Very nice first half from us, once again doing good stuff in the middle of the park. Bahrain often with a deep line but likes of Champness and Just even wiggling their way through at times. Chance creation hasn't been stunning but we could pretty conceivably have scored and we've had more than Bahrain. Bell, Champness, Just, Boxall having good games imo, Wood doesn't seem to be his usual self so maybe a touch light on the fitness and worth bringing Andre De Jong on second half, Woud has also been a little worrying in goal too. Cacace with a few crosses into the box but Bahrain have clearly done their homework and paying him close attention.
Had the better of the chances, just haven't been able to bury one. Pleasantly surprised by the performance though. Passing has been good and we've threatened, but just haven't been able to unlock in that final third. Champness was very good today - probably my man of the match. Bell has been solid, although probably a little bit less prevalent as the game has worn on in this second half.
Thought Bahrain with a longer break between games would have come out and offered a lot more, and taken the game to us, but quite frankly, they have been very poor.
Danny Hay - Super Coach lol. Surely the Never-Hayers have to give him a little credit over our performances at Tokyo and the Gulf?
Haha I wouldn't be counting on them jumping on board just yet lol.
Delighted with how comfortable we've been playing the ball at both the Olympics and this little series... yes it'd be nicer to have greater attacking output to show for it, but this team is functioning pretty well in most departments - compared to the two teams we've just faced who are of similar quality, you wouldn't think we hadn't played for 2 years would you?
While our finishing could have been better, I’m stoked that this is the first time since the 2010 games in Europe that we have been the better looking team throughout away from Oceania.
Has been a great trip to Bahrain, 2 from 2, tops trips to Russia and India, pity there were not more kiwis in tow.
very nice win, solid 90 from the lads, did everything they were asked to do. Pressed high in defense and gave bahrain very few chances, midfield 3 worked well, Just and Bell played very well. Champness is going to cause opposition players massive issues going forward, everytime he got the ball he made the defender make contact with him. Wood quiet today, but I think that was more down to a tactical change in how we approached the attack, used more width than the last game where everything came through Singh. As for Kirwan's goal, lovely cross from Libby, he had paused for a potential whistle for the contact between defender and Wood, but (rightly so) the ref calls play on and the cross finds Kirwan who is wide open for a simple finish.
Surprised to see the Bahrain players going down so often for cramp etc, they looked gassed early and seemed to struggle more with fitness than we did. Maybe that was tactical to slow the game down and hit us on the break? Either way it didnt work and we came away stronger.
The young guys really did well. Kahlua impressed me, did the job, made good decisions. Woud one great flying catch that took the pressure off the defence. Cacace as always such a good outlet down the left, creates those combinations with others up the field and had the vision to send in the cross for the assist. Stamenic really solid ballwinner. Wood was tightly marked all game but that gave the space for Champness to have a go at the defence. Well done Hay and team.
Very happy for Niko. It's been a great little tour. We'll done NZF! Let's hope with vaccines and covid meds becoming mainstream throughout the world that we'll be able to get more and more meaningful games like that. Champness looked a different level. Let's hope he exploded in Turkey like Boyd did (but continues that exponential growth). Serious question, is Michael Would now pronounced the way they did on TV? I always thought it sounded like 'Would' but they made it sound like wow-d almost! Glad he had a good game, no blunders. I actually rate him but I think he's been accident prone in the past and his confidence has suffered as a result
What I liked about today, and I think there was a lot to like in general, was how we were able to change formation mid game and have a team understand the change in their roles.
Traditionally we have had one game plan, and thats it!
Joy in the Kirwan household, and a nice little redemption story after his error against Curacao.
Two very good wins. True seems neither Curacao or Bahrain offered much (I only saw highlights of each game), but add these results to Olywhites campaign and you have to say Hay is doing all he can. Credit to him.
Though in defence of Hudson, he had nowhere near the young talent that Hay has at his disposal.
And nice to see pretty much the whole group given a chance in Bahrain. Only Tzanev and Nikko Boxall didn't get mins?? Though limited time for Smith & de Jong.
Joy in the Kirwan household, and a nice little redemption story after his error against Curacao.
Two very good wins. True seems neither Curacao or Bahrain offered much (I only saw highlights of each game), but add these results to Olywhites campaign and you have to say Hay is doing all he can. Credit to him.
Though in defence of Hudson, he had nowhere near the young talent that Hay has at his disposal.
