James McOnie's score prediction:
Iran 0-2 New Zealand
Iran 0-2 New Zealand
All Whites vs Iran | Tues 16th June | 1:00pm (NZT) | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
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The Iran game is our best chance of a result. We have therefore got to get the balance right between being tight at the back and being more positive and trying to score.
A lot will come down to selections. Its no point selecting a defensive team then wondering why we cant score.
At some stage in the match i would like to see an Old at LB and Randall at LW combo. At least their pace might trouble Iran.
I would also like to see McCowatt at 10. Im afraid Singh is just not match fit. McCowatt puts in a shift pressing etc. Hes been in great form for his club but for some reason doesnt quite deliver for AWs.
A lot will come down to selections. Its no point selecting a defensive team then wondering why we cant score.
At some stage in the match i would like to see an Old at LB and Randall at LW combo. At least their pace might trouble Iran.
I would also like to see McCowatt at 10. Im afraid Singh is just not match fit. McCowatt puts in a shift pressing etc. Hes been in great form for his club but for some reason doesnt quite deliver for AWs.
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Great that the weather will be cooler for the first game, for the 20th oldest player at the World Cup, our own Michael Boxall...
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I agree that this is our best chance to get a (good) result, but mostly due to the difficult logistics this year for the Iranians, not our own prowess.
They are a formidable footballing power in Asia (have always been) and are still 20 in FIFA rankings.
Egypt are no slouches either at 29, but I suspect they may be more "beatable" by the AWs than Iran. Iran has motivation and something to prove, apart from being actually quite good at football.
They are a formidable footballing power in Asia (have always been) and are still 20 in FIFA rankings.
Egypt are no slouches either at 29, but I suspect they may be more "beatable" by the AWs than Iran. Iran has motivation and something to prove, apart from being actually quite good at football.
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imanixsupporter wrote:
James McOnie's score prediction:
Iran 0-2 New Zealand
Love the optimism, but he is smoking some hopium. He also rated New Zealand's performance vs England a 9 out of 10 which is delusional.
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NZ played better football under other coaches , yes NZ should beat ziran just for all the extras
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Ricki Herbert had some interesting comments. I will paraphase but essentially he said we have had years building up to this moment so time for experimenting is over and the warmups should be all about fine tuning the starting 11. He would have played his first 11 longer against Haiti to bed in cohesion. Also said who ever plays needs to be 100% ready and on top of their game.
I kind of agree with him. I thought it was a bit odd juggling keepers. Surely he must have known his no1.
We have seen quite a few players battling to regain top form after long layoffs. Its too late. Singh and FDV for example wont be 100%. There is nowhere to hide in a WC game
I kind of agree with him. I thought it was a bit odd juggling keepers. Surely he must have known his no1.
We have seen quite a few players battling to regain top form after long layoffs. Its too late. Singh and FDV for example wont be 100%. There is nowhere to hide in a WC game
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I like Just, but dont think he should be starting. Seems to struggle in games we are not dominate... is a front foot player.
Was poor in both warm up games.
Randall and Garbett to start for Singh and Just. What we would get in energy and directness I think offers more currently.
Was poor in both warm up games.
Randall and Garbett to start for Singh and Just. What we would get in energy and directness I think offers more currently.
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austin111 wrote:
Ricki Herbert had some interesting comments. I will paraphase but essentially he said we have had years building up to this moment so time for experimenting is over and the warmups should be all about fine tuning the starting 11. He would have played his first 11 longer against Haiti to bed in cohesion. Also said who ever plays needs to be 100% ready and on top of their game.
I kind of agree with him. I thought it was a bit odd juggling keepers. Surely he must have known his no1.
We have seen quite a few players battling to regain top form after long layoffs. Its too late. Singh and FDV for example wont be 100%. There is nowhere to hide in a WC game
Agree that Baz should well know each player's capability and skillset by now. The current prep time should only be to assess players' individual fitness and readiness, not their ability to fit into the team on the park. Exceptions should be made for people like Bayliss who obviously has not kicked the ball much with the curent AW squad until now.
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Randall for me is a lot like Rufer - great in the A-League, but when they step up to Internationals what makes them good vs lesser opposition is no longer enough for them to stand out. Randall is too one sided, too slow to make decisions and too easily dispossessed at this level, like Rufer is too slow across the pitch & on the ball.
