Who do we want to see in a white shirt?

Rusty Dunks

What I think we really need is a CB, 25-29yo, playing in the Championship or similar. Our options are either old (Boxall, Smith), young (Bindon, Surman), or crap (Tuiloma). 
Sounds like a Tinder wishlist!

Oh, and Lee Ho-jae. 

And someone outside of Wood playing and scoring regularly at a decent level.

Less of the league of ireland guys too.... 

One of the few things I respected about Hudson is he was clear about a few leagues he wouldn’t pick players from. As it is the selection policy around LOI players is very confusing. Especially as you’d consider most of the Scandinavian leagues, South Africa, A league and probably the better USL guys to be well clear of them…
For me I’d like to see de Jong and Collier involved to give us variety and points of difference in attack. They might not work out, but it’s a different type of player, different type of attack and something different for Mata or Waine to work with. Don’t think they’d be so far behind the likes of Just. 

martinb

One of the few things I respected about Hudson is he was clear about a few leagues he wouldn’t pick players from. As it is the selection policy around LOI players is very confusing. Especially as you’d consider most of the Scandinavian leagues, South Africa, A league and probably the better USL guys to be well clear of them…
For me I’d like to see de Jong and Collier involved to give us variety and points of difference in attack. They might not work out, but it’s a different type of player, different type of attack and something different for Mata or Waine to work with. Don’t think they’d be so far behind the likes of Just. 

I agree with de Jong, he has to be worth a shot. And the LoI thing should be consigned to the 90s

Rusty Dunks

What I think we really need is a CB, 25-29yo, playing in the Championship or similar. Our options are either old (Boxall, Smith), young (Bindon, Surman), or crap (Tuiloma). 
Sounds like a Tinder wishlist!

Oh, and Lee Ho-jae. 

League One playoffs close enough?

IMG_7131.jpeg 41.97 KB

What the Olympics reiterated for me was that Garbett should never be played as a 6, and preferably should be as close to goal as possible at all times. Bell got a lot of criticism on here but he didn't have much in the way of support, he still looked by far and away the most capable midfielder we had. I think he has turned the corner form wise and can still form a part of an effective midfield for us. But we need to stick with a midfield 3 otherwise we will be completely overrun against anybody decent. And the likes of Singh, Garbett & Old should not be part of that 3 against high quality opposition. 

Boxall doesn't look head and shoulders above Bindon and Surman, I'm disappointed we didn't get to see them tried as a pair against teams from outside OFC. I hope we do in the upcoming September friendlies. In hindsight, doing the Nations Cup instead of friendlies was maybe the wrong idea, all we got out of it was a meager bump in rankings. I'd only ever want to see us at them in the future if they are part of WCQ. 

Other than that, I think the main thing to keep in mind is that there is always an enormous gulf in class between our best and second best elevens. The last Olympics was an outlier in that we had our best available side in conjunction with an outstanding u23 generation. We had an equally good pool of available players this time but not the luck with availability.

Hoping to see an XI that looks something like this in the USA:

Crocombe
Payne Bindon Surman Cacace
Stamenic Rufer Bell
Garbett Singh
Wood

Rusty Dunks

What I think we really need is a CB, 25-29yo, playing in the Championship or similar. Our options are either old (Boxall, Smith), young (Bindon, Surman), or crap (Tuiloma). 
Sounds like a Tinder wishlist!

Oh, and Lee Ho-jae. 

Kyle Adams, 27 turning 28 in November, is still an option. 

He has continued to start pretty regularly for Louisville City this season in the USL Championship since joining from San Diego Loyal towards the end of last season. We've still only seen just over 10 minutes of him in a white shirt.

Wusty Wab

Rusty Dunks

What I think we really need is a CB, 25-29yo, playing in the Championship or similar. Our options are either old (Boxall, Smith), young (Bindon, Surman), or crap (Tuiloma). 
Sounds like a Tinder wishlist!

Oh, and Lee Ho-jae. 

