I think the secret before every Nix (M) game is to have a couple of warm ups with the AWs against Brazil!
BAZEball - The Darren Bazeley Era
Any day now surely...
Heard a rumour that DB will be announced shortly. And not the Des Buckingham DB.
NZF attempted to go for Herdman, but the contract was a stumbling block, and the fact he coaches a team already qualified for the next world cup, and hosting!
NZF attempted to go for Herdman, but the contract was a stumbling block, and the fact he coaches a team already qualified for the next world cup, and hosting!
Correct re Herdman. Was interested and AWs was a back up option for him. Will sign new Canadian deal in coming days.
Cant confirm DB but most agreed he was 3rd cab off the rank.
Cant confirm DB but most agreed he was 3rd cab off the rank.
Darren Beazley would be such an underwhelming appointment.
Darren Beazley would be such an underwhelming appointment.
Heard a rumour that DB will be announced shortly. And not the Des Buckingham DB.
NZF attempted to go for Herdman, but the contract was a stumbling block, and the fact he coaches a team already qualified for the next world cup, and hosting!
NZF attempted to go for Herdman, but the contract was a stumbling block, and the fact he coaches a team already qualified for the next world cup, and hosting!
Offer the job back to Hay.
No amount of PR will sell DB's appointment.
No amount of PR will sell DB's appointment.
Surely not... It will take some selling. What has he done as a head coach? And I'm not talking about his average age group sides that he has produced.
Who was the lad that pulled out of u20s because of the negative style of football?? Lad spent bit of time in Holland. Wynrs product? Anyway says enough really.
Who was the lad that pulled out of u20s because of the negative style of football?? Lad spent bit of time in Holland. Wynrs product? Anyway says enough really.
Uffie would make it interesting. And it ties fans into the AWs through the Phoenix.
Uffie is also the kind of guy who can connect with a wider Australasian sport public. I still remember Steven Price as a stand out pro for the Warriors, even though I don’t follow them closely. Uffie could easily build that kind of profile. And imo NZ soccer/football needs to identify itself more with Southern Hemisphere football to attract fans.
While we’ve got a big debt to the UK for our football, cultural cringing isn’t going to bring in the fans.
Uffie’s got a no nonsense manner in front of a camera. He never says something is good when it isn’t. He’s also worked with a lot of NZ’s exciting young talent. Plus it adds that dynamic for the media to talk about and cover. How will the Nix affect the AWs? How will the AWs affect the Nix? Is there favoritism? Should a player be rested? Etc etc.
But sounds like a done deal?
But apparently Paul Nevin is a top quality coach at a big club (?) now too, so don’t judge a Knight by that one game you watched them play I suppose…
Uffie is also the kind of guy who can connect with a wider Australasian sport public. I still remember Steven Price as a stand out pro for the Warriors, even though I don’t follow them closely. Uffie could easily build that kind of profile. And imo NZ soccer/football needs to identify itself more with Southern Hemisphere football to attract fans.
While we’ve got a big debt to the UK for our football, cultural cringing isn’t going to bring in the fans.
Uffie’s got a no nonsense manner in front of a camera. He never says something is good when it isn’t. He’s also worked with a lot of NZ’s exciting young talent. Plus it adds that dynamic for the media to talk about and cover. How will the Nix affect the AWs? How will the AWs affect the Nix? Is there favoritism? Should a player be rested? Etc etc.
But sounds like a done deal?
But apparently Paul Nevin is a top quality coach at a big club (?) now too, so don’t judge a Knight by that one game you watched them play I suppose…
Is it West Ham he's involved with? And was involved with England national team at world cup... surely that makes him a more appealing coach the DB.
Surely not... It will take some selling. What has he done as a head coach? And I'm not talking about his average age group sides that he has produced.
Who was the lad that pulled out of u20s because of the negative style of football?? Lad spent bit of time in Holland. Wynrs product? Anyway says enough really.
Who was the lad that pulled out of u20s because of the negative style of football?? Lad spent bit of time in Holland. Wynrs product? Anyway says enough really.
