New Zealand U-23s - Quali Whites

Well, I was just speculating  - no one will ever understand the thinking behind the selection of NZ age group teams...

It even remains a mystery to me as to whether Ridenton is any good - he didn't pay enough for the Phoenix first team last season and was injured for a while. Did he show much for the Weenix in the ASB?

Maybe he'll go on to prove Hudson wrong by having a good career, maybe he won't....

Still, it'll be fascinating to see how things unfold in PNG the next few weeks.

Ricki's revenge? Doesn't bear thinking about.

Nah, many countries don't call up their best u-23 players or don't get them released.

Look at the UEFA qualifying this week (ridiculously called an "u-21" tournament but players can be up to 23)

People in England have been complaining for years that their u-21 team doesn't get the best players released by clubs.

Germany u-21 obviously couldn't select any of their u-20 players who were in NZ.

The England u-21 team that crashed out of the Olympic qualifying this week was missing many of England's best players like Sterling, Barkley, Wilshire, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Shaw, Zaha etc.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-...

"As the Italian goals went in to confirm another early England exit from the European Under 21 Championship, a familiar feeling began to gnaw.

Just exactly why were the very best players available at this age group not competing?

We have heard the arguments about team unity and understand the exacting stances of clubs on their assets...."

All except one of Italy's players vs. England were established Serie A players - only four of England's were EPL regulars.

Italy didn't qualify either - but finished above England.

Sweden who have qualified for the Olympics included eleven players with senior caps; Denmark ten.

The German team failed to get several top players from German clubs released  - Bayern wouldn't release any at all - and only just made the Olympics after winning one group game and drawing two.

Wow just wow! I really do not understand some of these selecrtions. How on earth can someone (Luka) not make the U20  team but less then a month later make the U23 team?? The mind boggles!!

I'm also alarmed in that it appears Moses Dyer is being groomed as NZ future midfielder. The World a up showed just how big of a step it was for him (as a 1997) and was one of our poorest performers during the competition...oh wait he played every single minute??

No Tim Payne (Timberwolves Reserves) and No Howieson (released) both players with senior AW caps and experience not in the squad is alarming - I can understand Ryan Thomas not being released - especially the monumental task both on and off the pitch in PNG.

With no previous experience in the islands in going to be interested in seeing Hudson approach to the games and wether he insists the team play his "high pressing, direct and aggressive football" with the rigorous schedule, the conditions, the opposition and officials...all this plus the very strange make up of this group could be recipe for disaster!!

#Alignment

At least we have players at pro clubs! I bet Fiji and Vanuatu would love to have players making their way in the wider footballing world!

we have what we have and my bet is that it will be far to strong for any of the island nations! I agree that they will find it hard playing a high tempo game out there but they will have to adapt to suit the conditions.

We have a very strong squad (apart from Luca who I thought was no more than pedestrian against Western Springs last week) and I am confident they will do enough although I also agree it will be probably harder than the squad expect..

For all the questionable selections the bigger issue is what a joke OFC is holding a tournament like this in a compressed timeframe in PNG.  Like the all new O-League, like Honiara.

As long as there is money for David Chung's ego stroking presidents cup, fudge having a credible and professionally run qualifying process for major tournamants.

Absolute farce. Wouldn't happen in any other confederation anywhere in the world

Baze and Snr had a bust up told not to bother

Plus, NZ is not on the Oceania exec.

Is a very us vs them relationship isn't it? Toxic. 

Sure, but it's about political influence. NZ is an alluring destination, The sell is something like, "Opportunity to be scouted by A league club, holiday in NZ, connect with family maybe, probably cheaper to fly to Auckland than Port Moresby, great facilities etc." But if we're not at the table....no chance. Just as OFC will never agitate to FIFA for an East Asian conference while Chung has the top job. 

Is the OFC going to broadcast these games?

This is kind of a head scratcher. Was Ricki ever this off his rocker?

Brad Scottesque

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/football-soccer/news/art...

If we fail in PNG which is highly likely, will Hudson fall on his sword or will he do a Gareth Southgate/Rick Herbert and pretend nothing happened?

Saw him play as well. Big strong, but technically a little better than Lia IMO

seems to be lacking goal scorers.

Relying on Rogerson.

This is Hudson's first real test. He is now expected to deliver results by winning this tournament.

He has rightly been given free reign and there has been plenty of posturing, talking and aligning. I wish him and the  team all the best however, excuses will not be acceptable

Joke! Yeah, I know.......... But still..........

Who have we got? I mean who have we got? Who?

Watson? Norku?

defo missing an out n out striker.. Boyd would fill the void but not there.. They will struggle in front of goal whoch might be the down fall.. 

it is odd that in his alignment speeches, he constantly mentioned how we have a lot of players who are 'only' playing at A league and ASBP level. Yet in this squad he has left out a fair few players who are playing at a decent level overseas. 

You'd think their clubs aren't willing to release them because of the competition format. 

which defenders do we have at a pro level that have not been picked?

Jesse Edge

I can't understand why everybody is so worried here, even if Hudson hasn't picked the best, we still have a pretty decent squad, at least better than the Islands teams. I'm only worried about the lack of strikers but I guess it will be enough if just one of them gets to score a couple of goals. Micronesia, New Caledonia and Tahiti can't qualify for the Olympics so we only have four contenders. I would say the tougher will be Fiji (with some good players from their U20 World Cup campaing like Verevou, Waqa, Hughes) and PNG just because they are hosts but I can't see them defeating this team. 

The gap between us and the island teams has narrowed. The Australians made this sort of mistake twice a number of years ago, 1998 and then in 2002 when they decided they would only need to use home based players to beat NZ. 

Hello, I see Liam Higgins has been named in the squad. Liam didn't manage much game time at all over the summer with Waibop (Craig Wylie took over at left back), so I guess his call-up surprised me. But wondered if anybody can update me what he has been doing over winter?

grrr

He left Waibop to have his knee operated on again, came back from 5months out in April

Tks for that, Bogan. Good to hear.

We need to get over this! Howieson, Payne not available, Gulley (no idea), Vale (Really!), Biss (injured - was at trials but pulled out), Ridenton/Mitchell/Edge (did you watch the world cup - all dropped), McKendry/Watson (no idea)

We have a strong squad and should prevail. The conditions and lack of quality strikers may be an issue but should still do a job!

I think the number of u20's in the squad is a surprise for the reason that Hudson has said this Olympic Team is likely to be his shadow All Whites. While the u20's were credible at the recent tournament there are a few of them that I don't think have the physical maturity or tactical awareness to play at this higher level right now. 

There is a big difference between playing against a bunch of 18-20 year olds at home and playing against 20-23 year olds away. 

If the pitches become like what they did after the Honiara campaign with so many games in a condensed period the games will rely more on goal poaches and ball winners rather than quick technical players. So I can see why, in addition to club reasons, Thomas and Boyd weren't selected.

How Dyer makes the team is beyond me. He was the weakest player at the u20 tournament. Gives the ball away, plays back into congested areas rather than using his body to open out etc etc. If he is starting I will be concerned.

For the last Olympic cycle we had Wood, Rojas. Kosta, Smith etc. This team will have comparable players to Kosta and Smith in Thomas (assuming we qualify)  and Tuiloma but we really are missing a dynamic 10 and strong 9. 

Hudson has talked about a lack of players aged 25-30. It looks like he is saying the same for our 20-23 year olds..,