All Whites vs Socceroos | Tues 9th Sept | 7:00pm | Go Media Stadium (Auckland)
401 replies·13,060 views
6 months ago
I want to see us play a game without Bell in the team. To see how we go. Eg stamenic and thomas in midfield. I dont think Bell is a bad player. But it would be interesting to see how we play without him.
So disappointing. I really thought the Aussies were there to be taken this series.
Games like this make you wonder if the only way we can make a mark at the World Cup, will be to go back to the 2010 World Cup strategy of 3 centre backs and lumping deep free kicks into the box.
And Baz may be able to add long throws to the strategy, because that looks our best bet.
I think his tactical masterclass this series was to keep the long throw strategy largely hidden.
Lumping forward is the opposite of what we should do.
Diamond midfield of Bell, Stamenic, Thomas and Singh. Try and hold the ball as much as possible and frustrate like we did against the Socceroos first half in Sydney. Pounce on quick turnovers like Stamenic did against Ivory Coast for Just to score. Or Anderson did with great through ball for Wood to score for Forest against Brentford, week 1 of the EPL season.
Really try and improve our setpiece deliveries to bring the Woodsman more into the game. We scored from a corner against Ukraine. Hopefully can keep it tight at the back. Was a poor defensive game tonight.
It's hard really to see us scoring any more than one goal in a WC game. When is the last time we scored two or more goals against a top 50 ranked team? Would be a long time ago.
But a sneaky 1-0 win in our group verus a Pot 2 or Pot 3 opponent (so teams likely ranked in range around 13th-40th), aka Ivory Coast, is for sure possible at the World Cup.
And that could be enough to go through to the R32.
This next window will tell a story on the direction we will go regarding our best XI.
I thought the midfield wasn’t too bad but definitely missing Stamenic’s physical presence in there and mobility. Thomas and Bell have been good this window but they lack the athleticism in the middle. He will come back in no doubt but for Bell or Singh is the question.
Or Could we see all 4 of them start with Wood and Just up top in a diamond.
I think Boxall needs to come in for Surman or Bindon. They’re for sure the future but the future isn’t now. They got absolutely pantsed by Toure and Irankunda tonight.
Right back is another major issue. Payne just isn’t cutting it at this sort of level. He struggles to get forward, cross and beat a man and although I think he’s solid defensively, he’s very poor receiving on the touchline under pressure.
Elliot can hopefully get a run in with AFC to start the season to stake a claim but his size is a concern for me at this level.
We will get better with more games against stronger sides. We really have to learn to manage games better. Our heads dropped after their goal. We did almost nothing for the next fifteen minutes. Then after Wood scored we lost concentration and they scored immediately. You have to be 100% switched on in these games. Australia have the advantage of being battled hardened from long Asia confed campaigns. They are used to high pressure games in tough places. Hopefully by WC time we will be vastly improved with everyone available and plenty of big games. We have some excellent players and we will get better. Keep the faith
I still think I was on the mark calling for more players who are direct up front. I called for Randall because I watched him get the ball, take one touch and shoot. And he got that one.
We’ve got plenty of good technical players, but not enough greedy, goal hungry players with a bunch of shots.
Get the ball go at the goal and get a shot off.
That’s where whoever’s in charge of our tactics is failing. Our second, third and fourth shooting options. Just tried. Blocked at every turn. Payne has sent a couple into row z and I think was unlucky with the header. Down, on target and back across the keeper. That’s pretty good for an A league right back.
But I think we can have more ideas in attack than we’ve seen so far and we need more back up plans if Wood is having an off night. And he owes us at least two imo. His finishing was poor and shown up by Toure and Irankunda. He might have a record for big chances in the EPL, but that’s 3 very good chances he’s missed and nothing I recall him creating.
I do recall him winning the ball and dropping it forward, but no one is crumbing or understanding where he’s looking to send the ball. Wasted opportunities.
For me tonight proved why we need these games more often. Games against Ivory Coast, USA, Mexico, Egypt, Tunisia, Ukraine, Norway, Poland, etc. are fantastic for building our confidence and testing our ability, systems and combinations, but ultimately they are nothing friendlies (and don't tell me tournaments like the FIFA Series or Canadian Shield mean shark because they don't).
