All Whites, Ferns, and other international teams
Watching Mexico play atm.. If they do end up fourth then we have nothing to fear..
It will be a boring couple of games as both teams have minimal creativity
Mexico looking most likely
http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/users/195
I'd love it if we played Mexico.
Fuck it, qualifying for a World Cup is hard anyway, so you might as well go toe-to-toe with the best.
Let's face it, apart from failing to get through qualifying altogether (which could happen) the last thing they want is to be in an inter-continental play-off with bloody New Zealand. They will already be humiliated and under massive pressure at home.
And even if we got pumped over there I think Mexico is just about the only CONCACAF side for which the game here would still be a huge event and a result by us on the night (even if we fail to go through) would still be celebrated.
I'd love it if we played Mexico.
Fuck it, qualifying for a World Cup is hard anyway, so you might as well go toe-to-toe with the best.
Let's face it, apart from failing to get through qualifying altogether (which could happen) the last thing they want is to be in an inter-continental play-off with bloody New Zealand. They will already be humiliated and under massive pressure at home.
And even if we got pumped over there I think Mexico is just about the only CONCACAF side for which the game here would still be a huge event and a result by us on the night (even if we fail to go through) would still be celebrated.
If New Zealand beat Mexico to qualify for the world cup, it would go down as one the biggest upsets in the history of recorded sport.
If New Zealand beat Mexico to qualify for the world cup, it would go down as one the biggest upsets in the history of recorded sport.
Mexico's attack is so pedestrian. If they run at us we will be in trouble.
Panama now in 4th place!!! Equalised in 90th minute vs Honduras. Panama and Mexico tied on points and GD, Panama ahead on GF. Good news for NZ.
Let's not get too carried away - the Mexican coach has only been in charge of the team for about 48 hours so there is a lot of time for them to get a lot better. Also, I'd wager that USA are a lot better than we are.
All I do is make the stuff I would've liked
Reference things I wanna watch, reference girls I wanna bite
Now I'm firefly like a burning kite
And yousa fake fuck like a fleshlight
Let's not get too carried away - the Mexican coach has only been in charge of the team for about 48 hours so there is a lot of time for them to get a lot better. Also, I'd wager that USA are a lot better than we are.
Let's not get too carried away - the Mexican coach has only been in charge of the team for about 48 hours so there is a lot of time for them to get a lot better. Also, I'd wager that USA are a lot better than we are.
Grumpy old bastard alert
If New Zealand beat Mexico to qualify for the world cup, it would go down as one the biggest upsets in the history of recorded sport.
Not sure about that.
or New Caledonia?
All I do is make the stuff I would've liked
Reference things I wanna watch, reference girls I wanna bite
Now I'm firefly like a burning kite
And yousa fake fuck like a fleshlight
There would be riots in Mexico and the coach would quite possibly get murdered.
or New Caledonia?
Grumpy old bastard alert
Yeah not saying it's impossible haha. I'd love to see it happen, but I'm still staying realistic. Hopefully we play Panama though
There would be riots in Mexico and the coach would quite possibly get murdered.
There would be riots in Mexico and the coach would quite possibly get murdered.
Mexican friend read that and would like to say get f******
I think Mexico have a very good chance of getting a result against the USA since the US will have four players missing and struggling teams often improve under a new coach
Michael Bradley (their best player, A.S. Roma), Jozy Altidore, Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler will all be absent due to injury (Bradley) or cards.
"I don't think it changes a lot," Klinsmann said. "We need to have our four points at least to qualify. We will get those four points."
- so Klinsmann's not exactly desperate for a result...
If Mexico win (and there'll be plenty of Mexicans in the crowd in Columbus), then a lot hinges on Honduras v Panama.
