Is that you Stuart Hogg?
I thought Fenton and Boyd both did well but overall I thought it was a night where nobody really enhanced or ruined their reputation.
From a Phoenix point of view I'd imagine Ernie Merrick was pretty encouraged by he saw from Fenton and Boyd and is thinking he can make good use of those two next season. Basalaj might have done enough in his cameo to get something more out of it but I can't imagine Merrick will be considering offering anyone else a contract on the basis of that.

I thought Fenton and Boyd both did well but overall I thought it was a night where nobody really enhanced or ruined their reputation.
From a Phoenix point of view I'd imagine Ernie Merrick was pretty encouraged by he saw from Fenton and Boyd and is thinking he can make good use of those two next season. Basalaj might have done enough in his cameo to get something more out of it but I can't imagine Merrick will be considering offering anyone else a contract on the basis of that.
Seems odd having Spoonley over Williams. Spoonley hasn't played for ages.
Auckland City FC
Smithy I know you are a big fan of Fenton so I have to ask if you are being objective. You are the first person to talk up Fentons performance. Its not a personal attack against him or you, just asking the question because you are the only person to say he was good and that's against a sea of posts that thought he was not.
I think he is much better than he showed and am puzzled as to why he played so poorly. He got the ball lost under his feet frequently and I think he decided to try and out run their LB on the outside every time and it was easy to see early on that he was not going to beat him for pace. Also as someone else said, he needed to get his head up and thats been labelled at him in the past. I just did not see a performance which is is capable of and has produced in Phoenix colours this year. I do agree that I don't really see Fenton as a wide man so perhaps it was positional.
Football is a wonderful thing innit. Lots of opinions.
I thought Fenton was sharp last night. He gets on the ball and does something. He tries to take players on, and has a fair degree of success. You can contrast him strongly with Butler and Christie who move the ball around but never break pressure or create. Fenton is a creator. He whipped in that fantastic ball to the near post that Clapham almost got onto, and he delivered a bunch of dangerous ball in that didn't turn into chances.
For me, he did his chances no harm last night at all. And while I rate him I'm not a fanboy.
If I'm the only one talking him up (which I'm not by the way, have a look at @Andrew_Gourdie on twitter, or Playwithfire above) then I'm happy in a minority of one.
I can see what you mean about 'does something' and I think he was literally the only one so I get where you are coming from. I think in terms of performance, I am going to let you have yours, I'll have mine and we shall leave it at that.
Grumpy old bastard alert
Question: So where does this game put us in regard to options for the World Cup November qualifier?
Answer: Exactly as we were before the game started.
"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...
I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...
Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."
Question: So where does this game put us in regard to options for the World Cup November qualifier?
Answer: Exactly as we were before the game started.
Yellow Fever - Misery loves company
Next time he plays, you count the number of times he gives the ball to his own keeper. Then you will apologize to me.
Fuck this stupid game
That's true. So, any suggestions as to who we try out next? RH and Emblen need to get their heads together over midfield options kinda urgently. The wee man can't run midfield all on his own. And just imagine if he broke down beforehand... or rather, don't! Any more mids out there willing to put your hand up, now's your chance. Jack HMcV, bulk up; get noticed...
"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...
I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...
Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."
Next time he plays, you count the number of times he gives the ball to his own keeper. Then you will apologize to me.
Also, all in all it wasn't a great game, we didn't manage to get too much happening going forward but if you consider how many times our players (mainly the creative ones) were fouled it kind of explains why we struggled with that a bit. It would have been very frustrating as a coach watching your game plan basically nullified by fouls.
When you are Vicelich and you are faced with Howieson buried wide left, Fenton sitting up the touchline, Scott and Hogg doing nout, Christie being ineffectual and Butler slightly more, the option of passing to Clapham whom has a 2/5 chance of doing something useful with it would scare the shit out of you.
Grumpy old bastard alert
That's true. So, any suggestions as to who we try out next? RH and Emblen need to get their heads together over midfield options kinda urgently. The wee man can't run midfield all on his own. And just imagine if he broke down beforehand... or rather, don't! Any more mids out there willing to put your hand up, now's your chance. Jack HMcV, bulk up; get noticed...
Grumpy old bastard alert
Next time he plays, you count the number of times he gives the ball to his own keeper. Then you will apologize to me.
Also, all in all it wasn't a great game, we didn't manage to get too much happening going forward but if you consider how many times our players (mainly the creative ones) were fouled it kind of explains why we struggled with that a bit. It would have been very frustrating as a coach watching your game plan basically nullified by fouls.
When you are Vicelich and you are faced with Howieson buried wide left, Fenton sitting up the touchline, Scott and Hogg doing nout, Christie being ineffectual and Butler slightly more, the option of passing to Clapham whom has a 2/5 chance of doing something useful with it would scare the shit out of you.
LOL! Yet given the above (brilliantly described) options, he (Ivan) still manages to play with a smile. Fantastic!
"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...
I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...
Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."
He smiled? Players who are not composed don't do that.....
Grumpy old bastard alert
Smiling... And barely a hair out of place... not to mention 10 out of 10 for interview technique.
"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...
I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...
Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."
That's true. So, any suggestions as to who we try out next? RH and Emblen need to get their heads together over midfield options kinda urgently. The wee man can't run midfield all on his own. And just imagine if he broke down beforehand... or rather, don't! Any more mids out there willing to put your hand up, now's your chance. Jack HMcV, bulk up; get noticed...