Jack van Luijken. Funnily enough he's back in the fold now, still young enough. Signed for Bay Olympic this season
No this was with the group that had the world cup here.
Darren Beazley would be such an underwhelming appointment.
Finances are an obvious factor, they have a budget and can't really deviate too far from it, certainly not tripling or more the salary. That would rule a lot of the 'bigger' names out. Even then, coaches get paid what they're worth for the most part, so for the money on offer there's unlikely to be a plethora of top level coaches lining up. That leaves the people with lower demands due to their own lower demand; either over the hill, start-ups or coaches with only lower-level experience. In some respects the devil you know is better, which is probably why knowledge of the NZ scene was all but a prerequisite. NZF would be especially cautious of that given how Fritz Schmid's tenure - or lack of - went.
The reality is, it's always going to be maligned because people's expectations outweigh the realities in every facet of New Zealand football.
No this was with the group that had the world cup here.
Darren Beazley would be such an underwhelming appointment.
Finances are an obvious factor, they have a budget and can't really deviate too far from it, certainly not tripling or more the salary. That would rule a lot of the 'bigger' names out. Even then, coaches get paid what they're worth for the most part, so for the money on offer there's unlikely to be a plethora of top level coaches lining up. That leaves the people with lower demands due to their own lower demand; either over the hill, start-ups or coaches with only lower-level experience. In some respects the devil you know is better, which is probably why knowledge of the NZ scene was all but a prerequisite. NZF would be especially cautious of that given how Fritz Schmid's tenure - or lack of - went.
The reality is, it's always going to be maligned because people's expectations outweigh the realities in every facet of New Zealand football.
Darren Beazley would be such an underwhelming appointment.
Finances are an obvious factor, they have a budget and can't really deviate too far from it, certainly not tripling or more the salary. That would rule a lot of the 'bigger' names out. Even then, coaches get paid what they're worth for the most part, so for the money on offer there's unlikely to be a plethora of top level coaches lining up. That leaves the people with lower demands due to their own lower demand; either over the hill, start-ups or coaches with only lower-level experience. In some respects the devil you know is better, which is probably why knowledge of the NZ scene was all but a prerequisite. NZF would be especially cautious of that given how Fritz Schmid's tenure - or lack of - went.
The reality is, it's always going to be maligned because people's expectations outweigh the realities in every facet of New Zealand football.
“What we’ve built in the last 15 months here, I’m now looking forward to building upon it..” 💙@DesBuckingham sat down to chat with us after extending his stay with #TheIslanders 🗣️#Des2025 #MumbaiCity #AamchiCity 🔵 pic.twitter.com/fMu4lb4p9Q
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) January 5, 2023
Get Des to do a job share.
Another option is get Bazeley in till 2025. And after a poor run of results. Buckingham comes in and saves the day post Mumbai contract.
If I had to pick between Bazeley and Uffie, I'd go Uffie 100 times out of 100. I'm not for a split job situation. But with the amount the All Whites play, it can be done.
Would also secure his services at the Nix for the next 4 years (pending results there of course) but there are good enough assistants there to get the job done too if he needs to jump off early for a window.
If I had to pick between Bazeley and Uffie, I'd go Uffie 100 times out of 100. I'm not for a split job situation. But with the amount the All Whites play, it can be done.
Would also secure his services at the Nix for the next 4 years (pending results there of course) but there are good enough assistants there to get the job done too if he needs to jump off early for a window.
if it is Bazeley it just shows that NZF are just not interested in progressing the men's game anymore - for years they've trotted out excuse after excuse as to why we havent had games in the windows and even more excuses as to why we've had no home games. The leadership in that organisation is sharkhouse, they've managed to screw the game in NZ - and this has been a consistent thing since the 80's, they've mismanaged funds gained from qualifying for WC and other tournaments, they've managed to alienate players with poor coaching assignments (men and women's) and all for what? Where is the forward looking development plan, where is the talk of growing the game in Oceania and making our federation actually mean something? Where is the talk about maybe merging with an asian federation or moving? None of that! why? because the fat cats at the top see the big payday from the Men qualifying for the WC becuase even the worst AW's team should beat the smallest nations' teams and with 42 teams in the WC Oceania gets 1.5 spots. Yay for us - we can line our pockets and remain passive.
