AW v Serbia Match Thread 3am Sun SS3

Fairplay mate.

agreed

Gives Wood a start, I assume, which is good for the lad.

Serbia 5 NZ 1

I�m in Klagenfurt now and there are billboards everywhere about the game, oh and a number of English hanging around for their game in Graz on sunday.  Its a balmy 28 deg here right now so hopefully the heat doesn�t get to the boys.

... and this would be the game where I would give Aaron Clapham a run, if just from off the bench to see what he�s like at International level, to justify keeping the likes of a certain kiwi in America out of the 30.

Weemac to be rested this game also, apparently med staff not willing to risk a niggly hammy, fair enough...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/all-whites/3752709/Serbia-the-All-Whites-toughest-challenge-Herbert

guess we will see Clapham or Mulli or even Vicelich in the Mid for this one.

Wow, Klagenfurt is so Austrian.
I'm heading up to the City Arkaden/ Waaggasse for a look.
Seen a few Brits so far.

Drag them along to support NZ

The Alter Platz up from Neuer Platz looks like a good bet
Just had a word to some Serbs, who were laughing because the locals reckon they've a footie reputation.

Herbert announces line-up:

http://nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=565&tx_ttnews[backPid]=10&cHash=bf75d1d040

Christie for f**ks sake... Get young Clapham on.

Moss and Ballantyne as subs too.
Perhaps a change at half time.

This 'City' mall has a lot of free wi-fi.
Did see a tee shirt with NZ on the front but from the language was not obviously from NZ.

atleast we'll see if Christie is upto it. Could be a good move  considering his fitness level.

still would've liked to see Mulli or Clapham though..

Christie will underwhelm, then get pulled off at half time.

I want to see Mull get a run.

FAO: Australian based people.

This game is live on Setanta from 1:10am

Me too! And Clapham! To be honest, if Christie is getting a run, why not try Mully in the 2nd half as holding MF?

I checked on the sky tv guide and apparently they're replaying the game at 6am! Might watch that one and get some sleep!

I hope Ricki does try one of them in the 2nd half.

if he doesn't perform he'll get pulled. hope we're wrong and his game has improved since playing full 90mins in the states, once again i'm ever hopeful.

It was never going to be Clapham replacing Brown. For all his talent, the one thing I have not seen or heard about Clapham is that he is a ballwinner or a defensive midfielder. With 3 at the back, plus the somewhat less mobile Elliot playing the distributer, we need that Brown type player. Sadly, that leaves Christie or Mulligan (or at a stretch Vicelich if he wasn't injured)

Sidenote - if we were to put out Elliot and Vicelich as our WC midfield, would that be the oldest, slowest midfield pair to ever take the field in a WC finals match?

 plodders ballwinning and defensive skills have been weill disguised  throughout his career

Interesting how Rickie has gone for Christie as his holding midfielder. I guess he did not have many options. Christie will need to run his butt off. With only three at the back h'e in a real vital position for the Aw's.

yeah stoked to see woods,reid and smith starting. I realise ricki doesnt have many options but i'd rather see mully in truth.  how about clapham for bertos at some point 2nd half?  really want to see what the kids got, certsinly doesnt lack confidencebringbacksmeltz2010-05-29 12:41:06

The Sky TV Guide now says that a replay of the Serbia match will be showing on SS2 between 6am and 8am.

http://www.skytv.co.nz/Default.aspx?tabid=116

I hate it when people say they don't care about the result.  Knowing we're unlikely to win a game in the WC proper I'd kill for a win before-hand.

out of all the games we're playing i'd rank Serbia as the hardest, to be honest. Our only real strength is our height and strength up front but Serbia easily combat that with the likes of Vidic

Next you'll be trying to tell us its Nelsen, not Nelson.

Yeah, Serbia are a very good side, but I have my doubts as to how seriously they'll approach this game.

Yeah but what if he scores a goal?

"Wood's goal was terrific!"

Some Serb fans are speculating this could be their starting line-up for the game:

Stojkovi?


Rukavina Vidi? Suboti? Kolarov


To�i? Ka?ar Milija�(Kuzmanovi?) Stankovi?(Ninkovi?)


Panteli? �igi?

Fark.

Could be worse - no Ivanovic, Krasic and Jovanovic.

And the keeper is of Jimbo quality.

I'd also like to add Elliott to that list, not Elliot.

Team looks very strong, will be nice to see how we play against better opposition.