Darren Bazeley, currently leading the New Zealand U-20 team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, will continue on as interim All Whites head coach following guiding the side to a 2-1 win and 0-0 draw against China in March.
I'd like to see Sail, Tuiloma, Payne, Waine & Just dropped and see Crocombe, Smith, Elliott, Lewis & Rojas in for Qatar. None of Waine, Grieve or Mata are effective enough as a CF so I'd to see McCowatt have a crack as a false 9. I think Waine could yet be effective in another front 3 role with Wood in the side.
Crocombe Elliott, Boxall, Smith, Cacace Stamenic Bell Lewis Garbett, Rojas McCowatt
I'd like to see Sail, Tuiloma, Payne, Waine & Just dropped and see Crocombe, Smith, Elliott, Lewis & Rojas in for Qatar. None of Waine, Grieve or Mata are effective enough as a CF so I'd to see McCowatt have a crack as a false 9. I think Waine could yet be effective in another front 3 role with Wood in the side.
Crocombe Elliott, Boxall, Smith, Cacace Stamenic Bell Lewis Garbett, Rojas McCowatt
I agree with most of this but I think McCowatt and Waine up front would make for an attacking team.
The other names mentioned all had poor games here in Stockholm and all deserve benching. Tuiloma was often out of position but this may not have been so obvious on the camera. It also felt that Boxall was the real captain on Friday night. He was very vocal towards everyone whereas Bell was very quiet. I’m not sure that Bell is AW captain material just yet, I think it’s better he focuses on his game more.
It’s interesting that both Tuiloma and Payne were midfielders earlier in their careers and it’s probably where they are best playing, as defensive mids.
I think there is an argument for any of the other CBs who were on the bench to replace Tuiloma. He is so defensively shaky for a centre back I cannot understand why both Hay and Darren have always started him when available. I'll never forget the ease with which the Costa Rican attacker got past him en route to setting up their playoff goal against us. It's criminal that Boxall didn't start that day. I'm just so sick of our coaches having no clue.
Interesting to hear a view from someone there. I'm not very impressed by Bell's personality in press conferences either. A million miles from the mana of a Nelsen or a Wood. Should be Boxall or Smith for now given how young the squad is. Maybe Darren doesn't want too strong a personality given the precariousness of his position. Marto
imanixsupporter
I'd like to see Sail, Tuiloma, Payne, Waine & Just dropped and see Crocombe, Smith, Elliott, Lewis & Rojas in for Qatar. None of Waine, Grieve or Mata are effective enough as a CF so I'd to see McCowatt have a crack as a false 9. I think Waine could yet be effective in another front 3 role with Wood in the side.
Crocombe Elliott, Boxall, Smith, Cacace Stamenic Bell Lewis Garbett, Rojas McCowatt
I agree with most of this but I think McCowatt and Waine up front would make for an attacking team.
The other names mentioned all had poor games here in Stockholm and all deserve benching. Tuiloma was often out of position but this may not have been so obvious on the camera. It also felt that Boxall was the real captain on Friday night. He was very vocal towards everyone whereas Bell was very quiet. I’m not sure that Bell is AW captain material just yet, I think it’s better he focuses on his game more.
It’s interesting that both Tuiloma and Payne were midfielders earlier in their careers and it’s probably where they are best playing, as defensive mids.
Perhaps how NZF sees it too? The AWs on the interview panel were Wood and Bell? Bazeley or someone politicking? Or just Bell seemed to be the next name on the team sheet at the time?
It did seem to be a Bell style team- lots of possession, lots of interchange in the middle of the park.
Saw in the Burgess article that the plan is to stick to back 4 for Qatar. Will be very interesting to see who he selects to partner Boxall. Also more bizarre that it was apparently important the backup LB could cover CB. Seems more and more like a bad excuse to pick De Vries over McGarry
I'm expecting wholesale changes. Short turnaround with travel, and from the photos on NZF's twitter, the 11 that started against Sweden ain't even training yet in Vienna.
It's a friendly, 3 years away from the World Cup, why not see what the non starters in Stockholm can do. The Qataris will likely be mixing & maxing it as well. Though they haven't had to travel.
Guess the selection oddities are the kind of things that happen with an interim coach. Probably. It does seem a par for the course NZF thing.
However, a game with Sweden in Europe doesn’t, followed up by a game against Qatar, so I guess we take the progress we can get. A window without a permanent coach, with some bizarre selections, but with two good games!
We are in a striker shortage- sling Rufer up front? Mata, Waine and Greive aren’t likely to dominate the teams we assume we are on par with. None of them are Fallon, Killen or Smeltzy yet. I think our current striking situation is the weakest we’ve found ourselves for a while.
Maybe they’ll have developed into the real deal by WC time, but currently no forward is irreplaceable imo. Mata the only one playing and scoring regularly, but not at a level we’d like.
I'm expecting wholesale changes. Short turnaround with travel, and from the stuff on NZF twitter, the 11 that started against Sweden ain't even training yet in Vienna.
It's a friendly, 3 years away from the World Cup, why not see what the non starters in Stockholm can do.
Yes, but also we want a result and not to cheapen the jersey.
If there are a bunch of changes you’d hope it follows a plan.
Looking the other way- who is essential? Boxall, Bell, Libby, Stamenic, Garbett? I can’t think of any other names who should feel that they’re guaranteed starters, with Wood injured. (perhaps Roux!)
Perhaps how NZF sees it too? The AWs on the interview panel were Wood and Bell? Bazeley or someone politicking? Or just Bell seemed to be the next name on the team sheet at the time?
It did seem to be a Bell style team- lots of possession, lots of interchange in the middle of the park.
