Jason Pine has released his all whites power rankings:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12311767
Big moves are Rufer and Roux out of the top eleven for Bell and Payne respectively.
The top 22
We look pretty light at right back, a better line up might shuffle Boxall to RB and bring in Smith as CB.
(also aware McCowatts not a ten, had to shoehorn him Just and Mata in somehow)
Part of McCowatt's problem at the Phoenix is that he is more of a 10 than a left winger which he's being asked to play, it's understandable as he'd not oust Davila/Ball from a more central role but it's a shame he hasn't had a chance..
I think McCowatt's issue is that he's being asked to adopt a narrow starting position, which takes him outside facing the corner instead or inside facing the goal.
Understandable given Talay's (awesome) setup
Problem would be solved by him playing central like baiter said, or on the right
had to shoehorn him Just and Mata in somehow
Seen recent social media post of Mata back in auckland in a moon boot? maybe not available for much for a while.
Back on the subject of Piney's 50 though. Morgan (30th!!!), Dyer, Lissette?
Yeah. Nah.
Back on the subject of Piney's 50 though. Morgan (30th!!!), Dyer, Lissette?
Yeah. Nah.
Not sure how WeeMac is ahead of Stensness. I mean Mexico and everything but the Mariners clearly have Stensness ahead of WeeMac so not sure why the All Whites wouldn't.
Not sure how WeeMac is ahead of Stensness. I mean Mexico and everything but the Mariners clearly have Stensness ahead of WeeMac so not sure why the All Whites wouldn't.
Agree with you though, not sure we'll see too much WeeMac in white unless we get very short on available experienced players.
tbf it's Hay. It's anyone's guess who he'll select, you can just be sure it's not going to be particularly good football (based on Ireland and Lithuania)
*I would not be surprised to se Stamenic called up.
tbf it's Hay. It's anyone's guess who he'll select, you can just be sure it's not going to be particularly good football (based on Ireland and Lithuania)
*I would not be surprised to se Stamenic called up.
Oh contrary, it's pretty simple, if everyone is available.
Out go definitely Weemac & Ridenton. Probable more outs of Pijnaker, De Jong, Mata, and Tuiloma? (injured), as a smaller squad being picked this time apparently.
Definite in Barba. Maybes in Billingsley, Musa, Wynne, Adams & Lewis (sole Handy Prem player with a sniff).
But few, if any surprises.
Anyway with our little pandemic underway could all be moot. "Bahrain has suspended all flights to and from Dubai and Sharjah in the UAE until further notice."
tbf it's Hay. It's anyone's guess who he'll select, you can just be sure it's not going to be particularly good football (based on Ireland and Lithuania)
*I would not be surprised to se Stamenic called up.
Interesting take on basis of one squad selection, where the only seriously debatable call was McGlinchey/Ridenton v Musa, and even that one had Musa's (potential) club commitments to be factored in.
There may be be some question marks in a month's time over the All Whites playing in Oman and Bahrain as the Coronavirus spreads rapidly through the Middle East.
Bahrain is one country hit in recent weeks:
'Bahrain's number of infections rose to 26 after three Bahraini women who arrived from Iran were confirmed to have the coronavirus, according to the health ministry."
That's the highest number of cases in the world after China, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Italy and Singapore:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/countries-confirmed-cases-coronavirus-200125070959786.html
Only two cases reported in Oman so far.
There may be be some question marks in a month's time over the All Whites playing in Oman and Bahrain as the Coronavirus spreads rapidly through the Middle East.
Bahrain is one country hit in recent weeks:
'Bahrain's number of infections rose to 26 after three Bahraini women who arrived from Iran were confirmed to have the coronavirus, according to the health ministry."
That's the highest number of cases in the world after China, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Italy and Singapore:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/countries-confirmed-cases-coronavirus-200125070959786.html
Only two cases reported in Oman so far.
There may be be some question marks in a month's time over the All Whites playing in Oman and Bahrain as the Coronavirus spreads rapidly through the Middle East.
Bahrain is one country hit in recent weeks:
'Bahrain's number of infections rose to 26 after three Bahraini women who arrived from Iran were confirmed to have the coronavirus, according to the health ministry."
That's the highest number of cases in the world after China, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Italy and Singapore:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/countries-confirmed-cases-coronavirus-200125070959786.html
Only two cases reported in Oman so far.
33 Coronavirus cases already in an island nation the size of Canterbury. Sadly just don't see this game happening now. Flights from Dubai to Bahrain are suspended.
There are some things way more important than a game of football. Don't imagine many of the AWs players, would be keen at all now to fly there just for a friendly.
Even the Oman game must now be in serious doubt. Probably too late to reschedule to an alternative venue like London?
Qatar? - lots of European club teams were having training camps there over the winter break.
Poor old NZF can't get a trick. Finally get some quality fixtures after 2 years with virtually nothing, and a world pandemic comes along.
