The All Whites were very good last night.
Apart from the opening 15 minutes, when they looked all at sea and conceded that goal that is. After that though, though they didn't dominate possession, I thought they dominated large portions of the match - save for a few Chinese raids. They also managed to shrug off the immense pressure when we had the ball that the opposition exerted in the opening stages. And that allowed our best player on the night to start to shine - Michael McGlinchey.
I thought McGlinchey was class last night, and well deserved the equalizer. He managed to get good time on the ball and played the right kind of passes almost every time. He is a quality player and will be a huge asset to the national team for years to come. Man of the match in my opinion.
As for the players, well starting from the back Glen Moss did a good job in goal for us. Everyone knows he is a class shot stopper and he showed that last night. He doesn't hold many shots on the first occasion, and sometimes his clearances are a bit dodgy, but he certainly did a more than decent job between the sticks.
The defence was solid last night. Tommy Smith and Ivan Vicelich were fair enough - the Chinese attacks did seem to come down our left hand side and Vicelich was a little slow at times (understandable given his age), but they were solid enough. Andy Boyens, who only played the first half, probably wasn't as solid as the other two, and did score that own goal, but he did ok. The real surprise was when Michael Boxall came on for the second half - he looked mighty impressive in his first appearance for the national team. Cool, calm and very assured on the ball, he looked comfortable at the international level. A great find. Considering the options we have at the back, we are starting to get real depth at centre back. Smith, Reid and Boxall are all very young and there is still life in Nelsen and Sigmund yet.
The two wide midfield players/wing backs were fair - after the initial onslaught Jeremy Brockie and Tony Lochhead got forward on numerous occasions and offered width to our attack. Their crossing wasn't great, and Brockie himself should have scored with the final touch of the first half, but they offered enough. Marco Rojas made his much awaited debut, but wasn't really on the pitch long enough to show us what he is capable of. Another debutant, Michael Fitzgerald, looked very lively down the right hand side. More cameos like that and he could be yet another very good addition to the squad.
I've already said Michael McGlinchey was my man of the match. He is becoming a very good player very quickly. What was suprising was how useful his partner in midfield - David Mulligan was. I shouldn't say suprising. We all know he's a much better player than what we saw (or didn't see) when he was at Wellington Phoenix. While he was overrun a little in the first half, he had plenty of time on the ball in the second, and passed the ball well enough. He was our defensive midfield presence and he wasn't particularly convincing doing that, but on the ball looked good enough to be a decent option for Ricki going forward.
Going forward has quickly become our strong point and this showed again last night. Chris Killen and Shane Smeltz worked tirelessly - Killen especially without much reward. In the second half, a previously invisible Smeltz moved out onto the left hand side and steadily became an influence on the match. Chris Wood played the first half and had a go of it - two half chances and plenty of running around. But his replacement helped change the game - Kosta Barbarouses showed how he has improved immensely during his first year in Brisbane. There are still signs he has a wee while to go yet, but in general he was very good last night.
If I had to give the players a rating out of 10 for the game last night against China:
Starting XI:
Glen Moss - 7
Andy Boyens - 5
Ivan Vicelich - 6
Tommy Smith - 6
Jeremy Brockie - 6
Tony Lochhead - 6 1/2
Michael McGlinchey 8 1/2
David Mulligan - 6 1/2
Shane Smeltz - 6 1/2
Chris Wood - 6
Chris Killen - 6
Substitutes:
Michael Boxall - 7 1/2
Kosta Barbarouses - 7
Marco Rojas - 5 1/2
Michael Fitzgerald - 6
Aaron Clapham - N/A
All in all, a very positive experience for New Zealand football. A good result, three debutants (including an excellent one by Boxall), a first goal for New Zealand for Michael McGlinchey, and what's more, a good, attacking performance (save the first 15 minutes) where we soaked up the pressure, defended when we needed to, and attacked relatively often and with good penetration.
It would have been nice to have another match in this tour, but obviously the circumstances in Japan have meant that isn't possible. However, the next time the All Whites do play, Ricki Herbert will have a great range of players to choose from, of all ages and stages of their careers, as he looks to build a squad to take us to Brazil 2014.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
I just want to win something!
