Subject: [NT] Friendlies

I also believe the lower-middle teams are going to encounter more snore wars as player skills are so much more important.

ReallyÉ My impression was that these tweaks de-emphasis skills to a degree in favour of positioning. Previously, defenders and DMs would throw the ball at an uber-winger or striker even if the marking was pretty good. Now that winger or striker needs to be somewhat free, otherwise the ball will be passed back or sideways. Skills won`t come into play unless the positioning is good.

All set for Belarus. Should be an interesting match against a team close in the rankings.

Not sure what tweaks to the tweaks there will be this week. Tactic is something of an old favourite. :)

The lads played well against Belarus. :)

They played the same tactic they had the past few weeks with 4 at the back and an aggressive winger. I had decided not to mark the winger too closely (sacrificing a defender in favour of a second striker), and was happy the winger didn't completely destroy Watts on that side.

Both strikers finished fairly well (2 for 4). Taylor made stops when called upon. The midfield was ok. Sansom wasn't as sharp as he has been in recent weeks. Richards couldn't tackle and was almost invisible. Irvine looked like his normal PM-impaired self during his minutes.

Significant changes to the ME from last week. Very little build-up play. Looked a lot like the previous ME. Gilbert made a couple weird dribbles ... 24th & 83rd? ... where there was no one between him and goal and he still drifted towards the corner flag.

Underway against Russia.

They had hoped to set some ground rules, but I've been pretty busy with the holidays the past couple of days, so it didn't happen. As I understand it, both are using their A-squads.

541 from New Zealand. Russia has been pretty consistent with their use of a 4222.

An interesting match. Russia changed their tactic for the first time in a month - caught me by surprise. They deserved to be on the scoreboard, and had a very good run of play in the opening 15-20 minutes of the game. As time wore on, New Zealand did assert itself. Gilbert made some nice runs, but aside from the penalty was only able to finish a header. Sansom again sparked the attack. Not much to say elsewhere ... a workmanlike effort back to front.

Seemed to be a little more build up passing again this week. Not sure though ... can't really tell from one match.

Also appeared that way in the Australia game along with a lot more passing into space behind the defense, although with no official word it's hard to say exactly what went in and what didn't.
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Yeah, I'd agree with that (more lobs over the defense). More obvious in Canada's game (to me). Didn't see many chances from it though ... as is, you'll need pacey striker to make anything of them.

What was the deal with Australia's match? Your main squad vs. Colombia's U21s? Wires crossed, or did they think you needed the handicap? :)

Was scheduled as a 1st XI v 1st XI. I can't be held responsible for them going with U21's :p. In saying that though we had 24 shots to 4, they had 1 shot inside the penalty box and they scored from it, we had probably a good 15-16 quality chances we butchered or hit the post. Took until the 120th minute to win it after being the dominant team right throughout.

Edit: Getting all the rustyness out of the way before week 0 ;).

One of those days where you just keep hitting the wall with your head and the opposition goalkeeper has a brilliant day out. We should have won by 5 or 6. Still ranking point gain is ranking point gain ;).
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Sooo .... they thought you needed the handicap. Understandable. :D

Hehe, despite us being 2 & 0 before tonight :p. Probably just wanted an excuse in case we beat them again so played their U21 side ;).

All set for Ireland. Always an interesting match. :) Watts sits out with suspension, but otherwise the roster is in pretty good shape.

good luck :). See if you can make it a double for the Australia & Oceania region for the season against Ireland.

I think because we've fairly even squads this game will come down to Curley Vs Gilbert.

Pretty frustrating game to watch for both sides, as there were a lot of missed quality chances. In the end a draw is probably the right result. Disappointing, as many of the New Zealand players played rather poorly IMO.

Ireland repeated last week's tactic, which wasn't what I expected. Their wide striker positioning was a good choice against the defense I employed, and resulted in more 1 on 1s then probably should have been surrendered.

They won the territorial battle, which is bad when aggressive positioning is used. Not sure how much of this was the red card - the game really tilted after that. Don't know what happened to my coverage ... Perry was supposed to replace any of the 5 in the back if they were sent off.

The defense was the most frustrating part, and nothing new. Couldn't do anything productive with the ball. Either kicked it blindly upfield, or butchered an easy pass. Not all skill - Kelly joined in the mediocrity, and he has pretty good passing & PM. Just a poor day.

Also a poor day from Sansom-Root. There was always a seam to the striker on his side, and there were no through balls played. Neither could beat the defender with a dribble. Root's brutal corner attempt in the 89th was typcial. :/

Stapleton was the game's standout for me. He was tackling some pretty good technical players, and breaking tackles from pretty good tacklers. Very impressive.

It is the annual dust-up with Australia this weekend. Scalpers are already getting primed - tickets might be hard to come by. :)

Final revisions are done for the Australia match.

Team form is breath-taking (in a good way) right now. I don't think it's ever been better. Morcombe is the only one of the best 11 that is a little off. Even A Richards, who was at the tragic end of the spectrum for 5-6 seasons has made it to divine form over the past month. Awesome. Good news for this weekend, and hopefully for qualifications next season.

Edwards is suspended, but Watts is back from suspension. Otherwise, no notable roster ... notes.