Second Best Rufer ? His old man was pretty useful
Alex 'The second best' Rufer
Second Best Rufer ? His old man was pretty useful
Yeah, definitely 3rd best.
Shane was some player and a proven Swiss first division player, and Swiss domestic football was much stronger back then
Swiss club football is much stronger these days than it was back in the 1980s.
But yep, agree with the overall point.
Think he's currently the best Rufer.
I reckon he'll score three goals this year. Cmon Alex!
First 30 minutes of competitive football for Alex Rufer since his ACL injury. Was pre-planned that he’d just play half an hour. https://t.co/ObNgmibG1s
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) November 27, 2022
First 30 minutes of competitive football for Alex Rufer since his ACL injury. Was pre-planned that he’d just play half an hour. https://t.co/ObNgmibG1s
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) November 27, 2022
First 30 minutes of competitive football for Alex Rufer since his ACL injury. Was pre-planned that he’d just play half an hour. https://t.co/ObNgmibG1s
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) November 27, 2022
Alex Rufer with his FIRST @IsuzuUTE A-League goal! 👏
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) January 22, 2023
Right place, right time for the @WgtnPhoenixFC midfielder who taps it home from close range!
Catch all the action LIVE on @ParamountPlusAU 📺
Follow live: https://t.co/gsjJFeL2fN#WELvCCCM #WeAreALeagues @IsuzuUTE pic.twitter.com/Bx9Im790ec
10 seasons in the making!!
You're going to love this one @WgtnPhoenixFC fans 🚨
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) March 9, 2023
👑 Alex Rufer. Paul Ifill 👑
The pair are your guests on The Players Pod with @robcornthwaite this week!
From keeping a 'fortress' in 🇳🇿, to the clubs Ifill almost ended up at... this is an episode not to be missed 🎧
Cornthwaite was a decent player himself.
Caught up with the skipper #AlexRufer on his goalscoring this season, #AllWhites recall and re-signing with @WgtnPhoenixFC thanks to #Oppohttps://t.co/L9J11Nhe1Y
— Riccardo Ball (@rikdog72) March 31, 2023
You ask. We deliver. This week, A-Leagues #AllAccess heads to Wellington! 🎥🇳🇿@WgtnPhoenixFC skipper Alex Rufer stars in Episode 20 | Coming to @keepupau next Thursday. pic.twitter.com/JivuVYxZRN
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) March 31, 2023
Nice guy and polite and patient off the field, On it, finding his form again. Thanks for sticking around Alex. Best of Luck for the next 3 years....and tell Ufuk to stick around too!
The Rufer episode is premiering now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCdpyTgLi9w
My main takeaway from that All Access episode is that Ufuk swears a lot, even more than I was expecting...
Interesting they didn't go into Alex's knee injury and rehab, only mentioned the inury he had when younger.
Interesting they didn't go into Alex's knee injury and rehab, only mentioned the inury he had when younger.
Felt like a bit of a lazy episode, compared to some of the older ones. Quite a few themes left unexplored, including his latest injury and AWs squad recall which barely got a mention.
Roofs sounds like a really level headed bloke.
Roofs sounds like a really level headed bloke.
Honestly, listening to the justifications from Daren Bazeley that Rufer was "up against competition from better players for the AWs spot" really made me cringe. On the other hand, stoked to have him available for the Nix.
Honestly, listening to the justifications from Daren Bazeley that Rufer was "up against competition from better players for the AWs spot" really made me cringe. On the other hand, stoked to have him available for the Nix.
I’m sorry but Joe Bell is the only comparable player to Rufs and you could easily argue that Alex is the better player right now.
Rufs has been shafted by Bazely.
To be honest, I have been critical of Rufer in the past, but he has been immense this season. In my opinion, he deserves not only to be selected for the AWs, but to start in a midfield trio.
He is playing at a level above the A-league right now.
To be honest, I have been critical of Rufer in the past, but he has been immense this season. In my opinion, he deserves not only to be selected for the AWs, but to start in a midfield trio.
He is playing at a level above the A-league right now.
Yeah you really do wonder if Bazeley knows what he is doing, starting Woud & Pijnaker several times recently, never picking Roux, apparently not understanding the distinction between a defensive midfielder and an 8/10 because if he did he'd surely understand Rufer is at least our second best and should be in the squad. I've said it before I'll say it again, it is generally so disheartening that we have a golden generation of players and we can't be confident the coach is even getting close to making the most out of them. The last time we beat a side we weren't expected to beat (or to put it another way, it wasn't an upset to beat) was in 2010 against Serbia and until we do there will continue to be a nagging doubt.