As I sat and watched Brisbane Roar players and fans celebrate their miraculous comeback and victory in the penalty shootout of last weekends A-League final I was left with a sense of emptiness. A sense of longing and wondering…. What would that feel like? What would it be like to support a team that actually won something?!
Years of supporting the Chiefs, Bay of Plenty
I can’t imagine what it would be like to watch the captain of your team lift a trophy that has for so long eluded us. I’ve dared to believe with the Warriors before, the Phoenix
So where will a trophy come from? The obvious one is Richie lifting up a little piece of gold in October. Every World Cup I picture myself standing amongst hundreds of countrymen, hands in the air belting out a rousing rendition of “We are the Champions” but as we all know that’s never come through. Surely this year, Party Central in Auckland
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The All Whites squad - my thoughts
First off all, I would like to say that calling the game off in Japan was unquestionably the right decision. Two awful natural disasters have hit over there, and there is a further disaster unfolding with the nuclear plant problems. To send our boys over there, for what is an irrelevant match (especially under the circumstances), while so many people are still suffering, and the disaster is still unfolding, would be unnecessary, insensitive and really shit timing. Sport is just not important during something like this.
The good news for the All Whites is they still have a fixture to play, in China on the 26th. The squad was finalised today. There are three new faces (in bold):
Goalkeepers: Glen Moss, Jake Gleeson
Defenders: Tony Lochhead, Ivan Vicelich, Ryan Nelsen, Andy Boyens, Tommy Smith, Michael Fitzgerald
Midfielders: Michael McGlinchy, Jeremy Brockie, David Mulligan, Aaron Clapham, Marco Rojas
Forwards: Shane Smeltz, Rory Fallon, Chris Killen, Chris Wood, Kosta Barbarouses
I am pretty happy with the squad overall. We are definitely light at the back with Winston Reid and Ben Sigmund not there, and in midfield (although we are always a tad light there) with Simon Elliot, Tim Brown and Leo Bertos all missing. Of the new faces, Rojas was a shoe-in after his performances this year. Once Mark Paston was ruled out, another goalkeeper was required, and by all account Jake Gleeson has been very impressive for his U.S club team. So that makes sense as well. This Fitzgerald kid, well I don't know a thing about him. It's a bit of a worry that he's only playing third division in Japan, but hell. there's no reason not to give him a crack. The fact he's a fullback, and we don't have any of those bar Lochhead, makes it even more worthwhile.
The real question comes with what the formation should play, and who should play where. Looking at the balance of the squad, I would suggest we will go with the same 3-4-3 that has done us so many good things over the past year. This being despite the fact we are missing two central defenders, and have fullbacks in the squad. I would then suggest they will go to 4 at the back in the second half as the substitutes come on.
Goalkeeper: Glen Moss. Mossy will be our first choice keeper going forward, as Mark Paston heads towards the twilight of his career. The march towards Brazil 2014 begins here, and Moss should start. Gleeson will get his chances later, and hopefully develop into a top quality goalkeeper.
Central Defenders: Ryan Nelsen, Andy Boyens, Tommy Smith. Nelsen and Smith are obvious starters. For me Boyens gets another chance to prove himself, especially when a guy like Sigmund, a guy he would be in direct competition with, is not there. He has the talent to continue plying his trade in the MLS. The other reason he starts is because I want the only other central defender in the squad, Ivan Vicelich, playing further upfield. So in the end they kind of pick themselves.
Wing Backs: Jeremy Brockie, Tony Lochhead. Lochhead is another obvious choice, playing on the left hand side in the same role he fulfilled at the World Cup. Brockie was possibly our best player in the October friendlies, playing in the right wing back role. I wouldn't have picked him for it prior to that, but that, plus the fact Leo Bertos isn't there, means he starts there.
Central Midfield: Ivan Vicelich, Michael McGlinchy. Without Vicelich holding the midfield, I have a fear a skillfull Chinese team might have some fun through the middle of the park. He needs to be there to make tackles, and free up responsibility for McGlinchy. The fact he has recently been playing in China is a bonus. McGlinchy is the future creative spark for the All Whites; a team without Simon Elliot will depend on him. His form for the Central Coast this A-Leauge was sparkling, and the time is now for him to become a first choice member of the national team.