No forsight - if Bazeley is the man picked for the job the AW's will be god awful!
No forsight - if Bazeley is the man picked for the job the AW's will be god awful!
Another option is get Bazeley in till 2025. And after a poor run of results. Buckingham comes in and saves the day post Mumbai contract.
If I had to pick between Bazeley and Uffie, I'd go Uffie 100 times out of 100. I'm not for a split job situation. But with the amount the All Whites play, it can be done.
Would also secure his services at the Nix for the next 4 years (pending results there of course) but there are good enough assistants there to get the job done too if he needs to jump off early for a window.
If I had to pick between Bazeley and Uffie, I'd go Uffie 100 times out of 100. I'm not for a split job situation. But with the amount the All Whites play, it can be done.
Would also secure his services at the Nix for the next 4 years (pending results there of course) but there are good enough assistants there to get the job done too if he needs to jump off early for a window.
If we got to a point say 2 years down the line and the A League decided not to break for intl's it would be a pretty difficult situation and not overly tenable. Which is a shame.
Man I wasn't a fan of the idea of Talay taking charge but if it's between him and Bazeley I'm taking Uffie every time.
The fact that we're deciding between a really crap coach and a good coach that will share duties shows you how inept NZF are.
The fact that we're deciding between a really crap coach and a good coach that will share duties shows you how inept NZF are.
if it is Bazeley it just shows that NZF are just not interested in progressing the men's game anymore - for years they've trotted out excuse after excuse as to why we havent had games in the windows and even more excuses as to why we've had no home games. The leadership in that organisation is sharkhouse, they've managed to screw the game in NZ - and this has been a consistent thing since the 80's, they've mismanaged funds gained from qualifying for WC and other tournaments, they've managed to alienate players with poor coaching assignments (men and women's) and all for what? Where is the forward looking development plan, where is the talk of growing the game in Oceania and making our federation actually mean something? Where is the talk about maybe merging with an asian federation or moving? None of that! why? because the fat cats at the top see the big payday from the Men qualifying for the WC becuase even the worst AW's team should beat the smallest nations' teams and with 42 teams in the WC Oceania gets 1.5 spots. Yay for us - we can line our pockets and remain passive.
No forsight - if Bazeley is the man picked for the job the AW's will be god awful!
No forsight - if Bazeley is the man picked for the job the AW's will be god awful!
As for NZF not talking about moving to AFC, that's not surprising at all. It simply isn't up to them. I can't think of any reason AFC would want us, not competitively nor financially appealing. OFC also wouldn't us to leave as it'd be the beginning of the end for them, and they would be a even bigger pain for everyone in AFC. Look at the records of non-NZ OFC teams at FIFA youth tournaments, where the gap is smaller than at senior level. The only time a senior island team went to a FIFA tournament they conceded 10 to Spain and 24 in total from their three games. FIFA would scrap OFC if that happened at a World Cup as it would make a mockery of the tournament. That's not even mentioning the women's side, where the top teams could genuinely put 20 or 30 on OFC sides if they wanted to.
I'm sure NZF would want to move if they had the chance. Playing the island teams probably loses money, three of the top five crowds since 2000 have been against AFC sides and we would be good shouts to qualify out of AFC with their expanded spots. But AFC isn't a charity designed to help out NZ. We can't just go hat-in-hand and ask nicely to join their club.
