New Zealand Men's U-20s

were you watching the same game? I thought it was a pretty poor performance, lot of hit and hope not really stringing any passes together. But hey we needed a win to qualify for the world cup and thats what they got. Oh and yeah added time due to water breaks

We were better in the 2nd half than the first but still, ew.

That was a hard watch. Lump it into the box and hope for a knock down.

Got the win though, and realistically what more can you expect? The island teams are strong, fit and are going to run hard and be physical all day. I doubt any team ranked say 50 - 100 in the world is going to be able to play attractive football against that sort of opposition.

compared to previous teams it's better than what I have seen in the past. We also should remember how many players are missing.

Confirmed a rematch with hosts Tahiti on Saturday 18th August, kick off 4pm.

Rubbish. It's that sort of thinking which leads us to ignore playing football and then get embarrassed at major tournaments.

Tonight I watched a West's team of 15/16 year olds walk all over the Samoa U16's by playing proper football.

Yes it's the middle of winter and yes they are a few years younger but although the Samoan boys were fast, strong and physical they couldn't get near the ball.

I'd say the possession stats were probably 90% to West's.

Aplles and oranges mate.

Samoans? They ain't much better than the Tongan's at football and we know how the U20 side played against them. I'd like to see them try that against NCL or Tahiti in the middle of the day in the islands.

There's a reason teams in the Championship, for example, don't play pretty possession football and they are several levels above what our U20's can offer.

what's the reason?

How would they go in Taihiti in 35 degree heat, against Taihiti U16s, on a bumpy pitch?

You just can’t compare Samoa/Tonga to the better Island Nations, nor mid winter NZ to unbearably hot and humid.

Actually I’d like to see Declan take a team to the Islands, and try play possession football. If he can coach a team to play with style and win there, would be a very interesting litmus test.

I wouldn't say that is the case, more likely being that English football don't know how to play or implement a Tikitaka style which is down to coaching and culture. Look at Leeds United with Bielsa, some of players struggled to string more than 3 passes together last year and now they're playing it out the back like Barcelona.

Or it's a 46 game slog where jobs and careers are on the line and results are more important than how you play. 

Ahhh the old 'can they do it on a cold, wet and windy night in Stoke' argument.

So lets keep doing the same we've always done. Focus on 'getting a result' against teams we could and should be beating comfortably and then being embarrassed at the World Cups for playing 1960's English football.

I will struggle to find the enthusiasm to watch the final and I usually watch anything.

Well I don’t think anyone should even mention beating Samoa U16’s. 

Was that the whole of Samoa or just the Western half?

And look maybe Declan could coach a team to play tiki taki, and win in the Islands. But until he has would be a bit rich, to criticise NZ age group teams playing more direct over there - if he did criticise them.

Even Ramon’s ACFC teams tend to be a bit more defensive for away Oceania games.

Fair enough on the U16's

No idea on whether whole or half.

These are my thoughts on watching the last couple of age grade teams playing in both qualifying and the tournaments, never said it had anything to do with Declan..

There is defensive and there is lamping the ball into the box hoping for a knock-down.

Thought Declan was involved with Vanuatu or the Solomons in a previous tournament

We haven't dropped a game... scored a decent amount of goals (no 1 - 0 wins) and are missing at least 5 starters... I'm happy enough.

Me too, but the 5 starters is interesting?  Definite in my books  would be Woud,Singh, Cacace, Mcowatt, Ingham( although i would pick Spain ahead of him from what I have seen). 

Is that how you see it?

had forgotten about Ingham but the other names are spot on. Can either Spain or Ingham play on the left?

Wilkins can, if he's the right age.

Spain has no left foot whatsoever.

so now that they've qualified would the selection for U20 World Cup be the biggest pool of talented players we have had to choose from?

Based on experience, then yes hands down.

Hopefully with everyone on board we will see an attractive style of play adopted. A middle of Singh, Bell and Just is quite a tease, by NZ standards.

They playing 4 -2- 3-1 so be interesting to see how the three you mention sit in there.

I also wonder how they refusal to play will impact the future?

I don't think it will matter:

Singh / Carcace / Woud and Ingham: Concentrating on their careers (one of the main goals of age group teams is to get our youngsters playing pro)

Just / Elliot are similar as their training / trials have started during the tournament and by attending they may have had to say no to the opportunity.

Similar things have happened in the past... the only real potnetial implact on selection is those fringe players have now had the chance to stake a clain they may not have got otherwise. Will Ingham get the nod ahead of Spain for example.

I see the Ole puppet is back again pontificating about playing the Declan way. Well I have watched penty of Wests and they have no problems resorting to the long ball, in fact reports show they used it in their recent Chatham Cup game and it was a contributing factor in winning.

Possession football is fine but at times you have to do what you have to especially in knock out games..  

Coached Vanuatu at the last OFC U19s, winning every game except the final.

A little versatility with the truth there.

Mind you, people accept Schmid was "assistant coach at Tottenham in the nineties", so why not.

Ahhh bless,

Whatever has embarrased themselves by admitting they cant tell the difference between balls pumped 'into the mixer' and the very deliberate tactic of drawing the opposition attention by advancing your goalkeeper out of his box whilst quietly having your overlapping fullbacks advance passed the midfield therefore creating an overload out wide which is exploited via a diagonal pass over the oppositions fullback who are now standing on halfway thinking their poorly executed press is going to catch the keeper out.

Google "football tactics for dummies" and see if you cant learn something before opening your mouth next time.

Who is number 7 for us? Looks quality with the ball at his feet and has real pace.

Matt Conroy but you doing well spotting numbers... my feed very poor quality!

1-0 Zwetsloot scores, Conory with a nice assist. 

Hey Phoenix Hater it looks like you have spent ages on google. No doubt you google Declan every day. 

Is Matt Conroy the one trialling at the NIX prior to the tournament?