Michael Fitzgerald (Albirex Niigata)

I don't think you can have dual citizenship with Japan. And I remember something about his wanting to play for NZ causing issues. So maybe he isn't available for NZ anymore?

Certainly we should look at any player in the J1, especially young players who may have improved their game.

you can but its just not easy to get, i know a few pro rugby players that do over here, and with australia (guessing nz to) if you forfeit your citizinship you just go back to nz in your free time and apply for a passport again and you will get your citizinship back

I agree why would you want to re-visit him.

J1 is a low level league. I mean what ranking is Japan anyway - aren't we higher than them?

Why would you want someone who plays in the J1 when you can get a NZ based player or a player playing in the lower leagues in Eu/UK. (Much higher level than J1)

Why couldn't he just play for NZ despite being a Japanese citizen? Are Tommy Smith and Michael McGlinchey NZ citizens?

He has already been tried and found not good enough. Why would we revisit him?

Why he play for NZ?  He play in J1, much better. If me, I no want to play for NZ. 

Japan high for NZ. We 37, you 57.

Could jeopardise his spot in the squad if he is considered a foreigner. 

Didn't he already play for NZ? So he can't play for Japan anyway?

1 good game and 1 bad game... if we were to dismiss every international on the basis of that we would have very little left. Also I think he was caught out trying to play for country as he does at club level in looking for shorter options as opposed to playing direct.

Also he has two more years playing in a professional environment as judging by his progression has developed significantly.

Keen to see what he offers.

Vader should we drop Brockie, still yet to get an international goal after how many games and generally having played in a midfield / attacking role.

Why he play for NZ?  He play in J1, much better. If me, I no want to play for NZ. 

Japan high for NZ. We 37, you 57.

I agree why would you want to re-visit him.

J1 is a low level league. I mean what ranking is Japan anyway - aren't we higher than them?

Why would you want someone who plays in the J1 when you can get a NZ based player or a player playing in the lower leagues in Eu/UK. (Much higher level than J1)

He has already been tried and found not good enough. Why would we revisit him?

What do you mean, I haven't got a clue what the level of football is like in Japan?

Who cares? I'm saying you get one shot. 

Our NZ based players should get a look in first, I'm sure they're good enough. We had that guy who worked in the Bank and who had never played professionally go to the last world cup and Ricky played him. Can't even remember his name but it'll come back to me.

Yep that's it - Andy Barron. 

So that proves my point - you don't have to play professionally to go to the World Cup. I think we're one of the only countries in the world that can do that! Japan can't boast to having non-professionals in their team, where as we can! So what if Fitzgerald is now playing in the J1, doesn't prove anything.

What do you mean, I haven't got a clue what the level of football is like in Japan?

Who cares? I'm saying you get one shot. 

Our NZ based players should get a look in first, I'm sure they're good enough. We had that guy who worked in the Bank and who had never played professionally go to the last world cup and Ricky played him. Can't even remember his name but it'll come back to me.

Bullion said

J-League is probably the top league in Asia.

Where does that leave the A-League - you forgot about them didn't you? They're in Asia!

Jeff Vader, what level have you played at?  You are probably like nitpicker, haven't got a clue what the level of football is like in Japan, cause unless you've been there, you wouldn't know. I've actually played rugby in Japan and lived there for years. You, Ricky and the rest probably don't rate him, which is good for him as that leaves him to get on with his professional career, without the distraction of a call up from NZ.

I watched the Mexico game and he was your scapegoat, it didn't help that his was the only name that Harry Ngata kept mentioning, blaming him for Mexico's attacks. Since when was football a one person game. I didn't see any of your strikers interested in helping out the defence, by showing for the ball - oh but that's right you're a "boot it up the field" country. I didn't see any of the other defensive players looking to provide any cover either. Too bad if you are a player that might want to play feet like the real players do! Yes blame a player or players - the coach is never to blame for the formations he chooses and instructions or lack of - why the hell would a NZ team want to play with wingbacks against a country like Mexico - NZ isn't Spain. What's wrong with the 4-4-3 formation? To top it off they were playing at altitude. Vader have you played at altitude - I have - it sucks your energy, your lungs burn, it doesn't matter how fit you might be. Yes I might play rugby but I played soccer too!

Detoxin you're right there's far more competition in Japan. But Fitzgerald managed to get picked up by a J-League side as a foreigner when he finished High School there. If you've ever been to Japan you'd know what an amazing feat that alone is! There are literally thousands upon thousands of kids aiming for the same thing. So good luck to him, he's finally achieved what he's been working towards - playing in the J1. 

Jeff Vader, what level have you played at?  You are probably like nitpicker, haven't got a clue what the level of football is like in Japan, cause unless you've been there, you wouldn't know. I've actually played rugby in Japan and lived there for years. You, Ricky and the rest probably don't rate him, which is good for him as that leaves him to get on with his professional career, without the distraction of a call up from NZ.

I watched the Mexico game and he was your scapegoat, it didn't help that his was the only name that Harry Ngata kept mentioning, blaming him for Mexico's attacks. Since when was football a one person game. I didn't see any of your strikers interested in helping out the defence, by showing for the ball - oh but that's right you're a "boot it up the field" country. I didn't see any of the other defensive players looking to provide any cover either. Too bad if you are a player that might want to play feet like the real players do! Yes blame a player or players - the coach is never to blame for the formations he chooses and instructions or lack of - why the hell would a NZ team want to play with wingbacks against a country like Mexico - NZ isn't Spain. What's wrong with the 4-4-3 formation? To top it off they were playing at altitude. Vader have you played at altitude - I have - it sucks your energy, your lungs burn, it doesn't matter how fit you might be. Yes I might play rugby but I played soccer too!

