Wouldn't mind seeing the match stats - probably matched Poland on possession and shots. Had more shots on target. We're a better team when Singh has a lot of possession. Not at all overwhelmed apart from a nervy start to the second half. Just need to get that decision making right in and around the box.
Well we certainly gave them a game. Tuiloma was interesting when he came on. Played progressive passes, pushed us forward and was a set piece threat. Has a scoring record with head or ball at feet.
We need a back up striker! Pity that Garbett lost a lot of sympathy moments before perhaps getting caught in the box. And as usual we need more from Singh, Garbett, McCowatt and anyone playing forward in just getting shots off.
But mental as well to start de Vries without Wood. He put in some tasty ones early doors but was gassed by 65 minutes.
if we were offered a 1-0 loss three weeks ago we'd all have jumped on it, the lads played well in patches and challenged a very decent Polish side. Our team is always going to offer up chances and these better teams will take them. For us to do better we need to be more effective at converting the chances we create, because there were a few today. We cannot rely solely on Wood, he scores plenty but does so in patches. McCowatt, Waine, Singh, Garbett have got to produce more goals - they get plenty of chances to surprise teams.
i assume waine started as kind of his last chance under Beasley. I think he went to the same training academy as Olivia Fergusson in terms of loads of energy pressing 10/10 everything else 3/10. Waine needs to be out of squad at WC unless he can at least start getting game time and goals in the English 3rd level, where he cant even make the match day squad.
I am fine with Wood coming on late today, as probably injury protection or whatever, we need to test players to cover for when Wood is not available but enough with Waine.
De Vries was out of puff after 65mins. whchi is expected. Paine and De Vries are still in pre-season. So doing well considering. MetalLegNZ
Payne is not up to standard... which is not great considering he is arguably our best RB. His touch is too heavy and he keeps getting caught on the ball with slow option taking.
Waine has worked really hard - but man he must hate always playing up top by himself. He always seems to be a lone ranger. How would he go playing off Woods shoulder etc. He has a bit of pace.
Stamenic looking good, Thomas a little flat and Garbett is energetic, albeit a little wasteful with a heavy touch causing him to lose the ball too much for me.
De Vries offering more than Payne... man he can hit a cross.
Did you notice McCowart back in the defensive corner if the pitch a couple of times tidying up?Hutcho137
If Wood is on minutes restraint, could we push McCowatt up to ST push Singh to the right and bring in Bell with Thomas and Stamenic?
Yeah I noticed that too, McCowatt put in a real shift both ways. Loved how he tracked back into the corners to tidy things up defensively, but he also looked sharp higher up the pitch. Wouldn’t mind seeing him pushed up front next time, especially if Bell comes in alongside Thomas and Stamenic. That’d free McCowatt to focus more on pressing and creating chances, reckon he’s got the energy and movement to cause problems up top.
Haven’t watched the game but hearing good and bad things.
What team do we think Baze puts out against Norway?
Wood up top.
Stamenic and Thomas seem the two locks by what everyone saying. Maybe Bell comes in though to push those two further forward?
Seeing Bell as an unused sub was absolutely massive surprise for me. First game he’s ever been on the bench for the All Whites.
OPP was preferred to Bell and looks like he’s made a very strong impression. For him to come in and get on before Joe Bell is quite something tbh but then again the game needed a more attacking option.
Could OPP get a start for Norway infront of Singh? Great selection headaches ahead for Bazeley.
De Vries and Payne were getting rinsed down the flanks apparently. Having Cacace back will be awesome but we need a solution for Payne.
OPP having the versatility to play as a 6/8/10 will definitely get him more power ranking points than Rufer and Bell who can only play as 6s. A bit like a Josh Nisbet player but more fluid on the ball.
Surman and Boxall very solid from what I’m reading which is promising. Unfortunate times for Bindon but he’s young and he will get his chance. Paulsen seems to have a lock on the No1 for now too.
if we were offered a 1-0 loss three weeks ago we'd all have jumped on it, the lads played well in patches and challenged a very decent Polish side. Our team is always going to offer up chances and these better teams will take them. For us to do better we need to be more effective at converting the chances we create, because there were a few today. We cannot rely solely on Wood, he scores plenty but does so in patches. McCowatt, Waine, Singh, Garbett have got to produce more goals - they get plenty of chances to surprise teams.
I think we are (should be) at a stage where we don't jump at the prospect of a 1-0 defeat - from reports, this Poland team are a bit dysfunctional. At 36th-ranked they would likely be Pot 4 if they qualify, which is the same as us. Even then, only 3 (Zielinski the goalscorer, Wisniewski at CB and Szymanski as a forward - with the latter two subbed at the half) of their team this morning started their qualifier away against the Netherlands last window. The team we played would be lower than their 36th ranking.
