Auckland City FC - Thanks a Trillion

Payne definitely had Tade covered for pace at the back.  Not really sure why Parker-Price is in the starting line-up to be honest.  Didn't seem ready for the rigours/physicality of the game.  Meanwhile TAHW on the bench as well as Peverley.  Out of curiousity, what is the story with Burfoot since he re-signed?  Has he played?

Agree, it was a good day out anyway and definitely quite tight throughout.  Glad for McCowatt's winning goal.  Deserved it for a good all round performance.  Auckland ground out a workmanlike win with professional type performances from White/Bilen/Berlanga/Howieson.

Don't really remember any Suburbs threat beyond set pieces or some crosses from open play.

Was impressed with Payne at the back, and he was what seemed to stand between a big score and what it ended up. Also thought Built was solid for them, but it always seemed to me that City would score and win. Parker Price not ready for that it seemed, but neither were a number of the Suburbs kids that hay keeps playing. The 15 year old who came on in Injury time was not even a youth league starter , so who knows why these sacred kids keep getting time.

Burfoot left a few weeks back and is now in pre-season with Birkenhead United; combo of too big a comittment/not getting enough of a look-in.

You are one of danny's boys or you don't play, its all about money, They have been told play winter or no summer. Suburbs is a business now not about development.

As one former All White said to me yesterday, it was like watching a team coached in the 80s play a modern team yesterday. He felt that Suburbs were exposing them but not developing them. 

Counterpoint: Development is very much a part of making those demands. They're trying to be the only fully integrated club in the league, with the summer team sitting on top of a pyramid that starts with the 4 and 5 year-olds. 

Even if they end up not being great at developing those players they end up with a more cohesive team, which would be a big advantage in a league with only 18 games played by teams that break up every winter.

Just to add some balance to this - I have watched all of the home games and the televised games for Suburbs and I don't think they have gone this direct very often.  I think Danny and his team decided this was their best chance and without Andre don't forget.

I do volunteer a little of my time to Suburbs as part of the relationship between Ellerslie and Suburbs but i'm am not a Suburbs fan boy - just wanted to add some contrasting data.

Offensively Suburbs were being pragmatic. Defensively they were being bullsy. Constant press, 1 for 1 marking (they never had a spare CB), and regularly made Auckland's keeper played a long ball.

I thought from a defensive point of view and hearing Danny Hay constantly screaming at his CBs to get everyone pressing was great to see and they almost pulled it off.

Schooled em. Onto the final

Into another Grand Final, beat Eastern Suburbs 4-0 goals to Tade 2 (1 Pen), McCowatt and Wilkins

now gone 1097 minutes with conceding, although almost lost that record Zubrikari managed to stop the ball on the line

Not a fan of him but respect this doing it for the kids

2012, Sinclair, van den Hoven, Mata and Spragg. 6 years later they're lining up against them in a National League semi final. 

Could well be rumour, but KickOff magazine (a South African publication) has it that Emiliano Tade is on his way to PSL side, AmaZulu...

Here

I thought that Tade had signed for Waiheke United for the winter!

"Oh, is that right? I'm a Glaswegian" - SPG

Classic! Remember that well. :D

2012, Sinclair, van den Hoven, Mata and Spragg. 6 years later they're lining up against them in a National League semi final.

Look what changing schools and following coaches plus money gets you.

What? A chance to play in a National league semi final instead of sitting on a bench watching imported players play it?

Met a football fan here in Cordoba, Argentina who knew a bit about Tade and Auckland City. He asked if the top 2 divisions of NZ football were professional!!

When Auckland City played San Lorenzo in the 2014 Club World Cup in Argentina everyone was talking about Tade. Some people even said that he should be playing in a top tier side!! Then he missed a great chance to score and some questions were raised about him but I think the memories remained. People in Argentina love to see Argentinians players doing well in any part of the world

My God, that pitch is in terrible condition. 

Anyone got a stream or is it on the radio?

Can't tell if that was Tavano or Messi, bloody hell what a run

(and NZPower, sorry I've exhausted all my usual streaming options and none of them have the game!)

Fudge yes Cal

Fudge yes, well done to the guys for a great season! Sense great things coming up for McCowatt, he and Riera were the best players on the park.

Agree, Why is it that New Zealand Football think its OK to play a grand final on a park that has to have the grass painted on??? Might fool the TV viewers, but is known by the players as one of the worst pitches in New Zealand.

Time something is done about it, Either they fix it or New Zealand Football refuse to play on it. Should not have to play on substandard parks like this. Was the same last year as well. Other cities can manage to produce parks that are great grass venues, so its time Auckland got their act together. Its an embarrassment!

Good question - here is another one.

Why is it that every final has to be played in Auckland where the locals don't really care about watching the game live.

An Auckland team v a Wellington team - why not play it half way - Taupo or dare I suggest, Napier.

Mind you, if NZF had to run a game out of Auckland, they may have to put some effort in.

Isn't the final hosted by the team who finishes highest in the regular season?

Perhaps Wellington could win the league if they fancy hosting it.

Imagine a Team Wellington vs Canterbury final played out in front of 12 people...

Well that is stupid then.

They used to have finals at Kiwitea and Trusts when Auckland or Waitak finished top. Assumed it was still the case as no one other than them two have finished top of the league.

New Zealand Football also have the 2018 Chatham Cup final down as being played at QBE.

No thought, that maybe, it just may not be an Auckland Team in the final. They are obviously not bothered if another team from further afield has to do the travelling. 

And for that they get to play of an awful pitch with the grass painted on it!!

Before last lease renewal NZF had a clause in the lease that x number of national games had to be played at N/ Harbour Stadium. Maybe instead of moving to Wgtn they just rolled the lease over with same clause? 

64:34 Tade at his best - watching replay 

Has to be something to do with NZF - people in Auckland don't want to go to QBE. Pitch is shark, atmosphere/stadium is soul-less, parking's a ball ache, other transport links are poor/non-existent unless you live on the shore/CBD and their facilities are shark. Honestly think there would've been more people if it was at Kiwitea and previous games at Eden Park have had significantly higher turn outs. 

yes just, very similar size to Davey F but has a stand and more room around the whole pitch as its flat and not built into a bank like DaveyF 

Before the Sky TV deal came along the GF was played at the home ground of the highest placed team, but since Sky came along it has always been locked in for QBE

Chatham Cup is always penciled in for QBE, but it will get moved if it makes sense ie playing it in Palmy when it was Napier v Wairarapa or Christchurch when it was Cashmere Tech v Waitak and Coastal Spirit v Glenfield Rovers in the NWKO cup

Part of Martin's plan to make the league look better - play it in stadiums nobody likes, on surfaces nobody wants to play on, at a time nobody like.

what was the attendance at the final?

2600ish from memory.