As for getting games, I can only really speak post-2010, I was too young before that, but the finances are the obstacle. It's fairly cut and dry I would have thought. For the most part, the crowds don't generate enough to make it work, since 2000 there's only been seven crowds in excess of 15,000. They were comprised of three Intercontinental Playoffs, two matches against Australia and two matches against World Cup opponents in the first window post-2010 World Cup; in other words, all big draws. New Zealand isn't a big draw to play away for opponents, given the 40hrs+ travel time to/from Europe, weak side and little financial incentives, so the majority of teams that would come here are unlikely to draw massive excitement from football fans, let alone general sports fans.
I don't know if I agree with the NZF comment around mismanagement of muney, at least not based on recent history.
We've actually run a surplus some years which is pretty hard to do, just ask Rugby NZ.
We've actually run a surplus some years which is pretty hard to do, just ask Rugby NZ.
I don't know if I agree with the NZF comment around mismanagement of muney, at least not based on recent history.
We've actually run a surplus some years which is pretty hard to do, just ask Rugby NZ.
We've actually run a surplus some years which is pretty hard to do, just ask Rugby NZ.
I don't think Bazeley has given us any reason to think he might be a success. I just hope if we appoint him it is only a 2 year deal and he needs to earn the right to take us to the world cup. Especially as it sounds like Des will be free in two years and talks an awful lot about New Zealand so might be able to get him then
The last time we had a AWs coach co share with the Nix role it ended as a mess. Horror in Honiara followed by getting thrashed at the Azteca.
There were nutty selections for the Mexico series like Jeremy Christie, and Chris James recalled from the wilderness (to be fair he played well). But the lead in preparation was shambolic. A complete mess. Bad enough that afterwards Tommy Smith in absolute frustration, made himself unavailable for a few years.
But in Ricki's defence he was trying to prepare for those IC playoffs (Nov 2013) in the midst of an A League season already well underway. You just can't properly focus on the AWs, doing all the proper analysis, giving your players all the professional detail they need to prepare etc etc - juggling 2 hats.
Sure there are no more IC playoffs, and AWs basically have a free pass to 2026, but if Talay was in charge you risk again having the preparation majorly compromised heading into June-July 2026. What if the Nix are involved in the ALM playoffs, with a final series likely running into say May 2026. How can you be focusing on AWs WC leadin in that case.
This is a talented young AWs group. We want them going into their short 5 day FIFA windows, as well prepared as possible. We want them to be doing well even in friendlies and making us proud. With such short time on the grass each window, the prep beforehand is as important if not more than the limited hands on coaching time you actually have.
And what of the system Uffie loves to play. As everyone knows it takes a long time to bed in, and that's at club level where you have the players basically 24/7. Is he prepared to be flexible, given how little time he would actually have with the AWs squad?
As others have said is no gtee the ALM will always observe FIFA windows over this 4 year WC window. What if Talay gets the sack from the Nix (7 years in total at the Nix would be an unusually long time at one club for a coach). Would Talay be happy enough to lose his Nix salary & still take the AWs to the WC? No other club in the world would let him wear both hats. What if Arnold gets sacked & the Socceroos role is suddenly vacant, and FA make Uffie an offer. So then halfway through the cycle NZF are looking again for a new gaffer.
Rate Uffie as a coach. But just too much risk, could finish as a really shark outcome wearing both hats.
Pragnell has promised AWs friendlies basically every window this cycle, bar when Olywhites are trying to qualify for Paris. You'd assume the AWs coach as per Hay will also coach the OWs. There will be enough to keep a AWs coach full time occupied.
And lastly Pragnell has made it clear after the McKinnon Report, they want a 'collobrative type' as AWs coach. Make that basically a yes man, happy to sit in countless meetings with other NZF staff, including the important Technical Director. That suits a Bazeley far more than it suits a Talay. The coach can't be a lone operator, my way or the highway type like Hay. In hindsight it's a pity he couldn't put his ego aside, and at least find some compromise arrangement with his NZF employers, where he improved his 'collaboration skills'.
Buckingham would have been our first choice, Herdman our 2nd, but Bazeley it will likely be. However it's dumb to focus on how Bazeley was coaching 8 years ago in 2015. He has spent basically 2 years alongside Hay. I expect he will coach in a very similar way. He'll be smart enough to know we have the best crop of midfield players the country has ever had. Let's wait & see.
