AucklandPhoenix wrote: You need to stop the victim mentality.
It’s an article about Declan Edge and his contribution to NZ.
Sure. But he’s also been an aggro dickhead with a bunch of people, iirc.
And there’s no need for the writer to be snippy with the Nix by comparison. It’s an unnecessary snarky sentence and a weak shot at the Nix’s contribution to NZ Football. It’s a conclusion on the article: Declan rules, Nix suck btw.laterz!
The sentence is there. It’s not necessary, but Edgelord seems to be a messianic and aggressive with football that isn’t his or doesn’t have his permission.
Last time we made a World Cup we did because of the cohesion of a Nix coach and a Nix supporting cast. None of Declan’s disciples have got us further since then.
And as Procrastinixing points out we’ve contributed plenty of players and helped employ plenty too, who’ve taken careers elsewhere and to the WC.
Perhaps as well as not having a victim mentality, paying the Nix their due (or just not mentioning them if, as you say they’re not the topic) and not being a bitch about the club constantly could also be an option for several people involved?
Edit: re-reading it, even though Declan is prickly and there’s been a lot of Auckland fandom crapping on us taken as truth, the quote at the end is not so much knocking the Nix, but pointing out how unusual and exceptional that one team was amongst the history of teams in New Zealand for producing professional players. The rates of success from academies is usually low, with the Nix academy given as an expectation of a normal football team, and this team, hitting its stride now, was phenomenal. Most likely by international standards too.
Yes, sad for Matt Garbett. Logan Rogerson another A League player to give the A League attention in the World Cup. I hope Matt gets an All Whites game as soon as can be after the World Cup.
I guess 0 minutes for Kosta this tournament too. Where's all his fans now (can they apologise when I said both him and Smith shouldn't be in the squad) or is he another ex nix boy that can do nothing wrong and are taking spots over better players.
insane, Smith wont get on the field before Bindon or any of the other CB's. out of curiosity who would you have picked ahead of Kosta who gets minutes?
What are you talking about? We’ve been weak with our strikers behind Wood for 3-4 years.
Kosta earned the right to be there. Mostly by Ben Waine not being better. You can question perhaps not taking OPP or say is it Gibson as a development project. But Kosta is our next best 9 after Wood and led the line when we beat Chile. Playing zero minutes doesn’t mean the selection was wrong.
Here Wood clearly has said he wants to play every minute possible. Kosta isn’t as good as Wood, and Woodsy isn’t injured. Hence zero minutes.
Smith is a weird choice. But equally if he was Stanger or Tuiloma, it’s very very unlikely we’d have seen them today. We hardly got the subs who we know could have changed things, let alone the last chance saloon options.
theprof wrote: insane, Smith wont get on the field before Bindon or any of the other CB's. out of curiosity who would you have picked ahead of Kosta who gets minutes?
well out of curiosity I think Piper could have got more minutes than Kosta. This is a World Cup and your best 26 should go.
Kosta and Smith both shouldn't have been selected and both just feel like a thank you for your service to NZ Football gift and none fit the Jordan Henderson mould of coming on with 10 to go to calm things down and protect a lead. Your right too with Smith and I forgot Pijnaker existed.
btw Smith and Kosta have not been mentioned at all during both games and proves why FIFA should go back to 23 men squads.
theprof wrote: insane, Smith wont get on the field before Bindon or any of the other CB's. out of curiosity who would you have picked ahead of Kosta who gets minutes?
well out of curiosity I think Piper could have got more minutes than Kosta. This is a World Cup and your best 26 should go.
Kosta and Smith both shouldn't have been selected and both just feel like a thank you for your service to NZ Football gift and none fit the Jordan Henderson mould of coming on with 10 to go to calm things down and protect a lead. Your right too with Smith and I forgot Pijnaker existed.
btw Smith and Kosta have not been mentioned at all during both games and proves why FIFA should go back to 23 men squads.
Piper - wth!!! Never mention him in the same sentece as...
