All Whites vs Iran | Tues 16th June | 1:00pm (NZT) | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

AucklandPhoenix wrote:
Yes, he should have been subbed earlier and it would have been nice for Baz to be more attacking with Bayliss instead of Thomas who apart from the defensive header looked out of sorts.

But really harsh on Singh, that post. He was good before he tired and was very instrumental in the first goal.

Add at least 4 to your 2.7 rating. Wherever that rating came from?

• Crocombe - 7
• Payne - 5
• Surman - 4
• Boxall - 4
• Cacace - 4
• Bell - 6
• Stamenic - 7
• Singh - 4
• Just - 9
• McCowatt - 7
• Wood - 9

• Bindon - N/A
• Elliot - 5
• Old - 5
• Thomas - 6
• Randall - N/A

Friar Tuck wrote:
Herald Ratings:

• Crocombe - 7
• Payne - 5
• Surman - 4
• Boxall - 4
• Cacace - 4
• Bell - 6
• Stamenic - 7
• Singh - 4
• Just - 9
• McCowatt - 7
• Wood - 9

Bench: 

• Bindon - N/A
• Elliot - 5
• Old - 5
• Thomas - 6
• Randall - N/A

dairyflat wrote:
Interesting comments. So many don't seem to derive any joy from the game at all. 

Such is life. 😉

Ninja wrote:
What a performance. Proud of the lads.

Would look to give Randall and Old more time against Egypt.

martinb wrote:
Let’s not kid ourselves though- this was one of our best performances ever. 

Buffon II wrote:

 martinb wrote:
Let’s not kid ourselves though- this was one of our best performances ever. 

Agreed.

The actual performance tops anything in South Africa.

The last minute equaliser against Slovakia and holding Italy to a draw were unbelievable moments and a great part of our history, but never went toe to toe with either of them the way we did today.

imanixsupporter wrote:
Just want to say before I critique us (I can't help it, I'm a critical guy) that that was overall brilliant, and the goals were fantastic. Loved almost every minute of it. 

Maybe this was our "best performace ever" but I wish Baze was singing his and his team's own praises a bit less because we can be a fair bit better than that. Payne and Singh were overall quite poor, I know they can both do a lot better. Cacace and McCowatt weren't bad but overall quite quiet. And something has to be done about our CB partnership and their apparent inability to defend basic crossing situations. Haiti, England and Iran all getting headed goals far easier than they should have. 

I'm hopeful and even optimistic we can be better against Egypt. Maybe it is best we persevere with Singh but I'd strongly consider replacing McCowatt with Old (and putting Just on the right), Payne with Elliot and Boxall with Bindon. 

MetalLegNZ wrote:

 imanixsupporter wrote:
Just want to say before I critique us (I can't help it, I'm a critical guy) that that was overall brilliant, and the goals were fantastic. Loved almost every minute of it. 

Maybe this was our "best performace ever" but I wish Baze was singing his and his team's own praises a bit less because we can be a fair bit better than that. Payne and Singh were overall quite poor, I know they can both do a lot better. Cacace and McCowatt weren't bad but overall quite quiet. And something has to be done about our CB partnership and their apparent inability to defend basic crossing situations. Haiti, England and Iran all getting headed goals far easier than they should have. 

I'm hopeful and even optimistic we can be better against Egypt. Maybe it is best we persevere with Singh but I'd strongly consider replacing McCowatt with Old (and putting Just on the right), Payne with Elliot and Boxall with Bindon. 

Watch a replay... McCowatt was excellent. He dropped deep regularly to get on the ball and found pockets of space regularly... and he puts in a shift defensively too.

Easily his best game for NZ against decent opposition. 

I think Baz used him correctly... as a defensive 10, who looks to setup counters which is his club role.

imanixsupporter wrote:
Just want to say before I critique us (I can't help it, I'm a critical guy) that that was overall brilliant, and the goals were fantastic. Loved almost every minute of it. 

Maybe this was our "best performace ever" but I wish Baze was singing his and his team's own praises a bit less because we can be a fair bit better than that. Payne and Singh were overall quite poor, I know they can both do a lot better. Cacace and McCowatt weren't bad but overall quite quiet. And something has to be done about our CB partnership and their apparent inability to defend basic crossing situations. Haiti, England and Iran all getting headed goals far easier than they should have. 

I'm hopeful and even optimistic we can be better against Egypt. Maybe it is best we persevere with Singh but I'd strongly consider replacing McCowatt with Old (and putting Just on the right), Payne with Elliot and Boxall with Bindon. 

imanixsupporter wrote:
There's no perfect solution to our attacking midfield woes, I know Old hasnt been playing primarily as an attacking player in recent times but I still think he would be more effective for us than McCowatt. Just his sheer pace creates panic in defenses and more space for the likes of Wood, Just & Singh to exploit. 

I'd rather put Thomas in instead of McCowatt but Thomas looked a long way from his best today when he came on... he's just not close enough to full fitness. 

And McCowatt scoring vs Sweden was a full 3 years ago now (to the day in fact), it has no relevance now.