New manager. Hard nose Aussie who knows his stuff. Willing to say outrageous stuff to keep fans and media pumped. No more “Mr play it straight” plz (unless the players REALLY REALLY like this and need this nice guy approach). We need ambition, but one who understands the NZ/Oceania sensibilities.
I think there is an underlying feeling need some sort of more 'pragmatic' very experienced coach in there somewhere. Either as a defence coach or ideally replacing Bazeley as the boss.
Too much player power can be a bad thing, especially if yes the playing group is a bit overly optimistic on their ability to trouble the big teams.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360999253/all-whites-fell-short-history-2026-fifa-world-cup-what-needs-change-2030
If you told the All Whites back in Boca Raton they would finish the group stage having scored more goals than 21 of the other 47 teams at the World Cup, they would have been ecstatic. In 2010, they only outscored five of the other 31; in 1982 only two of the other 23.
Too much player power can be a bad thing, especially if yes the playing group is a bit overly optimistic on their ability to trouble the big teams.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360999253/all-whites-fell-short-history-2026-fifa-world-cup-what-needs-change-2030
If you told the All Whites back in Boca Raton they would finish the group stage having scored more goals than 21 of the other 47 teams at the World Cup, they would have been ecstatic. In 2010, they only outscored five of the other 31; in 1982 only two of the other 23.
This crop of players wanted to play more football, to put it bluntly, than their predecessors and they certainly did against Iran and in the first half against Egypt. But from the halftime break last Sunday onwards, they were outscored 8-1 as defensive lapses compounded and they ran into a Belgian side with a point to prove after two draws and a need to run up the score to top group G.
The All Whites ultimately conceded more goals than 43 of the other teams in North America and fewer than just three. In 2010 only eight teams conceded fewer, while 12 conceded more, but only one shipped more than their dozen back in 1982.
Several players said being even bolder and braver in possession was the way forward when they spoke after the loss to Belgium and were reflecting on where they fell short against Iran and Egypt.
Several players said being even bolder and braver in possession was the way forward when they spoke after the loss to Belgium and were reflecting on where they fell short against Iran and Egypt.
Maybe so – the players would know best what’s possible – but it’s hard to shake the feeling their next step must be finding a better balance between attack and defence. And it hurts to think that balance could and should have been found before the last fortnight unfolded the way it did.
By their own accounts, Bazeley and his staff have seen their role as facilitating the playing groups’ chosen style of football.
With a player pool as small as New Zealand’s – somewhere around 50 professionals, depending on how loosely you apply the term – there’s logic in using the players’ desires as a starting point, but they can’t be everything.
Two days out from the Egypt match, when assistant coach Simon Elliott was asked how to stop Mo Salah and replied “I think if we have the ball, it makes it difficult, right?” it felt like a glimpse behind the curtain at a team overestimating their own abilities. As it turned out, Salah and his team-mates had the ball plenty.
For all that they have strung together some impressive periods in possession over the past few years, the All Whites’ rest defence – the way they set up to cover counter-attacks when they lose the ball – has been a lingering concern.
............A looming four-month review will decide whether it’s halftime or fulltime for Bazeley and his staff, who will have learnt plenty from their first World Cup experience the same way the players have.
............A looming four-month review will decide whether it’s halftime or fulltime for Bazeley and his staff, who will have learnt plenty from their first World Cup experience the same way the players have.
One factor it’s easy to forget is that there probably won’t be a long list of applicants if there is a vacancy, though it’s possible the Iran and Egypt matches might have piqued the interest of someone notable.
There are no obvious domestic candidates and when good progress has been made under coaches intimately familiar with the game in New Zealand over the past seven years, there should be wariness of turning to an outsider to lead a team that now inhabits one of the more unusual situations in world football, playing competitive matches in name only – and not that many of them – in Oceania and relying on friendlies otherwise.
NZ Football thought they had former Football Ferns coach John Herdman then tried hard to bring back former Phoenix coach Des Buckingham before settling on Bazeley as their third choice in 2023. Buckingham is now at Al-Kholood in Saudi Arabia, where pursuing him might be even harder, than it was when he was at Mumbai City in India, if they wanted to go down that path again.
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Adding to the 2030 wishlist: Qualify with a FIFA ranking in the low 60's.
Why is this a worthwhile goal?
