AkCity FC At The FIFA World Club Cup

I think if they play like they did this morning Cruz Azul stand no chance against them in the third place playoff on Sunday morning. 

It'd be a miracle if they can play like that again. Short time between games, extra time again, who's suspended? Anyway, I hope they can.

Very well done Auckland City, if only Tototarde had put away that dead sitter, they would have won this. Pretty good play all round and no disgrace at all.

Dire football from both teams, but well played Auckland.

Hats off to Auckland City, absolutely outstanding. Can see at least a couple of these players picking up pro contracts, in particular Irving who is outstanding and I also rate Berlanga highly. Doing NZ proud

The back 4 is better than the Phoenix back 4, but they are 4 imports aren't they?

Sorry Bullion, was late here in the UK when I posted (half asleep!), I meant men's teams.  I was aware of the Ferns result and forgot about the WC bore draw (Paraguay).

That would be the men's best result but as you say, it was a bore to watch whereas last nights game was a pearla, that ACFC were unlucky not to win.  

Ivan is still the man and his fitness still looks great for someone approaching 40 (very Teddy Sheringham).

As nice as Kiwitea street is, I'd love to see Central/ACFC flick it off and move to a venue where there's actually enough space for a 4 sided ground with car-parking.... what's up with Mt Wellington's ground these days BTW?

Watching the replay as I couldn't watch it live. Tim Payne looks useful and has a very nice delivery from the set piece. Really hope he can find a pro club this transfer window. I wouldn't like to see him playing ASB premiership this time next season. 

I'd like to think that's the case but having played a lot of football recently (3 matches, two into extra time) and with Berlanga banned, it might not go down too well.

Fingers crossed though.

He smashed a free kick near their penalty area straight into the wall, I'm still not sold on him, fair play if he gets picked up but I think this might be his level (ASBP/pos A-League).  Played OK last night but outshone by Ivan, Berlanga, Williams to name but a few.

Is it just my imagination or does Auckland  look fitter and faster then the Nix. Or is it just the pressing type of play?

The Auckland manager has all the José Mourinho gesticulations and facial expressions ,even dressess reasonably well the mans made for greater things !

I was impressed with their fitness too. The Argies looked to be building up more of a sweat then our lads.  Maybe the physical training done at ACFC is different to the Nix (greater emphasis on fitness etc).

Now - all you Auck City and Phoenix muppets talking sharke that are regularly on here need to start calming your farms down on here. As a neutral, that was some of the best football by a NZ team on an international stage for a long time (yes, the all whites can't string 2 passes together sometimes). We need football in NEW ZEALAND to be successful and pick up its game. The reality is that the Phoenix are sleeping in the bottom bunk and Auckland City (and other ASB franchies - yes, I'm starting to look at you TW) are on the top bunk but for all our sakes - we need both to be sleeping in the same room!!! Yes, Auckland City have money and are not quite the painters and truck drivers mentioned over the past few days (we all know that) but it also can't be a stick to wack them when suited. Although difficult and different dynamics for each group - we all need to pick up our games (especially all ASB franchises as much as possible). Now, stop the b#llshark and start thinking forward and bigger. That's what other countries do.

You mean pretty much my back yard? I'll go and watch them if Bluemagic isn't there.

I'm not sure what you mean about "what's up with" Bill McKinlay Park. It's still there, right next to the glorious new Panmure Bus/Train interchange. Uni-MWAFC is still there as well.

http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil...

also

http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/planspolicie...

(bottom of page 1/top of page 2)

Without looking to poo poo on the ACFC performance, I thought that they were allowed to play. I don't think SL really pressured them on the ball. When that happens, you have time to look up and find the correct pass. I thought the movement off the ball was good from ACFC but you can't say they look fitter when they are not really made to work for it.

Its hard to compare apples with oranges but would ACFC players get as much time in the ball in the HAL? I guess the only way we may have known is if they played a shyte WSW.

I guess what I am trying to say is that it did not give the appearance of a fast game.