We didn't have the nerve under pressure either tonight or last week, a shame because both times we displayed decent overall performances. I think like 3yrs ago, we played worse at home because there was more pressure to deliver and genuine expectation of a result. Not to mention that Aus are well set up to counterattack teams like us! Really wish we had pace in the final third like they do.
Feel like a broken record as I've said it a heap of times before, but I want to see NZF enter us in other continental tournaments. Both the Gold Cup and Copa America regularly take guest teams, and we have proven our mettle as a competitive team. It would be fantastic to play under true pressure and excellent preparation for the big one which is the World Cup.
It’s unfortunate because I think Old, Wood and Just showed some real promise tonight. They unfortunately in recent time haven’t been able to play consistently together.
Singh was a live wire too tonight which was very encouraging.
With Stamenic, Cacace and Garbett all set to comeback in next window it will sure make it an interesting selection if everyone stays healthy for the next month.
Garbett, Old and Just is the front running wingers for me right now. McCowatt has been poor recently.
I think dropping Bell would be so harsh because I think he’s been very good. But Stamenic is an absolute different level and starts all day.
I’d like to see Stamenic and Thomas together with Singh ahead. I don’t think Bazeley will change to a diamond to accommodate all 4 of them. We’ve been playing 4-2-3-1 for the last 2 1/2 years.
Agree that Baze likely won't change our shape but tonight really demonstrated that 4-2-3-1 is too ambitious. And in any case, the players in between Wood and our 6s are simply not doing enough to justify there being 3 of them. One really needs to be sacrificed to add Stamenic. Just, Singh & Old would be the frontrunners for the two spots, hard to pick between them but all are ahead of McCowatt and the rest.
Was so frustrating tonight that Wood didn't try to properly bury his big early chance, just nonchantly tapped it toward goal so tamely. More frustrating was that our other forwards were not around to feed on the vast majority of the balls he brought down from the air.
At least we know for sure now that Boxall must start. And can take solace in the fact we can add 3 improvements to tonight's XI in Boxall, Cacace & Stamenic. We really need to pray that out best XI is fully fit for the World Cup.
But without May hitting long rangers we need more potency from somewhere.
That could be Waine/Mata/Randall/Kosta/Ott/…?
And I know McCowatt is disliked by the forum now, but I think he’s a big moments guy. He knows how to find the back of the net throughout his career. And he’s got decent technique. As is Garbett.
I mean could we even rank who has our hardest shot? How many shots have we seen?
Smeltz used a simple dink to the right and shoot a lot. Have we seen enough shots from our other strikers to know if they have anything similar?
Sadly I think the 4 triple 2 has fizzled out of today’s game slowly and has become less popular. It’s definitely an option but one I doubt Bazeley has thought through.
I think Garbett is the underdog selection still. Forget the last 8 months for him I think he’s that big game player and I reckon Bazeley knows it too. He brings that bite to his game to which is something we lack majorly and has certain arrogance we need.
Massive headaches for Bazeley going into the next window. Some good and some bad.
What’s his best CB pairing? Who plays with Stamenic in the middle? Formation change needed? Who are the best options to play with Woodsy?
Lack of depth- oz after the 1st game we’re able to analyse and make the changes they felt were needed. Missing 3-4 players like we were didn’t help and hurts us, oz just have more to call on, I think it was an ALM page that posted all the oz guys playing in championship and there is a lot vs our 3-4.
Tactics- after that 1st game popa played the same formation but put in his speedsters they new what they needed to do, when it was obvious they were going to run through the middle more Baze needed to get Bell to drop back from that close CM team to be more a screen right in front of the center backs, we just left to much space between Bell and the CBs for oz to work in.
And as others have said with Wood being double marked and a close eye kept on Just we really need others just having shots to try pull a defender off of wood, doesn’t matter if there on target all it needs is for them to have to pull a guy of wood to go to more of a “coverage defence” then “man defence” and it might just give Wood more to work with
Our injuries shows what remains our biggest weakness - quality in depth. Which is frustrating, considering how much better this is than what it use to be.
With Stamenic coming back in, I would look to a midfield 3 of Thomas and Bell to join him. Just and Singh, would play as my inverted wingers, but effectively roam to find pockets of space.
Unless we put a second man up top, we can't go long as we have no one close enough to work off of Wood. So for me the 5 above offer us the best options. Old over Just is another option, if we want a slightly more direct and pacey option.
