Auckland City FC - Thanks a Trillion

Football: Why Auckland City have world at their feet by Michael Burgess

Ivan looking more and more like an actual mafia Godfather with each passing year.

He'll make you an offer you can't refuse

I really enjoyed that game. Tefana lost their discipline at the end a touch but oh well. I thought they looked absolutely rubbish during their warm up / muck around but turns in actual fact they seem to be a pretty decent side and showed glimpses of real quality. Overall I think they have a few weak links in their back line which let them down.

Good game though, enjoyed it.

On a negative note - to the Auckland City fan that made your way down the stands to engage with a Tefana player after a rough tackle - well done, you embarrassed yourself and looked like a right tosser.

Im sure his is devasted you think that

Ramon Tribulietx has signed a new 1 year contract with the club. 

Found his level?

Must have been hanging out for the AU or City job?

Brilliant news for all involved, city will be strong and make other teams more hungry to beat them...

Still wonder what would have happened if the Nix gave him a shot instead of taking a punt on a complete stranger...

Hope it's not another case of the NZ football thinking  of if they are from overseas they must be better.... a point Ricky proved very wrong when he got the All Whites role originally.

City on the move getting quota players ready Tim Payne,Chris Bright and Dan Morgan Howell the start of two squads.

Dan Morgan who played at Waitak last season? Quality player.

Thought he had a known "attitude problem" with regard to training.

Ha, reminds me of a story from training when I was younger. A French guy had signed up and gave it 0.5%. Coach gave him a carpeting, to which the player replies; "Coach, I don't need to train - I am French, we have flair"

Yeah, Ramon would really go for that.

The problem you have now though is that the Kiwis have the power. Whats Ramon gonna do when they say 'stuff ya' and they know he needs them for Champions League because of the quotas?

Auckland City appoint Aron McFarland as youth coach with Miya Hiroshi as assistant.

Cant Onehunga boys play for Phoenix, Not enough in NZU17's

Didn't Miya upset the Central faithful when he as a Nike cup coach by taking players to Wynnrs

Tim Payne would make a lot of sense. Is Chris Bright, Kris Bright?

Tasty away day on the ferry.

Yes,  Kris Bright back in nz and signed

Couple of TBC's there but a solid pre-season.

Six new signings, not named yet but I assume Bright, Morgan etc among them,

http://www.aucklandcityfc.com/news/420/12/Navy-Blues-face-U-17-in-friendly-/

Bright, Morgan, Graham, and the three from Ole?

Surely not Morgan? 

After he was so loyal to Waitakere that he ran half the pitch and slid on his knees in front of the Team Wellington fans kissing the badge in last years semi?  How could he turn out for any team other than Waitak if he's that passionate about the badge?  

I'm sure he didn't turn out two weeks later in the NRFL either being so deeply loyal to that badge.

axe much?

brilliant post!

liam graham?

who's there from ole?

I just think it's embarrassingly plastic to run out for a Franchise and kiss the badge like you have spent you life wanting to play for them then a week later be playing for someone else and the next season move to another franchise.

The sliding and celebrating is all fair as long as you accept that if it goes pear-shaped you look a bit foolish but the badge kissing should be saved for a badge you actually give a shark about.  If someone like Jake Butler did it then it might actually mean something but even at the time it was just kind of awkward.

Oceania 3+1 rule having an effect 

I would love to see how he performs at this level after so long playing abroad.

i absolutely agree, but i do also think baiting opposition fans is part of the fun from a player and fans POV

kissing the badge though, ick

don't you rate him vader? i always thought he was pretty good

fair enough - i don't know the guy and has always seemed a bit lippy on the pitch so not surprising - however you can't tell me all the fans just listened to him and didn't enter into some kind of re-baiting.

Lost 4 - 1 to Danny Hay's NZ U16's last night. Tade the scorer for City.

Match report here

don't mention who their players are, just that they used their entire squad

I know they have Kris Bright and Te Atawhai Hudson Wihongi back

Also 3 from Wests (4 if you count Harry Edge), not seen names confirmed yet

I can't find it now but someone posted the starting team and subs list on twitter last night - if you're reading this can you re-post here :)

 Recognised Ole players Parker-Price and McCowatt in starting line up. Think there is a fullback there from Ole too, plus of course Edge who seems to be trialling with West Brom.

Might be keeping the player news down a bit until the season gets closer. I'll have a look on Waiheke come Saturday.

TAHW looked in good nick at the Chatham Cup final.