Hopefully they can still continue with a training camp at worst - Hay & co need time with the playing group.
I see Qatar, as well as Australia are part of the Copa America in June. If I was NZF I would be keeping a very close eye on the Coronavrus situation in the Gulf States. AWs could be an outside chance of a very late invite to the Copa America, if travel in and out of the gulf region becomes too hard. It's probably miles from a reality a very small chance, but that would be something.
I'd happily dump Bahrain & Oman for a couple of Socceroos games!
Me too but that won't happen at the Socceroos don't have the capacity
Me too but that won't happen at the Socceroos don't have the capacity
Well, they would if AFC postpones the WCQs scheduled for March.
Aussie and NZ would be great.
Me too but that won't happen at the Socceroos don't have the capacity
Well, they would if AFC postpones the WCQs scheduled for March.
Oh yes, in that case wouldn't it be great!
Though if they do [edit: cancel the AFC WCQs], we'd probably be talking about a full-in pandemic and I wonder how easy it would be for top performers in both teams to travel around the world for a friendly game
Me too but that won't happen at the Socceroos don't have the capacity
Well, they would if AFC postpones the WCQs scheduled for March.
Oh yes, in that case wouldn't it be great!
Though if they do [edit: cancel the AFC WCQs], we'd probably be talking about a full-in pandemic and I wonder how easy it would be for top performers in both teams to travel around the world for a friendly game
Anytime anyone hops on an aeroplane now they are at risk.
MLS players (which would be a sizeable contingent of the AWs) fly every 2nd week across the States somewhere. I assume they don't do it NBA style in private jets, but commercial flights. A League guys the same.
So the players in USA might as well come down to Australia (and hopefully NZ), for a couple of games - as opposed to being in two gulf countries for a week, with maybe different health standards, language barriers etc. Esp given Bahrain now has 50 people with Coronavirus, which is alot in a small island nation, about 25% the size of NZ.
But yeah I would totally understand if the Euro fellas like Wood, Thomas, Smith, Singh etc were reluctant to fly 20 hours downunder & back for two friendlies. Being at the business end of their club seasons, and exacerbated by having to fly enroute via Asia and whole pandemic fear thing.
Seems to be some hope of the All Whites' Middle East games still going ahead.
Probably will be behind closed doors.
Bahrain is continuing with major sporting events - without spectators...
Their Formula One Grand Prix is going ahead days before the All Whites fixture:
"Fans have been barred from attending this month's Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix event due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
Officials said on Sunday night (NZ time) that the race on March 22 - the second on the 2020 calendar - would be held behind closed doors.
The Gulf Arab state has reported 83 cases of the virus, mostly linked to people who had travelled to Iran."
Look is good news if the AWs have some games in March.
Call me a wuss, but personally right now, I wouldn't be happy to fly into a small Island nation with 83 Coronavirus cases.
It's one thing being a car driver or crew, and putting your trust /health in the hands of a multi billion dollar business like Formula One with all it's resources.
Quite another, to trust NZF to look after you!
Hope the games happen, but if players make themselves unavailable, wouldn't blame them in the slightest. I'd certainly be pushing for a change of venue/country esp for the Bahrain game.
if it goes ahead wouldn't mind betting a few players don't show - I could name one immediately but I won't
just heard on local (Malaysia) radio news that we have a game lined against them in this months window
just heard on local (Malaysia) radio news that we have a game lined against them in this months window
It has been confirmed that AFC has suspended/postponed all AFC World Cup qualifiers in the March window, incl Malaysia verus UAE (A) & Vietnam (H).
Malaysia's earlier friendly against Bahrain (A) in March, had already been cancelled.
NZF would have established a bit of a relationship with the Malaysian FA, when Schmid was AWs coach. Fritz had previously worked in Malaysia, and AWs almost went to a 4 nation tourney there last March.
FYI - Malaysia has 117 Coronavirus cases at the moment. Maybe it's become an AWs verus Malaysia game in NZ, or somewhere neutral like Doha, Qatar.
Especially if the AWs v Oman game still goes ahead, and Malaysia just replaces Bahrain (2nd scheduled friendly). Malaysia's FIFA ranking is 88, Bahrain 83. Oman has 16 cases of Coronavirus - 15 related related to travellers via Iran.
Fax machine must be burning over time in Albany.
AFC has also suspended World Cup qualifiers in June, so that may free up some opportunities for friendlies, if NZF want another AWs game. They might be more ambitious about that if the Olympics is called off, and whole U23s campaign goes into the dustbin. Dare I say Socceroos early June, before they head to the Copa America.
Read somewhere that FFA are likely content to be without any Socceroos matches now in March, as helps keep the European clubs a bit happier (most of first choice Socceroos are based in Europe) - given they are not best pleased their Aussies will have a short off/pre season heading into 2020/2021, being away in Sth America all of June. Socceroos have min 5 matches at the Copa America.