Kyle Adams, 27 turning 28 in November, is still an option. 

He has continued to start pretty regularly for Louisville City this season in the USL Championship since joining from San Diego Loyal towards the end of last season. We've still only seen just over 10 minutes of him in a white shirt.

I only saw highlights of the Olympics games. But harsh to judge Boxy solely off these 3 matches. He's played alot of MLS football lately, travelled, had very limited prep in France, and then played 3 games in very hot French mid summer conditions in a week.

He's still playing well week to week at a very decent level in the MLS. Whether he can survive another 2 years to WC 20206 when he'll be nearly 38 is questionable, but he'll be desperate to do so, never having been to a big dance before. You can see he does keep himself in good nick. His enemy is father time.

The LOI criticism is a bit moot. Mata now at a League one club on loan to a ALM one. We all wait to see how he goes for AFC.

Pijnaker I wouldn't give up on. I reckon he is close to move to League One or similar level. Seems to be playing well in Eire, before & after the 2 months out with cracked ribs. Has some really good parts to his game (those cross field switches), but then yes way too many clangers. If he can harden up mentally, get more ruthless and rid himself of those costly errors he can play at a higher level for sure. All up to him.

imanixsupporter

What the Olympics reiterated for me was that Garbett should never be played as a 6, and preferably should be as close to goal as possible at all times. Bell got a lot of criticism on here but he didn't have much in the way of support, he still looked by far and away the most capable midfielder we had. I think he has turned the corner form wise and can still form a part of an effective midfield for us. But we need to stick with a midfield 3 otherwise we will be completely overrun against anybody decent. And the likes of Singh, Garbett & Old should not be part of that 3 against high quality opposition. 

Boxall doesn't look head and shoulders above Bindon and Surman, I'm disappointed we didn't get to see them tried as a pair against teams from outside OFC. I hope we do in the upcoming September friendlies. In hindsight, doing the Nations Cup instead of friendlies was maybe the wrong idea, all we got out of it was a meager bump in rankings. I'd only ever want to see us at them in the future if they are part of WCQ. 

Other than that, I think the main thing to keep in mind is that there is always an enormous gulf in class between our best and second best elevens. The last Olympics was an outlier in that we had our best available side in conjunction with an outstanding u23 generation. We had an equally good pool of available players this time but not the luck with availability.

Hoping to see an XI that looks something like this in the USA:

Crocombe
Payne Bindon Surman Cacace
Stamenic Rufer Bell
Garbett Singh
Wood

We obviously watched very different Olympic OlyWhites games. Bell was poor throughout. He did improve but really added nothing to the team as an overage player.

Wusty Wab

Rusty Dunks

What I think we really need is a CB, 25-29yo, playing in the Championship or similar. Our options are either old (Boxall, Smith), young (Bindon, Surman), or crap (Tuiloma). 
Sounds like a Tinder wishlist!

Oh, and Lee Ho-jae. 

Kyle Adams, 27 turning 28 in November, is still an option. 

He has continued to start pretty regularly for Louisville City this season in the USL Championship since joining from San Diego Loyal towards the end of last season. We've still only seen just over 10 minutes of him in a white shirt.

Surely you jest. USL at 28 means he's highly unlikely to play in a decent league. 

Obviously he's being paid to play footie (good on him), but if he's serious about being an AW, he needs to get a gig at the Nix, AFC, another A League side, or a league equal to or better than English League 1. Same applies to Pijnaker.

Greive and younger Garbett in the LOI, right? 

martinb

Greive and younger Garbett in the LOI, right? 

Yes forgot about Greive. He only played in Vanuatu because it was a very under strength side. Prior to that he'd been out of the AWs squad for I'm guessing nearly a year, and he won't be picked in September.

Hopefully Norman Garbett goes well in LOI (his first pro gig) but he ain't near the AWs.

