World Cup Squad Discussion

With it being a generation later than 82 does anyone have stats on players who parents were born overseas?

Just to clarify. I don't actually care where the players were born. Just interested. Hell, I was born in England and I'm as Kiwi as it comes.Toffeeman2010-05-14 20:36:51

Know what you are saying, but if it was you, I bet you would make the same move, I know I would

Awww come on, the reason why FIFA voted to change the rules was because there was a large difference between the top countries hogging the best players and the rest.

The African countries felt that they had no access to players that had played with top countries in the age group internationals and but never was going to be in that country's national team. Hence there were amazing group of players that are capable of playing internationals with their country but will never get the chance. Because as young players, they were unable to represent their home country because there are lack of football system to progress in (in their home countries) and also being immature players not having the mind of mature adult to make decision.

They were also prone to club influences and other dynamics in the top countries football system that they would never have got at their home country and they need to have grab chances for their own professional development and for their future careers.

There should be no shame for desiring that career promotion but at the same time, they should not be punished for bettering themselves in the professional environment of football and taking advantage of what is offered in the top footballing countries.

Don't get caught up with the so called morals of eligibility, these players all want to play at the highest levels that they can be.

Once a player has played for the national team of a country, he is stuck playing for that country for life and that is a good enough commitment and passion involved in that decision because it is no means a light decision.

You make some good points but i think that what you are doing is likening international football to club football.

Club football is all about mercenaries changing teams for the $$$ and in the process not showing loyalty to anyone. Ideally international football should be different. You are either a Kiwi or you aren't, you shouldn't be able to switch allegiance to a country easily. I know there is residency rule (5 years is it?) but that really isnt very long. Further there are many who quite naturally have allegiance to more than one country. I'd feel okay about Tommy Smith had he not gone back and played for Englands age teams.....

Timmy Cahill played for Samoa as a boy and is now Australias best player - he shouldn't be penalised for doing what any other young kid would have done. BUt after that he chose Australia and stuck with it. Tommy Smith is trying to play it both ways...

Having said all that, I don't blame Ricki for picking him and I will certainly cheer him on!

if Tommy Smith had not been a good footballer he probably would have still be living in NZ. His family emigrated to NZ. The fact that he went back to the UK was because he was spotted for his football talent. He was scouted and offered a trial which turned into a contract.

^^^excellent post

^^exactly

Good to get some common sense on this Zinidane. I support them all, they qualify, they commit,  I will shout their name out loud

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/all-whites/3703321/Wynton-Rufer-blasts-All-Whites-Cup-snubs

saw this article on the front page. So is Wynton right? has anyone seen these players in action that have missed out? If they are indeed good then it is a real shame. Especially since I thought Ricki was looking for more "lost" kiwis.

It's a beat up. 

Yes they are vaguely on the books of professional clubs but they are nowhere near the first team.  A number of them are known to NZ football as they have played youth for NZ but some of them are only 17 years old.  Maybe in the future but not this time around.

Also, despite the impression the article gives many of them haver spent a week at WYNRS which seems to be enough for Wynton to claim them as his discoveries.

Seems like Wynton being Wynton.
What makes him think that NZF/Ricki isn't aware of them, he is more likely of the opinion that they aren't yet ready.

Milne - On the books at Rangers - no game time
Marinovic - 2 matches this season for a side in the German 3rd league
Fitzgerald - appears to be on loan to their feeder side in the third tier of the Japanese league system

God forbid we pick someone playing in New Zealand over some of these guys who are obviously dominating the big leagues. (Not knocking them, i'm sure they all have the potential to be very good players, and represent NZ in the future, knocking the sense of cultural cringe that Wynton seems to have that training and playing in lower tier leagues overseas automatically means you are more deserving than a local player.)

I knew you guys would know.

so who are the other 4 names on his list? There weren't mentioned in the article.   And wasn't Chris Wood always going to make the squad so what was he doing on his list?

It's funny when I started reading I thought he was gonna start talking about Oughton or James, then  I read those names and thought who???? I thought there had to be some reason why they weren't picked and coming on here explained why...

I'm loving all this attention the AW's are getting, any media is good media IMO.

Yeah... I have a lot of respect for Wynton, but he may have a personal interest or two in promoting the players. Pretty poor journalism not pointing out the crossover between the names mentioned and those from his academy. Or perhaps asking if a family member is on the submitted list.

http://www.wynrs.co.nz/Players/internationalplayers.html

With due respect to his views - there is certainly some promising talent - but those players have a chance to put their hand up and push on in future qualifying efforts, without Ricki culling a nearly a third of the team on Rufer's say so.