I'm not willing to say who our best CB pairing is yet. Too much water under the bridge between now and the WC. Last night wasn't great, but players are allowed bad nights. Bindon hasn't put a foot wrong previously, but I feel he cost us 2 goals last night. Surman, I won't blame him for Toure's goal, he got caught out by the other defender not making a winning challenge, leaving him flat footed - no where to go.
DeVries getting a lot of stick, but I don't recall him getting stripped for pace. Also, he got the assist for our goal. A pass I don't see Carcace making for example.
RB definately more of an issue. Payne's delivery is not consistant enough. He's not there to score, so I will forgive his missed header.
I'm not a fan of Baz. Lamented his hiring when it happened. But his results stand up comparatively to any other recent manager and he also has us playing better football. So I'm not sure what else people were expecting there??
We created enough chances to win both games, but our Premier League striker was not firing (1 goal excluded). Hard to pin that on him. Stats show we were good.
Lack of depth- oz after the 1st game we’re able to analyse and make the changes they felt were needed. Missing 3-4 players like we were didn’t help and hurts us, oz just have more to call on, I think it was an ALM page that posted all the oz guys playing in championship and there is a lot vs our 3-4.
Tactics- after that 1st game popa played the same formation but put in his speedsters they new what they needed to do, when it was obvious they were going to run through the middle more Baze needed to get Bell to drop back from that close CM team to be more a screen right in front of the center backs, we just left to much space between Bell and the CBs for oz to work in.
And as others have said with Wood being double marked and a close eye kept on Just we really need others just having shots to try pull a defender off of wood, doesn’t matter if there on target all it needs is for them to have to pull a guy of wood to go to more of a “coverage defence” then “man defence” and it might just give Wood more to work with
yep 100% with this.
We are very weak outside our top 11-13 players. You go from Cacace to FDV... Or Stamz to Rufer..
Tactics are an issue too. We had enough ball to win that first game, and even in the first half last night. We are just playing around with it too much.
Apart from one Bindon pass we aren't playing to Wood's strengths.
Overall I was happy with the first game, which was us at our best really. Last night was a huge disappointment and a wake up call of where we are actually at.
I think we really need to consider a back 3 - we need our best players on the park. Bindon, Surman, Boxall.
Our injuries shows what remains our biggest weakness - quality in depth. Which is frustrating, considering how much better this is than what it use to be.
With Stamenic coming back in, I would look to a midfield 3 of Thomas and Bell to join him. Just and Singh, would play as my inverted wingers, but effectively roam to find pockets of space.
Unless we put a second man up top, we can't go long as we have no one close enough to work off of Wood. So for me the 5 above offer us the best options. Old over Just is another option, if we want a slightly more direct and pacey option.
I'm not willing to say who our best CB pairing is yet. Too much water under the bridge between now and the WC. Last night wasn't great, but players are allowed bad nights. Bindon hasn't put a foot wrong previously, but I feel he cost us 2 goals last night. Surman, I won't blame him for Toure's goal, he got caught out by the other defender not making a winning challenge, leaving him flat footed - no where to go.
DeVries getting a lot of stick, but I don't recall him getting stripped for pace. Also, he got the assist for our goal. A pass I don't see Carcace making for example.
RB definately more of an issue. Payne's delivery is not consistant enough. He's not there to score, so I will forgive his missed header.
I'm not a fan of Baz. Lamented his hiring when it happened. But his results stand up comparatively to any other recent manager and he also has us playing better football. So I'm not sure what else people were expecting there??
We created enough chances to win both games, but our Premier League striker was not firing (1 goal excluded). Hard to pin that on him. Stats show we were good.
Everything but the FDV comments sit well with me. FDV may not have been beaten with pace, but he was caught out of position multiple times, one leading to a goal. The one positive was the pass to Wood for our goal. Cacace may not have made that pass, but on attack and defence he is way better.
Why? There'd be even less of a crowd. 18k for a friendly on a Tuesday night at 7pm is a decent turn out.
Also going to the two games in rectangular stadiums (GIO feels very similar to Mt Smart, AWs support were even seated in the same area) is a painful reminder of how much worse the Cake Tin is for fan experience. Of course if we wait for that problem to be solved we’ll never get international games, so we’ll just have to make the best of what we’ve got.
