hmm interesting debate-
I reckon the nix are having a way higher conversion rate of young players than the american college system.
Well of our four years, we would have had less than 10 young players with us, and Marco and Kosta are now in pretty good places - similar to keat, boxall and henderson, but I would argue in even better places.
Thats a pretty good return when comparing to how many kiwis must go over and get lost in the college system.
Speaking of which, where do the guys go usually once they finish college and dont get close to the MLS?
I think people are getting a bit confused here.
The College pathway through the US isn't really a well-trodden path to professional football.
It's a great opportunity to play football while getting a (possibly free) university education.
And if you're a really good player you're able to do your time in school and still give playing professionally a crack. But that isn't very common, not even for American kids.
Football is a trade. The way most young players become professionals is by looking for a job, and trying to ply their trade with a professional outfit. You do the hard yards not getting paid, or not much, and you hope that if you stick at it you will get a decent job. When you do, you earn pretty good money for a while, even in the A League.
Anyway, the overall message here is this: don't think going to College means you're on your way to being a pro. For most, that isn't the case.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
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The point is we need to stop referring to the US college system as a development pathway - because it isn't.
Normo's coming home
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The point is we need to stop referring to the US college system as a development pathway - because it isn't.
Hmmm. Sure it is.
It's a reasonable standard, and players go from there through to the MLS draft, and USL etc etc.
I don't even know what a development pathway is. That term is bollocks imho.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
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Ok, NZ football can't step back and ignore development of players 17-21 and assume that if we stick a whole load of young kids into the college system and hope we get some decent professional/international quality players at the end of their time there.
Normo's coming home
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Dissapointing but I guess thats what to expect. An example that springs to mind is ginger ronaldo from teeDubs a few years gone, went over to the US, not sure how hes going there, but once he's done, I guess he'll be back over here unless he can make a side in the US?
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Ok, NZ football can't step back and ignore development of players 17-21 and assume that if we stick a whole load of young kids into the college system and hope we get some decent professional/international quality players at the end of their time there.
This I completely agree with.
However, NZF has shown no particular favouratism for the US route.
Indeed, NZF has shown no particular interest in what kids 17-21 do anyway. This is a failing, for sure, but they just don't have the resources.
The last person they hired to do this sort of thing was Alex Chiet. What happened to that guy? To the best of my knowledge he spent two years tripping around the world with national teams doing not much and then fked off.
NZF should have someone whose job it is to take an interest in the best 100 players in the country between 16 and 22 and whose role is to try to direct them, help them, and open doors for them.
This could bring the game forward in leaps I reckon.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
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Maybe Ricki could add that string to his bow, Smithy.
He seems to be filling every other role at NZF at the moment...
He seems to be filling every other role at NZF at the moment...
"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009
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This is something I have a bit of a beef with in terms of that 17-21 age group pathway but more at the national level.Ricki has tied himself up with the Olympic team and player synergies between them and the All Whites. What about the 17s and 20s and how they shold be playing?? Fundamentally NZF should be getting Ricki in front of these coaches and these kids and say 'at the moment, this is how the national team is playing - we want you guys doing the same'
That inherently causes formation based issues and having resources for them but look at the U20s recently. Some of those kids will be All Whites soon and they played with a system so far removed from the All Whites structure, you have to re-educate them once they get into that OlympicAll White environment. Sure if NZF want to groom future All Whites, then national structures should be in place that align. The womens teams have done it fantastically well and while you can debate the merits of the Herdman-Temple gambit, it was structured accordingly.
Grumpy old bastard alert
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Im personally hoping that the olympic side can play a little differently than the AWs, with the squad we have I would really be hoping for something building around marco and Kosta
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Completely differen debate Jeff. But I don't agree with you.
Those youth national teams have to be competitive, so they need to do what they can do with the players they have.
The whole "one playing system/style across all national teams" thing has been tried (briefly, under Paul Smalley) and is a bit of a nonsense because (just as an example) 90% of the 17s will never play for the All Whites so hobbling them with the AWs formation/system/style/whatever is pretty pointless.
But, as I say, different debate to the one JD and I were having.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
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Besides Alex Smith where are our other injury replacement signings?
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Travelling up state highway 1 past Oamaru? So they will be here tomorrow? Quick someone check the Team Otago roster, who might it be?
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Would the Phoenix be interested in Luke Rowe at all?
You know we belong together...
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It was obvious from watching the perth game that we seriously lack firepower up front. Greenie can't be expected to lead the line for the whole season. We only really have Ifill as a serious goal scorer. Bertos looks like a spent force....he seems to have lost his pace and his magic footwork is gone.
Come on Rickie....we need a decent striker and a wide attacker with some skill and pace.
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No good appealing to Ricki. He knows that.
