100% you cant take anything away from the Nix. But that does not mean the Nix can't learn and develop as well. AFC have been inovative in many ways. Ok they have a big budget but when you read about their EPL conditioning and see the way they finish games you wonder why cant the Nix do the same? Physical conditioning is not about $$. Being agressive and combative for the full 90 is not about $$
Yeah fair call, but also AFC had a mostly uninteruppted pre season. Bit easier to get the squad fully fit, when they are turning up as a group nearly every day, and you basically have total control over their training regimes.
Nix had a very interrupted pre season in comparison. OFC Nations Cup, Olympics and U19/20 OFC WC qualifying (Samoa?). Players coming & going, continuously. Finding time for players to have a few weeks rest ie. some sort of off season.
Even the AWs playing 2 games in the States in September (where yes AFC had a few guys as well).