All Whites vs Fiji | Sat 25 Mar | 2:00pm | SS3

You two should just Swipe left and get on with it!

This - $31 really isn't that much to see a premier league player rush out of defence like a headless chicken, and the leading scorer in the Championship stand on the halfway line like a lamppost. And Jai Ingham.

it's also the price of 3 beers in Wellington (or 2 and a half in Nelson!)

Perception - Plymouth are in League 2 - the 3rd tier of English football, if you want to see a top tier team there you're looking at at least double that price. 

Phoenix games - effectively the top tier in NZ cost $25, NZ v Fiji is $31. The dedicated fans (or nutters) like ourselves will pay that (although some are questioning it) but the casual punter will probably see the advertising for the game (and there is lots of it around - Phoenix take note) and think why not and then discover its $31 and go that's why not. But if they made it $20 including all fees they'd probably sell a lot more

You'd be lucky to get more than two pints for that:

http://www.hashigozake.co.nz/beerlist.html

My point still stands and cheers for those backing me up.  2.5 beers in a kiwi pub with no atmosphere or a rare home AW competitive fixture? 

If we kiwis are not willing to pay that for a decent (not outstanding) international sporting fixture, no wonder why NZF and other sporting bodies outside of Rugby and Cricket shy away from decent internationals in NZ. League and Netball don't count as too few countries take them seriously.

Anyone know what crowd size is needed for NZF to break even? 8k maybe?..

Isn't it possible that Plymouth v Wycombe was also overpriced? 

Would you need an adult to accompany you?

Sorry guys, but the decision here isn't whether to go to the football or go and have three pints at the pub next Tuesday. If I had $31 that could only be spent on one of those two things then I'd definitely go to the football. 

But $31 could be a weeks worth of groceries to some of us. It might be alright for some of you to just have three less pints at work drinks that week, but I don't have 3 pints in my weekly budget to sacrifice.

how much are the three beers in the stadium? as that needs to be factored in as well 

I do enjoy That Marto consistently thinks that football in the UK and football in NZ are directly comparable.

It's all supply and demand. I daresay they demand for that sharkty UK game was higher, and supply would have definitely been lower. Supply for AW's is basically infinite, and demand is therefore low in comparison, which makes $31 seem pricey.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/90592266/winston-reid-in-doubt-for-all-whites-after-picking-up-leg-injury-while-playing-for-west-ham

Bilic's initial impression is that Reid won't be returning from injury until after the international break at the earliest.

We'll have to face the fact that Reid has become a genuinely very injury-prone player with regular ham string problems every season.

He usually gets injured a few times every season and misses several weeks. This season he's been going well, only briefly injured until now and appearing in 26 of the Hammers' 29 games so far.

2012-13 was the last time Reid played what can be called a full season (36 appearances).

Since then (appearances out of 38 game Premier League season):

2013-14: 22  (missed 42%)

2014-15: 30  (not bad but still missed 21% of games)

2015-16: 24  (missed 37%)

2016-17: 26  (twelve games remaining in season)

Playing the Island nations, we should be strong enough with our remaining centre back options in Smith, Durante and Tzimopoulos with Brotherton as back-up.

Who would be the front-running centre back option to bring into the squad to replace Reid for the Fiji games if Hudson elected to do so?

On the ticket price issue, $26 would seem a good maximum price to me for qualifiers against Island nations.

At $31 they'll get a lower crowd and won't make the extra money they're hoping for from the increased price.

Hike the price to $50 - $60 for the play-off against South America because that's genuinely a "rare-in-your-lifetime" world-class game.

World class game?  LOL

Reid and Patterson ruled out.

Rufer called up.

Hudson's lost the plot.

Is Hudson even aware of the fact that Rufer has not played a game in months... and has been stood down effectively from his club?

Crazy call!!

To be fair to Hudson I wouldn't pick Posts for a 5 aside kick about at the moment.

If 3000 people in a ground holding significantly more is "high demand" then what do you class AB, Premiership games etc Patrick? 

.... regarding Rufer, I'm guessing the AWs need a full squad and given we've decimated the Nix starting XI already, it's easier to pick a player in a pro environment who would already be free to play and would cost little to be involved, vs the likes of James etc who would have to be flown out from USA/Europe to bench warm, as I'm sure that's all that Rufer will be doing.

I'm guessing its Rufer only because Hudson doesn't want to take more Nix first teamers? Otherwise Rufer over Ridenton is madness, let alone anyone else more deserving.

Anyone seen whether there is sky coverage? Nothing in their online guide.

I don't understand the Rufer thing but it shows that Hudson cares for the player enough to bring him into a positive environment with other pro's from different leagues. Could be the environment that sparks something in him (which says something about the nix environment). I'm sure he has the potential to do some great things just maybe not for nix. I would like to see him consistently dominant Ssprem in another team outside his comfort zone.

I've read it somewhere, NZF facebook or twitter, so somewhere I trust.

Can anyone explain to me what's actually gone on with him at the Phoenix?

tbh I dont actually care to much if Rufer is in the squad. Although Id live to have seen boyd, I dont think rufer will get on the field. Makes financial sense to pick someone who is local and not going to disrput their club team chances.

World class opposition at least...

It will be the best quality opposition the All Whites have ever faced in a World Cup qualifier since we first played a World Cup qualifier in March 1973 -  regular qualifier or Inter-Continental Play-off.

A step up from a poorly-performing Mexico side last time who didn't even recall many of their Europe-based players.

Worth paying more than to see the AW's play an Island nation, surely...

At this stage, with six games left for each South American side, any one of several teams could finish in the fifth spot and face NZ.

Presently, the most likely candidates are: Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay (points: 20, 20, 19, 18, 15)

I hope that it doesn't end up being Ecuador or Paraguay because they're not as glamorous.

Next South American qualifiers are Friday NZT and Wednesday next week on beIN Sport 2

Are we sure this is the reason... the earlier feedback from him was positive, he was playing, tackling and running hard.

Also, the coaches suggested it was more of an attitude thing... did he perhaps air some of the forum opinions too publicly?

it feels bad questioning Patrick ; (

So asked Sky on twitter if the game was going to be on TV this Saturday and after telling me about the game being on TV on Tuesday, they said "we've passed this on to our Programming Crew. Once we receive an update, We'll let you know. ^Lay"

and now. They are still negotiating! "@Yakcall Hi Matt. We're still in negotiations for the All Whites v Fiji match held in Fiji on 25/03/17. We'll let you know soon. ^Lay"

If this is the real reason - Greenacre's quotes about him needing to earn his place/train harder etc seem to have had the opposite effect.

Probably wouldn't get a Home Office work permit.

Quick anti-jinx. We haven't qualified yet!

sky sport 3 for Saturday 25th March