Oh & when is the TD appointment going to be announced? I thought that role was being filled first. Tumbleweeds out of Albany.
There were nutty selections for the Mexico series like Jeremy Christie, and Chris James recalled from the wilderness (to be fair he played well). But the lead in preparation was shambolic. A complete mess. Bad enough that afterwards Tommy Smith in absolute frustration, made himself unavailable for a few years.
But in Ricki's defence he was trying to prepare for those IC playoffs (Nov 2013) in the midst of an A League season already well underway. You just can't properly focus on the AWs, doing all the proper analysis, giving your players all the professional detail they need to prepare etc etc - juggling 2 hats.
Sure there are no more IC playoffs, and AWs basically have a free pass to 2026, but if Talay was in charge you risk again having the preparation majorly compromised heading into June-July 2026. What if the Nix are involved in the ALM playoffs, with a final series likely running into say May 2026. How can you be focusing on AWs WC leadin in that case.
This is a talented young AWs group. We want them going into their short 5 day FIFA windows, as well prepared as possible. We want them to be doing well even in friendlies and making us proud. With such short time on the grass each window, the prep beforehand is as important if not more than the limited hands on coaching time you actually have.
And what of the system Uffie loves to play. As everyone knows it takes a long time to bed in, and that's at club level where you have the players basically 24/7. Is he prepared to be flexible, given how little time he would actually have with the AWs squad?
As others have said is no gtee the ALM will always observe FIFA windows over this 4 year WC window. What if Talay gets the sack from the Nix (7 years in total at the Nix would be an unusually long time at one club for a coach). Would Talay be happy enough to lose his Nix salary & still take the AWs to the WC? No other club in the world would let him wear both hats. What if Arnold gets sacked & the Socceroos role is suddenly vacant, and FA make Uffie an offer. So then halfway through the cycle NZF are looking again for a new gaffer.
Rate Uffie as a coach. But just too much risk, could finish as a really shark outcome wearing both hats.
Pragnell has promised AWs friendlies basically every window this cycle, bar when Olywhites are trying to qualify for Paris. You'd assume the AWs coach as per Hay will also coach the OWs. There will be enough to keep a AWs coach full time occupied.
And lastly Pragnell has made it clear after the McKinnon Report, they want a 'collobrative type' as AWs coach. Make that basically a yes man, happy to sit in countless meetings with other NZF staff, including the important Technical Director. That suits a Bazeley far more than it suits a Talay. The coach can't be a lone operator, my way or the highway type like Hay. In hindsight it's a pity he couldn't put his ego aside, and at least find some compromise arrangement with his NZF employers, where he improved his 'collaboration skills'.
Buckingham would have been our first choice, Herdman our 2nd, but Bazeley it will likely be. However it's dumb to focus on how Bazeley was coaching 8 years ago in 2015. He has spent basically 2 years alongside Hay. I expect he will coach in a very similar way. He'll be smart enough to know we have the best crop of midfield players the country has ever had. Let's wait & see.
Oh & when is the TD appointment going to be announced? I thought that role was being filled first. Tumbleweeds out of Albany.
the thing that concersn me with Bazely is his lack of actual experience as a head coach, sure he's been in and around the youth coaching environment for NZ for years. Since 2011 he's been the U17 manager, unti 2013, he then went on the be the U20 manager till 2017. After that he's been the assistant for the AW's (2015-17), back to the U20 (20-22) as well as being Hay's assistant and he's the current assistant to the U23 squad. No real management of any team of note, and then you add to that he was part of the Hay's reign of terror which NZF didnt like, even if the players were happy enough. He just strikes me as being more of the same, the safe bet, nothing adventurous or challenging the norms. He's the lazy option, which for me stinks of NZF having switched off and basically doing the "jobs for the boys" thing they've always done.
Uffie might be a risk, but at least you know that he's gonna shake things up and try a few things different to waht has been done, NZF needs new blood and new ideas to get the AW's back into some kind of spot light.