The AWs. IMO he is barely, probably not even ALM standard, let alone WC level.
In one sense this has been our best World Cup easily.
We’ve played football, created and nearly created some great goals.
We’ve lead, so far, 3 times in our games.
But sadly, our capitulation today and our failure to use our squad depth will probably mask the distance we’ve come. Perhaps as it should.
Piper’s time may and will come if he continues to improve his game. He had a good goal contribution return last season.
There’s been a lot of scapegoating: Payney, Crocombe, Bell, Boxall, Woodsy… That’s really not the point. I don’t think there’s any major selection issue. They all did their job, twice, and we should have called for the cavalry starting from halftime, even. We came up against an opposition that shut us down much better than Iran did, but we still found a path to goal and held out the first half.
But after two intense games we were mentally and in some cases physically drained.
observerfromuh wrote: I guess 0 minutes for Kosta this tournament too. Where's all his fans now (can they apologise when I said both him and Smith shouldn't be in the squad) or is he another ex nix boy that can do nothing wrong and are taking spots over better players.
Every post of yours I've seen recently is an exceptionally tough read, some truly embarrassing stuff
theprof wrote: insane, Smith wont get on the field before Bindon or any of the other CB's. out of curiosity who would you have picked ahead of Kosta who gets minutes?
well out of curiosity I think Piper could have got more minutes than Kosta. This is a World Cup and your best 26 should go.
Kosta and Smith both shouldn't have been selected and both just feel like a thank you for your service to NZ Football gift and none fit the Jordan Henderson mould of coming on with 10 to go to calm things down and protect a lead. Your right too with Smith and I forgot Pijnaker existed.
btw Smith and Kosta have not been mentioned at all during both games and proves why FIFA should go back to 23 men squads.
Piper - wth!!! Never mention him in the same sentece as...
The AWs. IMO he is barely, probably not even ALM standard, let alone WC level.
Corban Piper "probably not even A League standard". What a snobby entitled take. He's not as well rounded at close control of the ball as some other NZ players, but he's shown hard running and pressing and scored in 2 A League seasons. Yes others will get into the All Whites over him, like Garbett, McGarry, Owen Parker Price, Luke Brooke Smith later, but you are being too harsh.
theprof wrote: insane, Smith wont get on the field before Bindon or any of the other CB's. out of curiosity who would you have picked ahead of Kosta who gets minutes?
well out of curiosity I think Piper could have got more minutes than Kosta. This is a World Cup and your best 26 should go.
Kosta and Smith both shouldn't have been selected and both just feel like a thank you for your service to NZ Football gift and none fit the Jordan Henderson mould of coming on with 10 to go to calm things down and protect a lead. Your right too with Smith and I forgot Pijnaker existed.
btw Smith and Kosta have not been mentioned at all during both games and proves why FIFA should go back to 23 men squads.
Piper - wth!!! Never mention him in the same sentece as...
The AWs. IMO he is barely, probably not even ALM standard, let alone WC level.
Corban Piper "probably not even A League standard". What a snobby entitled take. He's not as well rounded at close control of the ball as some other NZ players, but he's shown hard running and pressing and scored in 2 A League seasons. Yes others will get into the All Whites over him, like Garbett, McGarry, Owen Parker Price, Luke Brooke Smith later, but you are being too harsh.
Snobby and entitled are obviously the wrong words, but I get what you are trying to say. Yeah thats my opinion, and everybody I know who watches Phoenix, even a couple of hardcore Piper fans felt that way at the end of the season.
I stand by my opinion 100%, do you really think that right now ANY A League club would have him if his contact ended? IDK the answer, but I really can't imagine any club offering him a contract, maybe LOI 2 again. I would take Kosta over him every time, and he's gone to NPL.
