Great result and great to watch, and any team in the World Cup that decides to roll out a B side against us might very well end up regretting that decision. Surman and boxy fantastic again clearly our locked in CB pairing. Was impressed with AP and Old. It’s a good time to be a kiwi football fan
we want to build our best side's understanding and coherency prior to the World Cup, and this won't happen when you are constantly ringing the changes to placate club sides. I am glad Baze mostly agreed with me, played 10 of the players I wanted to seeMarto
imanixsupporter
FdV will start, Payne played so poorly in the first half that his spot is at risk, despite how well he played in the second half.
I'd like Boxall & Surman to start again, they're our best CB pair and the longer they get to get to strengthen that partnership the better. Continuously chopping and changing CBs to suck up to their club teams is pathetic, those clubs need to deal with the fact their players are internationals and may play 2 games in a window.
I want to see Old & Wood in for Garbett & Waine and leave the rest of the team unchanged, if Bell isn't fit enough to start.
Today is still a friendly. Next year is when we need solid 90s with our strongest XI on the park.
A great performance that deserved a win, but I will definitely take the draw. It is scary though to think about what the score could've been had Erling and their other superstars been involved though.
Making some good progress in these recent windows.
Also I think Paulsen just sealed the number 1 goalkeeper spot.
he is decent don't get me wrong, especially as he may not have done much commentary (apologies if he has, i haven't heard much of him before), but not particularly amazing. Piney can be a bit cringey at times but I still love his passion and probably would still prefer him. siac
Good performance and an entertaining match.
As others have said, that commentator is several times more pleasant to listen to than the usual ones we get.
Alex Paulsen is the reason we got a point, unreal saves. Shame for crocombe, he does a good job but unfortunately for him Paulsen is just something special. Paulsen needs to be the number 1.
We’ve been through this before mate. Where was Norway’s (and maybe th3 world’s) best striker today?imanixsupporter
we want to build our best side's understanding and coherency prior to the World Cup, and this won't happen when you are constantly ringing the changes to placate club sides. I am glad Baze mostly agreed with me, played 10 of the players I wanted to seeMarto
imanixsupporter
FdV will start, Payne played so poorly in the first half that his spot is at risk, despite how well he played in the second half.
I'd like Boxall & Surman to start again, they're our best CB pair and the longer they get to get to strengthen that partnership the better. Continuously chopping and changing CBs to suck up to their club teams is pathetic, those clubs need to deal with the fact their players are internationals and may play 2 games in a window.
I want to see Old & Wood in for Garbett & Waine and leave the rest of the team unchanged, if Bell isn't fit enough to start.
Today is still a friendly. Next year is when we need solid 90s with our strongest XI on the park.
Even a Norway B team is rock solid... so a great result.
More pleasing, the number of genuine chances we created.
Too far out to call people locks for the team outside Wood. There is good comp across the park in all other areas. Carcace and Stamenic maybe the only other real exceptions.
Final thought... people need to get on the Baz wagon. He deserves the support!
Even a Norway B team is rock solid... so a great result.
More pleasing, the number of genuine chances we created.
Too far out to call people locks for the team outside Wood. There is good comp across the park in all other areas. Carcace and Stamenic maybe the only other real exceptions.
Final thought... people need to get on the Baz wagon. He deserves the support!
I think we all kinda have. It’s been a long time since I last saw any real vitriol here.
I do also wonder how much input Elliott and the others have into how we are playing.
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites
he is decent don't get me wrong, especially as he may not have done much commentary (apologies if he has, i haven't heard much of him before), but not particularly amazing. Piney can be a bit cringey at times but I still love his passion and probably would still prefer him. siac
Good performance and an entertaining match.
As others have said, that commentator is several times more pleasant to listen to than the usual ones we get.
Piney and the Aussie blokes are dead set cringy or one eyed AF. Give me this guy over all of them any day of the week.
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites
hey pal, Norway almost always have two qualifiers in a window against really good opposition and they dont ring wholesale changes in those windows. We don't get many games against decent teams and they are almost always friendlies. We have to operate differentlyNapier Phoenix
We’ve been through this before mate. Where was Norway’s (and maybe th3 world’s) best striker today?imanixsupporter
we want to build our best side's understanding and coherency prior to the World Cup, and this won't happen when you are constantly ringing the changes to placate club sides. I am glad Baze mostly agreed with me, played 10 of the players I wanted to seeMarto
imanixsupporter
FdV will start, Payne played so poorly in the first half that his spot is at risk, despite how well he played in the second half.
