New Zealand U-23s - Quali Whites

Football Ted

theprof

Result was nothing less than expected, this team almost feels like we've taken copy of the women's team play book and followed, no attack options, no plan b, just trot out the same old tactic even though we've got to try something different - Bazely out!

Totally agree. This is Phoenix game style all over, which is expected when the majority of the players are Phoenix and the coach is in the Phoenix pocket - let’s stack the defence!  What is needed is a neutral National coach with no Phoenix affiliation, choosing players with creativity- especially needed in the midfield, players who have skill to retain the ball, players who have actually had plenty of game minutes and not sat on the bench (regardless if in Professional clubs or not), players who can keep position and not kick long hoping for ‘some luck’ as Bazely likes to put it. Why didnt we looking at some of our young players who are studying/playing at high levels in US universities or playing for other clubs through Europe. Instead some of these players were chosen who have had very little game time this season. 

nothing like the Nix's style at all, Nix focussed on solid defence and not conceding but utilised pacey counter-attacks. Bazely's tactics have come nowhere near this - besides, Bazely has never been involved with the Nix (as far as I'm aware none of the AW's staff are Nix related) 

jobs for the boys

I want to know which one was in charge of calling clubs about player availability and which one was the tea man 

MetalLegNZ

His club form would argue against this.

Bell was playing in a midfield trio with a guy who couldn't get a game in the German 2nd division and another guy who was an inpact sub in 2nd tier Dutch football 3 months ago and you somehow expect him to match it with the French and American midfields?

Garbett was great on attack for me this tournament, but was very weak tracking back at other times, just like Singh. Bell was doing the donkey work and covered a lot of ground.

Bell is a good solid player, a very solid player by NZ historical standards, but he is not world class as people seem to expect every NZ team player to be. Its not realistic of where we are at as a nation.

Bell was miles off the pace in all three games. He could not keep with with their players on the park and nearly always looked to pass backwards. I think he's found his level and his level is not a high enough standard to be an AW starter or an overage player at the Olympics (not his fault mind).

Half a Pint

I'm happy we put in a better performance today than against the USA - if we'd played like that again it could've been a blood bath.

Sure we still made some errors for the goals, but they weren't as bad mistakes as against USA.

I think we gave away more shots today against France than the other day against USA yet we conceded one less so at least that's something!

Great shot from Bayliss near the end there - would've been a hell of a goal if it the keeper didn't manage to get a hand to it.

Overall we managed to win the one game we thought we had a chance to going into the tournament, so as disappointing as the losses were, and as disappointing as much of our play was, it's good for the young players to get playing time against higher quality opponents than they are used to in OFC tournaments

Hard to say we played better when it was a French second string side and as the commentators rightly picked up, the game was being treated as a training park run around. No one from either team was pushing themselves hard, likely due to the heat. Had France started their best XI, we would have conceded 5+.

I am happy that Baz finally played Bindon in his natural position and tried Sutts at RB. It may not have worked but made so much more sense then what Baz has done with Bindon of late.

I still think the Nix should look at trying to develop one of LKH or Suts into a RB, as neither of them will be leaving the Nix any time soon based on Olympic form.

Good thing that Surman signed his deal when he did or he'd be Wellington bound too. Has had an Olympics to forget.

Marto

I am happy that Baz finally played Bindon in his natural position and tried Sutts at RB. It may not have worked but made so much more sense then what Baz has done with Bindon of late.

I still think the Nix should look at trying to develop one of LKH or Suts into a RB, as neither of them will be leaving the Nix any time soon based on Olympic form.

Good thing that Surman signed his deal when he did or he'd be Wellington bound too. Has had an Olympics to forget.

There is rumoured overseas interest in LK-H, and that really shouldn't surprise.

He's big at 1.98m, but quick, left footed and some good ball skills. Not that common. Clubs will be looking at those physical attributes and be thinking we can turn him into a quality left CB. Or yeah leave him at LB. 

He could already suit a league like the MLS with it's large playing fields and wide open spaces. Jake Girdwood-Reich, Lachlan Brook, Surman, Bovalina, Yazbek (via Norway) - young ALM players popular Stateside at the moment.

