All Whites vs Ecuador | Wed 19th Nov | 2:30pm (NZT) | Sports Illustrated Stadium, (Harrison, New Jersey, USA)

Crocs has had a great match

nufc_nz

What are we even gaining from these games? How to sit back and struggle to defend for 60mins then have no answers to get back into the game?

If this is going to be our WC group games then there’s no point even going ffs.

All Whites are too good for most nations ranked below them but we don't get a sniff against anyone above us. We just don't score enough.

nufc_nz

What are we even gaining from these games? How to sit back and struggle to defend for 60mins then have no answers to get back into the game?

If this is going to be our WC group games then there’s no point even going ffs.

Tonight's starting 11 missing -
Paulsen, Boxall, Cacace, Payne, Bell, Thomas, McCowatt and Wood.

That's 6-8 starters out. We don't have near the depth of other countries, but these friendlies are still of huge value for next year. If just for building a plan re covering injury unavailabilities.

Can see NZ somehow score in last 5 minutes off a random high press forcing an error and we will praise how amazing this team is lol 

InsulinMachine

nufc_nz

What are we even gaining from these games? How to sit back and struggle to defend for 60mins then have no answers to get back into the game?

If this is going to be our WC group games then there’s no point even going ffs.

All Whites are too good for most nations ranked below them but we don't get a sniff against anyone above us. We just don't score enough.

We got to get our sniffs to our in form strikers. That’s Randall currently. Or Kosta. 

Not a gassed Singh on his wrong foot.

Wtf is not even on the bench Waine doing still out there? I get depressed when the camera shows him.

depth is still our main issue with this squad.

Our top 14 players can match it with teams like this. But anyone below that just doesn't bring the same skill/ability.

Cacace to FDV...
Bell to Rufer...
Wood to Waine...

Those are huge drop offs in my eyes.

Not much we can do about it apart from more games and pray we don't get many injuries around the Cup. 

At least Colombia is beating the Socceroos

This is what we can call a 2-0 thumping 

Tbf Rufer has been terrific tonight but he’s still a long shot off from Bell. 

For me the main areas of concern are our full backs after Payne and Cacace. 

Also our wingers have great ability but struggle to create chances. 

The score line is still pretty flattering for us. It could be 5-0

Elemenop

depth is still our main issue with this squad.

Our top 14 players can match it with teams like this. But anyone below that just doesn't bring the same skill/ability.

Cacace to FDV...
Bell to Rufer...
Wood to Waine...

Those are huge drop offs in my eyes.

Not much we can do about it apart from more games and pray we don't get many injuries around the Cup. 

 Rufer was far from the worst on the pitch today - had a decent game, and wasn't a weak link at all. Pretty typical of us though, unable to play two good games in a window. 

Crocs best player for us tonight

Another good save from Crocombe.

I wouldn't start Paulsen over Crocombe based on this.

Randall should have been given waines game time tonight, wasted.

Ninja

At least Colombia is beating the Socceroos

Socceroos down 2-0 now.

has 2025 been a success for NZ? Outside of OFC, we have played 8 games against teams ranked above us, with 1 draw, 1 loss & 6 losses.. Scored 5 goals & conceding 12.. Is this good enough for the talent NZ has currently? To me, its not great reading now matter how much positive fluff you want to put on it when it comes to performances, creating chances & general play.. Is there a big picture here I am missing? 

These type of games are great for the likes of Crocs and Surman to demonstrate to clubs at higher levels they can defend and save.

Buffon II

I wouldn't start Paulsen over Crocombe based on this.

Agree, as much as I love Paulsen, it's tough to justify starting him over this. Crocombe has been superb.

Ninja

At least Colombia is beating the Socceroos

 Colombia up 2-0 now.

I’d argue de Vries gives us some things that Libby doesn’t always. I don’t think he was bad today at all. 

After Wood we need to look at forwards playing. Ott would have done better than Waine today. Randall too. We saw against Colombia Kosta brought something to a job that he really wasn’t designed for. Though was Colombia just sloppy, compared to these hardnosed clean shelters? Hard to say. 

coochiee

Ninja

At least Colombia is beating the Socceroos

 Colombia up 2-0 now.

