New Zealand Men's U-17s

Well done Elijah!!!

78' GOAL!!! New Caledonia 0 New Zealand 4: Patterson makes the game safe for New Zealand when he spectacularly fires in a free kick from well outside the box

After trialling at Chelsea and Sheffield United, New Caledonia u-17 captain Mickael Partodikromo invited back to play for Sheffield Utd u-21's July- December in a further trial. A 16 year-old playing in the u-21's - not bad. He's the first Pacific Islander to have attended the Asia Pacific Football Academy, Lincoln, Christchurch, who have ties to Chelsea:

http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/1582d485-df73-4660-954d-537d80b4d8ff/language/en-US/Default.aspx

 80' GOAL!!! Vanuatu 1 New Zealand 2 Elijah Neblett gets on the scoreboard after knocking Holthesun cross in behind Waivui

Looks like we tried our hardest to give the island teams a sniff back in to the competition.

Disappointing win, but atleast we are pretty much garunteed now to go through bar a major mishap.

Elijah to the rescue! #birkomassive

Fiji will be difficult but Papua New Guinea should be there for the taking. This years squad looks quite good.

2-1 team prob tiring. One win should do it with goal diff being the key

 OFC report indicated we were pretty well outplayed for large parts of the game; but we still managed to get the result. In this tournament that is all that matters :)

1-1 with Fiji with half an hour to play eek. Boys just need the win surely.

2-1 BOOM!

3-1 Patterson. Should be enough at present to win us the World Cup spot providing New Caledonia don't beat the Vanuatu by 15-0

4-1

4-2.  Final.

New Cal have to beat Vanuatu 13-0 and hope we lose to PNG. Not gonna happen. Qualified!!!

 60' GOAL!!! New Zealand 2 Papua New Guinea 0 Patterson is one-on-one with Vagi who slides in to clear, the ball falls to Holthusen as Vagi remains down who slots home into an empty net

73' GOAL!!! New Zealand 3 Papua New Guinea 0 Blake brings the ball right up to the goal line before cutting it back in where he finds Patterson who taps home for New Zealand

82' GOAL!!! New Zealand 4 Papua New Guinea 0 Holthusen gets a hat-trick as Blake once again cuts the ball back from the goal-line for a waiting Holthusen to knock home

What level are these lads expected to be playing at in the build up to this world cup???

Don't know what the plan is for 2013 UAE group but for comparison the Aussie 2015 Chile World Cup group ( the next cycle after this lot) have already been through initial training squad selection and are in camp now as they prepare for Asian qualifying in 2014! Our equivalent group won't be selected for another year if we do things as we've done in the past.

 http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/22947/new-zealander-and-irishman-to-join-academy-ranks?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/news/soccer-halves-of-contention/1936095/

This lad must at least get a look at, if he is playing and scoring at this level.

Given that the 2013 U17 World Cup is 17Oct - 8Nov in UAE, what is the intended make-up of the Northern-based U17 in the 2013/14 ASB Youth league (excerpt below), ie after U17 WC?

May 10, 2013
AUCKLAND – The composition of the ASB Premiership will change for the first time in nine seasons with the inclusion of a national U-20 squad into the pinnacle domestic competition.
Following a complete review of the competition by the ASB Premiership Review Committee, the recommendation was made for the 2013/14 League to retain an eight team competition in the Premiership, but expand the ASB Youth League from 10 to 12 teams
Exact draw details for the ASB Premiership and ASB Youth League will be confirmed at a later date.

