Subject: NZ 11 Election..

Does anyone have an idea of the squad: if we had to put our best eleven on the field?

Hi Al_Thore, thank you for the first question of this campain, that seems to already have a winner.
I'll try to explain some of my tactical creed, even is quite difficult to speak about tactics that I could use if I don't know the players' skills :)
I've followed your team since (as I've already said ) I've been in this season the Co-CT for Italy (which was in your same group at the qualifiication), so that I can only have an Idea of the NZ players' strenght.
I'm a Mid trainer, and with a close plan of training I manage in reaching the Fist Italian League even wwith worse players and statistics than others, so I''ve always been a wings' supporter, and the great increas of the one-side-wing, with this new Match Engine, prove the great importance of this key role.
Unfortunately a great wing needs too have almost all the skills (Tech, Pace,Passing, Playmaking, Evetually Defence), so I don't know if i'll be able tu use them in every match, there are too many considerations to make before (strenght of the opposite, form level...etc...).
However I'm quite prepared even in use other schemes (In my league I've played for years with 3 defenders, with the Italian U21 we're testing tactics with 3 Forwards) soo I can warrant you that every match would be studied in every sort of detail, triying to be always unpredictable and above all competitive.
For what concern the players I can give you only an opinion, based on their value and the time I've seen them play.
However if I'll become your CT I can count on an efficient DB (tho whom you can easily link even using Firefox extensions and by clicking on the falg of your players) which allow me to make a list of the Better players for each role, ranked by the same criterions used to make The rank of the BEST OF FORUM

Here you can find

The Main page of the DB

An example of Best of (Italian players)

An example of our DB


Speaking About Players

Keepers Hope in a quick recover from Taylor since the other keeperGrove and Alves don't seems so strong.

Defenders It looks the division with better quality: Kilkenny, Kelly, Edwards, Watt seem to be players of international value

Midfielders This is a Role in which NZ seems lacking. There are some good players like Atkinson, Root, Sanson, Matthew, Sparrow,De Bruin (look like a def/Mid). However I have to know their skills first, to understand how I can make them play.

Attackers Great old players which nothing have to envy to their colleagues of the main team: Morcombe, Bodger, Hird but, above all, the great Brent Gilbert, which punished us 2 times in qualifications :)
(edited)

I hesitate to comment, as I haven't seen the skills of players for 2 seasons, and things can change a lot in that time. But I have watched most matches this season, and can make some guesses. (It's easier to guess with a team like New Zealand that doesn't have a great deal of depth).

Goal
Well there's Taylor. And if his form drops there's Taylor. And if he's slightly injured there's Taylor. And if he's 17 days injured (like right now) there's ... Taylor? Welford doesn't look like he's received any training for some time. Alves was on the TL the other day - his form has recovered, and he's got really good pace. He might be due for a recall.

Defense
Watts, Kelly, Kilkenny and Edwards look like the top 4. Harris and Chadwick both have some flaws which I doubt have been addressed due to their age. Matt Gilbert had some flaws that may have been addressed - he's been getting a little playing time, but I'm not sure if that's because he's improved or sentimental reasons. Williams was a player I had on my watch list as a 19 year old - it looks like he's progressing well. I always like De Bruin who looks like he's received some training. Graham was promising, but hasn't been trained consistently.

Midfield
New Zealand doesn't have a typical defensive midfielder. I liked to use Kelly against high-tech opposition. De Bruin isn't a bad option here too. It looks like Dawkins is still useful. For more creativity, Richards is probably still the guy - I don't know that he's been receiving training at his new club, and his form still sucks.

Atkinson was clearly the best offensive minded midfielder when I left. I expected Sansom and Root to reel him in. Irvine is a player I didn't know about - he's played well and I'm guessing his distribution is something I would like. Matthews is still an option in this role.

Up Front
The current New Zealand coaching staff received word the Tigers was doing some striker training (don't think I'm giving anything away here - pretty clear from the match ratings). That changed Gilbert from the "what do we do with this guy?" to arguably the #1 option. I'm not sure what Morcombe looks like now - I suspect he's climbed the depth chart. Hird and Bodger were not only great strikers but also good all-round players adding to their tactical versatility. Even without training they are still the envy of many other NTs.

I've probably left some guys out - apologies if I have. All this conjecture can change given some actual scouting reports. :) Based on what I've seen, my guess is the best 11 looks like:

Gilbert, Hird (Bodger)
Atkinson, Root, Sansom (Irvine)
De Bruin (Richards)
Watts, Kelly, Kilkenny, Edwards (Williams)
Taylor (Alves)

Nice answers guys.

Seca has some very good opposition.
Good luck to you both :)