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No good appealing to Ricki. He knows that.
stop sulking lol
still waiting till after xmas then?
you'd have to say we are doing ok with our limited squad and Sanchez and Smith both look useful
if a few of our young men were a bit less bloody cavalier and overcommitted with their tackles and elbows we'd be a bit better off arf
these guys are spending their own real hard earned money, not flashy property development leverage-and-inflation-I'm-a-genius-especially-if-i-don't-pay-my-subbies money
give em time
touch wood
plus you can't expect sanchez, smith, greenacre, daniel and leo to "connect" immediately. two of them are totally new, two of them had limited game time later last season, it's been a long and disrupted off season and greenacre is renewing acquantance as a semi solo frontman again, we've got by before like that till we've signed in some artilliary later in the season (dadi, caceres)
hopfully ifill comes right soonish.
mjp22011-10-24 16:59:58
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Out of interest when are the transfer windows for the A-League ?
He dribbles a lot and the opposition dont like it - you can see it all over their faces. (Ron Atkinson)
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I thought Alex Smith looked good yesterday, can we sign him full time or are we then buggered with import spots?
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Its been suggested Warner to goalkeeping coach might sort that little issue out?
RedGed2011-10-24 18:00:13
Improving,,on the up, a work in progress from Italiano and the Nix. Bring on the bathroom bling in '24! COYN!
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When does the MLS season finish? What would the chances be of getting Dan Keat on loan? I think he would really add to our midfield and would be beneficial for both parties? Could also have a look at Boxall on loan perhaps?
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Little to none. They are settled in the US and don't play in the positions where we need players,
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keat and boxall wouldnt want to come here and jeopardise chances in US, plus neither play where we need.
We have an abundance of central midfielders now, but currently greenacre is practically ocly coaching himself out there, we need to add goal threats, and a new striker + wider attacking threat like Ifill could be all we need.
Agree that bertos is looking like a spent force, I'm beginning to subscribe to the idea that his future could be as a wingback, but his positional sense just doesnt seem to be up to standard. Daniel looks to offer more - neither seem to have much pace these days, but Daniel has better delivery and set piece expert.
We have an abundance of central midfielders now, but currently greenacre is practically ocly coaching himself out there, we need to add goal threats, and a new striker + wider attacking threat like Ifill could be all we need.
Agree that bertos is looking like a spent force, I'm beginning to subscribe to the idea that his future could be as a wingback, but his positional sense just doesnt seem to be up to standard. Daniel looks to offer more - neither seem to have much pace these days, but Daniel has better delivery and set piece expert.
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Agree that bertos is looking like a spent force, I'm beginning to subscribe to the idea that his future could be as a wingback, but his positional sense just doesnt seem to be up to standard. Daniel looks to offer more - neither seem to have much pace these days, but Daniel has better delivery and set piece expert.
Eh?
Three games into the season and he's a spent force?
1. vs GCU - pretty good I thought.
2. vs Jets - pretty bl**dy damn good
3. vs Glory - pretty average.
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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Also, did I imagine it or did Leo get some pretty heavy duty emergency strapping done on his ankle about 10 minutes before half time? Perhaps a niggle there that held him back somewhat.
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i just cant see him getting better, and he was alright against newcastle, but its not like he was taking players on like he used to, nothing like marco or any of the other premier wingers of the aleague.
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Luke Rowe to sign with the Phoenix ..or Team Wellington.
Has just moved to Wellington.
Has just moved to Wellington.
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Luke Rowe to sign with the Phoenix ..or Team Wellington.
Has just moved to Wellington.
Has just moved to Wellington.
For true? How do you have knowledge of this? I thought he had a gig at Birmingham or something?
Can he play right back this weekend for the love of god!
"Yellow Fever are fantastic – I have to say that"
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He's been announced as signing for TeeDubs.
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what ever happened to that bloke who used to play for man u reserves who signed for mirimar?
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The same as dozens of others all over the world. He was an okay Central league player but not much more.
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what ever happened to that bloke who used to play for man u reserves who signed for mirimar?
Which one was that??
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He was the DPs first choice for assessment of new signings I think.
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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I thought Alex Smith looked good yesterday, can we sign him full time or are we then buggered with import spots?
According the the A-League application, his profile said he was offered a years contract here.
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I thought Alex Smith looked good yesterday, can we sign him full time or are we then buggered with import spots?
According the the A-League application, his profile said he was offered a years contract here.
Is that the Alex Smith who was born in 1900 or the one who is Greenacre's clone?
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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He's been announced as signing for TeeDubs.
Can someone explain the transfer rules? In particular, how many clubs are you allowed to play for in a year? I have heard some good things about Luke Rowe in the past, so I am just wondering whether a move from Team Wellington to the 'Nix might be a (not too distant) possibility.
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