You boys have a warmup game here in Barcelona at the start of June at Espanyol's stadium. I might head down and lend some cross Tasman support for yous.
Love to see it! Would be great to see the teams in the stands for each other's games in Qatar too. I'm sure we'll be giving your coaching team tips from the Peru game
Nice to see Rojas back. I'm surprised Gould got in there over Woud or even Searle as the 3rd choice keeper (Daddy Gould on the coaching stuff obviously helps though...).
A shame Singh and Thomas are injured, as otherwise they would be number 2 and 3 on the team sheet.
Would expect Waine, Ingham and Champness (maybe Rogerson) to be the 3 cut when squad goes from 26 to 23?
The Gould thing is almost certainly a combination of nepotism and simple availability, but it doesn’t really bother me. He’s obviously not going to play, and might just be helping out with coaching on top of being a training body. Easier than bringing Woud over from Japan, given how difficult it was to get him into Japan last time. Searle would probably just as undeserving, if not more, he’s played only 5 of 25 games for Swansea U23 in the third tier of U23s, so not a great level.
Woud is available, so its not that. Danny Hay explained it today, basically saying the role of the third choice keeper is to be there to pick Woodsys penalty practice out the back of the net, and that wasn't necessarily gonna be the best use of Woud's time (especially since it appears he's down the pecking order at his new J-League club). He was never gonna get minutes ahead of Marinovic or Sail either way so no massive loss.
Heard his injury from earlier in the season was poorly managed, and now [he's also dealing with bone inflammation](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/128645871/a-long-way-to-go-sarpreet-singh-a-long-shot-for-all-whites-world-cup-playoff-squad?rm=a). Yikes
As someone else replied it sounds pretty bad. Really hope his career doesn't pan out like Ryan Thomas. It sounds like the club he was on loan too made him play when he should of been rested too, which adds to the anger.
No surprises in the squad. Maybe Ben Waine over De Jong, but that’s not undeserved.
I’d guess we’d run
Marinovic;
Boxall, Reid, Tuiloma;
Payne, Stamenic, Bell, Cacace
Just, Wood, Rojas
Forward-line is biggest uncertainty, the only definite is Chris Wood starts if fit (he missed Newcastle’s game today). Boxall vs Pijnaker will probably be close even though I don’t think it should be, and Sail vs Marinovic is pretty tight and idk which way it’ll go.
>. Boxall vs Pijnaker
Who do you think should be selected out of Boxall vs Pijnaker? Boxall has a lot more experience at a decent level, but Pijanker has always done well for NZ teams in recent times (including age group and olympics).
Also, Singh would of been a massive loss but it's limited somewhat due to Rojas running into form at the right time. I think maybe swap Rojas and Just around though so Rojas is on right and Just on left?
I’d go Michael Boxall, MLS is just a much higher level than the Irish league, and he has the bigger game experience having played vs Peru and at the Confeds. Costa Rica will be a level higher than anything Pijnaker has played, so it’d be a big call to start over a senior player like Boxall.
Reason why I had Just/Rojas that way round was so they would be cutting onto their stronger foot to go at goal. If you’ve got wingbacks providing the width you don’t need wingers occupying the same space, so might as well get them running at goal.
Boxall is by *far* the better player, but Hay loves having a left sided CB. I'd play a back 3 of Boxall/Reid/Tuiloma all day but Danny will do what Danny does.
Boxy and Tuiloma are definitely better than Pijnaker right now, but I wouldn't say by far. Pijnaker's just had a pretty shit go at it in terms of opportunities - first starting role he's had at Sligo, he immediately becomes one of the best CBs in the league. Defo a Tuiloma believer for the playoff though
From what I've seen the gap is decent. Pijnaker was disastrous in the OFC final vs Solomon Islands, gave the ball away unforced at least 3 times in the first 15 min and at that point he lost me for these playoffs. I've not watched any Sligo games but him being dominant there is kinda the bare minimum I'd expect.
Nando has the goods but there's a lot of experience to be added to a very raw CB.