I'd like Boxall & Surman to start again, they're our best CB pair and the longer they get to get to strengthen that partnership the better. Continuously chopping and changing CBs to suck up to their club teams is pathetic, those clubs need to deal with the fact their players are internationals and may play 2 games in a window.
I want to see Old & Wood in for Garbett & Waine and leave the rest of the team unchanged, if Bell isn't fit enough to start.
Today is still a friendly. Next year is when we need solid 90s with our strongest XI on the park.
he is decent don't get me wrong, especially as he may not have done much commentary (apologies if he has, i haven't heard much of him before), but not particularly amazing. Piney can be a bit cringey at times but I still love his passion and probably would still prefer him. siac
Good performance and an entertaining match.
As others have said, that commentator is several times more pleasant to listen to than the usual ones we get.
Piney and the Aussie blokes are dead set cringy or one eyed AF. Give me this guy over all of them any day of the week.
While nice for a change, I thought he ran out of things to say a few times or didn't add much to what was going on. Him and Piney on rotation would be nice
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
hey pal, Norway almost always have two qualifiers in a window against really good opposition and they dont ring wholesale changes in those windows. We don't get many games against decent teams and they are almost always friendlies. We have to operate differentlyNapier Phoenix
We’ve been through this before mate. Where was Norway’s (and maybe th3 world’s) best striker today?imanixsupporter
we want to build our best side's understanding and coherency prior to the World Cup, and this won't happen when you are constantly ringing the changes to placate club sides. I am glad Baze mostly agreed with me, played 10 of the players I wanted to seeMarto
imanixsupporter
FdV will start, Payne played so poorly in the first half that his spot is at risk, despite how well he played in the second half.
I'd like Boxall & Surman to start again, they're our best CB pair and the longer they get to get to strengthen that partnership the better. Continuously chopping and changing CBs to suck up to their club teams is pathetic, those clubs need to deal with the fact their players are internationals and may play 2 games in a window.
I want to see Old & Wood in for Garbett & Waine and leave the rest of the team unchanged, if Bell isn't fit enough to start.
Today is still a friendly. Next year is when we need solid 90s with our strongest XI on the park.
Like you said QUALIFIERS, this was a FRIENDLY and they only started 4 from there last qualifying game
We’ve been through this before mate. Where was Norway’s (and maybe th3 world’s) best striker today?imanixsupporter
we want to build our best side's understanding and coherency prior to the World Cup, and this won't happen when you are constantly ringing the changes to placate club sides. I am glad Baze mostly agreed with me, played 10 of the players I wanted to seeMarto
imanixsupporter
FdV will start, Payne played so poorly in the first half that his spot is at risk, despite how well he played in the second half.
I'd like Boxall & Surman to start again, they're our best CB pair and the longer they get to get to strengthen that partnership the better. Continuously chopping and changing CBs to suck up to their club teams is pathetic, those clubs need to deal with the fact their players are internationals and may play 2 games in a window.
I want to see Old & Wood in for Garbett & Waine and leave the rest of the team unchanged, if Bell isn't fit enough to start.
Today is still a friendly. Next year is when we need solid 90s with our strongest XI on the park.
Wouldnt worry about it he just dosnt seem to get it seems to think we can just ignore clubs wishes and play them as we want.
Best thing about this was the overall lift. Side felt balanced- good move to bring Garbett centrally (wow a machine). Stamenic was a EPL level player in first 60. He will get a move next year playing like that. Best kiwi out there today.
But the weaker players (FdV, Payne, Waine) from Poland match also really stepped up. Waine was excellent holding it up and linking today. FdV delivery was brilliant but he also got tighter. Old had a really good first half. Progress.
I think thats close to your starting X1. Really balanced side in front 6 today and good tactics.
One area i felt we lacked was the ability to step it up off the bench at 75 mins. Die to intensity of press we lost our legs but did well to not just hang on but create on the counter.
