All Whites v Socceroos Match Thread

 meat head. can't wait for winston to "whack them on the nose" 

There's muppets everywhere.

One of ours said on goal.com that we shouldn't have recruited Winston Reid since the A-league is of a higher standard than the Danish league.

Perfect, sounds like a media circus . . . AllWhitebelievr2010-03-29 20:09:53

Our new young looking 5-3-2 full defence / 3-2-3-2 transition / 3-4-3 full attack formation??? [I'm still push for this]

              Moss/Paston

Sigmund |    Nelsen   |   Vicelich
               V                 V
            Reid            Smith

Haynes   McGlinchey     Bertos

           Wood     Fallon

I would really be tempted to use this formation in one of the matches. Simply because it has speed,skill and youth.

The fact that we have Smith and Reid that have tidy, clean passes in the centre with McGlinchey and a bit more speed. I'll leave Bertos and Hayne to keep their speed in the midfield and on the wide. This way there is no confusion of positioning.

Reid and Smith in a 5-3-2 can start in the RCB and LCB initially but when McGlinchey/Haynes/Bertos has the ball, they can provide them with extra support and more passing options. My thought is that with Reid and Smith in extra support in the center, it will slow teams down on the counterattack through the centre, plug the gap on either side of McGlinchey, forcing the other team to knock their ball in the air over them allowing Sigmund/Nelsen/Vicelich to sweep up easier.

The counter to this for the other team is to use their wings, which by then Bertos and Hayne who are less responsive in defence can come back by speed and put the squeeze on the winger's area. For example, their right winger should be surrounded by Vicleich to his direct front, Smith on the front left and McGlinchey on the left behind and Bertos to the direct behind and the sideline to his right. With Smith already close by, the right winger with the ball has immediately two people on him not the usual one in front, plus two others coming his way. Limits his options before he can think what to do. I think it would be more competitive for us.

Half the work for defensive is sorted. If they try quick short passes through the middle in normal play, which I am assuming the pool group opponents will try to cut us up there, then having Reid and Smith in front of the back three in transition will slow them down if they get inside McGlinchey-Bertos midfield gap or Haynes-Mcglinchey midfield gap.

Their best move would be actually to go round the outside of our fastest players in Haynes and Bertos head on and even then they may get isolated should they get pass. But the problem of losing passing channel options still is there with the squeeze.

I think that in attack, everyone in front (Haynes, McGlinchey, Bertos, Wood, Fallon) would like to have a crack at shooting as well as setting each other up. Although McGlinchey is main man for the setting up.

No Smeltz, no Killen in the lineup?! I hear you all say. Well let just say I want to let the young guys some freedom in for 90 minutes to go nuts and try things. They deserve to have in the starting line up at least.

We can have Smeltz, Killen, Boyen, Elliot, Lochhead, Brown, Moss/Paston on the bench. Not a bad looking bench either.AllWhitebelievr2010-03-29 22:12:45

Anyone front row in the away zone for this?

Where are people's tickets and how have you found it?

Yea I'm row AA in the middle All White block (forget the block number). Seat numbers from memory are 17-21

Ok, did they warn you that it would be "visually obstructed"? I am about to book some seats and the ones near the front are apparently obstructed. Woman wasn't very helpful but said possibly by media, eg cameras?

Believe me, I have really thought about that type of option as well.

I know that either Wood or Fallon can go in where Haynes's position as they both had time in that position and that we can bring in Killen or Smeltz up front. That option is available during the game anyway and we could changed from the bench if we need too.

However as I have seen plenty of Haynes to suggest that he has enough speed, skill and the aggressive vigor in his game to create trouble. He is close to Bertos dribbling accuracy skill and not scared to use his weaker foot to shoot. He has a better shot than Bertos in accuracy and power and does get goals in the unlikely of places as well. He does combine well with players and is always used to get on the outside of the defender.

