But they are the only tool we have to compare two teams who have never played each other. The system used to create the rankings may be daft or even broken but it is all we have and it is what the governing body uses, therefore looking at them is reasonable.
No Singh as he's heading back for club commitments.
Considering all our good chances came through him, and how blunt the OlyWhites were without him, I'm not expecting much.
Tend to agree, especially if as expected Wood will be on limited minutes. Others like Cacace maybe similar.
Bahrain also seem a better team than Curacao, and I imagine will be close to full strength, plus building towards Arab Cup in December. Bahrainis also with a home crowd, and a chance for some revenge for missing their ever best shot at making a World Cup in 2009. That will still hurt 11 years later. They should be well motivated.
But part of the value of these games, is a form of simulation of what potentially lies ahead in June 2022, especially the away leg of Intercontinental Playoffs. So playing 5 at the back, being under the pump for long periods, dealing with heat, hostile home crowd (if there is a crowd in Manama) etc etc. That's all valuable experience, and you find more about players with those sort of games under lots of pressure.
Would love to see Tzanev in goal. Potential point of difference playing almost as a sweeper keeper at the Dons. Can he play that way for the AWs? Though surface looks a bit bumpy in Manama. Hay already knows Woud well from the Olympics. Give Tzanev a crack.
I'd also give Kirwan another start. But Payne is really shaping as the favourite now for that RB spot, once the A League guys can play for AWs.
Edit - I also disagree with folks saying AWs should be going all out for wins in these friendlies. That to me sounds like at deteriment of some experimentation, and potentially flogging guys like Wood too much.
NZF had friendlies signed up 12 mths ago against England and Belgium. That was on the back of losing to Lithuania 12 mths prior!! So think it's a myth that winning games against Bahrain or whoever will suddenly open up more quality friendlies. NZF are far more just at the whim of a tight international football calendar, and frequently having limited options.
But they are the only tool we have to compare two teams who have never played each other. The system used to create the rankings may be daft or even broken but it is all we have and it is what the governing body uses, therefore looking at them is reasonable.
Daft or even broken but reasonable??? Contradictory
Friendly or not, very happy with that win. Played well that first hour, but to be expected, dropping away with the heat later on.
Impressed especially with that first half. Pressing was top notch, Curaçao were flustered and couldn't get a foothold. But it was also good that we could knock in a couple of our chances, although we'll probably want to be more clinical going forward, as we could've put that game to bed in the first half alone.
Be interesting to see what happens with Bahrain, but it's just good to have our national team playing once again. Winning is a pretty nice feeling too after so long.
For those going on about FIFA rankings being inaccurate, there's some others I quite like that altogether paint a pretty fair picture.
https://www.eloratings.net/ - NZ in 80th and Curacao in 99th. https://thepowerrank.com/world-football-soccer/ - Curacao in 87th and NZ in 111th. https://www.weglobalfootball.com/rankings/ - Curacao in 87th and NZ in 104th.
So argue all you like about FIFA rankings being unreliable and all but really, we beat a team on a similar level to us and honestly played some pretty good stuff at times - outplayed them in the first half and didn't get overrun at all in the second half even as we faced pressure.
Curacao could actually move the ball around, definitely better than our Oceania counterparts. But they looked even less gelled than us. Let's not forget Roly was a decent player at least the same level as most of the current squad. Much of their squad have some good technical skills and football IQ. That being said we should have been up a couple more goals. Really should have been 4 - 1.
Thought it wouldn't hurt to share this again, stir up some memories etc in prep for Wednesday. And commentary is actually not too bad :)
I was lucky enough to be in the crowd that night - Bahrain had clear chances but there was never really a sense that we were outplayed. We could have conceded, but also could have scored. Defence were immense - we had a pretty special team back then, a perfect storm of talent, experience and desire. Time for new team to write their own chapter :)
Well the first goal was a deflection and the second was fortunate that there wasn't a called on Stamenic in the lead up. Wood's two other biggest chances were created from Singh.