1-1 and we looked like scoring more, Paulsen and our defence certainly kept us in it in parts, but you'd expect that against a decent side like Norway - even without their stars. I love this commentator, just calmly focussed on the game, builds excitement where necessary and doesn't worry about quit spaces and needlessly filling them with meaningless stats from years gone by,
You have missed my point entirely. Please review my comment and use this as an opportunity to improve your reading comprehensionYellowAndBlack
imanixsupporter
hey pal, Norway almost always have two qualifiers in a window against really good opposition and they dont ring wholesale changes in those windows. We don't get many games against decent teams and they are almost always friendlies. We have to operate differentlyNapier Phoenix
We’ve been through this before mate. Where was Norway’s (and maybe th3 world’s) best striker today?imanixsupporter
we want to build our best side's understanding and coherency prior to the World Cup, and this won't happen when you are constantly ringing the changes to placate club sides. I am glad Baze mostly agreed with me, played 10 of the players I wanted to seeMarto
imanixsupporter
FdV will start, Payne played so poorly in the first half that his spot is at risk, despite how well he played in the second half.
I'd like Boxall & Surman to start again, they're our best CB pair and the longer they get to get to strengthen that partnership the better. Continuously chopping and changing CBs to suck up to their club teams is pathetic, those clubs need to deal with the fact their players are internationals and may play 2 games in a window.
I want to see Old & Wood in for Garbett & Waine and leave the rest of the team unchanged, if Bell isn't fit enough to start.
Today is still a friendly. Next year is when we need solid 90s with our strongest XI on the park.
Like you said QUALIFIERS, this was a FRIENDLY and they only started 4 from there last qualifying game
Wonder if this result might claim a place back in the rankings?
The overall ranking coefficient went down for the window - Curacao also beat Jamaica, so if they also get a result at home to Trinidad & Tobago this afternoon they will definitely go ahead. Uganda beat Botswana beat but lost to Algeria - their buffer is four points so that may keep them ahead.
In that regard - wouldn't be surprised to drop to 84th.
The most important thing is that we will be Pot 4 at the World Cup draw regardless - the granular ranking is less significant.
Impressive performance. Enough quality across the park to give us a chance against many teams. If only Woodsy hadn't hit the crossbar. Set pieces looked strong.
Wonder if this result might claim a place back in the rankings?
The overall ranking coefficient went down for the window - Curacao also beat Jamaica, so if they also get a result at home to Trinidad & Tobago this afternoon they will definitely go ahead. Uganda beat Botswana beat but lost to Algeria - their buffer is four points so that may keep them ahead.
In that regard - wouldn't be surprised to drop to 84th.
The most important thing is that we will be Pot 4 at the World Cup draw regardless - the granular ranking is less significant.
We'll be 85th, Curacao & Kosovo have leapfrogged us with wins against Jamaica and Sweden respectively.
Table below is live to yesterday evening NZT, so doesn't include our game against Norway where we wil pick up ~2.3 points.
Curacao could loose points against T&T later today, but wont be enough to drop below us.
he is decent don't get me wrong, especially as he may not have done much commentary (apologies if he has, i haven't heard much of him before), but not particularly amazing. Piney can be a bit cringey at times but I still love his passion and probably would still prefer him. siac
Good performance and an entertaining match.
As others have said, that commentator is several times more pleasant to listen to than the usual ones we get.
Piney and the Aussie blokes are dead set cringy or one eyed AF. Give me this guy over all of them any day of the week.
Simon Hill the exception. Of course though last season’s GF was his final match.
Tried to avoid the result this morning so I could watch it now (Days off, didn't fancy another 4.30ish wake up - Don't judge me!) But instinctively checked result on Fotmob without even thinking.
At first glance, what an excellent result! Just watching the replay now, so will share my thoughts of the game later on.
he is decent don't get me wrong, especially as he may not have done much commentary (apologies if he has, i haven't heard much of him before), but not particularly amazing. Piney can be a bit cringey at times but I still love his passion and probably would still prefer him. siac
Good performance and an entertaining match.
As others have said, that commentator is several times more pleasant to listen to than the usual ones we get.
Piney and the Aussie blokes are dead set cringy or one eyed AF. Give me this guy over all of them any day of the week.
While nice for a change, I thought he ran out of things to say a few times or didn't add much to what was going on. Him and Piney on rotation would be nice
New guy and Iffy doing the flavour/expert commentary would be amazing imo.
New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley says he saw ‘lots of positives’ in his side’s 1-1 draw with Norway in their friendly international in Oslo.
“I think there’s a lot to be pleased about,” he said after the match at Ullevaal Stadium.
