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BAZEball - The Darren Bazeley Era

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Posted July 06, 2023 10:29 · last edited July 06, 2023 23:24

carlind
coochiee
mrsmiis
martinb
I think it has been a tragedy losing the playoff game because a meaningful and intense game at home has been shown to get the passions of the local fans and the media going and get the crowds turning out. 

It places a lot of pressure on the Nix because they’re our only hope of seeing a good level of competitive football in NZ in a cup or finals series or down the straight of an attempt to become the Premiers. 

We could strategically lose to the Solomons in the OFC final and still play the repechage... though with Bazeley not sure if strategy will be required

The 2026 WC repecharge series will be a tourney, of about 6 teams (incl yes 2nd in OFC). Tourney likely to be in North America. The days of high stakes H&A Intercontinental Playoffs are over.

And we all know the AWs will coast through OFC qualifying when it returns to it's pre Covid H&A format. The players could literally coach themselves, and still be way too good for the Island teams.


 
Qualifying format hasn't been finalised, I don't think, it could change. There's no incentive for the other ten full members to do anything that would benefit us. Any match in New Zealand is exponentially more difficult for them to win than at home or even neutral ground in Oceania. They could theoretically push forward a new format of more centralised competition hosted in one place. The OFC Champions League was, of course, all in Vanuatu this year, and City got pushed further than ever. I'd think any other federation would have watched that with great interest.

With the intercontinental playoff previously being home/away at FIFA level, the OFC side would still have to go away if they won, now with the direct ticket, they could qualify for the World Cup without ever leaving the Tropics. Would there even be any way of stopping that? If OFC members brought it forward and it passed 10-1, FIFA could possibly just say 'the members voted for this and we respect the democratic process'. 

There are alot of things wrong with FIFA. But I'd consider it highly highly unlikely that they would allow a Confederation to 'gang up' on clearly the best nation in the tinpot OFC, and allow WC qualification and it's $15M odd payday to come down to some sham of a one off tourney.

If busy Confeds like UEFA with Nations League & Euro qualifying can also also find space for H&A WC qualifying with pools of 5-6 teams - FIFA knows OFC has plenty of time to organise proper H&A qualifying. Anything less and they leave themselves open to a $15M damages appeal/lawsuit by NZF. NZF might rightly try & lodge a case that OFC lacking integrity, be disbanded, and just gobbled up into a greater AFC.

FIFA also deep down want their new shiny 48 team WC to showcase the increasing depth in world football, with lots of close games. They don't want Fiji rocking up and being thrashed 12-0 by Germany. 

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Unknown editor edited July 06, 2023 23:24
carlind
coochiee
mrsmiis
martinb
I think it has been a tragedy losing the playoff game because a meaningful and intense game at home has been shown to get the passions of the local fans and the media going and get the crowds turning out. 

It places a lot of pressure on the Nix because they’re our only hope of seeing a good level of competitive football in NZ in a cup or finals series or down the straight of an attempt to become the Premiers. 

We could strategically lose to the Solomons in the OFC final and still play the repechage... though with Bazeley not sure if strategy will be required

The 2026 WC repecharge series will be a tourney, of about 6 teams (incl yes 2nd in OFC). Tourney likely to be in North America. The days of high stakes H&A Intercontinental Playoffs are over.

And we all know the AWs will coast through OFC qualifying when it returns to it's pre Covid H&A format. The players could literally coach themselves, and still be way too good for the Island teams.


 
Qualifying format hasn't been finalised, I don't think, it could change. There's no incentive for the other ten full members to do anything that would benefit us. Any match in New Zealand is exponentially more difficult for them to win than at home or even neutral ground in Oceania. They could theoretically push forward a new format of more centralised competition hosted in one place. The OFC Champions League was, of course, all in Vanuatu this year, and City got pushed further than ever. I'd think any other federation would have watched that with great interest.

With the intercontinental playoff previously being home/away at FIFA level, the OFC side would still have to go away if they won, now with the direct ticket, they could qualify for the World Cup without ever leaving the Tropics. Would there even be any way of stopping that? If OFC members brought it forward and it passed 10-1, FIFA could possibly just say 'the members voted for this and we respect the democratic process'. 

There are alot of things wrong with FIFA. But I'd consider it highly highly unlikely that they would allow a Confederation to 'gang up' on clearly the best nation in the tinpot OFC, and allow WC qualification and it's $15M odd payday to come down to some sham of a one off tourney.

If busy Confeds like UEFA with Nations League & Euro qualifying can also also find space for H&A WC qualifying with pools of 5-6 teams - FIFA knows OFC has plenty of time to organise proper H&A qualifying. Anything less and they leave themselves open to a $15M damages appeal/lawsuit by NZF. NZF might rightly try & lodge a case that OFC lacking integrity be disbanded, and just gobbled up into a greater AFC.