1) It manufactures a competitive element to the 'meaningless' friendlies between now and 2030. If we treat friendlies against non-OFC countries as higher stakes, we could climb up the rankings with a few wins / draws against decent opposition. Not every game will present this opportunity, with injuries, availability etc., but if we target some games, we create the competitive environment we're looking for even when the opposition doesn't.
2) If we achieved this ambitious goal, we'd would likely scrape into Pot 3 for the 2030 draw, assuming it's 48 teams again.
Why is this a worthwhile goal?
1) It manufactures a competitive element to the 'meaningless' friendlies between now and 2030. If we treat friendlies against non-OFC countries as higher stakes, we could climb up the rankings with a few wins / draws against decent opposition. Not every game will present this opportunity, with injuries, availability etc., but if we target some games, we create the competitive environment we're looking for even when the opposition doesn't.
2) If we achieved this ambitious goal, we'd would likely scrape into Pot 3 for the 2030 draw, assuming it's 48 teams again.
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"NZ Football thought they had former Football Ferns coach John Herdman then tried hard to bring back former Phoenix coach Des Buckingham before settling on Bazeley as their third choice in 2023"
This is interesting, my recollection of events as they were reported was that NZF were fully focused on getting Herdman and that by the time NZF realised we werent getting him, we had essentially lost the opportunity to get Buckingham by that point as he had signed a new CFG contract in the interim.
If it was really the case that Buckingham could have came to us at that point but turned it down, it is hard to imagine we could possibly get him now as his asking price will have gone way up since then.
This is interesting, my recollection of events as they were reported was that NZF were fully focused on getting Herdman and that by the time NZF realised we werent getting him, we had essentially lost the opportunity to get Buckingham by that point as he had signed a new CFG contract in the interim.
If it was really the case that Buckingham could have came to us at that point but turned it down, it is hard to imagine we could possibly get him now as his asking price will have gone way up since then.
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Yes realistically Des ain’t coaching the AWs unless it’s some sort of short 1 year type contract leading into a WC that he’d be happy to do for small coin.
Some digging on manager salaries in the Saudi Pro League suggests he’s on min $2-3m there in a low tax environment
Simone Inzaghi (Al-Hilal) is either 1st or 2nd to Diego Simeone as the world’s highest paid gaffer. A measure of the crazy dosh on offer in Saudi
But hey like players I’m sure many managers dream of going to a WC
Some digging on manager salaries in the Saudi Pro League suggests he’s on min $2-3m there in a low tax environment
Simone Inzaghi (Al-Hilal) is either 1st or 2nd to Diego Simeone as the world’s highest paid gaffer. A measure of the crazy dosh on offer in Saudi
But hey like players I’m sure many managers dream of going to a WC
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https://twitter.com/NZ_Football/status/2071739955827879961
https://twitter.com/NZ_Football/status/2071739955827879961
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Whatever else NZF does, it needs to pump the FIFA money into the Under 17 and Under 20 WC's and the elite development programmes to increase the chances of unearthing a gem or two. As many have pointed out, we have the bones of a fair side for the next campaign.
Sadly after a promising game and a half of football, the AW's coaching group ended up being tactically out of their depth against Egypt (second half) and Belgium, along with some selections, so have no doubt some-one (probably Australian) will be appointed to take a fresh more pragmatic approach to the next campaign, and make the tough selection decisions required, especially with our defensive structure, which at best was naive last week.
NZF delivered lots of friendly internationals over the last few years which is great, but as everyone's pointed out, they're meaningless. Honestly sitting at the ground when Eygpt lifted the intensity in the second half, and then Belgium from the start, we looked physically done and tactically had no idea how to hang on and live with them.
I don't buy the world ranking argument. We didn't lose a game at our last WC appearance. We need to be setup accordingly to give ourselves the best chance of hanging in and suffering to grind out a result.
Hopefully NZF and FIFA can swing us an entry at a competitive continental tournament or two through the next cycle. That'll help and I think NZF is already talking about it. Regardless, we need to lift the bar way beyond Oceania, as many nations around our ranking are already onto it.
Sadly after a promising game and a half of football, the AW's coaching group ended up being tactically out of their depth against Egypt (second half) and Belgium, along with some selections, so have no doubt some-one (probably Australian) will be appointed to take a fresh more pragmatic approach to the next campaign, and make the tough selection decisions required, especially with our defensive structure, which at best was naive last week.
