FIFA Confederations Cup 2017

Not too bothered, Reid is a walking red card for the AWs at times. Obviously he is our best player, but his temperament is a bit suspect when he puts on the white shirt.....maybe the pressure of being captain or feeling he needs to do everything gets to him

One of the strangest posts I've read in awhile. Without him in the side I fear what Portugal esp may do to AWs.

He's massive loss both as a player and spiritual leader when playing quality sides. Granted he rarely plays

We are going to get even more smashed now, basically.

Man, with the Reid announcement, I'm going to see a lot of goals in NI, Belarus and Russia (against us).  Now would be a good time for Smith to really prove his worth to the AWs.

"Sorry gaffer, I've just come down with a virus.."

From what I remember of Mexico & USA games (last matches against 'quality' sides), Reid was our leader, best player, best CB & best DM (de facto). A real calming influence at the back, that allowed AWs to blunt attacks, and build from the back - rather than just hacking it forward or into the stands.

There is no one close to his ability in the squad to replicate that. Likes of Smith & Themi are aging, slowing players coming off injuries - I notice Smith missed last 2 Championship games for Ipswich (virus for real?).

I think Hudson will be now tweak his plans, and play a more 'direct' approach. To be honest I don't have a major problem with that as long as it's done smart, and with a plan.

AWs midfield is weak. A guy playing French 4th division, a guy off a patchy A league season, kids playing SSP etc. That's my 2 cents worth.

I hope Hudson's 'fittest' team goal is coming together, because AWs will be spending a lot of time without the ball, me thinks.

Fingers crossed it's don't get ugly, results wise.

If our last Confederations Cup appearance in 2009 is anything to go by, poor performances and the absence of our captain and best player due to injury (then Ryan Nelsen) didn't hamper our progress to the World Cup Finals later that year.

We were mediocre in being thrashed 5-0 by Spain and very average in games against weak South African and Iraqi sides.

But look what happened a few months later in November that year vs. Bahrain.

Here's the 2009 NZ Confederations Cup squad - no Ryan Nelsen and no Rory Fallon, Tommy Smith or Winston Reid who hadn't been capped yet. Seven players from that squad didn't make the 2010 World Cup squad:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_FIFA_Confederat...

If any of our pre-Confederations Cup friendlies this time are as entertaining as the 4-3 loss to Italy pre Confederations Cup in 2009, then that will be a bonus. 

Like your optimism Big Pete and certainly similarities now between Nelsen and Reid being best players, spiritual leaders etc. Both of course were/are injury prone from hard slog that is EPL. And other times both just made themselves unavailable even when fit

However sadly world of difference between quality of Bahrain and what will be 5th team from Suid America!! 

But yes at least this World Cup cycle we are at the Confeds unlike the last. Hopefully AWs do well though I'm obviously less confident of that without Reid, and I think AH will tweak his plans now

Well written piece 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/92786432/all-whites-will-feel-winston-reids-absence-all-around-the-park-not-just-at-the-back

Interesting looking at that squad. Duncan Oughten I believe didn't make the World Cup? Was he injured at the time?

Nah, just fell out of favour after this event.

With Taylor leaving after the Confeds Cup, who's in line to become AH's deputy for the WC playoffs?

***

Gillingham's director of football Peter Taylor has been granted permission by the club to fulfil his duties for New Zealand at next month's Confederations Cup in Russia.

Taylor, the first manager to give David Beckham the England captain's armband, has been assistant to Anthony Hudson with the Kiwi national team since 2016 and asked Gills chairman Paul Scally if he could continue in the role after being appointed at the Priesfield Stadium last week.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-...

Alex Armstrong is back as of Fiji last month, while Darren Bazeley will be free of U-20s commitments for the end of year run.

I'd love to see Ryan Nelson brought in for 6 months on the payroll. 

why? he hardly set the world alight in his only coaching stint and doesn't really seem that keen to get into coaching again

If he ever gets used by NZ football in the future it should be in an ambassador type role, helping to promote the game etc

Are you sure Anfony will be here after the Confeds Cup? Prediction - we'll get stuffed, Anfony will sign with a League One club to get them relegated, Bazely will take over the AWs, we'll get stuffed.

