All Whites V New Caledonia 22 March 7:35pm - Craft Bar or Four Kings

I like how Ricki will play his favourite players out of position just so they can still be in the team, It's ridiculous. I would have called back Fitzgerald (If not injured), I rated him when I saw him play last. Bertos isn't the best at right back but the formation as a whole is far better  than the one Herbert has drawn up for us.

  Paston

Fitzgerald/Bertos  Reid  Smith  Hogg

  Vicelich             Payne

  McGlinchey 

Rojas  Wood  Brockie

Will be interesting to see how that Perth RB Roux goes for the under 20's.

He must be pushing for inclusion into the wider All Whites Squad.

I really hope we qualify for the World Cup again and that Herbert retires afterwards... I just don't like his selections and his refusal to go outside his comfort zone of players and formation will only harm us in the long run.

Fitzgerald is a CB

Yes

Not the team I would have picked, but I said Ricky's selections against Bahrain would cost us a trip to the World Cup; but was glad to admit I was wrong.

Now in Ricky I trust

is payne ready to step up? ... even though it would be nice to get keat some game time before the next round. coz ivan aint going to be around forever... but he could be...

I'm a fan of the 'get your best players on the field' theory Ricki has

absolute mess of a team - I think that if Moss and Nelsen were fit/available, they would have made the starting 11 in midfield

The thing I don't get is how this is going to play out.

assume that McGlinchey is going to be picking the ball up off the back 4 (cause Killen isn't going to do that).  You then lose out on having him making the play further forward.  Meaning you end up having Leo on one wing, Brockie out of position on the other then Wood, Smeltz and Marco all central, but basically no-one to actually pass the ball around high up the pitch.

If you want to stick with the 3-4-3, why not play Payne, who is comfortable on the ball as he showed at the Olympics getting the ball off the back 3, then you use McGlinchey further forward.  It's a simple change but just look so much more balanced.  We should dominate possession but without guys who can pass we'll end up wasting the quality attacking players we have

I just don't get what you get from Killen in the middle of the park.  He's pretty slow, he's not a great passer.  The only thing is he's strong in the air.

I genuinely think Ricki is getting worse as a manager - I think he needs some time away  to actually watch some football and re think his approach to the game

Defo should have gone with Payne over Killen.

Sack Ricki

Fitzgerald is a CB
[/quote]

Yes

[/quote]

No... I don't think he can be classed a CB when he has played for the last year as a midfielder for his loan team and before that in the RB position.

Its like saying killen in a midfielder, despite the fact he's played his entire career as a forward... oh shit... he is a CB.

But actually no.

He played CB

Not sure playing Wood in goal is the best bet, but i like the idea of having two attacking wingbacks. ;)

GAME DAY!!!

McGlinchy=freaking awesome 

Reid=freaking freaking awesome

Does NZFAs approach of charging more on game days affect walkups more than it does pre bookings?

Go the AWs...3-0

Wood, Rojas and Smeltzy are not exactly mud!

I don't really like Killen playing central midfield but I can understand it. We have a massive hole there with no one really looking likely to fill it. Payne might be OK but I don't really want to rely on him there for the North/Central American opponent. IMO Vicelich is no better than Killen there either. Desperately need someone new which is why I would have been keen to see Durante try to fill the position if he had been declared elligible.

I think the Phoenix employ a similar policy at some/most games? 

NZ Cricket also. 

And is 3-0 realistic? Heard that NCL won't be a pushover. 

If Dura was eligible Vicelich would be there as he wouldn't be req'd in the back fwee.

 This.

Would Killen make ACFC or Waitakere in central midfield?

Clapham must be tearing his hair out

He plays the same players just in different positions.....

#istherenooneelse

Fixed

Point is he got picked for loads of squads, never gets a game.  Then when there is no-one in his position Killen, whose last go was a complete failure, gets a chance.  You couldn't make it up!

not sure Killen's last go was a complete failure

What I'm saying is if he was any good, he would be playing. RH obviously thinks Killen out of position will get the job done better. Or he has compromising pics/vids

Ricki Herbert's views on a player?  Hmmm, don't think that's this argument won

None of which have stunning crowds.  Given fickle weathe I think its a policy that can be counterproductive..or incentive to book early is not great enough.

Yup 3-0.....too cold down there :>)..and we are up for it.  Rojas 2 and McGlinchey

it is when the decision sits with Ricki and not us, I think ricki sees Clapham as an injury reserve at best and only if all other possibilities are reseacrhed, and anyway he wants to get his best attacking players on the field, having Killen on the bench makes little sense..

Whuck it all you guys.  I'm not a die-hard AW fan but stop thinking this will be a push over.

3pts is what is needed 1-0 will do it.