Uffie might be a risk, but at least you know that he's gonna shake things up and try a few things different to waht has been done, NZF needs new blood and new ideas to get the AW's back into some kind of spot light.
You'd think if it was Bazely they'd have announced it. A delay in my mind means ongoing negotiations, maybe with the Pheonix or with a coach that wants more money than NZF can offer (but they might be able to sweaten the deal in other ways through sponsor and partner relationships).
Technical Director is And Boyens. High Performance manager was the vacancy and it was announced in December https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/123056?newsfeedId=1275622
You'd think if it was Bazely they'd have announced it. A delay in my mind means ongoing negotiations, maybe with the Pheonix or with a coach that wants more money than NZF can offer (but they might be able to sweaten the deal in other ways through sponsor and partner relationships).
you'd hope that was the case, but my guess is just NZF not being on the ball, or still returning from holidays or the fax being swtiched off over the holidays and someone didnt turn it back on.
Technical Director is And Boyens. High Performance manager was the vacancy and it was announced in December https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/123056?newsfeedId=1275622
https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2022/07/06/nz-footballs-gareth-jennings-to-leave-high-performance-role/
Hopefully Hansen is quickly getting up speed with some of the unique challenges facing the 2 National senior teams (AWs & Ferns) - having most of your players based overseas.
You'd think if it was Bazely they'd have announced it. A delay in my mind means ongoing negotiations, maybe with the Pheonix or with a coach that wants more money than NZF can offer (but they might be able to sweaten the deal in other ways through sponsor and partner relationships).
you'd hope that was the case, but my guess is just NZF not being on the ball, or still returning from holidays or the fax being swtiched off over the holidays and someone didnt turn it back on.
Saying that, they also played several players who were not eligible at age group level which is something that they do all the time, so maybe my confidence is misplaced.
You always lose the best candidates by delaying so I'm hopefull the delay isn't just them being useless but them aiming high(ish).
I think Bazeley will do well.
He knows the system and the players, has experience at international tournaments, has played pro, and will have contacts in and around the game which will help with organising friendlies or getting players released.
He knows NZF very well and how they operate as well as what they will be expecting after the Hay report so I don't see it as a major misstep when he is appointed.
Also, his U19s just qualified for a World Cup without conceding a single goal all tournament in trying conditions - when was the last time that happened at age grade level for an NZ team?
He knows the system and the players, has experience at international tournaments, has played pro, and will have contacts in and around the game which will help with organising friendlies or getting players released.
He knows NZF very well and how they operate as well as what they will be expecting after the Hay report so I don't see it as a major misstep when he is appointed.
Also, his U19s just qualified for a World Cup without conceding a single goal all tournament in trying conditions - when was the last time that happened at age grade level for an NZ team?
You'd think if it was Bazely they'd have announced it. A delay in my mind means ongoing negotiations, maybe with the Pheonix or with a coach that wants more money than NZF can offer (but they might be able to sweaten the deal in other ways through sponsor and partner relationships).
you'd hope that was the case, but my guess is just NZF not being on the ball, or still returning from holidays or the fax being swtiched off over the holidays and someone didnt turn it back on.
Saying that, they also played several players who were not eligible at age group level which is something that they do all the time, so maybe my confidence is misplaced.
You always lose the best candidates by delaying so I'm hopefull the delay isn't just them being useless but them aiming high(ish).
I know I'm being cycical but NZF just havent filled me with confidence over the years, so many little things which you'd expect to be done better by a professional organisation. All of these so called minor errors are not things you'd expect from any business let alone one at the top of the pile when it comes to football in NZ. I'd like to think the best and they'll announce a decent candidate soon and we'll get games in every window, maybe even some home games for the men. But, I'm not gonna bet the house or hold my breath expecting good things when they have screwed so many simple things up.
Anyone walked through the office or know of anyone who works/worked in NZF HQ? Let me tell you its one of the most dysfunctional working units in the country. Its scary i recommend you knock on the door one day.
