I have yet to see anyone saying it's not time for a change.
The arguments seem to be that Ricki should be sacked for not playing the U20 squad and not playing like Spain - at altitude in front of 100000 against a side who are light years better than us. Us 'part time fans' don't think that is a fair assessment.
For the first 30 minutes the plan he used (the right plan) worked and then we made stupid errors. Sure there are a couple of selection questions (for me Ivan should have played in midfield and Siggy should have played ahead of plodder, and I have no idea what the story is with Fitzgerald) but for me the tactics were our only option. The tactics were not for our defenders to fuck up, and I'm sure they were meant to have a more controlled possession when they did win it. Unfortunaely the simple facts are that we are not that good. As Evald sais the sudden expectation that a side who couldn't string three passes together against New Caledonia should suddenly be able to do that against Mexico is laughable.
There are a generation of people that jumped on the bandwagon in 2009 and now think that is the norm. SInce then we have lost Nelsen, Elliot and Brown (our entire competent midfield) and were missing Reid (and to a lesser extent Payne). The nation and a pile of johnny-come-lately football fans have delusions of adequacy about this side and the depth and quality of footballers we have available.
Last time I checked the U20 players people are advocating start achieved exactly what at the U20 world cup? This is real football, not kids football yet people are saying that even though they were poor at the U20 world cup they would have been more competitive than the experienced players we used?
Please.
This
There are plenty of post WC supporters who actually don't really get how poor NZ football is or has been. Drawing against Italy in a WC is NOT the norm. IMO Roux and Tuiloma are certainly too young and inexperianced to have played at the Azteca.
However what really bugs me about the Mexico game is because of some intangible reason know only in Ricki world we chose to leave fully fledged professionals playing in reasonable leagues out of the team. Instead Ricki went back and selected amateurs from the local domestic league....including players that he dropped or would not select for the Nix(Christie, Clapham) I just don't get it....and I guess we will never know why.
I don't think we could have got even a draw in Mexico but IMO we could have come closer with different players....and a possible 1-3 result would have given us some hope for Wellington.
I know this would never happen under Ricki but personally I would have had Fitzgerald in for Ivan at CB. Fitz is starting J league level....every week marking quick agile players(like the Mexicans). Anyone would have been better than Christie but I would have have gone for Keat as the next best option. He was coming back from injury during the warmups so was not in top form but he recovered and played the full 90 in his pro clubs last two games at the end of October. I would also have played Henderson instead of Brockie. I have watched Henderson this year....he is a good pro, starting and scoring throughout the season. IMO Brockie is not an international class player, low work rate, was invisble again in Mexico. Zero goals in 40??? games says it all. Henderson has a much better range of overall skill.
I guess what I am getting is we had experianced professional players available who may not have won us the game but they would possibly put us in a better position for the second leg.....and non of them are U20's. We did not use our limited player resources as well as we might
Hard News - surely it's time to change coach after the mediocre selections, tactics and results under Herbert post 2010.
I understand what you're saying about the uninformed masses now expecting too much from the AW's based upon a lucky run of results in 2009-2010, the Mexicans being much better than us, our limited player pool, need for defensive tatics etc.
But surely the Oceania Nations Cup last year and his poor player selections and tactics at the Phoenix showed the guy had lost the plot - the AW's play so seldom, he's lost his focus and become lazy in his player choices and tactics. Maybe he's become over-familiar with the players in the sense of "we're all best mates" - judging from moments in the "Undefeated" 2010 World Cup DVD he likes that "matey" style. Perhaps it worked once but maybe it's lead to a lack of discipline and mental toughness more recently amongst the players and between the player sand staff.
As Ricki said post-match: [But] I stand by my selections; it is my responsibility to pick the team and that is where the accountability sticks.''
I agree with this comment from Worthington on the Stuff website this afternoon:
"
Herbert was once able to fire up his players by instilling a siege mentality in the dressing room.But the same message over and over becomes tired and stale and NZ Football now has an opportunity to promote technical ability instead of physical...."
Even Tommy Smith, the captain at the Azteca criticized the tactics used -so something must be wrong in terms of the players respecting Herbert's tactics and approach. See these comments from Smith:
Poor judgement in picking players like Jeremy Christie is unforgiveable.
All credit to Ricki for what he's achieved in the past though and I'm looking forward to a better sowing in Wellington - hope people still get in behind the team. I see a win as possible with the right attitude and team selection if we play well (and if Mexico don't travel well).
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
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