Besides needing him to occasionally run inside of his man in a crossfield pass rather than running on the outside or the defender will cut the supply off, he hasn't done anything to suggest that he couldn't do the job.

Actually I was surprised that Haynes wasn't given a run against Mexico because he is much faster and quicker than Barron and Ricki could have change a few things around to allow his inclusion. However I would be even more surprised if he wasn't even a run against Australia, as I would not consider the Aussies being quicker than the Mexicans.

One thing that Haynes has improved a bit this season is his automatic response that if he occasionally loses his ball, he goes straight back and gets the ball back because he has the speed to catch, tackle and attack with the ball again. I can't say the same for Bertos. Some of Haynes crossing and team work has improved more this season from what I have seen. But admittedly, I have only seen a few of his game this season but it did stand out a tad.

I understand that Haynes has been used plenty of time on that position on the right by Auckland but he can easily be used just as effectively on the left side as well. Both Bertos and Haynes can change positions during the match. A dynamic that we haven't had the pleasure of seeing in the All Whites team. By the looks of it, Fallon and Wood hasn't Haynes speed nor that type of speed dribbling required in that position. Needing quick steps rate over stride length step for closer ball control in speed dribbling.

I think he will be a nice surprise to the attack, personally.AllWhitebelievr2010-03-30 23:58:25

                    Paston

Sigmund |    Nelsen   |   lochhead
               V                 V
            Reid            Smith/Vicelich

McGlinchey   Brown         Bertos

           Smeltz/Wood     Killen

I'm not sure where to put Elliot. But he needs to be on the park somewhere. One of Smith/Reid/Sigmund will miss out and Elliot will get on screening in front of the defense.

Haynes should get some time against Australia, but i wouldn't throw him into the starting line up. Hope Chris James gets some time with his new team before then and gets into the squad.
hockeycam2010-03-31 15:48:10

If they can throw Coombes in the starting line-up as left back against Mexico, then I sure they can throw Haynes further up the field. Although this is a Trans-tasman match, it is first and foremost a training warm up game match for the World Cup Final Tournament. It may get rough, but there is only so much game time to experiment tactics.AllWhitebelievr2010-03-31 23:00:54

$97 for 2 tickets. Blimey.

this is a special game, so I don't mind paying too much for it, and it'd probably be a while until we get to see Aus v NZ in football, now the Aussies are in the Asian conference

Actually, for an international game it's not that much.

Anyone keen to do this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycCy6Qs2N7E&feature=player_embedded

Meh

A few will call me arrogant/patronising/whatever.

I sincerely hope that Smetlz said the below to help pump the game up. If he's for real, then he's a douch for saying it.

Rant over.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/05/15/smeltz-keen-on-world-cup-springboard-at-mcg/

All Whites striker urges Pim to select full strength team

A-League golden boot Shane Smeltz has urged the Socceroos to field a full-strength outfit for their World Cup campaign springboard against New Zealand at the MCG.

Concerned Pim Verbeek may pick a second-string line-up for the May 24 encounter, All Whites striker Smeltz said it would be in everyone�s interest for the trans-Tasman friendly to be treated as a full-blown international.

The Gold Coast United star labelled the clash an ideal initial warm-up for the World Cup, kicking off June 11 in South Africa, particularly if both teams are at full-strength.

�I�m really looking forward to that one,� he said.

�It�s got everything � the mix of trans-Tasman rivalry and two teams going to the World Cup in different groups.�

Smeltz is set to oppose his United captain Jason Culina in an extra edge to the match but was worried about �a few excuses� the Socceroos midfielder was already making.

�Jason has been making a few little excuses already,� he said.

�I hope they do (play their best team), obviously there is a lot of talk about injury concerns and that sort of thing but we want to take on their best side for our preparation.

�I think it�s important to do well in your lead-up games.�

Harry Kewell is at the top of a list of fitness concerns for Verbeek who this week named an extended 31-man squad that needs to be trimmed to 23 by June 1.

