They are 79 because they get to play games... if we play regularly even against Oceania sides we would be getting that high. They beating teams like British Virginia islands and hiati.
You only get ranking points for playing games and you get more for competitive game. We haven't played any while they have just finished their WCQ. It's basically irrelevant for us
Will be interesting if Wood starts on Wednesday. Can't imagine Dyche at Burnley will be too happy if he gets 180 mins in the heat plus travel 4 days before playing away vs Man City. Unfortunately no like for like replacement, not even Waine in the squad. Seems the position we have our best player in but also the least depth. DeJong and Collier have hardly scored any goals at pro level, would almost take Kosta as a striker at this point as Wood back up (If NZ/AU players were available).
Will be interesting if Wood starts on Wednesday. Can't imagine Dyche at Burnley will be too happy if he gets 180 mins in the heat plus travel 4 days before playing away vs Man City. Unfortunately no like for like replacement, not even Waine in the squad. Seems the position we have our best player in but also the least depth. DeJong and Collier have hardly scored any goals at pro level, would almost take Kosta as a striker at this point as Wood back up (If NZ/AU players were available).
Andrew Dewhurst getting to be a paid football commentator is pretty much the definition of what the progressives call 'white male privilege'....
But anyway I thought that was a decent effort. Singh looked very good and Libby was decent in the first half too. Also thought Stefan had an excellent game and justified his starting place ahead of two other decent keepers.
I think in the overall scheme of things with a full squad available, Kosta is helpful depth in both wing and striker... but I hope he doesn't get his head up his arse about the fact that others are simply going to start over him in our best team.
Based on that game I'd say that there are only two strikers ahead of him, Wood and Waine.
The flight from Bahrain to blighty is only 5 hours and Wood will be up front. Only a two hour difference with the time zone too. Not sure Dyche will be too worried. Bigger trips between Wellington and half of the other A League teams.
Will be interesting if Wood starts on Wednesday. Can't imagine Dyche at Burnley will be too happy if he gets 180 mins in the heat plus travel 4 days before playing away vs Man City. Unfortunately no like for like replacement, not even Waine in the squad. Seems the position we have our best player in but also the least depth. DeJong and Collier have hardly scored any goals at pro level, would almost take Kosta as a striker at this point as Wood back up (If NZ/AU players were available).
I think in the overall scheme of things with a full squad available, Kosta is helpful depth in both wing and striker... but I hope he doesn't get his head up his arse about the fact that others are simply going to start over him in our best team.
Kosta B and Marco R, both definitely in the all whites mix for me.
the only issue I have with the WC quals is who we have to play after beating up on the Oceania teams (assuming that tournament goes ahead). We still have to play either an Asian or COMEMBOL 5th place team to qualify right?
we are gonna need some decent warm up games in between.
the only issue I have with the WC quals is who we have to play after beating up on the Oceania teams (assuming that tournament goes ahead). We still have to play either an Asian or COMEMBOL 5th place team to qualify right?
we are gonna need some decent warm up games in between.
Also chance of 4th best CONCACAF, but trouble is the OFC thing is set for March and the very next window are the playoffs in June, so might be able to squeeze a friendly or two before them but nothing much more than that.
It sucks we’re in October and still haven’t finalised qualifying format, I wouldn’t be surprised if half the OFC teams don’t bother going half way around the world to get beaten then quarantine once heading back to Samoa, Tonga, New Caledonia etc
the only issue I have with the WC quals is who we have to play after beating up on the Oceania teams (assuming that tournament goes ahead). We still have to play either an Asian or COMEMBOL 5th place team to qualify right?
we are gonna need some decent warm up games in between.
Also chance of 4th best CONCACAF, but trouble is the OFC thing is set for March and the very next window are the playoffs in June, so might be able to squeeze a friendly or two before them but nothing much more than that.
It sucks we’re in October and still haven’t finalised qualifying format, I wouldn’t be surprised if half the OFC teams don’t bother going half way around the world to get beaten then quarantine once heading back to Samoa, Tonga, New Caledonia etc
Yipe a real bugger that OFC tourney is not going to be in January 2022 as first mooted. Thereby freeing up the March window for some tough friendlies, before the 2 huge games in June 2022.
Hopefully the 2 Intercontinental Playoff games are mid-late June. So early June can be a 2 week camp plus maybe 1 good warmup game. Most Euro leagues finish by end of May. Will be tricky getting MLS guys M Boxall & Tuiloma outside the FIFA window dates.
But Socceroos (who are looking good for automatic qualification from AFC) at Eden Park, then first playoff game a week later at the ROF, would be a nice scenario and potential double big gate cash cow for NZF. Bearing in the mind these are now likely to be the first game(s) the AWs will have played in NZ since Nov 2017, so heading towards 5 years by that point!! Insane really
the only issue I have with the WC quals is who we have to play after beating up on the Oceania teams (assuming that tournament goes ahead). We still have to play either an Asian or COMEMBOL 5th place team to qualify right?
we are gonna need some decent warm up games in between.
Also chance of 4th best CONCACAF, but trouble is the OFC thing is set for March and the very next window are the playoffs in June, so might be able to squeeze a friendly or two before them but nothing much more than that.
It sucks we’re in October and still haven’t finalised qualifying format, I wouldn’t be surprised if half the OFC teams don’t bother going half way around the world to get beaten then quarantine once heading back to Samoa, Tonga, New Caledonia etc
Yipe a real bugger that OFC tourney is not going to be in January 2022 as first mooted. Thereby freeing up the March window for some tough friendlies, before the 2 huge games in June 2022.
Hopefully the 2 Intercontinental Playoff games are mid-late June. So early June can be a 2 week camp plus maybe 1 good warmup game. Most Euro leagues finish by end of May. Will be tricky getting MLS guys M Boxall & Tuiloma outside the FIFA window dates.
But Socceroos (who are looking good for automatic qualification from AFC) at Eden Park, then first playoff game a week later at the ROF, would be a nice scenario and potential double big gate cash cow for NZF. Bearing in the mind these are now likely to be the first game(s) the AWs will have played in NZ since Nov 2017, so heading towards 5 years by that point!! Insane really
One thing to be aware of is that there is an AFC playoff to find their fifth-placed team that has to be completed in the first half of the June window, as the rest of AFC qualifying doesn't finish until March. So the AFC v ??? intercontinental playoff won't be until the second half of the June window and that will open the door for the other playoff to be around the same time.