Do we expect many changes, or will it be Just in for Singh and that's about it?
Would live to see the Boxall borther's both line up at CB, would make for a cool story.
Surely Mikey Boxall starts if over his bug. Smith may even be there alongside him, esp if Hay starts with a back 5 - like Sth Korea and Japan at the Olympics.
Would love to see Tzanev in goal. His career has kicked on the last 12 mths, and different to Marinovic especially, plus Woud that he seems very good with his feet. Big Stef did have a good shot stopper game against Curacao yes.
Kirwan maybe to start at RB then later switch to LB, to see how he goes there? He's played a lot at LB in Italy.
Wood subbed at 60 mins, no matter the scoreline to give Champness a fair chance??
See that Helsingør next play only 48 hours after the AWs kick off against Bahrain. So it might be that it is Just & McCowatt who end up on limited mins.
I am hating this Herald pay wall... they have a whole bunch of articles on the team up there, but all are considered Premium basically.
not sure which is worse, a herald pay wall blocking all the "quality" reporting or stuff constantly begging for money for their "quality" reporting.
If you don't pay for it, it will cease to exist (I'm biased, obviously).
That's fair I guess, I'm ok paying for quality - if I can't get it for free. The big problem is actually finding quality reporting, that is edited correctly, is actually informative/accurate and not just opinion hidden as a news article.
I remember transisting through Buenos Aires Airport enroute to Peru in 2017. AWs also in the Transist Lounge area waiting for their ill fated 'Charter Flight' to Lima. Rory holding court around a table of otherwise younguns. Happy to chat to tired, shy me, just out of 14 hour cattle class. Definitely value in having an upbeat dude like him around the squad. Ryan Thomas looked about age 15 at the time.
Having played with Rory as a teenager a few times, he seemed to have his heart set on playing for England (which kinda happened (youth level)).
That lost him to the AWs when he was at his peak as a pro. He must have changed his attitude sometime between Swansea and PAFC but by the time he scored "that" goal, he was already starting to fade at the highest levels.
It's a pity he entertained the England idea, a bit like a certain American from the Nix, who would add some much needed attacking ability out here in Manama.
Thought it wouldn't hurt to share this again, stir up some memories etc in prep for Wednesday. And commentary is actually not too bad :)
I was lucky enough to be in the crowd that night - Bahrain had clear chances but there was never really a sense that we were outplayed. We could have conceded, but also could have scored. Defence were immense - we had a pretty special team back then, a perfect storm of talent, experience and desire. Time for new team to write their own chapter :)
For those in need of a stream, I've just been told by hotel staff here in Bahrain that the game is on YouTube live. Just search for BSN BH. Full replays of the first game are there as well as Bahrain's recent games.
chrome_screenshot_1634052329441.png1.09 MB Start for Kelvin Kalua, over Kirwan. Not sure what that says about Dalton-Wilkins or his prospects, maybe he'll get a look in from the subs bench?
Woud in for Marinovic, Boxall for Tuiloma. Just and Champness in there too. Interested to see how Champness goes on debut as well. Would have liked to have seen Tzanev given a go in goal to be honest... Maybe Hay will look to give him a run in the 2nd half
Should've been 1-0. Confusion at the back for Bahrain, thinking Wood was offside so they all just stop, Just makes the run to pick it up and shoots straight at the keeper.
Good early signs, and that high press is in action from the outset once more.
I actually subscribe to my local paper which is from the Herald stable. Its a ridiculous price of a few dollars a week and gives me web access to all of their sites. Look into that option Oi Oi Edgecumbe
MetalLegNZ
I am hating this Herald pay wall... they have a whole bunch of articles on the team up there, but all are considered Premium basically.
I buy a newspaper every day, so I enjoy reading the articles, but I pay for them. $3.70 every day.
Was just about to say the same thing. Has won a couple of good fouls down the flank, and makes very positive strides forward when in possession - the Bahraini left back is holding off him quite a bit too, so could be a profitable avenue if this keeps up. Good signs so far though.
