Squad for October window maybe named end of next week?
Likely named before the NZ U20s in Chile play their first game 28th Sept?
Note both the Nix and Auckland start their ALM seasons on 18th Oct, only 3 days after the AWs game in Oslo (15th Oct our time).
This was the 22 man squad in September - noting Paulsen, Cacace & Stamenic all dropped out after initially being picked.
Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Henry Gray, Oli Sail
Defenders: Callan Elliot, Tim Payne, Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Finn Surman, Francis de Vries, James McGarry
Midfielders: Joe Bell, Elijah Just, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Ryan Thomas
Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Luke Brooke-Smith, Callum McCowatt, Jesse Randall, Logan Rogerson, Chris Wood
The guys in bold I think are at the most risk of being dropped for the October games
Possible Outs - Sail, Gray, Elliot, McGarry, LBS, Randall, Rogerson
Possible Ins - Paulsen, Tzanev, Sims, Tuiloma, Wilkins, Smith, Stanger, Stamenic, Waine. Of course Garbett. Longer shot ADJ
Unavailable - Pijnaker, Cacace, Mata (some others I can't think of)
Sail likely will stay in Auckland. Paulsen comes back in. 3rd GK from any of the guys based in Europe take your pick. Sounds like Tzanev has been up & down at Newport.
With this window just before the final regular season MLS round ('Decision Day') I think definitely need a 4th CB, with Surman & Boxall again likely to rotate with one start each.
Fans won't like it but suspect Smith will be picked. Left sided backup to Bindon, and that 'mentoring role'. Plus Tuiloma can be cover for the two other right sided MLS guys. But maybe it's both Smith & Stanger that come in. Baze has often picked 5 CBs in his squads.
I'd like to see Billy T come in as a physical impact RB, to replace Payne at around 65-70 mins in each game. With short cameos like that, he should be better equipped to handle the defensive full back role, but add something attacking from dead ball situations. Back on the pine now at in form Charlotte, but he's played well at RB in the MLS this season when given the chance.
McGarry looked okay in his limited mins against Australia. He may keep his spot with Libby still out. Though suspect Bazeley wants to have a look at Wilkins.
After 3 weeks away with the U20s, Chiefy likely doesn't want LBS selected for these AWs game, so close to the ALM kicking off. Waine will likely enjoy getting away from Port Vale for a bit. In comes Garbs (thanks MartinB). But no one else stands out attacking wise to upsurp Randall and/or Rogerson.
Even Andre De Jong isn't doing much at the moment, but this maybe his best chance of a lookin if Baze wants to help out his old mate Corica by leaving the Auckland FC duo in NZ.
