The football has been meh, but we have looked largely untroubled in both games. That's not always the case, and given the 2nd 11 feel to this squad that's not to be sneezed at.
Refs and heat level the playing field as usual, although the quality of the pitch is much improved.
I think in general the islands are getting better, just not as quickly as us.
Refs and heat level the playing field as usual, although the quality of the pitch is much improved.
I think in general the islands are getting better, just not as quickly as us.
I've only seen the 2 AWs games, and small amounts of Fiji verus Tahiti plus SI verus Vanuatu.
I don't really think they are getting better at all. 2-5 passes, then hoof it forward, or try a low percentage pass which never comes off. No real evidence of some tactical plan to move it around, movements into space etc. Reliant on some piece of individual skill to create something.
Watching the crowd in Port Vila has been the most interesting vision so far.
Hopefully the Island teams will get better (I not optimstic they will) and them getting some more higher level friendlies like PNG & Vanuatu got in March will help. But those games are only planned to be every even numbered year, ie biennial in the March window.
AWs I think have looked good, esp the 2nd game against the hosts. No better than we should expect, and helped by scoring early in both games, to take some wind out of the opponent's sails. But yeah they have done the job in their 2 games to date. Bazeley has coached plenty of under age teams in the Islands, so he likely has some good nous & planning on what's required.
But yeah will be interesting how it goes if AWs don't score early in either semi or final. Might unfold a bit differently, but really it's hard to see them really troubled at all. Thankfully we have the Olympics around the corner to get a bit more excited about.