This was the final 22 man squad for the March games (Egypt & Tunisia).
Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Oli Sail
Defenders: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Dane Ingham, Lukas Kelly-Heald, Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, Finn Surman
Midfielders: Matt Garbett, Clayton Lewis, Callum McCowatt, Ben Old, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic, Alex Rufer (injury replacement)
Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Elijah Just, Max Mata, Ben Waine
Tim Payne, Joe Bell & Chris Wood all pulled out of the initial selection due to injury. Rufer added in
Tim Payne, Joe Bell & Chris Wood all pulled out of the initial selection due to injury. Rufer added in
A guess at the OFC Nations Cup squad
24 man Squad
Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Henry Gray
Defenders: Matt Sheridan, Tim Payne, Tyler Bindon, Bill Tuiloma, Finn Surman, Issac Hughes, Lukas Kelly-Heald, Liberato Cacace
Midfielders: Matt Dibley-Dias, Matt Garbett, Ben Old, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic, Alex Rufer, Fin Conchie
Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Callum McCowatt, Eli Just, Ben Waine, Max Mata, Oscar Van Hattum
So changes from March -
Ins - Gray, Payne, Tuiloma, Hughes, Sheridan, Dibley-Dias, Conchie, OVH
Outs - Sail, M Boxall, Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, Ingham, Lewis
Not available club commitments - M Boxall, Bell & Kees Sims
Others who's availability could be uncertain - Crocombe (a long L1 season), Cacace (Empoli may say Nations Cup or Olympics not both), Tuiloma, Dibley-Dias, Singh (see Cacace)
After initially agruing the AWs should pick the strongest squad available I've come around to the idea, of bringing in alot of the U23 guys, who will likely go to France. So treating this tourney as prep for Paris. I was wrong, others were right.
Though I was very tempted to bring in, the in form Andre de Jong instead of OVH. But it's already a pretty experienced forward line, so room for a youngster.
Tuiloma I've just guessed that Charlotte will agree to release him, as barring CB injuries he doesn't really seem part of their plans. If he's unavailable maybe you bring in another attacker like Greive or ADJ. The Jets' Lachlan Bayliss an option as I reckon he's in the Olympics mix.
Jay Herdman I've decided to leave with Vancouver, as he seems close to a full MLS deal. If Dibley-Dias doesn't want to be cap tied at this tourney (or is a bit afraid of reinjuring his knee on a dodgy Vanuatu field), speak to the Whitecaps and maybe call up Herdman (who of course had his own ACL injury last year).
Who knows Joe Bell might want to play. Still a long way to go in the Norwegian season.
Picking green Matt Sheridan seems like cheapening the AWs shirt abit (same Gray, Conchie & OVH), but RB continues to be a problem at all levels of NZ mens football it seems. And from what I can see he's never been to big world stages (U17 or U20 World Cups), so he goes for the development experience. So when he gets to the Olympics he won't be completely overwhelmed. Train, watch & learn. He does look highly promising.
But yeah wouldn't surprise if someone like Ingham or Roux went instead. Payne & Bindon (as above) you'd expect to play RB.
Only chosen Gray as 3rd GK ahead of Sims, as Sims is in season in Sweden. Either could be Paulsen's backup in France. It's hardly important as one will be in the 18 man squad, the other there anyway as a travelling reserve.
If Jack Iredale is ever eligible I'd love to see him get a callup, as that left footed CB that Hay & now Baze seem to love.
Hopefully it's no Horror in Honiara, or nervous Port Moresby final win on pens. Libby & Rufer as match day captains.