Marto

Wusty Wab

Rusty Dunks

What I think we really need is a CB, 25-29yo, playing in the Championship or similar. Our options are either old (Boxall, Smith), young (Bindon, Surman), or crap (Tuiloma). 
Sounds like a Tinder wishlist!

Oh, and Lee Ho-jae. 

Kyle Adams, 27 turning 28 in November, is still an option. 

He has continued to start pretty regularly for Louisville City this season in the USL Championship since joining from San Diego Loyal towards the end of last season. We've still only seen just over 10 minutes of him in a white shirt.

Surely you jest. USL at 28 means he's highly unlikely to play in a decent league. 

Obviously he's being paid to play footie (good on him), but if he's serious about being an AW, he needs to get a gig at the Nix, AFC, another A League side, or a league equal to or better than English League 1. Same applies to Pijnaker.

I mean all the experience he’s built up in the USL could come in handy if an MLS club is in need of a centre back in the next season or two. It’s probably unlikely but it’s at least a possibility.

In light of whatever the heck is the Bazeley/Storm Roux situation. Is it worth looking at a recall for Kirwan for RB? I don't know how the standard of Serie C is but hes been close to playing Serie B a couple of times now if it wasn't for how bloated and congested the playoff promotion system is for that league. I remember fondly his game winning goal against Bahrain shortly after the previous Olympic campaign. 

Rock Hopper

In light of whatever the heck is the Bazeley/Storm Roux situation. Is it worth looking at a recall for Kirwan for RB? I don't know how the standard of Serie C is but hes been close to playing Serie B a couple of times now if it wasn't for how bloated and congested the playoff promotion system is for that league. I remember fondly his game winning goal against Bahrain shortly after the previous Olympic campaign. 

The RB picks for September FIFA window will be interesting. ALM clubs will in pre season mode and Bazeley may bypass the myriad of options (Payne, Elliott, Ingham, Roux) in that comp.

Dalton Wilkins is playing RB in the Danish top flight. And yes Kirwan has good experience. He seemed to be slow to start the last Serie C season, after doing his ACL the season prior.

I wasn't really aware of football during the era of his extended Nix stint but was there ever any chat back in the day about Vince Lia making the allegiance switch to the AW's the same way Dura actually did and we hypothesize about Bally?

Rock Hopper

I wasn't really aware of football during the era of his extended Nix stint but was there ever any chat back in the day about Vince Lia making the allegiance switch to the AW's the same way Dura actually did and we hypothesize about Bally?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/6332687/Rules-may-stop-Lias-NZ-move

Friar Tuck

Rock Hopper

I wasn't really aware of football during the era of his extended Nix stint but was there ever any chat back in the day about Vince Lia making the allegiance switch to the AW's the same way Dura actually did and we hypothesize about Bally?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/6332687/Rules-may-stop-Lias-NZ-move

2012. That's an awful lot of world cup cycles for right back to be an ongoing point of weakness for the national side.

Rock Hopper

Friar Tuck

Rock Hopper

I wasn't really aware of football during the era of his extended Nix stint but was there ever any chat back in the day about Vince Lia making the allegiance switch to the AW's the same way Dura actually did and we hypothesize about Bally?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/6332687/Rules-may-stop-Lias-NZ-move

2012. That's an awful lot of world cup cycles for right back to be an ongoing point of weakness for the national side.

It goes back maybe 20+ years. I really can’t think of any decent kiwi RBs in this millennium.

Rock Hopper

Friar Tuck

Rock Hopper

I wasn't really aware of football during the era of his extended Nix stint but was there ever any chat back in the day about Vince Lia making the allegiance switch to the AW's the same way Dura actually did and we hypothesize about Bally?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/6332687/Rules-may-stop-Lias-NZ-move

2012. That's an awful lot of world cup cycles for right back to be an ongoing point of weakness for the national side.

It goes back maybe 20+ years. I really can’t think of any decent kiwi RBs in this millennium.

