All Whites v Uzbekistan | Tuesday 9 Sept 2am | SKY Sport 3

not apples with apples. We want Rojas playing football week in and week out, and if he can do it in a league stronger than the A league that is going to be good for us as well as for him. Hasn't been playing for a while, and doesn't need to take time out from his first week with his new club. Smith is starting in the championship and has been consistently for a while. If he plays in the Prem isn't going to be determined by  playing one game in a FIFA window. 

He asked for a year out to try and get in the PL. It is up to him how to determine best what works for him. If he does secure a place, it is way better for us, improving his defensive skills regularly against top opposition, than his being available for a few meaningless friendlies now and then, in a year that doesnt really matter.  

NZF have approved it. Massive overreaction on here from many.

Does seem strange, they don't have any games scheduled for the weekend in the middle of the international window. Not sure why Greuther Fuerth's game wasn't on the weekend 

Most lower leagues in Europe don't break for itnernational windows.

But 2. Bundesliga DOES break for international windows.  Well, almost.  Just one game - the Monday game - overlaps with the official window.  In the normal course of events, particularly with friendlies this can be manageable.

The decision to be so (apparently) intransigent over this for the NZ friendly is interesting.

I still think something could have been worked out. Rojas could have been on the first flight from Frankfurt to the Middle East on Tuesday the 2nd....and would probably make the afternoon training session. The game is not until the 9th. 

So he misses the first mornings training.....bit of an over reaction from the coach IMO dropping him for the whole week. Not Rojas's fault that his first game for his new club was on the first day of the international window. OK Hudson wants to make a statement....but he could have let him arrive and train under the new regime and then not play him. That we he gets a key player bedded into the new playing system and makes a statement about player availability at the same time.

Don't assume the players will love this.  Players want to play for their clubs, most of them will understand Marco's position here.  Look at the way the Phoenix guys rearranged the kick off time for a game in Chch before flying to the US for the Mexico playoff - biggest game in 4 years and all of them still wanted to play for their clubs beforehand.

If the facts are that he could have been there for 5 days of training I think this is a bit shortsighted.  We should be working with the players and trying to find ways to work with their club careers not putting lines in the sand

Always helps to read the subject line properly so you are getting up at 2am on the right day..... Kinda feel stupid looking at Sky going 'where is the game?'

Lol!

If it makes you feel any better I woke up this morning and went "f*CK@! I forgot about the AWs game last night" and beat the missus.

Long as you remember your own name you're okay.

And if you forget that we'll be here to remind you that you're Mr Stevens, head of catering.

I stayed up until 1:30 before double checking and to be honest was relieved I could go to bed. I'm normally up until 1ish anyway so no biggy.

Really awkward time 2am.

Are you serious? How did so many people get the date wrong by a week?

I think its the wording where it says Tuesday 9 September 2am, if you look at it quickly can read Tuesday September 2.

 

Have you met many of the people on this forum? ;)

9am?

oh the lol's

That is exactly what I did yet I subconsiously knew the match was not that day cause I remember the thing with Marco and not making camp.Maybe its Alzheimers..... Whats this forum about again?

Yep I was thinking the same thing - so Marco is playing tonight but can't play for the all whites game tonight because he would only get five days with the squad...

Didn't quite add up so I double checked.

So, what was the score? Did we play well?

6 - 0  Marco & Brockie both got hat-tricks.

I did the same thing - i guess my brain subconsciously associated 9 with Sept being the ninth month (ive been seeing all this 9/11 September anniversary stuff already), and Tuesday 2 as today. Durrr

Thomas out, Joel Stevens in. WTF has Fenton done wrong?

I guess its just cos Stevens was over there already with the u20s??

Jeez, three of our four best players out. 

Interesting to see Joel Stevens picked, but yeah I'd say it's because the Under-20s are already over there.

OK, I guess that does make sense.

Thomas out:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/10452023/Clu...

Was on the cards since he's missed a few games lately due to injury problems.

Good luck to Stevens - a great opportunity for him.

Just logged on to check result....now see its next week.  Oldtimers...

I think it was 9 - 2

Not trying to be mean, but Joel Stevens? 

Is Rufer not there, Patterson etc. There are better players around, so why him?

And by around, I mean actually there in Qatar.

2-9 was the date problem...

Rufer isn't a striker. 

No, but he plays as an AM, you could easily push McG out wide or Boyd etc to accomodate him.

We have a versatile front line, does Stevens doesn't play up top for the u20's, In China he played in a wide mid role. The striker in the squad is the boy based in Aussie.

Henderson maybe?

I'm not too fussed that Joel Stevens is there. Great opportunity for him. I think the next squad will be the interesting one, that's when Anthony Hudson will actually pick the players he wants.

Shame about Thomas. We have now lost our two European based wide attackers. I guess Costa and Boyd will now have to step up. We have lots of guys who are only in preseason mode.....I guess the Uzi's have already started their comp......not expecting too much out of this game. Except to see how Hudson performs and how the team is setup

Played RB for the Nix.  We have depth at wide mid by AW standards right now.

There are rules about how much notice you have to give clubs to release players. This is just convient. nothing more. not sure why people are getting angsty about it.

I got angsty about Fenton not being selected because I thought he should probably have been in the original squad. Then Doyle was called up. And then Stevens. I didn't realise Stevens was already over there, and sure for convenience that makes sense but I still think Fenton should have been there earlier.