That said, I've been underestimating Randall for years and hope I'm proven wrong.
I'd be starting Garbett/McCowatt/Just behind Wood with Bell and Stamenic deeper. Thomas playing in the 10 for McCowatt as convenient if he gets fit.
Of the options, we'll need Garbett's superior workrate in games where we're likely outclassed, Singh isn't fit and Old is our only genuine left back depth - De Vries shares both his hair colour and his defensive ability with a road cone.
That said, I've been underestimating Randall for years and hope I'm proven wrong.
I'd be starting Garbett/McCowatt/Just behind Wood with Bell and Stamenic deeper. Thomas playing in the 10 for McCowatt as convenient if he gets fit.
Of the options, we'll need Garbett's superior workrate in games where we're likely outclassed, Singh isn't fit and Old is our only genuine left back depth - De Vries shares both his hair colour and his defensive ability with a road cone.
Valley FC til I die?
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Agree with the Randall sentiment, and the FDV comments. I have a small issue with Garbett - particularly his ball control. His engine means he can play most of the game, but against the pommes his only consistency was losing the ball, he either overplayed his hand and tried to beat too many players, or made a bad pass. The trouble is who do you start ahead of him, with Singh looking well below his best and Thomas only just returning to full fitness.
Queenslander 3x a year.
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theprof wrote:
Agree with the Randall sentiment, and the FDV comments. I have a small issue with Garbett - particularly his ball control. His engine means he can play most of the game, but against the pommes his only consistency was losing the ball, he either overplayed his hand and tried to beat too many players, or made a bad pass. The trouble is who do you start ahead of him, with Singh looking well below his best and Thomas only just returning to full fitness.
Definitely weaknesses in Garbett's game, but he's also one of few with the ability to pull something out of a hat. I think he's the least bad option we have available rather than a player who will raise the general level of the team.
Valley FC til I die?
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Randall on form has that ability to be underestimated.
He is just a bit more wily, a bit faster, a bit stronger and a bit quicker getting his shot off than you’d expect.
If he’s on form or comes right, to me that’s exactly the kind of thing that can win you games.
Him and Bayliss both shoot. A lot. And Randall is direct. Not a lot of passing backwards.
I still think he’s potentially a game changer for us. We need goals.
He is just a bit more wily, a bit faster, a bit stronger and a bit quicker getting his shot off than you’d expect.
If he’s on form or comes right, to me that’s exactly the kind of thing that can win you games.
Him and Bayliss both shoot. A lot. And Randall is direct. Not a lot of passing backwards.
I still think he’s potentially a game changer for us. We need goals.
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https://preview.redd.it/australia-ranked-as-25th-best-team-at-the-world-cup-by-the-v0-d16cmm25m56h1.jpeg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=a3b21a66ddc6aeb0ae811b163defce472c55ded9
I usually rate the Athletic- but NZ’s rating is a bit suss
I usually rate the Athletic- but NZ’s rating is a bit suss
Auckland will rise once more
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martinb wrote:
Randall on form has that ability to be underestimated.
He is just a bit more wily, a bit faster, a bit stronger and a bit quicker getting his shot off than you’d expect.
If he’s on form or comes right, to me that’s exactly the kind of thing that can win you games.
Him and Bayliss both shoot. A lot. And Randall is direct. Not a lot of passing backwards.
I still think he’s potentially a game changer for us. We need goals.
I think he should be a gamechanger, i.e. on the bench. Would rather turn to him rather than some of the others in his general position if it is late in a game and we are desperately needing a goal
Edit: was talking about Randall here. Hard to know Bayliss' place with how little he has played for us
Edit: was talking about Randall here. Hard to know Bayliss' place with how little he has played for us
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imanixsupporter wrote:martinb wrote:I think he should be a gamechanger, i.e. on the bench. Would rather turn to him rather than some of the others in his general position if it is late in a game and we are desperately needing a goal
Randall on form has that ability to be underestimated.
He is just a bit more wily, a bit faster, a bit stronger and a bit quicker getting his shot off than you’d expect.
If he’s on form or comes right, to me that’s exactly the kind of thing that can win you games.
Him and Bayliss both shoot. A lot. And Randall is direct. Not a lot of passing backwards.
I still think he’s potentially a game changer for us. We need goals.