Scenarios: (1) Mexico beat USA and Honduras and Panama draw: Table will be (i) Costa Rica (ii) USA 13 pts (iii) Honduras and Mexico level on 11 points , separated by goals for and against: Honduras 8 : 8, Mexico 4 :4 (iv) Panama 8 pts
CONSEQUENCE: WOULD LEAVE IT WIDE OPEN FOR MEXICO TO FINISH IN TOP THREE
(2) Mexico and USA draw; Honduras beats Panama: Table will be: (i) Costa Rica (ii) USA 14 pts (iii) Honduras 13 pts (iv) Mexico 9 pts
CONSEQUENCE: MEXICO WOULD STRUGGLE TO MAKE THE TOP THREE AND COULD FINISH FOURTH
(3) Panama beats Honduras and USA beating Mexico would be great results for NZ leaving (i) Costa Rica (? pts) or USA (16 pts) at top (ii) Panama and Honduras level on 10 pts (iii) Mexico fifth on 8 pts
CONSEQUENCE: MEXICO OUTSIDE THE TOP FOUR
Should point out Honduras have lost three games so far (with three wins), compared to Mexico only the one loss on the weekend (they've drawn five) - so Honduras are vulnerable to losing.
In the remaining game of the round, I predict Costa Rica will either win or draw away to Jamaica which won't affect anything.Mexico's last qualifiers: 12/10 v. Panama (H) 16/10 v. Costa Rica (A)
Honduras last qualifiers: 12/10 v Costa Rica (H) 16/10 v. Jamaica (A)
Also: 12/10 USA v Jamaica 16/10 Panama v USA
CONCACAF Schedules and results: http://www.concacaf.com/category/world-cup-qualifying-men/schedule-results
Table: click on "Standings"
I'm not so sure we are fucked as I think anyone can look at those two games and spot the obvious flaws (Lochhead, Bertos and Durante). If Ricki learns from those (and history is not kind to him in that respect) then he can use the October window to get his best 11 on the park.
I agree its difficult because he wont be able to get the team together before hand and get time together but that's where NZF should be talking to these clubs and asking to get these players a week early. I know that's wishful thinking but I'm not so sure we are fucked in terms of formation/players as we are more along the lines of familiarity playing together. We do have some quality players, just they hardly play together. The fault of that lies more with NZF in not arranging friendlies like Fred said they would, than with Ricki.
We had a $250k budget for friendlies leading up to the playoffs.
We had a $250k budget for friendlies leading up to the playoffs.
Grumpy old bastard alert
In the window just gone would have been perfect. As it stands, I don't think you will see those two players until after November when we are knocked out and some players retire (I expect Bertos (31), Lochhead (31), Sigmund (32), Killen (31), Fallon (31), Ivan (37) and possibly Smeltz (31) ) or after WC2014 if we make it.
We are actually going to be no better or worse prepared than we were in 2009 really. Go back and check some of our results from earlier that year. Lost to the likes of Thailand and Tanzania, and everybody ripped the piss out of Ricki for dancing around like a loon when we drew with Iraq at the Confeds Cup.
At least this time we will have played maybe 4 games (fingers crossed) in the 3 months prior to the first leg. In 2009 we only played once between the Confeds Cup in June and the first leg against Bahrain in October (against Jordan in September).
but one who now play Concacaf #5 team.
A small town in Europe........looking to bounce straight back up....well that aint going to happen
If New Zealand beat Mexico to qualify for the world cup, it would go down as one the biggest upsets in the history of recorded sport.
What bollocks. Mexico just lost to Honduras at home, who are only ranked 13 places above us. They failed to even score a goal against any other team in this round of the qualifiers, including Jamaica who haven't had a single win. They appear to be in total crisis.
Now you can give me the whole spiel about the rankings not being accurate, the dynamics of CONCACAF qualifying, Mexico's coaching situation, Mexico "getting up for the big games", and whatever else. Yes it will be an upset, yes they'll be firm favourites, and yes the All Whites have a huge job to do if they want to go from where they are presently to where they'll need to be to get to Brazil. But to say it would be one of the biggest upsets in the history of recorded sport is just absurd.
