The final 26 Panel for WC. PEOPLE'S PICK

martinb

Randall a bolter? Was very impressed with how he took his late chance against Perth and his general all round play and performance. 

A more direct player than Sarpreet.

I think he's doing well. There just aren't many spots available if all the main guys are fit. 

No way you take him over Singh. Even if Singh has a terrible next season. 

Singh gets in because he offers something no one else does, a killer pass.

If we can find that in someone else, all of a sudden his place comes up to debate. Portugal Div 2 is not great.

I think Singh needs to play in a higher league to be considered. Jesse Randall as a bolter isn't the worst shout as we don't even know what he can achieve next season.

If Singh needs to play in a higher league then so does Randall. As long as Singh is playing consistently I don't see him getting pushed out unless someone like Randall has a brilliant season.

Think Singh however at the very least needs to get good minutes which isn’t really happening. Don’t however see Randall even in the conversation unless he can fully take the left wing spot for AFC.

Some of these posts have to be joking surely. I know his career has taken a massive dip, but there is no one current Kiwi player that can do some of the things that Sarpreet can do, of course he still starts.

IMO this is our absolute strongest team, assuming fitness and appropriate minutes:

Screenshot_2025-05-09-00-19-09-796_com.android.chrome-edit.jpg 417.77 KB

Bell and Nando off the Bench to protect a result, Garbett and Just to provide energy. Doesn't matter anyway as Baze won't use a 3/5 at the back, but jeez I'd love to see it

Jazzy Jeff

Some of these posts have to be joking surely. I know his career has taken a massive dip, but there is no one current Kiwi player that can do some of the things that Sarpreet can do, of course he still starts.

IMO this is our absolute strongest team, assuming fitness and appropriate minutes:

Screenshot_2025-05-09-00-19-09-796_com.android.chrome-edit.jpg 417.77 KB

Bell and Nando off the Bench to protect a result, Garbett and Just to provide energy. Doesn't matter anyway as Baze won't use a 3/5 at the back, but jeez I'd love to see it

Yeah no way Singh isn't included. 
I like this team - I just whish we had a RB playing at a better level. I like Payne but he's not a world beater. 

I honestly might consider him not starting, unless he’s been doing that unique thing in the Portugal second division. 

My reasoning would be straight forward- Randall came on, bumped off his defender which wasn’t the easiest task and buried his shot. I can’t think of anyone with that composure. We need results in tournaments. 

I also think Sarpreet’s frustration to rediscover his magic may rub off on the team. Marco too is capable in ways no other player is. Do we put him in as a starter? 

In Garbett and Singh we have two talents who can potentially win games. IMO Singh’s shooting is mixed and sometimes weak. But neither are playing or showing their talents regularly and that’s risky for me. We want players who can execute on a counter. 

I know it’s a kind of heresy, but when did you last see a Singh masterclass? Against Ireland? 

I feel concerned about starting players who haven’t been earning their place. Even Singh. 

If he’s in a forward position, then there’s only Old making runs in behind for him to hit. Maybe Wood, but not over more than a short distance. That also reduces his usefulness, and as a direct winger he’s not as good as others.

In that last formation for example if we were starting Singh I’d drop him and Old into the midfield, pushing Thomas into the forward line. That means Singh can aim for Payne, Cacace, Old or Stamenic making runs from deep, Thomas making runs higher up and Wood dropping deep on occasion to get a touch and move the ball around. Then you can get Boxy stepping out into the space behind Stamenic if necessary, with Bindon and Surman behind. 

martinb

I honestly might consider him not starting, unless he’s been doing that unique thing in the Portugal second division. 

My reasoning would be straight forward- Randall came on, bumped off his defender which wasn’t the easiest task and buried his shot. I can’t think of anyone with that composure. We need results in tournaments. 

I also think Sarpreet’s frustration to rediscover his magic may rub off on the team. Marco too is capable in ways no other player is. Do we put him in as a starter? 

In Garbett and Singh we have two talents who can potentially win games. IMO Singh’s shooting is mixed and sometimes weak. But neither are playing or showing their talents regularly and that’s risky for me. We want players who can execute on a counter. 

I know it’s a kind of heresy, but when did you last see a Singh masterclass? Against Ireland? 

I feel concerned about starting players who haven’t been earning their place. Even Singh. 

