Our midfield hasn't really taken hold of the game, but out of possession there's been moments I reeeeeally like the look of Conchie. Would hope he gets minutes for the nix men's this season
Obvious to anyone that half time score flatters us, but still done some things really well. Defence scrambling well and keeper Sims hasn't had a lot to do. Uzbeks still look dangerous and creative.
Think we are pressing them well at times and taking advantage of mistakes well, the shot count is probably a bit misleading as multiple occasions we could have shot but attempted to setup a better chance and didn't quite pull it off.
Game plan going perfectly so far. Keep it up lads.
Good effort and a fair score. Sitting back definitely came back to bite us, too many numbers in the back and everyone thinks someone else is going to deal with the ball but man was unmarked. On to the next!
Certainly take the point before the match, but conceeding in injury time after previously been up 2-0 is dissapointing. We likely still make the last 16, but if we lose to Argentina (as is probable) it would be as one of the 4/6 best 3rd place qualifer and would play a group winner instead of a team who gets lower in their group. Also means we can't rest best players against Argentina as much, as now goal difference could matter for the best 3rd place spot.
I haven't run the sims/maths, but I'm pretty sure win and a draw should likely be enough to make the 16 though regardless of gd.
Certainly take the point before the match, but conceeding in injury time after previously been up 2-0 is dissapointing. We likely still make the last 16, but if we lose to Argentina (as is probable) it would be as one of the 4/6 best 3rd place qualifer and would play a group winner instead of a team who gets lower in their group. Also means we can't rest best players against Argentina as much, as now goal difference could matter for the best 3rd place spot.
I haven't run the sims/maths, but I'm pretty sure win and a draw should likely be enough to make the 16 though regardless of gd.
Not necessarily, we could come 2nd in the group with 4pts.
It would be very unusual for a 3rd place with 4 points to not make it through. I doubt if it has every happened. On the match, we can't complain about the scoreline (only about the way in which we conceded late). Uzbek looked pretty decent.
Worth noting that Portugal missed out as a third-place qualifier in 2019 with 4 pts and -1 GD.
However, we'll need to go back until 1999, which was ten tournaments prior, to find the last time this happened (Zambia missing out with 4 pts and -3 GD, behind Costa Rica on -1 GD). Exceedingly rare and I wouldn't worry unless some scary stuff happens on the final matchday
It would be very unusual for a 3rd place with 4 points to not make it through. I doubt if it has every happened. On the match, we can't complain about the scoreline (only about the way in which we conceded late). Uzbek looked pretty decent.
Yeah, it's a point gained really against a very good side, you look at the stats and it was one way traffic mostly - 28% possession, eleven corners to two, out-shot by more than twenty. The team ran 10km (118km vs 128km) more than Uzbekistan, can't fault the effort, but as the Phoenix (and a lot of those guys are Phoenix) will attest to there is only so long you can park the bus for.
Goals were really good, but also a bit worrying that there hasn't been much created, this game or previous. The team can't rely on Herdman picking out the top corner out of nowhere, or Wallace spotting the keeper poorly positioned, as banking on freak long shots is a bit unsustainable. Have Colloty or Donkers had a shot across their 180+ minutes?
End of the day, that should be group progression for the fourth consecutive tournament, and Bazeley's third consecutive, so a positive result. Bazeley deserves more credit for that achievement.
Looked at the last four tourneys and only once did a side with 4 points miss out on being one of the 4 top 3rd placed spots, Portugal in 2019. They had a GD of - 1 (2 for, 3 against) . Across that time about 3 or 4 sides got through with 3 points.
Certainly take the point before the match, but conceeding in injury time after previously been up 2-0 is dissapointing. We likely still make the last 16, but if we lose to Argentina (as is probable) it would be as one of the 4/6 best 3rd place qualifer and would play a group winner instead of a team who gets lower in their group. Also means we can't rest best players against Argentina as much, as now goal difference could matter for the best 3rd place spot.
I haven't run the sims/maths, but I'm pretty sure win and a draw should likely be enough to make the 16 though regardless of gd.
Not necessarily, we could come 2nd in the group with 4pts.