3-0 now.

HattyCW

coochiee

Ninja

At least Colombia is beating the Socceroos

 Colombia up 2-0 now.

3-0 now.

Did a hell of a lot better against Colombia than the Aussies - according to stats they only had 2 shots the entire game (1 on target). Maybe it was just a case of us giving it all in the first game. Whatever it was, tonight wasn't it.

Nixieboys222

has 2025 been a success for NZ? Outside of OFC, we have played 8 games against teams ranked above us, with 1 draw, 1 loss & 6 losses.. Scored 5 goals & conceding 12.. Is this good enough for the talent NZ has currently? To me, its not great reading now matter how much positive fluff you want to put on it when it comes to performances, creating chances & general play.. Is there a big picture here I am missing? 

1W, 1D & 6L.
Only one game played at home. 3 away and 4 at neutral venues.
Though the match in Florida basically an away game.

I think given the rankings (yes the AWs are better than 86th) and only one home game, it's a pretty expected series of results.

Today poor without 6-8 starters, but enough good moments against likes of Colombia, when were we closer to full strength, to have some hope for next year.

Now fingers crossed for a favourable WC draw (opponents and temperate venue cities).

Rembering Ecuador had an extra 2 days rest before today's match. 

Are the same people happy with the “effort” of the Colombia game also happy with this?

I fear that if Ben Waine is desperate to get to the World Cup, he needs to get back to the A League and start scoring goals. He is surely behind Kosta and Randall now.

and obviously Wood.

He’s basically getting no game time for Port Vale and had no real opportunity to show what he can do today.

Nommag

Randall should have been given waines game time tonight, wasted.

nufc_nz

Are the same people happy with the “effort” of the Colombia game also happy with this?

 Probably not - why would they be?

Nixieboys222

has 2025 been a success for NZ? Outside of OFC, we have played 8 games against teams ranked above us, with 1 draw, 1 loss & 6 losses.. Scored 5 goals & conceding 12.. Is this good enough for the talent NZ has currently? To me, its not great reading now matter how much positive fluff you want to put on it when it comes to performances, creating chances & general play.. Is there a big picture here I am missing? 

The two soft goals in this window should be a concern. 

We’ve played good teams. Let’s be honest. But also we were found out tactically against Australia. Two soft goals in this window. 

It’s hard to say for me. We lack goal scorers. Waine should be told to get playing and not to come back until he is. Mata should be encouraged to find a club, because he’s a better option. 

I would have loved to have this chance again with one or both of Bell and Thomas available.
 
And Caicedo is sometimes considered the best in the world right? A 100 mill player?? Singh got right under his skin. 

I think Bazeley knows his keeper, mids and defense. 

But we’re all at sea up front and on attack. Partly from a bunch of players putting in 75/100 performances- McCowatt, Garbett, Just, Old, Randall, de Jong…. Singh is locked in I’d say. But no one has really mastered Smeltzy’s little dink to the right…

So it’s a great generation, with no one after Wood, which is the issue we’re looking at in this squad surely. 

And Caicedo is sometimes considered the best in the world right? A 100 mill player?? Singh got right under his skin. 

Only by Chelsea fans. 

He's up there but definitely not the best. Not even the best in the Prem.

I think it’s been a positive year as a team. It’s easy to now say it hasn’t given this result that’s just come through but we’ve definitely made strides forward. 

We’ve been very unlucky with players being unavailable. 

I mean Libby hasn’t played in the last 3 windows… Thomas, Wood, Payne, McCowatt, Bell and Boxall all not playing tonight. 

Stamenic and Just missed the last window too. 

Wood has been on restricted minutes too when he’s been available to us pre much every window from June onwards till now. 

I think we can take positives heading into March. Our best XI players now pick themselves bar maybe 1-2 spots on the wings imo.

 It’s up to everyone else now to show what they can contribute off the bench.

One thing I’m not convinced about is that if we know our best formation. 4-2-3-1 is great but we tend to get opened up quite easily when we lose the ball and our wingers struggle to get back and hold possession. 

