1. Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!

All Whites will benefit from Honiara wakeup call

Discussion in 'Queens Park Rangers' started by kiwiqpr, Sep 11, 2012.

  1. kiwiqpr

    kiwiqpr Barnsie Mod

    Joined:
    May 11, 2011
    Messages:
    117,029
    Likes Received:
    235,399
    All Whites will benefit from Honiara wakeup call


    There has been a hardening of the resolve in the All Whites, no doubt brought about by the slap in the face that was their horror show in Honiara earlier this year.

    The attitude change was noticeable as New Zealand's formerly over-achieving national football team put the finishing touches to preparations for tonight's second World Cup qualifying game in Auckland.

    There was more than a touch of pragmatism about the Kiwis as a Solomon Islands team previously considered nuisance material, at best, was being treated with the respect of Brazil. Suddenly the All Whites are not only on high alert, but the blinkers are very much affixed.

    This was, after all, the only unbeaten team from the last World Cup finals. Champions Spain included.

    But having experienced the giddy high of rubbing shoulders with the very best in the sport, June's unthinkable Oceania Nations Cup defeat to New Caledonia in the Solomon Islands has brought the high-flyers back to earth with a thud.

    Not only did the below-strength All Whites suffer an embarrassing defeat to the Pacific minnows, but they missed out on a lucrative spot at the Confederation Cup finals in the process.

    In a funny sort of way, reckoned skipper and QPR defender Ryan Nelsen, who missed that match, the Honiara hiccup may turn out to be just the wakeup call the side needed as it resets its goals for another World Cup run.

    "Like in any sport or business, you have to learn from your mistakes, and that was a mistake, there's no hiding from that," said Nelsen yesterday after a late-morning kickabout at Albany's Kristin School. "As long as you learn from it, you come out better for it."

    Nelsen also spoke about having to be prepared to win ugly if that was what it took against a Solomons side he called unpredictable, athletic, well organised and dangerous. It's about looking to score goals and play ‘beautiful football' if the game opened up that way, he said. "But if we have to grind out a 1-nil win, so be it."

    There was a similar pragmatism from coach Ricki Herbert, who will bring up his 50th international in charge of the national team tonight. As much as he respects a player like Solomons star Benjamin Totori, he has a firm fix on what his side needs to do.

    "Benji is a good player. I signed him at the (Phoenix) club. Collectively they're a side that will come here pretty confident. They had a good win (2-0) at home against Tahiti (the Oceania Nations champions), but it's really up to us. If we close them down and get as much ball as we anticipate, he won't get as much either."
     
    #1
  2. kiwiqpr

    kiwiqpr Barnsie Mod

    Joined:
    May 11, 2011
    Messages:
    117,029
    Likes Received:
    235,399
    as i know you will all be waiting on tenterhooks(or tenderhooks)
    nz 2 up after 40 mins
     
    #2
  3. Sooperhoop

    Sooperhoop Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2011
    Messages:
    35,758
    Likes Received:
    28,217
    Is it a turkey-shoot then?...:grin:
     
    #3
  4. kiwiqpr

    kiwiqpr Barnsie Mod

    Joined:
    May 11, 2011
    Messages:
    117,029
    Likes Received:
    235,399
    solomons are onto their second keeper so it could turn into one
    if you get a chance have a look at how piss poor the 1st choice keeper was for the second goal
     
    #4
  5. kiwiqpr

    kiwiqpr Barnsie Mod

    Joined:
    May 11, 2011
    Messages:
    117,029
    Likes Received:
    235,399
    spoke too soon sooper 2-1
     
    #5
  6. kiwiqpr

    kiwiqpr Barnsie Mod

    Joined:
    May 11, 2011
    Messages:
    117,029
    Likes Received:
    235,399
    phew 3-1
     
    #6
  7. Sooperhoop

    Sooperhoop Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2011
    Messages:
    35,758
    Likes Received:
    28,217
    Who else is in the group?...
     
    #7
  8. kiwiqpr

    kiwiqpr Barnsie Mod

    Joined:
    May 11, 2011
    Messages:
    117,029
    Likes Received:
    235,399
    Group Matches Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
    New Zealand 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
    Solomon Islands 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
    Tahiti 1 0 0 1 0 2 0
    New Caledonia 1 0 0 1 0 2 0

    DetailsNewsMatches
     
    #8
  9. Sooperhoop

    Sooperhoop Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2011
    Messages:
    35,758
    Likes Received:
    28,217
    F*ck me, do they all wear grass skirts?...<laugh>
     
    #9
  10. kiwiqpr

    kiwiqpr Barnsie Mod

    Joined:
    May 11, 2011
    Messages:
    117,029
    Likes Received:
    235,399

  11. kiwiqpr

    kiwiqpr Barnsie Mod

    Joined:
    May 11, 2011
    Messages:
    117,029
    Likes Received:
    235,399
    yes
     
    #11
  12. kiwiqpr

    kiwiqpr Barnsie Mod

    Joined:
    May 11, 2011
    Messages:
    117,029
    Likes Received:
    235,399
    nelsen off after 73
    just found out he owns a vineyard in nz
    might have to give this wine drinking lark a crack
     
    #12
  13. kiwiqpr

    kiwiqpr Barnsie Mod

    Joined:
    May 11, 2011
    Messages:
    117,029
    Likes Received:
    235,399
  14. kiwiqpr

    kiwiqpr Barnsie Mod

    Joined:
    May 11, 2011
    Messages:
    117,029
    Likes Received:
    235,399
  15. kiwiqpr

    kiwiqpr Barnsie Mod

    Joined:
    May 11, 2011
    Messages:
    117,029
    Likes Received:
    235,399
    final score 6-1
    nelsen had a good run
    nearly scored(again)
    a nice 1st class flight and he should be raring to go saturday
    he reckons he cant wait to come back for the next game(oct)
     
    #15

Share This Page