If Guatemala and Uzbek draw yeah we still get 2nd even if we lose vs Argentina (assuming Guatemala loses to Argentina today), but I think it's likely Uzbek will win that one (and we will lose to Argentina). Games both start 9am (NZT) on Saturday.
Assuming Argentina wins their last 2 matches, if Uzbek wins vs Guat there will be countbacks for 2nd spot (which at this stage they would hold the upper hand for 2nd spot because they only lost to Arg by 1, if we also lose by 1 it gets more complicated than I can be bothered writing out - pretty much it would come down to goals scored in the last game).
Not NZ U20s, but Fiji only going down 3-0 to US is not a bad effort, goaless untill 66th, and other goals in 88 & 93rd minutes. US usually pretty strong at age group level.
wow! that was a game, first half we did what was needed, pressed everythime they had the ball and forced errors - both our goals came from our midfield stealing the ball and releasing early. Two really good goals, Wallace caught the keeper slightly off centre and Herdman's was a peach! Pity we seemed to drop off in the second half. They had all the possession but we let them move it through the midfield very easily resulting in defenders being out of position. Sims should have done better on their secoind goal, it literally went betwen his arms.
Dissapointing to drop a 2-0 lead, but the draw gives us 4 points so we sit top of the table on GD.Argies vs Guatema;la currently 0-0.
If we draw against the Argies then we should go through on 5, with a +1 GD.
wow! that was a game, first half we did what was needed, pressed everythime they had the ball and forced errors - both our goals came from our midfield stealing the ball and releasing early. Two really good goals, Wallace caught the keeper slightly off centre and Herdman's was a peach! Pity we seemed to drop off in the second half. They had all the possession but we let them move it through the midfield very easily resulting in defenders being out of position. Sims should have done better on their secoind goal, it literally went betwen his arms.
Dissapointing to drop a 2-0 lead, but the draw gives us 4 points so we sit top of the table on GD.Argies vs Guatema;la currently 0-0.
If we draw against the Argies then we should go through on 5, with a +1 GD.
In isolation a draw was a good result for us as they were the better team. However can't help but think this was really a missed opportunity and have to question the decision to go 3 CB's just before halftime. Lost any potential to score another and bury them and was shades of the Nix this season. Reckon we may well have snatched another if we showed more attacking intent and could not understand Beazley saying afterwards in the interview that the kids need to learn not to sit on a lead when he was complicit in making them do that. Am I the only one wondering why Henry Gray does not start in goal......pro-contract with Ipswich and sitting on the bench behind a guy playing third tier football in Sweden?
Gray’s on a youth deal and will be playing about 10th tier in the UK next season. He also has that magic UK passport that would have been a factor in Ipswich signing him
He’ll probably get a run against Argentina you’d expect.
Gray’s on a youth deal and will be playing about 10th tier in the UK next season. He also has that magic UK passport that would have been a factor in Ipswich signing him
He’ll probably get a run against Argentina you’d expect.
No he is not....he is on a full professional contract. Sure he has a UK passport, but Ipswich would not have offered him a senior pro contract unless they believed he was the goods.
wow! that was a game, first half we did what was needed, pressed everythime they had the ball and forced errors - both our goals came from our midfield stealing the ball and releasing early. Two really good goals, Wallace caught the keeper slightly off centre and Herdman's was a peach! Pity we seemed to drop off in the second half. They had all the possession but we let them move it through the midfield very easily resulting in defenders being out of position. Sims should have done better on their secoind goal, it literally went betwen his arms.
Dissapointing to drop a 2-0 lead, but the draw gives us 4 points so we sit top of the table on GD.Argies vs Guatema;la currently 0-0.
If we draw against the Argies then we should go through on 5, with a +1 GD.
We probably go through even if we lose. 4/6 best 3rd place teams go through which is likely enough done already if we finish on 4/9 points, or if Uzbek vs Guat is a draw we still go through in second even after losing.
Gray’s on a youth deal and will be playing about 10th tier in the UK next season. He also has that magic UK passport that would have been a factor in Ipswich signing him
He’ll probably get a run against Argentina you’d expect.
No he is not....he is on a full professional contract. Sure he has a UK passport, but Ipswich would not have offered him a senior pro contract unless they believed he was the goods.
