Injury has robbed the All Whites of their captain Ryan Nelson just a week before they depart for their third FIFA Confederations Cup campaign.
Nelsen limped out of Blackburn�s penultimate Premiership match against Chelsea on Saturday with a calf injury and scans have since revealed a 4cm grade two soleus muscle tear that will rule the 31-year-old out for four to six weeks.
Missing a campaign that included cup clashes against Spain, South Africa and Iraq, as well as a warm up against World champions Italy was another cruel twist in an injury blighted international career for Nelsen.
The star defender ended a frustrating four-year absence from the All Whites against New Caledonia last year and was now �absolutely gutted� he couldn�t lead the team out on its return to the world stage.
�I was really looking forward to playing. The Confederations Cup is great preparation for the World Cup playoff and I�m just gutted I wont be there now.�
A long season that began with the Olympic Games in August finally took its toll on the Cantabrian.
�It is so frustrating. I�ve felt really good this year and I think including internationals I have played close to 50 games this season. The body has been feeling really great but I suppose it was a heavy load and maybe it was God�s way of telling me I needed a break.�
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert admitted losing his captain and best player ahead of a major international tournament was �a massive blow.�
�I think the confidence, leadership, competiveness and experience that Ryan has against players of the calibre we are going to play is going to be missing now and that is going to be a massive loss for the team,� Herbert said.
�I guess now our fingers are crossed that we face no difficulties in October.�
The loss of Nelsen, combined with the fact that Ben Sigmund is still working his way back to full fitness after off-season hip surgery, leaves Andy Boyens and Steven Old as the only match-ready central defenders in the 23-man Confederations Cup squad.
Herbert and assistant coach Brian Turner were now mulling options to add defensive cover and hoped to name Nelsen�s replacement on Friday.
The New Zealand based squad members depart for their pre-tournament base in Botswana on May 27.
The All Whites play friendlies against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on June 3 and Botswana in Gaborone on June 6 before moving to South Africa ahead of their final warm up against Italy in Pretoria on June 10. New Zealand begins its Confederations Cup campaign against Spain on June 14 in Rustenburg.
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My pet hate. Nelsen. Who wrote that press release?
That sucks.
That sucks.
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FFS that's terrible
Any chance we could arrange to have him rested for all of October so that this doesn't happen for the playoff?!
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Any chance we could arrange to have him rested for all of October so that this doesn't happen for the playoff?!
You can't seriously be asking this?
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ohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*tohsh*t
martinb2009-05-21 11:44:50
damn there goes our plan. Nelsen to keep Villa and Torres quiet (just like he does in the EPL)
and Paston to score with a goal kick when they aren't looking ftw!
yikes...we were going to get f**ked before, but now...this could be very very painful....Siggie will have to have the game of his life...
no Moss, no Nelsen...
hope this Woods boy comes through with hat tricks in both games...
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That's terrible news! Does anyone have any idea on who will be the replacement for Nelsen?
Whoever it is they're obviously not going to be on par with him.
Fingers crossed Sigmund pulls through!
Whoever it is they're obviously not going to be on par with him.
Fingers crossed Sigmund pulls through!
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This from FC Midtjylland fans page:
Central defender Winston Reid has been overlooked for national squad as New Zealand prepar for next month's Confederations Cup in South Africa. Reaid responded " Would be a blast to play reigning world champion italy".
The 6 ft 3 in" defender said. Its really up to me i guess and this puts the icing on the cake for Denmark national duty.convict2009-05-21 13:43:40
Central defender Winston Reid has been overlooked for national squad as New Zealand prepar for next month's Confederations Cup in South Africa. Reaid responded " Would be a blast to play reigning world champion italy".
The 6 ft 3 in" defender said. Its really up to me i guess and this puts the icing on the cake for Denmark national duty.convict2009-05-21 13:43:40
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This from FC Midtjylland fans page:
Central defender Winston Reid has been overlooked for national squad as New Zealand prepar for next month's Confederations Cup in South Africa. Reaid responded " Would be a blast to play reigning world champion italy".
The 6 ft 3 in" defender said. Its really up to me i guess and this puts the icing on the cake for Denmark national duty.
Central defender Winston Reid has been overlooked for national squad as New Zealand prepar for next month's Confederations Cup in South Africa. Reaid responded " Would be a blast to play reigning world champion italy".
The 6 ft 3 in" defender said. Its really up to me i guess and this puts the icing on the cake for Denmark national duty.
He wants to play for us? worth a shot...who else is the centre defence cover?
Siggie Boyens and ....Old?
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Didn't he opt to play for Denmark rather than us?
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He has played at yoof level for Denmark, but is still under-21 so still has a chance to change senior allegiance..
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Would be a quality pickup for NZ if he did change.
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argh!!!!! as well as quality we are losing experience!
we better not get any more injuries
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Same old story with Nelsen most of the time. So frustrating! Sigmund better pull through and be brutal in defence.
And if that's true about Reid being overlooked then that's stupid, we should pick him up while we have the chance, he doesn't have much chance at all of making the Danish team anyway.
Why is Moss not playing in the Confederations Cup?
In defence we could still have:Any RB bar Mulligan Sigmund Boyens Lochhead.
That's still reasonably strong and if they can organize themselves and communicate well then we could still do alright, but losing Nelsen is a massive blow.
And if that's true about Reid being overlooked then that's stupid, we should pick him up while we have the chance, he doesn't have much chance at all of making the Danish team anyway.
Why is Moss not playing in the Confederations Cup?
In defence we could still have:Any RB bar Mulligan Sigmund Boyens Lochhead.
That's still reasonably strong and if they can organize themselves and communicate well then we could still do alright, but losing Nelsen is a massive blow.
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Gunner...