And nice to see pretty much the whole group given a chance in Bahrain. Only Tzanev and Nikko Boxall didn't get mins?? Though limited time for Smith & de Jong.
Nikko was subbed on vs. Curacao, though I'm pretty miffed Tzanev got no gametime. Been a standout in a similar quality league to Woud, who's seriously struggled so far.
Also, to answer a few of the pronunciation questions - Woud is pronounced like "Vode", similar to "road", and Pijnaker is pronounced similar to "Pain-aker". The commentators usually got Pijnaker somewhat right, but I'm yet to hear many pronounce Woud's name.
sidenote: it's a little confusing with a Nik, Niko and Nikko in the squad
I've have thought Hay and assistants would have spent a little time in Europe, watching some Kiwis in club action next, pre the Nov window. After all is about a month long gap. Presume will be some planning of the March OFC journey scheduled for Qatar.
Wonder who NZF have lined up for the Nov window? Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Jordon & Thailand all likely candidates I'm guessing. Be nice to also throw in a spare CONCACAF side like Guatemala (FIFA ranking 123) Trinidad & Tobago (101) or Haiti (87), to mix it up. Haiti played 2 friendlies last month in Bahrain. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/126599005/its-unreal-niko-kirwan-pops-up-late-to-score-winning-goal-as-all-whites-beat-bahrain Hay and the three New Zealand-based members of his staff will now move to Abu Dhabi ahead of the November window, where the All Whites are set to play again as they build towards qualifying for next year’s World Cup, which is set to begin in March in Qatar, the host for the main event next November.
Joy in the Kirwan household, and a nice little redemption story after his error against Curacao.
Two very good wins. True seems neither Curacao or Bahrain offered much (I only saw highlights of each game), but add these results to Olywhites campaign and you have to say Hay is doing all he can. Credit to him.
Though in defence of Hudson, he had nowhere near the young talent that Hay has at his disposal.
And nice to see pretty much the whole group given a chance in Bahrain. Only Tzanev and Nikko Boxall didn't get mins?? Though limited time for Smith & de Jong.
Nikko was subbed on vs. Curacao, though I'm pretty miffed Tzanev got no gametime. Been a standout in a similar quality league to Woud, who's seriously struggled so far.
Also, to answer a few of the pronunciation questions - Woud is pronounced like "Vode", similar to "road", and Pijnaker is pronounced similar to "Pain-aker". The commentators usually got Pijnaker somewhat right, but I'm yet to hear many pronounce Woud's name.
sidenote: it's a little confusing with a Nik, Niko and Nikko in the squad
Pretty sure Nikko Boxall got no mins.
Also disappointed Tzanev didn't get a go. Wonder if they bumpy pitch had a part in him not playing, considering he likes play as a bit of a sweeper. Sidenote to the sidenote his full first name is Nikola - making it even more confusing. Potential name calling defensive blunder for sure if all 3 on the field!!
Also wonder if having Dutch background Freddy in the comments box, drove the pronunciation change for 'Vode'. Or an email from the Woud family!
With Rojas, Kosta, Payne, Thomas and hopefully a fit Reid, added to this side, it doesn’t look half bad
I think the biggest lack of depth is out and out strikers. If Wood gets injured, there isn't much else. DeJong/Collier/Waine? I'd probably take Waine out of those three. Am I missing anyone?
With Rojas, Kosta, Payne, Thomas and hopefully a fit Reid, added to this side, it doesn’t look half bad
I think the biggest lack of depth is out and out strikers. If Wood gets injured, there isn't much else. DeJong/Collier/Waine? I'd probably take Waine out of those three. Am I missing anyone?
It's still Wood, and then 3 laps of planet Earth.
If you are wanting goals. Kosta scored 8 last season for Sydney (more than I thought after his slow season start). Waine 7 for the Nix. Moses Dyer 6 in Canada (4 pens)!!
Just 5 so far this season Denmark. McCowatt 4.
Champness got 2 last season at the Roar, in 24 games. Collier hasn't netted in 2 years (Sept 2019 in the USL), and de Jong about the same - though he's barely kicked a ball in that time. Rogerson (1 goal at Haka) only has 4 games left to complete his season in Finland.