If he’s in a forward position, then there’s only Old making runs in behind for him to hit. Maybe Wood, but not over more than a short distance. That also reduces his usefulness, and as a direct winger he’s not as good as others.

In that last formation for example if we were starting Singh I’d drop him and Old into the midfield, pushing Thomas into the forward line. That means Singh can aim for Payne, Cacace, Old or Stamenic making runs from deep, Thomas making runs higher up and Wood dropping deep on occasion to get a touch and move the ball around. Then you can get Boxy stepping out into the space behind Stamenic if necessary, with Bindon and Surman behind. 

Why all this sudden love for Randall? He's behind Rogerson at auckland and getting into the aws.

I think it's more to do with a point of difference he offers because of his speed. Not much more than that.

Also, it's great to have the possibilities of bolters to talk about because we have actual depth for once.

MetalLegNZ

I think it's more to do with a point of difference he offers because of his speed. Not much more than that.

Also, it's great to have the possibilities of bolters to talk about because we have actual depth for once.

Speed without a decent first touch is useless in the international game. It barely keeps a player in the aleague let alone anywhere else.

theprof

MetalLegNZ

I think it's more to do with a point of difference he offers because of his speed. Not much more than that.

Also, it's great to have the possibilities of bolters to talk about because we have actual depth for once.

Speed without a decent first touch is useless in the international game. It barely keeps a player in the aleague let alone anywhere else.

 

Adama Traore seems to manage.

Trarore is at the upper end of speed merchants and his first touch and crossing isnt horrible.

His touch is better than Pipers, LBS and Walkers currently.

His touch will get better over time, I remembering watching Howieson as an u20 player. His touch was horrible... but its pretty decent now.

It’s my interest after a well taken goal here at 2:00, other appearances for FC and didn’t he have some good outings for New Zealand too? Perhaps an age group or something?

I’ve just been impressed with how direct and composed he is. I’ve watched a lot of opportunities shelled by young players. It’s just a feeling or a hunch that he’s a guy who’s got a nose for goal. Different from Rogerson in that Rogerson is good at crossing, distance shooting and putting away a ball to the back post. Rogerson has been good too. I’d almost rather have the two players showing some form, than other players who haven’t shown much recently.

Randall is better either running direct or getting on a through ball. And that goal against WU was under a lot of pressure.

and yep he’s quick. No point having 6-7 players or more who can hit great passes, but not selecting enough quick players to get on the end of them. 

It’s good to see McGarry bounce back from injury and get some decent game time, be interesting to see what Aberdeen do with him next season and if he can push himself into AW contention.
I’m loving the form that Ryan Thomas is in, am wondering if a sly undisclosed contract extension might of happened with how he is being looked after now they have nothing to play for.

I was listening to a BBC football daily podcast the other day (about England Andorra), and one of the guys on there seemed to be under the impression that it was going to be a 26 man squad scenario at the World Cup. No idea how he got that idea, can't find anything definitive on it myself

Edit: the mirror reports it will be a 26 man squad. Don't know how reliable that is, but that's two sources...

A 26 man squad makes it easier to pick 5 centrebacks, rather than limiting yourself to 2 in every position (4 centerbacks).

You probably want the extra 3 players to either be high yellow card prone positions such as centerbacks or higher fitness positions.

This is my 23 at present. Sail, Elliot, Waine and Kosta probably the most precarious and all depend on form. If it’s 26 then much easier to keep them.

World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers
Crocombe
Paulsen
Sail

Cacace
De Vries
Bindon
Surman
Pijnaker
Boxall
Payne
Elliot

Midfielders
Bell 
Stamenic
Thomas
Rufer
Garbett
Singh

Forwards
Wood
Old
Just
McCowatt
Barbarouses
Waine

Agree that’s preety much it,  unless a bolter comes along or a long lost kiwi is found. 

There has been no confirmation re: 23 v 26 though there is a growing expectation FIFA will make it 26 a la Qatar 2022. They'll cite the extra knockout stage or the heat or something, but it will be a slap in the face to the teams that asked for 26 at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and were told no.

Friar Tuck

This is my 23 at present. Sail, Elliot, Waine and Kosta probably the most precarious and all depend on form. If it’s 26 then much easier to keep them.

