Subject: [NT] News

Good luck Vilpu, I will be watching :)

There are few minutes till the kick-off.

Here is my evil plan for the game:
- Going to use different tactic today. Seca knows our NT in and out, so I am counting on that. My aim is to surprise him with a high winger. I hope it works and Canada´s using 4 defenders again.
- 2 players on midfield this week. Our mids are relatively weak, so I decided to play even higher defense, than I did last time. Risky.

I can fail miserably, because against stronger team such tactics usually don´t work well. Anyway, lets see how it goes.

Rats..

Least we beat them once :P

Arghh...so close, but yet so far. Would have been amazing if Gilbert would have scored in the last minute:)

Stronger team won this time, their midfield was the key factor today.

Shame we missed the second penalty, but can`t complain about the game overall. Could have been worse. Lets just say it went as it was supposed to go.

****

Canada vs Suomi and NZ vs Suomi will decide the qualifiers this season. Hopefully we won` t make any mistakes before those important games. I hope that goal difference won`t decide qualifiers in the end of season, our GD isn`t very good at the moment.
(edited)

Another game in two hours - we meet Albania I think:)

Last time we beat them 7:0 and we need to score that amount again. Definitely won`t be easy game, because our most accurate striker is gonna mis that one. So Brunton, Priore and Gilbert has to score and score as much as possible. I have a feeling goal difference will be a decider who gets the ticket to World Cup in the end of season. And our situation isn`t very good at the moment. Lets just hope it´s going to be a good game.

I had plans of using 3 strikers, but I think it won`t bring us more goals. Solid defense and well placed mids should be more useful. And Albania has few strikers who might become a problem to us.

Can`t watch it myself, have to play basketball at the same time.
(edited)

There is a god! Thanks for that red card in defense. Satisfied with 8 goals and no injuries.

Next week Cymru - difficult opponent. We need lot of goals again.

It seems that your neighbours Australia is going to miss another World Cup. The chances are slim at the moment. Shame about that. Hopefully I won`t fail.
(edited)

Few minutes ago almost impossible was close - Paraguay scored an equalizer 5 minutes before the end, but Canada managed to score 2 goals right back. Paraguay`s keeper was amazing. Good tactic from their side, only throw ins were covered badly.

Forgot to mention before - David Watts was probably man of the match. Really liked how he played, like a real life winback who often play offensively.

Home game against Cymru aka. Wales tomorrow. We definitely have to win and we have to score lot of goals to keep our World Cup dream alive.

We can use the best available squad tomorrow - no injuries and cards, first time this season. Traditionally Findlay and Edwards are in low form and will miss the game. I have a feeling Edwards might get in form for next season, but Findlay is a complete mystery.

We scored more than last time and beat them 5:0. From one side we were lucky they didn`t score, definitely desereved a goal or two, but they can blame Kaz for not being so accurate:)

Tried out new tactic - almost satisfied. I guess I like using 5 defenders more, which suits us better. Used winger on the right side, because had a feeling Mutlow is going to play on that side. Also liked throw ins from that side. 2 goals from throw ins.

Brent Gilbert was great, going to miss that guy in future. Today we also got an average mark over 70 - imo first time in NZ NT history.

I think we can be satisfied - missed penalty and few other great chances, but 5 goals is enough. Lets see how many others will score.
(edited)

Situation in our group very intriguing. Soumi has not played yet, but there is no doubt, they will win and score lot of goals.

We lead thanks to goal difference, +3 for us compared to Canada.

Last two rounds...

Canada vs Suomi
New Zealand vs Paraguay

and

Canada vs Cymru
New Zealand vs Suomi

If everything goes as I think it will...Then Suomi beats us and Canada. NZ wins Paraguay and Canada Cymru. According to this scenario Suomi wins the group, NZ/Canada share 2-3 place and goal difference decides the qualifier. Will be really close.
IF Canada at least draws against Suomi in 2 weeks, then we are through. I am counting on that. I hope Seca steals some points from Suomi - last time they beat Finns easily. I hope that again, however Canada hasn`t showed the best game lately.

Leading scorers in our group
14 Brent Gilbert Pantarei
13 Vesa Hynönen Iskra Tarnoff
Olavi Uronen Maiwan F.C
Rob Morcombe Fiery Tigers
12 Alvin Broussard FC Babaciune
11 Sauli Saarenmaa Fool United
Wyn Lavrynenko Loops Unlimited
6 Milos Leopold Elementals
Jacob Priorie Soccer Dream
5 Jarmo Hietakangas Pyunik Port Arthur
4 Huw Gray Y Ddraig Goch
3 Kimi Valtavuori nakit ja ranskalai...
Stuart Nevill MADRID
Visar Gjinali rivaldofc
Gerardo Cardona Alliance Lima FC
2 Connor Foster Fool United
Rees Watkins Rapidul
Myles Boissieres Partizan 74
1 Alex Letheran Caerphilly Dragons...
Tahir Rushiti Gargoils FC

Our substriker is first...

:)

Lost 3:1 against Moldova - they were lucky, but the result does not matter. Next two weeks are the most important. If Canada at least draws next week against Suomi, then we are through if we manage to win Paraguay in the same time.

Congrats beating Bahrain today! Hopefully virtual NZ football team manage to qualify aswell:)

We lost 70p due losing yesterday - that`s bad.

What`s worse - Morocombe got injured today, so he can`t help us against Paraguay and Suomi. Really bad.

We won 6:0 - I was hoping for more than 5 goals, but if you look at the game, then we should have scored few goals more. At least 3 times we hit the post/bar. Nevertheless 6 goals is a big help for us. What´s even more amazing we scored three penalties from 3 chances. Haven`t seen that good accuracy before.

In 1.5h begins probably the most important game of the day - Suomi vs Canada. If Canada at least draws, then NZ is in World Cup. However I actually doubt Canada helps us, Suomi is too strong. Lets hope for a great tactic from Seca. Go Canada!

No surprise from Canada as expected.

Anyway herre are the standings before the last round.

1. New Zealand GD +32 24p
2. Suomi GD +40 21p
3. Canada GD +18 21p

Next week Canada plays with Cymru and we meet Suomi. We have 14 goal advantage over Canada - it looks good, but nothing is sure yet.