Edit: was talking about Randall here. Hard to know Bayliss' place with how little he has played for us
I like the idea of not taking a backward step from the start. Pair him with a fresh Cacace and/Old.
We haven’t seen a lot of Waine or McCowatt so far.
It’s really hard to know what our best road to goal might be. Old/Cacace/Payne whipping it flat across the box? Trying to out that curving ball in behind? Looking for the counter?
Corners, obviously, if we can get em.
Pressing high early with McCowatt?
My biggest concern is that we haven’t scored enough in the last two years and we haven’t scored since we arrived in the USA.
We haven’t seen a lot of Waine or McCowatt so far.
It’s really hard to know what our best road to goal might be. Old/Cacace/Payne whipping it flat across the box? Trying to out that curving ball in behind? Looking for the counter?
Corners, obviously, if we can get em.
Pressing high early with McCowatt?
My biggest concern is that we haven’t scored enough in the last two years and we haven’t scored since we arrived in the USA.
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The lack of goals focus of this article.
But hey against Iran it may only take 1 moment of magic.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360989366/one-week-go-glaring-failing-all-whites-must-fix-fifa-world-cup-success
https://twitter.com/NZ_Football/status/2064049955116097925
But hey against Iran it may only take 1 moment of magic.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360989366/one-week-go-glaring-failing-all-whites-must-fix-fifa-world-cup-success
https://twitter.com/NZ_Football/status/2064049955116097925
https://twitter.com/NZ_Football/status/2064049955116097925
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The Iranians were to play Grenada in a final friendly, but that game has been cancelled.
Looks like they won't have any pre WC wramups in North America. Unless that Puerto Rico match happens??
https://twitter.com/Eri1806/status/2064238548690379042
Looks like they won't have any pre WC wramups in North America. Unless that Puerto Rico match happens??
https://twitter.com/Eri1806/status/2064238548690379042
https://twitter.com/Eri1806/status/2064238548690379042
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Right.
Think I’ve decided I want to see McCowatt start. Been talked into it.
The only question is if Just is undroppable. Oh, and I guess if Old should be kept as LB cover. But I’m assuming that.
I think I want to see:
Wood
Randall, McCowatt, Just (Garbett)
Interesting variations might be:
Wood
Old, McCowatt, Just (Matty G)
Or even, and hear me out:
Wood
De Vries, McCowatt, Just (Garbett)
The latter two would be some tactical moves that wouldn’t be expected. And the final one would see Cacace and De Vries attacking towards Wood, McCowatt, maybe Stamenic, maybe Just or maybe Garbett.
Think I’ve decided I want to see McCowatt start. Been talked into it.
The only question is if Just is undroppable. Oh, and I guess if Old should be kept as LB cover. But I’m assuming that.
I think I want to see:
Wood
Randall, McCowatt, Just (Garbett)
Interesting variations might be:
Wood
Old, McCowatt, Just (Matty G)
Or even, and hear me out:
Wood
De Vries, McCowatt, Just (Garbett)
The latter two would be some tactical moves that wouldn’t be expected. And the final one would see Cacace and De Vries attacking towards Wood, McCowatt, maybe Stamenic, maybe Just or maybe Garbett.
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FDV gets maligned rightly for being a turnstile on defence. Made worse at the moment by he's still working his way back to full match fitness.
The only part of his game that is international standard is his crossing/dead ball delivery. It is high class.
He swings in that late free kick and it causes genuine worries in the English box. It results in our first and only corner of the game.
Then FDV delivers in a top quality fast swerving corner, that Trafford doesn't deal with that convincingly, but England get the free kick to relieve things.
The other part of the jigsaw is that Old is now performing very well at LB. He gave exciting talent Ngumoha no space at all. Old has been performing week in week out for St Etienne as a top defender. So when Libby tires, pacy Old can come on at LB, and then later when needing a goal FDV can come on as a pseudo winger knowing FDV's bad defensive limitations will hopefully be covered by Old's top class speed and defensive nous.
Wood had come off by the time FDV came on, but in the WC itself unless injured Wood will likely play every minute of every game. There is a potential FDV-Wood moment of magic that could happen very late in a game.
For this WC, Old is a LB, not a winger. Go to the Ben Old thread and you will see a heap of stats there via Niche Cache, that show OId's 'final product' stats in France are poor. In some cases really poor. It's his big workon, and hopefully he can improve. But he has quickly developed into a really good LB, and you suspect for him to play at the highest possible level that's now his position.