And don't point to comparative FIFA rankings to rebut this, we know by nature of the fact we are in Oceania that we will always have a misleadingly low ranking.
And don't point to comparative FIFA rankings to rebut this, we know by nature of the fact we are in Oceania that we will always have a misleadingly low ranking.
I wonder if Rufer would consider a move overseas, if he thinks it would improve his AWs chances. Still only 27. Interesting for Chiefy to say that we will only know how good Old is now, when he is killing it in an overseas league.
I mean Bazeley should be above any 'it's only the ALM' type bias, and Lewis of course has been picked - but still you wonder a bit. Like anyone Rufer will be desperate to play in a World Cup.
I think he will get a chance with the OFC Nations Cup in June.
I mean Bazeley should be above any 'it's only the ALM' type bias, and Lewis of course has been picked - but still you wonder a bit. Like anyone Rufer will be desperate to play in a World Cup.
I think he will get a chance with the OFC Nations Cup in June.
Rufer needs to go overseas.
I actually like the fact he has gone public and said - I understand but don't agree with the coaches call. Shows his want to play in the jersey but it also put the onus on Beazley to pay attention to him.
If it wasn't a Olympics Year - I think he would of made the squad though with LKH not for example. I think some of Beazley's picks reflect this as much as anything.
I actually like the fact he has gone public and said - I understand but don't agree with the coaches call. Shows his want to play in the jersey but it also put the onus on Beazley to pay attention to him.
If it wasn't a Olympics Year - I think he would of made the squad though with LKH not for example. I think some of Beazley's picks reflect this as much as anything.
Rufer needs to go overseas.
I actually like the fact he has gone public and said - I understand but don't agree with the coaches call. Shows his want to play in the jersey but it also put the onus on Beazley to pay attention to him.
If it wasn't a Olympics Year - I think he would of made the squad though with LKH not for example. I think some of Beazley's picks reflect this as much as anything.
I actually like the fact he has gone public and said - I understand but don't agree with the coaches call. Shows his want to play in the jersey but it also put the onus on Beazley to pay attention to him.
If it wasn't a Olympics Year - I think he would of made the squad though with LKH not for example. I think some of Beazley's picks reflect this as much as anything.
I have no issues with LKH being there but I do with Bell, Pijnaker and Smith.
OK Smith has loads of experience he can pass onto the young CBs but I actually think Rufs would make a better vice captain then Bell. Definitely the form player of the two and in his prime (and career best form) whereas Bell is hopefully still on his way up although in a bit of a career slump.
Appreciation post for Rufer tonight, he was immense.
Yeah you really do wonder if Bazeley knows what he is doing, starting Woud & Pijnaker several times recently, never picking Roux, apparently not understanding the distinction between a defensive midfielder and an 8/10 because if he did he'd surely understand Rufer is at least our second best and should be in the squad. I've said it before I'll say it again, it is generally so disheartening that we have a golden generation of players and we can't be confident the coach is even getting close to making the most out of them. The last time we beat a side we weren't expected to beat (or to put it another way, it wasn't an upset to beat) was in 2010 against Serbia and until we do there will continue to be a nagging doubt.
And don't point to comparative FIFA rankings to rebut this, we know by nature of the fact we are in Oceania that we will always have a misleadingly low ranking.
And don't point to comparative FIFA rankings to rebut this, we know by nature of the fact we are in Oceania that we will always have a misleadingly low ranking.
Sadly, Bazeley doesn't know what he is doing. He was given the job by default due to the usual NZF screw ups. He should be picking players on form, rather than by hopes and reputations. Tommy Smith being a classic example. Rufer really is on fire so to speak. He puts in a good shift and his passing has been pretty good this season, including his long range defence splitters. Just ask Kosta. I can only conclude that Wynton and Shane refused to give Bazeley an autograph years ago and he's taking out on this consistently solid performer in midfield.
Losing Wood is not good news for the AWs chances but I am really happy that Rufer is going to get his chance, albeit belatedly.
I genuinely would start Rufer in midfield if I was coach.