“Ultimately, we’re disappointed to come away to a European nation and not win (but) I thought there was some really good possession, we’re brave and today, we created good chances to score.
“I thought we tweaked our defensive style a bit, and I thought it made us a little bit more compact, a little bit more connected but still a good pressing display.
“There’s moments there where we actually look like we’re a good counter-attacking team as well … so, overall, lots of positives.”
Nusa’s 63rd-minute equaliser was a sweet strike, giving All Whites’ goalkeeper Alex Paulsen no chance of saving.
“It was good; it was a great hit. It was a good pass from Schjelderup and I hit it very well,” Nusa said after the final whistle.
“Respect to New Zealand, they are a good team that gave us good resistance.
“They were better in the first half, and then we picked ourselves up in the second half. We created a lot of chances and it could have gone either way, but it was a well-executed second half I would say.”
Alex Paulsen is the reason we got a point, unreal saves. Shame for crocombe, he does a good job but unfortunately for him Paulsen is just something special. Paulsen needs to be the number 1.
Agreed. Makes me wonder as to how much the Bournemouth coaching staff are monitoring him. This was a "this is me in the shop window" type performance.
I do also wonder if players not currently in Europe, especially Surman, are putting themselves in the same shop window
Have finished watching and must say I was pleasantly surprised at how the game went. It ebbed and flowed nicely, good back and forth play by both sides with chances (good ones too) at both ends, and there was a good pace to the game.
Overall 1-1 was a fair result.
We might not be world beaters, but I feel like we've earnt that 'pesky' tag of late - We maybe don't quite have the quality throughout the squad to put these good teams to the sword or put them away, but it feels like we're never going to go away, and its always going to be a real scrap to get past us. Today (and by in large our last several matches against 🇨🇮🇺🇦🇦🇹🇦🇺 - Maybe discount that 2nd Aussie game...) is just further proof of that. Just to add my 2c here as well, but how good would it be for us to also eventually build squad depth to the point where we can call upon bench options who play in the like of the Bundesliga, Serie A, Portugal, Premier League/Championship etc where they can come on and change or make a mark on the game? We can only dream I suppose.
Front to back I thought we were very good today though. Observations in no particular order;
• Paulsen has usurped Crocombe for mine. That's come about simply because he's playing week in, week out in Poland. Was that not the directive of Bazeley some months back? It's simply not enough to be at a solid club to play for the AW's now, you have to be playing every week, and I guess thats a similar story to what we saw with Bindon this window too.
• Boxall and Surman were immense. It feels like Boxall is just getting better and better with age. Maybe not quite a Rolls Royce, but maybe a nice 2nd hand Range Rover with 50,000kms on the clock. Feels like he could just keep going and going and going, and I have no doubt that he will.
• Surman with his nuts to the pole and gets the goal! Good reward for another high quality performance. I doubt its long before European clubs start making overtures for his services in all honesty.
• Stamenic was cool and calm in midfield - Nice touches, turns and such a good variety to his passing game. As always, he was up for the physical stuff too - I wouldnt want to run in to him in a dark alleyway! Has all the time in the world when the ball is at his feet, and just unlucky with the chalked off goal (fudgeing VAR for friendlies! 🤣).
• Hopefully Woodsy isn't too seriously injured after coming off. On another day he hits that chance into the top corner, or he connects with a nice glancing header moments later to double our lead early in that 2nd half. A true game of inches is the best way to describe his performance tonight. Congratulations to him on tying the NZ appearance record with Ivan Vicelich too. Proper proud New Zealander he is. 👏
• Ben Old's best game in a white shirt this morning in my opinion. Just felt like he had a point to prove, and he looked hungry. Not everything came off for him, but I appreciated the effort in the press, and the effort to try and create and get on the ball and make something/get into threatening positions. Oh how he'd like to have that headed chance back again as well! Needs to be doing everything he can to be playing when he gets back to France. Next best option is to look for a loan move in the next window. He needs more minutes at club level to continue his development.
All in all a decent window ends with a decent result. Roll on Colombia and Ecuador in November!
With today's match, Chris Wood has drawn level with Ivan Vicelich as the All Whites all-time leading appearance maker on 88 caps for New Zealand 👏 pic.twitter.com/sJ0siYRRYT
It’s an interesting dilemma for someone like Surman.
He could well be on a European clubs radar in Jan, but is it worth the risk then?