On the weekend him & Randall link nicely but then Old slightly over cooks his final pass to Randall (who was off side anyway) and it's a comfortable pick up for Trafford.
For me against Iran it is - Crocs, Libby, Boxall, Surman, Payne, Bell, Stamenic, Singh/McCowatt, Garbett, Just, Wood
Subs from depending on the state of the game - Thomas, Old, Singh/McCowatt, Randall, Bindon, Rufer and last FDV
Thomas starts when he is match fit, which fingers crossed may yet be the Iran game. Shame that Paulsen's form hasn't been great since the March window (Chile game). Bindon did an okay job coming on for Payne at RB.
The only part of his game that is international standard is his crossing/dead ball delivery. It is high class.
He swings in that late free kick and it causes genuine worries in the English box. It results in our first and only corner of the game.
Then FDV delivers in a top quality fast swerving corner, that Trafford doesn't deal with that convincingly, but England get the free kick to relieve things.
The other part of the jigsaw is that Old is now performing very well at LB. He gave exciting talent Ngumoha no space at all. Old has been performing week in week out for St Etienne as a top defender. So when Libby tires, pacy Old can come on at LB, and then later when needing a goal FDV can come on as a pseudo winger knowing FDV's bad defensive limitations will hopefully be covered by Old's top class speed and defensive nous.
Wood had come off by the time FDV came on, but in the WC itself unless injured Wood will likely play every minute of every game. There is a potential FDV-Wood moment of magic that could happen very late in a game.
For this WC, Old is a LB, not a winger. Go to the Ben Old thread and you will see a heap of stats there via Niche Cache, that show OId's 'final product' stats in France are poor. In some cases really poor. It's his big workon, and hopefully he can improve. But he has quickly developed into a really good LB, and you suspect for him to play at the highest possible level that's now his position.
On the weekend him & Randall link nicely but then Old slightly over cooks his final pass to Randall (who was off side anyway) and it's a comfortable pick up for Trafford.
For me against Iran it is - Crocs, Libby, Boxall, Surman, Payne, Bell, Stamenic, Singh/McCowatt, Garbett, Just, Wood
Subs from depending on the state of the game - Thomas, Old, Singh/McCowatt, Randall, Bindon, Rufer and last FDV
Thomas starts when he is match fit, which fingers crossed may yet be the Iran game. Shame that Paulsen's form hasn't been great since the March window (Chile game). Bindon did an okay job coming on for Payne at RB.
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Worse jobs going around. Whanganui lad.
I think some people criticised the Nix for having folks in unpaid roles, but hey this young bloke took a chance, and now he's at the WC as a 25 yr old
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360989368/im-addicted-all-whites-analyst-logan-hughes-knows-their-world-cup-rivals-inside-out
After finishing high school, Hughes went to Dunedin to study a sport management degree, but after one semester, he found his calling when the Wellington Phoenix advertised an unpaid analyst internship. Interviewed by Giancarlo Italiano, then coach Ufuk Talay's head analyst, he got the role, then made a life-changing decision.
I think some people criticised the Nix for having folks in unpaid roles, but hey this young bloke took a chance, and now he's at the WC as a 25 yr old
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360989368/im-addicted-all-whites-analyst-logan-hughes-knows-their-world-cup-rivals-inside-out
After finishing high school, Hughes went to Dunedin to study a sport management degree, but after one semester, he found his calling when the Wellington Phoenix advertised an unpaid analyst internship. Interviewed by Giancarlo Italiano, then coach Ufuk Talay's head analyst, he got the role, then made a life-changing decision.
“I had to call up my dad and say, look, I know you've just forked out a lot to get me to university in the first place. Six months in, I want to leave and go to Wellington for an unpaid job. What do you think?
“And he totally said 'if you're going to do it, don't half-arse it, do it'. It was almost emulating [Matthew] McConaughey [who has told a similar story about quitting his law studies to pursue acting].”
“That gave me full confidence and I made the decision. It was probably the first grown-up decision I've made in my life, where I said Dunedin was nice, it was okay, but this could turn into something else, and this is my real passion, right?“
Hughes said his time as a Phoenix intern was “the making of” him. He worked part-time jobs washing dishes at a café and delivering pizzas while sleeping on a mattress on a mate's floor, but “it didn't feel hard. In fact, it was some of the funnest times of my life”.
