Liam moved to NZ in 2004 when he was just 6 which means that when he first played for SA in 2015 he was also eligible for NZ (assuming he has NZ citizenship?) so now he can switch if he wants.
I seem to recall they had not applied for citizenship as Keryn had become ill with his cancer and that seems to preclude one from gaining citizenship on health expense grounds. I may be wrong but at the time I spoke with him and that was something he mentioned as he planned to return to SA and had a pathway mapped out for Liam in SA to start and then overseas.
Liam moved to NZ in 2004 when he was just 6 which means that when he first played for SA in 2015 he was also eligible for NZ (assuming he has NZ citizenship?) so now he can switch if he wants.
I seem to recall they had not applied for citizenship as Keryn had become ill with his cancer and that seems to preclude one from gaining citizenship on health expense grounds. I may be wrong but at the time I spoke with him and that was something he mentioned as he planned to return to SA and had a pathway mapped out for Liam in SA to start and then overseas.
OK well if that's true and he doesn't have a NZ passport then we can completely forget about him ever playing for NZ then! Shame.
Had a bit of a play on FM21 and created a pretty fun, entirely New Zealand-based national team. Bunch of fun youth prospects interspersed with a few Premiership oldheads. Pretty much everyone in this squad has impressed me so far this season (Mata and Patterson obviously not in the national league). Would happily take these guys to the islands for quals if need be
Has anyone seen Gianni Stensness playing in the first two games for CC Mariners this season? The guy is in top form and a strong reason why the Mariners are currently on the top of the league. He is really worth a watch.
I don't see anyone who is anywhere near his form as a defensive midfielder, not Rufer, not Bell...
Stensness surely must be in for a shot at the All Whites this year.
There was an interview with him over the xmas break where he mentioned he's been a part of the All Whites wider group that Danny Hay is in comms with - he's looked bloody good, so I sure hope he gets a run (should we play a game)
Not sure if this is the right thread but Piney updated his All Whites Power Rankings for 2021. Didn't want to pay for NZ Herald Premium so I dug through the HTML to get the list, here it is for those of you who would rather spend your money elsewhere too.
NZ Football Power Rankings: 1. Chris Wood 2. Ryan Thomas 3. Winston Reid 4. Liberato Cacace 5. Michael Boxall 6. Joe Bell 7. Sarpreet Singh 8. Michael Woud 9. Tim Payne 10. Kosta Barbarouses 11. Callum McCowatt 12. Marco Rojas 13. Stefan Marinovic 14. James McGarry 15. Elijah Just 16. Gianni Stensness 17. Alex Rufer 18. Clayton Lewis 19. Elliott Collier 20. Storm Roux 21. Tommy Smith 22. Bill Tuiloma 23. Oli Sail 24. Noah Billingsley 25. Niko Kirwan 26. Nando Pijnaker 27. Ben Waine 28. Louis Fenton 29. Max Mata 30. Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi 31. Dane Ingham 32. Marko Stamenic 33. Max Crocombe 34. Nikko Boxall 35. Joel Stevens 36. Hamish Watson 37. Logan Rogerson 38. George Stanger 39. Matthew Ridenton 40. Dan Morgan 41. Michael McGlinchey 42. Cam Howieson 43. Andre De Jong 44. Jack-Henry Sinclair 45. Myer Bevan 46. Deklan Wynne 47. James Musa 48. Matt Garbett 49. Callan Elliot 50. Jeremy Brockie
Kirwan & Stamenic too low. Stamenic would be a gun in the Danish 2nd tier where McCowatt and Just are playing.
Also Tzanev should be in there somewhere. He can replace WeeMac who's time is over.
Agree with everything you've said. Stamenic is 15ish spots too low for me, and Kirwan's overseas exploits are criminally underrated by the NZ public.
Also think Watson is too high - should be on the list still, but that's just me.
It's crazy to think that here's a guy who plays in the same league as Mario Balotelli and Kevin Prince Boateng and he gets virtually no recognition from most Kiwi football fans. I think anyone who plays in Serie B should be in an All Whites squad.
Agree. Also it should be said he was retained following his team's promotion to Serie B (doesn't happen to everyone) and after very busy summer and winter transfer market sessions. He's been involved in 20 games so far (1212 minutes vs 1435 from last year). He's had a couple of injuries, likely also co-Vid and isn't a regular starter like he was for Reggina in 18-19 BUT if he look at the level he's playing at, he's only behind Wood, Thomas, Libby and a few others. Serie B is very competitive. It's a long, grueling season and he's showing that he belongs there. If that doesn't warrant an AW call-up I don't know what does.