(It was nice though to hear one of the Port guys acknowledge that without a roof over their area we absolutely out-chant them at the away derbies.)
Payne getting a bit of grief around his suitability for an international RB - though worth pointing out how absolutely pants he looked when coming back for the Nix in the Australian cup vs how he played for the AW's - much better and looks like he'll be a key player for our ALM side.
Fingers and toes LBS does have a great ALM season. He's strong and talented, if unfortunately this coming WC maybe 12 months too early for him. But if he does star for the Nix he definitely comes into the mix. Were some glimpses of his talent last night. For a now a project player, but if he reaches half of where Irankunda is in the coming months, he will offer a real point of difference.
Speaking of muscular players, I'd also bring Tuiloma back into the squad to back up Payne. He has defensive issues for sure, but I think coming on at say around 65 mins for Tim P, he can offer something. Certainly more than Elliott, who just seems like yet another small AW with some useful ball skills. Tuiloma is a genuine goal threat. Given the AWs scoring limitations I think alot of thought needs to go into how set pieces can be a genuine goal option
Payne was average and is not at his best, you hope he will get into better form this season but no guarantee of that. But one thing I can say about Payne is defensively, when he isn't caught upfield, I back him as a solid 1v1 defender, more than any other RB option we have, and I think that is the most important thing in international football.
Agree re Tuiloma, we need some strength and threat out there.
The modern game is transitioning once again in the top leagues and is becoming increasingly direct and physical, this will have a flow on to national teams, and I don't think some of our lads have the build to compete yet.
Being tricky and technical is nice but being fast and strong is as well, even better be both.
In general terms, we have the same problem as other "small" countries, in that we have a limited pool of developing players. Australia simply has five times more. And that is enough to make a difference where you would have something to work with, and the environment is competitive (the best go on to represent the country). Both Australia and New Zealand suffer from football not being their top sport, lots of kids grow up playing something else (proportionally more than on the Continent). But even among the European and South American countries, where football gets the best young athletes, those countries that have large populations tend to do well in top tournaments (Germany, UK, France, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Mexico, Spain). Russia and Ukraine are an exception. There are "smaller" country examples that are positive (successful) exceptions like the Netherlands, Greece, Croatia, Belgium, Portugal or Denmark, but even their teams go through performance swings while the large country teams tend to be more consistent and do well regularly.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
In general terms, we have the same problem as other "small" countries, in that we have a limited pool of developing players. Australia simply has five times more. And that is enough to make a difference. Both Australia and New Zealand suffer from football not being their top sport, lots of kids grow up playing something else (proportionally more than on the Continent). But even among the European and South American countries, those that have large populations tend to do better (Germany, UK, France, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Mexico, Spain). There are "smaller" country exceptions like the Netherlands, Croatia, Portugal or Denmark, but their teams go through performance swings while the large country teams tend to be more consistent and do well regularly.
Aussie would have 100 players that we'd be picking for our squad. I've looked into this before. Those european countries have the benefit that football is their top 1 or 2 sport, and there are just so many options/leagues for players.
Payne was average and is not at his best, you hope he will get into better form this season but no guarantee of that. But one thing I can say about Payne is defensively, when he isn't caught upfield, I back him as a solid 1v1 defender, more than any other RB option we have, and I think that is the most important thing in international football.
I think part of the problem is that Payne is a key part of our attacking plan.
And tbh I don’t think he had a bad series. He got a difficult header on target and he put in several decent deliveries. Unfortunately he made one poor delivery when we could have scored. But also Wood could have made a front post run.
And Wood made more mistakes than Payne imo!
Tuiloma will be interesting. He can get a free kick on target and is a corner threat. I don’t think he can get up and down like Payne. That may be okay when Libby is back. Also, is he as solid a defender as Payne at international level?
To come into that squad potentially: Libby, Stamenic, Garbett…and Tuiloma and Waine.
I think we have two major tactical issues to resolve.
1. Attacking plan. This is the toughest thing to establish. I saw signs that we want to be 'universal', i.e. play through or play around. Neither really had much effect, so we may need to lean in to one.
2. Defensive transition. We appear to set our rest defence in possession to a 2-1 structure (centre backs, plus Bell) with both centre backs dropping off if the opposition counter. The vogue is currently to set a 3-2, with either the 6 or one full back dropping in alongside the centre backs, and two midfielders holding in front of them. Who does what can vary during the game. And often at least one of the three would seek to join the 2 in midfield to close down the counter high up the pitch, before it becomes a threat.