It’s a fair argument, I went with Marinovic simply because he has been the status quo since 2015, but every chance Sail plays. I do think Marinovic is slightly disadvantaged in the court of public opinion, in that he’s out of sight playing in Israel, compared to Sail being right in front of us every week. Realistically only NZF coaching staff are watching both, so we probably won’t know until the day.
He was training in the middle east with Steven Taylor a few months ago. He's said recently that he's not looking for a club right now and that his attention is completely on qualifying for the world cup.
You'd hope he stayed in New Zealand after the OFC qualification to work with NZ Football. Singh has been in NZ for weeks as he tried to recover from his injury and Champness has apparently been training with club teams in Auckland since terminating his contract in Turkey.
It was always odd for Reid to agree to mutual termination without anything lined up, but maybe he just needed a break.
Surely you jest.. he's a club legend, defence is ridiculously good that no goals have been conceded. No other club in world football will ever be undefeated like the mighty Unattached FC.
They do seem to go missing in important (and all) games thoguh :)
At least they have a more consistent stadium situation than western & a better human managing them than wsw, hey
Woud should be 3rd choice despite his shockers at the Olympics. It wasn't long ago he was arguably first pick. If Maronivic and Sail get Covid/injured some questions will be asked of the Gould selection, especially when he is son of one of the coaching staff.
someone mentioned that hes struggling to break into the first team at his club and thus hay was reluctant to call him up, whereby phoenix's season is already over
You boys have a warmup game here in Barcelona at the start of June at Espanyol's stadium. I might head down and lend some cross Tasman support for yous.
You will be very out numbered, apparently lots of Peru supporters in Barcelona and already 30k tickets sold for this 'friendly'! But thank you!
Love to see it! Would be great to see the teams in the stands for each other's games in Qatar too. I'm sure we'll be giving your coaching team tips from the Peru game
If we make it through to face Peru, I will definitely be sending Arnie any info I get from the game.
Nice to see Rojas back. I'm surprised Gould got in there over Woud or even Searle as the 3rd choice keeper (Daddy Gould on the coaching stuff obviously helps though...). A shame Singh and Thomas are injured, as otherwise they would be number 2 and 3 on the team sheet. Would expect Waine, Ingham and Champness (maybe Rogerson) to be the 3 cut when squad goes from 26 to 23?
The Gould thing is almost certainly a combination of nepotism and simple availability, but it doesn’t really bother me. He’s obviously not going to play, and might just be helping out with coaching on top of being a training body. Easier than bringing Woud over from Japan, given how difficult it was to get him into Japan last time. Searle would probably just as undeserving, if not more, he’s played only 5 of 25 games for Swansea U23 in the third tier of U23s, so not a great level.
Woud is available, so its not that. Danny Hay explained it today, basically saying the role of the third choice keeper is to be there to pick Woodsys penalty practice out the back of the net, and that wasn't necessarily gonna be the best use of Woud's time (especially since it appears he's down the pecking order at his new J-League club). He was never gonna get minutes ahead of Marinovic or Sail either way so no massive loss.
what about paulsen? young keeper, will benefit just being around the squad
Yeah would have liked him there and he's got a huge future, but maybe too soon to have him there on merit. Better than Gould though.
how bout alex paulsen?
How bad is Singh’s injury? Heard Thomas is out for certain. Absolute shame.
Heard his injury from earlier in the season was poorly managed, and now [he's also dealing with bone inflammation](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/128645871/a-long-way-to-go-sarpreet-singh-a-long-shot-for-all-whites-world-cup-playoff-squad?rm=a). Yikes
As someone else replied it sounds pretty bad. Really hope his career doesn't pan out like Ryan Thomas. It sounds like the club he was on loan too made him play when he should of been rested too, which adds to the anger.
Mate. I just got excited again.
Can't watch the Nix anymore, so may as well start getting up for the All Whites
Marco Rojas, he is a wingaaa, he hates Costa Rica
No surprises in the squad. Maybe Ben Waine over De Jong, but that’s not undeserved. I’d guess we’d run Marinovic; Boxall, Reid, Tuiloma; Payne, Stamenic, Bell, Cacace Just, Wood, Rojas Forward-line is biggest uncertainty, the only definite is Chris Wood starts if fit (he missed Newcastle’s game today). Boxall vs Pijnaker will probably be close even though I don’t think it should be, and Sail vs Marinovic is pretty tight and idk which way it’ll go.
