You two aren't Jack Lemmon and Walther Mathau by any chance?
Auckland City FC - Thanks a Trillion
ACFC positively Pnix like today...really dreadful....
You mean, you were beaten by a better team?!?! Surely not. This was one to win comfortably. There is no way that an Island team could beat ACFC. Say it ain't so...
You must have enjoyed this result.
It goes to show - the island teams are getting better. First Hekari oust Waitakere from the O League in 2010, then New Caledonia upset the All Whites and knock them out of the Confederations Cup and now effectively the Tahiti national side (as Dragon) draw away to Waitak and beat City...
I still think City and Waitak will make the top two in their group but Dragon could snatch second spot with home games to come...
AS Dragon = "Tahitian national side" + three French imports, which is something new in the O-League. So, some talent there:
Jonathan Cabale is a 24 yr-old striker from FC Poitiers, a formerly bigger club who were in Ligue 2 (national 2nd division) in the 90's but now in CFA 2 (5th tier) of French footie, with a ground holding 15,750.
Kevin Gaudin is a 20 yr-old defender from another of the better CFA 2 clubs, Chambery. In the 2010–11 season, Chambéry became the first amateur club in Coupe de France (French Cup) history to defeat three Ligue 1 clubs (Monaco, Brest, Sochaux), before losing in the quarterfinals, one of the greatest giant-killing feats in the history of European football. That's equivalent to a Conference side in England defeating three Premier Lge teams in the FA Cup!
Dragon player-coach Ludovic Graugnard, 35, is another lower-league player from France, a midfielder ex- Stade Bethunois, Saint Remy etc.
Of course some of their Tahitians ain't bad either - Nicolas Vallar didn't make many friends with his thuggish behaviour vs. the All Whites in Christchurch last October - but had several seasons playing as high as Ligue 2 with Sete in France.
Cheers BigP. So their imports outperformed our imports. But only on the day. Two more games to go...
Sounds comprehensive Pete.
Can I ask how the history of the club denotes the players ability? As an example, the ACFC youth league keeper that sits on the bench most weeks (and I have no idea of his name), you could write 'XXX XXX a 20 yo keeper that sits on the bench of Auckland City, 2009 CWC giant killers'. That does not mean he is actually a good keeper. Gordon Ramsay tells everyone he trialled at Rangers. He didn't but it sounds good and doesn't mean he was/would have been a good player.
Great info though on the background. Cheers.
Sounds comprehensive Pete.
Can I ask how the history of the club denotes the players ability? As an example, the ACFC youth league keeper that sits on the bench most weeks (and I have no idea of his name), you could write 'XXX XXX a 20 yo keeper that sits on the bench of Auckland City, 2009 CWC giant killers'. That does not mean he is actually a good keeper. Gordon Ramsay tells everyone he trialled at Rangers. He didn't but it sounds good and doesn't mean he was/would have been a good player.
Great info though on the background. Cheers.
I played for Formby High School as a kid in the North Sefton League. In that team was Michael Imlach who went on to sign for Leeds Utd, but never played a game. Michael's dad was Stewart Imlach who won the FA Cup with Notts Forest, was a coach at Everton, and who also played for Scotland at the 1958 World Cup but, interestingly, was never capped (his son Gary Imlach wrote a really good book about him if you're interested). This must mean I was a really great player - well at least in my own underpants. So yeah Vader I'm with you....again.
Its not a crack at Pete. Its great info. I'm just curious how the giant killing exploits of a team 3 years ago shows relativity to the ability of a 20 yo player today.
You two aren't Jack Lemmon and Walther Mathau by any chance?
JV's Walter Mathau with the charm squeezed out!
Btw JV, your tagline is fine for a crass 15-year-old but for a middle-aged man?
ACFC positively Pnix like today...really dreadful....
You mean, you were beaten by a better team?!?! Surely not. This was one to win comfortably. There is no way that an Island team could beat ACFC. Say it ain't so...
You must have enjoyed this result.