I've been quite surprised at the defeatism around here in the last week. Lots of people seemingly assume that beating Mexico over two legs is literally impossible, and beating Honduras or Panama will be a lot easier. The way I see it, all three teams will be hard to beat, and the odds are against the All Whites qualifying, but no more so than they've always been.
It'll be very tough, but we're still just 180 minutes away from qualifying for Brazil.
I see that Ricki was reported as saying he is still mulling over the 3 at the back set up. It would not be my choice but in reality it might be the best option. I'm saying this because after observing Ricki for years he is very much a one trick pony when it comes to the AW's. At least he understands how to set up a team with 3 at the back...and it served us well last time. He patently has no clues about any other set up and we are running out of time before the playoffs.
IMO Ricki should just go back to what he knows best. 3 at the back is really 5 when you wingbacks tuck back on defense. He has players who know this system very well. He will never coach a team that will get the best out of our small quick young players. He just needs to roll the old dice two more time and hope that his aging guys still have it in them. Watching the UAE game it was obvious that most of the players where confused about positions and tactics. Lots of them understand the simple tactics that got us to the last WC.
The reality is that we can probably trouble a CONCACAF side if we defend with two banks of 5 and 4 and wack any possession high up to Wood/Killen. Its a tactic that they would not have experianced very often. Combined with a rugged 10 men behind the ball defense and using all our tall timber in set pieces we could keep the score down and possibly nick a goal away, then its game on back in NZ. The only problem would be if too many of the players are now too old for another 2 big performances.
My team for the away leg assuming everyone is fit and available
Moss
Reid Dura Smith
Leo Locky
Ivan Weemac
Rojas Smeltz
Wood/Killen
If New Zealand beat Mexico to qualify for the world cup, it would go down as one the biggest upsets in the history of recorded sport.
What bollocks. Mexico just lost to Honduras at home, who are only ranked 13 places above us. They failed to even score a goal against any other team in this round of the qualifiers, including Jamaica who haven't had a single win. They appear to be in total crisis.
Now you can give me the whole spiel about the rankings not being accurate, the dynamics of CONCACAF qualifying, Mexico's coaching situation, Mexico "getting up for the big games", and whatever else. Yes it will be an upset, yes they'll be firm favourites, and yes the All Whites have a huge job to do if they want to go from where they are presently to where they'll need to be to get to Brazil. But to say it would be one of the biggest upsets in the history of recorded sport is just absurd.
I've been quite surprised at the defeatism around here in the last week. Lots of people seemingly assume that beating Mexico over two legs is literally impossible, and beating Honduras or Panama will be a lot easier. The way I see it, all three teams will be hard to beat, and the odds are against the All Whites qualifying, but no more so than they've always been.
It'll be very tough, but we're still just 180 minutes away from qualifying for Brazil.
I think Mexico have a very good chance of getting a result against the USA since the US will have four players missing and struggling teams often improve under a new coach
Michael Bradley (their best player, A.S. Roma), Jozy Altidore, Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler will all be absent due to injury (Bradley) or cards.
"I don't think it changes a lot," Klinsmann said. "We need to have our four points at least to qualify. We will get those four points."
- so Klinsmann's not exactly desperate for a result...
If Mexico win (and there'll be plenty of Mexicans in the crowd in Columbus), then a lot hinges on Honduras v Panama.
