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Subject: [NT] Moldova
Underway in the final Q-match. :)
Tactic is based on last weeks, except with a winger (Atkinson) split out to the right. The central forward (Hird) drops back a little to fill the vacuum created by that move.
Hird takes freebies and penalties. Richards takes Matthews at 60. Herbert replaces Atkinson shortly after. Chadwick for Gilbert late in the match. Kelly covers the back three in case of referee difficulties.
Hoping to improve upon the +5 from last time, but the 3 points is really all that should be needed to get a 3rd seed in the World Cup.
Tactic is based on last weeks, except with a winger (Atkinson) split out to the right. The central forward (Hird) drops back a little to fill the vacuum created by that move.
Hird takes freebies and penalties. Richards takes Matthews at 60. Herbert replaces Atkinson shortly after. Chadwick for Gilbert late in the match. Kelly covers the back three in case of referee difficulties.
Hoping to improve upon the +5 from last time, but the 3 points is really all that should be needed to get a 3rd seed in the World Cup.
liked the tactic, Hird proved well being back as a sort of defensive striker and has inspired me to use Bodger there more (may have said this before..). Defenders were in the right quantity and position too, got a couple of offsides but also defended the goal very well. Kelly had pretty good positioning as well but i thought his performance was a little off in some instances.
Taylor is almost at the 80 mark in terms of rating, and only 19 years of age! Destined, perhaps, to be the best goalkeeper ever? Hope his trainer sells soon to another trainer, i feel like some mother club $$ :D
Felt the debacle around the 11th minute was also very amusing, fumbles from every direction!
Defenders had a brilliant game, the few times they managed to get through they were chased down easily, i particularly liked Watts in this aspect, although the best occurance of it was when Kilkenny was tackled near halfway, the winger had a free passage though but kilkenny motored his way back and tackled inside the box.
Matthews was a standout for most of his game i think, really showing his divine form in this match. A couple of passes went astray, but with his level its always bound to happen. Tomlinson was a star i think, made many right calls and just did everything he should've. Atkinson was alright, but a little bit disappointing as he didn't have that charisma he usually brings to the side. Thought he might be in bad form but he isn't :/. Herbert wasn't really involved much so i can't comment a lot.
Hird had a goodish game i believe, his striking at goal wasn't to be desired near the end though expecially at the penalty. Two free shots on goal, both missed and then Roza had a shot off the crossbar that careened off at massive speed.. then proceeded to repeat this performance a few minutes later, lol. Chadwick was pretty disappointing from the moment he came on so got a thumbs down from me. Roza had a disappointing performance in terms of shots on goal but made some really nice passes for potential goal setups.
all in all i think it was a pretty good match =]
Taylor is almost at the 80 mark in terms of rating, and only 19 years of age! Destined, perhaps, to be the best goalkeeper ever? Hope his trainer sells soon to another trainer, i feel like some mother club $$ :D
Felt the debacle around the 11th minute was also very amusing, fumbles from every direction!
Defenders had a brilliant game, the few times they managed to get through they were chased down easily, i particularly liked Watts in this aspect, although the best occurance of it was when Kilkenny was tackled near halfway, the winger had a free passage though but kilkenny motored his way back and tackled inside the box.
Matthews was a standout for most of his game i think, really showing his divine form in this match. A couple of passes went astray, but with his level its always bound to happen. Tomlinson was a star i think, made many right calls and just did everything he should've. Atkinson was alright, but a little bit disappointing as he didn't have that charisma he usually brings to the side. Thought he might be in bad form but he isn't :/. Herbert wasn't really involved much so i can't comment a lot.
Hird had a goodish game i believe, his striking at goal wasn't to be desired near the end though expecially at the penalty. Two free shots on goal, both missed and then Roza had a shot off the crossbar that careened off at massive speed.. then proceeded to repeat this performance a few minutes later, lol. Chadwick was pretty disappointing from the moment he came on so got a thumbs down from me. Roza had a disappointing performance in terms of shots on goal but made some really nice passes for potential goal setups.
all in all i think it was a pretty good match =]
I bet you are quaking in fear with the performances Watts has been putting in for NZ lately :).
Yes, no doubt he will be overcome by the true Watts however.
Who takes PK/FK too?
Edit: i propose the goalies :D
(edited)
Who takes PK/FK too?
Edit: i propose the goalies :D
(edited)
The tactic was ok. Feel pretty fortunate not to concede - Moldova had some good opportunities.
There was one position on the field where I didn't have the strikers & winger positioned well for depth - and it caught the squad a number of times. I don't mind a few off-sides on strikers, but it's quite wasteful for wingers.
Hird played well. I thought the defensive striker might be effective - especially if Moldova built a "wall" near their goal-line. Wish he would have seen a little more of the ball.
Matthews looked very sharp again this week. The Matthews-Hird combination was deadly. :) Atkinson looked dangerous, but his crossing seemed to be just a hair off. Herbert delivered a couple of beauties during his minutes.
The back-line was fairly solid defensively, but I felt their passing and decision making could have been better. A number of balls kicked out or to noone in particular (Harris the main culprit).
Gilbert was good up front. Roza ... not so much. I seem him as more useful in winger formations, as I think it plays more to his strengths (and hides his weakness), but he didn't look particularly strong today.
There was one position on the field where I didn't have the strikers & winger positioned well for depth - and it caught the squad a number of times. I don't mind a few off-sides on strikers, but it's quite wasteful for wingers.
Hird played well. I thought the defensive striker might be effective - especially if Moldova built a "wall" near their goal-line. Wish he would have seen a little more of the ball.
Matthews looked very sharp again this week. The Matthews-Hird combination was deadly. :) Atkinson looked dangerous, but his crossing seemed to be just a hair off. Herbert delivered a couple of beauties during his minutes.
The back-line was fairly solid defensively, but I felt their passing and decision making could have been better. A number of balls kicked out or to noone in particular (Harris the main culprit).
Gilbert was good up front. Roza ... not so much. I seem him as more useful in winger formations, as I think it plays more to his strengths (and hides his weakness), but he didn't look particularly strong today.
Congrats :P ,New Zealand was too good :-" ,maybe in future..when NZ old players will die ,we play another matches ;)) ,today Moldova plays with young players..17-18 yo... :) .Good luck in next season ;),
NZ isn't doing too badly for player age. The squad now could easily go 3 world cups.
Very nicely done. That should give you a #3 basket spot if I'm correct, as Colombia lost. At the moment we're holding the other spot but that will change I think when Brasil play.
What I liked about the game was how quickly you converted defense into attack, and the amount of free space you had in the centre of the field. They'd constantly clear only to have the ball fired back at them.
Congratulations on a successful campaign and all the best for the world cup ahead.
(edited)
What I liked about the game was how quickly you converted defense into attack, and the amount of free space you had in the centre of the field. They'd constantly clear only to have the ball fired back at them.
Congratulations on a successful campaign and all the best for the world cup ahead.
(edited)
I most like the freedom the strikers/midfielders had in the top third of the field as they were freely passing the ball around, almost experimentally!
well yeah, that was rather impressive. Was certainly a dominant display.
Just noticed the "very good" passing rating today. New record I think. Well done lads!