All Whites v Kenya | Sun 3rd June | 2:30am

I think Jake Gleeson got signed by the Timbers, as some scout was basically channel surfing whatever age group World Cup he was at??

There will be people watching this tourney, for sure not the recruiting staff at Real Madrid, but someone. So who knows what could happen. For example the coach of India is a respected experienced Englishman, so who knows what contacts he would have if one the young AWs shone against India.

Singh scored. 1-0

Take that

Of course the first goal’s a 25 yarder from Singh, it was meant to be. What a strike son

The end on view of that, beautiful goal

1-1. Kenya score from a beautiful free kick that came from a non-foul

That was some bullshark from the ref. No way that was a foul

It was a free kick. Why would you go to ground there? Dumb

To block the shot? Which he did effectively? The player taking the shot followed through and then there was contact, don't think it was a foul.

http://live.drakulawidget.com/streamvideo10/kenya-vs-new-zealand-live-stream-4669374.html

Extremely dirty game for a 'friendly'

Oh you're joking

Got done by a long ball after playing all the football. How ironic to get a goal scored like that against us.

Have Kenya basically been cynically wasting time for the last 15 minutes? There's still 5 minutes to go.

Another likely loss. Hopefully the lads pull it together for game 2.

Stayed up until 4:30am to watch us get pushed around and lose to Kenya, i wonder why I even bother. Christ some of those Kenyan players are behaving disgustingly

Yeah well I think thats probably how some teams have viewed the AW's in the past, bullying/physical not playing great football but occassionally getting an undeserved result. In this case NZ were clearly the best footballing team, Kenya scored with (from what I remember) literally their only two shots on target. We did play a bit of long-ball, but they were angular balls to the corners and I wonder if the pitch conditions - it looked very damp - played a part in that tactic.

Also the ref was shark but i think thats a given when the team i'm supporting lose.

Haha you’re definitely right, taste of our own medicine. Schmid is taking us in a positive direction though. 

Can’t forget that bad luck played a part in the loss

complaining bout ref and Kenya players behaviour, if our players had taken chances in first half would have won easy. Always excuses but goals win matches. 

Anyone else find the All Whites team selection odd? We had players in there who barely featured last season. 

Appreciate it's ultimately a nothing cup, but players like Rufer & D.Ingham who barely played during the season shouldn't have started. 

Had a little lol about this

Casino Doyale!

Thought we did pretty well, Kenya basically created 3 really good chances and scored from 2 of them, not much you can do. Couple of players who I'm not sure should be starting. Singh did very well in the first half especially.

We lost the game when the coach subbed off our centre midfield and brought on non-midfielders like Billingsley. Lose the ball in midfield then have centre back Mitchell one on one with striker who has the run on him.  

OMG beaten by Kenya and people on here are saying we played well it was a crap game from from start to finish

It is essentially a NZ development XI in a meaningless tournament that is only good to give up coming players a taste of international footballl in similar hostile climatic conditions, and that it was all expenses paid.

Nothing to get upset about.

is there a highlights clip around anywhere?

That was pants...

We clearly were the better team, but instead of trying to play the ball we resorted to hoofing it far too often. On D our midfield was nowhere to be seen with them sitting far to deep and allowing Kenya to get on the ball - when pressured they faulted, but we weren't aggressive enough, for long enough.

Some poor performances in my mind...

Doyle - disgusting yellow - your the capatain, lead from the front.

Howieson - not an effective link between D and A - did not control the game.

Ridenton - stepped down in quality because the of the opposition instead of rising to it.

Billingsley - WTF, how did he get picked. No touch, no vision at 7 goals in 50 plus games as a striker at the college level!

Poor game regardless if it was a youthful side or not - no wnated to take control of the game.

That was very much Kenya's B side as well.

Guys it's pretty much a glorified training run. Given we made so many subs it's pretty clear we aren't too fussed about the results. Kenya on the otherhand seemed to be more keen to run the clock down.

Not many took the opportunity given to them. Mitchell was impressive, Singh showed what he can do. Our lack of options after Wood up front were seriously exposed.

Also this is where players like Ridenton and Howieson should be stamping their mark but they are far too passive, ie quite often play a simple ball but then just stand still rather than make themselves an option. Assume there will be changes for the next game to give the likes of Lewis a chance

Still, it was Kenya B as well; not great for the ol' FIFA ranking I assume.

we were always going to struggle to score more than one especially starting Rufer up front.

Fair, but we’ve been on a four+ year losing run so we need to start winning some games against non-island teams, especially crap ones

Sure, we’re in a rut though. We’ve been “unlucky” and “guilty of missing chances” for ages now and it feels like we’ve gone backwards and forgotten how to win. On merit we’d be outside the top 100 now when we were probably more like a 60-70 team. It’s not great

Doyale with cheese 

Wouldnt the idea be to always try and put on the field an all whites team capable of winning.

So some games it will be your top players whereas other games in would be a mix of experience and youth.

That way you start to develop a bit of a winning culture, you also develop youth and you slowly climb up the rankings.

ie development thru winning.

Otherwise you just get 4 yearly cycles of mostly losses. The Aw's have so few games, they need to be at least be doing whats required to try and win each one . Builds a better vibe i would have thought in the team and for the public and media.

Yeah but with current WC qualifying path through shark hole of ONC, the first 2 years of any cycle mean virtually squat. It really doesn't start until 2020. Like this year, best to just give senior pros a break (keeps their clubs happy, and gives their bodies a proper off season) esp as they really have nothing to prove to Schmid. Is a pity MLS is continuing through this period. Esp keen to see Collier in an AWs shirt (though he's injured now anyhow).

Sure would be great if AWs were improving their shark FIFA ranking - but a FIFA ranking is not what gets you to a WC through ONC. It's beating the Island nations, and then being in the best shape can be (strong player depth, limited injuries, big slice of luck) for 2 huge playoff games in 2021.

So Schmid might as well trial some youngsters now, and see who steps up. Add to the player depth pool. 

Gteed that either 1-2 of big guns Thomas, Wood, Smith or Reid will be out injured come 2021. Reid was out in 2013, and Wood was on one leg 2017. Smith missed game 2 against Peru.

I've heard a rumour NZF are eying up some quality games later this year in the FIFA windows - so hopefully can put out closer to a full strength team. But again it all really starts from 2020.