A real shame if either or both games get cancelled, but it makes a lot of sense to do so in the current climate
FYI - On their Facebook Malaysian FA say they hoping to announce by Friday, whether they have organised a tourney to replace their AFC WC qualifiers postponed in the March window.
Maybe they are in talks with NZF about that (based on "watching from afar's" on the ground intel). But plenty of Coronavirus in Malaysia as well, plus longer travel distances for the AW's Euro based players. Challenging times in the football world.
If I was NZF I'd be pushing the FFA hard for a couple of early June friendlies. Nice cheap prep re the Copa America, for the Socceroos.
Tie it in with that "fire relief fund raising" idea.
As yet Coronavirus is not widespread in South America. Copa Libertadores still operating normally. I think Copa America likely to still go ahead.
Me too but that won't happen at the Socceroos don't have the capacity
Well, they would if AFC postpones the WCQs scheduled for March.
Oh yes, in that case wouldn't it be great!
Though if they do [edit: cancel the AFC WCQs], we'd probably be talking about a full-in pandemic and I wonder how easy it would be for top performers in both teams to travel around the world for a friendly game
Anytime anyone hops on an aeroplane now they are at risk.
MLS players (which would be a sizeable contingent of the AWs) fly every 2nd week across the States somewhere. I assume they don't do it NBA style in private jets, but commercial flights. A League guys the same.
So the players in USA might as well come down to Australia (and hopefully NZ), for a couple of games - as opposed to being in two gulf countries for a week, with maybe different health standards, language barriers etc. Esp given Bahrain now has 50 people with Coronavirus, which is alot in a small island nation, about 25% the size of NZ.
But yeah I would totally understand if the Euro fellas like Wood, Thomas, Smith, Singh etc were reluctant to fly 20 hours downunder & back for two friendlies. Being at the business end of their club seasons, and exacerbated by having to fly enroute via Asia and whole pandemic fear thing.
As an aircraft engineer for one of the world's largest airlines, I can confidently state that due to deep cleaning and very low passenger numbers now, being on an aircraft where the air is always scrubbed clean is probably safer for the players then the buses to/from game and the stadium itself.
Games cancelled
dang! but also not unexpected and certainly a sensible decision.
This wouldn't be a problem if we had a full calendar with meaningful games, but it sucks as it now means we'll probably only play Pacific Island teams during this calendar year.
Games cancelled
As expected. A smart decision, albeit unfortunate from a footballing perspective for us fans.
dang! but also not unexpected and certainly a sensible decision.
This wouldn't be a problem if we had a full calendar with meaningful games, but it sucks as it now means we'll probably only play Pacific Island teams during this calendar year.
Yeah a big setback for Hay.
No Confeds Cup in 2021. So he will be desperate for some tough none OFC fixtures next year. Especially since the first choice squad have barely been together since the Peru playoffs in 2017.
March 2022 will come around super fast.
Wonder when FIFA's inter continental playoff/pool ball draw is made?
March's CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers postponed.
https://www.football-italia.net/151117/south-american-world-cup-qualifiers-suspended
Copa Libertadores also suspended.
Copa America which I thought even a day ago would go ahead, you would think probably won't. Meant to start early June.
Long long shot, but a couple of closed door AWs v Socceroos friendlies in June? Higher chance I guess, if unlike Europe/USA, Coronavirus is 'well' contained in NZ & Australia, and there are no travel restrictions back to Europe or Stateside.
Grasping at straws maybe, but by June players maybe climbing up walls ready to play, if club leagues get shut down indefinitely - and I think higher chance Coronavirus will be contained in NZ especially, than up 'north'.
An A League Socceroos verus A League/Handy Prem All Whites game, post the A League grand final?
Weren't Sky Stadium earlier this year willing to host a Socceroos verus AWs match for free - bushfire relief game.
Surely Arnie and Hay would welcome any sort of fixture. Neither doing much coaching at the moment.
Starting - Marinovic, Payne, Roux, McGarry, Cacace, Stensness, Rufer, Lewis, Barba, Rojas, McCowatt
Bench - Sail, TAHW, Adam Mitchell, Fenton, D Ingham, Elliott, Weemac, Ridenton, Waine, Rogerson
Might need to make some of Taylor, Davila, Hooper, Steinman & Ball honorary Kiwis to make it a competitive side. Esp Taylor, Davila & Hooper
A New Zealand domestic XI?
Would love to see these two side play @ Sky Stadium, but I'm not sure you would get a good crowd- might be better of playing in Auckland.
Road trip!!! Can you imagine a road trip with Royz?? I would be so grim that you'd definitely come home with a renewed sense of gratitude about your life, this world, the universe! ??
As any game would still likely be sans fans, and therefore ROF's offer of free ground hire (if still on the table) would be useful - don't imagine 8 hours and back trapped with Royz would be required.
Come on guys I swear i would take my happy pills for a road trip.
