New Zealand Men's U-20s

Does the common phrase still apply to NZF?  - "shoot yourself in the foot".

Kind of wonder if Hudson had a hand in this ...

You would think so

He probably can't understand his German accent. I can't and I have been at Bays since I was 6

I could never understand how Willy ever got a job with our international sides. His appointment was one of the worst I had seen at NZ level and thank god he has been shifted on. Having dealt with him at a coaching level and seen him working close hand I was amazed that someone with such an archaic approach was ever appointed. 

He should never have had the job in the first place, thats the error. 

Emblem is a far better coach, his sessions are light years ahead of Willy's. 

I won't argue that Emblen is a better coach but I disagree with the rest.

Agreed with when you say Emblem is a better coach but I am the same as Jeff the rest is a bit of bollocks

I heard a rumour at Kiwitea St today that the reason why he was gassed was that he had been caught saying something he should not have and it was reported back. Pretty rough info so make of that what you will.

This sort of thing is de rigueur for a NZ team when we are hosting a FIFA World Cup.

Remember that NZ Soccer dumped Wynton Rufer as head coach the year before the u-17 World Cup in 1999 and replaced him with Fallon.

There was even a court battle leading up to the 1999 tournament between NZ Soccer (as it was known then) and a chap who said they had promised him to be CEO of the tournament.

Welcome, sir.

Methinks you are the legendary Alf Stamp, Scottish-born former All White and Hamilton and Eastern Suburbs national league player of the 1970's?

Someone who for me previously only existed in match reports and photos.

A legend!

Great days:

http://muirpark.weebly.com/hamilton-afc-1970s.html

Alf played three seasons in Scotland with Queen's Park and Partick Thistle before joining Caversham then Hamilton. His 6' 4'' frame and unorthodox style made him a great drawcard

Scored the first national league hat trick by a Hamilton/Waikato player, v his old club, Caversham, in 1977. And then did it again versus North Shore later that year.

Once, having been criticised for not scoring enough with his head despite his height, he dribbled through a defence at Muir Park, and then dived down into the mud to head the ball over the line.

Hamilton's player of the year in 1977 - pipping Keith Nelson.

Scored 12 goals in total for Hamilton in 1977 and 1978, before being sacked by 1978 coach Kevin Fallon - who was them himself sacked. Stamp went to Eastern Suburbs, where he scored a further national league hatrick."

I wonder when they name the next squad. Surely they will be going somewhere before the world cup for some preparation (to be honest, I'd be surprised if they don't have warm-up games here?)

Who knows what NZ Soccer thinks. New Interims coach Emblem was sacked before. from NZ Soccer. I Listened to a Radio interview with Gerdsen on Live Sport today - hard how the have done him. Good to hear that Gerdsen  is going for his UEFA Pro Licence  

could Patrick do his word replacement magic on the s-word and make it football?  just curious...

Association Football - who gives?,as long as NZ win

yeah i know the heritage - i just don't like the s-word - but agree it's no big deal.

Anyone have a link to interview or can précis what he said?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=willy+gerdsen+radio+live

I suspect Willy will know exactly why he has been dumped but is not saying anything.

Great draw for the 20's roll on May!!

Serbia, Mynamar and the U S of A. 

Excellent draw all things considered. Mynamar would be considered minows...at home we have a good chance of three points. Serbia will be a tough, talented side and should top the pool. The USA?  who know. But the kiwi lads have a great shot of getting out of the first round. A lot will depend on home down advantage. At least we have avoided the South American big guns and Germany.

These tournaments often have some unexpected results. Some sides don't travel well. June in NZ will be cold wet and windy. I don't expect much form the African sides, Europe is weak except for Germany.....it will be a South American win

Sorry its Ukraine...who are not as good as Serbia.....so things look even better for the kiwis

Looks like Wellington gets Pool B games....so we get to see Argentina, Panama, African side and Austria. Will be great for Wellies as there will be loads of Argies here to support their team

Wellington also gets NZ vs Mynamar....Friday 5th June at 1900.  Should pull in a big crowd on a Friday night.

Taranaki gets Brazil...FFS poor bastards....at least for the Brazilian supporters New Plymouth will remind them of Rio....LOL

Umm... they eliminated England from their Euro group.

You're suggesting that England are good?

Would never do that.

An interesting scout report for the USA team. http://www.socceramerica.com/article/62563/scoutin...

I think the older lads in Stevens, Tuiloma and Edge will be our key players. However I have always though Adam Mitchell is a talented centre back.  

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/312961

some of the future south American stars on their way here!

Emblen's assistant coaching gig now permanent.

see www.stuff.co.nz latest.

Why is M .den  Heijer playing for Auckland City and not for the U20/Wanderers ?

Good enough for City and not good enough for the Wanderers ?

He looked too slow for ACFCs set up today.

Yeah wasn't overly impressed with him but, to be fair, he didn't have a great deal of time!

Aree it was ugly match by then. Waitakere were rubbish. They could have played another 90 and not had a shot on goal.

Guess he returned here after the Japanese premier u-18 league finished and he was too old to continue for the Kashiwa u-18's?

Probably not offered a place with Kashiwa's u-21's or pro terms?

Seems to have done okay with his team in Japan, Kashiwa Reysol u-18 winning the eastern conference and making the national u-18 league final:

http://kiwibreeze.jp/5624/

http://web.gekisaka.jp/news/detail/?152640-152640-...

Been asked who are NZ's top 3 under 20 prospects and it has been bugging me all day. I really cant decide. I think Tuiloma would be a shoe in but who would you guys rate as NZ's top 3 from the under 20's? 

You mean born after 01/01/1995 so qualify for the U-20 squad?

I'm guessing Oli Sail, Rufer, Ridenton, Monty Patterson, Bill Tuiloma, Deklan Wynne all in the mix. Jesse Edge perhaps.

Plenty more on these forums who are more knowledgeable about the age-group players than me though.

Tuiloma, Wynne and Ridenton

Yeah I agree with those names, id only include Mitchell and Cory Brown. 

Why not Monty Patterson, Vader?