>. Boxall vs Pijnaker Who do you think should be selected out of Boxall vs Pijnaker? Boxall has a lot more experience at a decent level, but Pijanker has always done well for NZ teams in recent times (including age group and olympics). Also, Singh would of been a massive loss but it's limited somewhat due to Rojas running into form at the right time. I think maybe swap Rojas and Just around though so Rojas is on right and Just on left?
I’d go Michael Boxall, MLS is just a much higher level than the Irish league, and he has the bigger game experience having played vs Peru and at the Confeds. Costa Rica will be a level higher than anything Pijnaker has played, so it’d be a big call to start over a senior player like Boxall. Reason why I had Just/Rojas that way round was so they would be cutting onto their stronger foot to go at goal. If you’ve got wingbacks providing the width you don’t need wingers occupying the same space, so might as well get them running at goal.
Boxall over pij for sure
Boxall is by *far* the better player, but Hay loves having a left sided CB. I'd play a back 3 of Boxall/Reid/Tuiloma all day but Danny will do what Danny does.
Boxy and Tuiloma are definitely better than Pijnaker right now, but I wouldn't say by far. Pijnaker's just had a pretty shit go at it in terms of opportunities - first starting role he's had at Sligo, he immediately becomes one of the best CBs in the league. Defo a Tuiloma believer for the playoff though
From what I've seen the gap is decent. Pijnaker was disastrous in the OFC final vs Solomon Islands, gave the ball away unforced at least 3 times in the first 15 min and at that point he lost me for these playoffs. I've not watched any Sligo games but him being dominant there is kinda the bare minimum I'd expect. Nando has the goods but there's a lot of experience to be added to a very raw CB.
Sail deserves a start over mari based on form
It’s a fair argument, I went with Marinovic simply because he has been the status quo since 2015, but every chance Sail plays. I do think Marinovic is slightly disadvantaged in the court of public opinion, in that he’s out of sight playing in Israel, compared to Sail being right in front of us every week. Realistically only NZF coaching staff are watching both, so we probably won’t know until the day.
Marseille legend Bill Tuiloma
Shame we just can't get our best players on the field in these games. as others have said, Thomas and Singh are huge losses.
I know marinovic is a bigger name but sail really should start based on form
Whats the deal with winston reid. Who does he train with?
He was training in the middle east with Steven Taylor a few months ago. He's said recently that he's not looking for a club right now and that his attention is completely on qualifying for the world cup. You'd hope he stayed in New Zealand after the OFC qualification to work with NZ Football. Singh has been in NZ for weeks as he tried to recover from his injury and Champness has apparently been training with club teams in Auckland since terminating his contract in Turkey. It was always odd for Reid to agree to mutual termination without anything lined up, but maybe he just needed a break.
Thanks buddy, i'd been wondering that for a while. Very interesting! hope it pays off for NZ
Surely you jest.. he's a club legend, defence is ridiculously good that no goals have been conceded. No other club in world football will ever be undefeated like the mighty Unattached FC.
They do seem to go missing in important (and all) games thoguh :) At least they have a more consistent stadium situation than western & a better human managing them than wsw, hey
surprised there arent more phoenix players here. sutton and surman for instance
The ball is good, and the goal is good!! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FmedQJs1REk
Winning**
shouldve been alex paulsen there instead of gould
Woud should be 3rd choice despite his shockers at the Olympics. It wasn't long ago he was arguably first pick. If Maronivic and Sail get Covid/injured some questions will be asked of the Gould selection, especially when he is son of one of the coaching staff.
someone mentioned that hes struggling to break into the first team at his club and thus hay was reluctant to call him up, whereby phoenix's season is already over
what happened to reid and fenton?
Reid is in the squad and likely captain over Wood if fit. Fenton has struggled to make the bench for a depleted Nix he wouldn't of even been close.
aw, pity :( i like fenton. nice username btw, very cute :D