In Pipers defense, I will say that I felt he did improve from the first season. Having him as a forward or even worse a striker is an absolute liability to the club, and no doubt cost goals and likely games compared to if we had an average ALM player in his place. He is not a natural striker, and just doesnt have the innate ability for that. I feel he could be an ALM useful defender, if a club chose to pour money into developing him in that position for a season. He is good with his head, physical, hard working and reasonably fast.
But ultimately, my point is, he's miles off the AW's.
I feel if we had the 2010 defence (with the likes of Reid and Nelsen), we would have won both of those games. Oh for a Time Machine to bring a prime Nelsen and Reid into 2026 :P
You couldn’t have two Pipers, but one has done well enough for us. Six handy goal contributions! And when we’re bagging him for not being clinical, Mr. Eze, while being different sauce also missed his share he should have definitely bagged on reflection. I’m sorry- as a some time defender I think he’s a risk at the back, but further forward I’ve become a convert. I bagged Chief the first time he played Piper as a 9, but I’ve enjoyed his play since then.
The reason why we don’t need Piper near the AWs currently: Surman, Bindon, Woodsy, Boxall, Stamenic and to a lesser degree Old, McCowatt and Just. These are guys who can head home a corner under pressure or shake off an opponent down the flank.
But I think, as we criticised Singh for lacking a bit of physicality, Piper is definitely a fellow who’s not getting shaken off the ball and with all these lithe technical greyhounds we have up front and in midfield now, there could definitely be a role for ‘baby Shaq’ in the future. Particularly if Woodsy steps back a bit or eventually retires.
And I saw him make several good passes this season. His touch and vision is improving too. And barreled past a fair few from a standing start.
And like the other young guys he’s got a high level of belief and we need that too to get on the field in these 70k arenas up against names like Salah and de Bruyne!
Sidi 1 wrote: I feel if we had the 2010 defence (with the likes of Reid and Nelsen), we would have won both of those games. Oh for a Time Machine to bring a prime Nelsen and Reid into 2026 :P
Or just a prime Boxall from halfway through last year might even have done it!
Though I’d get a prime Smeltzy too. A front 3 of Just, Wood and Smeltz.
Piper can learn to take a moment in front of goal, he could become a very handy striker.
Hes got decent speed about him, is excellent in the air and has a high work rate.
It's his touch and calmness that needs improving... and that can come with time. Smelt was hardly doing anything until he was plucked from obscurity to play Wales... and the rest is history.
Sorry about my 'embarrassing' Kosta take. I assumed his selection would be similar to Smith (in the 26 but won't get a minute and find it amusing that there are fans wanting him to start against Belgium because he played well against the worst Chile team in a generation/if not history in a meaningless friendly).
I just said Piper as it may be a bit more beneficial to give a young up and coming player a spot over a 36yo who is about to retire and playing NPL apparently (the irony).
Lastly both are only there because they upped the squad from 23 to 26 and I have always thought that Smith shouldn't be in the squad and if they wanted him he could have been an 'assistant coach'.
observerfromuh wrote: Sorry about my 'embarrassing' Kosta take. I assumed his selection would be similar to Smith (in the 26 but won't get a minute and find it amusing that there are fans wanting him to start against Belgium because he played well against the worst Chile team in a generation/if not history in a meaningless friendly).
I just said Piper as it may be a bit more beneficial to give a young up and coming player a spot over a 36yo who is about to retire and playing NPL apparently (the irony).
Lastly both are only there because they upped the squad from 23 to 26 and I have always thought that Smith shouldn't be in the squad and if they wanted him he could have been an 'assistant coach'.
So the day after the world cup has ended and I have read various comments about the AWs needing to take a step up or go to the next levels. So here are some thoughts on that.
Baze - he applied for the job and NZFA appointed him. I reckon he has reached his ceiling now. Thanks for your service BD and best of luck for your next adventure, maybe back to England to continue his coaching journey (?)