World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers
Crocombe
Paulsen
Sail

Defenders

Cacace
De Vries
Bindon
Surman
Pijnaker
Boxall
Payne
Elliot

Midfielders
Bell 
Stamenic
Thomas
Rufer
Garbett
Singh

Forwards
Wood
Old
Just
McCowatt
Barbarouses
Waine

 Roux vs Elliot for me. Depends who is playing the best. Rogerson there if no Thomas or a forward gets injured. 

Unless Thomas is in the next window, the Thomas waka would have sailed for AW selection me thinks.

Marto

Unless Thomas is in the next window, the Thomas waka would have sailed for AW selection me thinks.

That would be silly when the message has clearly been that if all goes well between now and then for Thomas he is on track to return in October.

andrewvoerman

Marto

Unless Thomas is in the next window, the Thomas waka would have sailed for AW selection me thinks.

That would be silly when the message has clearly been that if all goes well between now and then for Thomas he is on track to return in October.

he has started the season so on track for an October return for Thomas

Garbett shouldn't be in the next squad. He hasn't played for months now. Someone else deserves a chance now. 

Yep, would be devaluing the white jersey even more than most of Tommy Smith's recent callups

for me the eleven has to be  

paulsen 

surman
boxall 
bindon

garbett 
stamenic 
bell  
cacace

thomas 

wood 
mccowatt  

JAVIER16

for me the eleven has to be  

paulsen 

surman
boxall 
bindon

garbett 
stamenic 
bell  
cacace

thomas 

wood 
mccowatt  

I’d go for a back 4, something like:

Crocombe
Payne Surman Bindon Cacace
Thomas Bell Stamenic
Just Wood Old

Bazeley has repeatedly made it clear they are sticking with the back 4 as plan A for the World Cup. Genuine waste of time discussing a back 5 system. It is for closing games out late, nothing else.

Need to wait and see how Thomas is incorporated into the team, hard to speculate about what our attacking third will be without getting a look at that, and that is where the big questions are (except Wood as the 9 obviously). I am hoping to see that Bell Stamenic Thomas midfield 3, I hope one of them isn't sacrificed to accommodate Singh for example. 

JAVIER16

for me the eleven has to be  

paulsen 

surman
boxall 
bindon

garbett 
stamenic 
bell  
cacace

thomas 

wood 
mccowatt  

Garbett surely you're having a laugh what on the back of no football. Would have to hope those days are behind the AWs 

Friar Tuck

JAVIER16

for me the eleven has to be  

paulsen 

surman
boxall 
bindon

garbett 
stamenic 
bell  
cacace

thomas 

wood 
mccowatt  

I’d go for a back 4, something like:

Crocombe
Payne Surman Bindon Cacace
Thomas Bell Stamenic
Just Wood Old

This is exactly  the team I would currently pick. Handy bench by our standards with Boxall, FDV, Singh, McCowatt & Garbett (soon) all playing at a decent level

Chasing a goal I’d bring Old off at 60 mins and chuck FDV in there as a winger. That ploy looked good against Ukraine and deserves another look for sure

I'd look to the back 5, I know what Beazley said, but that was before Surman had his break out at the MLS. 

Systems change with personnel.

CB is a strength, Rb isn't and Carcace is better as a LWB. So going to 5 shores up the d whilst also providing width as we don't have natural wingers.

Bell holding with Stamenic and Thomas doing the hard yards in the middle with Wood up top. Singh to play the 10 role or Garbett or Thomas and bring in Rufer. Old another slightly different option.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the above tried at least once as an option.

I personally don't think a back 5 utilizes our best players on the field. We never seem to create anything against good teams when we play a back 5. I like a 4-2-3-1 with wingers that cut in and fullbacks that overlap: 

Wood
Just - Thomas - Old  
Stamenic - Bell
Cacace - Bindon - Surman - Payne 
Crocombe

Paulsen, Singh, or McCowatt could also swap into that team and not weaken it 

To fill out the 23: Paulsen, Sims, Boxall, Tuiloma, Pijnaker, De Vries, Rufer, McCowatt, Singh, Waine, Barbarouses. + Maybe a dedicated backup rightback like Roux, or a bolter like LBS or De Jong. 

I’m surprised that no one is considering Randall or Gillion. They’d be two bolters who currently know where the goal is. 
In terms of wingers, I thought Rogerson was an excellent classic winger last season. Certainly wouldn’t be the worst inclusion either. 

I’d currently put those 3 equal with Waine as they’ve all had successful football recently, while Waine’s success, minutes and goals are more historical.