Detoxin you're right there's far more competition in Japan. But Fitzgerald managed to get picked up by a J-League side as a foreigner when he finished High School there. If you've ever been to Japan you'd know what an amazing feat that alone is! There are literally thousands upon thousands of kids aiming for the same thing. So good luck to him, he's finally achieved what he's been working towards - playing in the J1. 

Wooo touched a nerve! Yep proves you're a pub player trying to realise your dream through these forums. You know shit all!

1. You're right Ricki doesn't rate him. Doesn't mean a thing to me that Ricki doesn't rate him I don't rate Ricki!  All that shit after the world cup about Ricki getting offers from overseas for coaching positions. Your media tried to make out he was getting lots of offers after his world cup efforts - yeah right - could be a Tui Ad there! I can tell you now that if he was any coach, someone from overseas would have snaffled him. The fact that he didn't give Marcus, or Costa much game time at Wellington shows me the vision he has as a coach - shit all!

2. Ok what I meant was 4-4-2, was counting the goalie. That's why I went with rugby, plus I could play rugby professionally, what are you playing professionally - forum writing. As I said countries much better than NZ don't play 3-4-3 against a country like Mexico. 

3. I couldn't give a fuck about the players you've named that got one shot, their first big game wasn't against a team like Mexico at altitude, playing as one of 3 defenders. If it was, then you're comparing apples with apples!

4. Go back and watch the fuckn game he didn't miss any tackles as the ball kept getting played into the space behind him, probably because the call from your wonder coach was to push up the fuckn field. If a fullback was told to push up the field and the ball was punted behind him that's not missing a tackle!  Plus you should check which side the cross came in from for the first goal - it wasn't Fitzgerald's side, so was he meant to be on that side fuckn  tackling as well?

5. If the fullback is having to make tackle after tackle I would be asking why the fuck is he having to do that - what the fuck are the 14 players in front of him doing?

6. Of course it didn't affect the other fuckn players they weren't constantly having to sprint 40m back down the pitch after the ball was played into the space behind them

I think Fitzgerald should be pleased that you and Ricki don't rate him. It'll leave him in peace to get on with his career outside of fuckn NZ Football. I know if I was a professional footballer, I'd be putting my career ahead of playing for NZ. It's not like you get the perks that the All Blacks get! He'd be getting shit all to play for NZ when he can earn heaps playing football professionally. But you wouldn't know anything about the money that Japan pays to professional sports people as you're a professional forum writer - how much do you make out of that?

i do live in japan and do know what a feat it is. there is a reason there is only 2 kiwis playing in the J league 1, 2 and jfl.

Crack up post Vader...4-4-3 haha.  But hey Vader there's some history here you might now know about, and it's conspiracy theory stuff I'm on about - worth considering though.  There's a bit of history with RH and WR over Michael, as there is with RH and Michael's old man about Michael too. Michael was played out of position when he did play for the AWs.  The fact that he did play at all was perhaps more to do with pressure from a certain WR than RH's choice.  What better way to shut WR up than to have his boy play badly?  But Michael deserves credit.  Hard working, talented footballer, went to Japan as a kid to try and make it - that's not easy. Sure, he's no superstar but a good team lad. And who's to say he can't kick on from here?  Ryan Nelsen was no spring chook when he finally made the grade was he?

Problems with your argument

1: The level I have played at relative to my opinion is comparable to the level of rugby you played at and its relativity to your opinion on football. If you think mine means fuck all, yours is equally so.      actual good point

2: If he was good enough, he would have had more than 2 games. In fact he would have probably popped up sooner than he had and played a lot more. How many shots did Winston, Tommy and Wee Mac need? Just one. Why? Because they were good enough and stood out. Cam Howieson was a teenager. How many chances did he need? I'll let you answer that one. he is older, wiser and better now. look at the level he was playing and is playing now... a big difference

3: Playing in Japan has nothing to do with it. I have never raised it once and never raised it as an argument as to why he should not be picked. That was you. I simply stated he had 2 shots and was not good enough.  Thanks for playing. where a person plays is not important its his skills, but where he plays is often a good representative of his level... there is a reason no kiwi plays for barca... they arnt good enough

4: He could have been picked for OFC Nations if he was in the frame when most of our 'stars' did not show and injuries popped up but he didn't because...... (unless he was injured or some other reason) injured and his citizinship

5: You got one thing right. Ricki does not rate him. Remind me what his opinion is worth again. If you get anything less than 'everything' your answer is wrong. ricki wouldnt play someone if he didnt think he was good enough, i think people are forgetting how many games we have played recently??? and that this guy has been injured.

6: You're a rugby guy, tell me how it works when the fullback misses all his tackles and drops kicks to him. Must be a team fault, right? Best we go drop the prop and flanker for those ones. 

7: 4-4-3 is not a recognised formation in football unless you want to play with 12 men. I'll let you think about that. a person mistake you know what he meant

8: So playing at altitude was the issue. How did that work out for the other players on the pitch that did not suck as bad as him? there was other poor players or are you forgetting that

Keep posting. Please.

Who is the second kiwi?

Bullion said

J-League is probably the top league in Asia.

Where does that leave the A-League - you forgot about them didn't you? They're in Asia!