“I was learning so much of the game through Chief and Uffie. They were really the foundation of my tactical learning of football. They taught me how to look at football, not from a fan's point of view or at the pub point of view, but how to really analytically break it down.”
Hughes spent four seasons at the Phoenix, the last two of them as the head analyst, then moved to England to take on that role at third-tier club Lincoln City.
Once the All Whites role came his way in early 2024, he left The Imps after one season, but he was still following closely as they won promotion to the second-tier Championship during the season just gone.
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imanixsupporter wrote:
Much too late for us to try this but I'd like to see Cacace LW and Old LB. Don't think any of our attacking midfielders have really convinced, and I think Cacace could do a really good job further forward.
I’m thinking very much along the lines of opening the bowling with Dipak: yes he could and let’s do it.
With Old my thinking is he’s a player who can dribble and beat one or two players. Do that at the edge of the box and you’re in on goal. But of course Cacace is equally capable of doing that l!
Practiced combinations are good, but I feel something to shake it up tactically might give us the upper hand, and why not? It can only not work in the forward 3rd, but I’d back Libby to produce something.
With Old my thinking is he’s a player who can dribble and beat one or two players. Do that at the edge of the box and you’re in on goal. But of course Cacace is equally capable of doing that l!
Practiced combinations are good, but I feel something to shake it up tactically might give us the upper hand, and why not? It can only not work in the forward 3rd, but I’d back Libby to produce something.
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Elemenop wrote:
Our top lineup has to include in form players - in good leagues.
Wood, Just, McCowatt.
Thomas, Bell, Marko
Cacace, Boxall, Surman, Payne (too late to try Bindon)
Croc
Thats our top lineup by a mile - end of haha
The question is are they fit and can they last 45 minutes, let alone 90…Thomas and Bell particularly.
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I think Iran will be hyper-motivated given the treatment being doled out to them by the US Government. The war doesn't help, but whatever you think of the politics of that, from the football perspective, the big issue is the US Government's blatant and unprecedented obstruction of the Iranian team, officials and fans coming in for the games. Plus, what makes it worse for football fans is FIFA meekly rolling over and not standing up for its own principles on this football-specific stuff. And now the US has banned an accredited referee as well - predominantly, it seems, because he is Somalian. Would FIFA have awarded the World Cup hosting to the USA if they'd known they would be behaving like this? So we'd better expect a fired-up Iran team (and who can blame them). I just hope the All Whites don't get the backlash and can hang on for something historic.
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imanixsupporter wrote:
Much too late for us to try this but I'd like to see Cacace LW and Old LB. Don't think any of our attacking midfielders have really convinced, and I think Cacace could do a really good job further forward.
Libby did play a lot of his final season at Empoli up front. He might have better ‘final product’ on average than Old
But the time to try that left field idea was the March window when Cacace was unfortunately still injured. Too late this close to the WC to start a game that way, though Libby could yes push forward maybe when Old is subbed on
But the time to try that left field idea was the March window when Cacace was unfortunately still injured. Too late this close to the WC to start a game that way, though Libby could yes push forward maybe when Old is subbed on
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Gordinho wrote:
I think Iran will be hyper-motivated given the treatment being doled out to them by the US Government. The war doesn't help, but whatever you think of the politics of that, from the football perspective, the big issue is the US Government's blatant and unprecedented obstruction of the Iranian team, officials and fans coming in for the games. Plus, what makes it worse for football fans is FIFA meekly rolling over and not standing up for its own principles on this football-specific stuff. And now the US has banned an accredited referee as well - predominantly, it seems, because he is Somalian. Would FIFA have awarded the World Cup hosting to the USA if they'd known they would be behaving like this? So we'd better expect a fired-up Iran team (and who can blame them). I just hope the All Whites don't get the backlash and can hang on for something historic.
No doubt they'll be fired up, question is how composed will they be, especially if they we frustrate them defensively, a wreckless tackle or red card could have the opposite effect.
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The word wreckless conjures up so many scenarios in my mind
Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet
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What has Just done to deserve to start. Across both warm up games, no shots, and if I recall, I don't think he has really created anything for anyone else either. Club form counts, but it isn't always transferrable, because the other players are different, the teams are different.