Rock Hopper

Friar Tuck

Rock Hopper

I wasn't really aware of football during the era of his extended Nix stint but was there ever any chat back in the day about Vince Lia making the allegiance switch to the AW's the same way Dura actually did and we hypothesize about Bally?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/6332687/Rules-may-stop-Lias-NZ-move

2012. That's an awful lot of world cup cycles for right back to be an ongoing point of weakness for the national side.

It goes back maybe 20+ years. I really can’t think of any decent kiwi RBs in this millennium.

Wonder where Physician Assistant, Kip Colvey is these days. I remember him at the Lima away playoff game, creating one of the few AWs scoring chances with an excellent cross in from the right side.
 

Liam Gillion for sure gives abit of pace in the team and thats something we need uptop for sure.

coochiee

Wonder where Physician Assistant, Kip Colvey is these days. I remember him at the Lima away playoff game, creating one of the few AWs scoring chances with an excellent cross in from the right side.
 

https://slocumcenter.com/providers/kip-colvey/

freNZ

Liam Gillion for sure gives abit of pace in the team and thats something we need uptop for sure.

Yipe excited to see what the likes of Gillion, Randall, Toomey etc can do in the ALM. My favourite thing about a 2nd NZ team, young guys like these getting their chance.

How football will be big sports media news in NZ 3x over the summer, with the derbies. 2nd favourite thing.

Friar Tuck

coochiee

Wonder where Physician Assistant, Kip Colvey is these days. I remember him at the Lima away playoff game, creating one of the few AWs scoring chances with an excellent cross in from the right side.
 

https://slocumcenter.com/providers/kip-colvey/

Good find. The kid from Linkwater. Still only 30.
Add his name to the long list of ex AWs living Stateside.

Eugene, Oregon. Wonder if he ever heads up the road to watch Timbers games.

It must be time for piney to do his power rankings again... who would be your top 11 (assuming all are fit)? I'll start...

Paulsen
Payne, Surman, Boxall, Cacace
Stamenic, Rufer/Bell
Old, Singh
Wood, Waine

Bindon and Bell unlucky subs. 

Crocombe
Payne, Boxall, Bindon, Cacace
Stamenic, Bell
McCowatt/Garbett, Singh, Old
Wood

I'd favour US/European over ALM guys for the States tour next month as they are in season, but Payne basically has a lock on that RB spot now.

The Olympics showed Bindon is ahead of Surman at the moment. He's also more of a LCB. By the Mexico & USA games next month Finn S, may not have played much football of late as well.

McCowatt's had a very good 12 months, and playing at a decent level in Denmark. Can be a bit anonymous sometimes for the AWs, but Waine honestly even more so against the bigger teams in a white shirt to date. McC's scoring record is decent against non OFC teams with 2 goals in 16 games. Certainly better than the likes of Barba & Rojas.

Crocombe
 Roux Boxall Bindon Cacace
 Stamenic Garbett
 Rojas Singh Old
 Wood 

Bench: Paulsen, Surman, Bell, Waine, Smith

This line up purely exists and leans into the hypothetical as it ignores the percieved Roux/Bazeley feud. 

For mine, Crocombe hasn't set a foot wrong when given the AW's jersey. The onus is on AP to snatch that from him.

Rojas doesn't seem to be in AW's contention of late but I'm picking him to have a gun Phoenix return akin to Kosta last season to put him back in the frame. I think he's still got a lot to give. He had reminders of the danger he can bring in that ill-fated Qatar game.

Even without a club, Singh just creates too much going forward for us to give him the miss.

I've made this line up with September's North American tour in mind. I like Smith for the old head and versatility of DM or CB off the bench, to match Boxall's, but there's a number of other picks who could get on a good run at club level between now and then to take the spot off him without me having any qualms. If you are looking for a more attacking bench absolutely McCowatt or Just gets in over him. 

Also I know a lot of people may take Rufer or Bell or even a cleared of any guilt Lewis over Garbett but you just can't fault the lads energy and commitment. He's the only one who seems to be able to semi regularly make goals happen from open play in the AW jersey. 