FIFA also deep down want their new shiny 48 team WC to showcase the increasing depth in world football, with lots of close games. They don't want Fiji rocking up and being thrashed 12-0 by Germany. 

Unknown editor edited July 06, 2023 10:33
carlind
coochiee
mrsmiis
martinb
I think it has been a tragedy losing the playoff game because a meaningful and intense game at home has been shown to get the passions of the local fans and the media going and get the crowds turning out. 

It places a lot of pressure on the Nix because they’re our only hope of seeing a good level of competitive football in NZ in a cup or finals series or down the straight of an attempt to become the Premiers. 

We could strategically lose to the Solomons in the OFC final and still play the repechage... though with Bazeley not sure if strategy will be required

The 2026 WC repecharge series will be a tourney, of about 6 teams (incl yes 2nd in OFC). Tourney likely to be in North America. The days of high stakes H&A Intercontinental Playoffs are over.

And we all know the AWs will coast through OFC qualifying when it returns to it's pre Covid H&A format. The players could literally coach themselves, and still be way too good for the Island teams.


 
Qualifying format hasn't been finalised, I don't think, it could change. There's no incentive for the other ten full members to do anything that would benefit us. Any match in New Zealand is exponentially more difficult for them to win than at home or even neutral ground in Oceania. They could theoretically push forward a new format of more centralised competition hosted in one place. The OFC Champions League was, of course, all in Vanuatu this year, and City got pushed further than ever. I'd think any other federation would have watched that with great interest.

With the intercontinental playoff previously being home/away at FIFA level, the OFC side would still have to go away if they won, now with the direct ticket, they could qualify for the World Cup without ever leaving the Tropics. Would there even be any way of stopping that? If OFC members brought it forward and it passed 10-1, FIFA could possibly just say 'the members voted for this and we respect the democratic process'. 

There are alot of things wrong with FIFA. But I'd consider it highly highly unlikely that they would allow a Confederation to 'gang up' on clearly the best nation in the tinpot OFC, and allow WC qualification and it's $15M odd payday to come down to some sham of a one off tourney.

If busy Confeds like UEFA with Nations League & Euro qualifying can also also find space for H&A WC qualifying with pools of 5-6 teams - FIFA knows OFC has plenty of time to organise proper H&A qualifying. Anything less and they leave themselves open to a $15M damages appeal/lawsuit by NZF.

They also deep down want their new shiny 48 team WC to showcase the increasing depth in world football, with lots of close games. They don't want Fiji rocking up and being thrashed 12-0 by Germany. 

Unknown editor edited July 06, 2023 10:30
carlind
coochiee
mrsmiis
martinb
I think it has been a tragedy losing the playoff game because a meaningful and intense game at home has been shown to get the passions of the local fans and the media going and get the crowds turning out. 

It places a lot of pressure on the Nix because they’re our only hope of seeing a good level of competitive football in NZ in a cup or finals series or down the straight of an attempt to become the Premiers. 

We could strategically lose to the Solomons in the OFC final and still play the repechage... though with Bazeley not sure if strategy will be required

The 2026 WC repecharge series will be a tourney, of about 6 teams (incl yes 2nd in OFC). Tourney likely to be in North America. The days of high stakes H&A Intercontinental Playoffs are over.

And we all know the AWs will coast through OFC qualifying when it returns to it's pre Covid H&A format. The players could literally coach themselves, and still be way too good for the Island teams.


 
Qualifying format hasn't been finalised, I don't think, it could change. There's no incentive for the other ten full members to do anything that would benefit us. Any match in New Zealand is exponentially more difficult for them to win than at home or even neutral ground in Oceania. They could theoretically push forward a new format of more centralised competition hosted in one place. The OFC Champions League was, of course, all in Vanuatu this year, and City got pushed further than ever. I'd think any other federation would have watched that with great interest.

With the intercontinental playoff previously being home/away at FIFA level, the OFC side would still have to go away if they won, now with the direct ticket, they could qualify for the World Cup without ever leaving the Tropics. Would there even be any way of stopping that? If OFC members brought it forward and it passed 10-1, FIFA could possibly just say 'the members voted for this and we respect the democratic process'. 

There are alot of things wrong with FIFA. But I'd consider it highly highly unlikely that they would allow a Confederation to 'gang up' on clearly the best nation in the tinpot OFC, and allow WC qualification and it's $15M odd payday to come down to some sham of one off tourney.

If busy Confeds like UEFA with Nations League & Euro qualifying can also also find space for H&A WC qualifying with pools of 5-6 teams - FIFA knows OFC has plenty of time to organise proper H&A qualifying. Anything less and they leave themselves open to a $15M damages appeal/lawsuit by NZF.

They also deep down want their new shiny 48 team WC to showcase the increasing depth in world football, with lots of close games. They don't want Fiji rocking up and being thrashed 12-0 by Germany.