Auckland City FC - Thanks a Trillion

I must have watched a different game from you guys. Maybe you lads felt the cold more than I did cause it seemed to have wired your brains funny.

Both teams were poor and it was 3 pass turnover football. If both teams play like that in their respective upcoming competitions, they'll get absolutely smashed off the park so hope you are not expecting much in Morrocco. I watched the number 25 (and I am not making this up) fall over on the side opposite the stand and appeal for a foul when there was no one with in 3 yards of him. It was taking the piss to the extreme. Wanderers played harder than you and it looked like you were expecting the ref to bail you out of dumb positions you got yourselves into and you fell over very very soft. You were bloody lucky not to have Berlanga sent off and I thought that was in the box too so should have been a pen and then Milne handled the ball in the box on the 3rd goal. The only bad tackle was dealt with and that was young Brock (again far side of the pitch for me) so as for this getting away with murder...... I don't think you guys have any complaints about the ref but I think Wanderers can feel a bit aggrieved by him. The people next to me did not see anything in the Browne challenge so guess that's one for the tape.

I must have watched a different game from you guys. Maybe you lads felt the cold more than I did cause it seemed to have wired your brains funny.

Both teams were poor and it was 3 pass turnover football. If both teams play like that in their respective upcoming competitions, they'll get absolutely smashed off the park so hope you are not expecting much in Morrocco. I watched the number 25 (and I am not making this up) fall over on the side opposite the stand and appeal for a foul when there was no one with in 3 yards of him. It was taking the piss to the extreme. Wanderers played harder than you and it looked like you were expecting the ref to bail you out of dumb positions you got yourselves into and you fell over very very soft. You were bloody lucky not to have Berlanga sent off and I thought that was in the box too so should have been a pen and then Milne handled the ball in the box on the 3rd goal. The only bad tackle was dealt with and that was young Brock (again far side of the pitch for me) so as for this getting away with murder...... I don't think you guys have any complaints about the ref but I think Wanderers can feel a bit aggrieved by him. The people next to me did not see anything in the Browne challenge so guess that's one for the tape.

If you had heard the vitriolic comments around the Weenix team in the comp, you would be..... well perhaps not shocked at all. It's was actually pathetic and reeked of 'we have to protect our patch'. Never mind the fact that they cannot win it or take another teams place, it actually sounded like they were worried to be playing them. Perhaps cause they know that this years team is not that good. I heard one guy actually say 'well the Warriors reserves and juniors play in Australia so the Phoenix reserves should too' then went on about how they are breaking all the transfer laws and regs. It was incredible.

You've seen tackles in other leagues right?

There wasn't any sign of this in the game v nix reserves 

I must have watched a different game from you guys. Maybe you lads felt the cold more than I did cause it seemed to have wired your brains funny.

Both teams were poor and it was 3 pass turnover football. If both teams play like that in their respective upcoming competitions, they'll get absolutely smashed off the park so hope you are not expecting much in Morrocco. I watched the number 25 (and I am not making this up) fall over on the side opposite the stand and appeal for a foul when there was no one with in 3 yards of him. It was taking the piss to the extreme. Wanderers played harder than you and it looked like you were expecting the ref to bail you out of dumb positions you got yourselves into and you fell over very very soft. You were bloody lucky not to have Berlanga sent off and I thought that was in the box too so should have been a pen and then Milne handled the ball in the box on the 3rd goal. The only bad tackle was dealt with and that was young Brock (again far side of the pitch for me) so as for this getting away with murder...... I don't think you guys have any complaints about the ref but I think Wanderers can feel a bit aggrieved by him. The people next to me did not see anything in the Browne challenge so guess that's one for the tape.

so quick question - having not seen the game so relying on some honesty here. Did the guy that got MOM (sounds like Brock) actually play well apart from his rash tackles - is it not possible that he was given the award for other things he did the in game?

Watched the game IMHO he was rewarded for physicality rather than general play or moments of good football.

Soft? Are you Kevin Fallon in Disguise?

Yes we all know some players milk fouls and its a blight on the game but some of those challenges from Brock especially in the first minutes of the game were a disgrace.  He was very lucky to stay on the pitch as the tackle on Iwata was probably his 4th yellow offence.  

What happens to that young lad when he's in the spotlight on the worlds stage and he's done by another pacy winger and chops him from behind and gets sent off in the first minutes of the game and we get pumped.  Still get man of the match I think not he will be a scapegoat for the coach not being able to get results.  We need to teach these boys some football intelligence not come on lads get in to them be HARD.

Rant over hope they can perform at the U20 WC and hope David Browne recovers quickly.

interesting - no-one likes to see a promising young player like David injured, particuarly because he has a pretty average run recently with injurys - but that to one side I just can't imagine that the Wanderers staff would have instructed their players to injure people - sure I can see them saying something like "got Auckland City today, they are the benchmark of the competition and you have to stand up and be counted today" and maybe Brock lost his head a couple of times and maybe the referee should have dealt with it better but maybe when he wasn't making rash challenges he really stepped up and the coach recognised that. He possibly may have been wiser to name someone else as MOM so it didn't look the way it is, but that's all down to if Darren plays the PC card or not.