Our 2-1 relies on the 8's making tracking runs to cover both full backs, which is something Thomas did excellently and repeatedly. But it is exhausting, which is why Toni Kroos and Luka Modric would just sit deep and wide when they played this way at Real.
Watched it back and they’re just better. Bindon exposed because both his FB are up. Irankunda in glorious form. Crocombe could perhaps have done better on the last two goals.
They’ve doubled up on Wood most of the time. Old, Payne, Just and others have tried to dribble to create space for a shot and couldn’t. We had some joy out wide, but their CB mopped up everything and then Izzo made more good stops.
Bazeley’s plan clearly had no second part, and we were looking at these as a ‘learning experience’. Both times we couldn’t hold ourselves together when our subs came on m.
Popovic had a better plan. He held his aces back to run at tired defenders and they monstered us. There was little obvious tactical adjustment to what Australia were doing. It seemed like we made our plan on Thursday and went through it.
They’re were a Popovic team and made one meaningful mistake on defense in 180 minutes.
We had good chances, but fluffed our lines and couldn’t lift. And we let them off the hook second game. We needed Boxy for some of it! But second game they were a different threat and we didn’t adjust. Perhaps couldn’t.
To clarify I think Payne starts, and agree with IMANS he's our best defensive RB. But I think Tuiloma is likely our best option to come on as his sub for 25-30 mins and actually do something if chasing a goal.
Wood was double teamed for alot of the game by young captain Circati (Serie A) and Burgess (ex EPL/now Championship). They are quality CBs, and really we had no answer/Plan B to counter that. In comparison Surman & esp Bindon struggled with Toure and Irankunda. Game over.
And yes time to give Paulsen a game against the Poles. He's playing now there after all. Crocombe looked a bit too hesitant, and may hardly play for Millwall between now and October.
Aussies learnt from their slightly under-whelming performance first game and made changes to their starting side for the second game; we didn't (couldn't?);
we thought we'd just been unlucky first game, so we tried them same stuff second game thinking we might be lucky second time around; Aussies learnt and tried different stuff, they made changes that worked for them
older + younger CB first game was better than 2 younger CBs second game, BUT would Boxall too have been shown up by the pace of Toure & Irankunda? maybe; those two clearly made a difference for Oz
Thomas fabulous first game, less obviously brilliant second game - but was that the changes Popa made to their mid-field & forwards, more than any difference in Thomas' performance?
FDV two yellow cards in two games because he's been outdone; we need Libby back, be interesting to see how McGarry goes this year (as potential back-up to Libby)
Chris Wood can be frustrating to watch for the All Whites when we know how effective he can be; good for him to get the no-goal-against-Australia monkey off his back though
Singh looked really good again
drooling at the thought of having Thomas-Stamenic-Bell-Singh all on the park at the same time with Wood-Just - don't know how you'd configure it, but they're our top six mids/fwds
I fully Agree. I also said something similar on another thread about how good I think Ben Old is as a player technically, but his lack of physicality and height will definitely pin him back in his career.
That’s not a knock against him because it’s out of his control. It’s just reality and some have a hard time accepting the truth.
This is why i think Boxall should come in for either Surman or Bindon. They’re no doubt the future but they’re both still very very raw. They’ll grow and learn but I don’t think that growth will happen just over the next 9 months.
We have great talent but physicality is a big part of Football nowadays. Why have the likes of Singh, Just, Old and Garbett etc not gone on to reach the levels of a Cacace and Stamenic? Physicality.
This is another reason why the Aussie young guys are so good and are so comfortable at international level. Look at how built Toure, Irankunda and Bos are and they’re all U23! Monto
Agree re Tuiloma, we need some strength and threat out there.
The modern game is transitioning once again in the top leagues and is becoming increasingly direct and physical, this will have a flow on to national teams, and I don't think some of our lads have the build to compete yet.
Being tricky and technical is nice but being fast and strong is as well, even better be both.
imanixsupporter
Payne was average and is not at his best, you hope he will get into better form this season but no guarantee of that. But one thing I can say about Payne is defensively, when he isn't caught upfield, I back him as a solid 1v1 defender, more than any other RB option we have, and I think that is the most important thing in international football.