In the two warm up games, Garbett and Randell have been far more threatening.
In the two warm up games, Garbett and Randell have been far more threatening.
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Another reason why I now like Garbett as a starter. He’s a bit niggly and physical. He may draw a dumb reaction out of one of their players - or counter that make one himself!
Iran are an older experienced side but yeah is going to be lots of emotion in their playing group plus fans
Who knows what may happen. Stating the obvious we need to start well and retain the ball as much as possible to frustrate. The big Iranian crowd may grow a bit angsty and that feeds through to their players. They see the AWs match as a must win game
Thomas starting if match fit, helps with that plan to frustrate by denying them possession for periods
Iran are an older experienced side but yeah is going to be lots of emotion in their playing group plus fans
Who knows what may happen. Stating the obvious we need to start well and retain the ball as much as possible to frustrate. The big Iranian crowd may grow a bit angsty and that feeds through to their players. They see the AWs match as a must win game
Thomas starting if match fit, helps with that plan to frustrate by denying them possession for periods
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coochiee wrote:imanixsupporter wrote:Libby did play a lot of his final season at Empoli up front. He might have better ‘final product’ on average than Old
Much too late for us to try this but I'd like to see Cacace LW and Old LB. Don't think any of our attacking midfielders have really convinced, and I think Cacace could do a really good job further forward.
But the time to try that left field idea was the March window when Cacace was unfortunately still injured. Too late this close to the WC to start a game that way, though Libby could yes push forward maybe when Old is subbed on
I look at how we’ve played in the last two years. And in this warm up period.
If we simply play as we have been we might challenge these teams more than they were expecting, but we won’t get out of the group or win a game. Likely we won’t even score a goal.
Why not cook up a tactical surprise or two? Worst case scenario we lose 4-0 instead of 2-0. Best case we get early scoreboard pressure and who knows?
As well it’s a distraction for the opposition. They expect us to use the left we go right through Payne or through the middle with Bell, Stamenic, McCowatt, Singh…it might give us room to do some of the things we have done well too.
Roll the dice I say. If it pancakes, go conventional for the last two games.
If we simply play as we have been we might challenge these teams more than they were expecting, but we won’t get out of the group or win a game. Likely we won’t even score a goal.
Why not cook up a tactical surprise or two? Worst case scenario we lose 4-0 instead of 2-0. Best case we get early scoreboard pressure and who knows?
As well it’s a distraction for the opposition. They expect us to use the left we go right through Payne or through the middle with Bell, Stamenic, McCowatt, Singh…it might give us room to do some of the things we have done well too.
Roll the dice I say. If it pancakes, go conventional for the last two games.
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I wonder if the average Iranian supporter checks out our squad and sees two players with premiership clubs not in the starting line up and thinks fuck these guys must be good!!
Auckland will rise once more
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coochiee wrote:
Another reason why I now like Garbett as a starter. He’s a bit niggly and physical. He may draw a dumb reaction out of one of their players - or counter that make one himself!
Iran are an older experienced side but yeah is going to be lots of emotion in their playing group plus fans
Who knows what may happen. Stating the obvious we need to start well and retain the ball as much as possible to frustrate. The big Iranian crowd may grow a bit angsty and that feeds through to their players. They see the AWs match as a must win game
Thomas starting if match fit, helps with that plan to frustrate by denying them possession for periods
Digging into that thread a bit, in the third round of AFC qualifying (i.e. crunch time) Iran received 3 red cards, the most of any team. All of the offending players are in the WC squad too.
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martinb wrote:coochiee wrote:I look at how we’ve played in the last two years. And in this warm up period.imanixsupporter wrote:Libby did play a lot of his final season at Empoli up front. He might have better ‘final product’ on average than Old
Much too late for us to try this but I'd like to see Cacace LW and Old LB. Don't think any of our attacking midfielders have really convinced, and I think Cacace could do a really good job further forward.
But the time to try that left field idea was the March window when Cacace was unfortunately still injured. Too late this close to the WC to start a game that way, though Libby could yes push forward maybe when Old is subbed on
If we simply play as we have been we might challenge these teams more than they were expecting, but we won’t get out of the group or win a game. Likely we won’t even score a goal.
