[/quote] Doubt it will be Ruidiaz if I'm honest. Farfan is a Peruvian football legend, and has been in cracking form with Lokomotiv in Russia recently. Now I know the average ability of the Peruvian squad is immeasurably better than the All Whites squad, however i feel it's important to not underestimate the quality of our best players. We have a first team premier league striker, they do not. We have a premier league team's vice-captain centre back, they do not. We have two Eredivisie wingers, they do not (Thomas is the star player of Zwolle too). Now I'm not for a second saying we have a better team, not by a long shot - but the fact is it's not completely impossible to get a result on Saturday, our absolute star players are arguably better than theirs (the problem is the rest of their squad is far better than the rest of ours). Looking at their squad without Guerrero, it the goal-scoring expectations will fall to Farfan/Ruidiaz, Cueva, Carillo and Flores. The rest of the squad is mostly Peruvian league players - and while the Mexican team from four years ago was also mainly made of domestic league players, the Mexican league is miles better than the Peruvian league. We're still massive underdogs, but maybe, just maybe the football gods will be looking down on us and feel like making Piney go mental in the commentary box. Get hyped folks #COYAW
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I have been having similar feelings, I tend to shut them down quickly but they keep bubbling up to the surface
Totally agree that we have good enough players to cause an upset at the Cake tin. Half our outfield players are starters in OK level European first Div sides. If you throw in Smith from the Championship and then the three who are regular starters at MLS level then we have plenty of talent. Certainly enough to give Peru a good match.
However for me this match will come down to a battle of the two coaches.....and I am afraid that this is where we will fall down.. I have little faith in Hudsons ability to formulate the appropriate tactics and analysis to win us this game. He was quoted as saying he did not enjoy one minute of the Conf cup. The reality is that he has been found out at this level. We are still waiting to see what Hudson football looks like,after three and a half years. Will we park the bus, will we long ball it, will we press high and try and win the ball in their half or concede possession and defend in numbers.....who knows..because we have seen Hudsons team try and fail in all these tactics.
The Peruvian coach Ricardo Gareca is a a very experianced and smart coach. He has been coaching since 1996 and has won 1 Peru league and 3 Argentinian titles. Peru play a very good team game. They appear to be mentally stronger than many St American teams. They will have a strong game plan to beat NZ. Their lack of stars is not a reason to under rate them.
I will be at the Cake Tin on Saturday giving 100% support for the team....miracles do happen in football. Maybe, just maybe Hudson might get the tactics right and all the players might play the match of their lives. Maybe Peru have will have an off day. Your head says...Peru....unbeaten in 2017 ranked top ten in the world.....NZ, lost every game against non PI games 2017......should be a non contest. But your heart says something else is possible.
Go you AW's