Auckland City FC - Thanks a Trillion

Javier Iglesias acc to ACFC website. Ex Sporting Gijon B. 

Same player https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/camochu/profil/spieler/175673

Looks every bit like your classic CF (vid starts at 49sec)

Gustavo Souto mark II

Ruben Parker, Brian Kaltak and Dylan Manickum playing tonight

Interesting Manickum is there, thought he was overseas.

how sure are you re Dylan Manickum?

Yes he was on the scoresheet tonight I was there. 

Obviously just a pre-season kick about yesterday, but anything noteworthy from anyone who was there to report? 

Was going to go but I had something on at the same time. 

EDIT: Match summary here

Manickum joins ACFC

http://www.aucklandcityfc.com/news/735/12/Manickum...

Tavano out for six games it appears (Unless this applies to NRFL only) 

http://nrfl.co.nz/lotto-nrfl-statement-2/

Appears his ban will apply to the National League.

"Tavano plays for Auckland City in the national men's football league and it is understood his ban will carry over to that competition, which begins on October 14." https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/10...

What happened to his Euro gig for Futsal? 

Tavano's out for 7 games. He's still got one match left of his 2 match ban for the red card he got before he kicked off the fight off the pitch.

Ramon's given him time off acc to the article.

My understanding is that it was for NZ International Futsal commitments as seen in the quote from the article below, nothing relative to the European club... 
"I spoke with Ramon at length about this and he told me we have a lot of games coming up but in principle he was fine with my international futsal commitments," 

Anyone going along tomorrow?

Was planning on it as I live just down the road but I made other plans forgetting this was on. Hope they sort out another couple of Grammar friendlies soon

Finished 0-0 on the balance of play it was probably a fair result although a stonewall penalty after a foul on David Browne was waved away by Nick Waldron. Also a hell of a lot of potentially leg breaking tackles a lot was let go today by the referee.

I watched the first half, but had to leave at half time. 

I thought City looked disjointed. A shell of themselves from last season. Appreciate it's pre-season, but there was a large turn over of players and the ones that have been brought in didn't appear to have the quality as the ones who left.

I was shocked at some of the tackles that were put in. One in particular from Canterbury that looked like it could've been an ankle breaker. 

2-1 win over Eastern Suburbs today at Madills Farm Suburbs took an early lead from the penalty spot after Elijah Just was brought down (Probably a bit soft) converted by Andre De Jong Auckland City equalised from the penalty spot themselves Javier Lopez-Iglesias (Camochu) converting and a bit of a rocket from Micah Lea'alafa definetly a fair result for me today. 

I see Albert Riera hasn't been playing, is he injured?

I also notice Hudson Wihongi has been playing either right back or in midfield with Bilen and Berlanga preferred in defence

Jordan Vale is an interesting addition, I wonder if he'll make the starting XI?

I believe he picked up a shoulder injury playing for Central United during the winter but not 100% sure. I know he was having surgery on something though. 

Albert was sitting near me at Madills yesterday, had a knee clean up last week apparently

The guy's probably happy living a quiet life in NZ.

I believe he has not been able to play for clubs outside the Basque country in the past (he played for Real Sociedad in the Basque country) due to his father's life sentence for murdering some policemen several years ago as an ETA terrorist.

No non-Basque clubs would employ Zubikarai because of this. There would be too much hostility from fans and opposition supporters.

Although he's not responsible for his father's actions, unfortunately that's the way it is.

On his ability and playing pedigree by itself he would be able to play for no end of Spanish clubs.

this is a fairly obscure yet interesting piece of information.

Anyway i think he played in the last couple of friendly's for ACFC

Wow that's a fascinating little story, Big Pete. 

Wiki confirms -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%B1aut_Zubikarai

"In the summer of 2011, Hércules CF was on the verge of signing Zubikarai on loan, but pulled out officially on financial grounds even though it reportedly feared public reaction to its signing of a player whose father, Cándido, was affiliated with terrorist organization ETA, being sentenced to thirty years in 1989 for the murder of two civil guards."

Did a Kombi van tour around Europe in 1997. My mate was pick pocketed in Pamplona (Basque country). Next day we drove to a police station to report it. Was heavily fortified, and only he was allowed inside. He said there were wanted posters up inside of a bunch of ETA terrorists, many being women. Around same time a local politician was car bombed by ETA in San Sebastian. 

Eye opening for a bunch of country boys from simple NZ.

.

Anyone know why Darren White not in Auckland City squad?  Commenting on today's game for Sky.  Been a solid performer for them over the years. Age?

Fantastic game to watch, finished 4-3 to Auckland City. Was a very even first half, but Welly went 2-0 up inside the first 20 minutes taking the chances they had while Auckland moved the ball into good areas but couldn’t capitalise. Second half was much more Auckland, taking the lead back and never really looking threatened until the last 10 minutes.

Best player on the park for Auckland was new striker Javier Lopez in my opinion. Looked like the perfect complete forward, his vision and awareness was amazing, surprisingly quick for his size, strong and he’s obviously got a very smart footballing brain as he could sense moves seconds before they happened. Fantastic touch too. Honorable mentions to David Browne who was a little bit invisible in the first half, but really turned it on in the second. I’d say he’s the best dribbler in the league after that performance, went on an insane run to set up ACFC’s fourth goal courtesy of Lea’alafa.

I’m not too sure, but Jordan Vale i feel was a very good replacement. Doesn’t get forward as much but most other qualities are the same/better than White. I’ll keep an eye out to see where White ends up, it may well have been age considering Auckland are supposedly building a younger core wanting to utilise youth prospects more

Yep. Retired.

Was Hazard-esque. Brilliant piece of skill.

Between them Micah and David comprise of 90 minutes of misery for full backs.

I actually thought Wellington had an upper hand in the first half.

Personally, thought David Browne was class. Where has he come from?

Groningen, via Zwolle. But he was ACFC between 2012 and 2015. Absolutely quality player. 

Quick and dirty match report

https://in-the-back-of-the.net/2018/10/14/off-the-mark/

micah fluffed a few chances. 

Rudan will  be kicking himself not signing howieson.

Yep, Howieson was fantastic as always today, don't know where Auckland would have been today without him. Him and TAWH were very good distribution-wise, defense was a little bit sus and i think it might have been down to Zubi not having enough authority