He always plays well for club but doesn’t seem to offer the same result for country, I think (and I’m pretty sure I’m in the minority) he played well in the 1st game in oz but seemed more a defensive effort or moving trying to make space without much luck. Is it just squad familiarity or positioning?
As MartinB said of the AWs squad him and Garbett most love a long range ping.
But that's some pretty average defending by OB to leave him all that time & space. Great hit all the same.
Much needed win for Silkeborg, up to 10th. Danish Cup tie next.
Edit - and re his contributions for the AWs. He often seems that anonymous player, nothing too flashy. Almost the polar opposite of say Old, who can be exciting to watch. But who offers more in the overall team structure? Is it true that McCowatt has a higher work rate, and tracks back more? What does the video analyst see in the data. McC did cleverly chest and layoff for Wood in Canberra. On another day that is a goal assist.
A few months back I thought he might be on the radar of a few Championship clubs, given he finished the last Superliga season so well - lots of goals and assists at Silkeborg. But now not so sure. Maybe this is his level. No Championship oppostion would offer the same space & time as this goal verus OB.
I think he’s not a busy player like Singh in that he’s always driving at the defense. But he has a good record of goal scoring almost everywhere he’s played and he’s got excellent technique in and around the box. He’s more likely to create a good chance against high level opposition or be composed when one presents itself than many of our players.
With all the busy players we do have I feel we might need that quality in the team, even if some of the time to some of the people he doesn’t seem to be achieving much. A goal contribution every two or even three games might be critical stuff considering how difficult we’ve found scoring to be.
But Just has a pretty good left foot shot too and scored a few of late . You’d think Garbett, Just and McCowatt might be competing for two starting positions.
If everyone is fit I'd say it's 5 of Old, Just, Garbett, McCowatt & Singh competing for 2 starting spots either side of Wood.
Eli J has been in good early season form at Motherwell, so started both Socceroos matches. But he'll need to keep that up. On the bench in the SPL on the weeknd but that was likely a workload management thing.
I just don't see Bell being benched. So him, Stamenic & Thomas are all starting in midfield. When not managing workloads all three are very fit 90 min players.
The great news is based off the above is you have 3 guys (5 minus 2) coming off the bench 2nd half who can hopefully impact a game. There is goals and assists from those 5 guys against likes of Ireland (x2), China, Sweden and Ivory Coast.
Kosta in comparison has basically never done anything outside of OFC (send off against Costa Rica excepted). Him, Randall, Rufer, Elliott etc coming on against Socceroos didn't impact the games at all. There was a big noticeable drop in quality.
Anyway plenty to play for at club level over the next few months, and touch wood more players are available for the October and November windows.
I thought Singh had grabbed himself a starting spot with his performance, but is probably competing with Stamenic for that 10 spot then. I don’t think he should be out wide. Either cover for 10 or 8, if we use one.
Bell and Thomas starting 6s.
Leaving Garbett, Old, Just and McCowatt competing for the two wide positions, unless Old gets used at FB, if he has a season there, but that’s an outlier.
The only change I see to that is if we hold one of Bell or Stamenic back to give Thomas reduced minutes or some such, which seems unlikely.
It’s maddening to me how we can have such riches in our footballing stocks, but be scoring so few goals. Hopefully as the creative players climb the pyramid that improves.
I wouldn’t mind a tactical option of a two up front or at least Mata starting out-wide and moving into a front two as useful. But that won’t happen.
McCowatt & Garbett both scored screamers on the weekend. But both had the time & space you just don't get in international football against the better teams.
However yes hopefully everyone's available in October, so is some higher quality to bring off the bench.
I thought Singh had grabbed himself a starting spot with his performance, but is probably competing with Stamenic for that 10 spot then. I don’t think he should be out wide. Either cover for 10 or 8, if we use one.
Bell and Thomas starting 6s.
Leaving Garbett, Old, Just and McCowatt competing for the two wide positions, unless Old gets used at FB, if he has a season there, but that’s an outlier.
The only change I see to that is if we hold one of Bell or Stamenic back to give Thomas reduced minutes or some such, which seems unlikely.
It’s maddening to me how we can have such riches in our footballing stocks, but be scoring so few goals. Hopefully as the creative players climb the pyramid that improves.
I wouldn’t mind a tactical option of a two up front or at least Mata starting out-wide and moving into a front two as useful. But that won’t happen.
Yes our stock is higher than normal... but it is still low quality stock compared to any team really in the top 40 of the world. We shouldn't be creating much in reality given our respective qualities.
The fact that we are, is why I am quite happy with Baz.
As good as our young boys are now they’re still very early on in their journeys. They haven’t been playing at Championship/UCL/ Serie A level etc etc their whole careers.
A lot more established footballers in international football have so much more experience at those levels and environments then our boys have had. Our boys like Cacace and Stamenic for example haven’t been essential players for the clubs they’ve been at either but they will get there.
But it’s a process, they now have that responsibility with the national team that their importance is massive and when they’re not there the team can fall apart.
It’s filtering through the whole squad now too. Surman gets the armband for an MLS team. Posh fans are crying for Garbett to be their saviour. Stamenic misses one game for the Swans and fans cry for him - same with Cacace and Just.
Very short turn around so hoping everyone gets through club football sweet and sound. A short travel for our European boys who are basically all our keys guys so don’t expect many restrictions on minutes.
It’s a fascinating watch seeing what Bazeley might throw out. Feel like every window I think we have a best XI then it changes!