Little surprised Billy T is ranked so low. Woulda thought he was above Payne as our third choice CB behind Reid and Boxall. Based on the last 2 games Hay might even be thinking Nando is second choice as I think he started all our friendlies didn’t he? Dude needs to be playing more club footy tho.
Hope some of the A League guys can be available in Jan although might be more likely March..
Little surprised Billy T is ranked so low. Woulda thought he was above Payne as our third choice CB behind Reid and Boxall. Based on the last 2 games Hay might even be thinking Nando is second choice as I think he started all our friendlies didn’t he? Dude needs to be playing more club footy tho.
Hope some of the A League guys can be available in Jan although might be more likely March..
I think Billy T is there as third choice CB, Payne is in there as the first choice RB, Pineys first 11 names in these lists is his starting xi
Marinovich Payne M. Boxall Reid Cacace Thomas Bell Singh Kosta Wood Rojas
If that's his 1st XI I think he has Rojas and Kosta too high, Champness surpasses Rojas for mine, Waine must be pushing Kosta for his spot. Waine should be ahead of De Jong got me.
Billy T possibly also related to who has been available or played recently? Also said about Tzanev. Rojas and Kosta definitely still got a lot to offer! Very experienced pros and both can provide good service for Wood.
I've never been a big fan of Kosta but often he's looked really good for the All Whites. Rojas, on the other hand has done well at club level (at least for the Victory, maybe not so much in Europe but it's hard to judge when you don't see the games) but never looked great for the All Whites.
I'm hoping Waine gets some decent game time for the Nix and starts banging them in, would make him a clear choice over DeJong and Kosta (if he's being considered as an out and out striker rather than in a position we already have several players of similar ability).
Fair enough on your judgement of Tavano's ability, don't think he's good enough for the All Whites but worth a shot. Though, he's playing in a CONCACAF Champions League team in a nation with a similar strength to the AWs for a team that's won 11 of the last 15 titles
I'm currently in Guatamela travelling around, and had hoped Tavano may still be in this neck of the woods, to maybe watch him play.
Fair enough on your judgement of Tavano's ability, don't think he's good enough for the All Whites but worth a shot. Though, he's playing in a CONCACAF Champions League team in a nation with a similar strength to the AWs for a team that's won 11 of the last 15 titles
I'm currently in Guatamela travelling around, and had hoped Tavano may still be in this neck of the woods, to maybe watch him play.
Ramon gone, and no sign of Fabrizio according go Transfermarkt
Former Auckland City midfielder Fabrizio Tavano leaves Russian second-tier club FC Akron "due to the events in Ukraine" five days after signing. https://t.co/WFP4k0SCTL
Tzanev should be there ahead of Searle, Gould & Crocombe. We are soon returning to a world where being unvaccinated won't stop you from travelling. Tzanev could yet be the 3rd keeper ahead of Woud. He did travel to UAE for the October window last year, before his no vax status became a problem, so is not like he hasn't been around the AWs setup.
Also Moses Dyer ahead of Bevan, if you are picking one from Canada. Their league starts next weekend.
What is does mean is there are a bit over 50 Kiwi men playing pro football. Only 'amateurs' on that list Howieson & Kalua.
Not sure if the right thread but I had a go at putting together a speculative All Whites of the future starting XI and wow, you can really see the influence that the Phoenix and Ole academies are having on the future of football in NZ. Of the starting XI, only Kelvin Kalua hasn't come through at either the Phoenix or Ole/Wests, although he did play for Eastern Suburbs during their association with Ole so I guess you could call him Ole adjacent. Could also argue that Callan Elliot should be in that spot, in which case every player has been involved with either Ole or the Phoenix at some point in the genesis of their career. Screen Shot 2022-06-19 at 1.00.50 PM.png477.27 KB
While in Qatar and Spain, I spoke with a number of the younger squad/squad's family.
Many of them did their time at Wyners but it's never mentioned here. Rufer still plays a big part in our youth development. Many claimed by Ole started off with Wyton. Grieve's family in particular were very greatful of what Wynton (and Hay) had done for him and other young All Whites.
