I'm dead serious. I've watched a few SPL games live and there is no real gap to the A-League. There might be a very small gap with Rangers and Celtic but it's tiny. SPL teams are not European or World powers houses. A-League teams simply have to defend crosses into the box and that will stop 98% of their goal threat.
Absolutely well deserved move. Over the moon for the lad! He must be quite the determined kid with a lot of self belief. Very impressive following the journey he's been on throughout his career. Exceptional effort to have started out in the fifth teir and manage to plug away at his craft and rise through the leagues all the way to the premiership.
With a hearty thick Jock accent he did mention in his opening interview he's hoping the move will help put him in contention for the All Whites selection. A bit of congestion ahead of him but one to watch for, for when Boxall decides to call it a day. If only he could play right back?
Absolutely well deserved move. Over the moon for the lad! He must be quite the determined kid with a lot of self belief. Very impressive following the journey he's been on throughout his career. Exceptional effort to have started out in the fifth teir and manage to plug away at his craft and rise through the leagues all the way to the premiership.
With a hearty thick Jock accent he did mention in his opening interview he's hoping the move will help put him in contention for the All Whites selection. A bit of congestion ahead of him but one to watch for, for when Boxall decides to call it a day. If only he could play right back?
The 2026 World Cup will be the final swansong for both Boxall and Smith.
2030 vision you'd think at this stage for Stanger, but this move should force him into the national team fold for the next cycle at least.
Bit of a tough ask for him to crack the squad this time around, but he's put himself in a visible league and given himself as much of a shot as anyone else. Hopefully he gets on well out on the pitch.
Absolutely well deserved move. Over the moon for the lad! He must be quite the determined kid with a lot of self belief. Very impressive following the journey he's been on throughout his career. Exceptional effort to have started out in the fifth teir and manage to plug away at his craft and rise through the leagues all the way to the premiership.
With a hearty thick Jock accent he did mention in his opening interview he's hoping the move will help put him in contention for the All Whites selection. A bit of congestion ahead of him but one to watch for, for when Boxall decides to call it a day. If only he could play right back?
He had a short SPL stint early in his career 5 years ago with Hamilton Academical. He has some unique record whereby at quite a young age, he had played in 4 or 5 of the top football tiers in Scotland.
With this move I think he has to be given a chance to come into the camp atleast. I don't see him pushing out our top 4 CB's currently, but 12 months is a long time in footy.
With this move I think he has to be given a chance to come into the camp atleast. I don't see him pushing out our top 4 CB's currently, but 12 months is a long time in footy.
Another layer of depth to NZF stocks.
If he goes alright, he'd be #4 in the central defence ranks wouldn't he? Behind Bindon, Surman, and Boxall. Pijnakers really average, but is left footed i suppose
It’s odd how with the stroke of pen someone is suddenly elevated up the AWs stocks. Like overnight he’s a different player.
He may be a bench player at Kilmarnock all season, at this point we have no idea
In fairness he's probably been knocking at the door (albeit quietly, and drowned out somewhat by Surman and Bindon knocking it out of the park as well, unfortunately for Stanger) for at least the last year or two.
I say unfortunately for him purely because League One and Championship level in Scotland is just not visible down this part of the world, well unless you are an absolute diehard of the 10 sides in those leagues, and well, to be honest they're of questionable standard comparatively to say the A-League for example.
It's only natural that with progression that he'll find himself elevated into the conversation. Piney will no doubt have to bump him up the rankings in the next top 50 AW's that he sends out as well. We'll all give him time to settle in and all that, and I'm pretty sure he'll feature for Killie this season.
As it stands he's got a tough ask to crack the current setup, but maybe he gets a shot at being in the extended squad (is there still talk of a 26 man squad to the World Cup next year?)
RCB: Boxall/Bindon, Stanger LCB: Surman, Pijnaker, Smith
Does that seem about right? I feel like I’m leaving someone out. Hughes 🤫? Hopefully he has a massive year and puts even more cats amongst the pigeons.
It’s odd how with the stroke of pen someone is suddenly elevated up the AWs stocks. Like overnight he’s a different player.
He may be a bench player at Kilmarnock all season, at this point we have no idea
In fairness he's probably been knocking at the door (albeit quietly, and drowned out somewhat by Surman and Bindon knocking it out of the park as well, unfortunately for Stanger) for at least the last year or two.
I say unfortunately for him purely because League One and Championship level in Scotland is just not visible down this part of the world, well unless you are an absolute diehard of the 10 sides in those leagues, and well, to be honest they're of questionable standard comparatively to say the A-League for example.
It's only natural that with progression that he'll find himself elevated into the conversation. Piney will no doubt have to bump him up the rankings in the next top 50 AW's that he sends out as well. We'll all give him time to settle in and all that, and I'm pretty sure he'll feature for Killie this season.
As it stands he's got a tough ask to crack the current setup, but maybe he gets a shot at being in the extended squad (is there still talk of a 26 man squad to the World Cup next year?)
L1 and 2 in Scotland is equal to L2 and non league in England.
SPL, A League and English L1 very similar levels bar Celtic and Rangers.
To be an AW now, unless your bossing these leagues or are at the two clubs mentioned, you shouldn’t be in serious AW contention.
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2-0 up at that stage, Livingston convert the penalty and then tie it up 2-2 late on. Stanger gets a couple of weeks on the sidelines to start the season.
Kilmarnock boss Stuart Kettlewell lamented the pivotal impact of what he felt was a “really soft” red card for George Stanger as his side let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 at home to Livingston in a dramatic William Hill Premiership opener.
Killie looked on course for victory after strikes from Djenairo Daniels and David Watson in the closing stages of the first half.
But a 64th-minute flashpoint brought Livi right back into the match as defender Stanger, who joined from local rivals Ayr this summer, was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity by tugging the shirt of Robbie Muirhead as he tried to get a shot away in the box.
Former Kilmarnock forward Muirhead scored the resulting penalty before the visitors capitalised on their extra-man advantage as Scott Pittman equalised in the 86th minute.
Which was a much happier first game of the season than George Stanger, who was (harshly) sent off as Kilmarnock blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 vs Livingston pic.twitter.com/OuOaOYbK6z
Good to see his coach backing him publicly. And interesting he was listed at RWB? For AW coaches and fans particularly.
Edit:OMG-watched it and the striker should be embarrassed. It should be a free kick against the striker first and then it’s very soft. Don’t think the fans will get too upset with Stanger over that.
The section of play leading to Stanger’s card is 2:15. VAR is new to the SPFL? Controversial debut.