Strikers: Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen, Kosta Barbarouses. Where we do have a glut of talent is up front (the reasons we play three up front is for that very reason). So who do we play as we start our quest for the 2014 World Cup? Well for me Smeltz has to be there, as our number one striker. Barbarouses is the only player in my starting team who wasn't in South Africa. He has come on massively at the Brisbane Roar, and has something a bit different to the rest of our strikers, especially pace. He is a real prospect, and could become a key member of the All Whites. As for Killen, well it's basically a coin toss between him, Fallon and Wood; I went for Killen simply because he has scored a lot of international goals before, and like Vicelich, is currently playing in China.
Substitutes: As the game progresses, I'll look for Ricki to bring Fitzgerald and Rojas on for their debuts, Fitzgerald for a central defender as we move to a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3. Rojas will come on to run at a tiring defence. Wood will get game time up front, and Clapham may as well in the middle of the park.
Verdict: An exciting team at the start of an exciting adventure. All the best boys!
The good news for the All Whites is they still have a fixture to play, in China on the 26th. The squad was finalised today. There are three new faces (in bold):
Goalkeepers: Glen Moss, Jake Gleeson
Defenders: Tony Lochhead, Ivan Vicelich, Ryan Nelsen, Andy Boyens, Tommy Smith, Michael Fitzgerald
Midfielders: Michael McGlinchy, Jeremy Brockie, David Mulligan, Aaron Clapham, Marco Rojas
Forwards: Shane Smeltz, Rory Fallon, Chris Killen, Chris Wood, Kosta Barbarouses
I am pretty happy with the squad overall. We are definitely light at the back with Winston Reid and Ben Sigmund not there, and in midfield (although we are always a tad light there) with Simon Elliot, Tim Brown and Leo Bertos all missing. Of the new faces, Rojas was a shoe-in after his performances this year. Once Mark Paston was ruled out, another goalkeeper was required, and by all account Jake Gleeson has been very impressive for his U.S club team. So that makes sense as well. This Fitzgerald kid, well I don't know a thing about him. It's a bit of a worry that he's only playing third division in Japan, but hell. there's no reason not to give him a crack. The fact he's a fullback, and we don't have any of those bar Lochhead, makes it even more worthwhile.
The real question comes with what the formation should play, and who should play where. Looking at the balance of the squad, I would suggest we will go with the same 3-4-3 that has done us so many good things over the past year. This being despite the fact we are missing two central defenders, and have fullbacks in the squad. I would then suggest they will go to 4 at the back in the second half as the substitutes come on.
Goalkeeper: Glen Moss. Mossy will be our first choice keeper going forward, as Mark Paston heads towards the twilight of his career. The march towards Brazil 2014 begins here, and Moss should start. Gleeson will get his chances later, and hopefully develop into a top quality goalkeeper.
Central Defenders: Ryan Nelsen, Andy Boyens, Tommy Smith. Nelsen and Smith are obvious starters. For me Boyens gets another chance to prove himself, especially when a guy like Sigmund, a guy he would be in direct competition with, is not there. He has the talent to continue plying his trade in the MLS. The other reason he starts is because I want the only other central defender in the squad, Ivan Vicelich, playing further upfield. So in the end they kind of pick themselves.
Wing Backs: Jeremy Brockie, Tony Lochhead. Lochhead is another obvious choice, playing on the left hand side in the same role he fulfilled at the World Cup. Brockie was possibly our best player in the October friendlies, playing in the right wing back role. I wouldn't have picked him for it prior to that, but that, plus the fact Leo Bertos isn't there, means he starts there.
Central Midfield: Ivan Vicelich, Michael McGlinchy. Without Vicelich holding the midfield, I have a fear a skillfull Chinese team might have some fun through the middle of the park. He needs to be there to make tackles, and free up responsibility for McGlinchy. The fact he has recently been playing in China is a bonus. McGlinchy is the future creative spark for the All Whites; a team without Simon Elliot will depend on him. His form for the Central Coast this A-Leauge was sparkling, and the time is now for him to become a first choice member of the national team.
