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

Missing Bell to hold possession a bit? Or would be difficult anyway? 

They certainly don’t seem to have dropped intensity! 😅

Jesus, under the pump is a massive understatement currently

Singh unreal so far. Tuiloma’s still a bus, his completely lack of pace and intensity has already resulted in several lost balls and subsequent good chances for Ecuador

Bill! That was a good opportunity. Dammit.

Waineo needs to hold the ball up a bit

Disappointing end to that possession.

Good to see Stamenic putting his foot on it. Need a lot more of that. And Singh giving Caicedo a shove back. 

Feels like a game for Randall to lash one in from just outside the box, out of nowhere.

Makes you realise how many worlds exist inside these huge countries when New Jersey is Ecuador’s second home stadium. 

I think he is struggling a bit for pace 

mrsmiis

Singh unreal so far. Tuiloma’s still a bus, his completely lack of pace and intensity has already resulted in several lost balls and subsequent good chances for Ecuador

 

So good to see us competing really well in the midfield. Rufer doing well.

Lol at Caicedo- we’ve got careers, stop tackling us. Wasn’t even a foul mate.

You can see Tuiloma’s value in how easily they won the ball aerially there against Roux.

Keep calm boys.

Tough watch, but still in it.

I'd bring on Garbett (midfield) and Randall (up front). 

Need technical players that can control the ball, retain possession, move the ball quick, against a team like this.

That half was all a bit of a dog fight

The middle of the field with the two NZ central defenders, 2 defensive midfielders and Singh doing well to scrap.

Don’t however quite know where our goal will come from unless Singh can thread a pass 

Don’t think the ref is gonna send Caicedo off, otherwise that might be worth a try! 

Seen those pens given, Bindon has a nibble after the balls gone, but doesn’t get man or ball and the player goes down for mine. 

Wonder how this would have gone with Bell or Thomas available. 

We haven’t looked like finding a route to goal. A much more cohesive team than Colombia as indicated in the build up. 

Only really one small spell of possession for us. Stamenic and Singh unable to find outlets as they have in previous games. There was one moment with Rufer and Just and 3 black shirts fighting for possession in a tiny square for about a minute it felt like. Not pretty, but no backwards steps taken by either team. 

Still think there might be Randall stinger there for us.

Reckon this is the plan, frustrate the better team in the first half and sneak a goal in the second.

Ninja

Tough watch, but still in it.

I'd bring on Garbett (midfield) and Randall (up front). 

Need technical players that can control the ball, retain possession, move the ball quick, against a team like this.

I think our top team has got some familiarity and combinations, but just the few changes and we were missing it. We were one pass short of getting clear and holding possession a number of times.

That and their pressing and defense is top notch, maybe the best we’ve faced, with maybe Greece? 

Possibly the best game I've seen Rufer play in a white shirt so far.

Ecuador definitely have another gear or two to go up in them though and that might be the difference as this second half drags on. Hopefully the longer it stays at 0-0 the game becomes a bit more open both ways though which could open up some opportunities for us getting forward.

Ben Old golfing protege reference at 48 minutes…

Weak.

Tbf Tuiloma didn’t get done like Roux did there at any point. And de Vries might be gassed too.

Unfortunately our only hope for anything from this game was not to succeed. We have zero way through that backline.

It was coming. Time for Randall to replace Waine, Garbett in for Rufer or Old.

We need subs, they’re stepping up the tempo and ball speed. 

I really like Waine and genuinely want him to do well and believe can do. I just don't know how you can justify starting him currently.

This is not to say he can't become a starter in the future.. But currently, I think Randall deserves to start ahead (if Kosta and Wood are out).

martinb

Weak.

Tbf Tuiloma didn’t get done like Roux did there at any point. And de Vries might be gassed too.

Yeah for all the criticism he gets it seems we don't concede much when Tuiloma is on the park. Be interested to know the stats, AWs goals conceded vs Billy T mins played. Not pretty but mostly effective defensively??
 

Well I shot my own theory out of the water there. Damnit! 

I've seen enough of this line up when the subs coming 

They are all over us. Without Thomas, Bell, Mcowatt, Cacace etc we can't hold the ball. We have zero possession this half.

No experience. 

We lose possession straight away. 

What do we do if it’s a cup game? Roux getting grilled here. 

Can’t wait for the next goal. 

Maybe Singh needs a spell? I know, I know.

That's an outrageous challenge from Pacho.

Can see why this team barely ever concedes.

De Vries and Roux showing A League level defending there. Payne gets a lot of stick but he doesn’t get beaten there. De Vries has always been a complete defensive liability and hence why I would’ve liked to see McGarry tonight. 

Disappointing considering how hard we’ve worked tonight defensively to be let down by switching off from the full backs once again. 

Time for a sub..

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.

Sh817

De Vries and Roux showing A League level defending there. Payne gets a lot of stick but he doesn’t get beaten there. De Vries has always been a complete defensive liability and hence why I would’ve liked to see McGarry tonight. 

Disappointing considering how hard we’ve worked tonight defensively to be let down by switching off from the full backs once again. 

Tbf I think de Vries hasn’t been beaten much there. 

Kosta and Randall please? Leave Old out there…we’ve got a counter or a stinger in us.

God I hate how long Bazeley waits to bring on subs.

So he takes off our 2 most dangerous players (Old and Just), and leaves Waine on?

De Vries needs to be subbed, he’s getting absolutely spun by that No9 inside out. 

Stamenic, Rufer and Singh have been solid but that’s about it. We are hopeless on the wings as per. 

Just and Old are just too slow and weak to get around these athletic and physical fullbacks. Waine not strong enough but he’s very isolated. 

Considering we are missing 4/5 starters I’m not gonna overreact but it just shows we can’t afford 1-2 injuries at the World Cup. 

Singh had lost possession 3 times in a row, he’s gassed and triple marked.

Edit: Dunno what you’ve been watching- Old is strong on the dribble! Took 4-5 tackles and surged forward one occasion.

I think a somewhat gassed de Vries is better here than McGarry. 

Singh needs subbing- he’s lucky there.

Great save that 👏 

Tall keeper pays off there, Paulsen doesn't get to that.

Brilliant save Crocombe.