I think you start one of Garbett/Old and the other one creates an impact off the bench. Otherwise the midfield feels light in grit with only Stamenic in there so I'd have Rufer too. I just think he offers much more defensive stability than Bell who was a turnstile at the Olympics but probably offers more creatively. 

Singh drifting in from the left, interchanging with Garbett/Old with Libby bombing on, I think is our most dangerous attacking avenue.

Back 4 and keeper pick themselves, Surman and Paulsen's Olympics showing it's maybe a little too soon for them. Wood up top which leaves a slot wide right that could be any number of players depending on what you want to achieve - Waine, Barba, Marco, McCowatt, Just and even Champness all offer points of difference and could be fit in.

I think Nelfoos has just about nailed it. 

Garbett is not a 6. Bell and Rufer are probably interchangeable at this point as a partner to Stamenic at 6. Paulsen & Surman haven't proven themselves ahead of Crocombe and Boxall. Roux may be a good option at RB but he's not exactly streets ahead of Payne so it doesn't matter unless Payne isn't fit.

I would have both Old and Garbett in my starting lineup though, they probably are ahead of all other attackers other than Singh and Wood who are irreplaceable. Having the likes of Waine, Kosta, McCowatt, Just to turn to if they aren't working aren't bad alternatives. The likes of Rojas, Champness, Mata and Randall really need to impress at A-League level to get back in the frame. 

My lineup would be

Crocombe
Payne Boxall Bindon Cacace
Stamenic Bell
Garbett Singh Old
Wood

If that is a bit too attacking and ambitious against a superior side, throw in Rufer and take out Garbett/Old. 

Hopefully Ryan Thomas can stay fit and wants to play. He'd be a huge asset.

Agree with the above comments on Mccowatt. He's playing a better level than most, and doing well.

Elemenop

Hopefully Ryan Thomas can stay fit and wants to play. He'd be a huge asset.

Agree with the above comments on Mccowatt. He's playing a better level than most, and doing well.

Is he really better then Old and co now? I think the Thomas of 2017/8 is long gone. Injuries have destroyed him as happened to Hay. Tin men marks 1 & 2.

I agree with this. For me the No6 role next to Stamenic is probably the most unsettled role in the team right now.

Bell and Rufer aren’t up to international level and are Back up dms at best +  we need to get to that next level.

 A big IF but if Thomas can stay injury free and play consistently I genuinely believe he’s still that guy next to Stamenic.

Let’s not forget barring injuries this was a guy who was a regular starter for PSV a few years ago.

Of course he would still need to be keen to play for the National Team but you’d imagine he’s dreaming of playing in a WC in 2 years time right.. 

Elemenop

Hopefully Ryan Thomas can stay fit and wants to play. He'd be a huge asset.

Agree with the above comments on Mccowatt. He's playing a better level than most, and doing well.

Singh19

I agree with this. For me the No6 role next to Stamenic is probably the most unsettled role in the team right now.

Bell and Rufer aren’t up to international level and are Back up dms at best +  we need to get to that next level.

 A big IF but if Thomas can stay injury free and play consistently I genuinely believe he’s still that guy next to Stamenic.

Let’s not forget barring injuries this was a guy who was a regular starter for PSV a few years ago.

Of course he would still need to be keen to play for the National Team but you’d imagine he’s dreaming of playing in a WC in 2 years time right.. 

Elemenop

Hopefully Ryan Thomas can stay fit and wants to play. He'd be a huge asset.

Agree with the above comments on Mccowatt. He's playing a better level than most, and doing well.

I can see that spot belonging to Matt Dibley-Dias by the 2026 World Cup.

Might line up something like this?

IMG_7204.jpeg 437.78 KB

Ryan Thomas was never a 6, was he? More of an 8/10, Garbett sort of player. But the odds of him getting back to anything close to his best are very slim, and I think even if he got back to playing regularly he wouldn't be rushing to play internationally, as he knows how fickle his body is. I honestly don't think he will play for the All Whites ever again. 