Strikers: Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen, Kosta Barbarouses. Where we do have a glut of talent is up front (the reasons we play three up front is for that very reason). So who do we play as we start our quest for the 2014 World Cup? Well for me Smeltz has to be there, as our number one striker. Barbarouses is the only player in my starting team who wasn't in South Africa. He has come on massively at the Brisbane Roar, and has something a bit different to the rest of our strikers, especially pace. He is a real prospect, and could become a key member of the All Whites. As for Killen, well it's basically a coin toss between him, Fallon and Wood; I went for Killen simply because he has scored a lot of international goals before, and like Vicelich, is currently playing in China.
Substitutes: As the game progresses, I'll look for Ricki to bring Fitzgerald and Rojas on for their debuts, Fitzgerald for a central defender as we move to a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3. Rojas will come on to run at a tiring defence. Wood will get game time up front, and Clapham may as well in the middle of the park.
Verdict: An exciting team at the start of an exciting adventure. All the best boys!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
My Ashes review - i'm sure nobody cares anymore but I want to show how right I was!
I was right. England won. That's all!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Too much of a good thing? The All Black midfield question.
Can you have too much of a good thing? Too many Double Cheeseburgers – probably. Too many brews at the pub – most certainly. In the case of quality midfielders? Well, I think we are getting to a position, in NZ rugby, where we may do.
At the last three World Cups we have struggled the most when it comes to midfielders. That should come as no surprise to anyone. So surely the fact that we have a great pool of quality midfielders can only be a blessing this time around. I am beginning to think it may become a real headache going into the cup for us.
First of all, which players make up this pool of quality. In Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith we have the best midfield combination in International Rugby for the past two seasons. Sonny Bill Williams and Robbie Fruean scream quality and bring a completely new dimension to any attacking game-plan. Throw in Richard Kahui as a specialist centre as well as utility backs like Luke McAllister, Isaia Toeava, Jarred Payne and Rene Ranger and you have depth that any international side in any sport anywhere would kill for.
In Nonu and Smith we have a wonderful combination who probably could play every test this year and win us a World Cup. Dont worry about it, lock away the trophy, who cares. Best midfield combination we have ever had. Its all in front of them. Now though, do we have better players? Is Fruean a better option than Smith? Williams better than Nonu? Possibly, possibly not. But the complicating factor in all of this is Nonu and Smith are wonderful as a combination, Nonu without Smith in a test match and I would watch peeking out from behind a cushion. But Williams and Fruean don't scream composed in a tight test match. Surely, the answer is easy. Give everyone a run this year and then decide come World Cup time who our best combination is. You probably dont even need to give Nonu and Smith a run together in a black jersey until we kick off the tournament.
Not that easy unfortunately. Everyone agrees everywhere that we need to give our team some time together in the run into the tournament to make sure the combinations are sorted and everyone is singing from the same sheet. So we aren't exactly in a position to experiment at the World Cup and we only have four tests prior to the World Cup.
Here are the two options as far as I see it:
- Bank on Nonu and Smith. They are world class performers with a world class track record and are good enough to win us the World Cup. The downside of that is that we may have better players who don't get a chance. We don't want to be sitting around in October bemoaning what could have been.
- Experiment through the Tri-Nations and opening games of the World Cup, decide who our best combination are come the quarter finals. The downside to that is we get to the position we got to last time, we don't know who our best team is and we play like a team who haven't played enough together.
Its a decision I don't fancy making and I would suggest that sometimes the best decisions are the ones you don't have to make but are essentially made for you.
The Chase for the Title: My (Biased) View
Well ever since Manchester United lost to Liverpool on Monday morning (NZ time) I have been trying to convince myself that United will still win the Premier League. I think I’ve managed it, so I thought I would write it all out in a blog.
United have hardly been at their best all season, even though they went unbeaten until just a month ago. There’s a thought that they’re top of the league almost by default, especially with the spectacular fall from grace that some of the top teams have managed, and others not yet ready to challenge. Arsenal, the team only three points back in the league with a game in hand, are the only top team that appear to have approved to the extent they could realistically lift the title.
The TAB has United at $1.67, and Arsenal at $2.75 to win the Premier League. On paper, they should be almost even. However, after the horrible feeling after the matches at both Stamford Bridge and Anfield had subsided in my stomach, I came up with three reasons that have re-convinced me that that United will still be champions in a couple of months.
Reason 1: Wayne Rooney.