NZF delivered lots of friendly internationals over the last few years which is great, but as everyone's pointed out, they're meaningless. Honestly sitting at the ground when Eygpt lifted the intensity in the second half, and then Belgium from the start, we looked physically done and tactically had no idea how to hang on and live with them.
I don't buy the world ranking argument. We didn't lose a game at our last WC appearance. We need to be setup accordingly to give ourselves the best chance of hanging in and suffering to grind out a result.
Hopefully NZF and FIFA can swing us an entry at a competitive continental tournament or two through the next cycle. That'll help and I think NZF is already talking about it. Regardless, we need to lift the bar way beyond Oceania, as many nations around our ranking are already onto it.
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I certainly think the current AWs setup where the players have alot of power, and have basically chosen the fixed 4-2-3-1 shape needs to be reviewed.
As AV may have alluded to is this a situation where the playing group are not quite as good as they think they are, ie overally optimstic they can go toe to toe with the world's best.
Lacking a bit of that word 'pragmatism'. Do we need to play with that 3rd CB?
Lower ranked teams upsetting higher ranked sides has often seen the 'weaker' side favouring a back 3/5 shape, or at least dropping into a back-5 low block in transition eg Australia and Paraguay below.
Paraguay beat Germans on pens (1-1 after ET)
As AV may have alluded to is this a situation where the playing group are not quite as good as they think they are, ie overally optimstic they can go toe to toe with the world's best.
Lacking a bit of that word 'pragmatism'. Do we need to play with that 3rd CB?
Lower ranked teams upsetting higher ranked sides has often seen the 'weaker' side favouring a back 3/5 shape, or at least dropping into a back-5 low block in transition eg Australia and Paraguay below.
Paraguay beat Germans on pens (1-1 after ET)
First Half Possession: Germany 79% vs. Paraguay 21%
Second Half Possession: Germany 73% vs. Paraguay 27%
Total Passes: Germany 719 vs. Paraguay 161
Pass Accuracy: Germany 90% vs. Paraguay 63%
Sooceroos beat Turkey 2-0
Ball Possession: Australia 28% vs Türkiye 72%
Total Shots: Australia 9 vs Türkiye 30
Shots on Target: Australia 4 vs Türkiye 8
Passes Completed: Australia 266 vs Türkiye 702
Pass Success: Australia 74% vs Türkiye 90%
Sooceroos beat Turkey 2-0
Ball Possession: Australia 28% vs Türkiye 72%
Total Shots: Australia 9 vs Türkiye 30
Shots on Target: Australia 4 vs Türkiye 8
Passes Completed: Australia 266 vs Türkiye 702
Pass Success: Australia 74% vs Türkiye 90%
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I’d just like better AW fan experiences.
Few games at home and non particularly meaningful, thought it was nice when they made a mini tournament in NZ.
Game v Belgium:pointless.
Game v Egypt: disappointing finish from us.
That’s 2/3 of our meaningful competitive matches in 4 years.
I suppose we can count the games against the Socceroos where they waited us out and stung us late, as competitive.
We’ve had some good friendlies. It’d be good to see 3-4 competitions of some kind and preferably a couple of those matches at home. No secure places, plenty of football to earn or lose a place.
Maybe even some A league and domestic league squad games too. V OFC league pro stars or whatever…
Few games at home and non particularly meaningful, thought it was nice when they made a mini tournament in NZ.
Game v Belgium:pointless.
Game v Egypt: disappointing finish from us.
That’s 2/3 of our meaningful competitive matches in 4 years.
I suppose we can count the games against the Socceroos where they waited us out and stung us late, as competitive.
We’ve had some good friendlies. It’d be good to see 3-4 competitions of some kind and preferably a couple of those matches at home. No secure places, plenty of football to earn or lose a place.
Maybe even some A league and domestic league squad games too. V OFC league pro stars or whatever…
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martinb wrote:
I’d just like better AW fan experiences.
Few games at home and non particularly meaningful, thought it was nice when they made a mini tournament in NZ.
Game v Belgium:pointless.
Game v Egypt: disappointing finish from us.
That’s 2/3 of our meaningful competitive matches in 4 years.
I suppose we can count the games against the Socceroos where they waited us out and stung us late, as competitive.