I somehow doubt he'll be anything more then a first team coach in the football league.  He struggled in the Conference and has yet to show that he's actually any good at all.

Hudson close to confirming squad

well well well looks like Roux has returned.

They must have had a few too many shorts printed with 8 on them so everyone is using them for training

Not really news is it? Hudson said he'd be in the mix in an interview like a week after the FIji games

Good to see him back in the fold.

Anyone no what time squad is being released?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/93008091/cristiano-ronaldo-captains-portugal-squad-to-face-all-whites-at-confederations-cup

Squad out - no Dyer, but Alex Rufer included

All Whites squad for the pre tour of the FIFA Confederations Cup (Club, Country, Caps, Goals)
Goalkeepers
Stefan Marinovic (SpVgg Unterhaching, Germany) 14, 0
Tamati Williams (RKC Waalwijk, Netherlands) 1, 0
Glen Moss (Newcastle Jets, Australia) 29, 0

Defenders
Andrew Durante (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand) 15, 0
Thomas Doyle (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand) 4, 0
Storm Roux (Central Coast Mariners, Australia) 7, 0
Michael Boxall (SuperSport Utd, South Africa) 22, 0
Kip Colvey (San Jose Earthquakes FC, USA) 8, 0
Themi Tzimopoulos (PAS Giannina FC, Greece) 10, 1
Deklan Wynne (Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Canada) 7, 0
Sam Brotherton (Sunderland AFC, England) 7, 0
Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town FC, England) 31, 2
Dane Ingham (Brisbane Roar FC, Australia) 1, 0

Midfielders
Bill Tuiloma (Marseille, France) 16, 0
Clayton Lewis (Auckland City FC, New Zealand) 8, 0
Michael McGlinchey (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand) 42, 4
Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle, Netherlands) 9, 2
Marco Rojas (Melbourne Victory FC, Australia) 32, 5
Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand) 3, 0

Forwards
Chris Wood (c) (Leeds Utd, England) 47, 19
Monty Patterson (Ipswich Town FC, England) 9, 1
Shane Smeltz (Borneo FC, Indonesia) 53, 24
Kosta Barbarouses (Wellington Phoenix FC) 37, 3

...and Williams over Gleeson.

No real surprises, and mostly happy. However puzzled and disappointed by Gleeson not being picked. 

Something must have happened when he was part of the AWs squad for the USA/Mexico friendlies, then pulled out 'injured'. He's clearly in the top 3 keepers.

I hope the Press ask hard questions about his exclusion, and that of others like Boyd. Fans should be told the truth, ie does Hudson just not rate them, do they not fit into the culture of the team, or have they made themselves unavailable?

It's pathetic. How long can he ignore a starting number 1 in the MLS.

Jake definitely hasn't made himself unavailable but it could have something to do with the USA/Mexico friendlies although he did have an injury at that time

Can only hope he get added for the Confeds and isn't playing the pre games as MLS is in season (straw clutching).

Fear it is straw clutching. 

Hudson has dragged Lewis & Ingham away from U20's early has he has stated (fairly too) that he needs all his best players as a squad together from the Nth Ireland game, right through to South American playoffs later this year.

Gleeson is on the outer for some unknown reason.

Great to see Dyer out, but really no Gleeson?? WTF

Rufer is the new Dyer. 

Made the exact same quote on another forum.

Also pulling players from the U20s?  Why the fudge select them for the 20s then?  You have a limited squad size for a FIFA tournament, we get out of the group and immediately end up with two players less than any other team?

Bizarre.

Rufer in, Ridenton not selected. Phoenix obviously have things wrong.

I believe Ridenton is still out with the injury he suffered at the end of the A-League season.

We've already been given an explanation on Boyd. Turned down an ONC callup. Given the number of injuries at the time, obviously has continued to hold weight.

It has taken him a long, long time to see what any fool can see about Moses Dyer. But at least he has seen it.

Disappointed/surprised for Jai Ingham and Jake Gleeson. Clearly both are good enough and should be there. Otherwise though it's a good squad although I wouldn't pick Tommy Smith myself because he doesn't want it enough.