The Road To Brazil 2014 via Wellington feat. Mexico

I had wondered that but then you would not write an article like that based on what he makes up in his mind and what he reads on YF.

He has done it in the past so I suppose.....

Surely if we look to play at the moment we are doomed, the only way to do it is park the bus and long ball it in. If we get to the world cup then we can maybe look to play the ball on the ground and keep some possession.

If we want to move forward and play the type of football that everyone wants us to play then we will need to look for a different coaching option - I doubt Football NZ has the money to get anyone of any sort of pedigree but I'm wondering if they could do a deal with an ASB Premiership side similar to what Ricki had with the Phoenix. Someone like Ramon Tribulietx?

Ramon would be a good right hand man to a gaffer. Very very good tactical analysis of play (Like Trani or Blanco)

The article has no quotes and is another terrible example of opinion as news from Sam. When you can't even be bothered trundling out Sam Malcomson to say something negative that's just lazy.

It seems to me Sam got beaten to the Trinidad & Tobogo scoop by Michael Brown and his editor told him he better pull finger or he'll spend the rest of his career writing about Anna Guy. So he throws this bunch of crap together.

Poor preparation? It could always be better but people need to be realistic about what NZF can actually do. We can't make countries play us, particularly the few it would be really handy to play. The fact is we played one game in the four months before the away game in Bahrain in 2009. This time around we will have played five, including three full internationals. A significant improvement.

Injuries? Not much anyone can do about that.

Lack of confidence in the coaching staff? Maybe some players do, but this happens the world over, professional players just need to pull their shit together. If the senior players are planning to form a leadership group to support Winston Reid that's great but isn't that exactly what they should be doing anyway? I'm more concerned as to why they haven't previously thought this necessary.

I also find it a bit weird that we are now moving into the one phase of the campaign where Ricki Herbert is completely entitled to say "I have a track record here, I know what needs to be done, just leave me alone to do it", and yet there seems to be so much negativity. A great build-up was never going to transform our team into world-beaters anyway. Our tactics in these two games actually need to be very simple and, in the first game at least, are pretty well aligned with Ricki's strengths.

That said, I completely agree with bringing in Nelsen if possible, as long as it doesn't cause more problems than it's worth.

Well if the serfs are revolting and those are names to be in we are doomed....to much trial and error to late.

RH said on Telfer's football hour this morning that the teamw as being named around midday today. anyone heard anything?

whether true or not, can't say I'm confident we won't be pants

I'm not confident we won't be pants either, but because we actually are pants, rather than "we're good but NZF have stuffed this up and now we're gonna be pants"

Depending on the opposition we get I reckon we've got about a 20-40% chance of going through. The major variable in the equation for us is luck, just like it was in 2009.

I'm still optimistic though. 20-40% is well worth having a go.

OFC are calling it a week long training camp:

"Whilst in camp, the All Whites will also play two matches against Mexican and US club opposition to allow coach Ricki Herbert one last chance to work through his on-field options for the penultimate international before November."

http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/d459f881-87d8-418e-a67c-cb7ce31f458f/language/en-US/Default.aspx

selection trials more like.

At the end of this campaign, heads must roll for what has been a shambolic 18 months for the national side.

Next question. What if Ernie does the same? He doesn't work for NZF and is only obligated to produce results for his employer.... No conflict of interest there

Can't understand all the agro, NZ Football has been like this for 40 years. Nothing has changed.

Because no-one who has watched a team coached by Ricki Herbert in the past 2 seasons would buy that?

Bahrain was a very special set of circumstances.  They were really a pretty average side, if they'd beaten us they'd still have been the weakest team at the tournament by a long way.  They have no real football history or culture, no proper professional league and are a country of 1.2mn people.  The away leg was the opposite of intimidating.  This game is such a completely different proposition

Team out tomorrow.

You can remove Payne and Smeltz from that list because they're still injured. Also Rojas is unlikely to travel as he's not match fit. While Chris James is in doubt due to an injury picked up a couple of weeks ago which forced him out of the Finnish Cup final last weekend. Craig Henderson though is fit and started the last few weeks for Mjallby in Sweden including playing the full 90 last weekend v Malmo. Apart from Reid in the EPL or Wood in the Championship, Henderson is playing in the best league of all the All Whites on your list. I'd have him in the midfield ahead of Clapham say. I believe Henderson is likely to be picked for these games, especially with James and Payne struggling with injury.

Dan Keat, who is on your list, is another midfield option but he only returned to playing in the Swedish Second Div. mid-September for Falkenbergs and recently has only been used sparingly as a late sub as he builds to full fitness. His club lead their league and seem certain for promotion to the Swedish First Div. with four games left.