Our squad is the strongest and deepest it's ever been on paper and has the promise but we need to start showing this in results - outside of OFC in the last two years we've played 15 full matches: 2 wins, 4 draws and 9 losses; 11 goals for and 22 against. The only one of those matches we have scored more than once was the 4-0 vs Malaysia. As with the Poland game - these are all friendlies with rotated teams; at the World Cup the 11s will be a step up.
I wonder if this means we’ll likely never see Thomas, Bell and Stamenic starting together…
Possibly. But there will also be some rotation considerations going on, with thoughts given to keeping the club coaches happy.
Recently on the rare occasions when Zwolle have played 3 games in a week, Thomas goes to the bench for one of the games. Still watching the loading on his body. Viking are right in the mix for a rare Norwegian title championship. They want Joe B to stay fresh.
It might just be that Bell starts the Norway game (which no doubt he's very keen to play in), and Thomas goes to the pine.
Only when the actual World Cup happens will rotation considerations be binned. Like Boxall & Surman are now likely the no 1 CB pairing, but wouldn't surprise for Bindon to come in for Boxy in Oslo.
Does Paulsen keep the gloves for next Wednesday morning? That's the big selection question. Is he now going to be the no 1 keeper from here onwards?
if we were offered a 1-0 loss three weeks ago we'd all have jumped on it, the lads played well in patches and challenged a very decent Polish side. Our team is always going to offer up chances and these better teams will take them. For us to do better we need to be more effective at converting the chances we create, because there were a few today. We cannot rely solely on Wood, he scores plenty but does so in patches. McCowatt, Waine, Singh, Garbett have got to produce more goals - they get plenty of chances to surprise teams.
I think we are (should be) at a stage where we don't jump at the prospect of a 1-0 defeat - from reports, this Poland team are a bit dysfunctional. At 36th-ranked they would likely be Pot 4 if they qualify, which is the same as us. Even then, only 3 (Zielinski the goalscorer, Wisniewski at CB and Szymanski as a forward - with the latter two subbed at the half) of their team this morning started their qualifier away against the Netherlands last window. The team we played would be lower than their 36th ranking.
Our squad is the strongest and deepest it's ever been on paper and has the promise but we need to start showing this in results - outside of OFC in the last two years we've played 15 full matches: 2 wins, 4 draws and 9 losses; 11 goals for and 22 against. The only one of those matches we have scored more than once was the 4-0 vs Malaysia. As with the Poland game - these are all friendlies with rotated teams; at the World Cup the 11s will be a step up.
I think we have to be a little realistic about our chances in these kind of matches. Yes, the current NZ squad is at it's strongest EVER, and that is brilliant and should increase expectations of a good style of footy and better results. However, this loss shows just how much further we need to go if we want to be winning against European teams. If Poland at 36th are dysfunctional and whilst we made the struggle we could beat them, then the current group can only be expected to get out of the group at the WC and that's only if we get lucky. And then, add to this that our leading goal scorer is closer to retirement than his peak so our squad strength/quality weakens dramatically. In all honesty, none of us would have gone into this morning expecting a win, I guarantee Bazely didnt. A good solid performance was expected and delivered, could we have scored - sure, should we have - maybe., are we disappointed we didnt - yep. Overall should we be pleased with what we saw - of course!
Now we’ve got to make the squad a little resilient, and figure how we’ll do that. In other words that we have plans that mean we’re not in big trouble if a player gets injured.
At the moment we’re in trouble with our back up striking options and our back up FB options.
I wonder if this means we’ll likely never see Thomas, Bell and Stamenic starting together…
Possibly. But there will also be some rotation considerations going on, with thoughts given to keeping the club coaches happy.
Recently on the rare ocassions when Zwolle have played 3 games in a week, Thomas goes to the bench for one of the games. Still watching the loading on his body. Viking are right in the mix for a rare Norwegian title championship. They want Joe B to stay fresh.
It might just be that Bell starts the Norway game (which no doubt he's very keen to play in), and Thomas goes to the pine.
Only when the actual World Cup happens will rotation considerations be binned. Like Boxall & Surman are now likely the no 1 CB pairing, but wouldn't surprise for Bindon to come in for Boxy in Oslo.
Does Paulsen keep the gloves for next Wednesday morning? That's the big selection question. Is he now going to be the no 1 keeper from here onwards?
Boxall is currently our best player imo! He’s had an immense couple of months for the All Whites.
Poland isn't dysfunctional. 4 wins and a draw in their last 6 games, before playing us.
Yes there was some rotation in their squad, but also in ours. I thought we competed well, looked ok on attack and generally were good in defense.
I would love to have more wins, but I am happy with how we are playing and progressing. We are not going to be world beaters come the WC, or the next one. But if we can continue to improve and stay competative, I'd be happy.
How does SH817 know Owen Parker Price - clearly a connection there.