The only way I can envisage him doing so is if we qualify for the World Cup, and he is fully fit when Bazeley picks his tournament squad, and is playing so well and at a sufficiently high level that he is a must-pick despite having not appeared for NZ prior to the squad naming. 

I don't know why everyone is so excited about MDD, he's done nothing at senior level yet. He's as much a premier league player as Alex Paulsen is. Chris James was also a star in Fulham age group teams and he never amounted to much at senior club level (though in retrospect I wish he had played more for the All Whites and had played in the A-League, I think he'd have done really well). And there is of course the fact that he is yet to commit his international future to us.  

Bell and Rufer are the best DMs we have, apart from Stamenic, and I don't think it is very likely that any players will surpass them before the World Cup. 

imanixsupporter

Ryan Thomas was never a 6, was he? More of an 8/10, Garbett sort of player. But the odds of him getting back to anything close to his best are very slim, and I think even if he got back to playing regularly he wouldn't be rushing to play internationally, as he knows how fickle his body is. I honestly don't think he will play for the All Whites ever again. 

The only way I can envisage him doing so is if we qualify for the World Cup, and he is fully fit when Bazeley picks his tournament squad, and is playing so well and at a sufficiently high level that he is a must-pick despite having not appeared for NZ prior to the squad naming. 

I don't know why everyone is so excited about MDD, he's done nothing at senior level yet. He's as much a premier league player as Alex Paulsen is. Chris James was also a star in Fulham age group teams and he never amounted to much at senior club level (though in retrospect I wish he had played more for the All Whites and had played in the A-League, I think he'd have done really well). And there is of course the fact that he is yet to commit his international future to us.  

Bell and Rufer are the best DMs we have, apart from Stamenic, and I don't think it is very likely that any players will surpass them before the World Cup. 

Amen to all of the above. Can't fault a word.

Not a shabby lineup at all. However I think Boxall will still be a starter by 2026. I don’t think Surman will be ready by 2026.

Dias’s development is key over the next 2 seasons. If he can get himself 35 odd games in L1 and then earn himself a move to a championship club the following season he will be in good stead.

Rufer and Bell for me aren’t gonna get much better. Decent backups at best IMO and Dibs has a much higher ceiling than the two of them.

The front 3 combination is an interesting one for me. The 4 main guys are Wood, Singh, McCowatt and Old. The next line of contenders are Just, Waine, Champness, Grieve, Gillion, Rojas, Kosta and Van Hattum. 

We need to find the best combination over the next 2 years to supplement Woodsy. The last 3 years we haven’t been able to crack it and time is ticking.

There is 3 nailed on starters for 2026 and that’s Stamenic, Wood and Cacace for me. 

Friar Tuck

Singh19

I agree with this. For me the No6 role next to Stamenic is probably the most unsettled role in the team right now.

Bell and Rufer aren’t up to international level and are Back up dms at best +  we need to get to that next level.

 A big IF but if Thomas can stay injury free and play consistently I genuinely believe he’s still that guy next to Stamenic.

Let’s not forget barring injuries this was a guy who was a regular starter for PSV a few years ago.

Of course he would still need to be keen to play for the National Team but you’d imagine he’s dreaming of playing in a WC in 2 years time right.. 

Elemenop

Hopefully Ryan Thomas can stay fit and wants to play. He'd be a huge asset.

Agree with the above comments on Mccowatt. He's playing a better level than most, and doing well.

I can see that spot belonging to Matt Dibley-Dias by the 2026 World Cup.

Might line up something like this?

IMG_7204.jpeg 437.78 KB

imanixsupporter

Ryan Thomas was never a 6, was he? More of an 8/10, Garbett sort of player. But the odds of him getting back to anything close to his best are very slim, and I think even if he got back to playing regularly he wouldn't be rushing to play internationally, as he knows how fickle his body is. I honestly don't think he will play for the All Whites ever again. 