Which is another potential reason to be excited about LBS, his physicality alreadySh817
I fully Agree. I also said something similar on another thread about how good I think Ben Old is as a player technically, but his lack of physicality and height will definitely pin him back in his career.
That’s not a knock against him because it’s out of his control. It’s just reality and some have a hard time accepting the truth.
This is why i think Boxall should come in for either Surman or Bindon. They’re no doubt the future but they’re both still very very raw. They’ll grow and learn but I don’t think that growth will happen just over the next 9 months.
We have great talent but physicality is a big part of Football nowadays. Why have the likes of Singh, Just, Old and Garbett etc not gone on to reach the levels of a Cacace and Stamenic? Physicality.
This is another reason why the Aussie young guys are so good and are so comfortable at international level. Look at how built Toure, Irankunda and Bos are and they’re all U23! Monto
Agree re Tuiloma, we need some strength and threat out there.
The modern game is transitioning once again in the top leagues and is becoming increasingly direct and physical, this will have a flow on to national teams, and I don't think some of our lads have the build to compete yet.
Being tricky and technical is nice but being fast and strong is as well, even better be both.
imanixsupporter
Payne was average and is not at his best, you hope he will get into better form this season but no guarantee of that. But one thing I can say about Payne is defensively, when he isn't caught upfield, I back him as a solid 1v1 defender, more than any other RB option we have, and I think that is the most important thing in international football.
But also a major caveat comparing Boxall to Surman over the 2 games.
Boxy smashed Boyle out of Game 1. Irankunda and Toure, two guys half his age and built strong a different proposition. I do remember Nestroy and Boxy going shoulder to shoulder late in Game 1, and I think the older man game off worst.
But also a major caveat comparing Boxall to Surman over the 2 games.
Boxy smashed Boyle out of Game 1. Irankunda and Toure, two guys half his age and built strong a different proposition. I do remember Nestroy and Boxy going shoulder to shoulder late in Game 1, and I think the older man game off worst.
Agree, there's probably not much between our three CBs, whereas Toure & Irankunda were a definite upgrade from the start for OZ in game 2 cf game 1.
But also a major caveat comparing Boxall to Surman over the 2 games.
Boxy smashed Boyle out of Game 1. Irankunda and Toure, two guys half his age and built strong a different proposition. I do remember Nestroy and Boxy going shoulder to shoulder late in Game 1, and I think the older man game off worst.
Yep! I made a note of that. At one point Boxall took out 3-4 Socceroos defenders in their box. Then later he decided to go out wide to get the ball and bloody well get us a shooting chance. Irankunda not only matched him for strength, but also managed to back heel into him to win a throw and kill a series of promising All Whites attacks.
These are good Championship players dueling at that level.
The other thing I’ll say, which is disappointing, I don’t feel like they sat down and thought after the first game, what do we have to do to win this. What could Aussie throw at us? How can we counter it? What advantages do we have? How did they approach those in the first game? This was an intense mini-competition and the most meaningful game we’ve had at home since the playoffs. More so even as we had a sniff at only 1-0.
We thought, it seemed, we’ve gotta play these guys like this because of the agreements with their clubs or that they haven’t had any minutes although we’ve called them up etc etc. We telegraphed things tactically.
Aussie obviously had that plan with their best attacking players coming in late in the first game and starting the second.
We felt very sedentary tactically.
If they want to double mark Wood, it would be great to have Mata to come on to start wide, but also get into the box. Second game we got bullied and needed more defensive cover either from our DM or our FBs.
Passing thought- could Rogerson do a job at RB? Bit late to learn to defend in the air, but when I saw Elliot get out jumped…well, I like him, but he’s not Cannavaro. He’s a RWB at Championship level and above, not a RB. We need cover/competition for Payne there.
I like Elliot but I’m convinced he shouldn’t be RB for the AWs. I’m wavering on De Vries. Would Jimmy McGarry be better at LB? The least that can be said is that he’s quicker, though in the past he’s not always been the best defender and at CCM he was an LWB scoring goals and joining the attack.
Anyway, I feel if we want to win more we need to be able to respond tactically and have greater options.
1: In the World Cup we can only affford to leak maximum one goal a game as our attack is unlikely to be able to put two in the net at that level. 1-0 games, 0-0 and 1-1 games is where we will get results.
