I get the argument that a 1-0 loss against a team like NI is pretty creditable, and in terms of pure result I agree. But I do think that there was a lot wrong with that performance and a combination of them not finishing more chances and then their structure getting disrupted by making a triple substitution at halftime meant that the score flattered us. We couldn't get a shot off in the first half, and only 3 in the whole game, and we were just giving them possession and space in our own half constantly. We weren't pressing but we weren't dropping back into a solid defensive shape either. When we had the ball we just hoofed it away. We could have been 3 or 4 down at half time the way we were going.The second half performance was an improvement in patches.
Hopefully we take some confidence and lessons from that and play a bit more compactly and try to use our pace on the break a bit more at the Confeds because that's easily when we look our best.
For me this is just preperation and the proof will be in how we play at the Confeds. I don't expect to win any of the games - lets be honest, every team there is far better than us - but I want us to compete and play football.
What really frustrates me is not that we a behind most teams in terms of skill and experience, but some of the basic stuff we seem always to get wrong. Watching this game ( and the under 20s) it is amazing how many times the ball is passed just behind the player. So even a simple square pass, with neither play u der pressure, moves us slightly backwards. Seldom does the ball seem to go directly to feet, or a meter in front to run onto it. It looks like a nervousness thing- fear of putting the ball into a space that might mean a challenge is made or something. But looking at better quality teams, it is not often players have to take a step or two back each time to get the ball.
This is NZ your talking about haha, you sound like a world class coach
What a weirdly snarky response. I was just giving my observation on a part of the game- which is what I thought the forum was for. And no, I don't sound like any sort of coach, nor trying to.
Most of our guys play at really low levels where those mistakes aren't punished like they are at international level.