His 4th yellow offence? Wow. I think I counted 4 in the game in total. How many do you think there should have been for the entire game both sides combined?

Seriously, some of your guys played soft. "Oh there is a man behind me and I'm facing the touch line. If I just collapse at the knees here, I'll get a free kick' Yes. Soft.

Does anyone actually know what the story with Browne's injury is or it is still in 'ACFC rabid fan speculation' mode?

Maybe better you were there :)

This sort of exchanges makes me so sad.

I don't know and I don't care who is right and who is wrong.

Football in New Zealand is not better, it is a LOT worse for this kind of pissing match between groups of people who are passionate about the game. 

This sort of thing goes on FAR too much in NZ football. We all seem to fall into the trap of getting precious about our own little patch, and in so doing losing sight of the bigger picture.

We've got FAR bigger fish to fry. Honestly.

If we spend this amount of emotional energy slagging off other people who are passionate about football, both ways I mean, and no I don't give a f@#% who started it either... then we are desperately missing the point.

We have the potential to have crowds of 5,000 - 15,000 at domestic football games in NZ. At the moment 500 is notable. We need the game to grow, and for the media to embrace it. It's starting to happen in Australia... "Wog ball" is finally gaining traction.

This immature tribal bickering is holding us back, and I reckon we need to rise above it. We need to gain traction here in NZ and make football something people are taking notice of and talking about and going to see.

When the All Whites play, we're all friends, with a common focus and a common desire to see NZ football succeed. Right? Jeez, I hope that's (mostly) right any way. If it isn't we are truly screwed.

So if we are all like minded when Eden Park, or WestPac or wherever is full for an importnat All Whites game, can't we acknowledge that actually we are all just people who are passionate about football?

Can't we cheer for our local clubs or franchise with passion without getting hateful about it? Can't we acknowledge that the fans in the opposition colours are passionate football fans too? Can't we have a beer together afterwards?

You got it all wrong bwtcf. Tribalism is the thing. Without it we're nowhere. Honest. Sorry.

His 4th yellow offence? Wow. I think I counted 4 in the game in total. How many do you think there should have been for the entire game both sides combined?

Seriously, some of your guys played soft. "Oh there is a man behind me and I'm facing the touch line. If I just collapse at the knees here, I'll get a free kick' Yes. Soft.

Does anyone actually know what the story with Browne's injury is or it is still in 'ACFC rabid fan speculation' mode?

interesting - no-one likes to see a promising young player like David injured, particuarly because he has a pretty average run recently with injurys - but that to one side I just can't imagine that the Wanderers staff would have instructed their players to injure people - sure I can see them saying something like "got Auckland City today, they are the benchmark of the competition and you have to stand up and be counted today" and maybe Brock lost his head a couple of times and maybe the referee should have dealt with it better but maybe when he wasn't making rash challenges he really stepped up and the coach recognised that. He possibly may have been wiser to name someone else as MOM so it didn't look the way it is, but that's all down to if Darren plays the PC card or not.

Overall there was probably 6-8 cards if officiated at international standard. any number of the 4 challenges from Brock in particular the challenge on Browne (though on goal) the challenge on Iwata (actually got a yellow) and leading with the elbow on Berlanga, the challenge IN the area from Berlanga (yes i can be un biased) Ivan picked one up, from the far end i couldn't see Milne handle the ball in the goal scoring move but if intentional then yellow, and if Tavano fell over with no one around he should def be booked for diving. there were plenty of 50/50s that weren't blown and at no point did i say the Reff was biased. He was equally terrible.

In that case you COMPLETELY misinterpreted what I am saying.

I am ALL FOR tribalism. 

But at some point you have to acknowledge we are all from the same mega tribe. Being tribal is good, to a point. 

But a bit of respect, and acknowledgement that the other tribe(s) are people too, and are passionate about the same sport we are, goes a long way.

Respectful tribalism. That's what we need. 

Not hate filled race or ethnicity based blind destructive tribalism.

you prefer perhaps, maybe?

Did i read correctly that ACFC are playing Japan in Newcastle next year prior to the Asian Cup?

Well that video certainly paints a different picture and made a few on here look a little bit silly. Bugger all in that opening tackle. Barely an outcry from any ACFC players.

Believe so.

And Uzbekistan?

A win for status, eh?

As a fan you call it the way you see it, y'know. ACFC have already lost one striker out for the season with broken bones to a bad tackle. Outcry - well the Godfather certainly had words to say to the ref immediately following.

Good PR

Theyre already the 5th best club in the world, imagine if they beat Uzbekistan who beat a nation undefeated at a world cup.... oh lawd........

lol how much time do you spend googling album covers?

Cause Ivan has never been short of a word about anything in his footballing career.