Crocombe - either secure a starting spot at Millwall or look for a move to another Championship club where he has a chance to do that Paulsen - another season on loan to an environment what will stretch him and continue his development, maybe not quite as "dropped in the deep end" as Poland Woud - back up last season with another good solid season at AFC
Boxall - decide what he wants to do. Retire, continue where he is, a return for a season or 2 to Nix or AFC etc Surman - Have a really solid season and secure a transfer to a decent level in Europe Bindon - similar to Paulsen Pijnaker - have a solid injury free season with AFC Smith - continue his transition to retirement, coaching or some promotional/support role Payne - enjoy Paraguay and get some starts with Olimpia Elliot - cement his place in AFC starting 11, replace Sakai as first start right back Cacace - have a solid injury free season with Wrexham DeVries - have another good solid season at AFC
Bell - see if he can get himself a transfer to a next level league, Denmark, Belgium.....and see if he can crack it second time round Stamenic - either at Swansea or another similar level club start to stamp his mark on games and dominate Thomas - have an injury free season and enjoy his football Rufer - recapture his form from 3 seasons ago at Nix or chase some $$$ overseas Singh - find a club where he can be injury free, regularly start games and feel stable Garbutt - secure himself a transfer to a higher league Old - figure out his best position - wing back or winger - and establish himself in St Etienne side Bayliss - establish himself in AFC starting 11
Wood - have an injury free season and score 10-13 goals in the premiership Just - a bigger club whether one of the old firm, follow his manager to Toulouse or any of the offers that will come in for him McCowatt - look to get himself a transfer to a league up, Belgium, Holland (?)........ Randell - settle into Dundee, get into the starting 11 and start scoring Waine - establish himself at Port Vale and start scoring regularly Barbarouses - find himself a club Rogerson - recapture his form of 2 seasons ago at AFC
Maybe with some inherent bias I set the bar too high for Libby, but his 6 rating seems generous. Too much emphasis on him being imprioved against the Belgians (same in reverse for Payne who I'd give a 5). Disappointing WC methinks for Libby, not helped at all by no mins at Wrexham in a long time.
Below are our ratings of the 13 All Whites who coach Darren Bazeley gave at least 90 minutes to across the three matches,
Eli Just – 9
3 starts, 265 minutes 3 goals
The breakout star of the All Whites’ campaign, who is now likely to have clubs beyond Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers interested in his services, after carrying the form he showed for Motherwell in that country onto the world stage. His first goal against Iran, coming at the end of a flowing team move, was arguably the best the All Whites have ever scored. His second wasn’t far behind, while the third – a consolation strike against Belgium – was an impressively-hit volley.
Finn Surman – 7
3 starts, 270 minutes; 1 goal
Gave the All Whites the halftime lead with a towering header against Egypt and was exceptional throughout the first half, making numerous defensive interventions to shut down Mo Salah and Omar Marmoush before things unravelled after the break. Defending crosses remains a work on, but he is a world-class shot blocker, with his nine in the group stage the most of any player across the 48 teams. Only Just enhanced his reputation more, with a move for Surman away from the Portland Timbers surely coming sooner rather than later. Still just 22, he is set to be a cornerstone of the All Whites for years to come.
Chris Wood – 7
3 starts, 270 minutes; 2 assists
Didn’t get the World Cup goal he would have loved and didn’t really have the chances to score he would have hoped for. Couldn’t get a shot off with the ball at his feet in the box in the first half against Iran, before registering his only shot on target in second-half stoppage time – a tame header meeting a Jesse Randall cross. Also had a Liberato Cacace cross go just over him when he was free against Belgium. Has never complained about how marrying him up with the country’s bevy of talented midfielders has led to him playing a different, more selfless role than he is used to at club level. Excelled in it against Iran, assisting both of Just’s goals. Didn’t get the same service as the campaign went on, but made the most of what he was given.
Liberato Cacace – 6
3 starts, 223 minutes
Looked back to his best against Belgium, launching multiple attacks from left back, but an injury-hit season with Wrexham left him short of match fitness and unable to complete a full 90 minutes at the World Cup, limiting his overall impact. Will also be disappointed that crosses from his side of the pitch led to equalising goals for Iran and Egypt.
