Canterbury United

So is he not worth the cost of the fare of flying back to Dragons home games.

Still we can always get another unwanted Jaffa [who goes to ASB Park to see an out of towner anyway] and fly them back and forth.

Hopefully may not be a permanent move from what I hear.

He is one of the best young talents around. Perhaps by going North, and playing for someone up there he will be noticed more and go on to bigger things. Unbelievably under utilised this season by Devine. Nice lad and I wish him well.

Crowd today of just over 700. Shame the game was so boring. Did Dragons even have a shot on goal today ?

Canterbury content to sit back and defend for 85mins. Lack of any ambition today. 

Auckland's David Browne playing wide up front was outstanding. 

Agree.  Canterbury were rudderless.  There seems to be a serious lack of 'talk and communication' on the pitch.  Auckland had too much time on the ball which resulted in a huge amount of possession.

Cory Mitchell out Ryan Stanley in so quota the same.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/658...

Got to feel bad for this guy. Surely he has deserved to go proffesional in the last couple of years? 

(Sorry, I see you're new here, but "Clapham for Nix" has been debated to death over and over again here for years. :) )

Got to wonder whether there is something beyond the performances on the field.... 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/658...

From The Press, best ever Canterbury Utd team ??

With Canterbury United going down to Team Wellington today 0 - 3, and with both Waitakere and WaiBOP winning the Dragon drop to six place on the table.

Five games left Wanderers at home next Sunday, then away to Auckland City 22 Feb, then home to Waitakere Utd 28/2, away to Welly Nix 8 Mar and final game away to Hawkes Bays 15/3, probably need at least three wins to have a chance to reach the play-offs.   

it was a real depression game to watch from canterbury point of view. The players seem to play with no urgency or passion the coach needs to take the blame for that. Bring back KB least there is passion in his teams

I hear Boss may not see the season out, off to play across the ditch - in Perth, if the grapevine is correct.

If true this season must be some sort of record for turn around of players.  Particularly ones that have been 'talked up' with media write ups etc.  

What is really going on with the coaching and management of the team?

Do not forget that this weeks game between the Dragons and the Wanderers (aka NZ Under 20's) is on Sunday 2pm as ASB Footy Park. 

Confirmed in today's Press that Boss has already left to play State league in Western Australia.

Did the rest of the squad go with him? It was a joke out there today. Play-offs seem very far off 

regarding today's game with wanderers what a joke. Dickenson looks poor at best. It is about time the board that employ  Devine take a look at themselves and ask some serious questions. Is his budget being spent wisely on out of Towners. Why sign another in transfer window when nobody else wanted him. I again ask the question what has Danny ede got to do to get a chance. Under kb it was no secret he did not rate him and was justified to a point with his record. In the past you could label him as a lazy player. What I have seen of him the last couple seasons his work rate has improved. Lazy or not he creates and scores goals. 

Have to agree the team were directionless like a ship with no rudder.  They should have put more pressure on the under 20s earlier on in the game they gave them too much time on the ball.  Canterbury clearly lacked any strategy or plan - if there was one it certainly doesn't seem to be getting through to the players.  

The under 20s confidence grew as the game wore on while Canterbury's game deteriorated.  Do the Canterbury coaches and management do any planning?  Seemed to be no direction coming from the Canterbury dugout while Bazeley and Emblem looked to be masters of a well drilled team.

We need someone else (coach)for the reminder of season and maybe lucky and get a play off place

Yes it looks like someone has been promoted to their level of incompetence...

also for a team who went nearly 3 games without a goal to make stupid statements in the press like he did was brainless

He plays in div 1 that's why

Going by the language used between players on the pitch it doesn't seem a happy team.  No doubt we will hear more as the team will start to 'leak' their frustrations.

That also comes from the sidelines! remember the welly game was it? that's when you knew he wasn't cut out for it

yeah for first 15 mins Canterbury looked good and a different side to recently. Then things went back to normal service. Very poor and disjointed. If Tom S's tirade is any indication of the harmony in squad then there is serious questions need answering. His abuse of Peers in second half was undeserved. Thought Peers was best Canterbury player today and he only played second half. He at least took the chance and tried a few shots. Being screamed at by his captain for being a lazy .... when they were already  0-3 down was bizarre.

Changes needed in coaching team, recruitment policy ( if there is one ) and direction. Today was dire 

time for Turnball.

That is right the game where Devine and Price started abusing fans.  The finale being Devine running into the Wellington Technical area and trying to vault the fence to have a crack at a few of them.  Both of them should have been seriously disciplined.  

The powers to be at Canterbury United's solution was to rope off the bank next home game - going by this thinking no wonder the team is rudderless. Not surprising the fan base is dropping - bite the hand that feeds you why don't you.

the board are totally gutless. they even let devine throw money at out of towners with no reward 3 of them being strikers that have 1 or 2 goals between them. next year needs to be coach that knows the area and players in it and squad need to be all based locally. Alright people may say devine being one of the people that there is not enough quality in Christchurch but when your sitting second from bottom how could local guys do any worse?

How is Mario Hoffman working out?

playing in div one I can understand to a point  don't forget he has scored 70 odd goals has a lot of premier experience.  I also understand he was top scorer for Halswell last year. Playing only 1/3 of games in a poor team Hoffman will be playing div one for FC twenty this year

Imo Hoffman is best out of below average group of "imports". Only came on in 2nd half today for Dickinson, as lone striker. He has had some decent performances and at least looks like he is trying, but not up to ASB Prem standard. 10 games (some as sub) for return of 1 goal.

yet he is seen to be better than the locals. devine has ruined Canterburys identity

Seems to be a case of 'jobs for the boys'.  I remember early press write ups about the imports knowing Devine.  

I really think the guy has no idea he seems to think you can throw a few individual players together and make a team - there seems to be no structure or plan with no ability to adapt to different attacking/defensive situations during a game.  Resulting in frustrations within the team.

Where did he come from?  What experience does he have as a coach?

other franchises have proper educated coaches 

Turnbull has no professional qualifications or professional playing back ground

Or coached at any decent senior level in mens so why would he be a good choice?

You don't have to have a professional background to be a coach. its about knowing the players, how to get them playing and more importantly knowing how to treat and handle them as individuals as everyone is different. Devine think his little reputation is enough for him to be the big guy and take on the fans who pay to watch his players, want to say team but they don't look like it

1. He coaches. He actually does what he is paid to do

2. He is a winner. What he has turned his hand too the various sides have achieved.

3. It is a confirmation of NZF process for the coaching pathway. Why should anyone bother if guys with a proven track record who followed the system get knocked back.

4. No side he put out would play the pile of shark currently served as the best of the best.

he would be out of his depth same as the current regime.

The standard of asb premiership coach especially at auckland,Wellington  and Waibop is higher than that of  coaching a girls team in a 8 game league