I’d say Gillion and Randall are quicker than Kosta too? And all 3 more direct than Singh. 

And I’d be honest. Love LBS, but he’s not yet threatened to score the kind of goals or the bulk of them that these three have. 

Tbh I think that either of the first two give us some real direct urgency and energy off the bench. Something we’ve missed outside Old.

I hope Gillion has a great season. I have faith he's worked on 'lack of end product' stuff in the off season. But he's currently far off an AWs return. As listed above there are simply better players ahead of him. Someone like Lachlan Bayliss at the Jets (was in the Paris Olywhites) maybe even more deserving, stats wise.

Gillion and Randall are not even locked in starters for Auckland. If either get 7+ goals/assists this ALM season they come into the convo. Rogerson is closer to selection. 

BrockieThe Goat's squad above is very much on the money currently. I'd say all those listed are deserving of selection. I'd probably go Tzanev ahead of Sims. Garbett questionable because of lack of football, but suspect he will shine for The Posh.

BrockieTheGOAT

I personally don't think a back 5 utilizes our best players on the field. We never seem to create anything against good teams when we play a back 5. I like a 4-2-3-1 with wingers that cut in and fullbacks that overlap: 

Wood
Just - Thomas - Old  
Stamenic - Bell
Cacace - Bindon - Surman - Payne 
Crocombe

Paulsen, Singh, or McCowatt could also swap into that team and not weaken it 

To fill out the 23: Paulsen, Sims, Boxall, Tuiloma, Pijnaker, De Vries, Rufer, McCowatt, Singh, Waine, Barbarouses. + Maybe a dedicated backup rightback like Roux, or a bolter like LBS or De Jong. 

That's basically it. Feel like Randall or Rogerson should be in the next squad. 

Having garbett 100% pickied in our mock squads shows the lack of depth we still have. I can't imagine Australia picking a dude that hasn't played for months and iust got a gig in league 1. 

I mean that’s your choice as selectors. Randall and Gillion are both quick. I can’t see a lot of direct pace in our selections. 
They’ve had good pre-seasons and also were part of a team that destroyed the A league. That’s the argument we used for Payne or Storm Roux.

I think Kosta is good if we want to play him and Old or Just and play a lot of through ball or transition. I don’t think he’s got pace as a weapon outside the A league. Even Old isn’t that fast, but has immaculate ball control and must be learning at ASSE.

Currently Randall and Gillion are sharks with blood in their nose. I also think that’s the kind of impact players like McCowatt, Kosta and Old can play off. Clip that Gillion strike. Just and McCowatt also love a shot at the edge of the box, if someone has made some space. You just need it once to get out of group. 

But I guess I’m that kind of selector. I’d roll the dice as they have pace as a weapon others don’t anymore and are currently in a patch of confidence. 

What has been Waine or Kosta’s impact in the last two years? Or McCowatt’s come to that? They’ve all had good patches, but none has made a position definitively theirs. Just and Garbett probably our two most consistent, and Garbett hasn’t been playing. 

Is the Erestie division that Garbett was in that far ahead of the A league? 

Anyway, Just and Old starters. We’re talking about impact players or if Wood is unavailable. 
And if you have Thomas, Bell, Cacace and Payne providing assists, you need fast players to get on them. 

The likes of Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord & AZ are levels above the best in the ALM. Breda obviously not so much.

Garbett has had a very average club career to date. Going straight to Torino, from lower level Sweden was a mistake in my book. He's always seemed a kid in a hurry. Agent sprucing Everton and the likes being interested in him. He'd have been better like his Ole comrades - Just, McCowatt, Wilkins & Stamenic - to start off in the Danish 2nd tier or similar. Gradually move through the grades.

But he's scored some impressive goals for the AWs & Olywhites in France. He's big strong & athletic. Super combative. Already an experienced international. He'll go well (maybe very well) in League One. Just have to watch those cards.

Randall & Gillion look whippets in comparison. It's currently not even a contest in my view, despite yes Garbs being out for nearly 9 months.

I don't think Gillion even has an ALM goal or assist yet?!! Agruably LBS with those chunky BMX honed thighs is more ready for senior international football.

You look at Ivory Coast and they were a big team, that even the likes of Just with 35 AWs games, and 5 odd years in Europe now - struggled to match it with physically. It ain't Sth Melbourne semi pros at that level.

Randall looks reasonably strong to me - decent shoulders. Gillion is small.