Ben Old started in Saint Étiennés pre season friendly against La Liga side Villareal today. I watched the game, Ben played the first half and looked OK. He’s certainly not injured as he was moving freely. Saint Étienne played well against a side that fielded at least nine internationals including Eric Bailey ex Man U and the Norwegian striker Sorloth who was second highest goal scorer in La Liga last season. SE won 3-1 which will give them loads of confidence.
Ben Old must feel like a bit of a fool, gushing about how ASSE were totally so happy for him to go to the Olympics. They straight up lied to him. They had no interest in releasing him from the start, which is fine, but they should have said so. The ankle niggle they are blaming for not releasing him was known about upon his signing, it isn't like it happened after Old's media appearances where he said he would be at the Olympics.
And also embarassing that Bazeley took so long to confirm that Old was not coming when it was clear to all that it wasn't happening a week prior to him finally admitting it.
And some here were questioning my cynism about the timing of this injury, left the nix fit and healthy, suddenly just before the olympics he has an ankle injury, which wasnt picked up in the medical tests pre-signing. PAH! absolute joke.
to be fair, Ben old himself reported a had a niggle from the nations cup and that this had been noticed in his medicals at ASSE. But even so that is no good reason to not release him for the Olympics when he played 45 minutes today & when according to Ben himself they were dead keen for him to go, even after they were aware of his niggle.
But that story is over now, as is NZ's Olympics campaign itself effectively. Cool to hear from austin111 that he looked unhindered by injury today and played ok. theprof
And some here were questioning my cynism about the timing of this injury, left the nix fit and healthy, suddenly just before the olympics he has an ankle injury, which wasnt picked up in the medical tests pre-signing. PAH! absolute joke.
I'm not really all that miffed that he's not playing at the Olympics, regardless of the circumstances around him pulling out.
The games are a great way for players in smaller leagues to get themselves noticed by bigger clubs (perfect for the NZ squad), and Oldie has clearly done enough with the Nix/NZ to get straight into the first-team plans of a top-division French team.
Now, Ben gets time to bed himself into his new team environment properly, and a travelling reserve gets the call-up into the NZ squad and gets the opportunity to showcase himself on a global stage. Win-win.
Let's face it - the squad WILL be weaker without him in the team, but let's not delude ourselves into thinking we were EVER in contention for a medal!!
Well, we were pretty damn close to a medal last time, and if we had Stamenic, Old, Wood, Payne & Cacace we would have been just as likely to get one this time, if not more. Though Old in isolation wouldn't have made much of a difference. dunnix
I'm not really all that miffed that he's not playing at the Olympics, regardless of the circumstances around him pulling out.
The games are a great way for players in smaller leagues to get themselves noticed by bigger clubs (perfect for the NZ squad), and Oldie has clearly done enough with the Nix/NZ to get straight into the first-team plans of a top-division French team.
Now, Ben gets time to bed himself into his new team environment properly, and a travelling reserve gets the call-up into the NZ squad and gets the opportunity to showcase himself on a global stage. Win-win.
Let's face it - the squad WILL be weaker without him in the team, but let's not delude ourselves into thinking we were EVER in contention for a medal!!
Old played 20 minutes off the bench in a box to box central midfield role. Nothing spectacular, Getafe beat Ettienne 1-0. That said the style and speed of football is vastly different to what he was playing in NZ.
What are you using to keep up with them? I found the Getafe game from Getafe’s end just from a YouTube search. This friendly though seems super hush hush considering its limited online footprint in English.
What are you using to keep up with them? I found the Getafe game from Getafe’s end just from a YouTube search. This friendly though seems super hush hush considering its limited online footprint in English.
68 minutes for Ben tonight. Nothing spectacular, but against a good Monaco side he definitely didn't look out of place. Had a strong run which kick started a good chance, wasn't afraid to have a shot, and put himself about. Really positive start to life in Ligue 1, considering the gulf in class with the ALM
What are you using to keep up with them? I found the Getafe game from Getafe’s end just from a YouTube search. This friendly though seems super hush hush considering its limited online footprint in English.
Didnt notice this sorry, but was twitter/x and use the translate function
Calling all fans in Japan, come down and support the mighty nix in Osaka
