Canterbury United

The Allsvenskan and Superettan the 2 top tiers of Swedish football would be a better standard than the NZFL. Below this the 3rd tier is shared by the Div 1 Norra (north) & Div 1 Sodra (south) these would be around the same level if not worse than NZFL. Jordan Ball the coastal spirit import striker came from this level. Below this facilities, accomadtion is more than likely poor the teams are in smaller Swedish cities and they get paid peanuts, so unless their working there way up the ladder a return to NZ would be appealing. We need to stop underestimating the level of our national league, Angus Killkolly went to play "pro" in the Lithuanian 2nd Div and compared it to the central league. If you get outside of Spain, Italy, France, England, Germany or the top few tiers the level isn't fantastic. Look at Colin Van Goole he came from getting minutes in the Dutch 2nd Tier last year and wasn't a standout.

So this is the FC Twenty11 version of Michael White, not the Cashmere Technical one?

Youth? 

Mainland have just made a bunch of transfers to NZNL and NZNYL.

This is not the golden boot Michael White from Tech

Looks like those transferred 11th September are Senior and those 13th Sept youth

From The Press:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/97132196/ca...

Anyone confirm that one of the import strikers has arrived with an injury and may not get on to the park. 

Good hit out for the Dragon's today winning 4 - 2 over Tasman.

From The Press: Dragons vs Tasman pre-season

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/97156898/fu...

i see that local influence was to the fore

Canterbury United drew 1 - all with Waitakere United last evening in Auckland.

Nakamura with the goal for the Dragons, who play ACFC 2nd XI on Sunday

Dragons played

Turipa

Schacht, Bowman, Liddicoat, King

Ogilvie

Spain, Mitchell, Clapham, Hoyle

Nakamura

in the first half on Friday. Looks like a first-choice attacking sextet, a second-choice/mismatch defending quartet.

Three goals in two preseason games for Nakamura

Three goals in two preseason games for Nakamura

Progress in another pre-season game 3 - nil over Auckland City after 70 mins - Cory Mitchell, Futa Nakamura and Tom Schwarz the scorers

Now 3 - 1 with Coey just saving a City penalty - into final 5 minutes

Finished 3 - 1 to Canterbury United - Auckland City not at full strenght after playing the Phoenix yesterday. 

The real winner was the rain.

Rain - unusual for Auckland

Match report from Auckland City FC facebook page:

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Canterbury United have beaten Auckland City FC 3-1 in a pre-season friendly at Auckland Grammar today.

The Navy Blues rested eight players from yesterday's 2-2 away draw with the Wellington Phoenix with Reid Drake, his brother Danyon, Harry Edge, Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, Marko Dordevic, Ryan De Vries, Dalton Wilkins, Liam Graham and Dan Morgan all starting.

Harshae Raniga, looking to win another summer campaign with the club, was brought in alongside youth team players Antonio Bonkovich and Dino Botica.

Canterbury took control of the match early on courtesy of two goals inside the first 15 minutes by Cory Mitchell and Juan Chang. Tom Schwarz headed home Canterbury's third from close range on the hour mark to send the Dragons their first victory of any kind over the Navy Blues for four years.

The match got off to the worst possible start for Ramon Tribulietx's team when Mitchell scored after less than a minute following a defensive error.

The home side by contrast struggled to create a clearcut scoring opportunity in the first half although did manage to test the Dragons defensive block reaching several promising positions without penetrating meaningfully.

That resistance was finally broken when Dan Morgan slammed home a firm shot at close range with 17 minutes to play. Shortly after Auckland City FC received a lifeline when referee Cory Mills awarded the home a penalty but former Tasman United stopper Coey Turipa saved Reid Drake's spot kick.

Assistant coach Ivan Vicelich said the important aspect of the match was to give as many players as possible game time.

"That was a very tough match Canterbury played a very strong game and defensively they were very good.

"We struggled at times and made costly individual errors but this was a good exercise for us to get another 90 minutes into their legs so we're happy from that point of view.

"We saw some good stuff today and it makes selection for the first ISPS Handa Premiership game very tough which is good for us. We have good quality in this squad and it puts players under pressure to perform to their best," Vicelich said.

Bonkovich and Botica each saw pitch time with Dalton Wilkins, Callum McCowatt and Owen Parker-Price also having an impact.

"Its great to have the youngsters involved again today and important they're involved.

"Players like Antonio Bonkovich and Dino Botica came in and see how we do things, experience our methods and style of play.

"The more games we have together the more we'll be in synch for what lies ahead," he added.

The Navy Blues next and final pre-season hit-out is with Super City rivals Waitakere United scheduled for Saturday 7 October 2017.

The finalised match details will be published on www.aucklandcityfc.com next week.

Ends

Match Result
Sunday 1 October 2017
Pre-season friendly
Auckland City FC 1 (Dan Morgan 73')
Canterbury United 2 (Cory Mitchell 1', Juan Chang 15', Tom Schwarz 57')
Halftime: 0-2

Note this reports credits Juan Chang as scoring the second goal with the Dragon's facebook posting saying the scorer was Futa Nakamura

From The Press:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/97396481/pr...

Hell yes. Not only Willy but the board, the team and the supporters. Let's do this!

No more excuses.

This supporter is put off by a $125 season ticket....

Serious? Teedubs are $60

Has Willy gone and overspent again???.....

I'm about to have a wee rant on FB

$125 includes a scarf, VIP parking and a free drink each game doesn't it?

VIP parking would be in the street at the back of the pitch. Means you don't have to walk uphill, over the bridge to the stand. And it's free. 

Geez, you make it sound like Mt Cook

The first few years, when there was 7 home games, season tickets were $50. 

Last year, when we went to 9 home games, the season pass was $90, which matched the 9 x $10 single entry tickets but you did get the VIP parking (on the grass) a scarf which is quite handy over summer. 

This year, for our 9 home games, the price is $125, which now includes a "free drink" after the game. 

All the other clubs offer season passes for cheaper than the single entry fee, but not us. 

Not that picturesque

Boom. $70 season ticket now introduced. 

You're welcome.

Hah lolz

Pre-season game between Canterbury United and Southern United started around an hour late after the Southern bus broke down when heading to Timaru.

Finished 2 - all and the Canterbury United Youth defeated their Southern United counterparts 5 - 4.