Why not cook up a tactical surprise or two? Worst case scenario we lose 4-0 instead of 2-0. Best case we get early scoreboard pressure and who knows?
As well it’s a distraction for the opposition. They expect us to use the left we go right through Payne or through the middle with Bell, Stamenic, McCowatt, Singh…it might give us room to do some of the things we have done well too.
Roll the dice I say. If it pancakes, go conventional for the last two games.
No way do you roll the dice in game 1, after 4 years of working to this moment. It looks on paper the most winnable game
We struggle to bed in established combinations as it is, with our far flung squad getting for 2-3 training sessions max each FIFA window. It’s not the game to risk some of that continuity by Libby’s left wing AWs debut
Yipe we have been struggling to score but we have also very rarely if ever had our best run on 11 all together with a 3 week lead in to build off
I’m optimistic we can find a goal, and it may just take one to get a win or draw. Apparently Iran ain’t really a free scoring side either in big games
I think the tactical surprises could be a late 15 minute FDV left wing cameo or Boxall hurling some long throws into the pen box. Boxy did that very successfully at Minnesota last MLS season
We struggle to bed in established combinations as it is, with our far flung squad getting for 2-3 training sessions max each FIFA window. It’s not the game to risk some of that continuity by Libby’s left wing AWs debut
Yipe we have been struggling to score but we have also very rarely if ever had our best run on 11 all together with a 3 week lead in to build off
I’m optimistic we can find a goal, and it may just take one to get a win or draw. Apparently Iran ain’t really a free scoring side either in big games
I think the tactical surprises could be a late 15 minute FDV left wing cameo or Boxall hurling some long throws into the pen box. Boxy did that very successfully at Minnesota last MLS season
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coochiee wrote:
This (American born?) Iranian fan looks over the teams in our pool.
Sounds like will be almost a home game in LA for Iran.
Iran is saying that their allocation of tickets has been revoked - not sure if that impacts Iranians not in Iran, possibly if they had purchased through the Iran football federation to be located amongst other Iranian supporters.
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coochiee wrote:martinb wrote:No way do you roll the dice in game 1, after 4 years of working to this moment. It looks on paper the most winnable gamecoochiee wrote:I look at how we’ve played in the last two years. And in this warm up period.imanixsupporter wrote:Libby did play a lot of his final season at Empoli up front. He might have better ‘final product’ on average than Old
Much too late for us to try this but I'd like to see Cacace LW and Old LB. Don't think any of our attacking midfielders have really convinced, and I think Cacace could do a really good job further forward.
But the time to try that left field idea was the March window when Cacace was unfortunately still injured. Too late this close to the WC to start a game that way, though Libby could yes push forward maybe when Old is subbed on
If we simply play as we have been we might challenge these teams more than they were expecting, but we won’t get out of the group or win a game. Likely we won’t even score a goal.
Why not cook up a tactical surprise or two? Worst case scenario we lose 4-0 instead of 2-0. Best case we get early scoreboard pressure and who knows?
As well it’s a distraction for the opposition. They expect us to use the left we go right through Payne or through the middle with Bell, Stamenic, McCowatt, Singh…it might give us room to do some of the things we have done well too.
Roll the dice I say. If it pancakes, go conventional for the last two games.
We struggle to bed in established combinations as it is, with our far flung squad getting for 2-3 training sessions max each FIFA window. It’s not the game to risk some of that continuity by Libby’s left wing AWs debut
Yipe we have been struggling to score but we have also very rarely if ever had our best run on 11 all together with a 3 week lead in to build off
I’m optimistic we can find a goal, and it may just take one to get a win or draw. Apparently Iran ain’t really a free scoring side either in big games
I think the tactical surprises could be a late 15 minute FDV left wing cameo or Boxall hurling some long throws into the pen box. Boxy did that very successfully at Minnesota last MLS season
I mean it’s very good point - why are we not using the long throw from minute one and getting Finn, Marko and Woods on the end of them, with Just and Garbett sniffing around for scraps?
It seems such an obvious tactic given the limitations of our side.
It seems such an obvious tactic given the limitations of our side.
Auckland will rise once more
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I think we need to answer two questions :
1: what do we need to do to score goals
and
2: what are they expecting us to do
Again bringing the Ali, Rumble in the Jungle play book. He was the underdog in that fight. If Foreman hit him, it was over, such was the guys power.