ASB Premiership – Auckland City, Waitakere United, WaiBOP United, Hawke’s Bay United, Team Wellington, Canterbury United, Otago United, NZ U-20

ASB Youth League
Northern Conference – Waitakere United, Auckland City, South Auckland, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay United, Northern-based U-17s
Southern Conference – YoungHeartManawatu, Heartland Wairarapa, Team Wellington, Nelson Falcons, Canterbury United, Otago United

thats a good point as these players will only be 15 years old, big ask for a team to play in u20 comp. Maybe selected from next NTC camps

Yeah they would be young (1998 & 1999), AND from all over the country, which means plenty outside auk would have to leave home to play. As not all of them would do that the team would be even weaker. Very few in the major centres of this age would make regional Youth teams. So unless a new model evolves it seems Auk based players are favoured. Again. Also it is July already. When will the process be outlined?

Watched NZ 17s play Western Springs tonight. 5 or 6-0 I think but that was not a reflection on Springs. Alex Rufer is a lovely little footballer and really is a class above anything at that age group. I'm interested as to why he lives in PN and his Dad is up here in Auckland. He is someone the Phoenix should look to sign for the FSE (but then that means having to deal with Wynton at some point). Mind you his Dad may want him to go overseas.

why would they have to deal with Wynton when Shane is his dad? i'm pretty sure Shane lives in PN! Alex is at Western Subs in wellington. The lad is a quality player.  

Is he? Sorry. I read on the internet that Wynton was his Dad and that's where I got it from. I stand corrected.

Agree he is quality. He has All White tagged all over him. He was head a shoulders better than Monty Patterson and that kid got a run in the A team. In fact Monty Patterson didn't even look like he was a footballer and lacked that certain way a footballer holds himself to suggest he will go any further.

haha dear i say it, Monty is from Auckland and is seen week in week out which always helps in terms of playing for the A team, while Alex from PN almost out of sight out of mind. Think its a pitty u17 is after u20 other rufer may have been going to u20 similar to payne did couple years back. He held his own when play for YHM national league didn't look out of place at all.

For a 16 yo old kid, he would be one of the better premier league footballers playing if he was up here. What team to put him in that used him the right way would be a different question. Patterson is getting subs minutes at NRFL 1 for Eastern Suburbs.

There was another kid that played as well. They called him AP. Don't know him but he looked useful as well.

Alexander Palezovic

That's him. He played the 2nd half and had some nice touches.

From my old school (Onslow College). Now at Ole Academy.

And plays for IBU in Cap Prem. Good player.

I think you're being a bit harsh JV. I saw at MAGS v Sacred Heart on Saturday and when MAGS went 1-2 down (through Niko Kirwan's fine volley - and didn't Sir John and family go nuts over that one!) it was Monty P who stepped up with a fine run after the equaliser, beating 3/4 defenders to lay on the goal for Liam Jordan's go ahead goal to make it 3-2. Sure, this was only schools footie. But both sides wanted a result. Even if he isn't exactly stylish (is Peter Crouch?) Patterson looks like he's got the balls to be able to turn a game. Which is better than being an elegant but ineffectual prima donna. (Note: Stephen Carmichael). Probably why Fallon also rates him.

He (Carmichael) ain't doing much for Central at the mo.

That's an interesting conversation Jerzy. I think being harsh would be to abuse him. I just stated a footballing observation that was not abusive. I think he is limited in terms of talent. I think at this level he is ok because he is a solid schoolboy with raw talent and some schoolboys will not be as developed. Yes we are talking about 1st XIs and at that level he will absolutely dominate no doubt. I don't think he will go too much further. I think he is lacking in 'footballers balance' for a lack of a better term. Look over the last few U17s and U20s teams and players who have gone onto do nothing... Its my opinion he will be one of them. I hope I am proven wrong because I want everyone to be better and this improve football in this country and our national team.

I do think Carmichael is a good and better footballer. I think playing at Central/ACFC, he gets lost behind others (Tade, Corrales, Exposito, Danko, Dickinson. Not one Kiwi name in them) and he plays on the flank at Central as opposed to where he normally plays as a striker. Not sure where his best position is but he has a lot more than Patterson does. Granted the comparison is not fair because of the age but considering the 2 times I have seen him this year, he has been quiet, got on and done the job, produced some quality and given away very few fouls and possession.