All Whites V Solomon Islands Tue SS2 7:30pm

from 365.com we had 75 attacking moves compared to about 35-40 for SI.  We had 17 shots on goal vs 7 off.  That's pretty good.

These sides will not touch us unless it's away. Tahiti and New Cal are not too bad but the Solomons will be stinking hot.

 good win.

Was at the game. Awful parking organisation. Crowd of 8K, which is what I expected. 1st half we were better, the second half they weren't even there, apart from the goal. Every time there was a set piece you kind of expected a goal. 

Kosta and Leo were great. Vicelich was pretty good too. Lochead had a rubbish game, despite scoring.. correct me but maybe his 1st goal in either the AW or Phoenix? But my grandma could have scored that, and she's dead. Pretty good atmosphere. 

For a freezing, wet, windy Tuesday night, Auckland did OK. Not great, just OK.

I thought was a very clinical performance, and I think the lack of complacency in the team was a huge part of that. I would hate for us to think we can sweep these teams away, I think we should be aiming to score 5+ goals against each side, especially at home. A few points I picked up on during the game:

• Leo's delivery from corners was spot on. Hopefully he can continue this for the Nix, he consistently put the ball into a dangerous area, which is very different to what he has been doing for the Nix in past seasons.
• Kosta seemed to be involved in every single attacking move, and looked great on the ball. We were managing to get the ball out to the flanks for an overlap really well, and the balls into the box from Lochhead, Kosta and Leo were almost always great.
• I really hope Totori isn't as selfish when playing for the Nix as he is when he is playing for the Solomons. He was incredibly greedy tonight, and was exactly the same in the Solomons. Hopefully he realises that there are players better than him (i.e. Ifill) who he should pass to, rather than being one of the only attacking options like he is for the Solomons.
• The quality of the OFC refs is incredibly poor. Right through the game, there was many interesting decisions, especially when the Assistant ref didn't know the rules properly. There were many offside calls that were wrong, not to mention that shocking decision not to award a corner when the Solomon keeper fluffed the ball and clearly put it over his own touchline. Some of the fouls given were puzzling too, there were a few times when the ref would let a very hard challenge go, only to pull up a much softer challenge less than a minute afterwards. Consistency through the game would be nice. If OFC want to help aid the development of the game in the Islands, they need to focus on referee training much more than they have been.
• The White Noise were on form, some of the chants came through really well on the TV. Stand Up for the All Whites sounded even worse than it does at the RoF though!

Also Frank Van Hate'em promotional plan for the game seemed to be "Abuse people and guilt-trip them for not going before the game has even started". Awful promotion. 

Bring back Mulligan to take corners for Bertos.   Bertos is still too slow on the right for international level.  

Costas messed around far too much, could have had more goals by simply passing to his team mates

Reid really has improved, fourth time I've seen him, much more confident and focused under attack.

McGlinchey targets the ball well, one of the best technically.

Bertos was good with some corners but some were a bit on the long side.

I think it showed that Leo isn`t a natural defensive player....was turned inside out more than once......I worry for the Phoenix

Reminds of when Ricki tried to turn Noah Hickey into a Right Back.

Career went down hill and retired soon after

Just got back to Wellington from the game, had a bloody good time. Weather was nice and chilly, the merchant was great, and even jetstar cooperated! Thanks to the White Noise for a superb evening, top effort all round.

Take a peak at this an see what form Mully is currently in.  I reckon he is good for the squad..  Mully Free Kick at the Chatham Cup Final 

This isn't American football, you can't have a guy whose only job is to take the free kicks. Bertos >>> Mully in other regards.

Would be fun if you could.  Either way, Mully needs to be in the mix as an option.  The same lack of pace that I've seen from Leo before isn't easily fixed.  He's more of an each way bet.  Maybe there maybe not.

He was there last night. 

Mully was good in the Chatham cup final but others were far better - should they get a call up to?

Bertos for me over the last two years at the nix has largely disappointed but always gets picked, for them and the Nix.

Whilst i'm happy to hear he had a good game, i wont sing his praises yet. (When was the last time he constantly took on and beat players?)

Herbert has his favourites... Mulligan is not one of them. If Mulligan really wanted to get a look in he should of gone back to England and tried to pick up a contract when he got released from the NIX.