Winston Reid will be in the Danish squad within a couple of years. He is seen as one of the hottest properties in Danish football and Everton was rumoured to be very close to signing him at the start of the season.
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Craig Henderson and Cole Peverley being talked about as possible replacements in the squad with Siggy, Boyens and Old shouldering the CB responsibility.
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Gunner...
Winston Reid will be in the Danish squad within a couple of years. He is seen as one of the hottest properties in Danish football and Everton was rumoured to be very close to signing him at the start of the season.
Well then, it appears I'm guilty of severe under-estimation.
So definitely all the more reason to grab him.
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This from FC Midtjylland fans page:
Central defender Winston Reid has been overlooked for national squad as New Zealand prepar for next month's Confederations Cup in South Africa. Reaid responded " Would be a blast to play reigning world champion italy".
The 6 ft 3 in" defender said. Its really up to me i guess and this puts the icing on the cake for Denmark national duty.
Central defender Winston Reid has been overlooked for national squad as New Zealand prepar for next month's Confederations Cup in South Africa. Reaid responded " Would be a blast to play reigning world champion italy".
The 6 ft 3 in" defender said. Its really up to me i guess and this puts the icing on the cake for Denmark national duty.
I thought he had already turned his back on NZ.
If he has not, Ricki had better do his upmost pronto to convert him into your next Nelsen.
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites
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The main thing about Nelsen is his belief and his shear determination. That rubs off on the other defenders along side him. Without Nelsen, it is not just the loss of our best defender to be replaced with a 4th choice CB, it is the fact that the other players around him lose that belief and in most cases have a poorer game.
On the plus side, it will give our remaining CB's more exposure. A bit of luck and some half decent games could get them a better contract.
On the plus side, it will give our remaining CB's more exposure. A bit of luck and some half decent games could get them a better contract.
If we build it, they will come...
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Any chance we could arrange to have him rested for all of October so that this doesn't happen for the playoff?!
You can't seriously be asking this?
Obviously I'm not being serious, but maybe we can send the SAS to whisk him away to a month of seclusion before the World Cup playoffs. This happens everytime he finally gets "permission" to come along
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As opposed to Ivan, who's a spring chicken himself.
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32 vs 34... neither completely past it agewise
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But hardly guys to be building a team around.
I know there's probably concern about the experience lost with Nelsen's injury, but why not take a younger guy over there, someone who could actually find the experience of international environment useful for the future, rather then getting a guy who clearly lacks ambition to still play at the highest level that he can.
I know there's probably concern about the experience lost with Nelsen's injury, but why not take a younger guy over there, someone who could actually find the experience of international environment useful for the future, rather then getting a guy who clearly lacks ambition to still play at the highest level that he can.
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Radio Sport reporter Reuben Bradley speaks to All Whites defender Ivan
Vicelich, who has come out of retirement to replace Ryan Nelsen at the
Confederations Cup football tournament.
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/audio2/22172532.wma
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/audio2/22172532.wma
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The pluses of Ivan v Danny other than the 2 year age gap are that Ivan's groin/calf/back/hamstring aren't made of glass and he played at a higher level more consistantly than Danny did - I think he was always a better all round player than Danny.
No disrespect to Danny - he achieved what a lot of us would dream to but I think Ivan is a big plus for us given Ryan's injury
PROAK2009-05-22 17:49:37Peoples Republik of Aucklandia
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I think for the meanwhile Ivan has a couple of years left on his belt. Danny definitely has not got that. It is a good decision at last moment notice because Ivan knows the playing structure that Ricki uses and have played with the other players before. Whereas Winston does not know being under the Denmark's U21 structure. He would still have to work to link well with players that he has not played with.
If Ivan can take someone's defensive midfielder position and there may still room for Winston Reid in one of the WCQ playoffs games. A good time to give him a look and maybe seal his name for us.
If Ivan can take someone's defensive midfielder position and there may still room for Winston Reid in one of the WCQ playoffs games. A good time to give him a look and maybe seal his name for us.
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I think for the meanwhile Ivan has a couple of years left on his belt. Danny definitely has not got that. It is a good decision at last moment notice because Ivan knows the playing structure that Ricki uses and have played with the other players before. Whereas Winston does not know being under the Denmark's U21 structure. He would still have to work to link well with players that he has not played with.
If Ivan can take someone's defensive midfielder position and there may still room for Winston Reid in one of the WCQ playoffs games. A good time to give him a look and maybe seal his name for us.
If Ivan can take someone's defensive midfielder position and there may still room for Winston Reid in one of the WCQ playoffs games. A good time to give him a look and maybe seal his name for us.
I'm pleased that Ivan is back, hopefully he will play in the qualifiers as well as I see him and Nelsen as the key partnership along with Sigi on the right and Lochy on the left as being the only way we could possibly qualify.
That aside, surely we are dreaming about Winston. I would love him playing for us but I think his future will lie with the Danish National team. He definately has the class and through them would have a far greater chance of playing at the World Cup and potentially even play in later rounds.
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites
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Actually Nelsen getting injured could be a blessing in disguise.
If it means having Ivan back in the squad as well come Qualifiers time.
If it means having Ivan back in the squad as well come Qualifiers time.
If we build it, they will come...
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Loosing Nelson is a huge huge blow. Not only for his playing ability but also his experiance and ability to marshal the defense
He has played against the likes of Torres....so he would have been able to bring his knowledge to the team.
Vilicich is the best option. Have no doubt....we will be under the pump against Spain. Torres has said he wants to play for Spain in the Con Cup. This won't be Spain B.
I am trying to remain positive but considering quite a few of our players are coming into this tournament from off season we will be really up against it. Anything less than 0-4 against Spain would be a major achievement.
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