It�s exciting times for Smeltz and the All Whites with New Zealand last making the World Cup in 1981.

While NZ are rank outsiders, the A-League�s leading scorer of the past two seasons is confident the united All Whites can spring an ambush of more-fancied rivals to make the knockout stages.

Drawn in Group F with Italy, Slovakia and Paraguay, the Kiwis start their tournament against the Slovaks on June 15.

The subject of much speculation he would head overseas since starting with the Coast last year, Smeltz denied he was looking to jump ship after the World Cup.

�My plan hasn�t changed, I�m focussing on preparation for the World Cup,� he said.

�You never know what can come of it but I�m just going there to do well and at this stage I�ll be coming back to the Gold Coast.

�I think every player in the team can take a lot out of what we achieved in our first season but at the same time we felt as though we missed out on taking an extra step an achieving something great.�

i fail to see how that makes him a douche. i hope aus field a full strength side also..

What exactly don't you like about what he says?

He didn't say that Pim is a coaching god and that Australia are world cup favourites.

How dare he.

my team against Australia would be -

            Paston
Christie Vicelich Siggy Smith
      Reid     Brown
Leo                   
                      Clapham
      Wood   Fallon

is it only 3 subs for friendly's?

if not then my halftime subs would be-
Wood - Smeltz
Fallon - Killen
Clapham - Wee Mac(i know its not his suited posistion but give it a try)
Bertos - Brockie
Brown - Elliot(make Elliot a lone DM)
Christie - Mulligan(move Mully into AM)
Vicelich - Nelsen
Sigmund - Lochead (move lochy to LB and put smith at CB)
Put Reid into Rb.

So the 2nd half team would be
           Paston
Reid Nelsen Smith Lochead
          Elliot
          Mulligan
Brockie              Wee Mac
       Smeltz Killen

First half team is to see how decent some players are at different posistions that RH could be deciding whether there reliable at that posistion. My reason for the such dramatic swaps at halftime is to see how the boys react in different posistions/formations and just for a few boys to get there fitness levels up without being forced to playing a full 90 after a couple of months off.

Any ideas, Suggestions?

EDIT: I know some of yous will be like we wanna play a full strength side and beat the Aussies, i completely understand this is just my opinion.tomrewi2010-05-15 21:31:07

I would like to see this against Aussie.

                                      Paston
                
                     Reid          Nelsen      Vicelich


                            Brown            Elliott

   Bertos                            Mac                     Lochhead

                             Killen             Smeltz

9 days to go!!! Awesome!!

Y

I'd start Wood, definately, and test Clapham out in WeeMac's spot.

6 subs in friendlies. The rule changed after the England vs Australia game in Feb 2003, when Sven G.E. made 11 substitutions at half time. He changed the whole team.

The rule for 6 in a friendly came in after this game.

Do I have to tell you to calm down again?

Smeltzy is basically a Queenslander anyway, he of all people should know not to tell other countries what players to field.

If he's used it to wind up the game then good on him, but if he's being serious...

Give him the benefit of the doubt, the media is good at taking these comments out of context.

Its three subs in world cup games???

It's three subs in any official game.

I read Shane Smeltz's interview with interest.
Lets hope his AW form is better than his last 4 games for the Gold Coast, beacause he was woefull.

But you can choose from the whole squad I believe? IE whole squad on the bench? Maybe this was the question...?

1 week to go, I don't think I can concentrate at work this week.

That's correct - all the non-starting members of the squad of 23 are officially named as reserves (unless suspended or injured).

Wearing this to game in melbourne.  Do you think the aussies would be offended?

You're joking, right?

They can't read, so no.

should have drawn pictures

What the feck are you on about?

Nope. I wouldn't have suggested red as the font colour though, looks a bit weird IMO. You also seem to have ruined a perfectly good jersey

Picked up my 8 tickets today from MFC in Wellington.  Front row is A -> Z, then AA->ZZ (which is at the back).