The Road To Brazil 2014 via Wellington feat. Mexico

Poor dan keat. Being unattached helps. Christie 1 game in 2 years SHOCKING

With Glen Moss and Spoonley named and Italiano injured, whose playing in goals for the Nix this weekend?

Brockie has played 40 times and never scored!

                          Moss

 Roux               Reid               Smith

                Dura           Ivan

  Kosta          McGlinchey        Henderson

               Wood             Brockie

Please tell me how the fuck Christie gets in the squad ? I can understand Lochhead (the only LB) but Christie ??? NO CLUB FOR HOW LONG ??? I mean, WTF RICKI. I can't wait until RH resigns in a few weeks.

For me:

Should not be there: Fallon, Clapham, Christie

Should be there: Keat, Payne, Howieson

I know now Payne may be injured. But if rather a Hicks or even a Fenton in there over Christie!!

Christie. lol.

Christie over Payne, Howieson and Fitzgerald (assuming all are uninjured) is unforgivable. I'm just confounded. 

Payne is definitely injured Tor.

It's an indictment on how fucked we are for midfielders.

Maybe he's VERY good in the sheds.

I must admit I am baffled as well by some of this. The missing names are

Payne & Killen - Injured

Howieson & Keat (????) What have they done. Keat has been borderline but Howieson has usually been a first name in squad player. It looks like Henderson has lept him.

Butler - well he was not really good enough but he will be sending Jeremy Christie some karma as he was better than him at least

Gleeson is definitely gone as the number 2 or 3

You then see the name Christie and go "What?". Him and Rory are tied together I swear.

So of the 23 players, lets figure this out what is likely to happen (and not some fantasy formation)

Moss will start in goal unless injured.

If we work on this 3-4-3 nonsense that Ricki is in love with then its likely to be a back 3 of Durante, Reid and Smith which is fairly predictable.

Ivan and McGlinchy are the likely 2 in the middle of the pitch (read more)

Wood will have 1 spot up front.

The wide guys - you can just bet Lochhead will be one and likely to have Bertos on the other. The bolter is Roux on the right purely because he is more a defender and looks like he can get forward. Bertos is a Ricki trusted experienced vet (just like Lochhead) who has been there and done that so I think its those 2

The other 2 strikers will be likely to be Brockie and Kosta purely because I suspect that Smeltz wont be fit enough and he wont be going all out attack at Azteca (and he will still play 3 up front though *facepalm*)

The only other spot I really see a debate around is Ivans position. That old bugger has the experience and if he is going to park it (and again, 3 up front???) then Ivan is the guy best equiped to help you. I don't think you can have James, McGlinchy and Kosta in the same line up as is too much sameness and not enough defence.

In short I see

Moss

Durante, Reid, Smith

Bertos, Ivan, McGlinchy, Lochhead

Brockie, Wood, Kosta.

Its the not the formation I would play but its not my @ss on the line and lets be honest, we are going to get humped regardless what we do unless Super Ryan straps on the kit again so its really just banter and chat to take the pressure off the inevitable shyte feeling in about 15 days time.

Good squad. Christie is a bizarre choice but really who goes ahead of him?

Elliott 

I think if Payne had been fit, Christie would not be there. He would be the first name gone if Payne was fit for sure. I think Rory would also be gone if Killen was fit as well giving Ricki something close to a WC squad (and consider Howieson and Keat in the mix) but that's probably the strongest available really. Who else do you go to outside of Payne, Killen, Keat, Howieson, Butler... Bright? Nope. Fitzgerald? (we know that's not happening) That's all there is.

He has picked the strongest squad he possibly could with the exception of conjecture around Christie for perhaps Keat, Butler or Howieson.

I disagree JV, Herbert would've picked Christie regardless. Sadly.

Keat should really be the back-up if Payne isn't fit. Henderson over Howieson sure...

Fitzgerald really needs to be there. If Roux can have one game in A League and be picked then Fitzgerald should after 10 J League games.

1. Fitzgerald ruled himself out

or

2. Ricki doesn't rate him

If Reid or Smith get cards then the back three could very well be Sigmund Vicelich and Durante and that fucking scares me

Regardless here's my starting XI

                    Moss

       Sigmund Reid Smith

Bertos James Vicelich Lochhead

McGlinchey           Henderson

                  Brockie

Reid needs to be in the middle. McGlinchey ineffective in the middle of the park in this formation. Has never looked comfy IMO

Christie...

I don't buy it. Christie is there for Payne (and it really should be Keat)

TY based ricki herbert for bringing christie into the squad. look how selfless he is, doesn't even put his name on his boots. Thats how much he loves nz. such a selfless beauty. TYBC.

Herbert wouldve picked Christie over Payne. He is deluded to think that a guy with 1 game in 2 years has the 'experience' factor. This is how he thinks though sadly. 

Payne is established and would be picked over Christie if fit every time.

Can we at least take a bet on who gets a club first? Christie or Lochhead?

Any takers?

They will both retire.

Lochhead has a US university education behind him. Plodder has nothing. That's why Plodder is still shopping out for clubs and wont retire.

Have to start Rojas.

how did rory fallon make the team?

MOSS

TUILOMA - REID - SMITH - ROUX

CLAPHAM - MCGLINCHEY

BARBAROUSES - SMELTZ - ROJAS

WOOD

Fixed