Yes, all 4 were.

At the below link, Marto, are details of all NZ national team results against South American national sides:

http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZRepSoccer/south_american_rivals.htm

At the top of the page, you'll see links to pages containing our results against the other confederations.

Cheers,

JR

I've been living in the UK since '04 and not heard any mention of Bill McKinlay park in yonks.  I used to think it was one of NZs better football grounds.  I always thought the amalgamation with Auckland Uni reuined the club.

Now an artificial turf

I think this was deliberate, it's how Ramon wants his team to play partly in order to break up an opposing team's rythym. He's a one-off in this part of the world. The interview with him on www.fifa.com latest is illuminating.

"The club has given me a lot of support [in engineering ... changing the mindset of a group of players that has been brought up in most cases to play the game in an entirely different way] It's roots are Croatian, and the people here see football in a different way (from) people in New Zealand football circles (who) say you can't do things like this in NZ because the quality isn't there. Just trying it out has been really hard. Slowly but surely they started believing."

The Moroccan league has been in existence as a pro league for decades and wages are probably decent enough ij the context of that country.

However, Algeria has only had a fully professional league, the "Ligue Professionnelle 1" since September 2010.

http://www.espnfc.com/blog/football-africa/80/post...

In US dollars when the league started four years ago:

 "The estimates at the time suggested that the average salary of a newly professional footballer was around $3,600 a month with the highest paid man, ES Setif's goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi, believed to be earning $10,000 a month. Predictions were that those amounts would not rise sharply in the short term, but players would be guaranteed a sense of security."

I'd say these wages have in fact increased somewhat due to TV revenue since Algeria have the advantage of French being a national language alongside Arabic and the Algerian league is now broadcast in France and throughout Europe on the various "Canal" satellite networks of which "Canal Algerie" is one.

There are of course milllons of Algerians living in France who pay to see the Algerian league on TV. 

Cost of living in Algeria:

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_resul...

A loaf of bread = 25c NZ

Single bedroom apartment city centre = $NZ 70 / week

One estimate is that overall it's 50% cheaper living in the capital Algiers than Wellington, NZ:

http://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/compariso...

So, in other words, you can double Algerian league wages to find parity with NZ.

I'd imagine living in regional Setif (pop. 288,0000) would be cheaper than Algiers, the capital.

Browne is from Papua New Guinea and Burfoot from England.

Oh well.... they do an excellent job of putting old Kiwis in a strong football environment!

Both have NZ citizenship though and have lived here most of their life.

Burfoot may be English born but is an NZ Citizen with an NZ Passport

Full game vs. San Lorenzo including extra time here on You Tube:

I wish I understood Spanish so I knew what they were saying about us!

Was a great moment in NZ football history to witness.

I was thinking a 4-0 or 5-0 loss vs. the South American champs might be on the cards beforehand.

If in the past, the South American champs had been playing a friendly in Auckland you'd be thinking a result like that might be possible.

Outstanding result in a major tournament.

Looking forward to the Third Place match on Sunday morning.

Already a sellout so should be a great atmosphere:

http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/news/y=2014/m=12/...

Browne made a pretty good recovery given he was killed in a tackle a few weeks ago in an ASBP match (according to reports on here)

I don't think thats the case with Browne. Came out here when he was 14? I understood they were trying to get him fast tracked to be available for the U20s but he is not eligible.

Gunned down in a dark alley in cold blood apparently...

The San Lorenzo coach admitted to the management and players being nervous before the game. "We've never been here before." Whereas ACFC had not only played twice beforehand, they'd been - and even won - in the CWC over the previous 4 years!

see latest on www.fifa.com

context. (ConanT)

Taken out first tackle of the game by B Messenger v Wanderers actually.

You need to watch the replay again.

Thanks for clearing it up because otherwise i might have actually believed he was gunned down in an alley.

You're right - first tackle on Browne, not first tackle of game. Still crocked him until v San Lorenzo.