguably be better for their development in the long run if they can consistently make it to the world stage.
The island nations are in the same position we were 25 odd years ago. Exposure, pathways and money down will help them more than any handout that we could ever give them (not likely that we would in any case anyway).
Let’s just hope for the Island nations’ sakes that this league doesn’t somehow suffer any last minute pushbacks or setbacks, they definitely don’t deserve to have their development impacted or interrupted any longer.
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
Their very small popns and therefore playing bases with always limit any big improvement though. Only PNG and Fiji have over 1M people and the rugby codes will always dominate in both.
And Danny Hay's AWs didn't really struggle that much against OFC teams. The only time they played them was the WC qualifying tourney March 2022 in Qatar. Scores 1-0, 4-0, 7-1, 1 - 0 and 5-0.
The first few games we were understrength as tourney started outside a FIFA window. Semi against Tahiti (1-0 win) was a real grind as they totally parked the bus, but we were never in any real danger of losing. The Island teams yes hindered by Covid and no real prep before the tourney.
You have to go back to Hudson's era with actual away games in the Islands plus the OFC Nations Cup in PNG, to find us close to really losing a game to an OFC team.
Yes. All afc players booed as they appeared on screen when the squad was announced at the beginning. De vries booed as he came onto the pitch as a sub.
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
AucklandPhoenix
Hopefully AFC fans will be more classy
Yeah that was embarrassing, cheering extra loud for our lads in the squad was a much better way to do it.
Speaking of discomfort, did many others in the active zone find they had families behind them with parents getting ratty because their kids couldn’t see past standing fans?
It’s great to see so many kids at the games and I certainly don’t want to spoil their experience, but at the same time I bought a ticket in the standing area for a reason.
Not sure if this is a common problem or just bad luck last night, but maybe the promoters and ticketing agencies need to make it even clearer what to expect in the zone? Personally I thought Ticketek’s description was pretty clear already, but maybe I only think that because I’ve been there before.
I would also hope nzf uses some money they get from World Cup to help the island nations
The new OFC pro league being essentially bankrolled by FIFA is the game changer the Island teams need.
They will always have limited ceilings they can get to, but this league will undoubtedly see some improvement
Have read that $40 million has been set aside for that league too, with Australian entrants having to fund their own way.
The other way that will improve these island nations is regularly qualifying for youth world cups (17's - 3 spots & 20's - 2 spots) this will arguably be better for their development in the long run if they can consistently make it to the world stage.
The island nations are in the same position we were 25 odd years ago. Exposure, pathways and money down will help them more than any handout that we could ever give them (not likely that we would in any case anyway).
Even putting aside the “Pacific family” angle of all the ties we have to other OFC members outside football, I think developing and strengthening them like this is simply in our own interest.
Overall we’re outclassed in the AFC and getting eaten alive there doesn’t help us. A significantly stronger OFC would, even if that’s something that will take a long time and a lot of effort to build up.
Sometimes “charity” is a good long-term investment.
Yes. All afc players booed as they appeared on screen when the squad was announced at the beginning. De vries booed as he came onto the pitch as a sub.
I don't even get it with De Vries, he never played for us or any Wellington team anyway.
Paulsen is the only one I could understand (but still wouldn't personally) as there's snake vibes going on there, but the rest make no sense.
That said it was mentioned somewhere that Kosta got booed at NHS against Malaysia.
I would argue we'd probably beat Australia right now.
Socceroos were having mixed results against AFC teams before they played us in that two game series before the last WC and we still managed to lose both games, we can never underestimate them.
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
With Wood we are a chance. Sans Wood we would likely be a popcorn attack, and next to none.
They ain't picking players from the Austrian or Portuguese 2nd tiers. Payne would lucky to be in their top 5 RB selections.
They would pick Cacace, Stamenic and Wood in a 23 man squad. Maybe Bindon, Paulsen and Old. We have Tyler but they have 21 yr old defender Alessandro Circati who has already played over 30 games in Serie A. Currently injured.
They are still a very solid team. Lots of experienced hard nosed guys late 20s-early 30s playing in tough leagues. They are definitely a harder team to get into, than the AWs.
Yeah that was embarrassing, cheering extra loud for our lads in the squad was a much better way to do it.
Speaking of discomfort, did many others in the active zone find they had families behind them with parents getting ratty because their kids couldn’t see past standing fans?
It’s great to see so many kids at the games and I certainly don’t want to spoil their experience, but at the same time I bought a ticket in the standing area for a reason.
Not sure if this is a common problem or just bad luck last night, but maybe the promoters and ticketing agencies need to make it even clearer what to expect in the zone? Personally I thought Ticketek’s description was pretty clear already, but maybe I only think that because I’ve been there before.
To be honest those people should be moved on. Its pretty clear what is expected of buying a ticket in an active zone means. If they buy there and expect to be able to sit or object to the language then move to an area of the stadium more suited. Those buying in the active zone to participate shouldnt have their nite affected.
Yes. All afc players booed as they appeared on screen when the squad was announced at the beginning. De vries booed as he came onto the pitch as a sub.
Yep not a good look and very disappointing to see Nix fans do this BS. Have seen it happen at Rugby games for various players some people just seem unable to understand the difference between club and Country.
Australia have made a mess of their qualifying so far. Should be cruising to qualification. They’ll still manage it, surely? Might take an extra round to do so, though…HattyCW
Ninja
I would argue we'd probably beat Australia right now.
Socceroos were having mixed results against AFC teams before they played us in that two game series before the last WC and we still managed to lose both games, we can never underestimate them.
