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Subject: [NT] Friendlies
Bodger already evened things up against Howarth.. hehehehehe =D
Howarth will get his revenge at some point.
We all know what Watts thinks of Bodger aswell :P.
We all know what Watts thinks of Bodger aswell :P.
Line-up is set for the England friendly. Managers of participating players have been notified.
Seems a little odd from the New Zealand perspective, but some in England consider themselves a small Sokker nation. I suppose they are compared to the likes of Brasil or Spain. But they are well above the "critical mass" number that seems to be needed to sustain a flow of quality youths (I put this around 200 users), and their squad is well stocked and quite strong throughout.
Pundits sometimes point to their strikers as a weakness, and it's true they don't have a Kueinskas, Malec, or Hird. But I've got respect for Fleming, and admire some of their youngsters like Cope. It may not be the strongest part of their team, but their strike corps isn't weak.
Hoping for a decent match. :)
Seems a little odd from the New Zealand perspective, but some in England consider themselves a small Sokker nation. I suppose they are compared to the likes of Brasil or Spain. But they are well above the "critical mass" number that seems to be needed to sustain a flow of quality youths (I put this around 200 users), and their squad is well stocked and quite strong throughout.
Pundits sometimes point to their strikers as a weakness, and it's true they don't have a Kueinskas, Malec, or Hird. But I've got respect for Fleming, and admire some of their youngsters like Cope. It may not be the strongest part of their team, but their strike corps isn't weak.
Hoping for a decent match. :)
Underway. Fairly standard 4-3-3 in this one. Outside strikers are a little wider then usual - if England sticks with the 3-5-2 they’ve used recently I think this will pay dividends. If they revert to a 4-4-2 I’ll probably wish those strikers were a little narrower.
Bodger takes penalties, Hird freebies. Root & Sansom replace Atkinson & Matthews ~60. Morcombe takes Gilbert ~75. Only the two center backs are covered in case of red card. I have slots available to cover the other 2, but feel the central midfield role takes priority over the flanks.
England often uses width in their attack - will be interesting to see how well the New Zealand defense copes.
Bodger takes penalties, Hird freebies. Root & Sansom replace Atkinson & Matthews ~60. Morcombe takes Gilbert ~75. Only the two center backs are covered in case of red card. I have slots available to cover the other 2, but feel the central midfield role takes priority over the flanks.
England often uses width in their attack - will be interesting to see how well the New Zealand defense copes.
the england goal was also similar :P
they marlet just ran past your whole defence :O
they marlet just ran past your whole defence :O
Gilbert had a pretty exciting two minutes. :) The team went two whole games without a straight red card. :P Sheesh.
Defense did not play well. Had alot of trouble keeping the ball in play (sure could use some PM back there). Balls that were kept in play were usually recovered by the quicker England midfielders.
Tactically in places Bodger should have been further upfield - he would have had an easier time beating his man. I was disappointed with the throw-ins as well. A couple were poor, and the ones that were open were wasted. May have to try something different there.
Thought Kelly and Bodger were good. Hird had a tough assignment, and did ok. None of the offensive midfielders really saw enough of the ball to be evaluated.
Defense did not play well. Had alot of trouble keeping the ball in play (sure could use some PM back there). Balls that were kept in play were usually recovered by the quicker England midfielders.
Tactically in places Bodger should have been further upfield - he would have had an easier time beating his man. I was disappointed with the throw-ins as well. A couple were poor, and the ones that were open were wasted. May have to try something different there.
Thought Kelly and Bodger were good. Hird had a tough assignment, and did ok. None of the offensive midfielders really saw enough of the ball to be evaluated.
One more week to the Copa America. No planned opponent - sent out invitations to all available NTs that aren't:
- in the Copa
- desparately weak
So we'll see who's up for it. :)
- in the Copa
- desparately weak
So we'll see who's up for it. :)
Heehee. I accidentally challenged one Copa team. I thought about retracting, but left it. And they were the first to accept. :)
New Zealand vs. Uruguay this coming weekend.
