I cant see the justification in keeping Steven out of the NZ u23's squad and the inclusion of Draper in there when he hasnt even been playing for a substantial time. Steven H has an excellent scoring rate and isnt that what NZ football misses?
Great also to see Steven and Aaron Scott performing week in and week out for their winter club of choice -Melville. Always great too see real club people returning to where they feel comfortable.
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I didn't think Steven Holloway was young enough. If he is thats a big mistake by NZ Football. Holloway or Messem.............
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Just ticked over 23. Would have made him 22 on Jan 1 right so is thus eligible?
Maybe he didn't want to go (some players are like that but I doubt that in this case)
Maybe he didn't want to go (some players are like that but I doubt that in this case)
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I am sure he was eligible ....seems to make a mockery of players that can score goals not being prevelant in the nz set-up, when we have one that can doesnt get picked...
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Hello. Steve was eligible. He was a non-travelling reserve for the Fiji trip (though travelled there as part of his job to report on the games, perversely.)
I think he was fully expecting to miss out, given that Shane Smeltz and Chris Killen were always touted as squad likelys.
What was disappointing from Steve's perspective was, that when he was setting all-time goalscoring records with Monmouth in New Jersey, people wrote it off (unfairly, in my opinion) as being in a crap competition. He needed to prove himself in NZ.
He came back to NZ, won the golden boot at Melville despite only playing 11 matches (and people wrote it off as crap northern league).
He missed the start of the national league through injury, but still scored nine goals from 14 games to be the highest scoring U23 kiwi in the league by some margin, despite playing for a struggling team.
He has proved himself at every level he has played at, but still been overlooked.
Selecting players is a subjective business. The only thing fans can question is whether the selectors have got it right.
Probably someone in the media has to ask Stu Jacobs & Co the obvious question about why New Zealand's top U23 striker in the national league was overlooked for the U23 squad.
But for obvious reasons that can't be me. And the Waikato media is way off the pace at present.
cheers.
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Thanks for your comments Bruce.
Based on everyones opinion and facts, it sounds like Steven should have been selected. I guess my only thoughts and questions are below:
Ignoring the bits about the older strikers; Killen and Smeltz. As they were not in the squads for the qualifiers either. So was Steve overlooked by what other players? Daniel Ellensohn, Draper and Costa?
I think the real question is should Steven be there in front of Ellensohn? My point being that given we have another chance of the 2009 U20's Worldcup. Having Costa and Draper who have both been training full time for the last year plus there experience at the U17 world cup and now the Olympics. It is a great opportunity for them to really pay there rewards to NZ soccer at the u20's world cup next year.
I think they are just thinking about developing the young talent as well. Not necessarily about taking the best team. I guess also there is a bit of politics in there. i.e. It is better for Ricki if Draper and Costa go to the olympics, it gives them some top level game time and experience that will help them develop at the phoenix.
Not sure if any my comments make sense? just my thoughts.
If we build it, they will come...
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Should have been in ahead of Messam, no question.
And also ahead of Draper, who may have been groomed for everything, but by all accounts was well off the pace in fiji.
Pick on form is always a good policy
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I would always have picked Draper, Ellensohn was the one who should have missed out for Steven Holloway. He's very mediocre.
Nix, Leyton Orient and Alloa Athletic supporting schmuck.
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Its hard to argue against Ellensohn (objectively) when he was an All White squad member this year. Ricki could have chosen Holloway for the All Whites (was he in the country) but didn't I'm assuming because Ellensohn was based in Wellington and Ricki would have seen him frequently, that would have counted for him.
Combine the fact of being in an All White squad with his franchise coach being the U23 coach then thats why he got chosen (rightly or wrongly). The stats are favourable for young Steven tho...
Combine the fact of being in an All White squad with his franchise coach being the U23 coach then thats why he got chosen (rightly or wrongly). The stats are favourable for young Steven tho...
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