And we all hope Sheridan can be that quality Nix RB, from the glimpses we have seen so far. He'll get opportunities this season.

Payne back to CB this year perhaps, with Sheridan out at RB, or Hughes at CB, with Sheridan understudy to Payne?

Who’s the LB cover? Payne won’t play full games and will get injured. I don’t trust him at CB playing out. I enjoyed not hearing from Wootton and the job getting done compared to constantly hearing Payne celebrating line clearances. 

Tze-Xuan Loke from the Academy, can play both sides and will go close to a scholarship deal this season. Captained NZ U19s in a few of their games, recent OFC tourney.

LK-H has 3 years to go on his current contract. Will have to be a sizeable transfer for Nix to let him go now, and yeah they will need to also be confident in backups for Sutton.

I give us a C+ from this tournament.

Nice to beat Guinea and get one more win than expected (with a bit of luck and Paulsen mastery to be fair), but the USA performance was extremely disappointing and France improved from that but still pretty easy sailing for our opposition.

I like Joe Bell. It's true that he isn't quick. So playing two high wide wing backs in a back four and therefore giving him a lot of lateral space to cover made life difficult for him. Bindon is more suited to being a holding, central right full back than an overlapper, so I thought that this would be a logical setup with Bayliss providing the right-sided width.

I think it's a myth that Bell's career or form has fallen away badly. He struggled  for game time in his last season at Brondby, but they were specifically looking for somone different to him. Someone who more played that forward killer pass. More assists. Not so much his game.

Anyway he's back at that moderately lower level in Norway, which is probably still a bit higher quality than the ALM. And he's playing bloody well there, just as Rufer (who he's most often compared to) had a great last season in the ALM.

They are both leaders, and there is room for both of them in an AWs squad, especially with Lewis's career for the moment, and maybe long term at a halt. Though Roofs may along with most of the A League guys miss out on the September USA tour with those still players in pre season.

Edit - for some rough measure of the Norwegian league note one of the better teams there Molde (well in season) beating a mid level Danish side in McCowatt's Silkeborg (yes in early season mode), over 2 legs in the Europa League qualifiers.

Any news on the team's return from Paris? Really keen to see Paulsen, Surman et al settled into their new clubs

Why it always football? Here in France the Olympic tournament has been a tremendous example of global fraternity. Fans and competitors from all nations have bonded under the Olympic spirit. Except in football. There have already been a few examples of bad behavior, the worse being the Moroccan fans throwing bottles and cans and then invading the pitch causing a two hour delay. And now the France vs Argentina has ended in a brawl. Sometimes you have to wonder why football generates such moronic behavior. There have been calls to kick football out of the Olympics. I would agree to that.

austin111

Why it always football? Here in France the Olympic tournament has been a tremendous example of global fraternity. Fans and competitors from all nations have bonded under the Olympic spirit. Except in football. There have already been a few examples of bad behavior, the worse being the Moroccan fans throwing bottles and cans and then invading the pitch causing a two hour delay. And now the France vs Argentina has ended in a brawl. Sometimes you have to wonder why football generates such moronic behavior. There have been calls to kick football out of the Olympics. I would agree to that.

I think those keen on the Olympics are generally not keen on football and vice-versa. There are a few other Olympic sports that shouldn't be there either really (surfing, 7s, handball, 3 aside Bball, and dance to name a few).

These new “sports” are aimed towards a younger demographic so as to keep the Olympics relevant. I struggle with many of these new ones but at least the biggies are still there.

Marto

austin111

Why it always football? Here in France the Olympic tournament has been a tremendous example of global fraternity. Fans and competitors from all nations have bonded under the Olympic spirit. Except in football. There have already been a few examples of bad behavior, the worse being the Moroccan fans throwing bottles and cans and then invading the pitch causing a two hour delay. And now the France vs Argentina has ended in a brawl. Sometimes you have to wonder why football generates such moronic behavior. There have been calls to kick football out of the Olympics. I would agree to that.

I think those keen on the Olympics are generally not keen on football and vice-versa. There are a few other Olympic sports that shouldn't be there either really (surfing, 7s, handball, 3 aside Bball, and dance to name a few).

