Nelsen on International Duty - To miss Revs Game

[1982Kiwi]

New Zealand plays Iran in Tehran on October 12th for the Asia-Oceania Challenge Cup.

Has there been any announcement that DC United have agreed to release Nellie for this match - he would almost certainly be first-choice captain?

[Treetaliano]

If not...could you at least make sure that Simon Elliot goes?

And the stays there?

Permanently.

[1982Kiwi]

Elliott is sure to be selected - has Galaxy agreed to release him?

Also in the frame is Duncan Oughton (Crew).

[MasterShake29]

This an international date, so LA or any MLS team shouldn't have a choice.

[1982Kiwi]

Originally posted by MattBurlew
This an international date, so LA or any MLS team shouldn't have a choice.


Agree, in principle - but MLS clubs are bound only to release players for 5 internationals per year, except if the nation has qualified for the finals of a FIFA competition, in which case 5 becomes 8.

As Nellie (and the other MLS Kiwis) have not played 8 internationals in 2003, then if the New Zealand national association insisted, the MLS clubs would have no choice.

But the club/national association relationship has to be nurtured and there is sometimes room for give and take - for example DC released Nellie for international duty for the Confederations Cup well in advance of FIFA's 48 rule; in turn, New Zealand released Nellie from camp back to DC to play against Chicago at RFK on June 7 (apparently, the agreement was that he would play for 45 minutes, but Hudson played him the whole match) and he then played for NZ against USA at Richmond the next day (when he was subbed off, knackered, after 75 minutes).

Given that DC are probably now targetting 2nd place in the Eastern Conference, plus a US Open Cup title, I can understand why they would be reluctant to lose Nellie for a week.

[1982Kiwi]

Nellie will miss the Revolution match scheduled for Oct. 11 - he has been named captain of the NZ national team (aka All Whites - no racial overtones here, just a name based on the colour of their strip, which distinguishes them from the All Blacks, the national Rugby team)

Extract from NZ Soccer media release:

Ryan Nelsen will captain the side but not for the first time. The former NZ Olympic Captain wore the armband against Colombia in the recent Confederations Cup when Chris Zoricich was ruled out with injury. Waitt [NZ national team coach]says Nelsen is poised to lead the All Whites for some time. “Ryan is a natural leader, as evidenced with the Olympic Squad in 2000 and his recent appointment to the role with DC United in the MLS. His stature and playing ability make him the obvious choice to lead this team into a new era.”

[Sachin]

Congrats to Nellie!

[BroonAleMagpie]

Indeed! Good for Ryan. Not so good, alas, for DCU. :(

[imp65]

But we're happy to release him for such an important, prestigious tie as the, erm...Asia-Oceania Challenge Cup. NZ will travel immediately south to play a Penguin Select XI for the Oceania-Antarctica Challenge Bowl, hewn from pure ice.

[mikedett]

I played on Nellie's team in the golf event. He did confirm that he had to go to play for NZ. I was very impressed. Ryan is a very nice, personable man.

[sch2383]

Rongen just said Nellie was called up for naitonal team duty, so he will miss next week's game. F'ing Kiwis.

[Mountainia]

Is Nelson suspended now for the next game anyway?

[doneshufflin]

If I were Hudson I would ask him to stay. Some stupid Oceania Cup is not as important as making the playoffs. It really worries that Nellie won't be there next week b/c of the likes of Twellman. If players like Reyna, Keller, Friedel, etc... aren't wanted to be realeased by some of their European club teams coaches, then MLS coaches should do the same.

[Mountainia]

Originally posted by Mountainia
Is Nelson suspended now for the next game anyway?
No. He's not. He has 11 caution points, but those are his only caution points. 11 caution points only come into play once you have your first 21. After that, it's every 11 caution points.

[TCompton]

Originally posted by Mountainia
No. He's not. He has 11 caution points, but those are his only caution points. 11 caution points only come into play once you have your first 21. After that, it's every 11 caution points.

thanks for clearing that up. i was wondering why prideaux was on the yellow card list with only 11 points.

[1982Kiwi]

Originally posted by sch2383
Rongen just said Nellie was called up for naitonal team duty, so he will miss next week's game...

Nelsen is not impressed with timing of this call-up - here's some quotes from an interview in the New Zealand press on Friday:

"Bad timing is a bit of an understatement - we have got 4 more games left in the regular season and we need to win at least 2 to guarantee a place in the play-offs. And right in the middle of that I have to fly across the world to play a one-off match in Tehran."
"Don't get me wrong, I love playing for New Zealand," said Nelsen, "but I've been working and sweating with these guys for 10 months and I would be gutted if they lost the vital matches and I was not there."
"There is a lot of pressure on the club. DC United is one of the biggest clubs in the country and has won three titles in recent years, so the fans expect success. We missed the play-offs last year and, if we miss out again, heads will roll."

Nelsen has received several invitations to trial with clubs in Germany, Denmark, Scotland and England, including one Premier League side. The defender who still has another year on his contract with DC United, is in no rush to leave the US, where he has lived for the last seven years.
"I have played non-stop since January with DC United and the All Whites [NZ national team], so I need a break. When the season's finished, I will bring my (American) girlfriend back to New Zealand for a couple of months, take my golf clubs along and assess my future."

[ursula]

Originally posted by 1982Kiwi


Nelsen has received several invitations to trial with clubs in Germany, Denmark, Scotland and England, including one Premier League side. The defender who still has another year on his contract with DC United, is in no rush to leave the US, where he has lived for the last seven years.
"I have played non-stop since January with DC United and the All Whites [NZ national team], so I need a break. When the season's finished, I will bring my (American) girlfriend back to New Zealand for a couple of months, take my golf clubs along and assess my future."

A couple of months off? The end of that time would place him in the middle of the Euro transfer window.

[MasterShake29]

Originally posted by sch2383
Rongen just said Nellie was called up for naitonal team duty, so he will miss next week's game. F'ing Kiwis.

Blame MLS for playing on a FIFA international date.