New Zealand vs. Uruguay this coming weekend.
So Uruguay this weekend. Tho they are in the Copa America, I think there is very little chance of meeting them.
Uruguay is a team that is far better then their Sokker Ranking suggests. They were recently the runner-up in the Mini World Cup (un unofficial tournament for teams that didn't qualify for the actual WC) which included some pretty good teams (Ireland, Hungary, Turkey ...). So they are not to be taken lightly. That said, I am trying to inject some youth into the game.
Probable Line-Up
Jerry Anthopoulos
Gordon Atkinson (Darren Herbert 60)
Johnny Bodger
Gary Edwards
Matt Gilbert
Matt Hawkey (Rob Morcombe 60)
Mark Kelly
Corey Matthews
John Root (Sam Sansom 60)
Kaz Taylor
David Watts
Bench
John Kilkenny
Alan Welford
Uruguay is a team that is far better then their Sokker Ranking suggests. They were recently the runner-up in the Mini World Cup (un unofficial tournament for teams that didn't qualify for the actual WC) which included some pretty good teams (Ireland, Hungary, Turkey ...). So they are not to be taken lightly. That said, I am trying to inject some youth into the game.
Probable Line-Up
Jerry Anthopoulos
Gordon Atkinson (Darren Herbert 60)
Johnny Bodger
Gary Edwards
Matt Gilbert
Matt Hawkey (Rob Morcombe 60)
Mark Kelly
Corey Matthews
John Root (Sam Sansom 60)
Kaz Taylor
David Watts
Bench
John Kilkenny
Alan Welford
Here we go. :)
4-3-3 or 4-4-2 depending on how you classify the winger. Uruguay tends to do a good job stuffing up the middle, so attempting to spring’em with some wide play.
Hopefully not easing up too much. Tho I believe both the fullbacks in this match will be good, I haven’t developed a lot of faith in either yet. Uruguay often plays a pretty wide front, so it’s likely they’ll be tested.
Hawkey-Morcombe should register a few off-sides - placed pretty aggressively. Bodger a little more conservative, and often with a bit of width. Bodger takes penalties. Root will look after freekicks while he’s in the match.
Using all 3 subs at 60. This is foolish, and wouldn’t be done in a competition match. Trying to give a number of players a decent run.
4-3-3 or 4-4-2 depending on how you classify the winger. Uruguay tends to do a good job stuffing up the middle, so attempting to spring’em with some wide play.
Hopefully not easing up too much. Tho I believe both the fullbacks in this match will be good, I haven’t developed a lot of faith in either yet. Uruguay often plays a pretty wide front, so it’s likely they’ll be tested.
Hawkey-Morcombe should register a few off-sides - placed pretty aggressively. Bodger a little more conservative, and often with a bit of width. Bodger takes penalties. Root will look after freekicks while he’s in the match.
Using all 3 subs at 60. This is foolish, and wouldn’t be done in a competition match. Trying to give a number of players a decent run.
Satisfactory result I guess. Thought the team really controlled the first half, tho were down after it. :P Wilted a little in the second half.
3 for 15 with excellent shooting is a little dissappointing. Hawkey's 0 for 9 didn't exactly thrill the manager.
Was very impressed with Root - provided some spectacular service. Anthopolous also stood out IMO.
Tried to do more square throws in this one. The line throws haven't been working very well lately. Players tend to return the ball to the thrower (which is fine) but that short back pass near the line seems to be incredibly difficult to make. Was happy with the square throws.
Much less panic from the defense. Gilbert was the only one intentionally hoofing it out. Makes such a difference to territory and possession if the defense can make a decent outlet.
Copa America starts next week.
3 for 15 with excellent shooting is a little dissappointing. Hawkey's 0 for 9 didn't exactly thrill the manager.
Was very impressed with Root - provided some spectacular service. Anthopolous also stood out IMO.
