Brockie

Brockie

I just read in another forum that Brockie might be signing with Hawkes Bay.

it would keep him within the national selectors thoughts....

Unfortuanely it is not easy for Kiwi's to get work visa's in the UK and even harder in Europe.

It's very easy for kiwi's to get work visas in Canada. He can play for Toronto any day as far as I'm concerned.

It isn't just as easy as deciding he is going to play in Europe or America - he can't just turn up at a club and say "give me a contract".

Exactly. Cant u guyes see haha hes not good!! Iv neva seen a game hes played well in. The odd game off da bench he did alrite but even under 20 level he couldnt perform. Hes a typical kiwi striker and where do they go in football... No where. Need flair and skil these days and he doesnt have either of them.

no one is disputing his world class displays, but, he has played a few good games....sadly not when they were needed most...and if im not mistaken there have been one or two good kiwi strikers...

As I said earlier. I think he needs to have a good season in NZ. Then he might have some better offers than HB next year. Ricki probably told him to go away for a year and work on some parts of his game. He is never going to be a superstar, but under the right coaching he could be useful.

I've played against Brockie several times while he was living in Nelson. He used to play for the Suburbs club who were the arch enemies of my City team. I actually seem to remember doing a cheeky nutmeg on him once in the summer soccer 6 aside league we had at saxton's field :D I hope he goes alright and manages to get overseas, it's a shame Sydney didn't work out for him. 

Didnt work out for him at sydney because he was way out of his depth! I think heel struggle at NZFC level this year. Average at best

So two points:

1. what went wrong with him and other touted players as they grew older - I remember watching guys like Brockie and Jason Hayne at premier college games, tournaments, U19s etc (and yes I know its college level) but what went wrong??
2. On the other hand, how do players like Draper come out of the woodwork, where you have never sighted them before and they do something special etc and get signed by the Nix?   

Its about making the most of your chances I guess. 

I don't want to sound negative...but whats to say that Draper won't end up going the same way as Brockie. Personally I don't think Brockie is as bad as he's made out sometimes, but his form has dropped off dramatically in the last year. I thought he signed for the Knights as an 18 year old  after performing well for Canterbury, did reasonably for them, then got picked up by the A league glamour club of the time Sydney. I don't think you would achieve that much if you were a muppet. Sure he failed to live up to the standards he set himself, but the same thing might happen to Draper, perform well then drop off. I personally think they both have talent and could be important players for NZ in the future, so good luck to both of them.

I guess thats it Chiefy - do the young fellas get picked too early whereas perhaps they should progress through the current pathways e.g. NZFC Youth Teams, International Age Groups, NZFC Mens team, Olympic squads and U23s etc?

Would hate Draper and Costa to end up the same way - heaps of potential then form drops off and then what...so like you I wish them all good luck and I guess it reiterates the importance of having an NZ A-League team.... chareimos2007-08-03 20:05:39

Yeah I think Brockie could come right - he got a chance at a higher level with the Knights and should probably have stayed as he would have got more game time. At Sydney he stagnated with little or no game time - young guys need to be playing to develop not just training.