Hence why I’ve been an advocate for trialing the diamond. But I don’t think Bazeley sees it that way. Our best work is through the spine of the team and not our wingers. 

- our wingers have great ability but if you’re playing against physical teams like we have the last two windows and pretty much every team in football nowadays and think clipping the ball in the air to Oldie and Just is gonna do any good then you’re kidding. 

They’re both about 5’8 and holding off a 6 ft full back up their backside in a small space is far from their strengths. They’re not rapid players either that includes the likes of McCowatt and Garbett so we’re not getting much from that area either in an attack sense. 

nufc_nz

Are the same people happy with the “effort” of the Colombia game also happy with this?

Just cos Newcastle have got blinged owners but still lose to Brentford and West Ham you don’t have to take it out on the All Whites!

Colombia we should have got something from. This team was different sauce. Their record shows it. We struggled because we were short our top talent and they were very good. The lads worked hard. Talent gap on and off the field and less match practice in competition= result.  I’m not ashamed of that performance because I’m not a miserable sod (well..) or at least I don’t think anyone can turn back the tide. It was a very tough game. 

Buffon II

And Caicedo is sometimes considered the best in the world right? A 100 mill player?? Singh got right under his skin. 

Only by Chelsea fans. 

He's up there but definitely not the best. Not even the best in the Prem.

Sure, but even after hyperbole he’s top ten in the EPL at least right?

Liverpool were gunna pay that for him  iirc? 

Inflation mate. Everyone is that now. Heck 

Alf Tupper

I fear that if Ben Waine is desperate to get to the World Cup, he needs to get back to the A League and start scoring goals. He is surely behind Kosta and Randall now.

and obviously Wood.

He’s basically getting no game time for Port Vale and had no real opportunity to show what he can do today.

Nommag

Randall should have been given waines game time tonight, wasted.

For me he’s behind Ott, Hamish Watson (if fit), Kosta, Randall, Mata, playing McCowatt or Singh as a false 9… and almost any other forward starting in the NPL, Aussie Championship, NZwhatever it is now and Moses Dyer. 

Wasted opportunity tonight. And waaay to slow to bring on our second plan while Old was still out there. Old and Singh can foot it with ball at feet at this level. Kosta to a reasonable degree. But Old was capable of doing what he did for the Nix at this level, but not given a chance. 

martinb

Buffon II

And Caicedo is sometimes considered the best in the world right? A 100 mill player?? Singh got right under his skin. 

Only by Chelsea fans. 

He's up there but definitely not the best. Not even the best in the Prem.

Sure, but even after hyperbole he’s top ten in the EPL at least right?

Liverpool were gunna pay that for him  iirc? 

Inflation mate. Everyone is that now. Heck 

Top ten in his position? Yeah, but that's not much to boast about in a 20 team league.

Top ten overall? No chance.

Buffon II

martinb

Buffon II

And Caicedo is sometimes considered the best in the world right? A 100 mill player?? Singh got right under his skin. 

Only by Chelsea fans. 

He's up there but definitely not the best. Not even the best in the Prem.

Sure, but even after hyperbole he’s top ten in the EPL at least right?

Liverpool were gunna pay that for him  iirc? 

Inflation mate. Everyone is that now. Heck 

Top ten in his position? Yeah, but that's not much to boast about in a 20 team league.

Top ten overall? No chance.

In the Premier League it surely is? The most cashed league in the world? 
Was Nelsen a top ten PL defender at Blackburn? 

Fudge, tough crowd. I have seen enough from this team to fancy our chances of getting a result or two at the WC. Were people realistically expecting us to win today?

Another game, another decentish performance, another loss

Napier Phoenix

Fudge, tough crowd. I have seen enough from this team to fancy our chances of getting a result or two at the WC. Were people realistically expecting us to win today?

Against who from the teams we can draw?

Throw some names out there.

Caicedo is the best defensive midfielder in the premiership. No one is close, he is an absolute beast.

So, yes, he would make the top premiership team. So in the top 10 players, excluding the goal keeper.