It goes to show - the island teams are getting better. First Hekari oust Waitakere from the O League in 2010, then New Caledonia upset the All Whites and knock them out of the Confederations Cup and now effectively the Tahiti national side (as Dragon) draw away to Waitak and beat City.
It certainly makes this weekend's Kiwitea Street clash between City and Waitak interesting. City really need to win this one. You'll just have to grit your teeth and try to ignore the passionate ACFC fans JV.
I still think City and Waitak will make the top two in their group but Dragon could snatch second spot with home games to come. That'll be the big question - how will City and Waitak cope in the heat of Tahiti?
Actually no. As I said, I don't care who wins the O League, as long as its an NZ team and the funds come back here. What I am enjoying is watching you fap about now after the 'should comfortable beat them' and now its 'oh the home ground advantage' conspiracy.
You were not at the game, neither was I. One of your fellows has posted that you played like shit and were beaten by a better side. For once in your miserable life, actually admit you were beaten by a better team. This is why no one likes your lot. Cause you carry on like prize clowns.
I think JV if you had the integrity to put your real name to your posts you'd be a little less prone to abuse of ACFC fans.
My life is neither miserable nor am I a prize clown. But you are often fast and free with the personal abuse, while hiding. Lighten up for heaven's sake.
Still ducking and weaving from the big question JV. There's something to be said for fronting up or shutting up. What are you so afraid of?
ACFC positively Pnix like today...really dreadful....
You mean, you were beaten by a better team?!?! Surely not. This was one to win comfortably. There is no way that an Island team could beat ACFC. Say it ain't so...
You must have enjoyed this result.
It goes to show - the island teams are getting better. First Hekari oust Waitakere from the O League in 2010, then New Caledonia upset the All Whites and knock them out of the Confederations Cup and now effectively the Tahiti national side (as Dragon) draw away to Waitak and beat City...
I still think City and Waitak will make the top two in their group but Dragon could snatch second spot with home games to come...
AS Dragon = "Tahitian national side" + three French imports, which is something new in the O-League. So, some talent there:
Jonathan Cabale is a 24 yr-old striker from FC Poitiers, a formerly bigger club who were in Ligue 2 (national 2nd division) in the 90's but now in CFA 2 (5th tier) of French footie, with a ground holding 15,750.
Kevin Gaudin is a 20 yr-old defender from another of the better CFA 2 clubs, Chambery. In the 2010–11 season, Chambéry became the first amateur club in Coupe de France (French Cup) history to defeat three Ligue 1 clubs (Monaco, Brest, Sochaux), before losing in the quarterfinals, one of the greatest giant-killing feats in the history of European football. That's equivalent to a Conference side in England defeating three Premier Lge teams in the FA Cup!
Dragon player-coach Ludovic Graugnard, 35, is another lower-league player from France, a midfielder ex- Stade Bethunois, Saint Remy etc.
Of course some of their Tahitians ain't bad either - Nicolas Vallar didn't make many friends with his thuggish behaviour vs. the All Whites in Christchurch last October - but had several seasons playing as high as Ligue 2 with Sete in France.
I have to admit ACFC can hardly complain as we've got ex-Croatian internationals and Spanish professionals. It certainly livens up a usually predictable O League. Is the French FA investing any money into developing teams in the Pacific Francophone region?
Oh so if the Phoenix were moved from the caketin to Lower Hutt for a crutial game and had to play at 3pm on a weekday you'd all be saying "makes no difference?"
In fairness, we were the ones biatching that the westies hosted the final at FT rabbit field and your example here is more akin to moving our game from Kiwitea to FT. Can't say I was thrilled at the day/time of the game, however it's certainly no excuse for the result.
Oh so if the Phoenix were moved from the caketin to Lower Hutt for a crutial game and had to play at 3pm on a weekday you'd all be saying "makes no difference?"
In fairness, we were the ones biatching that the westies hosted the final at FT rabbit field and your example here is more akin to moving our game from Kiwitea to FT. Can't say I was thrilled at the day/time of the game, however it's certainly no excuse for the result.
Difference is this was done to get additional Media Coverage you crave so much.
