World Cup Squad Discussion

If Oughton misses out, I will probably throw my drink out of window.

You are to Duncan Oughton what WPF was/is to Mark Paston.

haha, yeah maybe but the guy has put a lot back into football and imo is better than Mulligan without a doubt.

Of course he is better than Mulligan, but that's not saying much is it?

Luckily for Ricki I'm not 18 till wednesday.... I would love to ask him though

Oughton is also probably > Christie? 

Easily.

So no Costa, anybody tell me what the go there is?
He scored so I thought he was in..

You'd have to also ask- Mulligan, Christie, Barron, Brown.

Seems odd that we suddenly need so much cover at defensive mid, and a pity that Mulligan hasn't been played in the midfield before these last two games.

I'm wondering what the case would be for taking these players. Surely it's highly unlikely that you would have two of them on the pitch at the same time. Are they claiming that Christie is cover for right back in a 442?

It seems like the first choice midfield is Brown Elliot and McG. We now have all these players providing cover for Brown. Or do you think Mully is an understudy to Elliot?

 

Thought he deserved to be in ahead of Brockie. His size must be against him perhaps, or some belief that Brockie did have such a sensational year that he gets in on the strength of his Fury form and a good Olympic campaign. He really didn't show that much yesterday, where as Costa was much more of a threat, and as you mentioned picked up a goal.

Brockie scored as well mate.

Martin B I've read a few different comments on this forum today trying to get an overall opinion & it does seem as though his size seems to be the common opinion.
Which makes me sad..
Or does Ricki have....issues with the guy?Traitor2010-05-10 16:41:50

I would of picked Costa. Poor dude. Oh well he is young and has plenty of time to show his worth.

One thing for Brockie getting ahead of Costa is that Brockie has shown a knack of doing well on the big occassion, wheras I dont think Costa has done that

Oughton is not better than Christie in Ricki's eyes and thats what counts


hepatitis2010-05-10 16:50:34

Spoonley palmed to where he was standing at the back post. Don't think he beat his man all day. He was behind Jason Hayne, Alan Pearce, Leo, Clapham and Coombes in terms of threats from midfield I thought.

But has put in some good performances over the last 2-3 years, but had a weak display at right mid for the the All Whites too I remember- maybe it was in the Confederation Cup?
martinb2010-05-10 16:56:37

Generally happy with the squad.

Costa's goal was an open goal too set up by Clapham. He did well when holding the ball up at times but didn't have much else about him. Brockie wasn't particularly brilliant either but he has more experience than Costa and is also more versatile. I had him over Costa in my preliminary 23 and was pleased when he was picked earlier today.

From what I have seen of both of them Costa is more one-dimensional, he has great speed and that is his asset where Brockie has slightly more of an all round game. That is based off very limited observation however. Costa playing along side a Fallon or Killen may have been a different story though. bopman2010-05-10 17:00:25

i like brockie over costa. costa is nippy off the mark but not fast over more than a couple of yards at A-League level. and he gets knocked off the ball too easily for me. gave away a frustrating amount of possession for phoenix. Brockie is a great technician and when he's got his confidence up he looks a good player.

Yep. never said it wasn't. But Costa had a much better game than Brockie. He was a more dangerous player running at his man, or taking the player on. As you said he held the ball up well, winning the ball in the air on several occasions and combined well in attack. He's a more dynamic player than Brockie. Just look at the tapes of Costa's 'Nix seasion v Brockie's Fury season.

It has to be down to experience, size and the fact that Brockie must be seen as cover for right midfield and striker where as Costa seems to be viewed more as a striker where we have plenty of class players. And Clapham has been selected as the player to be developed so perhaps they weren't going to take two players for development.

Hardly any of these players should get on the field, I don't see the big deal.

So stoked to hear Christie got the nod! I do admit I have a massive man crush on him though.

fairly happy with the squad but a bit Gutted oughton and james both missed out. i cannot see how riki can justify picking mulligan.

Dunc yes.  James no.

After moving to Barnet and failing it was pretty obvious James wasn't going to make it.  He's going to have to work very hard if he wants a go next time round - if we make it.

Saw Aaron Scott on the news, poor guy looked heart-broken.  I swear he wasn't far off tears.

Really hope Mulligan does himself proud.  He's taken so much recently it'd do his confidence a world of good.

Who do people think will be in the 7 announced later?  My guess which could be way off:
Spoonley, Bright, Barbarouses, Peverley, Scott, Old and one other?  What's Ellensohn doing these days?  Anything productive?  You would think Jarrod Smith has well and truly blown it.

Bit of a realisation when you see the side..

NZ football is still incredibly weak..

Scottishbhoy2010-05-10 19:01:43

Are you trying to start a riot?

In all honesty it is clear Herbert has favourites. Like clearly he has a problem with Oughton and favours Mulligan whether we like to accept it or not. Oughton not being selected makes me think the selection was based on more than just how good a player is.

Yes, because what it needs is conjecture about a subject people have no idea about the actual workings of.

I've watched ACFC and All stars games and Mulligan has looked the goods. Tim Brown has done nothing....in fact NZFC players often looked much sharper on the the park than the professionals.

So happy about the team.

Plodders is interesting. Mulligan is..... well, Lol.

Aaron Clapham. Im in love.

God you talk a load of sh*te.

NO ONE HAS EVEN SEEN OUGHTON OR JAMES PLAY!

Honestly people. Trust in Ricki, and besides you'll only know for sure if the very slim chance that anyone that isn't of the Bahrain players + Reid and Smith gets anywhere near the field.

Keep living in your dream world my friend. There comes a time when you need to open your eyes and question why Ricki has Mulligan playing over Oughton. You are ignorant to think that managers are never wrong and have no bias. Please get over yourself for once.

True,Ricki loves Mulligan so much he released him from the phoenix...after having never played him.

I find this statement somewhat ignorant. We can say this for must of the players in the squad for sure. The MLS is hardly an obsecure league and Ricki's logic is; Phoenix training > Columbus Crew training. I think we can all agree that the MLS standards are higher than the A-League's, so basically Ricki is choosing Mulligan over Oughton on personal bias/the fact he has seen Mulligan train.

Or perhaps Tony P/Terry S had to make him see sense. Ricki obviously thinks very highly of the Phoenix and considers our rejects to be better then Columbus Crew reserves. Tegal do you actually think Mulligan is better than Oughton?

I actually cant agree that its all that much better. Stop taking your opinions as fact.

I wouldnt know,I havent seen him play or train.