If some one sent some one for milk they'd return with a loaf of bread.
Who ever the coach is lets give them a crack and hope its goes well. Personally as a fan I'm sick of being mucked around by this lot.
If some one sent some one for milk they'd return with a loaf of bread.
Who ever the coach is lets give them a crack and hope its goes well. Personally as a fan I'm sick of being mucked around by this lot.
I think Bazeley will do well.
He knows the system and the players, has experience at international tournaments, has played pro, and will have contacts in and around the game which will help with organising friendlies or getting players released.
He knows NZF very well and how they operate as well as what they will be expecting after the Hay report so I don't see it as a major misstep when he is appointed.
Also, his U19s just qualified for a World Cup without conceding a single goal all tournament in trying conditions - when was the last time that happened at age grade level for an NZ team?
He knows the system and the players, has experience at international tournaments, has played pro, and will have contacts in and around the game which will help with organising friendlies or getting players released.
He knows NZF very well and how they operate as well as what they will be expecting after the Hay report so I don't see it as a major misstep when he is appointed.
Also, his U19s just qualified for a World Cup without conceding a single goal all tournament in trying conditions - when was the last time that happened at age grade level for an NZ team?
Not sure how Bazeley will go if he gets the job. But strongly disagree he'll take the team back to dark age route one football.
Feel he wouldn't be a strong personality like Hay though, and may just set the team in whatever formation Chris Wood (and other senior players) push for. And that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, but you certainly have to have the strength as coach to make the tough calls like dropping senior players (which could even be Wood himself one day) - when someone else is playing better.
I think Bazeley will do well.
He knows the system and the players, has experience at international tournaments, has played pro, and will have contacts in and around the game which will help with organising friendlies or getting players released.
He knows NZF very well and how they operate as well as what they will be expecting after the Hay report so I don't see it as a major misstep when he is appointed.
Also, his U19s just qualified for a World Cup without conceding a single goal all tournament in trying conditions - when was the last time that happened at age grade level for an NZ team?
He knows the system and the players, has experience at international tournaments, has played pro, and will have contacts in and around the game which will help with organising friendlies or getting players released.
He knows NZF very well and how they operate as well as what they will be expecting after the Hay report so I don't see it as a major misstep when he is appointed.
Also, his U19s just qualified for a World Cup without conceding a single goal all tournament in trying conditions - when was the last time that happened at age grade level for an NZ team?
Anyone walked through the office or know of anyone who works/worked in NZF HQ? Let me tell you its one of the most dysfunctional working units in the country. Its scary i recommend you knock on the door one day.
If some one sent some one for milk they'd return with a loaf of bread.
Who ever the coach is lets give them a crack and hope its goes well. Personally as a fan I'm sick of being mucked around by this lot.
If some one sent some one for milk they'd return with a loaf of bread.
Who ever the coach is lets give them a crack and hope its goes well. Personally as a fan I'm sick of being mucked around by this lot.
Current NZF:
- Aided in getting the Aus-NZ Womens World Cup over the line
- Helping with establishing and funding the Phoenix womens team
- Successfully reformed and implemented a new National League format
They're far from perfect, but think it's a very easy cop-out to just blame NZF as useless/incompetent etc.
I think since Martin left, there has definitely been improvements. I reckon Pragnell is still getting to grips with the NZ football scene, but he's done not too bad to date. Another step back with Hay's messy exit aside.
If Pragnell's true to his promise and AWs get games most FIFA windows this cycle, things are looking up. NZF realistically have very limited options in getting the team play in NZ more, or in any competitive matches outside OFC. So just having the team play regularly would be a nice upside in itself. And a successful home WWC could be a boon for the sport.
If Pragnell's true to his promise and AWs get games most FIFA windows this cycle, things are looking up. NZF realistically have very limited options in getting the team play in NZ more, or in any competitive matches outside OFC. So just having the team play regularly would be a nice upside in itself. And a successful home WWC could be a boon for the sport.