Nikko Boxall (Unattached FC)

Nikko Boxall and VPS qualify for the Europa League next season!

Boxall's season just ended this past weekend in what has been a good season for him. Out of the 33 matches in the Finnish top division Veikkausliiga he played 28 times. He also played in 5 matches in the League Cup and 1 in the Suomen Cup. He played 11 matches as a CB, 9 as a RB, 4 as a LB and 3 as a DM.

He played a total of 3,038 minutes, scored 1 goal, 1 assist and got 4 yellow cards. 

The next season starts in April, with the League Cup starting in late January. The Europa League qualifiers will be played in July 2017.

Why he isn't given a cap is beyond me - super versatile, playing pro footy (even though it's low level, has to be higher than the SSP?), in positions we struggle in....and no eligibility issues....

What do you mean? We're arent in need of centre backs. Hes no DM. Hes played there 3 times or so in 30 odd games. Ahead of Brotherton and Adams at CB? Sure

Hmmm, a paid professional playing in Europe and you question whether he should be ahead of a player playing college footy in the states? And he is a DM, in previous years this has been his favoured role, however, his team has obviously had other needs. Hell, his brother was a CB who became our number 1 RB so positional changes happen.

Deserves a look in.

If u read what i said metal leg. Ahead of those two sure i said. Not a DM though

Released by his club apparently

Thank you, Vasa @VPS1924

— Nikko Boxall (@BoxallN) November 7, 2016

A transfer to Unattached FC means a certain All Whites callup!

Odd that he would feature so much but be released... I wonder if he has something else lined up and asked for one?

Has joined KuPS on a 1+1 deal

But why? Why would he leave after playing so much? Was he not wanted anymore by VPS despite playing the vast majority of games and helping them qualify for the Europa League. Instead now he's playing for a mid-table club. 

Because his contract was up and KuPS either offered more or VPS didn't offer him a contract?

offered more, always helps

Seems to be featuring prominently at the moment for his new club. Full 90 in each of their 3 Suomen Cup matches so far this season.

For the record they've won these matches 9-1, 5-0 & 4-2.

Could Mr Moderator please update Boxall junior's club to KuPS.

Nikko's new team have their first league game of the Finnish season this Tuesday.

Updated for you

Playing regularly for KUPS (1st Division). Eventful game on Thursday as he scored and then later sent off!

KUPS are 3rd in the 1st Division after 12 games.

Watched HJK beat SJK 6-0 late May in Helsinki....they are a good team and head and shoulders above rest I suspect.

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Boxall junior scored a goal as KuPS had a 4-1 win. KuPS are now 4th on the ladder (top flight in Finland), and Boxall has been a regular starter (only missing one game) and scoring 2 goals.

Wonder if Hudson has ever been to see him play, on his regular European trips/Sam Allarydce catchups?

It would never happen but would see merit in a game for reserve/fringe AWs players who are based in Europe, against a team like Luxembourg/Faroe Islands etc. Classed say as a 'B' international.

Leave out big guns Reid, Smith, Wood, Marinovic & Thomas. Also no need to involve A League players who AH can view live often enough. Just a mix of guys who have hardly played for AWs under Hudson, or others he may not know well - all based in Europe (with perhaps a few like James, Henderson, Musa & Bevan from the States).

I know Hudson pretty much has his squad of 23 now confirmed for qualifiers - but I'd see some value in such a game. Handy also for those players like Liam Graham without a club, or others like Tuiloma seeking regular 1st team football.

Team like - T Williams, B Messenger, L Graham, S Brotherton, T Lisette, B Tuiloma, N Boxall, C James, T Boyd, M Patterson, Bevan

bench - Crocombe, S Old/Themi, A Mitchell, De Vries, Musa, Henderson, Keat, H Cameron, Draper/K Bright

I don't think we should waste friendlies playing a reserve team. Get always the best squad you can and build a cohesive team around that. We don't get many chances of getting the team together and we're going use those chances to prove players who will most surely never play for the AW?

Having said that, I do think Nikko Boxall should be called ahead of the likes of Luke Adams and Sam Brotherton

Yeah I certainly wouldn't waste a precious FIFA window on such a game, esp this year in leadup to important qualifiers.

However it would have been useful say straight after the Confeds Cup - when most of the AWs 1st eleven just needed a rest - to give these fringe players a game in front of Hudson and his playing staff.

For example Mexico actually had 2 teams playing at the same time as the Confeds Cup was on. First team played Portugal in 3rd-4th playoff, on same day as another Mexico national side were playing a friendly in USA!! That must only help build their playing depth.

