I think it has the potential to be a complete disaster. Even the likes of Rogerson are likely to prefer to trial in Europe as clubs come back for pre-season training than head to Apia for a tournament that has no real meaning or impact.
Assuming it's an Under-23 side as that is Buckingham's gig -
Will the Nix let players go when they are only just starting training? Will the other A-League sides? Is anyone taking winter off between NZFC seasons going to be match fit?
No one is coming home from further overseas you would think, apart from maybe US college footballers who I think are on Summer break currently. US-League and MLS players aren't likely to risk starting spots to come home for it.
Solomons have the Phoenix Scots College wunderkind and Lea'afala and Fiji have Roy. We might have um... and er...
Yes good points. Be very interesting to see then who is in the team.
Looks like we could be out of our depth like you say, but still a chance for some fringe players to have an opportunity to step up, as we are going to be facing similar availability issues come the Olympic qualifiers later in the year. Better for Buckingham to have a look at those fringe players now then when it really matters come qualification time.