New Zealand Men's U-17s

Parker Price looks busy but always chasing shadows and hardly makes a challenge.

Maybe selected to win free kicks because of lack of size and strength.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/73375331/new...

Absolutely filthy that I didn't get up for this game. Watched the other two and missed this one due to extensive hangover.

Paraguyan keeper also made a horrid effort for our 2nd I thought. Assume keepers are a common problem at U17 level.

Parker Price has played some nice through balls and looks out the starting line up to be the only midfielder who is looking to play. Defensively he's not going to win any physical challenges, but he has covered a lot of ground and picked up the scraps on poor touches.

Its this work rate which I think is keeping Singh from starting with Hay wanting that extra bit of cover. Singh has looked good with the ball in all three games and drops into the hole well to pick up the ball and turn. Not many NZ players would of seen and executed that pass today.

I hope Singh does start against Brazil, if only because I think with the way they push and attack we need someone to pick up the ball and look to counter.

A good win today and some nice football. Idiot of a coach though from Paraguay... if they dont end up as one of the best 3rd place teams I imagine he will be out of a job. 

The pattern is set up for Parker Price to be the creator in the middle, with Schnell/Bell/McCowatt/Ceci ( depends who is on) in defensive mid , Probert and Rogerson out wide .Imrie as point man up front has run all day.

4.2.1.3 formation. Singh has a lower work rate than required for the 90, but his magic in coming on and creating in Parker Price's role is top class.

Don't know why Parker Price starts ahead of Singh. Looks like he understands the game, and has played a couple of nice first touch passes, but gets knocked off the ball too easily at this level, has given the ball away without reward, and for a CAM, hasn't created one effective through ball that has led to a genuine scoring opportunity in 3 games (that I can remember anyway). Singh, looks to go forward first, never wastes possession, created 2 chances within minutes of coming on apart from his own bar effort and the assist. 

Very generous of us to our neighbours..

"Australia will face Nigeria in the round of 16 at the FIFA under-17 World Cup in Chile after New Zealand guaranteed the Joeys' progression when they defeated Paraguay 2-1 on Sunday."

I think the game against Paraguay is a blue print in beating Brazil. 

if anyone's interested in watching the U17 games live in the UK along with replays etc BT Sport has all the games

Singh - looks the biz

He looks to be the kind of player you build your team around. His movement, touch and passing were all a level above the rest. Great result. A bit concerned about Hay's comments again, saying that playing Brazil is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Essentially sounds like he's given up  - they only finished 2nd in their group and I'd prefer if we didn't go into the game all star-struck

Perhaps he's trying to take the pressure off the team to allow them to play with freedom??

Although sadly in reality I expect him to try our France tactics again.

Maybe hes just admitting the team is porked once they are too old to play in the under 17's, i.e. when they play in the old whites.

Congrats to the team, I pretty much wrote them off, after the first half against France. They have improved a lot since then, especially the last game, that was some of the best passing I have seen from an under age NZ team, they also took players on, which is great to see. I think they just needed more experience at this level, as their build up was far from ideal. Hopefully they have a go against Brazil.

This Brazil team we are playing have been very erratic even in qualifying for Chile.

Lost to Venezuela and drew with Paraguay in the first group stage of the South American qualifying tournament in March:

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_South_American_...

In South American qualifying, the top three teams from the two first round groups then entered one six team group to determine final placings.

Brazil won this group but lost to Argentina and Colombia.

Conceded 14 goals in their nine qualifying games, scoring 18.

Won by one goal in each of their three final stage wins.

Won by one goal in one of their two first stage wins.

Over-all: W: 5  D: 1  L: 3

GF: 18  GA: 14

#alignment: Post-tournament, they sacked the manager who won them the CONMEBOL qualifying around the same time we sacked our manager, Figueroa, who won us OFC qualifying.

Eight of Brazil's goals came from Leandro, the tournament's top-scorer:

http://www.scoresway.com/?sport=soccer&page=player...

He has scored two of Brazil's four goals in three games in Chile so far.

That's a very low-scoring Brazil side with only four goals in three games so far in Chile. Only two goals conceded.

Lost to South Korea 1-0, beat England 1-0, beat Guinea 3-1

Got 0 - 0 written all over it. :) We'll go through on pens :)

So Paraguay didn't make it in the end as one of the best third-placed teams.

Argentina bombed out again as they did in our u-20 tournament, losing all three games and with a minus seven goal difference (one goal scored, eight conceded). They will be the lowest-ranked team when the tournament ends.

So half of the South American teams are out already.

Teams eliminated from the tournament so far:

Argentina, Paraguay, England, USA, South Africa, Honduras, Syria, Guinea 

Tournament rankings so far :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_FIFA_U-17_World...