The Phoenix plays in a real league that already gets TV coverage and is actually paid by the TV company for the right to Televise
Oh so if the Phoenix were moved from the caketin to Lower Hutt for a crutial game and had to play at 3pm on a weekday you'd all be saying "makes no difference?"
In fairness, we were the ones biatching that the westies hosted the final at FT rabbit field and your example here is more akin to moving our game from Kiwitea to FT. Can't say I was thrilled at the day/time of the game, however it's certainly no excuse for the result.
Difference is this was done to get additional Media Coverage you crave so much.
The Phoenix plays in a real league that already gets TV coverage and is actually paid by the TV company for the right to Televise
Is that in reference to my comment or True Blues?
No. Just...no. (to OFC Champions League conspiracy).
The Phoenix plays in a real league that already gets TV coverage and is actually paid by the TV company for the right to Televise
Well that there about sums up the views of many 'football' fans in NZ. If they've even heard of the ASBP or the O-League then it's not a 'real' league like the Australians and the English have... Dear oh dear.
Why? Because it's just a little old NZ league? Because it's not on TV? It's not glamorous enough?
Attitudes like that are exactly why NZ's own league will struggle to move forward.
Pah.
The Phoenix plays in a real league that already gets TV coverage and is actually paid by the TV company for the right to Televise
Well that there about sums up the views of many 'football' fans in NZ. If they've even heard of the ASBP or the O-League then it's not a 'real' league like the Australians and the English have... Dear oh dear.
Why? Because it's just a little old NZ league? Because it's not on TV? It's not glamorous enough?
Attitudes like that are exactly why NZ's own league will struggle to move forward.
Pah.
Okay then, if you leave out the word 'real' in Jeffs post, his point still stands.
Oh so if the Phoenix were moved from the caketin to Lower Hutt for a crutial game and had to play at 3pm on a weekday you'd all be saying "makes no difference?"
In fairness, we were the ones biatching that the westies hosted the final at FT rabbit field and your example here is more akin to moving our game from Kiwitea to FT. Can't say I was thrilled at the day/time of the game, however it's certainly no excuse for the result.
Difference is this was done to get additional Media Coverage you crave so much.
The Phoenix plays in a real league that already gets TV coverage and is actually paid by the TV company for the right to Televise
"Real league". Being a bit high and mighty don't you think? I like the humble ASBP and O league.
The Phoenix plays in a real league that already gets TV coverage and is actually paid by the TV company for the right to Televise
Well that there about sums up the views of many 'football' fans in NZ. If they've even heard of the ASBP or the O-League then it's not a 'real' league like the Australians and the English have... Dear oh dear.
Why? Because it's just a little old NZ league? Because it's not on TV? It's not glamorous enough?
Attitudes like that are exactly why NZ's own league will struggle to move forward.
Pah.
What I am getting at is that you are given a mechanism whereby you get increased media coverage through the limited resources of the OFC and you try to turn it into a conspiracy theory.
our league is fucked anyway, we now have a team called 'WaiBOP' in it
No. Just...no. (to OFC Champions League conspiracy).
I agree
Oh so if the Phoenix were moved from the caketin to Lower Hutt for a crutial game and had to play at 3pm on a weekday you'd all be saying "makes no difference?"
In fairness, we were the ones biatching that the westies hosted the final at FT rabbit field and your example here is more akin to moving our game from Kiwitea to FT. Can't say I was thrilled at the day/time of the game, however it's certainly no excuse for the result.
Difference is this was done to get additional Media Coverage you crave so much.
The Phoenix plays in a real league that already gets TV coverage and is actually paid by the TV company for the right to Televise
"Real league". Being a bit high and mighty don't you think? I like the humble ASBP and O league.
And yes a real league, not something that has only been won by two teams over its 8 year History. While ACFC or Waitakere cant be blamed for that, it is up to the other teams in the League to reach those standards. How that is done I have no idea? You often say NZFootball need to spend more on it. Fine. Where will all this extra money come from? They struggle like hell to do what they do now. Bigger Levies on kids playing? Cut funding to National teams?, that will go down really well.
