Southern Football (incl Southern United) (Part 1)

0-0 against U19 doesn't sound good but you know what trial matches are like, its never the same as the real thing. Did any imports play or was it just local lads??

What formation was otago playing? I hope he goes more attacking this year, we seemed to end up very isolated up top last year which dried up the goals.

I suppose Scoullar and gardiner wouldnt have been playing either??

As a side note to that, I went along last week to watch Waitakere vs NRFL all stars and that just finished 3 all with Waitakere behind the whole way with a relatively strong Waitakere team on the pitch. There is just something about the words 'practice match' that causes teams to not perform at their best.

Otago played 3-4-3 , Gardner was there but no Scoullar , Coburn lying deep in midfield , Burgess and dugdale look handy enough but brand was out of his depth , and to fat

I heard it was a 4-3-3                       Little

Come on Keano they were playing 4 at the back - who are you trying to throw off the trail. 

In the 1/2 hour i saw Jackson was definetly playing, he may have come on as a sub but he definetly played and he looked good.

yea i agree Horner for smith fresh back from england hes someplayer!!!Brans got to go get tom, jackson in there..NBot sure where scoular will play any1 got anyt ideas?I dont think hes got the fitness 4 the midfield but could sure cause sum trouble up front,I think otago have got a real chance this year to do well,I hear John Chisom is cuming back is this right?There back for is looking even stronger if so!

Chisholm is off to Auckland in Dec-Jan , He could still play until the transfer window closes in Jan ?? , Back four should be Henderson - Scoullar - Falvey - Horner , Midfield Deeley - Gardner - Coburn - Prattley , Forwards Dugdale - Burgess ,Bench - Smith , Robert ( German ) , Jackson , Sean ( Pom) , Flaws RGK , maybe find somewhere for Chisholm if in the squad ??

There's noway id play scoullar centre back i think horner in and out an out centre back id push scoullar up front and bring pratley back to the left back..I heard chisom was at otago training on saturday but not sure if that was a friendly visit or for other reasons...

I heard he is using his time to train with OU in preparation for some game time at either OU orAC when he moves up there , he would be a great asset in any team he played, should have been in U20 team this year , no one in NZS can see past the bottom of the north island???

O Ok thats a shame but i think Otago has enough depth at centre back this year at survive without him..Yea i agree maybeAuckland will be a good move for him

It is fair enough Chisolm didn't make the U20's considering he is 22 maybe 23. If you are talking about the u23's I don't think he was good enough. I watched him last year and he got big raps from the local press all season however  as I saw it he was just a lumper. I agree with Thetruthnz about Scoullar - he is an attacking player and isn't a defender - that would be a bad move by Otago to play him at CB.

So we have got Horner smith henderson falvey and pratley but on 4 spots in the back 4 how do you think they will line up against Auckland in just 6days time...

Certainly younger and fitter, but not game savvy like the older heads of AU , could be an interesting game defensivly ,

Gona be more interesting with the attacking pro essssss both teams have got - Young, Jordan, Urlovic and Lee up against Otago's Jackson, Brand, Burgess and Schoular

i think Brand might struggle to make the traveling squad from what ive been hearing around town..Otago Player of the year can turn a game in second in saying that tho feedback.I think with Jackson's pace schoulars lack of pace and burgess's skill to hold the ball up i think they could cause auckland some trouble!And with a solid looking back 4 i think Otago could be the surprise package of this years NZFC

Well said Truth - Im picking them to finish fourth and qualify for the O League next year - all it takes is 2 good games from the lads from the South.  I heard that Tony Martin was getting involved with the team - any truth to that thetruthnz?

Im picking 4th aswell O league tho...No so confident.Tony Martin?The only good thing out of Tech this year except for the 3 lads in United and them losing the Chathum Cup Final.So United should go after them with there cheque book open!!!!!

I'm picking 5th but will be competitive in most games. I reckon Back four will be Henderson, Falvey, Horner, Prattley. Up Front  Jackson, Dugdale. Scoullar impact off the bench. Thats assuming no imports have arrived and are up to scratch. Would like to see Midifield Coburn, Deeley, Gardiner, Burgess. But Burgess playing off the front as an attcaking midfiielder. Coburn sitting. Captain will be Coburn, although Falvey or Burgess may get the chance. Coburn probably as he was last year I think.

I reckion thats the basis of not bad starting line up with expeerience in Scoullar and Smith on the bank. Imports copuld really make Otago competitive. Although who would you leave out.

Yeah not a bad squad - reckon they could have a good chance this weekend - from memory it is a happy hunting ground for them. My team on Saturday would be:
                        Little

  Henderson  Horner  Falvey   Prattley
                     
                       Scoullar      

         Deeley                     Coburn 
               
                        Dugdale

   Burgess                  Jackson

Has anyone heard how good these imports are? Hopefully they will fit in somewhere on that team.