Okay it's a pro deal. But Town's U21 team play in the Professional Development League (whatever level that is on the UK pyramid). If Gray is a starting keeper week in week out (as Sims is) next UK season it will be in the PDL. Sims has also recently spent time training with a few Blighty clubs
I understand they both came through the ranks basically together at Ole, and also through the Central League scene. I'm sure their various attributes are well known to the U20s coaching staff. Sims likely has a bit of an edge as he is playing regularly competitively at the moment, whilst Gray has been trialling here & there?? Lets see how Gray goes against Argentina. He'll likely be a busy boy if he gets a crack.
Anyway well done to the team. I thought it would be a tight low scoring affair. Anything but. Argentina have just beaten Guatamela 3-0. Guatamelans went down to 10 men from 58 mins (1-0)
wow! that was a game, first half we did what was needed, pressed everythime they had the ball and forced errors - both our goals came from our midfield stealing the ball and releasing early. Two really good goals, Wallace caught the keeper slightly off centre and Herdman's was a peach! Pity we seemed to drop off in the second half. They had all the possession but we let them move it through the midfield very easily resulting in defenders being out of position. Sims should have done better on their secoind goal, it literally went betwen his arms.
Dissapointing to drop a 2-0 lead, but the draw gives us 4 points so we sit top of the table on GD.Argies vs Guatema;la currently 0-0.
If we draw against the Argies then we should go through on 5, with a +1 GD.
In isolation a draw was a good result for us as they were the better team. However can't help but think this was really a missed opportunity and have to question the decision to go 3 CB's just before halftime. Lost any potential to score another and bury them and was shades of the Nix this season. Reckon we may well have snatched another if we showed more attacking intent and could not understand Beazley saying afterwards in the interview that the kids need to learn not to sit on a lead when he was complicit in making them do that. Am I the only one wondering why Henry Gray does not start in goal......pro-contract with Ipswich and sitting on the bench behind a guy playing third tier football in Sweden?
Sure, Gray is better than Sims, if your measure of a player's talent is the name of the club they play for.
Sims is starting goalkeeper for a professional club. Gray is a youth player. Sims is undoubtedly better right now but both have high ceilings
wow! that was a game, first half we did what was needed, pressed everythime they had the ball and forced errors - both our goals came from our midfield stealing the ball and releasing early. Two really good goals, Wallace caught the keeper slightly off centre and Herdman's was a peach! Pity we seemed to drop off in the second half. They had all the possession but we let them move it through the midfield very easily resulting in defenders being out of position. Sims should have done better on their secoind goal, it literally went betwen his arms.
Dissapointing to drop a 2-0 lead, but the draw gives us 4 points so we sit top of the table on GD.Argies vs Guatema;la currently 0-0.
If we draw against the Argies then we should go through on 5, with a +1 GD.
In isolation a draw was a good result for us as they were the better team. However can't help but think this was really a missed opportunity and have to question the decision to go 3 CB's just before halftime. Lost any potential to score another and bury them and was shades of the Nix this season. Reckon we may well have snatched another if we showed more attacking intent and could not understand Beazley saying afterwards in the interview that the kids need to learn not to sit on a lead when he was complicit in making them do that. Am I the only one wondering why Henry Gray does not start in goal......pro-contract with Ipswich and sitting on the bench behind a guy playing third tier football in Sweden?
Sure, Gray is better than Sims, if your measure of a player's talent is the name of the club they play for.
Sims is starting goalkeeper for a professional club. Gray is a youth player. Sims is undoubtedly better right now but both have high ceilings
Very correct on your first few points, however
Not sure how you draw the conclusion that a player who starts at a Swedish Third Tier Club (which is apparently around NZ National League quality) is undoubtedly better than a player who has been offered a full professional contract at a soon to be EPL Club. Perhaps not much between them...but no more than that!
wow! that was a game, first half we did what was needed, pressed everythime they had the ball and forced errors - both our goals came from our midfield stealing the ball and releasing early. Two really good goals, Wallace caught the keeper slightly off centre and Herdman's was a peach! Pity we seemed to drop off in the second half. They had all the possession but we let them move it through the midfield very easily resulting in defenders being out of position. Sims should have done better on their secoind goal, it literally went betwen his arms.
