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
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 🎧
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
Interesting they didn't go into Alex's knee injury and rehab, only mentioned the inury he had when younger.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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 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 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.
His or yours?
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.