I'd plump for Kosta or Waine to do a 9 type role in Wood's absence. Hopefully the A League guys can travel to that OFC tourney in March, so Hay can integrate some of them into the AWs. He may even run a large 30 man squad through that 2-3 week tourney of potentially 5 games. Handy if FIFA are paying the tourney invoice?? So bringing in a guy like Wood for the later stages only, keeping Dyche happy as the Clarets fight to avoid the drop.
Arnold ran a large 30 man Socceroos squad for a 4 game AFC qualifying tourney they had a few months back in the UAE.
With Rojas, Kosta, Payne, Thomas and hopefully a fit Reid, added to this side, it doesn’t look half bad
I think the biggest lack of depth is out and out strikers. If Wood gets injured, there isn't much else. DeJong/Collier/Waine? I'd probably take Waine out of those three. Am I missing anyone?
It's still Wood, and then 3 laps of planet Earth.
If you are wanting goals. Kosta scored 8 last season for Sydney (more than I thought after his slow season start). Waine 7 for the Nix. Moses Dyer 6 in Canada (4 pens)!!
Just 5 so far this season Denmark. McCowatt 4.
Champness got 2 last season at the Roar, in 24 games. Collier hasn't netted in 2 years (Sept 2019 in the USL), and de Jong about the same - though he's barely kicked a ball in that time. Rogerson (1 goal at Haka) only has 4 games left to complete his season in Finland.
I'd plump for Kosta or Waine to do a 9 type role in Wood's absence. Hopefully the A League guys can travel to that OFC tourney in March, so Hay can integrate some of them into the AWs. He may even run a large 30 man squad through that 2-3 week tourney of potentially 5 games. Handy if FIFA are paying the tourney invoice?? So bringing in a guy like Wood for the later stages only, keeping Dyche happy as the Clarets fight to avoid the drop.
Arnold ran a large 30 man Socceroos squad for a 4 game AFC qualifying tourney they had a few months back in the UAE.
Sydney playing Kosta as their main striker at times last season might of helped us to build a little more depth then, since we are already well covered in wider positions.
Hopefully Waine scores a bucket load for the Nix this season and makes himself the obvious Wood backup. To think that about ten years ago we had Wood/Fallon/Smeltz/Killen all at once, yet amateurs playing in the midfield!
Certainly have the depth now, to avoid any last minute desperate Jeremy Christie type callups, aka Mexico in 2013.
I'm confident the AWs can have a real crack at the Intercontinental Playoffs if avoid CONMEBOL. Plus at least 3 of Wood, Singh, Thomas & Reid are fit and available.
https://theniche-cache.com/football/2021/10/13/all-whites-vs-bahrain-it-feels-familiar-somehow "Mostly though it’s just fun to see the All Whites playing and winning. It’s fun to talk about those games, to debate and dissect them afterwards. It’s fun to see these players that we follow at all these different clubs week in and week out all walking out there in the same jersey and combining for goals. Now let’s book some fixtures for the next international window too, please."
what about Callum McCowatt as the main striker as an option - I reckon as he gets older and a bit more physical that might be where he ends up. I know he plays wide more at the moment but he could be a good number 9 option.
Joy in the Kirwan household, and a nice little redemption story after his error against Curacao.
Two very good wins. True seems neither Curacao or Bahrain offered much (I only saw highlights of each game), but add these results to Olywhites campaign and you have to say Hay is doing all he can. Credit to him.
Though in defence of Hudson, he had nowhere near the young talent that Hay has at his disposal.
And nice to see pretty much the whole group given a chance in Bahrain. Only Tzanev and Nikko Boxall didn't get mins?? Though limited time for Smith & de Jong.
Nikko was subbed on vs. Curacao, though I'm pretty miffed Tzanev got no gametime. Been a standout in a similar quality league to Woud, who's seriously struggled so far.
Also, to answer a few of the pronunciation questions - Woud is pronounced like "Vode", similar to "road", and Pijnaker is pronounced similar to "Pain-aker". The commentators usually got Pijnaker somewhat right, but I'm yet to hear many pronounce Woud's name.
sidenote: it's a little confusing with a Nik, Niko and Nikko in the squad
Woud has played in excess of 25 age group and full internationals, and had one terrible game.
what about Callum McCowatt as the main striker as an option - I reckon as he gets older and a bit more physical that might be where he ends up. I know he plays wide more at the moment but he could be a good number 9 option.
His finishing for the Nix and now AWs is dire. He could have 3 or 4 goals from these two games.