The only way I can envisage him doing so is if we qualify for the World Cup, and he is fully fit when Bazeley picks his tournament squad, and is playing so well and at a sufficiently high level that he is a must-pick despite having not appeared for NZ prior to the squad naming. 

I don't know why everyone is so excited about MDD, he's done nothing at senior level yet. He's as much a premier league player as Alex Paulsen is. Chris James was also a star in Fulham age group teams and he never amounted to much at senior club level (though in retrospect I wish he had played more for the All Whites and had played in the A-League, I think he'd have done really well). And there is of course the fact that he is yet to commit his international future to us.  

Bell and Rufer are the best DMs we have, apart from Stamenic, and I don't think it is very likely that any players will surpass them before the World Cup. 

Hard to disagree with much here.

I’m hopeful of Dias but you’re right he’s only ever played against kids up until 2 weeks ago. 

He’s got good attributes but realistically he’s probably a league level at the minute. 99% sure he will never crack it at Fulham considering they’re sending him down 2 divisons to an average L1 side. (Similarly to Aussie Tyrese Francois)

I just think Folks are excited because the obvious Brazilian background etc and the fact that besides Stamenic we don’t really have any other exciting DM/CM prospects to get gassed up about right now, considering Rufer and Bell are completely different players to the other two. 

imanixsupporter

Ryan Thomas was never a 6, was he? More of an 8/10, Garbett sort of player. But the odds of him getting back to anything close to his best are very slim, and I think even if he got back to playing regularly he wouldn't be rushing to play internationally, as he knows how fickle his body is. I honestly don't think he will play for the All Whites ever again. 

The only way I can envisage him doing so is if we qualify for the World Cup, and he is fully fit when Bazeley picks his tournament squad, and is playing so well and at a sufficiently high level that he is a must-pick despite having not appeared for NZ prior to the squad naming. 

I don't know why everyone is so excited about MDD, he's done nothing at senior level yet. He's as much a premier league player as Alex Paulsen is. Chris James was also a star in Fulham age group teams and he never amounted to much at senior club level (though in retrospect I wish he had played more for the All Whites and had played in the A-League, I think he'd have done really well). And there is of course the fact that he is yet to commit his international future to us.  

Bell and Rufer are the best DMs we have, apart from Stamenic, and I don't think it is very likely that any players will surpass them before the World Cup. 

All in all I 100% see a route back into the National Team for Ryan Thomas. For sure Understandable that many believe otherwise but the challenge is obviously he can’t keep himself on the pitch. 

The calibre of player is undeniable and though he’s been missing the last 5 years, there isn’t really anyone that’s surpassed him in his position outside of Stamenic and Garbett. 

 Bell and Rufer need to be operating at a much higher level in 1-2 years time then the A League and Norwegian League respectively to be considered as starters next to Stamenic in 2026. 

It’s an interesting call on Bell and Rufer! 

If we played 3 at the back, then Payne could go into the back 3 adding a winger. Or we change him for Wilkins. 

Or we see Boxy retained. The lad is still playing a LOT of football per season in the US. So far he’s fit enough. Perhaps only Wood is playing more. 

Playing a back 3 could allow Cacace and whoever is on the right (GSR?) to bomb forward. 

Sorry to say as well that if Sarpreet can’t organise his situation I can’t see him starting. He hasn’t played much in the last two years and has yet to announce a club. 

Thomas won’t be a starter at Zwolle and is unlikely to get many minutes I’d say. His contract was announced quite late in the piece and probably includes a mentorship and leadership role within the squad, or perhaps a talismanic role! 

Andre de Jong seems to be doing well in South Africa? 

Hard to say who might break through.  Waine needs to play more, but is a chance. Just needs to change club and get playing. There seem to be a lot of young lads coming through the Nix and AFC. Perhaps we’ll see someone like  Randall or Bidois breaking through from the Olympics potentials.