Ali talked about how he was gunna dance. Foreman got in trainers and sparring partners and practiced cornering him.
Then in the fight Ali had his first tactic- he threw a series of unusual punches- unusual because they left him open- I probably have the name wrong- an over hand right. That didn’t work.
So he went into his back up plan- which was the rope a dope- and it confused the commentators too. They thought he’d given up. And that one worked.
It’s what the 92 WC ODI cricket team did. Put the opposition out of their comfort zone. Be aggressive.
It’s just another way to look at tournament management I guess. And it’s not such a huge change as Libby often gets forward from LB, but it means he can stay up or drift inside or look to make a run to the back post.
I know I’m the one who’s been saying continuity, connections etc etc before this. The rest of the pitch could stay the same and you could switch up after 15 minutes or whenever you wanted in any case. Old to RW, Garbett/Just to LW and Libby back to LB.
I guess it is just the mood I’m in and having watched our warm up games and play off games against Costa Rica and Peru over the years. Come out strong, throw them off their game and get it done early. For preference!
Don’t try and hang in there and nick a goal- be positive and take our chances.
Outside the Woodsman, Libby and Old are our best attacking players and we haven’t seen them anywhere close to their potential.
Anyway, I suspect we’ll see one or two things we didn’t expect on Tuesday, even if it’s only McCowatt starting, not Libby flicking on headers for Woodsy or getting one on one with the keeper in the first minute…we’ve consistently improved and tinkered with the formation, if we forget Finland and Haiti.
I don’t think either thing you’ve mentioned there Coochie, would be a great surprise as we’ve used both of them recently in games and had success particularly from corners.
Man Tuesday is still a week away.
1: what do we need to do to score goals
and
2: what are they expecting us to do
Again bringing the Ali, Rumble in the Jungle play book. He was the underdog in that fight. If Foreman hit him, it was over, such was the guys power.
Ali talked about how he was gunna dance. Foreman got in trainers and sparring partners and practiced cornering him.
Then in the fight Ali had his first tactic- he threw a series of unusual punches- unusual because they left him open- I probably have the name wrong- an over hand right. That didn’t work.
So he went into his back up plan- which was the rope a dope- and it confused the commentators too. They thought he’d given up. And that one worked.
It’s what the 92 WC ODI cricket team did. Put the opposition out of their comfort zone. Be aggressive.
It’s just another way to look at tournament management I guess. And it’s not such a huge change as Libby often gets forward from LB, but it means he can stay up or drift inside or look to make a run to the back post.
I know I’m the one who’s been saying continuity, connections etc etc before this. The rest of the pitch could stay the same and you could switch up after 15 minutes or whenever you wanted in any case. Old to RW, Garbett/Just to LW and Libby back to LB.
I guess it is just the mood I’m in and having watched our warm up games and play off games against Costa Rica and Peru over the years. Come out strong, throw them off their game and get it done early. For preference!
Don’t try and hang in there and nick a goal- be positive and take our chances.
Outside the Woodsman, Libby and Old are our best attacking players and we haven’t seen them anywhere close to their potential.
Anyway, I suspect we’ll see one or two things we didn’t expect on Tuesday, even if it’s only McCowatt starting, not Libby flicking on headers for Woodsy or getting one on one with the keeper in the first minute…we’ve consistently improved and tinkered with the formation, if we forget Finland and Haiti.
I don’t think either thing you’ve mentioned there Coochie, would be a great surprise as we’ve used both of them recently in games and had success particularly from corners.
Man Tuesday is still a week away.
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Gordinho wrote:
I think Iran will be hyper-motivated given the treatment being doled out to them by the US Government. The war doesn't help, but whatever you think of the politics of that, from the football perspective, the big issue is the US Government's blatant and unprecedented obstruction of the Iranian team, officials and fans coming in for the games. Plus, what makes it worse for football fans is FIFA meekly rolling over and not standing up for its own principles on this football-specific stuff. And now the US has banned an accredited referee as well - predominantly, it seems, because he is Somalian. Would FIFA have awarded the World Cup hosting to the USA if they'd known they would be behaving like this? So we'd better expect a fired-up Iran team (and who can blame them). I just hope the All Whites don't get the backlash and can hang on for something historic.
The ref is a Somali not a Somalian
If you are old and wise you were probably young and stupid
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