I'm not surprised by Ricki not replying to Rufer. He's at the pointy end of a bloody WC campaign and, frankly, Rufer simply comes across as an aggressive and whinging player agent.*KR*2010-05-16 15:34:16

I don't think that the names he mentioned deserved a look in, however, after the WC and in future campaigns maybe then they can be looked at.

Wynton Rufer + Sunday News = Trainwreck!!

Not a fan of Wynton post playing days. He still wants recognition for his career and hes never afraid to talk about himself. And because of his career he thinks Ricki has to listen to him.  Hes not on the coaching staff so his opinions on the squad should mean nothing to Ricki. This article comes across as Wynton winging again. A joke just like Wynrs.

HN can you give us a profile on those unknowns? Milne and Wood are the only names i recognise..

Mironivic played for Waitak a season or 2 ago if I'm not mistaken.

Thie is a blatant Wynrs marketing exercise, and also attention-seeking. All 4 named players named in the article are ex-Wynrs, so it is safe to assume all 7 players in Wynton's list are ex-Wynrs. Chris Wood has been included in the list - not because he is contracted to a club in the Championship, and has impressed in games for the All Whites - but because he is an ex-Wynrs player.

The named players include:

An 18 year-old who played for NZ in the FIFA U17 World Cup last year - probably well-known to NZF coaches (incl Ricki) and not up to World Cup selection at this stage in his career

A 19 year-old playing 3rd tier in Germany, and as a goalkeeper - a position where experience counts

A player in Japan who has just been loaned out to a 4th division team.

WYNRS, always thought it was pronounced 'Whiners'.

Learn something everyday... Good info btw (Seatts, Mike)

"Wyntons list"....politics I suspect just like Brian Turners go last week..let the football begin.

Really ?

We have a competiton for number three which goes to the person least not good enough, and take a player who can only play one match.  I'd say it's one of our biggest problem areas.

Hopefully this lad escapes the Rufer shadow and with Jake Gleeson improves to be genuine international quality keepers.

I was about to talk to Rufer today when a message came through that Herbert had called and wanted Rufer to return his call straight away.  He didn't look happy and when he shook my hand it was the firmest handshake I've ever received (not quite painful, but not far off).  Possibly to do with this?

I meant in terms of talent News,

Relative to New Zealands keeping depth, but not relevant to say Australia as an example.

I love Pasty and Moss, Jimbo has his moments as does Spoons but none of them would make Australias top 20 keepers and that has to be a concern.

Hopefully Gleeson or Marinovic or others (jury out on Turipa so far here in Wellington) make the step-up and raise that bar some.  Apart from Nutting at his best we haven't had a keeper good enough to play at a reasonable level for 20-25 years.

Paston will turn 34 this year.

With the squad discussion, Duncan Oughtoun is a very harsh omission. As far as the cup goes, i'd love to see McGlinchey start, he had a whale of a season at CCM and by all accounts did well in his loan at Motherwell. Also made a huge impact when coming on versus Mexico. 

Can't have done that well at Motherwell, barely got a game and 1 start only to be pulled at half time.

Uh Oh. Another please explain situation

[QUOTE=Hard News]Relative to New Zealands keeping depth, but not relevant to say Australia as an example.

I love Pasty and Moss, Jimbo has his moments as does Spoons but none of them would make Australias top 20 keepers and that has to be a concern.

Wow, surely that has to be an exaggeration!!

I started with 10, then realised I could name 10 and I don't know all the Aus keepers out there so went to twenty.

Simon Plumb is nothing but a troll. Remember him trying to start a war between the Nix and the FFA over finals revenue? Now he's trying to set Wynton against Ricki. Who will he troll up next? Tell Sepp Blatter that John Terry slept with his wife?

You're assuming that one isn't true.

Back on keepers, here is a two minute brain dump:
Popular Opinion would say these would be as good or almost certainly better:
Bouzanis
Federici
Bosnich
Schwartzer
Covic
Petkovic
Petkovic
Vukovich
Theoklitos
Galekovic
Velaphi
Bolton
Jones
Kalac
Reddy

Possible (I don't rate him)
Van Stratten

Now, assuming there are a couple more young Aussies in Europe, twenty wouldn't be hard to get to.
Hard News2010-05-16 22:38:54

Sorry, are all these keepers better than our top keeper or our reserve keeper?

And is Galekovic good enough for a double mention or are there two of them?
loyalgunner2010-05-16 22:39:35

One Galekovic is a typo, two Petkovic's.  Brothers.

OK.  Fair enough list, too, though don't know if I'd agree that Velaphi is better than Paston or even an in form Moss for that matter.

Pretty well. 7 appearances as sub and one start. For a team that will be playing in the Europa League. Better than being an unattached 35 year old!

Forgot Langerak.