Another opportunity to play a type of 'B' international game for fringe players, would be after our playoff series against 5th South American team. Presuming we lose those playoffs and don't qualify for next World Cup, might as well play fringe players in following friendlies. 

Little benefit in having European big guns play those friendlies, given next World Cup qualifying cycle won't start until 2019 onwards - plus being in the midst of the heavy European season schedule they will probably be unavailable anyway (likes of Smith/Reid may even retire from international football).

That's not what builds their depth, that fills their coffers with the TV and gate takings from all the Mexican ex-pats in the US.

What builds their depth is having a large player base, strong domestic league,, and sharkload of quality players produced consequently who play at the high levels of the game in Mexico and abroad.

I like the idea. I think it would be good as a fan to see these players and for these guys to get in front of Hudson and remind him that they have pro-contracts. 

Even against say, a ASBP Panda NZFC All Star selection or some such. Or against a series of regional selections- Auckland, Wellington and the South and the 'Nix full side.

It would be a good off season event for football in New Zealand. 

Of course it's probably not practical. Just want some football...!

I'm liking this idea. NZ has restricted opportunities to have kiwis playing together to forge an identity as 'ours' against other teams, both pro clubs and recognised football nations. All players that you list aren't living the easy life through football so I would presume they would want to take any opportunity to show what they are about/ make Hudson take notice.

Keeping up to date and in touch with guys like Nikko is supposed to be Peter Taylor's job 

NZF's world map was bought from a $2 shop and doesn't have Scandinavia on it, so our coaching staff never see these guys

Nikko Boxall GOAL HD - HIFK 0-3 KuPS 17.07.2017 by taftadarka2016

KuPS are currently 4th in the Finnish top league. Looks like the top 3 teams qualify for some European football.

Boxall remains a regular starter. He is probably playing at the highest level of any of the Kiwis in Scandinavia, but feel for him to get near the AWs needs to be playing somewhere else.

League One or League Two in UK, if he's good enough - or maybe his older bro, can help him get a gig in the US (USL level as a beginning?). Who knows he may just be comfortable carving out a career in Finland.

KuPS are now 3rd in the Finnish top league. Spots 2&3 qualify for the Europa League. 

HJK already have the title sewn up (15 pts ahead of Lahti in 2nd spot), and thereby get in Champions League qualifiers for next season.

Boxall remains a regular starter, having played in 27 of KuPS's 28 matches to date. Season finishes end of October.

Seems his off season move from Vaasan Palloseura (VPS) has proved a good one.

2nd in the Veikkausliiga with two games left against 2 of the bottom 3 in the league. Should hopefully be able to wrap up a spot in the Europa League Qualifiers for next season. 

Lost their most recent match 1-0 to Ilves. 

Full 90 and a yellow card for Boxall.

KuPS confirm 2nd in the Veikkausliiga with a 3-1 win over PS Kemi in their last game, and so wrap up a spot in the Europa League Qualifiers for next season.

Boxall finishes a great season for him with a goal in the last game. He played 31 of 33 games, with 3 goals. And if he stays at the club - gets a taste of European football next year.

Don't know why this guy doesn't at least get a shot with the AW's? Maybe a chance in our next friendly matches

Regardless he looks to be carving out a decent career in Europe. Good off season now before the Suomen Cup kicks off in February/March. Europa League Qualifiers should kick off next year round June/July.

The Finnish league ranks very lowly in Europe thatll be why

European League rankings

Belarus, Cyprus and Israel have a higher ranking than Finland

How often to do the rankings get updated?

Isn't the current Finish team, historically a good as it has ever been, it would suggest that their local comp is as well.

Basically from my meagre knowledge of Finnish football, all the top Finnish players either move to other leagues in Scandinavia where the standard is way higher, or move to HJK, the club that bosses the league pretty much every season without fail. Finland’s league is pretty damn weak just cause there’s one truly good team, even in places like Cyprus you have Omoinia, APOEL, AEL and others that could compete properly in Europe. And since HJK historically fail in Europe, doesn’t look like their rankings will be updated anytime soon :/

Better than Onehunga Sports?

HJK would account for the Nix easily and a number of other A league teams based on what I saw in late June.  High tempo passing game.

Big news for Nikko as he has signed for Viborg FF in Denmark. Certainly a step forward in his career!

http://vff.dk/nyhedsarkiv/8-frontpagenews/10410-vff-henter-ny-forsvarsspiller

Stronger football country than Finland, but Viborgs are in the Danish 2nd tier (mid table). 

He’s given up chance of European football also by leaving KuPS