You want a coach who can relate to both the younger brigade (Bell) & older fellas (Wood). So natural Bell was on the panel. He's been earmarked to be an AWs captain for a long time.
But we are really seeing now how much Reid will be missed in this cycle. I think he would have told his team to mix it up a bit more, and go direct sometimes. Especially after conceding that first goal from a turnover. And of course Winnie had a quality forward pass himself. But this was also another problem of not having Wood - a high class hold up player, plus Tuiloma is not as good at a long crossfield switch as either Pijnaker or Smith.
But in Hay's defence last year Tuiloma was in red hot goal scoring form for Portland. Many of us were excited about him being a danger at either taking a freekick or leaping up to nod one in. That is given that apart from Wood, it was hard to see how AWs would score in a tight one. But in hindsight Boxall snr should have started the big CR game. Tuiloma was nervous poor in the prior Peru match.
All nations rotate their squads through friendly games. So I guess they all cheapen the jersey. I think Mexico have even had 2 different squads on two different continents playing concurrently.
Everyone in the squad, bar Surman has already played for the AWs. And there has been alot worst players than the guys in this current 23, who have in the past got an AWs cap! Now 3 years out from the WC, is the time to experiment & find out who's in the running for 2026.
All nations rotate their squads through friendly games. So I guess they all cheapen the jersey. I think Mexico have even had 2 different squads on two different continents playing concurrently.
Everyone in the squad, bar Surman has already played for the AWs. And there has been alot worst players than the guys in this current 23, who have in the past got an AWs cap! Now 3 years out from the WC, is the time to experiment & find out who's in the running for 2026.
So starting 11 please!
Remembering also that we won’t have confed cup and can’t guarantee a run of games before the world cup.
The best way to get a cohesive (and statistically more successful) team is to maximize the playing time our first team combinations will get together.
I mean sure any one in the squad is can expect some game time, but you’re not suggesting a ‘B’ team in a potentially winnable game? Who would you start?
Would you rest any of Garbett, Boxall, Bell, Stamenic or Libby for example? McCowatt stays?
I'd go a big 8 changes. I'm not hung up on winning. More about giving whole squad some mins, and a longer term view. Why fly likes of Lewis & Rojas all the way to Europe if not giving them at least one start.
Crocombe or Tzanev take your pick Both MLS CBs to be rested. Helps keep their MLS coaches onside. Charlotte play Fri morning NZT. Minnesota not until Sunday, but 34 yr Boxy has played alot lately with Minny making US Open Cup quarters. Smith & Pijnaker come in Elliott starts for Payne Lewis for Stamenic Rojas in Greive alongside Mata Rufer, de Vries & Surman to get mins
Who the better mid- Rufer or Lewis? I feel like I’d bracket Rufer for Stamenic and Lewis for Bell. Lewis just seems a little slow to have duties screening the back 4 and is more of the pacesetter of the two. Maybe second half for Lewis and Bell starts with Rufer?
Rojas in for Just. Mata and McCowatt make the front 3.
Pijnaker and Smith is two left footers, but otherwise okay. Surman also left footed iirc? Elliot no argument there.
De Vries a half and Grieve a half too.
Just and Payne no time to redeem themselves against weaker opposition?
The fixture was originally scheduled to be played at a much larger stadium in central Vienna, but will now take place an hour south at the low-key 5000-seat capacity venue. Love that we will be playing an international in the Austrian version of the Hutt Rec.
All Whites interim head coach Darren Bazeley says there’ll be changes — “but not wholesale changes” — in the line-up to face Qatar in Tuesday’s friendly international in Austria.
Queiroz took over the coaching role after last year’s FIFA World Cup in which the host team exited at the group stage.
Preparation for the tournament had exhausted players and for the current international window, he had left a number of experienced players out of his squad in favour of young players.
While funny, the camera angles there are shocking. Won't be great for those watching on TVkwlap
The fixture was originally scheduled to be played at a much larger stadium in central Vienna, but will now take place an hour south at the low-key 5000-seat capacity venue. Love that we will be playing an international in the Austrian version of the Hutt Rec.
The fixture was originally scheduled to be played at a much larger stadium in central Vienna, but will now take place an hour south at the low-key 5000-seat capacity venue. Love that we will be playing an international in the Austrian version of the Hutt Rec.
To read that the game is three hours outside of Vienna after flying to Vienna fudges me right off. How the fudge can NZF say this is ok when fans are travelling to the game?
The fixture was originally scheduled to be played at a much larger stadium in central Vienna, but will now take place an hour south at the low-key 5000-seat capacity venue. Love that we will be playing an international in the Austrian version of the Hutt Rec.
To read that the game is three hours outside of Vienna after flying to Vienna fudges me right off. How the fudge can NZF say this is ok when fans are travelling to the game?
Drop them a line- you never know! I just remember sharing a taxi with Jeremy Brockie’s dad and a few others to a game once. Maybe they’ve got space with the entourages, whose plans must also surely have changed…
I want the All Whites to try and win - if that means not everyone on the trip gets a run around, so be it. Apparently we don't have more games until October - and even with our first choice trio missing, we are still capable of a result against Qatar (who, if I understand correctly, have no one playing professionally outside their own league?). I could understand everyone getting some time against Sweden, who were an unrealistic target for us, but Qatar is different.
If we whinge long and hard about getting fixtures, we can't then turn around and ask they be glorified training runs for the whole squad to get minutes, or bung guys into positions they don't play in. If that's all we're looking for, jack up games against Fiji at Mt Smart - you'd get a bigger crowd than the Qatar match for starters.
Am not bagging anyone's opinion, I just think if we're going to get meaningful games we have to treat them meaningfully. As far as I know we've only played Qatar once (back in Wynton's days) and didn't win - I'd like us to change that tomorrow.
