China/Japan Squad Discussion

Thanks Abris. You a trooper. Can't see any of them making the team though to be honest.

Bright HIGHLY Unlikely.

Sure Cunningham hasn't got a chance in hell.  Singapore is hardly a quality league, same with Kayne Vincent in India.

i hope ricki mans up and makes a decision one way or the other between killen and rory.  Playing with both of them means we can only ever play one way...and it's not pretty james dean2011-02-25 09:33:36

Well yes but don't forget Durante played there (for the same team Cunningham is currently at), and I would say he'd be a good shot at being an All White if he was eligible. Just saying.

Still don't think he'll be in the squad but writing him off completely because he plays in the S-League is a bit harsh.

The S-League is on par with the ASB Premiership. Only diffrence is players get paid for being pro. Standed would be the same or worse. Trying to justify it buy saying Durante played there makes no sence. Paul Gascoine played for Gansu Tianma in the china league but it does not make it a better league to play in.

I'd love to see Keat involved, and a young full-back... Rowe?

Rowe? We don't need a left back. Keat should and will remain with the Galaxy

I'm not saying the S-League is any good, I'm saying that just because a player plays in a poor league doesn't necessarily mean the player himself is poor.

Of course we need another left back in the squad (especially when lochead is number 1!!)

give Rowe and youth a chance. For that matter get keat involvedcas well - we are not flush with Cmidfielders either!

What's wrong with Lochead? He's improved significantly over the last year or so...

In what way?

Unfortunately getting the prize for most improved finishes at primary school. Lochead has actually gone backwards since season 1 however

I wonder where Kosta is going to fit in the AW squad. LEt's face it it's not like we play ball on the ground and lots of possession like Brisbane. It'd be interesting to see.

The biggest weakness for the AWs is at right back. Dominik Traunmuller of Bayern munich is still available for selection for the AWs at the senior level even if he played for the austrian U17 side. In 2014 he will be 21 years old and maybe Herbert should try to switch him allegiance: maybe Wynton Rufer who speaks german can help in this case.

If this option is not successfull there is Storm Roux who had a good season for perth glory youth team and could be a good choice for the future.Luis Esteves  might be also another possibility but he seems to struggle to adjust at belenenses youth side.

I've just remembered that I have a picture of Lochead as my avatar and wish to point out at this stage that I don't have some undieing loyalty to him, but rather the Halswell flag behind him.

I realise that Lochead has done some rather daft stuff in recent times (eg penalty v Bahrain) but I also think he is sometimes used as a bit of a scapegoat. He's good enough to warrant his role in the AW and like abris and many others have pointed out, we are better off focusing on a RB.
timmymadden2011-02-27 08:48:18

He's our best LB.  end of.

Are half these people even real?

If they are not can we at least make them more appealing and make them leftbacks?

Is there room in the squad, given how we shape up, for Kosta, Rojas, Smeltz, Woods, Fallon, Killen and Brockie - I can't see it - who's not making it?

I'd expect Fallon or Killen to miss out over Kosta.

I think Wood and Smeltz are the two obvious starters up front, but we are known to play with three.

Brockie has to go as he was the standout for the All Whites against Paraguay and Honduras when he played on the right. But he is going to miss a game due to his yellows in two consecutive games. He isn't a favourite of Ricki's though and that could play against him.

Rojas and Kosta are the two young-guns that we need to blood, along with maybe Gleeson.

I'd leave Fallon.

              Wood-Smeltz
                  WeeMac
Rojas Elliott Brown Brockie
        Smith-Nelsen-Reid
                   Moss

This would be my starting XI. But it is very attack minded. Luis Garcia2011-02-27 15:02:30

Is Reid banned for the first game?

Yes.

I'd be tempted to play four along the back in his absence.

Are we there yet? When's the team announcement?

First game China or Japan?

We play China on March 25 and Japan on March 29.

ok, now we get to test a few issues.

Friendlies don't count ML, Marco can play in these games and still be available for Chile

Although the media comments the other day suggest his availability is unlikely.

Does Rojas actually want to play for Chile? That makes no sense! He's a bloody New Zealander!

Absolutely correct, EG. Just as Archie Thompson (Otorohanga's most famous footballer) was still available for NZ after playing for Oz U23's in pre-Olympic friendlies prior to the Sydney games, without making the final squad. NZ Football abandoned thrir pursuit of him (prematurely) at that point.

So anyone know when the team is announced?

So we should forget people who are 28 and 29?

Terrible idea

Ricki should announce the squad live, make a big deal about it, and if Rojas is selected, as he should be, would make it hard for him to back out playing these games as his father indicated he would. Even though he wont be tied to NZ it would hopefully encourage him to commit to NZ

Wouldn't he have to contact the uncapped players about availability before he announces the team? It would be highly embarrassing if he named a player who then declined.

Totally, and all players in Europe who will have club commitments. Maybe just forget to contact Marco and name him anyway

Is Marco Rojas going to sign in South America at the end??