Dissapointing to drop a 2-0 lead, but the draw gives us 4 points so we sit top of the table on GD.Argies vs Guatema;la currently 0-0.
If we draw against the Argies then we should go through on 5, with a +1 GD.
In isolation a draw was a good result for us as they were the better team. However can't help but think this was really a missed opportunity and have to question the decision to go 3 CB's just before halftime. Lost any potential to score another and bury them and was shades of the Nix this season. Reckon we may well have snatched another if we showed more attacking intent and could not understand Beazley saying afterwards in the interview that the kids need to learn not to sit on a lead when he was complicit in making them do that. Am I the only one wondering why Henry Gray does not start in goal......pro-contract with Ipswich and sitting on the bench behind a guy playing third tier football in Sweden?
Sure, Gray is better than Sims, if your measure of a player's talent is the name of the club they play for.
Sims is starting goalkeeper for a professional club. Gray is a youth player. Sims is undoubtedly better right now but both have high ceilings
Very correct on your first few points, however
Not sure how you draw the conclusion that a player who starts at a Swedish Third Tier Club (which is apparently around NZ National League quality) is undoubtedly better than a player who has been offered a full professional contract at a soon to be EPL Club. Perhaps not much between them...but no more than that!
It's not just his conclusion though is it, because Sims has started both so far so clearly Bazely thinks the same (although MrSmiis seriously knows his stuff about young kiwi prospects and lower league NZ players so it's not a bad shout regardless).
Even though the Uzbeks overall looked more threatening I think the stats don’t really tell an accurate story. Many of their shots were speculative and from distance and were blocked by defenders. Then again, both of our goals were similar shots so it goes both ways.
We also gave their left sided defenders a pretty rough ride in the second half. We constantly were getting in behind and if our crosses had connected we could have had another 2 or 3 goals.
Sims is one of the best NZ GK prospects I've seen and not a huge amount behind Paulsen in my estimation. Always impressed me in his time at Wests and he's yet to put a foot wrong in this WC so its surprising to see criticism levelled at him.
I do wonder if we'll see quite a lot of rotation for Argentina if we're all but guaranteed RO16, Gray may well get his chance to prove himself.
wow! that was a game, first half we did what was needed, pressed everythime they had the ball and forced errors - both our goals came from our midfield stealing the ball and releasing early. Two really good goals, Wallace caught the keeper slightly off centre and Herdman's was a peach! Pity we seemed to drop off in the second half. They had all the possession but we let them move it through the midfield very easily resulting in defenders being out of position. Sims should have done better on their secoind goal, it literally went betwen his arms.
Dissapointing to drop a 2-0 lead, but the draw gives us 4 points so we sit top of the table on GD.Argies vs Guatema;la currently 0-0.
If we draw against the Argies then we should go through on 5, with a +1 GD.
In isolation a draw was a good result for us as they were the better team. However can't help but think this was really a missed opportunity and have to question the decision to go 3 CB's just before halftime. Lost any potential to score another and bury them and was shades of the Nix this season. Reckon we may well have snatched another if we showed more attacking intent and could not understand Beazley saying afterwards in the interview that the kids need to learn not to sit on a lead when he was complicit in making them do that. Am I the only one wondering why Henry Gray does not start in goal......pro-contract with Ipswich and sitting on the bench behind a guy playing third tier football in Sweden?
Sure, Gray is better than Sims, if your measure of a player's talent is the name of the club they play for.
Sims is starting goalkeeper for a professional club. Gray is a youth player. Sims is undoubtedly better right now but both have high ceilings
Very correct on your first few points, however
Not sure how you draw the conclusion that a player who starts at a Swedish Third Tier Club (which is apparently around NZ National League quality) is undoubtedly better than a player who has been offered a full professional contract at a soon to be EPL Club. Perhaps not much between them...but no more than that!
Ipswich have just been promoted to the Football League Championship, not to the Premier League
Lots of pointless discussion here about the leagues people's clubs are in. Whether someone is the best player to select or not depends on how they are playing and fitting into the team plan. Otherwise, coaches would not have to bother coaching, training, teaching, observing... just select on the club someone has signed with. Also, players from so-called lower leagues would have no chance of impressing scouts.
