New Zealand Men's U-20s

Chris Greenacre has been appointed New Zealand Men’s U-20 head coach, a role he will take on in addition to his current position as @WgtnPhoenixFC Men's Reserves head coach.

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) January 16, 2024

I thought he left the Nix Academy???
I'm so confused.

Great appointment for the U20's though.

**Edit**
Ahh that clarifies it. 😅

Another Pom. Kiwis may as well give up on coaching jobs and licences. Save yourself 10s of thousand of dollars and the bs. Or try get a British passport.

Good luck to the guy.

NZ Football aka British Army. 

Showtime Nixie

Another Pom. Kiwis may as well give up on coaching jobs and licences. Save yourself 10s of thousand of dollars and the bs. Or try get a British passport.

Good luck to the guy.

Country is 30% immigrants, he's a citizen and has been here 14 years. Definitely a kiwi.

Great appointment, Greenacre is a very good coach and I think gets an A-League gig in the next 5 years. 

But think there's a bit of reason to be concerned - NZ representative squads have been drifting towards very Phoenix-centric, and as Greenie will be training with the Nix boys day in day out, that could become worse. I hope the deal includes obligations to be travelling around the country and even overseas to see the other talent a fair amount too.

Showtime Nixie

Another Pom. Kiwis may as well give up on coaching jobs and licences. Save yourself 10s of thousand of dollars and the bs. Or try get a British passport.

Good luck to the guy.

Why are you bringing nationality into this? If he is the best man for the job then he deserves to be hired.

Showtime Nixie

NZ Football aka British Army. 

give it a rest you knob, he been here for so long and has been involved in developing NZ footballers since he retired from the Nix. He fully deserves this appointment and was clearly the best person for the job.

I wonder how long you or your family have to be here to be a "Kiwi"

First team - Pom
U 23s - Pom
U 20s - Pom
U17s- Pom

All just a ring fencing exercise at NZF. Ex Pat club. 

Showtime Nixie

First team - Pom
U 23s - Pom
U 20s - Pom
U17s- Pom

All just a ring fencing exercise at NZF. Ex Pat club. 

Or it could just be that football in NZ has a lot of expats involved in the coaching ranks. Why so ready to jump on a consiracy journey? 

Also a conflict of interest with club and national team. 

Showtime Nixie

Also a conflict of interest with club and national team. 

Yep agree that there is a conflict but not sure how one avoids that in the small market that is NZ football. All the decent coaches are affiliated to a Club! The only way to avoid that is to appoint one of the permanent NZ Football staff and we all saw the outcome of that in the shambolic u17's campaign. In any case they  would have all been at local clubs at some stage so are also conflicted. For mine, I would rather have Greenacre who is a fantastic coach than someone who may be more independent but puts out a team that look like they have met for the first time in the changing sheds!

Hardly a conflict, a good number of the NZF lads already come from the Nix academy.
Besides keeping the Nix job was probably part of the deal to getting the NZF job, or vice versa.

Going to be interesting how Auckland FC structure their Academy, and will it be a bit cheaper than say Ole & the Nix for parents. And then when players do start coming through there, the extra challenge for NZ age group coaches of deciding who maybe the better player - Nix Acad product vs Auck Acad product - if you have 2 similar players.

All for the future, and as a whole for NZ football a good problem to have. Increasing the player talent pool. But that's when accusations of bias, or conflict of interest may really arise, if you have NZ age group coaches like Greeny at one or other of the 2 A League clubs. Selection can be such an arbitary thing after all, apart from the real stand out youngsters.

Seems a long time since NZ hosted one of these age group WC qualifying tourneys.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2024/03/05/new-zealand-learn-opponents-for-ofc-u-19-mens-championship/

New Zealand have been drawn to play New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and hosts Samoa in their group games at July’s OFC U-19 Men’s Championship.

The draw for the tournament was conducted at the OFC Home of Football ‘Te Kahu o Kiwa’ in Auckland on Tuesday March 5, 2024.

Former Solomon Islands captain Henry Fa’arodo drew the teams’ names from the pot, while presenter Andrew Dewhurst oversaw the draw.

The OFC U-19s Men’s Championship will be held in Samoa from July 7-20, 2024.

The tournament will decide the nation that will represent Oceania at the 2025 FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in Chile.