A better product is what is needed across the board that may attract some more interest from Sponsorship and Television, because at the moment the product just is not good enough apart from about three games a year.
Perhaps if average players were not getting paid silly money and this goes down to Central and Northern Leagues as well some largesse may be available to be spread around a bit more.
The Phoenix plays in a real league that already gets TV coverage and is actually paid by the TV company for the right to Televise
Well that there about sums up the views of many 'football' fans in NZ. If they've even heard of the ASBP or the O-League then it's not a 'real' league like the Australians and the English have... Dear oh dear.
Why? Because it's just a little old NZ league? Because it's not on TV? It's not glamorous enough?
Attitudes like that are exactly why NZ's own league will struggle to move forward.
Pah.
What I am getting at is that you are given a mechanism whereby you get increased media coverage through the limited resources of the OFC and you try to turn it into a conspiracy theory.
Eh? If you check back, I'm nothing to do with the conspiracy theory stuff. In fact, if you read carefully, I was distancing myself from the views of True Blue by suggesting his theoretical comparison of our game shifting with moving a Phoenix game to Upper Hutt or some such was not exactly a fair one and by pointing out that we were the ones complaining when the grand final was held at Fred Taylor.
The Phoenix plays in a real league that already gets TV coverage and is actually paid by the TV company for the right to Televise
Well that there about sums up the views of many 'football' fans in NZ. If they've even heard of the ASBP or the O-League then it's not a 'real' league like the Australians and the English have... Dear oh dear.
Why? Because it's just a little old NZ league? Because it's not on TV? It's not glamorous enough?
Attitudes like that are exactly why NZ's own league will struggle to move forward.
Pah.
What I am getting at is that you are given a mechanism whereby you get increased media coverage through the limited resources of the OFC and you try to turn it into a conspiracy theory.
Eh? If you check back, I'm nothing to do with the conspiracy theory stuff. In fact, if you read carefully, I was distancing myself from the views of True Blue by suggesting his theoretical comparison of our game shifting with moving a Phoenix game to Upper Hutt or some such was not exactly a fair one and by pointing out that we were the ones complaining when the grand final was held at Fred Taylor.
Fair enough. My Original comment was directed at True Blue
Oh so if the Phoenix were moved from the caketin to Lower Hutt for a crutial game and had to play at 3pm on a weekday you'd all be saying "makes no difference?"
In fairness, we were the ones biatching that the westies hosted the final at FT rabbit field and your example here is more akin to moving our game from Kiwitea to FT. Can't say I was thrilled at the day/time of the game, however it's certainly no excuse for the result.
Difference is this was done to get additional Media Coverage you crave so much.
The Phoenix plays in a real league that already gets TV coverage and is actually paid by the TV company for the right to Televise
"Real league". Being a bit high and mighty don't you think? I like the humble ASBP and O league.
Oh so if the Phoenix were moved from the caketin to Lower Hutt for a crutial game and had to play at 3pm on a weekday you'd all be saying "makes no difference?"
In fairness, we were the ones biatching that the westies hosted the final at FT rabbit field and your example here is more akin to moving our game from Kiwitea to FT. Can't say I was thrilled at the day/time of the game, however it's certainly no excuse for the result.
Difference is this was done to get additional Media Coverage you crave so much.
The Phoenix plays in a real league that already gets TV coverage and is actually paid by the TV company for the right to Televise
The OFC TV venture will sink OFC and its done a pretty good job of that already.
Oh so if the Phoenix were moved from the caketin to Lower Hutt for a crutial game and had to play at 3pm on a weekday you'd all be saying "makes no difference?"
In fairness, we were the ones biatching that the westies hosted the final at FT rabbit field and your example here is more akin to moving our game from Kiwitea to FT. Can't say I was thrilled at the day/time of the game, however it's certainly no excuse for the result.
Difference is this was done to get additional Media Coverage you crave so much.
The Phoenix plays in a real league that already gets TV coverage and is actually paid by the TV company for the right to Televise
"Real league". Being a bit high and mighty don't you think? I like the humble ASBP and O league.
