What I would do to have Chris Wood leading the line for the socceroos.

Our CD and attack is decent (Reid, Smith, Wood, Thomas, Rojas etc.) but our FBs and central midfield a bit weaker - just Themi the only midfielder playing consistently at a decent level.

In Reid (captain of West Ham) and Wood (top scorer in Championship/England) we have players playing at a higher level than most Socceroos; but there is a much larger gap between our best players and our worst.

I think the Ingham brothers know they likely aren't good enough to make the Socceroos now or in the future, so why not?

For a 17 year old NZ makes a lot of sense, NZ usually qualifies for all the FIFA age group tournaments including the Olympics, at senior level NZ is virtually guaranteed a spot at the Confederations Cup and in the future (when Dane is hitting his prime) an expanded world cup.

I really don't see how our domestic league comes into it, but you're actually disproving the point you're trying to make. The NZ domestic league is semi-pro (at best) and weak, however because of our minnow confederation our teams get access to things like the club world cup, and other cups against highly rated and professional opposition. I'm surprised young Australians who can't get a crack at the A-League don't come over and try their luck at the SS Premiership rather than the state leagues, the exposure is much higher and teams like Auckland City are among the most decorated teams in the world.

To quick to judge how much a loss of it is but i atm im not worried

Why would he pick nz over Aus? Its not so much pf the lack of players of our youth national team getting capped by the socceroos that makes the difference as Ange does give people opportunities if they do well in their club
Literally nz are not recognized in the world of football , they are not as big as Australia, football there is much smaller and there league is bad. Their best Club plays in the A-league in which welligton pheonix are on of the most insuccssful clubs in the A-league, they play in the ofc against unknown and unheard of nations who dont even have a full 11 who play professionally. And not to mention nz dont playing in the wc reguarly

Our current squad would put the dick into the Socceroo's tbh. Australia is defiantly going to the playoffs no way there coming 2nd in there group - cant even beat Thailand.  

First I think the article does have relevance.  This time it's the All Whites you're loosing a promising young footballer to.  In the past it's been the likes of a Turkey, Greecc, Crotia even an Italy.  The FFA needs to look after players on the pherliphal of Australian selection; even if it is further down the road.  Welcome aboard Dane I don't think you're regret your decision as we're putting together a squad of some very useful young players.

I think traitor is a bit harsh. Perhaps fortunate is a better word.

They didn't choose between NZ and Aus, they chose between NZ and Samoa.

I'm sure every player wants to play internationals. I would encourage my child to play for the other eligible nations if Australia isn't possible but the others are.

Biggest panic over nothing. 

Traitor.

Easy decision for Jai Ingham to choose New Zealand over Australia


Melbourne Victory winger Jai Ingham and his younger brother Jai have been selected for the All Whites.

It only took a few conversations with All Whites coach Anthony Hudson to convince Jai Ingham to play for New Zealand.
http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/90629395/easy-decision-for-jai-ingham-to-choose-new-zealand-over-australia


Lol

JI: Can I play for you?
Ange: No

Anthony Hudson: Do you want to play for us?
JI: Yes

Pretty easy decision

difference is that Wood has scored nearly 30 goals this season... don't think with any of our O/s based Aussies combined could come close to that...

Chris Wood has apparently been the most prolific striker in all of Europe this year, he's on about one goal a game and is rapidly closing in on the all time Championship record. It's not like he's just anyone in the Championship, right at this moment he's the best player in the Championship.

There are quite a few reasons to pick NZ, especially as a 17 year old. We go to all the age group tournaments that Australia can't qualify for, and in the future will have a direct qualification into the world cup. We also have a thin squad and our players have much longer careers playing for the national team.

However, we're all as baffled as everyone else is as to why they're in the world cup squad. Our manager has always made bizarre decisions and there are a large number of professional players who have always bled for the white shirt who just can't get a look in when domestic players who can't even make SS Premiership teams regularly do. Take Alex Rufer who doesn't even get game time for the Phoenix reserve team but is in the AW squad as a case in point.

NZL can offer him a cap right NOW we can POTENTIALLY offer him one in the FUTURE. Of course after competing with a much denser and more higher quality talent pool.

Easy to see why he would of picked NZL

This ffs.

-PB

The situation can be read both ways really...

1. We have plenty in the pipeline and kids are taking other countries as an option

2. Australia is so dire that kids aren't picking us...

The youth system will continue to fail while the A-League recycles has beens rather than bringing through youth.

About the sum of it. Kid probably wants to play with his brother (and potentially as a significant player rather than a fringe one). Don't see the issue.

Wow what an overreaction. Sure if he was a 17 year old kid playing at Barcelona regularly and we hadnt contemplated him sure but this is just ridiculous

The article is full of shit, But we wont say no to more Aussies turning up as Kiwis.

Didn't his older brother get picked as well? As far as I can see, both were very very very unlikely to be picked for Australia and 0% they would play together in the national team. So why not go for it with New Zealand? Jai might even get a gig with the Nux for it too as he won't last long at Victory. 

How the hell does choosing NZ over us affect our youth system? Pointless article.

Australia should not be held to ransom to have players play for them. The players should want to play for Australia. If he chooses NZ at 17, and play in a minnow confed for his career, then good luck to him. It actually shows how weak NZ are as a football nation they pluck a 17 year old from the a-league

Also, the article mentions Chris Wood and Winston Reid as doing better than any Australian player currently. I will concede Winston Reid is at the highest consistently level of both nations, but Chris Wood is playing in the Championship like most of our players and has only played 10 games in the EPL. For perspective, Langerak has played 21 times in the Bundesliga (which in his position is a lot harder to do), Brad Smith has also played 10 games in the EPL, not to mention Jedi's EPL apps.

He either has a really low opinion of himself or the article is correct.
If he thought he was going to play at the highest level in Europe, why would he ever play for NZ?

In the case that he thinks he is good enough, well it is a very bad sign for us.
The fact that Gombau et al tried to convince him says he has at least some potential so that for me is a big worry that anyone with potential is rejecting to play for Australia.

Especially to a backwater team like NZ that will never amount to anything of consequence

His career, his call.

To be honest, the attitude it represents (at least according to the article) probably is one that you don't want in the national team - it seems a pretty mercenary kind of attitude. To change countries at 17 just because you can't get into the national team and want an escalator to bigger things says a lot to me about where his concerns really lay. As I said, it's his career and so good luck to him. But it's an attitude I won't be too sad to see gone.

On another note, the final paragraph or two of this article is a non sequitur. I agree with the need for more youth pathways, particularly through a national second division - but him choosing to play for NZ has nothing to do with club pathways and everything to do with the minimal competition in the NZ squad. Hell, the very reason he gets a look in with NZ is because he actually is playing in the A-League (albeit just starting). The narrative being portrayed here would only apply in this case if he had left the A-League because he couldn't get a game, signed with a non-ALeague NZ team and then got called up and was a star. (This narrative would definitely apply to other kids who leave Australia to go overseas, and so we do need more pathways and chances for players to prove themself at a young age - but let's not use this case as an example).

@ Awer Scott

I recon it could. Less of a risk once your established but getting established in Roars first team is hard enough without being dragged off with NZ

Stupid article. What does this have to do with the current failings in our youth system. If we were producing better players we wouldn't even be talking about the kid.

Goodluck to him.But personally I want to see Australian Youth players in Roar's first team not kiwis.So I hope he goes to WP and frees up a spot for Aussie youth.

@Waz

Is there a risk it could effect him negatively because he will leave your squad every time there are internationals because A-League doesn't acknowledge them?