The man who has been in fairly horrendous form for almost an entire year is the man who can be the difference in the title run in. With the year he has had, what with a woeful World Cup, the shenanigans of last October (when he said he wanted to leave United before signing a new five year contract), as well as numerous injury worries and an personal life that has filled the tabloids, Rooney has suddenly perked up. He has five goals in his last six games, including that wonder-goal winner in the Manchester derby. He also scored in the loss against Chelsea, his first goal from outside the penalty area since February 2008. If he is on one of his famous goal scoring streak, Wayne Rooney could well be the reason Manchester United will win the Premier League in 2011.
Reason 2: United’s main opposition is Arsenal.
If there was any team that could manage to choke when in a position like this, it would be Arsenal. They’ve already managed to bomb one trophy this season – the Carling Cup final where an awful mix up led to them conceding a 89th minute winner to Birmingham (currently all the way down in 17th in the league). They head to Barcelona with a 2-1 aggregate lead, but it will be tough for them to hold that. They also have to go to Old Trafford for the next round of the FA Cup. They are going to have to play extremely well in either fixture to progress in those two competitions, and try and end what has become a six year trophy-drought. Arsenal also appears over reliant on Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, who always seem to be battling injuries. To them, the equation should appear simple – they win their remaining eleven league games and they will be champions – but will that actually happen?
Reason 3: The remaining fixture list
At face value, the remaining fixture lists should favour Arsenal. They have three games against the top six remaining, Liverpool at home and Tottenham away before the big one on May 1 against Manchester United at the Emirates. Other than that, Stoke and Bolton would be two away fixtures that might cause them some grief. They have struggled historically against those two teams – especially the physicality of Stoke. United have to play Chelsea at home before the trip to Arsenal. Trips to Newcastle and West Ham could provide banana skins. On paper it certainly seems the harder run-in – especially if the United vs. Arsenal match becomes a virtual title decider; home advantage could be huge. So, trying to pick what might unfold: any dropped points for the Gunners and suddenly the match at the Emirates will not take on nearly as much importance. United won’t drop points at home – but on the road might be a different story. But Arsenal has shown frailties at home all season, and the United vs. Arsenal game could essentially be a title decider. Even then, United have won the last two visits to the Emirates (3-1 in the league last year, and 3-1 in the Champions League the year before). They do seem to thrive at the Emirates; as a result that game could go any which way. Arsenal would be under immense pressure to perform, and win. If it’s anything like a Cup final, they may well end up gifting the title to Manchester United.
Conclusion: The Premier League has just about evolved into a two-horse race – on one side there is Manchester United, who have won almost everything in the past three years, with a golden chance to overtake Liverpool as the most successful team in English history; and on the other side is Arsenal, six years without a trophy, looking shaky when a critical fixture comes along, and seemingly dependant on injury-prone players.
My verdict: Manchester United win title number 19.
Disclaimer: To be honest, my analysis was never going to point to an Arsenal win. I am a tad biased.
United have hardly been at their best all season, even though they went unbeaten until just a month ago. There’s a thought that they’re top of the league almost by default, especially with the spectacular fall from grace that some of the top teams have managed, and others not yet ready to challenge. Arsenal, the team only three points back in the league with a game in hand, are the only top team that appear to have approved to the extent they could realistically lift the title.
The TAB has United at $1.67, and Arsenal at $2.75 to win the Premier League. On paper, they should be almost even. However, after the horrible feeling after the matches at both Stamford Bridge and Anfield had subsided in my stomach, I came up with three reasons that have re-convinced me that that United will still be champions in a couple of months.
Reason 1: Wayne Rooney.
The man who has been in fairly horrendous form for almost an entire year is the man who can be the difference in the title run in. With the year he has had, what with a woeful World Cup, the shenanigans of last October (when he said he wanted to leave United before signing a new five year contract), as well as numerous injury worries and an personal life that has filled the tabloids, Rooney has suddenly perked up. He has five goals in his last six games, including that wonder-goal winner in the Manchester derby. He also scored in the loss against Chelsea, his first goal from outside the penalty area since February 2008. If he is on one of his famous goal scoring streak, Wayne Rooney could well be the reason Manchester United will win the Premier League in 2011.
Reason 2: United’s main opposition is Arsenal.
