lack of defenders playing abroad ??

lack of defenders playing abroad ??

there are many NZ strikers playing abroad

but few foreign-based defenders are available

what do you think ?

There are a number, suggest you use JR's site for a reference if you are interested in whos playing overseas.

Herbert didn't sound too interested in winston reid by the way it was portrayed in the article.......wonder why? he seems like a very decent defender.....
smittyz112009-07-13 20:01:41

I would say its because Winston wants to play for the Danish national team like Rory did, not NZ.  Hopefully he will change his mind later when he realizes there is more chances of WCs and Confed Cups.

yeah but surely he wouldve said he was keen to change his mind etc etc... seems a waste to have that kind of talent and not to be able to convince to play for us, he s got a friggin maori name ffs 

So he'd miss out on potentially playing 10-12 quality internationals per year and play at World Cups and EUROs just so he can trudge half-way around the world every four years to play against semo-decent side that'd still probably be miles ahead of the team he's playing for?

If he's good enough for Denmark, he'll play for them. Easy as.

hmmm very bleak regarding him, he isn't first choice in the under 21 etc so he'll have to up his game to make the  national squad. thats probably all ricki can play on really. but in saying that he does owe denmark a lot.

A lot of our players have been defenders overseas: Ryan Nelsen, Ivan Vicelich, Danny Hay, Jack Pelter, Ricky Herbert, Steven Old (!) ...

Didn't Winston mention in the news a while back that he wished that he was playing against Spain with the AWs at the Confederation Cup but he hasn't heard anything about being called up for that Campaign.

Although I suspect Ricki will give him a call to see where he actually stands at the moment.

I remember that to, hopefully he gets a call along with Tommy Smith.

sh*t didn't know that!!!!!if so awesome.... that would sort out the defence. nelsen and him in the centre with siggy and lochy on the wings

Mmmmm . . . .Winston Reid (age:21 centre back) Ryan Nelson (age 31: centre back) Tommy Smith (age 19:centre back) Ben Sigmond (age 28: centre back) Andrew Boyens (age 25: centre back) Steven Old (age 23: centre back) Ivan Vicelich (age 32: centre back)

[Can any of them cover either right or left back?]

Then we get Rory Fallon (age 27), Michael McGlinchey (age coming in the attack/midfield with Simon Elliot (age 35)

A 7-2-1 team formation strategy yeah now we won't concede a goal, . . . real nice. . .

[of course we can have Arron Scott, Tony Lochhead and David Mulligan for the full back positions and make it a 10-0-0, just to be extra careful . . . ]

tbh it is going to be very hard to find the right balance of forwards, midfielders and defence in the 23 man WC finals squad. Too many fringe players.

Say we retain the bulk of the Confederation Cup Squad and then add Ryan Nelson, Rory Fallon, Michael McGlinchey and then maybe Tommy Smith and Winston Reid puts their hand up . . . who is going to miss out or be shuttled about?

We definitely need a closed trial for the team. . . . .

If the youngster Smith and Reid are in defence, then I have to say that Mulligan and Old are gone from the defence.

Mully may move to the midfield and perhaps replace Oughton (I am not sure of Oughton's fitness and game time he has in recent times have with the Columbus Crew)

If McGlinchey is ready for Midfield, then its either Christie or Barron or even Oughton

And who does Rory replace in either the midfield or forward? I think he would likely be as an attacking midfielder/deep forward.

Without see them in training (especially those on the bench during the co-feds) then it is hard for us to say when Ricki has a better idea.

I'd like to see an open trial... AW vs Nix - will be great... charge us a fiver to get in... and as there only need to be one coaches box we'll save a few bucks there too...

I'm there!!!


But seriously, agree with you AWB... would be good to see an open 'trial' though, also would be good to publicise the WCQ too and give the ticket sales a boost (should that be necessary) as well. But before I'm shot down - I know there's a squillion (well, several) reasons for it not to happen, so lay down your guns please kiddies .

I remember that but I do think he said that in jest.

From what I've seen of Rory which truth be told would be more then virtually everyone on this forum over the last three seasons, he is strong fit and works best as a target man.  Would work well doing the muscle up front with either Smeltzy or Killy being his partner (I would opt with Chris personally).

I agree two monsters up front would put huge pressure on the arabs!!! great for set piece , corners etc...

Well it's not a bad idea to have Chris Killen and Rory Fallon up front with Smeltz being the man in the hole with creatively licence in the team. (I feel that he could fit quite well in that role as he has got good close touch control and would be able to position himself for the goals when he likes with less pressure from the defenders). I'll be happy with that.

Ha you got the front three for the WC spot in in their correct positions!

Am glad that the defenders here are all AWs now but it is a pity they wern't around for the Con Fed Cup last year.