- CB Pairing is a question mark - GK? I think Paulsen deserves a crack in one of these games. Midfield - do we see a diamond? Or does one of Singh or Bell have to swallow the pill on the pine. Wingers - feel like Just is ahead of the pack right now. Old, McCowatt and Garbett competing for one spot at the moment imo.
Loads of questions left to be determined. Singh played on the wing vs Ireland and was great if I remember correctly so that’s not out of the equation either.
coochiee
If everyone is fit I'd say it's 5 of Old, Just, Garbett, McCowatt & Singh competing for 2 starting spots either side of Wood.
Eli J has been in good early season form at Motherwell, so started both Socceroos matches. But he'll need to keep that up. On the bench in the SPL on the weeknd but that was likely a workload management thing.
I just don't see Bell being benched. So him, Stamenic & Thomas are all starting in midfield. When not managing workloads all three are very fit 90 min players.
The great news is based off the above is you have 3 guys (5 minus 2) coming off the bench 2nd half who can hopefully impact a game. There is goals and assists from those 5 guys against likes of Ireland (x2), China, Sweden and Ivory Coast.
Kosta in comparison has basically never done anything outside of OFC (send off against Costa Rica excepted). Him, Randall, Rufer, Elliott etc coming on against Socceroos didn't impact the games at all. There was a big noticeable drop in quality.
Anyway plenty to play for at club level over the next few months, and touch wood more players are available for the October and November windows.
As well as the goal he was also to thank for OB having a man sent off when he got in front of his man hunting a ball over the top and was blatantly dragged back.
As well as the goal he was also to thank for OB having a man sent off when he got in front of his man hunting a ball over the top and was blatantly dragged back.
Maybe we need to ask a different question! Not why he’s seen as doing badly for the AWs of late, but how can we play in order to unlock his goal scoring for us?
As well as the goal he was also to thank for OB having a man sent off when he got in front of his man hunting a ball over the top and was blatantly dragged back.
Maybe we need to ask a different question! Not why he’s seen as doing badly for the AWs of late, but how can we play in order to unlock his goal scoring for us?
I think our system doesn't work for him, at all. In that first game against Aussie I think he did a lot better than people gave him credit for.. lots of running and chasing.
As well as the goal he was also to thank for OB having a man sent off when he got in front of his man hunting a ball over the top and was blatantly dragged back.
Maybe we need to ask a different question! Not why he’s seen as doing badly for the AWs of late, but how can we play in order to unlock his goal scoring for us?
I think our system doesn't work for him, at all. In that first game against Aussie I think he did a lot better than people gave him credit for.. lots of running and chasing.
And the Aussie defense is good, like any Poppa team.
Scores a hat trick against Copenhagen, to go with his man of the match award from the other day. 🥶😁
⚽️ Callum McCowatt Hatty! ⚽️
Silkeborg came from two goal down to draw 3-3 away against big dogs FC København… and look who scored all three goals 🫡#FlyingKiwispic.twitter.com/ZBViwDXDYJ
Scores a hat trick against Copenhagen, to go with his man of the match award from the other day. 🥶😁
⚽️ Callum McCowatt Hatty! ⚽️
Silkeborg came from two goal down to draw 3-3 away against big dogs FC København… and look who scored all three goals 🫡#FlyingKiwispic.twitter.com/ZBViwDXDYJ
Callum McCowatt has at least one goal contribution in four of his last five Superliga games (5G 1A) #FlyingKiwis
FCK keeper with a bit of a mare those last 2 goals.
And re YH's comment above about McC as a striker, was thinking similar. He's likely a better backup option to Wood, than Barba (does nothing really against non OFC teams) or Waine. And we have plenty of useful wide players.
Well taken hatty. Very decent opposition too and great atmosphere. Hes a decent player doing good things at a good level. Doesnt get sufficient recognition IMO compared to all the Waino love. Agree the AWs are not using him the right way.....but you could say that about Wood too.
The bro may fly under the radar, but if we are completley honest with ourselves as NZ football fans - McCowatt is the only one I can recall, barre Libby, of Des' 2019 U20 WC wonderkids squad that went to europe afterwards and has shut up and gotten on with it. Got decent consistent minutes over the course of a number of seasons at a decent level without a sniff of any melodrama or fighting for a place going on behind the scenes. I know he's not a fan-favourite come all whites selection, and I'll be the first to admit he didn't scream out "massive future talent" during his initial stint at the Nix but nonetheless all that taken in, it's probably got to count for something. It may very well turn out he has a much higher ceiling than the others who get more of our attention as fans.
Scores a hat trick against Copenhagen, to go with his man of the match award from the other day. 🥶😁
⚽️ Callum McCowatt Hatty! ⚽️
Silkeborg came from two goal down to draw 3-3 away against big dogs FC København… and look who scored all three goals 🫡#FlyingKiwispic.twitter.com/ZBViwDXDYJ
Well taken hatty. Very decent opposition too and great atmosphere. Hes a decent player doing good things at a good level. Doesnt get sufficient recognition IMO compared to all the Waino love. Agree the AWs are not using him the right way.....but you could say that about Wood too.
The other thing is that the Aussie team is better than we give them credit for. They’re a hardened bunch of pros at high levels, with the Popovic desire to never concede. Their defenders are big and athletic, and also good readers of the game.
and certainly after we surprised them at home, we weren’t getting the better of them again.
We should have buried the chances we did get while we had the chance!