And yes a real league, not something that has only been won by two teams over its 8 year History. While ACFC or Waitakere cant be blamed for that, it is up to the other teams in the League to reach those standards. How that is done I have no idea? You often say NZFootball need to spend more on it. Fine. Where will all this extra money come from? They struggle like hell to do what they do now. Bigger Levies on kids playing? Cut funding to National teams?, that will go down really well.
A better product is what is needed across the board that may attract some more interest from Sponsorship and Television, because at the moment the product just is not good enough apart from about three games a year.
Perhaps if average players were not getting paid silly money and this goes down to Central and Northern Leagues as well some largesse may be available to be spread around a bit more.
There is no money and there will be no coverage but that does not stop some people saying the game needs more of it. The game needs to be sustainable on its own two feet first and its not. How many teams struggle or have struggled? Now there is a league with coverage, one-eyed willy bleats about a conspiracy.
I have not seen the highlights of the 12-2 game but I would not imagine Mont Dore being that flash?
Mont Dore were astoundingly bad - I'm surprised Waitakere didn't demolish them last night.
ACFC positively Pnix like today...really dreadful....
You mean, you were beaten by a better team?!?! Surely not. This was one to win comfortably. There is no way that an Island team could beat ACFC. Say it ain't so...
You must have enjoyed this result.
It goes to show - the island teams are getting better. First Hekari oust Waitakere from the O League in 2010, then New Caledonia upset the All Whites and knock them out of the Confederations Cup and now effectively the Tahiti national side (as Dragon) draw away to Waitak and beat City...
I still think City and Waitak will make the top two in their group but Dragon could snatch second spot with home games to come...
AS Dragon = "Tahitian national side" + three French imports, which is something new in the O-League. So, some talent there:
Jonathan Cabale is a 24 yr-old striker from FC Poitiers, a formerly bigger club who were in Ligue 2 (national 2nd division) in the 90's but now in CFA 2 (5th tier) of French footie, with a ground holding 15,750.
Kevin Gaudin is a 20 yr-old defender from another of the better CFA 2 clubs, Chambery. In the 2010–11 season, Chambéry became the first amateur club in Coupe de France (French Cup) history to defeat three Ligue 1 clubs (Monaco, Brest, Sochaux), before losing in the quarterfinals, one of the greatest giant-killing feats in the history of European football. That's equivalent to a Conference side in England defeating three Premier Lge teams in the FA Cup!
Dragon player-coach Ludovic Graugnard, 35, is another lower-league player from France, a midfielder ex- Stade Bethunois, Saint Remy etc.
Of course some of their Tahitians ain't bad either - Nicolas Vallar didn't make many friends with his thuggish behaviour vs. the All Whites in Christchurch last October - but had several seasons playing as high as Ligue 2 with Sete in France.
I have to admit ACFC can hardly complain as we've got ex-Croatian internationals and Spanish professionals. It certainly livens up a usually predictable O League. Is the French FA investing any money into developing teams in the Pacific Francophone region?
What ex-Croatian internationals does ACFC have?
[/quote]
AS Dragon = "Tahitian national side" + three French imports, which is something new in the O-League. So, some talent there:
Jonathan Cabale is a 24 yr-old striker from FC Poitiers, a formerly bigger club who were in Ligue 2 (national 2nd division) in the 90's but now in CFA 2 (5th tier) of French footie, with a ground holding 15,750.
Kevin Gaudin is a 20 yr-old defender from another of the better CFA 2 clubs, Chambery. In the 2010–11 season, Chambéry became the first amateur club in Coupe de France (French Cup) history to defeat three Ligue 1 clubs (Monaco, Brest, Sochaux), before losing in the quarterfinals, one of the greatest giant-killing feats in the history of European football. That's equivalent to a Conference side in England defeating three Premier Lge teams in the FA Cup!
Dragon player-coach Ludovic Graugnard, 35, is another lower-league player from France, a midfielder ex- Stade Bethunois, Saint Remy etc.
Of course some of their Tahitians ain't bad either - Nicolas Vallar didn't make many friends with his thuggish behaviour vs. the All Whites in Christchurch last October - but had several seasons playing as high as Ligue 2 with Sete in France.