Our midfield hasn't really taken hold of the game, but out of possession there's been moments I reeeeeally like the look of Conchie. Would hope he gets minutes for the nix men's this season
in ARG the media is saying he is being followed by the football maestro JUAN ROMAN RIQUELME so far, the commentators have been comaparing him with Iniesta after his luxury display as NZ playmaker, can he play further on the pitch?
Our midfield hasn't really taken hold of the game, but out of possession there's been moments I reeeeeally like the look of Conchie. Would hope he gets minutes for the nix men's this season
in ARG the media is saying he is being followed by the football maestro JUAN ROMAN RIQUELME so far, the commentators have been comaparing him with Iniesta after his luxury display as NZ playmaker, can he play further on the pitch?
That is high praise. Though we have heard this sort of wild rumour stuff before, Bertos to the Bundesliga etc. I'm sure Argentina has a tabloid equivalent of The Sun or Bild.
Round of 16 games at the U20 WC are 31st May-2nd June. NZ lose then Conchie can likely lineup for Boca Juniors verus Rojas's Colo Colo in Copa Libertadores on 7th June. Now that would be a story!
Wonder if Conchie will be rested against Argentina? Played full game against Ecudaor in the warmup then 90 mins against both Guatamela & Uzbekistan. It would have to go seriously wrong against Argentina (Saturday 9am NZT kick off) for NZ not to progress to the Round of 16.
We are in Group A. If we finish 2nd (play 2nd Group C) or 3rd (could play 1st Group C) - if a chance we play Colombia who are top of Group C after 2 games. Utu for 2019!
Our midfield hasn't really taken hold of the game, but out of possession there's been moments I reeeeeally like the look of Conchie. Would hope he gets minutes for the nix men's this season
in ARG the media is saying he is being followed by the football maestro JUAN ROMAN RIQUELME so far, the commentators have been comaparing him with Iniesta after his luxury display as NZ playmaker, can he play further on the pitch?
That is high praise. Though we have heard this sort of wild rumour stuff before, Bertos to the Bundesliga etc. I'm sure Argentina has a tabloid equivalent of The Sun or Bild.
Wonder if Conchie will be rested against Argentina? Played full game against Ecudaor in the warmup then 90 mins against both Guatamela & Uzbekistan. It would have to go seriously wrong against Argentina (Saturday 9am NZT kick off) for NZ not to progress to the Round of 16.
We are in Group A. If we finish 2nd (play 2nd Group C) or 3rd (could play 1st Group C) - if a chance we play Colombia who are top of Group C after 2 games. Utu for 2019!
this ROA CONCHIE as they called him is taking the whole thing by a storm. Yesterday they said he is argentinian eligible, is it so?
Unless it's through his grandparents that will be a no.
Will start on Saturday. Would be lucky to find a fitter player in the team and he is the only midfielder without a yellow of the three. Need to protect the others from suspension.
Our midfield hasn't really taken hold of the game, but out of possession there's been moments I reeeeeally like the look of Conchie. Would hope he gets minutes for the nix men's this season
in ARG the media is saying he is being followed by the football maestro JUAN ROMAN RIQUELME so far, the commentators have been comaparing him with Iniesta after his luxury display as NZ playmaker, can he play further on the pitch?
That is high praise. Though we have heard this sort of wild rumour stuff before, Bertos to the Bundesliga etc. I'm sure Argentina has a tabloid equivalent of The Sun or Bild.
Wonder if Conchie will be rested against Argentina? Played full game against Ecudaor in the warmup then 90 mins against both Guatamela & Uzbekistan. It would have to go seriously wrong against Argentina (Saturday 9am NZT kick off) for NZ not to progress to the Round of 16.
We are in Group A. If we finish 2nd (play 2nd Group C) or 3rd (could play 1st Group C) - if a chance we play Colombia who are top of Group C after 2 games. Utu for 2019!
this ROA CONCHIE as they called him is taking the whole thing by a storm. Yesterday they said he is argentinian eligible, is it so?
Fantastic that he is finally getting some recognition. Puts in a shift week in and week out for the Nix Reserves but am almost certain he has hardly ever trained with the First Team. Uffy seemed to prefer Jackson Manuel. Hope that changes under Chief unless it is too late.
