Kris Bright

And Bright is not playing at a level where you'd go 'oh yeah that's a quality league'

Most of the premier leagues in Europe are a good standard. They played In the Europa league this season.

It has been a few years since anyone has seen him play here (well me anyway)...maybe he is a different player?

surely Brockie would be ahead of Kris Bright? Or am I missing something.

Brockie is there but remember he plays all over the place for the AWs. Dan Keat trialed at Bright's club and didn't make the cut. Chris James from same league also being given a shot in Saudi. He has played in Finnish prem league this season but in 2011 was playing in Aussie state league and before that had 2 years not playing much at all according to Wikipedia. It's all about looking at players by the sound of it and what's wrong with that??

Maybe Kris is doing an improved Smeltzy. i.e. drifting around not really over exceeding expectations of any club and then boom. gets a game for the all whites vs wales scores 2 goals and the rest is history. funny thing was i think i remember in the game, Chris James also played out of his skin but to no avail for his fledgling career.

Also I think Smeltz was around 26 at the time.

I think you are right, Smeltz was about 26 when he scored those goals and things happened from there. There's a lot about being at the right place at the right time.

So how come he is picked this time JV?  There is a few players that RH doesn't get on with but doesn't stop him picking them..... mind you, don't think Fallon going

I've never said that Bright and Herbert don't get on and in fact Ricki has used him in the past (as stated in a couple of posts back)

You should read what's written.

I was thinking more along the lines of this all whites/nz side that was meant to take on the nix? correct me if im wrong. It wouldn't hurt to see a few overseas players in action in a unimportant match, to test their progress etc.

JV, you read what you have written. You said Chris James has been best on the park when played previously and doesn't get picked coz he doesn't get on with RIcki.... so I asked you..... WHY IS HE PICKED THIS TIME THEN?

Chris James has not been picked and won't be while Ricki is running the shop.

I say again, read what is written.

If we do make it through to next years WC surely Ricki will have to look a little wider for players. Fallon, Smeltz and Killen were never very famous for their mobility and they will all be 32 pushing 33 at the time of the WC. Time to consider some of these younger guys playing pro football in Europe...whatever the level. Craig Henderson is starting regularly and banging in the odd goal in Sweden Div 1 which is a way higher level than Finland

Chomp  Chomp  Chomp  Chomp  ....

(the sound of JV eating his words)

:-)

Ah well... RH knows best. Yeah, right

Not need to have a dig at JV james and bright is super left field and we all know it

Leftfield alright! Out of...

Dont worry, JV has a sense of humour

Don't really think you can compare players playing in different leagues in Europe. Sweden is 24th, Finland is 30th, Scotland is 18th then we have Jake playing in ASB premiership and Tim Payne playing U21s in England and the boys in A League. It does matter about the quality of the league they are playing in but everyone is spread around and it's all about the ability of the individual. Most players want to be playing in Europe

I know that someone here said Kris Bright was tapped but Chris James I thought would see an AW shirt again when it was a cold day in hell.

I retract and tip my hat to those that called it. I was well and truly wrong. 

I am very glad to see James back there again. He was quality last time he was playing for us and I guess him and Ricki must have met and smoothed the waters. Bright...well he has a chance, let's see what he has got.

James I always rated and has always had the ability - just some prolonged injuries, short-term club contracts and maybe a mental thing held him back from progressing. 

But Bright has always seemed pretty average - never set the world alight in NZ for the Knights etc. and has played for a string of minor clubs in UK and Europe.

Actually, he's hardly setting the world on fire in Finland either and has only made three sub appearances in Mariehamn's last five games - and 8 goals in 20 games this season in quite a weak league is hardly saying "you must pick me, I'm a super-star". He's only started in ten games. Mariehamn have recently made some new signings, so he's down the pecking order. Ambitious smaller club, fourth on the table.

Bright's stats: http://int.soccerway.com/players/kris-bright/72217/

Interestingly, Bright and James played against eachother on the weekend, a 3-2 win for Chris James' KuPS. 

Their relative value is perhaps summed up by the fact James played the full 90, while Bright only got 17 mins as a sub... 

http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/08/25/finland/veikkausliiga/kuopion-palloseuraoy/idrottsforeningen-kamraterna-mariehamn/1437153/

Good English site for reports on Finnish football: http://www.escapetosuomi.com/

Bright v James back in June (extended highlights): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1OLHjIq8Q4

Good luck to Kris Bright. I'm sure it's hard trying to pave a career in the dog eat dog world of professional sports.

Hope he goes ok for the AWs. 

He must be alright if he's managed to stay overseas when there's been many players who have tried and have had to come back to NZ as they couldn't get any offer.

For every good season he has had he\s had two bad ones.

I wish him luck but I am not expecting big things.

new clip: 

What clip??

Everything you ever wanted to know about Kris Bright - really comprehensive career overview and new interview by Tony Smith.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9108409/Kris-Brights-perseverance-finally-gets-rewarded

Modern relationships, eh (everyone seems to be related to everyone in football circles in NZ!!!):

 "Bright has a fine football pedigree. His father, Dave Bright, was a defender in the All Whites' World Cup finals squad in 1982. His mother, Donna, is the partner of ex-All White Chris Turner, founder of the Football Kingz' National Soccer League club. Bright's younger brother, Rory Turner, is a New Zealand age-group international, who will play for Waitakere City in next month's Chatham Cup final against Cashmere Technical, and then play at the world club cup finals with Auckland City..."

Read the article on Kris Bright. I see what people are saying, he's never stayed more than 1 year at a club. 

Is that because he was never offered an extension? I would say he probably wasn't, so you have to ask does he have the goods. Looking at his record he's not a prolific goal scorer, and whatever club he's gone to, he's never been able to get regular starts or games. (You can tell that from the number of games he's played in the season)

Thank you!

Little harsh...

He had a great year in Denmark and was in negotiation with the largest club in the league when he unfortunately broke his leg. This lead to him seeing out his contract for his then team and becoming a free agent.

Floated around for a little while and eventually got picked up by Shresbury which was a League 1 team. Not a great level but certainly better than what a lot of previous NZ footballers have ever got to. Had a series of injuries and never got a run in the first team... despite being the leading scorer for the reserves. Could have stayed on as he had another year on his contract but wanted to instead find regular footy some asked for a mutual termination.

Floated around a little while to where he is now where he has been scoring goals although has apperently fallen from favour for accepting an All Whites call (thus coming off the bench and not starting).

I don't think he's ready for the All Whites personally and needs to be playing at a higher level now given the development of NZ talen, but he is not as bad as he has been made out to be.

8 goals in 20 games many as a sub is not bad.

And if its a bad league... he probably gets bad service so I tend to think thats a slightly unfair statement. 

Aparently interest again in him in England