Group A at the OFC U-19s Men’s Championship will be decided between Fiji, Tahiti, Solomon Islands and the winner of a four-nation qualifying series.

Don't mind that - they're a non event when held here.

lthomas20

Don't mind that - they're a non event when held here.

Yes but there have been a few nervy moments in the Boys U16/U17 & U19 tourneys last few years. With OFC getting 2 spots at age group WCs, only need to win the semi final, but one day that won't happen, especially if all the tourneys are held in the Islands.

In 2018 Des's U19s were 1-1 with New Caledonia (NC) in their semi until 76 mins (2-1 win). Then won a tight final 1-0 over Tahiti.

Last year's U17s beat NC in the final 1-0, though they did beat Fiji easily 4-1 in their semi.

U16 tourney in 2018, NZ infamously got thrashed by Lea'i and his Solomons (SI) mates 5-0 in a pool game. Last pool game was a tight 4-3 win over Fiji. And then only edged SI on pens in the final (0-0 after ET).

The U17 tourney in 2017, it took a late 93rd min Oli Whyte goal to beat PNG in their semi 2-1. 

The luck will run out one day.

lthomas20

Don't mind that - they're a non event when held here.

Maybe could take it out of auckland to show case in regions.

watching_from_far

lthomas20

Don't mind that - they're a non event when held here.

Maybe could take it out of auckland to show case in regions.

I remember way back in the day there was an U17 tourney held in Napier, back when the likes of Lee Norfolk and Sean Fallon were involved and Australia was still in the mix - got decent crowds from memory, definitely be some scope to pitch for something like that in the future.

Khalil Media

watching_from_far

lthomas20

Don't mind that - they're a non event when held here.

Maybe could take it out of auckland to show case in regions.

I remember way back in the day there was an U17 tourney held in Napier, back when the likes of Lee Norfolk and Sean Fallon were involved and Australia was still in the mix - got decent crowds from memory, definitely be some scope to pitch for something like that in the future.

If the New Plymouth City Council or suchlike wanted to bankroll it, maybe. Otherwise the costs just aren't worth it for NZ Football, which would rather save its pennies for hosting matches/tournaments that really matter (All Whites ones).

andrewvoerman

Khalil Media

watching_from_far

lthomas20

Don't mind that - they're a non event when held here.

Maybe could take it out of auckland to show case in regions.

I remember way back in the day there was an U17 tourney held in Napier, back when the likes of Lee Norfolk and Sean Fallon were involved and Australia was still in the mix - got decent crowds from memory, definitely be some scope to pitch for something like that in the future.

If the New Plymouth City Council or suchlike wanted to bankroll it, maybe. Otherwise the costs just aren't worth it for NZ Football, which would rather save its pennies for hosting matches/tournaments that really matter (All Whites ones).

What extra cost would there be from changing it to a region? Obviously extra flights maybe bit more accommodation for those organizing it. 

watching_from_far

andrewvoerman

Khalil Media

watching_from_far

lthomas20

Don't mind that - they're a non event when held here.

Maybe could take it out of auckland to show case in regions.

I remember way back in the day there was an U17 tourney held in Napier, back when the likes of Lee Norfolk and Sean Fallon were involved and Australia was still in the mix - got decent crowds from memory, definitely be some scope to pitch for something like that in the future.

If the New Plymouth City Council or suchlike wanted to bankroll it, maybe. Otherwise the costs just aren't worth it for NZ Football, which would rather save its pennies for hosting matches/tournaments that really matter (All Whites ones).

What extra cost would there be from changing it to a region? Obviously extra flights maybe bit more accommodation for those organizing it. 

I meant the general cost of hosting these tournaments in the first place is why NZ Football doesn't go chasing after them (saving its capital for the ones that really matter), but yes, there are also additional costs the more travel you need (and, for example, if you need to then take NZF/OFC staff from their Auckland homes and put them up somewhere).

andrewvoerman

watching_from_far

andrewvoerman

Khalil Media

watching_from_far

lthomas20

Don't mind that - they're a non event when held here.

Maybe could take it out of auckland to show case in regions.

I remember way back in the day there was an U17 tourney held in Napier, back when the likes of Lee Norfolk and Sean Fallon were involved and Australia was still in the mix - got decent crowds from memory, definitely be some scope to pitch for something like that in the future.

