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Subject: [NT] Friendlies
Heehee. You sure have good NT coverage. :P Doesn't look like he's too likely to play.
Underway against Denmark. :)
I really have no idea how things will go. Something of an experiment. Bit of a departure from the normal counter-attacking approach. This formation is intended to generate a little more possession. Lots of support for the two offensive middies, and hopefully quick recovery by the defensive midfield - semi wingbacks. I feel the midfield improved a great deal last season, and showed some nice fluidity against some weaker opponents. Curious to see how well the team can control the ball against a strong opponent. Would be nice to take some pressure off the defense.
Not sure what to expect from Monty. Hoping for something resembling the 4-4-2 he used Sunday. If he plays wingers and gets them in the right place, it could a problem, as the primary wing defense in this tactic is preventative - occupying the passing lanes.
Dabner takes Dawkins ~55. Gilbert takes Atkinson ~60 and switches places with Hird. Chadwick on the last 10 for Bodger. Atkinson takes freebies, Bodger takes penalties. The red card protection for the back 3 disappears with Dawkins (I would do that differently if this were a crucial match).
Richards, with his horrendous form, is my primary concern. Second on the list would be Old Man Chadwick, who will play a somewhat different role then usual filling in for the suspended Kelly.
I really have no idea how things will go. Something of an experiment. Bit of a departure from the normal counter-attacking approach. This formation is intended to generate a little more possession. Lots of support for the two offensive middies, and hopefully quick recovery by the defensive midfield - semi wingbacks. I feel the midfield improved a great deal last season, and showed some nice fluidity against some weaker opponents. Curious to see how well the team can control the ball against a strong opponent. Would be nice to take some pressure off the defense.
Not sure what to expect from Monty. Hoping for something resembling the 4-4-2 he used Sunday. If he plays wingers and gets them in the right place, it could a problem, as the primary wing defense in this tactic is preventative - occupying the passing lanes.
Dabner takes Dawkins ~55. Gilbert takes Atkinson ~60 and switches places with Hird. Chadwick on the last 10 for Bodger. Atkinson takes freebies, Bodger takes penalties. The red card protection for the back 3 disappears with Dawkins (I would do that differently if this were a crucial match).
Richards, with his horrendous form, is my primary concern. Second on the list would be Old Man Chadwick, who will play a somewhat different role then usual filling in for the suspended Kelly.
Think Bodger hit the post 4 times on that PK play. :P But he certainly made up for it with a nice goal in the second half.
Didn't quite get the 4-4-2 from them, but was pleased with the tactic nonetheless. Squad did a good job maintaining possession, and there were some stretches with nice ball movement. I was looking to induce some offsides - felt the New Zealand back 3 were well suited to some jumps and pulls - worked out fairly well.
Jason Chadwick held the ball a little too long a couple of times, but otherwise did a really nice job. I was also impressed with Harris, who played better then his form would indicate. Kilkenny scared me on a number of occassions - he made some poor decisions, and seemed to have difficulty marking Bjorn. Tough day at the office.
Otherwise, most everyone had a pretty nice performance. Next week, Belarus.
Didn't quite get the 4-4-2 from them, but was pleased with the tactic nonetheless. Squad did a good job maintaining possession, and there were some stretches with nice ball movement. I was looking to induce some offsides - felt the New Zealand back 3 were well suited to some jumps and pulls - worked out fairly well.
Jason Chadwick held the ball a little too long a couple of times, but otherwise did a really nice job. I was also impressed with Harris, who played better then his form would indicate. Kilkenny scared me on a number of occassions - he made some poor decisions, and seemed to have difficulty marking Bjorn. Tough day at the office.
Otherwise, most everyone had a pretty nice performance. Next week, Belarus.
Yeah he made a meal of that 11 meter penalty lol. Good to see him make up for it with the winning goal :) and a mark of 70
Kas Taylor made a good save one on one and deserved his highest mark ever of 80
Kas Taylor made a good save one on one and deserved his highest mark ever of 80
nice win. Totally crushed them on the shot count. Think you lot should go alright in the cup.
Seca I am so impressed I am having doubts Denmark is playing their first team! The score should have been 4-0 or so.. Outstanding work from an outstanding manager =) NZ has always been a strong country and you prooved that once again ;) Congrats!
A lot has changed since that 27 - 0 drubbing against Poland ;).
yeah this can be noted as one of NZ's significant win =) I'm so proud of my country! :)
all you need now is top class middies and you'll have a very very nice side. You seem to have the defenders and you've always had the strike force.
Still Denmark had a few holes in their tactic which NZ exploited nicely. Was a very good tactic.
Still Denmark had a few holes in their tactic which NZ exploited nicely. Was a very good tactic.
yeah Man NZ's nt coaches have set high standards. Maqoma, Seca ( your humble servant me) The next NT coach will be under a lot of pressure!
Denmark HAD many holes.. I am very very disappointed in them.
Denmark HAD many holes.. I am very very disappointed in them.
It should be remembered this was just a friendly. The win in the last WC against Germany is (by far) still the most significant win by this squad (at least IMO).
It was also their manager's first match. Even if he knew the stats of more then half his players, he certainly doesn't have the familiarity a returning coach does.
Definitely nice to keep the confidence level up heading into a WC tho. :)
It was also their manager's first match. Even if he knew the stats of more then half his players, he certainly doesn't have the familiarity a returning coach does.
Definitely nice to keep the confidence level up heading into a WC tho. :)
first off...
@cometer, it was 26-0 and then 27-1, the first ever goal scored against Poland =D
@NZ team, damn i had to recheck whether Bodger HAD gone up in form, his shooting was horrific.. also noted that Hird and Bodger were a bit hesitant to sheet on the outskirts of the box before the start, so got tackled.
Thought that tactic was brilliant in terms of possession, totally owned them. The defense did a pretty nice job too, keeping those marginal offsides going ;]
I'm pretty amazed at the high quality of coaches NZ manages to have too, except snowy =p i wonder who will go forward next season.. (Seca said he wasn't going to (?) bball is interested in denmark and maq has belgium)
@cometer, it was 26-0 and then 27-1, the first ever goal scored against Poland =D
@NZ team, damn i had to recheck whether Bodger HAD gone up in form, his shooting was horrific.. also noted that Hird and Bodger were a bit hesitant to sheet on the outskirts of the box before the start, so got tackled.
Thought that tactic was brilliant in terms of possession, totally owned them. The defense did a pretty nice job too, keeping those marginal offsides going ;]
I'm pretty amazed at the high quality of coaches NZ manages to have too, except snowy =p i wonder who will go forward next season.. (Seca said he wasn't going to (?) bball is interested in denmark and maq has belgium)