No matter what happens against Brazil, NZ will finish the tournament with a placing of 16th or higher.

Our placing will depend on goal difference assuming we lose to Brazil.

But we'll be above Argentina, England, USA etc.

Currently, after the group stage, having finished second in our group, we are also above fellow Round of 16 teams Australia, Belgium, Chile and North Korea who all finished third. We are only behind fellow second-placed sides Germany, Brazil, Croatia, Ecuador and Costa Rica on goal difference.  

So who has impressed so far from the squad... lets speculate who might get invited to trial etc.

McGarry - has looked our best back and provides some good impetus going forward. Some nice touches and good pace. I can see why the NIX grabbed him.

Sinclair - has got better as the team has progresses, but has made a lot of poor passes.

Hunter - looks strong and aggressive. Is a big unit, but still pretty mobile. May get a look in.

Williams - good athlete, but prone to slipping because he over commits. Reminds me of Siggy, all heart, but needs a little more game awareness.

Parker Price - looks 12. has been our best starting midfielder. Good passer and likes to get on the ball, but lacks the physicality needed to compete. may get a look... will need to work on his build.

McCowett / Schnell - never see them want the ball or do anything with it. Hard workers, but have done nothing to grab the attention. Managed to hold a second string paraguay side relatively well.

Rogerson, some nice touches and looks to get on the ball. Often too isolated and his finishing has been sub par. Looks like a player in the making. Already with the NIX

Probert - has had his moments, but lacks the x factor. have not seen him take on a man in 3 games. A decent passer, his set pieces are poor.

Imre - strong. hasn't shown much technically, but offers a target, may get a look in.

Singh - next to McGarry he will be the player getting the most inquiries. clearly a quality ball player, he would be a certain starter in a strong line up that could cover his defensive frailties. 

Will be interesting to see how we front up to Brazil.

Interesting observations on the team. I have watched each game twice and watched different players closely to see more than you see in real time.

The pattern we are playing has not been for your defensive midfield players to play with the ball, take one or two touches and move it. Their role has been a whole lot of cover, so the hard work you talk about for them is what their role is. They have been back covering for both outside backs who make runs down deep, as McGarry has said the Coach lets him do that.

The two attacking wide midfielders have not taken any shots at goal, even when in situations to do so. Neither has the attacking player, other than Singh when he comes on and that has looked really good. They have been the receivers of the defensive mid distribution in this pattern of play. The keeper for Paraguay was so suspect we should have taken more shots at him

The point man has worked his socks off, and been a menace to the defense. Rewarded with a match winning goal.

Back 4 have all had their moments, and have grown into a better unit as the games progressed. Game 1 v France was poor, but they had not played together. Ashworth is the tallest outfielder in the Cup, and has been good at getting up high, but has held on and been penalised far too often . He is a danger to teams in their box.

Overall, the team have improved with each outing, and given their poor buildup this has been encouraging

Cue Danny Hay with two fingers in the air to all the people that ragged on his ass (myself included)

But have we got this far due to Hay or despite Hay?

having just watched the Paraguay replay, that goal that they got should have been stopped easily by Woud. 

Hay hasnt started his best player the while tourny so he has no clue

Well the team he put out last beat Paraguay, the team before that held Syria to a draw. He's doing something right and maybe he might pull a rabbit out of his arse and have this U17 compete well against Brazil.

Well the team he put out last beat Paraguay, the team before that held Syria to a draw. He's doing something right and maybe he might pull a rabbit out of his arse and have this U17 compete well against Brazil.

I agree, to have improved with each outing and to show the calmness they showed to hold the ball and not panic, sealing the win, must indicate a lot about what he is doing with the squad.

TV - If you mean Ben Mata, then you are joking, he hasn't passed a fitness test all year

Don't know why he was made captain.

He'll be starting on Thursday... both cb's are suspended for the game.

He'll concede a pen for sure.

Surely their record - a win, draw, loss - and their place in the round of 16 is enough to suggest this campaign has been a success.

I think he meant Singh

Mata isnt the good Mata. Singh is best player.

Makes sense to have a more industrious midfield to keep things tight and bring Singh on late to me.

At 5-0 down? Ok mate

I would go with playing an industrious side against France because they tend to have more structure to their game, however Brazil is always a little more fluid in their play and positionally players are encouraged to roam.

Because of this I'd like Singh in there. He drops into space well and turns quickly, if Brazil loses shape we need someone to take advantage and try to launch counters. I'm not sure Parker Price is the one to do this.

Time will tell. 30mins to go.

20' 0-0  NZL v BRA     NZ Defending hard

Honestly what does parker price offer? Pushed off the ball, slow and head down when he passes.

Parker Price needs to be subbed 

Even the commentator agrees