Tried to do more square throws in this one. The line throws haven't been working very well lately. Players tend to return the ball to the thrower (which is fine) but that short back pass near the line seems to be incredibly difficult to make. Was happy with the square throws.
Much less panic from the defense. Gilbert was the only one intentionally hoofing it out. Makes such a difference to territory and possession if the defense can make a decent outlet.
Copa America starts next week.
disappointing*
yeah i'm pretty happy about how that was played. Pretty much controlling them most of the game and when we were 1-0 down for a lot of the first half it was quite shocking. Thought Bodger had a great game, providing some goals when necessary and some slick passes almost setting up some others. A little disappointing about Hawkey indeed cause he had a load of chances, but a few of them were outrageous long shot ones.
when the defenders got to the ball they did pretty well, but i'm always concerned when there are defense breaches, Taylor did a good job in goal though.
Nice job Seca
yeah i'm pretty happy about how that was played. Pretty much controlling them most of the game and when we were 1-0 down for a lot of the first half it was quite shocking. Thought Bodger had a great game, providing some goals when necessary and some slick passes almost setting up some others. A little disappointing about Hawkey indeed cause he had a load of chances, but a few of them were outrageous long shot ones.
when the defenders got to the ball they did pretty well, but i'm always concerned when there are defense breaches, Taylor did a good job in goal though.
Nice job Seca
I hadn't intended for the central striker to get such preferential service. The Uruguayan manager crossed me up with his defense. I was expecting:
.............X............
.......X..X..X..X......
So the forwards were placed:
..C.........X..B...B...
.......X..XAX..X......
(Bodger sliding between the two Bs). I thought it would be next to impossible to get the ball through to Hawkey directly, and expected much more of the play to go through Bodger.
Hawkey did have some long strikes (without an offensive midfielder, he was drawn out of position numerous times). They were pretty speculative, tho I'm happy he took them. He did miss a couple of sitters tho (one feed from Bodger was notable). A little out of character for him - he has a pretty good scoring record for the National team.
Couple other quick notes from the match:
- was Bodger's 75th cap. Quite an accomplishment. Given his age he should make 100 caps, which would be a real achievement.
- was Taylor's first full game 86. A tremendous mark. If he lands with a decent pace trainer when he's sold, he will become an absolute elite Sokker keeper.
.............X............
.......X..X..X..X......
So the forwards were placed:
..C.........X..B...B...
.......X..XAX..X......
(Bodger sliding between the two Bs). I thought it would be next to impossible to get the ball through to Hawkey directly, and expected much more of the play to go through Bodger.
Hawkey did have some long strikes (without an offensive midfielder, he was drawn out of position numerous times). They were pretty speculative, tho I'm happy he took them. He did miss a couple of sitters tho (one feed from Bodger was notable). A little out of character for him - he has a pretty good scoring record for the National team.
Couple other quick notes from the match:
- was Bodger's 75th cap. Quite an accomplishment. Given his age he should make 100 caps, which would be a real achievement.
- was Taylor's first full game 86. A tremendous mark. If he lands with a decent pace trainer when he's sold, he will become an absolute elite Sokker keeper.
Tactic is set for Turkey. Managers of participating players will be msg'd shortly. As mentioned in the update thread, this match could have significant bearing on WC seeding.
Turkey is way under-ranked at #45. They defeated Scotland and drew the US in the last round of qualifying. New Zealand the favourite for sure, but it won't be a typical #27 vs. #45 match - I expect it to be interesting.
PS - Some may recall I have a horrible record as NT manager during the election period. It's as if the players are out to get me, and intentionally play badly. I'm hoping that trend is reversed this election period. :)
Turkey is way under-ranked at #45. They defeated Scotland and drew the US in the last round of qualifying. New Zealand the favourite for sure, but it won't be a typical #27 vs. #45 match - I expect it to be interesting.
PS - Some may recall I have a horrible record as NT manager during the election period. It's as if the players are out to get me, and intentionally play badly. I'm hoping that trend is reversed this election period. :)
lol, it was just your warming up back then *wink wink* :D