Subject: [NT] Friendlies

The Serbia friendly is now age restricted. They suggested U21, I countered with U21 + 3 overagers (would like one more chance to get a few players out of card trouble) which they accepted.

Overagers will be those key players in the most card trouble - likely Bodger, Kelly and Harris.

Think this will be the line-up for Serbia.

Starters
Jerry Anthopoulos, West Auckland Warriors, 20 yrs, 0 caps
Johnny Bodger, 11 Wise Men, 24 yrs, 62 caps
Dave Chadwick, in Poland, 24 yrs, 39 caps
Jake Dabner, in Poland, 21 yrs, 1 cap
Gary Edwards, in Poland, 21 yrs, 19 caps
Matt Gilbert, in Belgium, 21 yrs, 1 cap
Darren Herbert, Hyperintelligent Shades of Blue, 20 yrs, 1 cap
Mark Kelly, in Brasil, 22 yrs, 27 caps
Alex Richards, in Scotland, 21 yrs, 26 caps
Kaz Taylor, in USA, 19 yrs, 14 caps
David Watts, in England, 21 yrs, 13 caps

Alternates
Steven Eruera, in Belgium, 21 yrs, 0 caps
Stuart Grove, in Brasil, 20 yrs, 0 caps
Rob Morcombe, Fiery Tigers, 20 yrs, 5 caps
John Root, Cashmere, 19 yrs, 3 caps
Sam Sansom, The Invincibles, 20 yrs, 1 cap

Root - 46' for Herbert
Morcombe - 60' for Richards
Sansom - 70' for Dabner

robert won't go?

Choice was between him and Sansom. Robert would likely play better due to Sansom's terrible form. But Sansom is (IMO) the better long-term prospect - so I've got him in for the training benefit.

Having the over-agers (obviously) cut a few of the youngsters (Pollock, Smith) out a cap.

Seems we are experiencing a delay again this week. Bit of a new experience - Canada's matches were towards the end of the schedule, and were almost never delayed.

I've got a 4 hour drive ahead of me today, so I'll hang in for a few more minutes, but then I better get back to bed.

Underway. :)

Hard to know what the squad is up against - Serbia’s manager is rather unpredictable, though the defensive alignment often doesn’t vary much. New Zealand is using a formation that has been successful for my club side this season - we’ll see how it goes. Defense has been spread out more then usual - my guess is that Serbia will use a fairly broad attack.

Bodger takes penalties and freebies. There are a lot of substitutions and movement - only 1 slot left for red cards - covering Anthopoulos (figure the debutante is the most likely to get into trouble).

Nice performance by the crew. Good to see Chadwick back from injury and contributing. Herbert was excellent. Kelly and Watts were other stand-outs IMO. Anthopoulos did not look out of place, and had a solid debut.

Bodger obliged and picked up his 3rd yellow (seemed quite pleased to do so). Means he will miss Japan, but gives him a clean slate for Croatia and Canada, which could be very important.

Good win. Sansom MOTM hands down!

i agree, it was a pretty good result. Herbert did marvellously and Watts showed that he can have good matches too ;) Pretty naff match by Bodger, i think he was pretty much underutilized that far out and his form is not helping his pace.. :/

a pretty good tactic though, the one winger thing seems to do pretty well for us. GJ Seca

Watts always plays well :P.

yeah, he plays well at many aspects, especially in losing-the-ball-to-giving-the-opponent-striker-a-good-chance-on-goal-which-is-not-usually-converted.

:P That is a rather unheralded skill.

It's true that Bodger didn't see much of the ball. He should take it up with Richards. :) The top central midfielder has three options - winger, center forward, right forward. Usually the distribution is more even (I've had games this season where the wider forward has been the most preferred option). But Richards was in love with the wing option in this one.

Watts is used to unheralded skills though ;) i can see him always eyeing up Bodger on the pitch..

It started one eventful day when Bodger came up against Watts in our friendly, Bodger extended his hand out to wish Watts a fair play match.. Watts felt threatened because of his bad childhood memories of maori's extended hands to beat his midget ass. Because of this, he proceeded to kick Bodger repeatedly in the shins while squealing like a little girl and then running away flailing his arms, as if to appear bigger to a potential predator.

Poor Watts, scarred childhood...

Hebert... that guy.. crazy .. what is his skills!!?? :O Those were some mad assists by him.

It was much simpler than that. Bodger was cruising for a bruising - so he got one :P.

i know his skills :P its just the charisma from coming from 11 Wise Men youth academy :D