All Whites V Solomon Islands Tue SS2 7:30pm

Those heading to the game should pop into The Merchant Bar.  They're awesome.

I'm heading along on Tuesday night, hope there's a decent crowd.

Would like to see us use an Olympics-esque 4-4-2/4-2-3-1.

Something like Paston; Sigmund, Nelsen, Reid, Lochhead; Bertos, McGlinchey, Keat/Payne, Barbarouses/Rojas; Wood, Brockie.

Not that I'm against the 3-4-3 like it seems many here are, just that a home game against the Solomons seems the perfect time to try out an alternative.

Either way, surely Keat or Payne has to play instead of Vicelich. Yes, he's been a loyal servant, and provides good cover for both the CB and CM positions, but we need to start really blooding someone younger in midfield.

How about we ensure we move on from stage 3 (and especially include our most prolific goalscorer!) then worry about blooding someone younger

It's not just about blooding. It's also about whether we have the best talent involved. Anyway, it's a judgment call, and its hard to argue with the result.

leaving out Smith is an interesting one in the team above too

Flights booked. Ticketek website doesn't seem to be letting me purchase a ticket however. Will try again tomorrow..

You wouldn't pick Nelsen and Reid as the 2 centre-backs in a 2 centre-back team? Or would you have him in over Lochhead?

It would be nice to focus soley on qualifying, but without the Confederations Cup, these games will have to serve a dual purpose. Honiara was the result of a confluence of events, some which we could have controlled, some which we couldn't have, not a paradigm shift in Oceania football. That said, I'm not really that fussed what the team looks like, as long as it doesn't contain anything overtly stupid.

Still cheap flights from Wellington on Jetstar.    Tues 11:30am $45. Come back Wednesday 1:35pm $39.

Can't beat that.

Leaving shortly for the game via Whitianga to see my Mum and then Devenport onh Tuesday to see my youngest son and drop off bikes, golf gear, cricket gear tennis gear. Car laden down.

 See whoever in the pub pre match. Go the All Whites..Really looking forward to seeing the stars and newbies.

13000 midweek in Auckland against the Solomon islands with tickets being at least $25? Dreaming. 

 I didn't think the ticket pricing was that bad actually, but obviously I was wrong.

The thing is - would 18,000 people turn up to watch NZ vs Solomon Islands at North Harbour on a Tuesday night even if it was free?

I am seriously questioning whether they would.

 Hope they get a good crowd but I doubt it as not only is it midweek, the weather is not meant to be kind.

 Similar question if it is at Wellington or Christchurch...

The tv andprint media (tv3 and herald on sunday to some extent aside) have given this match very little coverage. It is hype that sells tickets. This is a world cup qualifier featuring premier league footballers and deserves a much better go from the media. Some things never change.

What promotion of the game has NZ Football done? Hard to tell being as we are here in Wellington.

Murray Deaker - giving it to NZ football fans at the moment.  "If I was Reid, I wouldn't even bother next time".

How many would turn up to the all blacks vs Namibia on a Tuesday night at $25? Not comparing Namibia to the Solomon islands,except in terms of being an unknown team. 

If they wanted to get people along to watch the All Whites play minnows on a Tuesday night tickets would have to be $20 max, anything more is too much for the average fan I'd suggest

Ryan Nelsen speaks to Rikki Swannell

New caledonia ranked 13 places ahead of Moldova, Solomons 12 behind. Minnows are part of qualifying for everybody. But they are all crucial matches en route to a world cup and should be respected as such. Plus, as we are favorites for once it's a chance for us to score some goals. It is just absurd that the friendly v Jamaica is going to pull a bigger crowd than this match.

Its not all that absurd. A game against minnows, no matter what they're qualifying games for, are still games against minnows. 

Its not absurd that a game against higher ranked opposition, would attract more fans than a qualifier against a minnow. 

To take it to an extreme - you'd expect a friendly against Spain to attract more of a crowd than the Qualifier tomorrow. 

Its just a shame that they couldnt have had us playing at home on a Friday night, and then New Caledonia away mid week. Wouldve worked out a lot better in terms of crowd numbers.

And lol at choosing North Harbour anyway

It's a combination of weeknight so kids will have school in the morning, Auckland traffic and thus travel to the fartherest point in Auckland (you'd need to leave Papakura at 4) along with opposition. I also expect that because we are expected to win easily (ignore the talk, it's whats expected) people won't turn up. I couldn't imagine if the ABs ever played a half against Counties and Auckland that they would sell out Eden Park.

 At home, on Sky - no worries.

This was my thought when the draw was first announced.

I'd like to know how much effort NZF actually put into securing home games on a Friday rather than Tuesday, which would have made a lot more commercial sense (and maybe fans in the Islands are a bit less fickle about which night of the week they will turn out on).

Draws are random for a purpose Term.  Nothing NZF could do about it.

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert is on the Breakfast of Champions as we look ahead to tonight's World Cup qualifier against the Soloman Islands at Albany

 Ricki Interview on Live Sport

All White defender Tony Lochhead is on the show as the team prepare for tomorrow's World Cup qualifier against the Solomon Islands at Albany which comes four days after opening their campaign with a 2-0 win against New Caledonia.

Tony Lochhead interview on Live Sport 

NZ Football CEO Grant McKavanagh talks to Radio Sport host Rikki Swannell about the disappointing ticket sales ahead of the All Whites world cup qualifier against the Solomon Islands.

Disappointing Ticket Sales

probably not.  But if you're charging $45 for a covered seat on the verge of winter, then you are out of touch with your market.

Last qualification, Auckland got 8,000 to a game against New Caledonia on a Wednesday night.  Tickets were $15.

Easy solution: all games to be played in Wellington from now on. Won't guarantee the crowd numbers but at least them I will be able to atted, and that is the most important thing :-)

For those of outside NZ does anyone know if its going to be on the net somewhere?

Vipbox.tv have it listed.

Cheers

And the island nations have no such right to say "we want weekend games" too?

In general, this kind of stuff is subject to agreement between the teams involved.

Can't make it tonight because of tight work deadlines. Will be following on Twitter. Don't let me down, Auckland Feverites.