If there was any team that could manage to choke when in a position like this, it would be Arsenal. They’ve already managed to bomb one trophy this season – the Carling Cup final where an awful mix up led to them conceding a 89th minute winner to Birmingham (currently all the way down in 17th in the league). They head to Barcelona with a 2-1 aggregate lead, but it will be tough for them to hold that. They also have to go to Old Trafford for the next round of the FA Cup. They are going to have to play extremely well in either fixture to progress in those two competitions, and try and end what has become a six year trophy-drought. Arsenal also appears over reliant on Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, who always seem to be battling injuries. To them, the equation should appear simple – they win their remaining eleven league games and they will be champions – but will that actually happen?
Reason 3: The remaining fixture list
At face value, the remaining fixture lists should favour Arsenal. They have three games against the top six remaining, Liverpool at home and Tottenham away before the big one on May 1 against Manchester United at the Emirates. Other than that, Stoke and Bolton would be two away fixtures that might cause them some grief. They have struggled historically against those two teams – especially the physicality of Stoke. United have to play Chelsea at home before the trip to Arsenal. Trips to Newcastle and West Ham could provide banana skins. On paper it certainly seems the harder run-in – especially if the United vs. Arsenal match becomes a virtual title decider; home advantage could be huge. So, trying to pick what might unfold: any dropped points for the Gunners and suddenly the match at the Emirates will not take on nearly as much importance. United won’t drop points at home – but on the road might be a different story. But Arsenal has shown frailties at home all season, and the United vs. Arsenal game could essentially be a title decider. Even then, United have won the last two visits to the Emirates (3-1 in the league last year, and 3-1 in the Champions League the year before). They do seem to thrive at the Emirates; as a result that game could go any which way. Arsenal would be under immense pressure to perform, and win. If it’s anything like a Cup final, they may well end up gifting the title to Manchester United.
Conclusion: The Premier League has just about evolved into a two-horse race – on one side there is Manchester United, who have won almost everything in the past three years, with a golden chance to overtake Liverpool as the most successful team in English history; and on the other side is Arsenal, six years without a trophy, looking shaky when a critical fixture comes along, and seemingly dependant on injury-prone players.
My verdict: Manchester United win title number 19.
Disclaimer: To be honest, my analysis was never going to point to an Arsenal win. I am a tad biased.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Marco - My Thoughts Mark II
So on Friday I had a wee rant about the news that Marco Rojas is about to up and leave the Phoenix for the Melbourne Victory. I was a bit frustrated, angry at the initial reports (without really waiting for proper details to emerge), and also severely unimpressed with the efforts of the New Zealand cricket team, who were playing while I was smashing the keyboard in disgust.
So now I’ve calmed down a bit, read a lot of the reports that have come out in recent days, and formed some (slightly) more thought out and sensible opinions about it all. This blogs talks not about Marco, but also touches on the wider phenomenon that seems to be developing: of New Zealand players developing at the Phoenix before leaving the club. To do this I’m going to wear two completely different hats.
The first hat I am going to wear is going to be my Phoenix hat. I’m a member of the Yellow Fever who gave Marco his crack. It is downright annoying (though maybe not the ‘treachery’ I called it on Friday) that he would leave us for another A-League team. It is hard to know what he thinks he can gain over there that he can’t gain here – especially as he is already a star of the first team. It’s not like the Barbarouses situation in this case. His father has said Marco wants to play as a central midfielder, well with Nick Ward potentially leaving there could well be a hole in the middle of the park. If Marco was that desperate to change positions, surely impressing the national coach would be a good place to start. To sum, in my opinion, with what is (or isn’t) emerging through the media, with Ricki, Terry, and Marco all remaining silent, something doesn’t quite make sense. I think there must be something else that is driving the Yellow Fever’s poster child out of Wellington.
The second hat I am putting on his my one as a supporter of New Zealand football. In this instance, Rojas leaving could well be a positive thing, for two reasons. The first is simple – it is another young Kiwi footballer out there in the big wide world of international football. The more we get out there, the better it is. Simple. The second reason is that it shows that the idea that led to the Phoenix is working. Kiwi footballers are coming into the team, developing, becoming better players and moving on. Shane Smeltz, Glen Moss, Kosta Barbarouses, (plus Tony Lochhead who went on trial at Middlesbrough) have already come through, developed, and moved on to be key members of their respective clubs and the national side. While at this stage we are seeing guys just go to A-League clubs, they are all stars for their respective teams. In what I might term the New Zealand football production line, a truly valuable cog in the system would be the Phoenix.