Scenarios: (1) Mexico beat USA and Honduras and Panama draw: Table will be (i) Costa Rica (ii) USA 13 pts (iii) Honduras and Mexico level on 11 points , separated by goals for and against: Honduras 8 : 8, Mexico 4 :4 (iv) Panama 8 pts
CONSEQUENCE: WOULD LEAVE IT WIDE OPEN FOR MEXICO TO FINISH IN TOP THREE
(2) Mexico and USA draw; Honduras beats Panama: Table will be: (i) Costa Rica (ii) USA 14 pts (iii) Honduras 13 pts (iv) Mexico 9 pts
CONSEQUENCE: MEXICO WOULD STRUGGLE TO MAKE THE TOP THREE AND COULD FINISH FOURTH
(3) Panama beats Honduras and USA beating Mexico would be great results for NZ leaving (i) Costa Rica (? pts) or USA (16 pts) at top (ii) Panama and Honduras level on 10 pts (iii) Mexico fifth on 8 pts
CONSEQUENCE: MEXICO OUTSIDE THE TOP FOUR
Should point out Honduras have lost three games so far (with three wins), compared to Mexico only the one loss on the weekend (they've drawn five) - so Honduras are vulnerable to losing.
In the remaining game of the round, I predict Costa Rica will either win or draw away to Jamaica which won't affect anything.Mexico's last qualifiers: 12/10 v. Panama (H) 16/10 v. Costa Rica (A)
Honduras last qualifiers: 12/10 v Costa Rica (H) 16/10 v. Jamaica (A)
Also: 12/10 USA v Jamaica 16/10 Panama v USA
CONCACAF Schedules and results: http://www.concacaf.com/category/world-cup-qualifying-men/schedule-results
Table: click on "Standings"
We are actually going to be no better or worse prepared than we were in 2009 really. Go back and check some of our results from earlier that year. Lost to the likes of Thailand and Tanzania, and everybody ripped the piss out of Ricki for dancing around like a loon when we drew with Iraq at the Confeds Cup.
At least this time we will have played maybe 4 games (fingers crossed) in the 3 months prior to the first leg. In 2009 we only played once between the Confeds Cup in June and the first leg against Bahrain in October (against Jordan in September).
I see that Ricki was reported as saying he is still mulling over the 3 at the back set up. It would not be my choice but in reality it might be the best option. I'm saying this because after observing Ricki for years he is very much a one trick pony when it comes to the AW's. At least he understands how to set up a team with 3 at the back...and it served us well last time. He patently has no clues about any other set up and we are running out of time before the playoffs.
IMO Ricki should just go back to what he knows best. 3 at the back is really 5 when you wingbacks tuck back on defense. He has players who know this system very well. He will never coach a team that will get the best out of our small quick young players. He just needs to roll the old dice two more time and hope that his aging guys still have it in them. Watching the UAE game it was obvious that most of the players where confused about positions and tactics. Lots of them understand the simple tactics that got us to the last WC.
The reality is that we can probably trouble a CONCACAF side if we defend with two banks of 5 and 4 and wack any possession high up to Wood/Killen. Its a tactic that they would not have experianced very often. Combined with a rugged 10 men behind the ball defense and using all our tall timber in set pieces we could keep the score down and possibly nick a goal away, then its game on back in NZ. The only problem would be if too many of the players are now too old for another 2 big performances.
My team for the away leg assuming everyone is fit and available
Moss
Reid Dura Smith
Leo Locky
Ivan Weemac
Rojas Smeltz
Wood/Killen
We are actually going to be no better or worse prepared than we were in 2009 really. Go back and check some of our results from earlier that year. Lost to the likes of Thailand and Tanzania, and everybody ripped the piss out of Ricki for dancing around like a loon when we drew with Iraq at the Confeds Cup.
At least this time we will have played maybe 4 games (fingers crossed) in the 3 months prior to the first leg. In 2009 we only played once between the Confeds Cup in June and the first leg against Bahrain in October (against Jordan in September).
We are actually going to be no better or worse prepared than we were in 2009 really. Go back and check some of our results from earlier that year. Lost to the likes of Thailand and Tanzania, and everybody ripped the piss out of Ricki for dancing around like a loon when we drew with Iraq at the Confeds Cup.
At least this time we will have played maybe 4 games (fingers crossed) in the 3 months prior to the first leg. In 2009 we only played once between the Confeds Cup in June and the first leg against Bahrain in October (against Jordan in September).