Havent heard about Tony Martin , can see him working with Malcom Fleming , It would be good if he was involved , its people like that get players to play well he would be a good motivator.

Maybe Smith for Henderson?id say coburn will hold the midfield and id rather have burgess in the hole but good solid team Kenedy

Na Henderson is class and has shown good form this year - reckon he deserves a spot if you ask me. I don't know where you would fit Scoullar in but you can't leave him on the bank. Reckon he would go alright in the holding midfield position. From what I watched of Tech this season Burgess is good when he runs at players. I have been told Dugdale is good at holding the ball up and if he has a frame like his uncle it would be hard to take the pill off him.

Good discussion boys, Scoullar is probably the toughest player to fit in the team, it might depend on how fot he actually is. I think Henderson should play at right back, he had a good season with Cavy and I think offers more speed and attack going forward than Smith. Hard on Mike Smith though who I thought was one of Otago's best last year.

Good points in there..From what i have seen/heard the imports dont look near good enough to make the squad as for the english lad i think he should start swimming home..Schoular would make a great holding midfield because hes good on the ball and deeley and coburn have big engines to get box to box.Captain for there year?There 3 guys really putting there hands up..Falvey coburn and horner..For me it would have to  be Horner or Coburn falvey has been known to lose it for time to time and you cant have that.Coburn will proberly get the nod from last season and fair enough to

 

Any1 no if brand is still around camp?I hope not

Coburn for captain, Horner not there yet, falvey you are right too much of a loose unit. Scoullar is the same, gets too emotional, not level headed, I once saw him get sent off after 10 seconds of coming on as a sub, he then kicked the match ball down the road and best part he had to walk down and get it himself before the game resumed. One of the funniest things I have ever seen.

i Still havent slept since hearing he was blamed P.t.O.Y what a joke he struggles to string a pass together..Rab does a good job but always tends to lean towards players he favours but surprised to hear those 2 didnt get e mention!I think burgess could be leathal this year he just seems to have the knack to put it in the back of the net.

One of the imports has already torn a hamstring and is on his way home. Not sure which one but it looks asthough the local lads are on thier own again - probably going to do it tough. 

Yea i think thats the best for the team because i heard he looked like he would find it tough in fletcher cup grade let alone the NZFC..

What affiliation do you have with the squad truth?

Just a keen watcher of Dunedin fooball (SPL) now thinking of giving my support to Otago United this year..Andf you feedback?

Just a veteren - Love the discussion and interested to see if you were involved in the team coz you have some great inside info

yea there's a few people in here that do...Just no the right people there's a couple of local boys at work aswell that get the inside word...i dont no if you have been to dunedin before feedback but it's a small place!!!!

The two german trialists have suttably impressed Mr Phelan and have signed with OU , In another coupe John Chisholm has signed for the whole season rejecting offers from AC & WFC , John will move to Auckland in Late Feb and will travel down from there for the last 2-3 games , I also heard that Justin Flaws is due back fromthe UK on 8th Dec , and apparentley he is keen to play again, This OU squad just keeps getting better and better ever day . 

I just read in the paper this morning that john Chisom is returning to Otago for another season�My question where will he play?You already have Falvey and Horner in the midlle,Perhaps push horner out to the right and Henderson to the bench or play chisom as a holding midfielder and push coburn forward�any idea�s what phelan will do?also where does flaws play?

I would have a back 4 of Horner - Chisholm - Falvey - Prattley , unfortunate for Henderson but couldnt see him being better than any of the back 4 , Before Flaws went overseas he was one of the best wide right players in the league , spped up and down the flank, always looked to take on players and had a great cross from wide , we was also very quick up and down the park , I would have him in my squad before a Deeley or a Brand ,

Little

 

Henderson  Horner  Falvey  German

Chisom

 

Deeley          Coburn

 

Burgess

 

Schoular       Jackson

 

I don�t think dougdale is a wide play would have to play up front but would be similar to schoular???Gardner maybe abit unlucky but more a wide player and not sure but maybe they could turn there german into a left fullback

Wouldnt put the german in at left back , we have a very good young player in Prattley , he has a very cultured left foot I think he could possibly play even as a wide left if required late in a match ,  I would have dugdale before Jackson , Jackson would be good of the bench later in a match when defenses are a bit tired

I wouldn't say supporter but i like to go watch there side now and then in big games against teams like Tech or Caversham..Last being the South Island final i think,why do you ask?Im more of an Otago football fan realy

i would say you almost have it right truth but there is no way jackson will start it will be dugdale instead with jackson impact off the bench. hederson i think will stay at right back and chisholm into holding midfield. it will be at left back where they will struggle and i have heard this from senior members in the team. Phelan does have some deisions to make nut that is a more of who to leave out which bodes well