Serious, sadly. The barrel ain't too full of options it appears to me.
"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...
I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...
Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."
Smiling... And barely a hair out of place... not to mention 10 out of 10 for interview technique.
Ivan hair Review please I <3 Nix?
Ivan's hair is almost always flawless. Here
Last night was no exception.
The shine is incredible and the Godfather refuses to share his hair care regime with us mere mortals (trust me I've asked). It pains me.
I think it's a little longer than usual at the moment but he manages to pull of a look a look that would make Katie Holmes (Here) jealous.
End of an era. Vinnie - It's over.
If anyone cares for my inane babbling follow @iluvnix17 on the Twitter.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Thank you for the best laugh I have had this week.
Grumpy old bastard alert
you get the feeling if Boyd gets one, he'll get a hatfull. Galeckovic has a lot to answer for.
That's true. So, any suggestions as to who we try out next? RH and Emblen need to get their heads together over midfield options kinda urgently. The wee man can't run midfield all on his own. And just imagine if he broke down beforehand... or rather, don't! Any more mids out there willing to put your hand up, now's your chance. Jack HMcV, bulk up; get noticed...
Serious, sadly. The barrel ain't too full of options it appears to me.
I'm just trying to think what other options there are. Is Karl Whalen playing because he was a nice midfielder (although older). I guess when you consider the bar is Clapham, and he can't make it, there is not much else around. Even Mulligan is much the same.
Grumpy old bastard alert
Alex Rufer might be a long term prospect, technically very good and already playing in the NZFC albeit for the weakest team in the comp he's still only 16.
Won a scholarship to APFA, made the all start game in Aus in the Nike comp so seems to impress those with eye for potential talent.
I think if we are going to become a better team we need to move further away from combative CM type of players and look to get more morbile, creative and technical options in there.
However, right now NZ does not have too much happening in the center, alot of potential, but nothing else.
Alex Rufer might be a long term prospect, technically very good and already playing in the NZFC albeit for the weakest team in the comp he's still only 16.
Won a scholarship to APFA, made the all start game in Aus in the Nike comp so seems to impress those with eye for potential talent.
I think if we are going to become a better team we need to move further away from combative CM type of players and look to get more morbile, creative and technical options in there.
However, right now NZ does not have too much happening in the center, alot of potential, but nothing else.
Agreed,
I still think we may see Tuiloma play a more forward or central holding role for the U20's to accomodate Roux and Higgins as our full backs.
I'm curious to see how Jordan has developed since he's been overseas.
Jason Hicks
Jason Hicks (he of "the educated left foot" - JV) has vanished from sight since moving from Auckland to the capital for work reasons. A shame.
"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...
I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...
Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."
Jason Hicks
Jason Hicks (he of "the educated left foot" - JV) has vanished from sight since moving from Auckland to the capital for work reasons. A shame.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
Ivan's hair is almost always flawless. Here
Last night was no exception.
The shine is incredible and the Godfather refuses to share his hair care regime with us mere mortals (trust me I've asked). It pains me.
I think it's a little longer than usual at the moment but he manages to pull of a look a look that would make Katie Holmes (Here) jealous.
Ha! I like the fact that we can see what you've searched on google by clicking the Katie Holmes link. "Sleek Black Bobs" anyone?
Capital = home of football in the Wellington region.
Auckland City FC
Suspect this could go wrong.
Jordan a competitive Asian side vs an ASB Premiership All star side.
NZ 'c'
Auckland City FC
Jason Hicks
Jason Hicks (he of "the educated left foot" - JV) has vanished from sight since moving from Auckland to the capital for work reasons. A shame.
Didn't realise he was not playing. Shame.
Grumpy old bastard alert
Jason Hicks
Jason Hicks (he of "the educated left foot" - JV) has vanished from sight since moving from Auckland to the capital for work reasons. A shame.
Didn't realise he was not playing. Shame.
I see Gourdies bit about Durante perhaps playing holding midfield...ahh ricky and his bullshit experiments. CM Killen, RB Brockie etc etc
He needs to play 4-3-2-1 and should be focusing on blooding one of these young U20 fullbacks in August (IMO). Vicelich and Keat (now that he is getting game time) can cover the midfield in the interim or get on the phone and get Tim Brown back for August and get him to play in September and October also...
Jason Hicks
Jason Hicks (he of "the educated left foot" - JV) has vanished from sight since moving from Auckland to the capital for work reasons. A shame.
Didn't realise he was not playing. Shame.
I thought he was a really good prospect. The kinda guy to be playing (if he was playing - yes a shame) instead of Christie or a Butler
Seems to have given the game away. May have got the hump after being left out of the Olympic squad despite playing in the qualifiers.
"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...
I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...
Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."
Ricki Herbert on the Football Hour
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert joins Brendan Telfer and Sam Malcolmson on the Football Hour. They start off by talking about the New Zealand A side's recent 1-0 loss to Jordan.
http://www.radiosport.co.nz/player/ondemand/2091027167-ricki-herbert-on-the-football-hour
Ricki Herbert - Good things came out of last night Wed, 05 Jun 2013 7:54a.m.
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert joins the shows. Following last night's NZ A game against Jordan http://www.radiolivesport.co.nz/Audio/Ricki-Herbert---Good-things-came-out-of-last-night/tabid/252/articleID/14539/Default.aspx