What’s the “dance” sport?

break dance (breaking)

theprof

break dance (breaking)

The yin to the yan of horse dressage.

austin111

Why it always football? Here in France the Olympic tournament has been a tremendous example of global fraternity. Fans and competitors from all nations have bonded under the Olympic spirit. Except in football. There have already been a few examples of bad behavior, the worse being the Moroccan fans throwing bottles and cans and then invading the pitch causing a two hour delay. And now the France vs Argentina has ended in a brawl. Sometimes you have to wonder why football generates such moronic behavior. There have been calls to kick football out of the Olympics. I would agree to that.

Get rid of mens tbh, I know its a good opportunity for us but it's nonsense to have Olympic medals on the line for an U23 tournament.

Absolutely keep the womens tournament and don't make it U23 though - that is actually good.

Marto

austin111

Why it always football? Here in France the Olympic tournament has been a tremendous example of global fraternity. Fans and competitors from all nations have bonded under the Olympic spirit. Except in football. There have already been a few examples of bad behavior, the worse being the Moroccan fans throwing bottles and cans and then invading the pitch causing a two hour delay. And now the France vs Argentina has ended in a brawl. Sometimes you have to wonder why football generates such moronic behavior. There have been calls to kick football out of the Olympics. I would agree to that.

I think those keen on the Olympics are generally not keen on football and vice-versa. There are a few other Olympic sports that shouldn't be there either really (surfing, 7s, handball, 3 aside Bball, and dance to name a few).

You can include Break Dancing, Golf, Skateboarding, Tennis, Beach Volleyball, Ballroom Dancing - all sports that either are or wanted to be Olympic sports - oh & Online gaming too.

I don’t think the bone in the throat was felt just at the football. 

There was a highly offensive racist chant against the French players of African descent by the Argentinian men’s team, the French Federation filed an official complaint, and while the sport’s under secretary in Argentina originally said he’d look into it, as Fernandez apologised, he was then overruled by the Vice President who turned it into a culture war issue and increased the ill feeling.

There was anti-Argentine feeling at the rugby, the handball and other sports. It’s a highly provocative official stance and not one football can be blamed for. 

martinb

I don’t think the bone in the throat was felt just at the football. 

There was a highly offensive racist chant against the French players of African descent by the Argentinian men’s team, the French Federation filed an official complaint, and while the sport’s under secretary in Argentina originally said he’d look into it, as Fernandez apologised, he was then overruled by the Vice President who turned it into a culture war issue and increased the ill feeling.

There was anti-Argentine feeling at the rugby, the handball and other sports. It’s a highly provocative official stance and not one football can be blamed for. 

I wonder what's up with the French V Argentina ill feelings?

I think the ill feeling goes back to the 2022 WC final. The Argies were pretty ungracious winners, lots of online stuff mocking Mbappe etc. Him and Messi both at PSG at the time 

As I think Dolores said racism happens alot more in countries like Argentina than we see at home nowadays. A few years back I was in BA, in a type of dairy on a Friday night. Nth Korea must have been topical at the time as a drunken suit comes in and loudly compares the Asian shop owner to Supreme Leader Kim. It went on for like 10 mins

Unlike a lot of Sth American countries Argentina I don’t think ever had many slaves,  so if there are any people of African descent there, definitely a very small number. Chile meanwhile now has a big number of Haitians for some reason. A society is more likely to not call out racism towards a race if it has zero people of that race within its borders

It’s true there has been bad blood between France and Argentina for a while. It started even before  the WC when Mpappe said a European team would win the WC because South American countries were crap. This infuriated the SA countries who have a long proud tradition in the competition. But it has really kicked off after Enzo Fernando posted a racist anti French chant involving some members of the Argentina senior team on social media. FIFA could have nipped this in the bud by punishing Fernandez and his team mates. A long ban would have been appropriate and would have eased tensions. However they did nothing so it’s continued to fester. It’s unfortunate to see the French public boo and whistle any Argentine competitors at the Olympics. The Argentine Olympic athletes are not responsible for the stupid behavior of some of their footballers.