I thought he did ok, was energetic and made his passes generally. Was out muscled a couple of times, but was 'tenacious' in the sense he always battled in every challenge. Looked generally to play forward. But does he offer a strong enough point of difference to the team?? IDK.
LKH looked better than expected, but same issue as FDV - struggles to get outside his man.
I also don't buy the whole Payne and FDV aren't fit argument. They are less than 10 days out of from the start of the season, and knew they were coming across for these games. They should be fit... they're professional athletes after all.
if we were offered a 1-0 loss three weeks ago we'd all have jumped on it, the lads played well in patches and challenged a very decent Polish side. Our team is always going to offer up chances and these better teams will take them. For us to do better we need to be more effective at converting the chances we create, because there were a few today. We cannot rely solely on Wood, he scores plenty but does so in patches. McCowatt, Waine, Singh, Garbett have got to produce more goals - they get plenty of chances to surprise teams.
I think we are (should be) at a stage where we don't jump at the prospect of a 1-0 defeat - from reports, this Poland team are a bit dysfunctional. At 36th-ranked they would likely be Pot 4 if they qualify, which is the same as us. Even then, only 3 (Zielinski the goalscorer, Wisniewski at CB and Szymanski as a forward - with the latter two subbed at the half) of their team this morning started their qualifier away against the Netherlands last window. The team we played would be lower than their 36th ranking.
Our squad is the strongest and deepest it's ever been on paper and has the promise but we need to start showing this in results - outside of OFC in the last two years we've played 15 full matches: 2 wins, 4 draws and 9 losses; 11 goals for and 22 against. The only one of those matches we have scored more than once was the 4-0 vs Malaysia. As with the Poland game - these are all friendlies with rotated teams; at the World Cup the 11s will be a step up.
I think we have to be a little realistic about our chances in these kind of matches. Yes, the current NZ squad is at it's strongest EVER, and that is brilliant and should increase expectations of a good style of footy and better results. However, this loss shows just how much further we need to go if we want to be winning against European teams. If Poland at 36th are dysfunctional and whilst we made the struggle we could beat them, then the current group can only be expected to get out of the group at the WC and that's only if we get lucky. And then, add to this that our leading goal scorer is closer to retirement than his peak so our squad strength/quality weakens dramatically. In all honesty, none of us would have gone into this morning expecting a win, I guarantee Bazely didnt. A good solid performance was expected and delivered, could we have scored - sure, should we have - maybe., are we disappointed we didnt - yep. Overall should we be pleased with what we saw - of course!
For me Waine, McCowatt, Boxy and Surman were the standouts in my opinion, I think the only (big) difference with having Wood on instead of Waine is that that Poland most likely would of double marked him potentially creating more space for McCowatt and Garbet to work in. We played well though and just one blip where players should have done better cost us what would have been a well earned draw.
if we were offered a 1-0 loss three weeks ago we'd all have jumped on it, the lads played well in patches and challenged a very decent Polish side. Our team is always going to offer up chances and these better teams will take them. For us to do better we need to be more effective at converting the chances we create, because there were a few today. We cannot rely solely on Wood, he scores plenty but does so in patches. McCowatt, Waine, Singh, Garbett have got to produce more goals - they get plenty of chances to surprise teams.
I think we are (should be) at a stage where we don't jump at the prospect of a 1-0 defeat - from reports, this Poland team are a bit dysfunctional. At 36th-ranked they would likely be Pot 4 if they qualify, which is the same as us. Even then, only 3 (Zielinski the goalscorer, Wisniewski at CB and Szymanski as a forward - with the latter two subbed at the half) of their team this morning started their qualifier away against the Netherlands last window. The team we played would be lower than their 36th ranking.
Our squad is the strongest and deepest it's ever been on paper and has the promise but we need to start showing this in results - outside of OFC in the last two years we've played 15 full matches: 2 wins, 4 draws and 9 losses; 11 goals for and 22 against. The only one of those matches we have scored more than once was the 4-0 vs Malaysia. As with the Poland game - these are all friendlies with rotated teams; at the World Cup the 11s will be a step up.
I think we have to be a little realistic about our chances in these kind of matches. Yes, the current NZ squad is at it's strongest EVER, and that is brilliant and should increase expectations of a good style of footy and better results. However, this loss shows just how much further we need to go if we want to be winning against European teams. If Poland at 36th are dysfunctional and whilst we made the struggle we could beat them, then the current group can only be expected to get out of the group at the WC and that's only if we get lucky. And then, add to this that our leading goal scorer is closer to retirement than his peak so our squad strength/quality weakens dramatically. In all honesty, none of us would have gone into this morning expecting a win, I guarantee Bazely didnt. A good solid performance was expected and delivered, could we have scored - sure, should we have - maybe., are we disappointed we didnt - yep. Overall should we be pleased with what we saw - of course!
Realistic doesn't achieve glory.
True, but it avoids the obvious disappointment when we dont win it all.
