NZ friendly

[otto62]

Celebrating 100 years of international football and sending off our Socceroos? You really wouldn’t know it. Where is a parade of past heroes? Where is the mainstream news coverage?

At least we got a1-0 win. Not convincing, but Arnie has only had them for a couple of days.

[bpowell454]

It really feels like we'll just be making up the numbers this year at the WC, more so than in the past few WCs.

We just don't look like a decent team under Arnold. Hope I'm wrong but I'll be shocked if we get a win.

Good goal by Awer though.

[Stuckey]

Celebrating 100 years of international football and sending off our Socceroos? You really wouldn’t know it. Where is a parade of past heroes? Where is the mainstream news coverage?

At least we got a1-0 win. Not convincing, but Arnie has only had them for a couple of days.

Obviously the game isn't swimming in cash but this has really looked like a missed opportunity for the game. I like the plan of playing NZ and we should be playing them regularly. But welcoming a big nation like England or Brazil here to celebrate and really use that star power to highlight the AL season is kicking off soon would be have been great. All the AL stars rubbing shoulders with Neymar or Harry Kane would have definitely made the mainstream news.

I agree about the game bit harsh on Arnie to judge him too hard on this performance. I'm looking forward to some more cohesion next game and hopefully the side has more time together in the WC lead up. Personally I'm pretty hopeful about this WC's squad. More so than previous years where we were almost totally dependent on Cahill and Jednak. I think our midfield looks very promising if Mabil, Hrustic and Mooy are playing regularly for their clubs. The main issue I see is where the goals are coming from. We just don't have anyone who is dependable to put a couple away. Personally I'd like to see Arnie give Rukavytsya another crack. He's playing at a decent level in Israel at the moment and has more of a physical presence than Maclaren or Taggart.

[otto62]

Arnie said this one was for the players that got us to the WC. The next one is for the young players. Hope Goody & Strain both get a run.

[EdDog]

Goody wasn't selected. Still injured.

A very uninspired performance.

Think we can get more out of this team than Arnie is currently.

[otto62]

Solid rather than inspired. Even Hrustic was subdued. McGree the only midfielder to show some attacking flair. Need Rogic back playing and in top form to give us some creativity.

[blahblah]

Nothing to get terribly inspired about with the Soccer Ashes. Luongo's return was good; really kept things alive. Bos had a good game as did Circati on debut, though he was never really under pressure.

A pity GA didn't bring on Toure as Duke was ok, but missed a lot of chances and Borrello (who came on for Duke) was even worse in this regard.

In all, nothing terrible, but nothing inspiring either.

[blahblah]

Soccer Ashes are back on, 6th & 9th of September.

Feeling a bit more excited about this with Popa in charge and a number of young Aussie attacking players performing well in Europe (Nestory, Segicic, Mo). Here's to hoping they get selected and time on the pitch.

Jordan Bos is back from injury and in the starting line-up for Feyenoord. We seem a different side when he plays; more confident.

[Stuckey]

Yes it's starting to feel like the NT is on the cusp of something with all the young talent looking good in Europe. A strong season from the ones mentioned followed up with a good showing in the WC and who knows where the offers could be coming from!

[blahblah]

Team is out and we have two ends covered with Joe & Paul as GKs and Mo & Nestory at the pointy end.

The squad has a delightfully fresh look.

[Stuckey]

One of the more exciting squads I've seen announced in a while! Looking forward to this!

[sevengoals]

It is freezing here ...

says the lad from Watford.

[blahblah]

Looking forward to this, though it is late at night for me (I'm in the South Pacific on the other side of the date line) so may yet watch it on replay.

[otto62]

We were so negative and safety first, to the extent of risking stuff ups at the back more often than I can count. Now fair enough NZ put in a shift, but poor Silvera never got a ball passed to him all the first half.

It only changed when Irankunda, Toure & Milanovic all came on together. Suddenly our front players were turning and looking forward instead of just always playing the safe pass back to midfield. No wonder we only score in the second half of games.

Ah well. We won 1-0 and I guess that’s what counts. Anyway it’s only a friendly.

[blahblah]

We were so negative and safety first, to the extent of risking stuff ups at the back more often than I can count. Now fair enough NZ put in a shift, but poor Silvera never got a ball passed to him all the first half.

It only changed when Irankunda, Toure & Milanovic all came on together. Suddenly our front players were turning and looking forward instead of just always playing the safe pass back to midfield. No wonder we only score in the second half of games.

Ah well. We won 1-0 and I guess that’s what counts. Anyway it’s only a friendly.

Fair summary. Paul Izzo certainly had a good day out.

Once Nestory, Mo and Nicolas were on the pitch the risk of the space behind the high press being exploited rose significantly.

Great to see Balard get a run; hopefully a start awaits.

Fair play to the All Whites who were very organised and dominated us for most of the match. They did beat the African champions Senegal the other day; not chumps.