All Whites, Ferns, and other international teams

New Zealand "A" vs Fiji

49 replies · 10,045 views
over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
i thought it was an awful game; barely looked like football. 
 
there were a few glimpses of decent footy from a small minority of our players, but i couldn't help but think that i was watching a local masters game. 
 
fiji were much better than us; strong at the back - finau was excellent - and they always looked to play, just didn't quite have the skill to pull it off. 
 
i'm slightly worried about how we will fare against a more cohesive fijian side, with esala masi on board, and without our 'stars' in a few month's time.

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
We probably wont play Fiji until Sep 2008. That is when we play the top ranked island team after the pacifc tournement. I assume fiji will win that.
 
I thought after the U20 island qualifiers that Krishna sounded like a decent player. I was thinking a Phoenix option at the time. 

If we build it, they will come...

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
NZ needs a change of mindset. We need to actually start playing football. Pass the ball around more and try a few things. I only saw the first game but I thought Fiji looked like the team trying something and most likely to score.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
you're right hammer head.  ricki herbert has introduced that notion to his sides, but funnily enough, i didn't see it over the weekend with jonathan gould coached invitation xi... our only route to goal appeared to be a long hoof.  i saw it from fiji however, they looked a tidy side - just couldn't finish

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I think the problem with a lot of Nz players and coaches is we panic.
 
Rather than being patient. Knocking it around and building it up. We are so worried about losing the ball in our own half we tend to boot it. When we play better teams we panic and tend to only be able to string a few passes together before losing the ball. Ricki seems to have gotten some improvement in this area though, but still a way to go.
 
When we play teams we should be thumping, we panic when 10 mins have passed and we havent scored so we start hoofing it down the field it the hope that our striker will get on the end of it and take the pressure of the "inevitable win"
 

If we build it, they will come...

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Da Selekta wrote:
you're right hammer head.  ricki herbert has introduced that notion to his sides, but funnily enough, i didn't see it over the weekend with jonathan gould coached invitation xi... our only route to goal appeared to be a long hoof.  i saw it from fiji however, they looked a tidy side - just couldn't finish
 
Yup I saw far too much long ball from NZ. The get it into the corners mentality is a waste of time, esp when it's played in the air. Fiji were playign all the football. I turned the TV off after 30 mins and went to work - -  on a SUNDAY! That's how bad it was.
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
What do you expect from a Gould coached team?? Fashanu up front I mean Messem.  I'm sure he would be happy with the way the game was played.  He looked really bussy in the first game.  I had my doubts he could step up but he seemed to do well.  Brockie was quite and didn't look like an all white.  Best part of the game was the comments man.  He had knowledge of all the players on the field and was never short of somthing to say.  Loved him. 
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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
LOL yeah that guy comments for most of the big games in fiji. the support for the local comp's there is crazy i wish we could have support for football like that here

go gunners

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
yeah, the commentator was a crack up.  first and second names for everyone every time!  i thought that gordon glen watson was quality in game two.  a rival for mark elrick for a-league games maybe?

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over 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
james dean wrote:
What because he carved Lower Hutt's kids?  Don't get ahead of yourself...
 
I'm not sure we are allowed to call it a full international if we don't have out entire squad available, but not sure about that.
 
hey they won and rabo was pretty good! nz wer poo in that game best was probably barron even then nothing great fiji won easy
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