That 2nd half yesterday was awful, and worst performance under Hay, since international football restarted last year.
Otherwise since the Olympics it's been mostly an upward trend.
Olywhites knocked out in Tokyo on pens to host Japan in QF
3 good AWs wins over non OFC teams (plus Algeria 'A') Oct-Nov windows last year. Worth noting Singh was playing.
A dip with a loss to Jordan in Jan window. Many players out of season, a Woud howler & first glimpse at AWs sans Singh
Winning OFC Tourney in March conceding only 1 goal, 5 wins from 5 games.
A pass mark against Peru, overcoming early stage fright to produce a good 2nd half in the first game against a real top level side, with fans present for years. Sail & Payne communicate better, or Waine stays onside & maybe it's a draw.
Then the big big game against Costa Rica when with about 70% possession, the AWs were very unlucky to lose.
Look maybe Buckingham is a better coach than Hay, I don't really have an opinion. Senior player, and captain going foward the Woodsman, rates Hay - and is not in favour of letting him go. Wood didn't have to say that.
Certainly yes Des was treatly poorly by NZF, and Hay maybe even undermined him, who knows. But now Des is a City Group Football employee, why would he give that up for likely a drop in salary to coach a team, that could barely play over the next 1-2 years.
So NZF get a new coach in now, and some of the forward momentum over the last 12 mths could be lost.
For these Socceroos games, the AWs literally had 2-4 training sessions in total. It would be the same for the next few years up to 2024 Nations Cup (if it happens) - when you might get the team together for 3 weeks. The limited time in a normal FIFA window is next to useless for entrenching a game plan, philsophy etc.
But I think Hay is gone anyway. Likely for things it seems away from the pitch. The fact no one at NZF has spoken to him about a new contract is telltale. In Peru post their playoff loss, there was huge angst as the whole nation pleaded for the much beloved coach Ricardo Gareca to stay. But despite being on $USD3.7M per year, he couldn't agree new terms with the Peru FA! Yet he basically didn't get his team much closer to the WC than what Hay did.
But yeah don't expect NZF with their paupers funds, to sign any supercoach any time soon. I did see that someone spotted Ernie Merrick on their plane!
Otherwise since the Olympics it's been mostly an upward trend.
Olywhites knocked out in Tokyo on pens to host Japan in QF
3 good AWs wins over non OFC teams (plus Algeria 'A') Oct-Nov windows last year. Worth noting Singh was playing.
A dip with a loss to Jordan in Jan window. Many players out of season, a Woud howler & first glimpse at AWs sans Singh
Winning OFC Tourney in March conceding only 1 goal, 5 wins from 5 games.
A pass mark against Peru, overcoming early stage fright to produce a good 2nd half in the first game against a real top level side, with fans present for years. Sail & Payne communicate better, or Waine stays onside & maybe it's a draw.
Then the big big game against Costa Rica when with about 70% possession, the AWs were very unlucky to lose.
Look maybe Buckingham is a better coach than Hay, I don't really have an opinion. Senior player, and captain going foward the Woodsman, rates Hay - and is not in favour of letting him go. Wood didn't have to say that.
Certainly yes Des was treatly poorly by NZF, and Hay maybe even undermined him, who knows. But now Des is a City Group Football employee, why would he give that up for likely a drop in salary to coach a team, that could barely play over the next 1-2 years.
So NZF get a new coach in now, and some of the forward momentum over the last 12 mths could be lost.
For these Socceroos games, the AWs literally had 2-4 training sessions in total. It would be the same for the next few years up to 2024 Nations Cup (if it happens) - when you might get the team together for 3 weeks. The limited time in a normal FIFA window is next to useless for entrenching a game plan, philsophy etc.
But I think Hay is gone anyway. Likely for things it seems away from the pitch. The fact no one at NZF has spoken to him about a new contract is telltale. In Peru post their playoff loss, there was huge angst as the whole nation pleaded for the much beloved coach Ricardo Gareca to stay. But despite being on $USD3.7M per year, he couldn't agree new terms with the Peru FA! Yet he basically didn't get his team much closer to the WC than what Hay did.
But yeah don't expect NZF with their paupers funds, to sign any supercoach any time soon. I did see that someone spotted Ernie Merrick on their plane!