Joe Bell – 6
3 starts, 244 minutes
Was ever-present until midway through the second half against Belgium, when the All Whites went away from their usual midfield double-pivot while chasing the game. Like regular partner Marko Stamenić, was a key figure in the All Whites earning the right to express themselves with the ball against Iran and Egypt, though he will regret getting distracted appealing to the referee as Egypt raced away and Salah scored the go-ahead goal in that one.
Callum McCowatt – 6
2 starts, 184 minutes
Has become more of a quiet achiever with the All Whites than he looked like being when he first emerged as a teenager scoring goals for fun in New Zealand domestic football, but nearly had a moment to savour when he had the team’s two best chances to grow their lead against Egypt, with Mostafa Shobeir needing a reflex save to keep a out a header at the end of a well-timed run early in the second half. His coolness in retaining possession was missed when he was dropped for Ryan Thomas against Belgium.
Marko Stamenić – 6
3 starts, 269 minutes
Played almost every minute at the base of midfield – missing just a few in stoppage time against Iran – and looked at home both on the ball and without it. Was always a key figure in the All Whites being able to build with the ball, but his work rate off it was as impressive as always and there were numerous occasions he threw himself in front of shots and passes. Will be at the heart of this team for years to come.
Tyler Bindon – 5
1 start, 96 minutes
Came in for veteran centre back Michal Boxall in the final game against Belgium and made a crucial goal-line clearance to prevent an early concession. Threw himself into desperate late attacks in his first two appearances off the bench and showed his versatility by finishing the final two games at right back. The youngest member of the All Whites’ squad, Bindon didn’t look out of place on football’s biggest stage and is set to be Surman’s partner going forward.
Michael Boxall – 5
2 starts, 206 minutes
Made his World Cup debut aged 37, starting the first two games against Iran and Egypt, then coming on as a substitute against Belgium. Held his own physically against high-profile attackers, but was beaten for pace at times. Will likely step aside after the tournament to allow the Surman-Bindon partnership to grow, but has been a fine servant for the past 15 years.
Ben Old – 5
0 starts, 91 minutes
Adamant he was fouled in the build-up to Egypt’s go-ahead goal shortly after coming on, his frustration will linger long after the World Cup. Was the first sub Bazeley turned to in every match, injecting pace against tiring legs. Also showed his versatility by slotting in at left back.
Didn’t have the Mark Paston-esque impact the All Whites needed from their goalkeeper against superior opposition after getting the nod over Alex Paulsen following a long-running battle for the starting spot. Conceded 10 goals in three games while making 11 saves, with his most notable stop a block with his feet to deny Egypt a fourth after an error from Francis de Vries. Could have tried to claim the corner Belgium were gifted an opening goal from, as the ball was allowed to bounce in the six-yard box – a major no-no.
Tim Payne – 4
3 starts, 226 minutes, 1 assist
Assisting Surman's goal against Egypt with a pinpoint corner was his clear highlight, but he endured a torrid time against Belgium, regularly beaten by dangerous winger Jeremy Doku and often caught in no-man’s land. Right back remains New Zealand's thinnest position and it was a surprise Bazeley stuck with Payne as the starter for all three games. Made a greater impact off the field than on it after becoming the star of a social media phenomenon driven by Argentine influencer El Scarso.
Sarpreet Singh – 4
3 starts, 210 minutes
Came into the World Cup after his return to the Wellington Phoenix turned into a disaster when he suffered a knee injury in the first match back that limited him to just one more substitute appearance. Bazeley backed him for his ability to retain possession as much as his creativity and he was good against Iran, playing a part in both of Just’s goals. But he faded late in that match and was wasteful against Egypt and Belgium, with his start ahead of Old in the latter fixture coming as a surprise. Needs to find a new club where he will play regularly.
Jesse Randall (60 minutes): Set Wood up for a late chance against Iran.