Latest on Rojas from the Guardian, UK today: " "I just take it day by day. At the moment with my foot, it's difficult to say. Once I think I can get through a whole week, or a whole two weeks of training without pain or without having to take any precautions during training, then I think I'll have the base of training to be able to push on." Won't be in the squad yet, for sure. 

Los Angeles Cup tournament featuring the All Whites is being televised - so hope Sky picks it up. Seems to be quite a big well-run club tournament. I'm confused by the fact all US reports refer to the AW's v Chivas USA being at LA Coliseum (one of the biggest stadia in California) whereas NZ reports refer to "East LA College".

I saw our Mexican opponents Querétaro on "ESPN FC" highlights show on ESPN Monday and they looked a very good side - some stunning goals in the game highlights shown. A top Mexican club side will give us good opposition. And Chivas USA have a lot of capable experienced players, many from the parent club Chivas Guadalajara and Central and South America

http://www.hbnews.us/communit4.html

"LA Cup games will be held on October 9, 2013 at Citrus College in a doubleheader: the New Zealand National Team will face Querétaro FC at 7:00 pm and Veracruz FC vs. Chivas USA at 9:00 pm..

The second date will be Saturday, October 12, 2013 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a quadruple header. LA United vs Chi vas USA U-23 's play League regular season on the coast, Veracruz vs Alianza FC of El Salvador ; Queretaro vs another MLS team to named later and Chivas USA vs New Zealand. The games will be televised."

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyBFGRqfrqg

STAR PLAYERS V ALL WHITES:

QUERETARO FC (Mexico): Esteban Paredes (30 cap Chile international striker, top-scorer in Mexico last season)

Luis Ernesto Pérez - 69 cap former Mexico international midfielder has appeared in the World Cup Finals

Leandro Gracián - top Argentinian midfielder ex- Boca Juniors, Independiente and Velez Sarsfield (> 200 apps in Argentinian league)

CHIVAS USA:  Carlos Bocanegra - 110 cap USA legend , ex- Fulham, Rangers, Rennes, Saint Etiennes

Tilson Oswaldo Minda - Ecuador international midfielder

Steven Purdy Ramos - current El Salvador international defender (ex-1860 Munich, Germany)

Carlo Franco Chueca - new 21 year-old Peruvian midfielder signed from Belgium (Anderlecht, Mons)

Five players on loan from Chivas Guadalajara, the Mexican parent club, with hundreds of appearances between them in the Mexican league. 

Manager - José Luis Real since May (former successful Chivas Guadalajara manager - runner-up Copa Libertadores 2010)

Of course, there was a NZ connection at Chivas USA when Simon Elliott played 24 games in 2011 and was on the coaching staff 2012, and Andy Boyens was also on the roster in 2011 (12 apps). 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9241288/Players-right-behind-Herbert-says-NZF-boss/

Seems that the Saudi Tournament didn't exactly get the big thumbs up from the players - not unsurprising.  You'd wonder if you were a player whether truly the association is giving you the support needed to qualify.  It seems like there are some issues there

With the names mentioned yesterday as to whom is being included Roux didn't come up.

I\d be surprised and disappointed if he didn't get a all up being the only current professional RB we have. (I don't include Fenton there yet)

Would be perfect opportunity to try Roux in those two clubs games at the very least. I mean apparently his form for CCM is superb pre-season and we have no RB.

Also can we not have Christie, Peverley or Butler anywhere near the team? Surely with Vicelich, James, Keat, Clapham, McGlinchey & Howieson we're covered? Hell why not take Ridenton to try in those club games also before he heads to U17 WC. That kid is the future along with Alex Rufer

Christie is a national fuckin icon. He will start.

I had a reply written but it crashed. Fuck it!!!

Short version is that maybe for the 1st game against a club team but I'm still not of the opinion its his time just yet. Its not far away though.

I think the timing is perfect, we don't have RB, he is RB, he playing awesome, our fill in RB's play Shiite, enough said :)

Also why is everyone panicking about the player dissent? It worked well for us last time didn't it? 

No team released yet your awesome at stuff nzf

LOL de Jong getting all uppity......"what good would it do us playing Brazil or Spain" in todays Doompost. No one is asking you to play Brazil or Spain you muppet!!!

Obviously NZF is feeling the heat...and fair enough too! You can understand the players frustrations as well. They know whats going down. Imagine being a player trying to get your head around the last 18 months. Imagine seniors players reactions when they hear stuff like..."Killen/Dura will be playing DM"....WTF. Then they only find out the schedule for this tour last Wednesday. Some of Worthlesstons stuff is a beat up but its obvious there are some unhappy people out there.

So now there are doubts about McClinchey  being released only for the T & T game. LOL what did NZF expect....why should a club lose a player for non internationals....next thing Victory will hold back Costa.