NZ selection v NZFC XI

and they're off!

1-0 to NZ A. Brockie.

crowd size

Costa B makes it 2-0

Yes crowd number we must have

announced just under 6 thousand attendedGeorge Costanza2010-05-09 15:44:16

Final Score?

commentators said it is a good size crowd considering it's a nothing game with local players

still a few mins to go Linds. NZ A 2-0 NZFC All Stars

Oh cool thanks.

Final Score NZ A 2 - 0 All Stars
Goals: Jeremy Brockie and Costa Barbarouses

interesting comments from Malcomson during and after the match

Brian turner seemed to be talking Mully up

Clapham sounded like he did his chances no harm and Coombes drew some positive comments from the radio crew

I would contribute to a bribe for SA airport guards to keep Malcolm Jordan from getting anywhere near a micro-phone in SA

"props off his left foot" "props off his right foot" - say what??

be good to hear from anyone who was at the match

Please do not bring football to Auckland :) ( and I live in Auckland )

Was Ricki even there?

Just got back from the game. A bit disappointing that the A-team didn't attack as much as they should have, and considering the amount of professionals in the team the gulf between the teams should be more evident in the final score. There was a lot of keeping the ball within the backs, particularly in the first half.
NZFC held their own at times, but I don't think anyone pushed their way into contention for spots. Allan Pearce had some good runs, for one.
As for the A team, Aaron Clapham deserves to be selected for the All Whites. On the other hand, Mully did little to prove his detractors wrong, and while he was solid at times, he had a few wayward moments. I think he was trying too hard. Costa was quality, working well with Leo and Aaron Scott looked good on the right.
Am I right that Paston and Moss were opposing keepers in the second half? If that is the case, I am surprised, as surely the trial should have been between Bannatyne and Spoonley.

As for the crowd, a good case for and a case against Auckland hosting more football. I know a lot on here don't think Auckland should have All Whites and Nix games, and at times I agree (I am something of an Aucklander, but don't tell anyone). It was a good size crowd, considering it was a trial, but in the second half a lot more people were interested in how many people lying down a kid could jump over on the embankment than the game, so yeah.

That's my take on the game.

Ricki was there he was upstairs with Raul Blanco analysing the game.Aaaron Clapham was the Man Of The Match and is a cert to go.if Ben Sigmund was fighting for his place he would have lost.

Oh, and it would be good to see Brockie given a chance.

You need to on occasion, NHpeter, but the pecking order needs to be WGTN, then CHCH, and lastly AKL.

Okay one occasion is fine, but I would have thought they would have got a few more people there.

I thought Costa looked quite sharp. But always struggles because he is small. Smeltz didn't really stand out at all. I Think Spoonley should be taken to the world cup instead of Bannatyne.

6000ish is alright, probably more than what i was expecting for Auckland. I dont think anywhere else wouldve beaten that figure by too much more (or if at all) to be honest.

edit: I agree with NHpeter that Spoonley should go over Bannatyne, purely for the reason that we will have more to build on with Spoonley. Post WC Bannatyne will be done with international football, and Spoonley will be next in line anyway. But its extremely likely neither will get game time.
AJ132010-05-09 17:34:24

Based on what??  Better turn out than there has been to some All White games around the country.

And this was a "trial", which turned out to be actually more of a training run. There was no passion or urgency displayed

Because that was my opinion and I just thought there would have been a few more people there.

Gotta say, NZFC dominated for large periods.

Usual Nth Harbour crowd, in the last 15 minutes, 1,000 cheering the kids on the bank, in their long jump over a line of kids bodies that seemed to grow every minute.  The other 5,000 sort of watching the match.

If there is room for Myers, take him to SA, same for Draper and Hogg.

went to the game, best value for football in a while, $15 for the match ticket, decent game of football on exhibition level, crowd size as expected, team autogragh session after the game, very happy AW fan heading to SA next month to support the boys

Clapham was ok but didnt offer anything different. Didnt see him beating players, or putting many cutting  balls forward. He did get on the end of a Bertos cross and put a good ball back to Costa for his goal.

Brockie got robbed a couple of times and was lucky to be in the right position for the rebound from a save to tuck it away, otherwise, didnt impress, might have trained well but didnt show it in this game

Costa looked lively, showed good control, looks like he will get away but somehow doesnt. Cant see him going further than this

Sigmund's passing was woeful at times.

Mulligan controlled most of the play from the back, did some  good passes through to the forwards, and was frustrated by little movement into space by the forwards. Played better than I expected but has a few horror moments here and there.

Smeltz was well marked, had to come a long way back to get a touch of the ball sometimes.

Bertos looked sharp enough, wish he had a decent left foot, could have shot a few times if he did

Brown, where was Brown?

Paston v Moss in the second half, Paston the winner.
Credit to the NZFC side, kept them honest.

 

I guess neither have had much game time - Between the broken leg and Langerak, so need the minutes.

Draper was awful when he came on. I thought Hogg excelled though and should be pushing Lochhead for a starting spot.

No game time for Banners. Ominous sign perhaps?

Never been his strength, actually most games he plays he will play many poor passes.

THose numbers are far too huge!  And what is up with VW sponsorship?  Seems a bit strange to put it on the front of a  strip for one game.

Needs less Volkswagen (well, will be gone), those numbers seem huge on the front. Looks good though.

Anyone got more photos or links to pics?

I was amazed by the crowd size. With virtually no advertising? Do any of the hard-core Auckland haters here really believe you could have got more than 6,000 to a meaningless trial game in Wellington?

Actually, after the second goal I thought everything got boring. Mulligan was pretty good throughout but started making dumb errors near the end - I think his concentration just went. Costa was the best watch on the field for NZA - Solomona for the All Stars.

Aaron Clapham's got boots that match his hair....send him to SA on that fact alone...

I'm sure plenty of them will, but it will be mainly borne out of jealousy.

VW new sponsors for the All Whites??

they were saying on the radio that he was needing a rest or somthing and that why he wasnt playing, might just be making sure hes in top shape for the world cup

One of the most boring games I have ever watched. This was the last time that we get to see our team before they go to the world cup and this is what they gave us. No wonder no one in auckland wants to go and watch football! The game lacked intensity from the get go and was largely played at pedestrian pace. NZ 'A' kept the ball for long periods of time but only in their own half with no pressure on. I turned to a friend that I went to the game with and he was actually sleeping. It looks like the players that were out there just didnt want to get injured and that was it.

On the way out I found it rather amusing when I overheard a father say to his son that he thought that his son could play better than most of the talent that was out there.

The standard was abysmal.feedback2010-05-09 20:34:04

I think they look fantastic.

Sigmund is going to be exposed at the World Cup.

As is everyone else except Nelsen.

Can't blame them.