Canterbury United

Me again. Just in case anyone was actually planning on coming to watch the Phoenix on Saturday with the CHCH Nix supporters club we have actually changed venues for this match (as I have only just been told that our regular bar is actually fully booked) so we're now all go at Robbie's Riccarton 7pm on Saturday for the Phoenix vs. Newcastle.

Dragons back on the winning way 2 nil over Waitakere in Auckland. 

Yay

I've waited six months for a post from you, and all I get is three letters? 

Ouch.

A great result away from home. No Claps who was attending former Dragons Matt Boyd's and Tracy O'Neill's wedding.

Canterbury beat Weenix 2-0 today.

Headed goal from corner by Tom Schwarz and individual magic from Clapham weaving into penalty box past a number of challenges before smacking the ball away.

Good crowd of 775 turned out. Must say though Canterbury are hard to watch this season, everything seems so laboured and slow.

Still weak in certain areas of midfield and up front. There are much better options from Canterbury than some of these 'imports'.

Defence still the corner stone. Too tall and strong for Weenix today. For me in Weenix Andrew Blake stood out as attacking left back seemed frustrated by team mates who weren't on same page as him too often. He also made Miles John look even less average than usual.

Hicks was busy for his 70 odd minutes and Brindell-Smith did okay.

I don't think Canterbury United want another repeat of the previous home game where there was uncontrollable anger from Devine who launched himself into the Wellington technical area and wanted to jump the fence and the other guy Price who antagonised the fans on the bank by his continuous offensive hand gestures.

Makes you wonder how they would handle crowds in Australia or around Europe.

I heard a lot wont be back as well.

Playing the devils advocate for a moment here and not knowing your history or involvement in it all, what have you, as a supporter whom feels aggrieved by this decision, done to stop the previous incidents occurring? Even after the one years ago with Phelan claiming racial taunts when the very first signs of trouble reared their head, what did you do to stop incidents after this? What did anyone else do to? You might well say that its none of your business what/how other fans support their team but then you are just passively condoning it by doing nothing.

Couldn't have put it better mate. Absolutely agree tht the "imports" we have were totally unnecessary as we have way better players already playing and living in Canterbury. Have yet to see Miles, Mario and Rossi have a decent game.

still quit surprising how your own team is winning but yet your still  giving them negative  comments on and off the pitch. 

I would like to know what players in the team are better than these so called imports? 

It's not one spectator's role to step in and tell people to quit yelling and supporting their team. If it was rascist, sexist or homophobic then maybe I would. I didn't hear anything too offensive in terms of swearing etc so I put it down to the benefits of having a home crowd.  So maybe I am passively condoning it. I can't see the A-League or Premier League trying to stop the fervent support of the team.  Keith used to come up to some supporters and say thanks, keep it up as it would make our place a little more hard to visit. 

As for the monkey comments made years ago, the person concerned claimed it wasn't because of how he looked, more of how he behaved. Nevertheless, that was dealt with in isolation, the person was banned for two years and we moved on. It wasn't like we were all punished.

Well said Vim and have to agree with you.  All they have done is 'push the problem' - that they perceive exists into another part of the ground.

I have only heard mostly good hearted banter from the bank. The problem lays with people who cannot handle the banter and react over zealously.  Most coaches enjoy the banter - Jonathan Gould, Old Man Gould, Neil Emblem, Keith Braithwaite and even Declan Edge who softened his approach in the end all coaches that have moved on some to higher things - they respected the fans and the fans respected them as without fans there would be no game - empty stadiums = no income.  You earn respect you can't demand it.  

The behaviour from the Canterbury Dugout in the game that resulted in the close off of the bank was a disgrace and pales into insignificance any banter I have heard from the bank.   And as you said Vim they kept their seats. 

Was talking to one of the Canterbury United assistant staff after the game on Saturday.

That club World Cup money will be vital to them because things ain't looking too good financially for Canty Utd apparently.

He said they can't afford to send a reserve goalie to away games and can now afford only one other staff member other than Devine to away games. 

Thanks, Auckland City for the more than $NZ 140,000 or whatever it is per ASB club!

Apparently the half share of the $NZ 3.22 million prize money is divided between eight clubs as Phoenix Reserves don't  get any.

Well be interesting to see if SC Wanderers get any share of the FIFA World Club pay out.

Deleted (double posting).

Yes good point essentially this money ends up back at NZF if they do.  Will be a talking point.

i have had it confirmed that they did pay the entry fee (albeit to themselves) for Wanderers - Not that I think they should get a cut just putting that out there.

I am sure there was some agreement signed as to allocation of any funds won from FIFA World Club - may come down to the word 'franchise'.  Also even if an entry fee wasn't paid and is a condition there would be some hastily backdated docs drawn up.

I don't think they should get a cut.

As NZF pays for travel for 18 people per team per game Id suggest he's talking out of his arse mate!!!

As for the 140k why is money just not kept by NZF and entry fee for next 2/3 seasons of ASB Prem is covered for all teams except Phoenix Reserves. 

That joker was probably just complaining that they couldn't find room to send him as well!

But it's a fact Canterbury Utd sent 15 players with no reserve keeper to their last away game vs. Waitakere in Auckland.

Seems risky not to send a reserve keeper to away games:

Canterbury United: 22. Adam Highfield (GK), 2. Dan Terris, 4. Julyan Collett, 5. Tom Schwarz, 7. Miles John, 9. Mario Hofmann (17. Ash Wellbourn 70′), 11. Andrew Barton (3. Anthony Jones 76′), 15. Dan Schwarz, 16. Tom Boss, 20. Stu Kelly (24. Cory Mitchell 65′), 21. Shawn O’Brien

Substitute not used: Roussin Nkoy

Louis Evans from Canterbury United youth team has signed for Wellington Phoenix:

just a guess but I imagine the entry fee would be one of the easier things to get funding for - so holding it at NZF probably doesn't help as much as you would think it would.

As you said "Just a guess"......

You really are hard to like aren't you.

"Congratulations to Canterbury United Youth Player Ryan Stanley.
He won the Golden Boot in the ASB Youth League scoring 11 goals this season."

This kid any good? What are people's impressions of him?

Any players in Canty Utd Youth team who looked capable of stepping up to ASB Premiership?

I certainly hope so....

I hope so as well - talk about 'biting the hand that feeds them'.  

I am sure the wet bus ticket that was slapped on Divine and Price has dried by now as well.  They need to errect a high fence behind the Canterbury dugout to protect fans from Divine throwing himself at them when he loses the plot.  Price needs a straight jacket to control his offensive hand movements.

No

Do not forgot that on Saturday 10 January at ASB Football Park against Hawkes Bays kick-off is later then normal at 3pm.

For real?

Boo.

Cantona interview gobbledegook: 

"BEST MOMENT OF MY CAREER"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1362836/Eric-Cantona-Kung-Fu-kick-best-moment-career.html#ixzz3OHocRevy

Asked on BBC's Football Focus what the highlight of his career was, he responded:

'When I did the kung fu kick on the hooligan, because these kind of people don't have to be at the game.

'I think maybe it's like a dream for some, you know sometimes to kick these kind of people.

 I did it for them. So they are happy. It's a kind of freedom for them.

'So I speak about that because maybe they felt it. Because they felt something special physically. Maybe it was a different feeling.

'It's a great feeling, but different.'

Hey guys did you read the latest joke in the press this morning?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/football/64...

Lets get another out of towner in because we have no one in CANTERBURY who fits the bill.