If the New Plymouth City Council or suchlike wanted to bankroll it, maybe. Otherwise the costs just aren't worth it for NZ Football, which would rather save its pennies for hosting matches/tournaments that really matter (All Whites ones).

What extra cost would there be from changing it to a region? Obviously extra flights maybe bit more accommodation for those organizing it. 

I meant the general cost of hosting these tournaments in the first place is why NZ Football doesn't go chasing after them (saving its capital for the ones that really matter), but yes, there are also additional costs the more travel you need (and, for example, if you need to then take NZF/OFC staff from their Auckland homes and put them up somewhere).

totally understand, was bit of a different world back then for sure :)

Ranix

siac

Well that was terrible. 2 goals from goalkeeping errors, 2 goals from giving the ball away under no pressure (one an attacking free kick).

Hard to think of any guys who had a good tourn overall. Surman and Herdman both looked capable at times but not much else.

A week ago there were certain pundits calling for Surman and Herdman to be drafted straight into the senior team. Wonder what those people think now. I thought that was all a bit premature at the time.

Not aged well this comment! Surman, Hughes, Kelly Heald, and Herdman all deserve their trip to Paris later this year and I'm am happy with the guys who were called up being AWs next week.

4 team qualifying tourney of Tonga, Cook Islands, Vanuatu & American Samoa. Home team Vanuatu favourites you'd think.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/how-to-watch-ofc-mens-u-19-championship-2024-qualifying/

The OFC U-19s Men’s Championship proper will be held in Samoa from July 7-20, 2024.

The tournament will decide the nation that will represent Oceania at the 2025 FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in Chile.

Here's a name that's probably not on too many radars in 🇳🇿 but it sounds as though James Bulkeley (#34) is potentially in line for a surprise call-up for the OFC U19 Championship in July.

A strong, technical, ball playing CB. One to keep an 👀 out for when the 🇳🇿 squad is named. pic.twitter.com/zbEXZLHFGs

— YoungHeart - 🇳🇿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@YoungHeartHM) April 12, 2024

A potentially surprise inclusion for the OFC U19 Championship later on in July.

My 28 yr old Peruvian nephew played in the Sunshine Coast Comp (QLD) last year for local club Kawana FC.

Kawana had a couple of talented 18 yr olds who returned to the club mid season, after about 3 months with the Fleetwood Town Academy in the UK. These 2 guys (striker & CB) finished the local season, and then immediately flew to the UAE to link up with FT affiliate Fleetwood United. I think they are now back at Kawana. Seems like Fleetwood United is a club that attracts young footballers chasing that dream first pro contract. Glorified Academy setup??

Midfielder Bulkeley is listed as James Andrew (NZ flag) in their Wiki page below

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleetwood_United_F.C.

Fleetwood United yes were confirmed as UAE 2nd Division champs on the weekend. This being the 3rd tier of UAE football. So they are now promoted to UAE 1st Division (2nd tier). 3rd tier UAE football maybe no better than NZ National League??
https://en.aletihad.ae/news/sport/4477503/fleetwood-united-lift-second-division-title

There is a Fleetwood Group owned by a dodgy UK businessman called Andrew Pilley, that owns both clubs it seems. Pilley had to resign as Fleetwood Town (UK) chairman, after a fraud conviction.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Pilley

Oh & Steven Taylor as a coach, post the Nix took a similar Academy type club (Gulf United) to successive promotions in the UAE (4th tier to 3rd & then 2nd tier), before calling it quits.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Taylor_(footballer)#:~:text=Coaching%20career,-Gulf%20United%20FC&text=On%2023%20January%202022%2C%20Taylor,in%20the%20United%20Arab%20Emirates.

Coaching career

Gulf United FC

On 23 January 2022, Taylor was announced as the head coach of Gulf United, an academy based in the United Arab Emirates. On 26 May, Taylor managed his side to a 3–1 win over Fleetwood United in the UAE Third Division League play-off final, achieving promotion to the UAE Second Division league.

After gaining promotion in their first season, Gulf United went on to become champions the UAE Second Division, winning promotion in a history making season which saw them become the first team to achieve back-to-back promotions in the history of UAE Football.[63] Taylor praised the club stating "I've got good people upstairs who let me just concentrate on the football."

On 31 August 2023 Gulf United announced that Steven Taylor had left by mutual agreement. During his time at the club, Taylor had won back to back promotions.