Agree, a 3 man midfield without Bell or Rufer looks soft. Bazeley will probably play a 3 of Lewis, Stamenic & Garbett though
Hard to say - if he is looking to start Old and Barbs maybe Rufer gets the nod as he knows their games better?
Lewis perhaps offers us more of a possession based game than Rufer, but I know who i'd be picking based on current form.
Lewis perhaps offers us more of a possession based game than Rufer, but I know who i'd be picking based on current form.
Hard to say - if he is looking to start Old and Barbs maybe Rufer gets the nod as he knows their games better?
Lewis perhaps offers us more of a possession based game than Rufer, but I know who i'd be picking based on current form.
Lewis perhaps offers us more of a possession based game than Rufer, but I know who i'd be picking based on current form.
Not sure Lewis should even be entering the conversation imo.
Lewis and Rufer don't really play the same position. Rufer is a classic 6 and Lewis is more of an 8. He's closer to a 10 than he is a 6 I think. They shouldn't really be considered to be in competition for a spot, for Lewis that would be the likes of Garbett, McCowatt etc and for Rufer that would be Bell (and maybe Stamenic).
Lewis and Rufer don't really play the same position. Rufer is a classic 6 and Lewis is more of an 8. He's closer to a 10 than he is a 6 I think. They shouldn't really be considered to be in competition for a spot, for Lewis that would be the likes of Garbett, McCowatt etc and for Rufer that would be Bell (and maybe Stamenic).
Lewis is too slow, and these days not that much of a dribbler to play wide and doesn’t score enough to be up with Garbett and McCowatt.
He’s a deep sitting play maker these days and definitely does his share of defense. But on current assessment there are plenty of other players who can handle play making responsibilities, but fewer who can handle defensive responsibilities. Or those that could would be potentially be wasted being used to screen the defense.
Which points to Rufer as a defensive player who can also create as a better choice for a DM role. It does depend somewhat on how close the other midfielders are. Some have said Rufer is slow, but he’s faster than Lewis.
I guess it helps that Italiano’s teams seem to build from the back and prioritise defense.
I used to think Rufer was slow; now I think he is thoughtful and deliberate - a sign of maturity creeping in.
I saw Macarthur a couple of times early in the season and I thought Lewis appeared to be playing a more advanced role, and perhaps a bit wider on the left, than the one he mostly played for the Nix last season, has that changed?
I also thought the All Whites midfield looked great at times over the past few years when both Lewis & Bell were playing. They appeared to have a really good understanding and complement each other well. I think Lewis is still a very good option to have in midfield, certainly not a big downgrade on whoever he replaces should he be needed to cover somebody in our "best" midfield, whatever that even is.
I also thought the All Whites midfield looked great at times over the past few years when both Lewis & Bell were playing. They appeared to have a really good understanding and complement each other well. I think Lewis is still a very good option to have in midfield, certainly not a big downgrade on whoever he replaces should he be needed to cover somebody in our "best" midfield, whatever that even is.
I used to think Rufer was slow; now I think he is thoughtful and deliberate - a sign of maturity creeping in.
His or yours?
I saw Macarthur a couple of times early in the season and I thought Lewis appeared to be playing a more advanced role, and perhaps a bit wider on the left, than the one he mostly played for the Nix last season, has that changed?
I also thought the All Whites midfield looked great at times over the past few years when both Lewis & Bell were playing. They appeared to have a really good understanding and complement each other well. I think Lewis is still a very good option to have in midfield, certainly not a big downgrade on whoever he replaces should he be needed to cover somebody in our "best" midfield, whatever that even is.
I also thought the All Whites midfield looked great at times over the past few years when both Lewis & Bell were playing. They appeared to have a really good understanding and complement each other well. I think Lewis is still a very good option to have in midfield, certainly not a big downgrade on whoever he replaces should he be needed to cover somebody in our "best" midfield, whatever that even is.
Lewis + a more defensive player is a fine combo. But that playmaking/distribution midfield role can be done by Dibley-Dias, Singh, Stamenic, Bell himself, Garbett, Rufer to a lesser degree and McCowatt…though in a different way to Lewis perhaps. Bell and Rufer are really the only players with strong defensive reputations in that group. Stamenic seems to be more 8- 10 these days. Maybe Dibley-Dias is skilled in defending too? I don’t know that much about his game.
But you’re not wrong that it should be the best complementary selection, not necessarily the ‘best’ selection on paper and depends if we have a certain style in mind.