[/quote]
I have to admit ACFC can hardly complain as we've got ex-Croatian internationals and Spanish professionals. It certainly livens up a usually predictable O League. Is the French FA investing any money into developing teams in the Pacific Francophone region?
[/quote]What ex-Croatian internationals does ACFC have?
[/quote]
Mario Billen was Under 20 Croatian international I gather.
Eh? If you check back, I'm nothing to do with the conspiracy theory stuff. In fact, if you read carefully, I was distancing myself from the views of True Blue by suggesting his theoretical comparison of our game shifting with moving a Phoenix game to Upper Hutt or some such was not exactly a fair one and by pointing out that we were the ones complaining when the grand final was held at Fred Taylor.
[/quote]
Fair enough. My Original comment was directed at True Blue
[/quote]
My point was it's a shame the important "home" game against Dragon wasn't played at Kiwitea Street on a weekend when ACFC could have enjoyed its home support on their favourite ground. Any team would want that for such a vital game. Trusts Stadium is effectively Waitakere's home ground, having been that for the first three seasons of the ASBP.
Eh? If you check back, I'm nothing to do with the conspiracy theory stuff. In fact, if you read carefully, I was distancing myself from the views of True Blue by suggesting his theoretical comparison of our game shifting with moving a Phoenix game to Upper Hutt or some such was not exactly a fair one and by pointing out that we were the ones complaining when the grand final was held at Fred Taylor.
[/quote]
Fair enough. My Original comment was directed at True Blue
[/quote]
My point was it's a shame the important "home" game against Dragon wasn't played at Kiwitea Street on a weekend when ACFC could have enjoyed its home support on their favourite ground. Any team would want that for such a vital game. Trusts Stadium is effectively Waitakere's home ground, having been that for the first three seasons of the ASBP.
Mario Billen was Under 20 Croatian international I gather.
Oh, you meant youth international.
Eh? If you check back, I'm nothing to do with the conspiracy theory stuff. In fact, if you read carefully, I was distancing myself from the views of True Blue by suggesting his theoretical comparison of our game shifting with moving a Phoenix game to Upper Hutt or some such was not exactly a fair one and by pointing out that we were the ones complaining when the grand final was held at Fred Taylor.
[/quote]
Fair enough. My Original comment was directed at True Blue
[/quote]
My point was it's a shame the important "home" game against Dragon wasn't played at Kiwitea Street on a weekend when ACFC could have enjoyed its home support on their favourite ground. Any team would want that for such a vital game. Trusts Stadium is effectively Waitakere's home ground, having been that for the first three seasons of the ASBP.
Might pay to read your own words JV. The irony of being told to shut up by you does make me laugh. Happy pills JV, happy pills!
AUCKLAND CITY (NZL) v WAITAKERE UNITED (NZL)
KIWITEA STREET, SANDRINGHAM
KICK-OFF: 3pm
Come on football fans in Auckland - come along and watch one of the most compelling derby's in football. This is pretty much a must win for both teams so will be a cracker. If you like football and live in Auckland but have never seen these two teams play then give it a go - Auckland won the last one and Waitakere the one before that. I'm fairly convinced that the games between these two teams will be some of the most exciting football you will see in NZ... Come and have a sing!
AUCKLAND CITY (NZL) v WAITAKERE UNITED (NZL)
KIWITEA STREET, SANDRINGHAM
KICK-OFF: 3pm
Eh? If you check back, I'm nothing to do with the conspiracy theory stuff. In fact, if you read carefully, I was distancing myself from the views of True Blue by suggesting his theoretical comparison of our game shifting with moving a Phoenix game to Upper Hutt or some such was not exactly a fair one and by pointing out that we were the ones complaining when the grand final was held at Fred Taylor.
[/quote]
Fair enough. My Original comment was directed at True Blue
[/quote]
My point was it's a shame the important "home" game against Dragon wasn't played at Kiwitea Street on a weekend when ACFC could have enjoyed its home support on their favourite ground. Any team would want that for such a vital game. Trusts Stadium is effectively Waitakere's home ground, having been that for the first three seasons of the ASBP.