He has seen the likes of Bindon (his direct competitor) in the national team, likely drop outside the first team due to a bad loan move.
Likewise the keeper, Max, in hindsight a bad move to be number number two at Millwall and likely number three when their regular keeper comes back.
Has led to Alex who is getting first team minutes, getting a sniff and likely now is the number one.
Think Surman is better served staying where he is in the USA.
Looking to cement his place in the All Whites and putting himself even further in the shop window come the World Cup by starting.
The guys also still young and another half a season in the MLS will only be good for his development.
Then a possible transfer to Europe in august next year when after hopefully a good World Cup would have seen his stock rise even further.
Think with Surman it will depend on how long his contract has to run at Portland as think they would want to maximize what they can get for him. Pretty sure Neville has already admitted he is destined for better leagues.
Israel (FR 76th) ain't the worst. Though Italy comfortably beat them 3-0 overnight, so the Italians should now finish at least 2nd in their qualifying group behind Norway.
I reckon a full strength Norway should be FIFA ranked some where in the 20s. Ahead of the Socceroos anyway. Wouldn't surprise if the Norwegians went deep into next year's WC.
Have finished watching and must say I was pleasantly surprised at how the game went. It ebbed and flowed nicely, good back and forth play by both sides with chances (good ones too) at both ends, and there was a good pace to the game.
Overall 1-1 was a fair result.
We might not be world beaters, but I feel like we've earnt that 'pesky' tag of late - We maybe don't quite have the quality throughout the squad to put these good teams to the sword or put them away, but it feels like we're never going to go away, and its always going to be a real scrap to get past us. Today (and by in large our last several matches against 🇨🇮🇺🇦🇦🇹🇦🇺 - Maybe discount that 2nd Aussie game...) is just further proof of that. Just to add my 2c here as well, but how good would it be for us to also eventually build squad depth to the point where we can call upon bench options who play in the like of the Bundesliga, Serie A, Portugal, Premier League/Championship etc where they can come on and change or make a mark on the game? We can only dream I suppose.
Front to back I thought we were very good today though. Observations in no particular order;
• Paulsen has usurped Crocombe for mine. That's come about simply because he's playing week in, week out in Poland. Was that not the directive of Bazeley some months back? It's simply not enough to be at a solid club to play for the AW's now, you have to be playing every week, and I guess thats a similar story to what we saw with Bindon this window too.
• Boxall and Surman were immense. It feels like Boxall is just getting better and better with age. Maybe not quite a Rolls Royce, but maybe a nice 2nd hand Range Rover with 50,000kms on the clock. Feels like he could just keep going and going and going, and I have no doubt that he will.
• Surman with his nuts to the pole and gets the goal! Good reward for another high quality performance. I doubt its long before European clubs start making overtures for his services in all honesty.
• Stamenic was cool and calm in midfield - Nice touches, turns and such a good variety to his passing game. As always, he was up for the physical stuff too - I wouldnt want to run in to him in a dark alleyway! Has all the time in the world when the ball is at his feet, and just unlucky with the chalked off goal (fudgeing VAR for friendlies! 🤣).
• Hopefully Woodsy isn't too seriously injured after coming off. On another day he hits that chance into the top corner, or he connects with a nice glancing header moments later to double our lead early in that 2nd half. A true game of inches is the best way to describe his performance tonight. Congratulations to him on tying the NZ appearance record with Ivan Vicelich too. Proper proud New Zealander he is. 👏
• Ben Old's best game in a white shirt this morning in my opinion. Just felt like he had a point to prove, and he looked hungry. Not everything came off for him, but I appreciated the effort in the press, and the effort to try and create and get on the ball and make something/get into threatening positions. Oh how he'd like to have that headed chance back again as well! Needs to be doing everything he can to be playing when he gets back to France. Next best option is to look for a loan move in the next window. He needs more minutes at club level to continue his development.
All in all a decent window ends with a decent result. Roll on Colombia and Ecuador in November!
Worth shouting out to both the A-League FB's as well - neither looked like weak links, our right side understandably had trouble with Nusa, but the way he was playing every RB in the world would have had issues. Payne has me excited for the Nix season. Also thought Singh was very good again, getting on the ball a lot, looking like he used to when he was the next big thing. Both Thomas and Garbett have immense engines, seemingly everywhere on the pitch all at once.