Francis de Vries (16 minutes): On late at left back against both Egypt and Belgium.
Callan Elliot (13 minutes): Was praised for his one-on-one defending by Bazeley after coming on at right back against Iran, which made his absence from the two matches that followed perplexing.
Didn’t play
Alex Paulsen, Michael Woud; Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith; Lachlan Bayliss, Alex Rufer; Kosta Barbarouses, Logan Rogerson, Ben Waine
Think you maybe right to lower Libby to a 5, he wasnt at his best, but that's purely down to not playing for most of the season. Payne probably not at his best either, Crocs should be a 3, he was woeful.
Bazely's rating? I'd give him a 4, he set the team up well to start against Egypt and Iran, but he needed to utilise the speed and pace of his subs earlier, he clearly hadnt factored in heat fatigue or just playing against better teams would require more involvement and actual management from him.
We failed to get out of group. However, we played some good football and we scored 4 goals.
We were lower ranked than all the teams we played and yet managed to come away with a draw.
I’d point out again that success against Belgium would have been the all time greatest upset in World Cup history.
We played aggressive football, in that we looked to score, rather than to suffocate a game.
I think we’d love to have more points, but I don’t think we can call the World Cup a failure.
I think Bazeley set consistent expectations and consistent selections. If we look at the past 12 months club and country the players did about what we’d expect them too.
With injuries to Singh, Thomas, Cacace, Garbett and Wood this season we weren’t at our peak, but we played slightly better than we had a right to.
The point is even if all those players are fit we were up against the second placed Asian team, Mo Salah’s team and a Belgium team packed with top flite and Champions League talent.
I see it as a cultural issue. As a nation we are relatively naive and lack understanding of global phenomena. Once a couple of pundits in the media started talking up AWs chances, all reality went out the window. The euphoria after our draw against Iran was unmitigated, even if this was the game we probably should have won since Iran did not really adjust its tactics and simply did "more" of what they were doing before and our defence wilted. It was even worse during the Egypt game with a halftime live cross to a TVNZ reporter watching the game with Fin Surman's old school students, questioning them how they feel about NZ pretty much qualifying for the knockout phase. I thought I could strangle the hapless reporter (figuratively speaking of course) for this inane nonsense. Once you hype everyone up like that it is hard not to feel like a collective failure when the uneducated optimism gets caught with its pants down.
But a World Cup failure? I understand such label from a football-savvy Uruguayan press to their coach and team. Uruguay had good players, excellent footballing knowledge and traditions, and they had Bielsa coaching them at the WC 2026. They arrived at the WC ranked 16 (16!) and only managed to draw against Saudi Arabia, draw against Cabo Verde, and finally lost to Spain. Their FIFA ranking dropped immediately to 36. That is a failure.
The performance against Iran was very good, Eli Just starred all tournament, and scoring 4 goals across the 3 games was pretty good. Yet I'm not sure you can class 1 point as a success.
I think failure may be harsh, although I did find wilting against Belgium to be disappointing. They have far greater riches than ourselves but had been disjointed and underwhelming before facing us and we seemed to be a rabbit in the headlights from kick off against them.
I'll also say I did enjoy our first half against Egypt, just a shame we did run out of steam when they upped the tempo a bit and overran us second half.
We can take a number of positives away from this World Cup while also acknowledging we have a number of things to work on.
The performance against Iran was very good, Eli Just starred all tournament, and scoring 4 goals across the 3 games was pretty good. Yet I'm not sure you can class 1 point as a success.
I think failure may be harsh, although I did find wilting against Belgium to be disappointing. They have far greater riches than ourselves but had been disjointed and underwhelming before facing us and we seemed to be a rabbit in the headlights from kick off against them.
I'll also say I did enjoy our first half against Egypt, just a shame we did run out of steam when they upped the tempo a bit and overran us second half.
We can take a number of positives away from this World Cup while also acknowledging we have a number of things to work on.
+1