2: We will likely be playing just as speedy and dynamic forwards in the World Cup and players at a much higher level so we need a game plan and structure to combat that. There was a hugh gap beteeen midfield and defense in the centre of the park, which needs to be filled quickly as you can’t afford for players to run at pace and have space in that area of the park.
3: injuries permitting we need to get our best defenders and midfielders starting on the park. That is Libby, Bindon, Surman, Boxall, Marko, Bell, Thomas and Singh.
That is a total of 8 players.
2 up front (Wood and likely Just) and the keeper.
4: How that happens is based upon the structure. It may be three at the back, with Libby and Thomas playing wing back. I think Thomas has both the pace and engine for that role. If he can only maintain it for 60 that’s fine, we just sub. I would also like to see Garbett as back up in that role as once again I think he has the skill set for it.
It may be a back four with Bindon at right back, but all these players need to get on the park and the structure developed very quickly. There is still plenty of time and games to bed it in.
I hope we see Singh and Garbett playing plenty of football this season and improving that physicality. Singh, I think is deceptively strong, but can always improve.
FYI - by my quick look the last time NZ scored more than 1 goal against a top 50 side is against Japan in Tokyo 5th March 2014!! And even then, as Japan went up 3-0 so early on in the game, they completely eased off. Wood a double
I'm guessing that between then and now we have played around 20 games, against teams in the top 50??
It's a pretty awful record, and it's just sooo hard to see it changing anytime soon. Our 3 pool opponents next year will all likely be top 50 sides.
We will be a prettier watch than Ricki's 2010 vintage. But similarily we will need to keep it very tight, and yes likely not concede more than one goal in any game to get a result next year at the big show. It's why I would go that diamond midfield with just Wood and Just/Old up front. A strong focus on keeping the ball as much as possible, frustrate, and a plan to nick a goal somehow.
i straight up disagree. We were impotent going forwards but the difference between the sides was shocking games from Bindon & Surman, nothing moremartinb
Watched it back and they’re just better. Bindon exposed because both his FB are up. Irankunda in glorious form. Crocombe could perhaps have done better on the last two goals.
They’ve doubled up on Wood most of the time. Old, Payne, Just and others have tried to dribble to create space for a shot and couldn’t. We had some joy out wide, but their CB mopped up everything and then Izzo made more good stops.
Bazeley’s plan clearly had no second part, and we were looking at these as a ‘learning experience’. Both times we couldn’t hold ourselves together when our subs came on m.
Popovic had a better plan. He held his aces back to run at tired defenders and they monstered us. There was little obvious tactical adjustment to what Australia were doing. It seemed like we made our plan on Thursday and went through it.
They’re were a Popovic team and made one meaningful mistake on defense in 180 minutes.
We had good chances, but fluffed our lines and couldn’t lift. And we let them off the hook second game. We needed Boxy for some of it! But second game they were a different threat and we didn’t adjust. Perhaps couldn’t.
Listened to an old Ryan Nelson 2 Beers podcast today and he stated categorically that clubs put pressure on players to pull out of international fixtures. He also mentioned reasons why it was hard to refuse their request to pull out.
So, what, the Aussie coach didn't make any changes that had an impact?imanixsupporter
i straight up disagree. We were impotent going forwards but the difference between the sides was shocking games from Bindon & Surman, nothing moremartinb
Watched it back and they’re just better. Bindon exposed because both his FB are up. Irankunda in glorious form. Crocombe could perhaps have done better on the last two goals.
They’ve doubled up on Wood most of the time. Old, Payne, Just and others have tried to dribble to create space for a shot and couldn’t. We had some joy out wide, but their CB mopped up everything and then Izzo made more good stops.
Bazeley’s plan clearly had no second part, and we were looking at these as a ‘learning experience’. Both times we couldn’t hold ourselves together when our subs came on m.
Popovic had a better plan. He held his aces back to run at tired defenders and they monstered us. There was little obvious tactical adjustment to what Australia were doing. It seemed like we made our plan on Thursday and went through it.
They’re were a Popovic team and made one meaningful mistake on defense in 180 minutes.
We had good chances, but fluffed our lines and couldn’t lift. And we let them off the hook second game. We needed Boxy for some of it! But second game they were a different threat and we didn’t adjust. Perhaps couldn’t.
