Training camp XI vs Auckland CIty

Training camp XI vs Auckland CIty

I couldnt find another thread on this game

Does anyone have a match report, know who played well or the goal scorers?

this from siggy's tweet is all i know

"Just beat Auckland city 5-1 smelts mulligan brown Leo brocky all scored"

Mulligan!!

Why the surprise?

Given that he still has two legs and is not blind, it is always possible that he could get a football into a goal.


On a more serious note, I assume he is in contention for a trip to SA despite his inability to get onto the pitch for the Nix.

That would be very odd indeed.

the fact that he's in the train-on squad suggests that he stands at least some chance of going, might depend on injuries or form of others

Hopefully there's more info to come later.

City played really well at the start having most of the half chances but poor finishing let them down. AW's scored a goal against the run of play from a free kick which Banners fumbled, not helped by static defence. Second half all Allwhites scoring two quick goals after restart. City defence on walk about duty, very soft centre. 

Thanks Spud, good notes. So who else played in this game? I assume there was a long list of subs too.

I've mentioned this in another thread but im surprised no one has commented, Ricki was on radiosport and was asked about Aaron Scott and David Mulligan getting no game time. Said about how Mulligans case was different because he was in a professional team but there was better players who were fit ahead of him. And that Mulligan controlled the game against Auckland and that there were no other challengers at this stage so it sounds like Mulligan is going.

off topic - but looks like Mulligan is doing well (i always thought he was up to it)..i still don't understand, why even a bench spot for the Phoenix was rare..  hockeycam2010-05-03 16:18:28

because there were better available that's why, and also he was cover for rb when he is really a midfielder. He will get another club where he will probably play in midfield and will prove a few of us wrong (fingers crossed).

So he's a midfielder who's spent the great majority of his professional career at right back. Yeah right. If he was truly a good midfielder, he'd have carved out a professional career for himself in that position.

All I can say is that if he goes to the World Cup, it will be a statement about the dearth of quality players that we have at our disposal.

Being not at the game, should I be worried about the slow start of the AWs in the game?? [asking to those who were at the game of course]

From what I understood, Mully considers himself to be a midfielder but he was placed at RB. So he got more time on the park as a RB rather than midfield. He rather be on the park than off it.

Lots of talented players are placed in field positions that they rather not be in because of the needs of the club and the coach. He might have been a really good midfielder but the fact still remains that the clubs he's been with needed a RB and the other midfielders and players aren't making a play for it at RB where as Mully saw it as a chance to get on the field.

I remember when Mully was with Sc**thorpe United, there was a clip on their crossbar challenge and he said he was an utility player just before the task but on the TV banner below it labelled him as a defender. It goes to show that once he was labelled s a defender people only think he is a defender when he knows himself to be something else other than a defender.

Well, I think I'm an awesome striker.

Unfortunately, that doesn't make me one.

But Mully has proven himself to be a capable midfielder in a number of games outside of RB though.

He has?

Proven, Mulligan Can't go in the same sentence in my opinion. Theres better players in his position from New Zealand out there.

For the benefit of those who haven't followed the NZFC too closely, can you name them? Are they playing for the All Stars on Sunday?

The question is, how would Mulligan go in the NZFC? would he be better than Clapham? Because I cant see Clapham forcing himself ahead of Lia Brown and Muscat at the nix.

I said it once before, i think Mulligan is too good for the NZFC. It's like Ferrante is apparently doing well over in the State Leagues right now.
hockeycam2010-05-04 12:47:58

"Too good for"? Surely if - say - he was playing for Waitakere and scoring a goal in every game and knocking the socks off everyone, that might get him picked up by a pro league just as well as being an average player in the VPL or whatever the NSW equivalent is?

Ferrante > Mulligan

Ferrante over Mulligan as a RB??

Erm, because I've seen both of them play side by side in the middle of the park in Phoenix friendlies?

Mully has the quality to go - something no - one i've seen on here has pointed out - he was our 2nd highest scorer in qualifying - I'd take him. He's not a right back but a good option to cover Brown/Elliott.

And is more creative then Brown

If there was 90 mins gone and 1 mi injury time left and we had an attacking free kick... i know who i'd pick to take it!!

Yep... that's won me over.  The slight chance of that free kick and Mully's ability to take it makes him an overwhelming first choice for the All Whites midfield.

That's not the deciding factor for me...

He's as close as we've got and I'm pretty sure he scored v the Arse with one in the Donny Rovers FA Cup run a couple of years back.

I watched the game, Mulligan had a very good game, he surprised me. Someone earlier gave him a 9. I would agree with that in the game, he really played well.

Playing an Onehunga team tonight apparently?

Where?

�AW's scored�a goal against the�run of play�from a free kick which�Banners fumbled,

So this is the player we will have on the bench for two games at the World Cup.
Another David James clone, sh*te at catching a ball but good enough to be at a World Cup.