So switching hats again I guess the question is where to next for the Phoenix, especially post-Marco. Well I would postulate that we will be back to where we were after Smeltz and Moss left, and again after Kosta left. We have ‘produced’ (I use the term ‘produced’ loosely, as I realise Smeltz and Moss were internationals when they were picked up by the Phoenix, however their careers were certainly in the footballing backwater) four top quality Kiwis in four years. That is quite a strike rate and certainly flies in the face of those who worry the Phoenix are not doing their bit to help New Zealand football. More young players will come along, perhaps one already has. Sean Lovemore is a young Kiwi who has already made his debut in the A-League. When he trialled in the last preseason, skipper Andrew Durante said "Sean up front, he's very quick across the ground and he had a couple of good chances to score." While he is still young and yet to be signed for the Phoenix for the next season, I think it goes to show that the production line will continue. The Phoenix will have new heroes rise, and if the past four years is anything to go by, New Zealand footballers will continue to come through and develop in a professional environment, before moving onto bigger and better things.
So now I’ve calmed down a bit, read a lot of the reports that have come out in recent days, and formed some (slightly) more thought out and sensible opinions about it all. This blogs talks not about Marco, but also touches on the wider phenomenon that seems to be developing: of New Zealand players developing at the Phoenix before leaving the club. To do this I’m going to wear two completely different hats.
The first hat I am going to wear is going to be my Phoenix hat. I’m a member of the Yellow Fever who gave Marco his crack. It is downright annoying (though maybe not the ‘treachery’ I called it on Friday) that he would leave us for another A-League team. It is hard to know what he thinks he can gain over there that he can’t gain here – especially as he is already a star of the first team. It’s not like the Barbarouses situation in this case. His father has said Marco wants to play as a central midfielder, well with Nick Ward potentially leaving there could well be a hole in the middle of the park. If Marco was that desperate to change positions, surely impressing the national coach would be a good place to start. To sum, in my opinion, with what is (or isn’t) emerging through the media, with Ricki, Terry, and Marco all remaining silent, something doesn’t quite make sense. I think there must be something else that is driving the Yellow Fever’s poster child out of Wellington.
The second hat I am putting on his my one as a supporter of New Zealand football. In this instance, Rojas leaving could well be a positive thing, for two reasons. The first is simple – it is another young Kiwi footballer out there in the big wide world of international football. The more we get out there, the better it is. Simple. The second reason is that it shows that the idea that led to the Phoenix is working. Kiwi footballers are coming into the team, developing, becoming better players and moving on. Shane Smeltz, Glen Moss, Kosta Barbarouses, (plus Tony Lochhead who went on trial at Middlesbrough) have already come through, developed, and moved on to be key members of their respective clubs and the national side. While at this stage we are seeing guys just go to A-League clubs, they are all stars for their respective teams. In what I might term the New Zealand football production line, a truly valuable cog in the system would be the Phoenix.
So switching hats again I guess the question is where to next for the Phoenix, especially post-Marco. Well I would postulate that we will be back to where we were after Smeltz and Moss left, and again after Kosta left. We have ‘produced’ (I use the term ‘produced’ loosely, as I realise Smeltz and Moss were internationals when they were picked up by the Phoenix, however their careers were certainly in the footballing backwater) four top quality Kiwis in four years. That is quite a strike rate and certainly flies in the face of those who worry the Phoenix are not doing their bit to help New Zealand football. More young players will come along, perhaps one already has. Sean Lovemore is a young Kiwi who has already made his debut in the A-League. When he trialled in the last preseason, skipper Andrew Durante said "Sean up front, he's very quick across the ground and he had a couple of good chances to score." While he is still young and yet to be signed for the Phoenix for the next season, I think it goes to show that the production line will continue. The Phoenix will have new heroes rise, and if the past four years is anything to go by, New Zealand footballers will continue to come through and develop in a professional environment, before moving onto bigger and better things.
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