What does annoy me is he decision to keep picking Vicelich. The move is so short sighted. Now, with Nelsen and Reid back to stabilise the team is the time to try Keat and Payne (still prefer him more advanced) in a DM role or another younger option.

You have to give players time to grow into a position and to learn to play within a system and with his team mates. Vicelich is a good player, but he's slowing down and getting less mobile. To pretty key ingredient for a ball winning DM whose meant to break up opposition play.

Michael Fitzgerald might be worth another look.

Had one good game at RB and bad one for us, but has since moved into a Midfield role in Japan and is doing quite well, judging by the reports and the teams performances. Plays the Japanese way (quick / mobile / keep possession and play the ball on the ground) which is the way we are moving.

Fair play to auckland, thought that crowd was decent given the cost, weather, opposition, day of week.

Third tier of Japanese football.  Siggy would do a better job at RB than him.

Disagree on that one.

He's been loaned to get game time (not released) because he obviously has potential.

Also different players. Siggy sure, if we go back to the physical knock the ball forward and hope game plan. But if we move towards a more fluid and possession game then Siggy is very limited.

I'm not saying he should be getting picked, but atleast looked at again. The standard of football in Japan is very high, from age group right through to their top domestic league (see olympics / ACL).

You don't get a contract for a top Jap club, and keep one if you don't have something about you. I seriously doubt Siggy could have gone there and pciked up one.

Siggy is a contracted payer in a decidely average (compared internationally) league - Fitz, signed to a top team in a much higher quality league. One is alot easier to break into than the other. Have another look... especially as we should sow up the qualifiers with a game spare or two to give him and others a run out again.

Disagree on that one.

He's been loaned to get game time (not released) because he obviously has potential.

Also different players. Siggy sure, if we go back to the physical knock the ball forward and hope game plan. But if we move towards a more fluid and possession game then Siggy is very limited.

I'm not saying he should be getting picked, but atleast looked at again. The standard of football in Japan is very high, from age group right through to their top domestic league (see olympics / ACL).

You don't get a contract for a top Jap club, and keep one if you don't have something about you. I seriously doubt Siggy could have gone there and pciked up one.

Siggy is a contracted payer in a decidely average (compared internationally) league - Fitz, signed to a top team in a much higher quality league. One is alot easier to break into than the other. Have another look... especially as we should sow up the qualifiers with a game spare or two to give him and others a run out again.

MetalLegNZ - Fitzgerald has been debated to death on here and some judicious self promotion from a family member sent a lot of people a bit sour on him.  You'll find very few advocates.

I think your comments on Japanese football are fair though - the young japanese guy who has signed for I think Central Coast from J2 will be an interesting proposition

what the fuck happened with the crowd? and dont give me this weather shit, its new zealand?!?! we do so much more on nights way shitter than that. disappointing...

(this comment is late but i only just got to see the highlights)

that lino was HONKING

Do you reckon there was actually nearly 9k there though? Would of had to of been a hell of a lot of people in the stands above us..

Reckon there were about 1,000 from Auckland, and the rest travelled from Wellington.

From north harbour stadium website: 

"the grandstand has seating for 12109 patrons" This includes 1500 for lounges And private suites. 

Considering there was no one on the other stand or ambankment,I call bullshit on 9k. 

It was good to meet some others from Wellington and Auckland at Merchant before hand and chat.  Ticketek mucked up about 20 seats where I was allocated by selling non existent seats used for wheelchair space. That caused much angst as we looked at tickets anf blank concrete... Redeemed by getting us into ASB lounge(outside) although I went down to ground level for second half.  Way more funn.

Kosta looked great buzzing all over the place..need that point of difference to our usual strikers.  Felt there were occasions when a through ball should have been tried.  Subs too late again given three points were in the bag relatively early in second half despite their one goal.  So many tap ins in a game..

Didnt think much of wee Mac or Leo.

 Just watched the highlights again.

Jeez, both goalkeepers for the Solomons were fucking terrible.

Jason Pine: "Huia, looks like a man who just wandered in on a Solomon's training session and been asked if he'd like a game"....

Sam Malcolmson: "I think your Mango [the Solomon's third keeper] wud have been better"...

When are you going to tell us that out singing was unco, lacked passion or punch lines and that we don;t know what we are singing and why?

For there to have been 8k, the stand had to nearly be full (unless there was 1500 in private suites and boxes - which I doubt)

10500 capacity, not including those two areas. 7931? Not convinced.