All Whites, Ferns, and other international teams
PLYMOUTH Argyle could find themselves on a collision course with the New Zealand football authorities over the services of striker Rory Fallon.
The Pilgrims' front-runner scored the goal which gave New Zealand victory over Bahrain in a World Cup qualifying play-off last year, and took the All Whites to this summer's World Cup finals in South Africa.
New Zealand's first friendly game since they booked their ticket to South Africa will be against Mexico in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday, March 3. The match will take place on an official FIFA international date, which means that countries can demand the release of their players by clubs.
The notion of Fallon flying off to the west coast of the United States during that week is unlikely to go down well with Plymouth, however. Argyle face Coca-Cola Championship fixtures on the Saturday before and the Saturday after the midweek international date.
The Pilgrims have an away game at Sheffield United on Saturday, February 27, and a home match against Preston North End on Saturday, March 6. Fallon wants to do all he can to help Argyle pick up points to aid their quest to avoid relegation from the Championship, and he is prepared to miss out on the trip to California to play in the Pasadena Rose Bowl.
When Fallon was asked by the Western Morning News if he expected to have to go to Los Angeles, he replied: "I've told the gaffer [Argyle head coach Paul Mariner] that it's up to him.
"Plymouth is my number one [priority], so it's really his decision. I've put it in his hands. I told him I wouldn't be upset if he didn't let me go, because I know he wants me 100 per cent for the games around that time.
"The problem with friendlies," Fallon added, "is that you can pick up injuries, and I'm not really a friendly type of player! I'm all or nothing, with the way I play."
The potential problem for Fallon and Mariner is that New Zealand may well expect Fallon and their other UK-based players to make the long journey to the United States, however. One of the reasons for choosing to play a friendly in Los Angeles, rather than in New Zealand or somewhere more remote, was the ease of access from the UK.
Ricki Herbert, the All Whites' coach, said: "We have the legal right to bring in the players and, given what we're doing later in the year, it would be in everyone's best interests to make themselves available for this game.
"It's important, given the stature of the game and where we're at," Herbert added. "It's one simple flight, so hopefully we won't have too many objections. We like to think we'd be able to get the full squad."
A final decision on whether or not Fallon crosses the Atlantic in March is unlikely to made until some time next month. For now, the striker is free to concentrate on his club career.
Fallon has been a key part of a Plymouth side who have won their last two Championship fixtures, and have drawn with Newcastle United in the third round of the FA Cup to set up tomorrow's replay on Tyneside. The New Zealander has enjoyed playing for Argyle head coach Paul Mariner.
Fallon believes that Mariner's enthusiasm can help the Pilgrims to climb out of the Championship relegation zone. "He's just one of those positive people that you love to be around," the centre-forward said. "He instils confidence in everyone.
"I haven't heard him say one bad thing about anyone yet, and that's what you need at a club when you're struggling. We're a team, and we're all in this together.
"If we're talking about negatives all the time, it's going to be negative," Fallon added. "If we talk about positives, then everything is going to be positive. That's what he [Mariner] is trying to instil. That's the way I like to do business as well � to be as positive as possible.
"The training has stepped up a level, and everyone is really up for it. You can see that in the performances. The gaffer has done really well in the time [at the helm] he has had."
Its no longer a problem.
Normo's coming home
attempted wind up