Might pay to read your own words JV. The irony of being told to shut up by you does make me laugh. Happy pills JV, happy pills!
Eh? If you check back, I'm nothing to do with the conspiracy theory stuff. In fact, if you read carefully, I was distancing myself from the views of True Blue by suggesting his theoretical comparison of our game shifting with moving a Phoenix game to Upper Hutt or some such was not exactly a fair one and by pointing out that we were the ones complaining when the grand final was held at Fred Taylor.
[/quote]
Fair enough. My Original comment was directed at True Blue
[/quote]
My point was it's a shame the important "home" game against Dragon wasn't played at Kiwitea Street on a weekend when ACFC could have enjoyed its home support on their favourite ground. Any team would want that for such a vital game. Trusts Stadium is effectively Waitakere's home ground, having been that for the first three seasons of the ASBP.
Might pay to read your own words JV. The irony of being told to shut up by you does make me laugh. Happy pills JV, happy pills!
I'm not quite sure what I've run out of JV, perhaps eggs. Anyway as a "smug and high and mighty" ACFC fan I'll soldier manfully on. Cheer up JV.
AUCKLAND CITY (NZL) v WAITAKERE UNITED (NZL)
KIWITEA STREET, SANDRINGHAM
KICK-OFF: 3pm
Come on football fans in Auckland - come along and watch one of the most compelling derby's in football. This is pretty much a must win for both teams so will be a cracker. If you like football and live in Auckland but have never seen these two teams play then give it a go - Auckland won the last one and Waitakere the one before that. I'm fairly convinced that the games between these two teams will be some of the most exciting football you will see in NZ... Come and have a sing!
AUCKLAND CITY (NZL) v WAITAKERE UNITED (NZL)
KIWITEA STREET, SANDRINGHAM
KICK-OFF: 3pm
Join Ali and Ed and the friendly ACFC supporters for a great game of football.
Eh? If you check back, I'm nothing to do with the conspiracy theory stuff. In fact, if you read carefully, I was distancing myself from the views of True Blue by suggesting his theoretical comparison of our game shifting with moving a Phoenix game to Upper Hutt or some such was not exactly a fair one and by pointing out that we were the ones complaining when the grand final was held at Fred Taylor.
[/quote]
Fair enough. My Original comment was directed at True Blue
[/quote]
My point was it's a shame the important "home" game against Dragon wasn't played at Kiwitea Street on a weekend when ACFC could have enjoyed its home support on their favourite ground. Any team would want that for such a vital game. Trusts Stadium is effectively Waitakere's home ground, having been that for the first three seasons of the ASBP.
Might pay to read your own words JV. The irony of being told to shut up by you does make me laugh. Happy pills JV, happy pills!
"Football always gives you the opportunity to redeem yourself." Ramon Trib, on latest ACFC website.
Mario Billen was Under 20 Croatian international I gather.
Oh, you meant youth international.
From the ACFC match programme v Waitak : Mario Bilen: Honours: Croatia rep Under 20 (1 cap), Under-19 (13 caps) Under -18 (5 caps) Under 17 (4 caps). Previous professional clubs: HNK Cibalia, NK Dilj, NK Hrvatski Drogovaljac, NK Slaven Belupo, HNK Vukovar '91, NK Nehaj, NK Zadar. Most memorable match played in: a 2-0 win for NK Slaven Belupo v Aris Thessaloniki FC in a UEFA Cup 2nd round qualifying (followed by 1-3 agg loss to CSKA Moscow in 3rd round). Best goal scored: penalty for NK Slaven Belupo against Hajduk Split in Croatian Cup quarter-final.
The guy's had one semi-decent season in HNL (around 2008, or 2009, think he was pretty much a regular with Slaven back then). Some of those clubs you've listed are basically pub teams (Dilj, Nehaj, are you serious? I could play for them).
He's also played in the Bosnian Second Division, and in Albania. But if you still want to think this is some sort of a gun player from Croatia, feel free.
he looks pretty handy to me