What Kiwis have the nix or Talay not given a go though? We've had plenty of Kiwis in the squad over the years and a lot have been "given a crack" - some have made the cut (Singh, Libby, Rojas, Kosta, Sutton, Elliot) but a good number have not - in the current squad Van Hattum would be one I'd say has been given opportunities but failed to take the chances.
What opportunities? Do you even watch the Phoenix?
OvH has been given barely 90 minutes in the A-League this season.
Every minute he got was either last few at the end when we have the bus parked and his instructions are “chase down their CBs” or 15ish minutes when we are already a couple goals down, the opposition have closed the game down and no one else has managed to do anything.
Pre season he got some FFA cup time. Played 90 in the first game, scored. 1 min v Melbourne after the buses had been parked, 15 mins v McAurthur when 2:0 down with McArthur closing the game down
Started the preseason game v Jets; a 3:3 draw. OvH scored 2, Bids with the other. 3:0 when they came off half time. How many did the fan favourites score second half? Then only given bit parts in other pre-season games.
Not sure why so many hate on the kid. If his name was Clegg you’d all be screaming to give him a run of games.
Oh, that’s right, UT is such a great developer of youth so he should have developed.
Perhaps go and look at the Adelaide game. How did that go for us. They played a hatful of players younger than our youngest starter, most of who EACH INDIVIDUALLY had more minutes this season than Oldie, Surman and OvH COMBINED.
Oh, but OvH came on at 4-1 down and failed to score a hat-trick to save us. Same against Victory, he had 5 minutes, why didn’t he produce anything.
Talk about fail to take your opportunities.
OVH has had the same opportunites that Sutton and Elliot have had in their time coming up through the ranks. Thye both made appearances and made an impact. I have nothing against OVH per se, just commenting on the fact that his impact has been minimal. Compare OVH to say Ben Old, when Old makes an appearance his impact is felt, sure he's a bit of a heads down player but he makes a difference - I'm yet to see anything like that from OVH.