I'm just looking at names in the NZFC for potential kiwi
midfielders and there are a couple I'd like to put forward as worth
a look at by Riki Herbert.
Ian Robinson - Youngheart Manawatu
Everytime I have seen Ian playing this season he has struck me
as a player who can influence a match. Great distribution and he
has an attack-minded ethos in is game. A goalscoring
midfielder.
He was probably the best player in the NZ A side that
miserably drew 0-0 with Tahiti on 7 Feb at Bill McKinlay Park. I
think he is one of the unluckiest players not to have been handed
an All Whites shirt.
Matt Williams - Waikato FC
Matt goes out fully committed to winning each game (a kind of
Grant Turner attitude)Unfortunately most of his fellow WFC
collegues don't have the same bloody-minded state of mind as Matty.
He also has influence during matches and scores goals too. I'm
biased with Williams as he is the only genuine quality outfield
player WFC has, and I'm the guy that formed the Waikato FC
franchise:-p. Unfortunately for Matt, players in under-performing
sides rarely get a look-in at higher level and this guy needs to be
tested at a higher level. He is a pretty tough guy too when on the
field and is rarely pushed around.
I haven't seen Team Wellington play at all this season so
won't comment about potential midfielders from that franchise,
although Raf De Gregorio is well known and could be in the frame if
fit . Be good for others to comment on these two and put forward
other kiwi player names.
None of us have the answers but the debate on who is hot and
who is not will certainly make for some interesting reading.
Raf no, Barron Yes, Eager possibly.
Im really looking outide the square at players who haven't
been either given the opportunity or a fair go. Robinson and
Williams spring to my mind as players I'd love to see in a midfield
together.
I could mention a couple of Auckland City players and Waitak
players but they have been tried in the All Whites and done nothing
special so I see no point in persevering with the likes of
Pritchett etc. I mean he is a solid player, a grafter if you like
but he is missing something that both Williams and Robinson have.
Speak to them Ricki. You won't be doing your job properly if you
don't.
Oh and Barron....I'm still not sure. He was pants v Tahiti. My
grandmother might have done better.....and she's dead.
I vote for Barron based on his TW performances - and he had the
good sense to leave the sinking ship.
I guess it's rfeally down to consistency with Barron. I've
struggled to warm to the player as he has not done anything
outstanding whenI have seen him play for Canterbury and the All
Whites. Maybe I need to see more of him play.
Well we haven't seen much of Raf this season at TW - he seems to
always be injured.
Yep much like Danny Hay. I don't see the point in signing these
sorts of players. Owners won't want to see players hauling a
paypacket and not playing - especially if they are All Whites such
as Raf and Danny.
Eager no. He only passes sideways, good touch for a 17 year old but he is no where near good enough.
Matt Williams? I know you've called it leftfield but you're having a laugh aren't you? Just look at the Melbourne midfield and then think if you'd like him lining up. Not sl*gging the guy, just trying to be realistic.
Barron - Yes.
Raf has had injurys right?
Eager probably deserves a shot from reports ive heard of him.
According to the TW site - Raf only played two games alll
season.
They weren't pretty either... his best work was in the Pizza
caravan this year.
Yeah it was a buggar when the chip shop closed - pizza is a bit
Italian for my liking.
Raf looked good in the official programme though - saw moreof
him there than on the field.
The Pizza was done at such a rush at times that it needed another
minute or so in the oven... could have been magic, instead it was
as soggy as the TW midfield in the 87th minute.
great post this canary...
i really rate ian robinson as a player; a really good all
round footballer. you mentioned pace and power as being
pre-requisites for success in this comp, can you see robinson
competing on these fronts? it's a difficult call to make i
know and sometimes you never know unless you try
interesting what you say about williams. i haven't seen
him myself, but i hear good things.
poor raf would be a real asset if fit and really needs to make
the phoenix side if he is to have any chance of an all whites world
cup squad place.
jeff campbell would be an interesting local option out wide,
as would ian sandbrook.
one of the most fascinating things for me will be to see who,
if any, of the nzfc midfielders get signed up. i think andy
barron will be a certainty, other than that i am not sure...
Ian Sandbrook, yeah I forgot about him...another who shined in a
very poor NZ A side that -played Tahiti. It really will be
interesting to see who Riki goes for in his midfield. I'm sick and
tired of seeing players who play robotic football in midfield and
we have so many of them. That's one reason why I suggested Ian
Robinson in the first place. He's prepared to have a go and he also
has a good footballing brain on him. He's one of the better passers
of the ball I've seen this season and he has impressed me. Jeff
Campbell...well, I got dissed for suggesting Matt Williams on this
forum but I'd have Williams ahead of Campbell on current form.
A lot of the current All Whites are living on borrowed time. I
think Tim Brown is bloody lucky to be in the side. I wouldn't pick
him for any team. Others are just too one dimensional in their play
and have had enough chances. I'd say if we can get 8 or 9 kiwis in
this side and pack it with seasoned Aussies that is the best we can
expect for now. Two New Zealand keepers are a must.
Timmy, seasoned Aussies ? Where are we going to find 10
seasoned Aussies when 7 clubs are scouring Australia for them
? Tambouras, O'Dor, Ferrante, Johnson but beyond that you
find it's the likes of Richter who were cut from A-League sides
because they aren't good enough.
We've got to be aiming for 12-15 kiwi's from what I can see.
We've got to be aiming for 12-15 kiwi's from what I can see.
Yes but the names I am hearing don't fill me with confidence. We
don't have 12-15 kiwis who are up to it, as much as this is really
want to see happen, so do we go with the usual plodders and finish
last in the league or go for some fresh blood...and still risk
doing the same? People rave about the likes of Tim Brown and
Plodder at Perth but these guys are just average at best.
There are still players in the state leagues that are better
than players in the NZFC. It's a matter of knowing the right person
who knows the game in Australia and can direct Riki to those
players.
I'm sure Wynny up at Townsville would assemble a side from
within Oz with his contacts.
He'll assemble a side, but then he'll play the keeper as a striker
and the two strikers as Centre backs.
I'd have Tim Brown, he proved for Newcastle this season he can make the A-League. Plodder ? I think we'll let Perth keep him...
I'd have Tim Brown, he proved for Newcastle this season he can make the A-League. Plodder ? I think we'll let Perth keep him...
Jezzus, the sound of Tim Brown enthuses me as much as the signing
of Emblen did when he joined the Knights! I guess he is just one of
those players who fails to fire my imagination. He's nothing but a
midfield machination to me. Does what is required but nothing more.
Isn't there anyone else who can trigger some excitement?
In fact I'm almost inspired to dust off the pumas and make my
643rd comeback to try out for the side:-p
no one can take my Embers away
Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet
Ian Robinson is one of the few NZFC players who is close to being a
creative midfield playmaker. Not sure whether he could cut it
in A-league, vs NZFC, but worth a try.
Dustin Wells made some useful contributions in the centre of
midfield in the few games he played for the Knights towards the end
of last year. Anyone know what he's up to this year?
football tragic for too long