Talking a good game. But do the Ferns have the quality of attacking players, to be a more exciting watch?
Note quite a few like Clegg, Fraser will be out of season for these friendlies next month.
And yeah Mayne won't make many changes. He'll go in low risk. He's basically auditioning for the full time job. He avoids 2 losses, team looks competitive, that helps his case.
NZ ranked 32nd. Costa Rica 43rd.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football/football-ferns/football-ferns-michael-mayne-aims-for-attacking-style-against-costa-rica/36HXSA3FUVDFBDRUISAPQOTO4A/
NZ Football anticipates recruitment for the full-time role to get under way in February, with Mayne telling the Herald in December it’s a position he’s vying for full-time.
Mayne hoped that under his leadership, the team would look more dangerous on the attack.
“But for me, it’s probably just, I guess putting my slant on what I believe this team can do is how we go about our football in possession and that’s, that’s gonna be one of the [focuses].
Note quite a few like Clegg, Fraser will be out of season for these friendlies next month.
And yeah Mayne won't make many changes. He'll go in low risk. He's basically auditioning for the full time job. He avoids 2 losses, team looks competitive, that helps his case.
NZ ranked 32nd. Costa Rica 43rd.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football/football-ferns/football-ferns-michael-mayne-aims-for-attacking-style-against-costa-rica/36HXSA3FUVDFBDRUISAPQOTO4A/
NZ Football anticipates recruitment for the full-time role to get under way in February, with Mayne telling the Herald in December it’s a position he’s vying for full-time.
Mayne hoped that under his leadership, the team would look more dangerous on the attack.
“But for me, it’s probably just, I guess putting my slant on what I believe this team can do is how we go about our football in possession and that’s, that’s gonna be one of the [focuses].
“I think that’s what the players, the supporters, everybody wants to see is how we can control games, manage games and that’ll be the change hopefully you see in Costa Rica.”
One thing he won’t enforce is a changing of the guard when it comes to the veteran players within the group.
“We need the best players in the system“
“I don’t think my role initially is anything to do about changing the guard — It’s just we need to understand who the players are that come in and fight for each position and that is, in turn, the standard on the training pitch and hopefully the results.
“We’ve got experienced players that I know are determined to continue to stay in good shape and perform and be called up when they get the opportunity and also we’ve got new players, young players, that have been in the system that are really eager to come back in”
Mayne confirmed he has a group of about 40 he’s monitored over the summer and spoken to at length.
“I do feel like there’s a lot of ambition in that group.”
“Naturally, like in any sport, in this group, they’ll determine when they want to finish international football but for the time being it’s not my role it is for me just to create competition in this team and make sure that we’ve got the best players available.”
The squad is set to be announced for next month’s tour later this week or early next.