Not sure if the right thread but I had a go at putting together a speculative All Whites of the future starting XI and wow, you can really see the influence that the Phoenix and Ole academies are having on the future of football in NZ. Of the starting XI, only Kelvin Kalua hasn't come through at either the Phoenix or Ole/Wests, although he did play for Eastern Suburbs during their association with Ole so I guess you could call him Ole adjacent. Could also argue that Callan Elliot should be in that spot, in which case every player has been involved with either Ole or the Phoenix at some point in the genesis of their career. Screen Shot 2022-06-19 at 1.00.50 PM.png477.27 KB
That's almost more a squad for the 2030 WC cycle rather than 2026! You might also need to find a spot for Alex Greive, who is a bit of an outlier, not going to Weenix or Ole. Though as above, mentioned went to Wynrs.
But it's easy to think that the above group will be even stronger in 4 years than they are now. All will be aged 23-27, except Sail (30). So sort of in their peak years, and many will be at bigger clubs than where they are now.
Throw in a few older guys like Wood (34), Marinovic (34), Payne (32), Kirwan (30), Tuiloma (31), Thomas (31), Lewis (29). Maybe even Rojas (34). Then others coming through like Old, Paulsen & Sutton. Some future star we haven't really heard of yet. And you likely have a best ever AWs squad. Is certainly going to be a high quality midfield by NZ standards if all are fit.
Understand 2026 WC of 48 teams will have 16 pools of 3 teams, with top 2 teams going straight into knock out round of 32. Hopefully AWs can be one of those 2 teams - be a big shame to go to a WC with that group for only 2 pool games.
Not sure if the right thread but I had a go at putting together a speculative All Whites of the future starting XI and wow, you can really see the influence that the Phoenix and Ole academies are having on the future of football in NZ. Of the starting XI, only Kelvin Kalua hasn't come through at either the Phoenix or Ole/Wests, although he did play for Eastern Suburbs during their association with Ole so I guess you could call him Ole adjacent. Could also argue that Callan Elliot should be in that spot, in which case every player has been involved with either Ole or the Phoenix at some point in the genesis of their career. Screen Shot 2022-06-19 at 1.00.50 PM.png477.27 KB
That's almost more a squad for the 2030 WC cycle rather than 2026! You might also need to find a spot for Alex Greive, who is a bit of an outlier, not going to Weenix or Ole. Though as above, mentioned went to Wynrs.
But it's easy to think that the above group will be even stronger in 4 years than they are now. All will be aged 23-27, except Sail (30). So sort of in their peak years, and many will be at bigger clubs than where they are now.
Throw in a few older guys like Wood (34), Marinovic (34), Payne (32), Kirwan (30), Tuiloma (31), Thomas (31), Lewis (29). Maybe even Rojas (34). Then others coming through like Old, Paulsen & Sutton. Some future star we haven't really heard of yet. And you likely have a best ever AWs squad. Is certainly going to be a high quality midfield by NZ standards if all are fit.
Understand 2026 WC of 48 teams will have 16 pools of 3 teams, with top 2 teams going straight into knock out round of 32. Hopefully AWs can be one of those 2 teams - be a big shame to go to a WC with that group for only 2 pool games.
Be a big shame to see the WC organised in that farcical way, but I guess we're stuck with it...
image.png127.9 KB Including players who were called up for the WQC's in the last three months (Plus Singh and Thomas), heres what a 2026 side could look like, with ages in brackets. I cut off at 32, with an exception for Chris Wood who will be 34.
Obviously a lot of water to go under the bridge but that looks like a quality side. Looks like we are in need of a new generation of defenders to replace the Reid/Boxall/Smith generation.
image.png127.9 KB Including players who were called up for the WQC's in the last three months (Plus Singh and Thomas), heres what a 2026 side could look like, with ages in brackets. I cut off at 32, with an exception for Chris Wood who will be 34.
Obviously a lot of water to go under the bridge but that looks like a quality side. Looks like we are in need of a new generation of defenders to replace the Reid/Boxall/Smith generation.
Surman definitely looks promising, but other than that I’m not too sure about any young lads coming through, does anyone know of any standouts in the National Leagues? Stensness would’ve been handy but ah well.
Missed Francis de Vries from the above 2026 positional chart. He will only be 31 in 2026, and has played a bit at left CB (he's 1.81m), so in the future could maybe backup Pijnaker as much as Cacace. Might need a bit more beef on that greyhound frame though to play CB regularly.
But in 4 years so much can happen. To me Thomas was the AWs best player against Peru in 2017 (esp the game in Welly), and his future looked very very bright. Got the big move to PSV in 2018. But since then he's been so injury plagued. Unfortunately football being what it is, someone above could easily suffer a similar fate. Hopefully new quality players continue to come through, and the depth grows. U20s in Indonesia WC next year (yes need to qualify first), will give some pointers.