Any whispers about Ben Old or Jesse Randall?
New Zealand U-23s - Quali Whites
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Fingers crossed for Old especially. I guess if he is gonna play, you don't announce it to the Americans.
Stuff article updated to include short video clip of Bazeley saying 'everyone who is here is available..." So sounds like Randall is fit.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350357637/oly-whites-midfielder-ben-old-ruled-out-paris-olympics
True. It was Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez who posted on line some of the Argentine players after their Copa win chanting a racist song. He’s in big trouble with Chelsea. To say things are tender between France and Argentina at the moment would be an understatement. It’s kind of continued from France losing to Argentina in WC final and the after match sledging. Racisme of any kind should not happen. However it’s disappointing to hear the French public booing the Argentine Olympic 7s team, it’s hardly their fault. You can’t tar a whole nation because of the actions of a few dick head footballers. And as we know footballers are not really a bastion of high level morality or intellectualism. The French can’t really take the higher ground on racism. In the recent elections 35% of them voted for a racist far right party.
As an aside, this should be a warning to any players on the dangers of posting stuff on line. Everyone knows there’s stuff that often goes on within a team that is not for public consumption. It’s a kind of code of privacy. However in this modern era players seem quite happy to hit social media without thinking of the consequences. I guess it’s up to management and senior players to monitor this.
As an aside, this should be a warning to any players on the dangers of posting stuff on line. Everyone knows there’s stuff that often goes on within a team that is not for public consumption. It’s a kind of code of privacy. However in this modern era players seem quite happy to hit social media without thinking of the consequences. I guess it’s up to management and senior players to monitor this.
Argentinians?
Racist?
It's more likely than you think.
Racist?
It's more likely than you think.
Fingers crossed for Old especially. I guess if he is gonna play, you don't announce it to the Americans.
Rollo's just confirmed Old won't play.
Bummer
That's OK, the Waine train is gonna get a Hatty. Let's gone QualiWhites!
No surprises re Old, and tbh I think all things being equal he'd have the most valid excuse of any of our top players not to play. It's just annoying that his club haven't been transparent about this at all. It seems likely he was never going to play from the moment he signed.
The fact that he is now based in France though. Surely it wouldn't have been a huge inconvenience if played a few games at the Olympics.
He's more than likely not a starter for his club, so he'll have plenty of time to prove himself off the bench once season gets under.
Huge for the guy not to represent his country at an Olympic games. Would have thought he'd be absolutely gutted.
He's more than likely not a starter for his club, so he'll have plenty of time to prove himself off the bench once season gets under.
Huge for the guy not to represent his country at an Olympic games. Would have thought he'd be absolutely gutted.
Dude’s starting a season in a month at his new top flight club. We don’t know he wasn’t injured. He had a lot of injuries with us that were constantly being monitored. We can’t have it both ways.
It’s not the 3-4 month Nix preseason.
Edit: actually sooner 19th August. 3 weeks.
It’s not the 3-4 month Nix preseason.
Edit: actually sooner 19th August. 3 weeks.
As discussed in relation to the other players missing, I just don't think most New Zealanders appreciate how much of a mickey mouse football tournament the Olympics is seen as being, in light of the multi-billion dollar business of top level professional football. Sure it's cool to play at the Olympics, but it's also pretty cool to sign for a top flight club in a top 5 league. It's quite likely that in two years time Old will be starting for his country at a world cup. That will be the thing he looks back on, not this.
And yes I'm aware of the irony here having described our result against Guinea as one of our highest profile wins in the last 20 years, but I think both of those things can be true.
And yes I'm aware of the irony here having described our result against Guinea as one of our highest profile wins in the last 20 years, but I think both of those things can be true.
For sure Old will be disappointed. But gutted? Not so sure.
He has all the excitment of being in a new country, signed for a club in one of the world's top 5 leagues, getting to grips with a new language & culture. It's likely all pretty exciting, a bit of a daily dream/blur. He won't have time to dwell on missing the Olympics. And yeah playing at a World Cup will heavily mitigate missing out this time.