We’ve had some good friendlies. It’d be good to see 3-4 competitions of some kind and preferably a couple of those matches at home. No secure places, plenty of football to earn or lose a place.
Maybe even some A league and domestic league squad games too.
Well I was there to watch the qualifying v Fiji. Was great to see Kosta and Tim score for the All Whites and Chris Wood hat trick. I want to see what attacking talent the All Whites have. Got to give joy to us fans sometimes.
However, they ought to target some others next. Beaten Chile recently so maybe target Peru next. To rack up the caps of Lachlan Bayliss and next Luke Brooke Smith play Vietnam/Thailand or China again.
However, they ought to target some others next. Beaten Chile recently so maybe target Peru next. To rack up the caps of Lachlan Bayliss and next Luke Brooke Smith play Vietnam/Thailand or China again.
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coochiee wrote:
I certainly think the current AWs setup where the players have alot of power, and have basically chosen the fixed 4-2-3-1 shape needs to be reviewed.
As AV may have alluded to is this a situation where the playing group are not quite as good as they think they are, ie overally optimstic they can go toe to toe with the world's best.
Lacking a bit of that word 'pragmatism'. Do we need to play with that 3rd CB?
Lower ranked teams upsetting higher ranked sides has often seen the 'weaker' side favouring a back 3/5 shape, or at least dropping into a back-5 low block in transition eg Australia and Paraguay below.
Paraguay beat Germans on pens (1-1 after ET)
First Half Possession: Germany 79% vs. Paraguay 21%
Second Half Possession: Germany 73% vs. Paraguay 27%
Total Passes: Germany 719 vs. Paraguay 161
Pass Accuracy: Germany 90% vs. Paraguay 63%
Sooceroos beat Turkey 2-0
Ball Possession: Australia 28% vs Türkiye 72%
Total Shots: Australia 9 vs Türkiye 30
Shots on Target: Australia 4 vs Türkiye 8
Passes Completed: Australia 266 vs Türkiye 702
Pass Success: Australia 74% vs Türkiye 90%
These are interesting stats which show a pragmatic approach to playing football. You can change your tactics and formation during a game according to how the match is playing out. You can attack early and then defend your lead
Unfortunately we did not see much in the way of tactical changes during matches from the AW management. Baze kept saying we played our game but didn’t do it well enough in the second half of matches. The trouble was he is quite inexperienced in terms of high stake matches. His background is age group football.
In key moments we didn’t react to changes made by the opposition coaches. The most glaring example was the Egypt match where they tweaked their tactics several times. We were getting overwhelmed in certain zones early in the second half. We didn’t respond. Most coaches would have decided to defensively strengthen the midfield and/or add another CB and go to a back five. We were leading at the 58th minute because our first half tactics worked. We should have become harder to break down. We lost the game because we did not react and change to respond to the opposing sides changes. It was all about game management.
For the next WC it’s essential we find a coach who has experience at a much higher level than Baze. Someone who knows how to manage a high level international match. Baze said he learnt a lot from this WC. The World Cup is the final exam not a school.
Unfortunately we did not see much in the way of tactical changes during matches from the AW management. Baze kept saying we played our game but didn’t do it well enough in the second half of matches. The trouble was he is quite inexperienced in terms of high stake matches. His background is age group football.
In key moments we didn’t react to changes made by the opposition coaches. The most glaring example was the Egypt match where they tweaked their tactics several times. We were getting overwhelmed in certain zones early in the second half. We didn’t respond. Most coaches would have decided to defensively strengthen the midfield and/or add another CB and go to a back five. We were leading at the 58th minute because our first half tactics worked. We should have become harder to break down. We lost the game because we did not react and change to respond to the opposing sides changes. It was all about game management.
For the next WC it’s essential we find a coach who has experience at a much higher level than Baze. Someone who knows how to manage a high level international match. Baze said he learnt a lot from this WC. The World Cup is the final exam not a school.
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theprof wrote:
If Wood is around in 4 years time, he'll be likely to be used as a super sub, sure it's possibly that he carries on at a high level for the next four years - his last few years have been his best goal haul in the EPL, so why not. Assuming he keeps himself fit and avoids any injuries then there's no reason he cant do what Messi or Ronaldo have done.
Win back to back Ballon d’Ors?
Fever Tipping Competition
League 2 Champion - Season 1, 2019/20
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