Bigger blow for Riley Bidois, as yeah could have been his shop window. Bayliss gets his chance. But fingers crossed Randall is fit, preferable he starts.
Though Bazeley may start a bit more defensive in this game. Conchie coming into midfield?? The US will be a level up from Guinea & they sounded a bit unlucky against the French. Hit the post 1-2 times first half. The Americans also need to chase the win after losing against France.
He has all the excitment of being in a new country, signed for a club in one of the world's top 5 leagues, getting to grips with a new language & culture. It's likely all pretty exciting, a bit of a daily dream/blur. He won't have time to dwell on missing the Olympics. And yeah playing at a World Cup will heavily mitigate missing out this time.
Bigger blow for Riley Bidois, as yeah could have been his shop window. Bayliss gets his chance. But fingers crossed Randall is fit, preferable he starts.
Though Bazeley may start a bit more defensive in this game. Conchie coming into midfield?? The US will be a level up from Guinea & they sounded a bit unlucky against the French. Hit the post 1-2 times first half. The Americans also need to chase the win after losing against France.
Our good friend from Canada (who maybe a little embarrassed at the moment) kindly gave us a good rundown on the US squad a few weeks back.
Paredes I'm guessing is their main guy to watch?
Completely different to Guinea who had very young players as their CBs - and likely helped gift us Garbett's goal as they made a mess of it playing out - the US have to 2 older experienced o/a CBs
Paredes I'm guessing is their main guy to watch?
Completely different to Guinea who had very young players as their CBs - and likely helped gift us Garbett's goal as they made a mess of it playing out - the US have to 2 older experienced o/a CBs
Would have been nice for Rollo to have asked about Randall. We could really use him as an attacking option with Old confirmed out for the rest of the tournament.
Stuff article updated to include short video clip of Bazeley saying 'everyone who is here is available..." So sounds like Randall is fit.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350357637/oly-whites-midfielder-ben-old-ruled-out-paris-olympics
Well that's good news. He probably should be starting given the personnel we have at our disposal, ahead of Bayliss.
Bayliss who assisted the winner!
Bayliss, Herdman & Singh are not wingers, we need more attacking width, and despite the fact he got the assist (which was actually only due to a bit of luck as it ricocheted off the defender back to him) he is probably the one you would leave out out of those three. Randall will give us a different dimension.
Huge challenge for the kiwis. The USA will be a significantly bigger challenge than Guinea. The yanks were very good for the first hour against France. I suspect Bazeley will keep it tight and compact. I would take a draw 100%
A zero, zero with Alex and the defence killing it would do it for me
It's hot here!
Now the suns gone behind the stand,it's very pleasant here. Nice temperature.
Fire up 🔥
WillBaker or whoever it was last time, stream hook ups pls. My normal sites have shat the bed
Link please
That was very careless from Garbett.
Not sure if this will work without a US based VPN location (its a US broadcaster):
https://stream.nbcolympics.com/soccer-mens-group-stage-match-18?olypid=12000786
Note - it gives a 30 minute free preview. I just use an "incognito" window and restart browser to restart the 30 minute timer.
https://stream.nbcolympics.com/soccer-mens-group-stage-match-18?olypid=12000786
Note - it gives a 30 minute free preview. I just use an "incognito" window and restart browser to restart the 30 minute timer.
One of the worst starts I’ve seen from us in recent years bar Costa Rica. Wow
indeed, wasn't looking good even before the pen
Jesus fudgeing christ…
Heading back to bed for a couple more hours sleep is looking very appealing right now.
I thought we got lucky defensively verses Guinea, and so far this has been shark defending
I’m gonna go back to sleep. But I hope the team wakes up.
Soooo might get more sleep than expected today...
Bindon should have scored that,
We have our heads in the game now, but USA probably happy to sit back and hope to get us on the counter.