Canterbury United

I'm from Argentina and i really try to understand some cultural differences. Around here a team is an entity beyond players, managers or directors, you always root for that team, even when you're upset with one part (or the whole) of it.

Not so much cultural differences as an organisational thing.

For most people (with the possible exception of Auckland City ) the ASB Premiership sides are not their first passion , but more their bit on the side that they can take or leave.

Most followers of ASB Premiership sides are passionate about their winter club and root for that team despite its foibles - that's not the case with ASB Premiership sides. 

That's a long standing weakness of the franchises and I'm not sure it will ever be solved.

Despite my Canty Utd team being full of my second favourite team (Tech), I still go to every game and cheer them on. I do this because it's my local team in a national league, and I don't go off at the management or players despite them charging at spectators!

Respect is earned and should not be demanded from both sides.  What about at least some acknowledgement of the fans by the coaches and players.  A friendly wave or a clap after the game.  I have not seen this at English Park all year.  At least Keith and the players acknowledged the fans before and after the final whistle.

As I have mentioned before there seems a lot of disharmony this year it's a matter of how far it goes through the whole organisation.  I wouldn't be surprised that without the Auckland Club money the financial situation is dire.  Getting outside players in has substantial cost and the turnover of them will be bleeding Canterbury dry.  

I would not be surprised if the organisation is slowly imploding on itself.

As much as Keith yelled and carried on at least he was approachable.

Devine on the other hand has the entire area around the subs benches roped off.

Whenever I saw Keith out and about I always gave him a hello and handshake, wouldn't dream of it if I saw Devine.

If you've got a crap side playing crap football supporters are going to be on your back as it is, the last thing you should be doing is pissing them off further by quite literally distancing yourself from them. You want to feel a connection to Canterbury because they are our local side and they (should be) playing for the region and its people. The management and team right now are doing very little to help with this.

I agree with most of the selections - except Brockie was pants when he played for Canty Utd and failed to score one goal in his first stint in 2004-5. He scored two goals in his brief six game second stint in 2006.

I rate George Slefendorfas as one of our best strikers with his 13 goals in 13 games in 2011-12 season.

Wynton Rufer has recently persuaded him to play for the country of his birth Papua New Guinea and has included George in his squad for the upcoming Pacific Games in July in PNG:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guinea_nati...

George got a mention in "World Soccer" magazine published in London in November as one of Wynton's PNG recruits in a feature on Wynton and the PNG side.

Hi Pete, any record of which teams Slefendorfas scored against? I seem to recall him bagging most of them against the mug teams and making far less impact against the top ones, which may have counted against his legacy.

Kiwis don't really do that sadly.  They like to watch "their" team win. But not so keen to go and watch them lose or play poorly.

then went to Suburbs and did nothing

He got 5 at English Park one afternoon

Pretty sure it was against Declan Edge side

I think you are spot on there Waikato with Mr Declan 'keep your shape' Edge.

Yes, a lot of those Waikato kids were a bit raw for national league. But three of them have gone on to pro contracts, and another played at the London Olympics. And Slefendorfas later ended up having a few weeks with Waibop - but did nothing, from memory.

Oh, tks Global.... looking at that, four of them have gone onto pro contracts.

it was a strange game to watch

Canterbury were big and strong and direct

Waikato were skilful, tidy and highly organised.

The better team to watch lost by 6 or 7 goals.

See a player on Canterbury team list for today is Meysum Shafahi. Anyone know any thing about him? Where is he from ?

Don't worry I Googled him Youth Player from Selwyn

Agree the team of 1000s of passes between goals - the Edge way.  The defending team didn't need a goal they just needed that end of the ground 'coned out'

The defending team's goalie became redundant.

Not exactly right.

Big George scored 4 against Waikato FC at ASB Football which Canterbury United won 5 - 0 on 6 November 2011 - Matt Thomas scored the other goal, and then scored a club record of 5 against Hawkes Bays when Canterbury won 7 - 0 on 4 Feb 2012, the other scorers were Darren White and a penalty to Arron Clapham.

That season George scored 13 goals with the other four goals:

2 away against Manawatu in the opening round on 23 Oct 2011 - Canty won 4 - 0

1 away against Waitakere on 11 March 2011, turned out to be the winning goal in a 2 - 1

His final goals with in the play-off

1 at home against Waitakere on 22 April with the Dragon going down 5 - 2 after winning the first leg in Auckland 1 - 0.

From memory George almost picked up as many cards as goals scored. 

that 7-0 should be 7-1. HBU scored a wicked free kick.

Not according to my stats, as well as The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website (the bible of NZ Footy Stats) plus SoccerBot, the ASB Premiership 2011-12.

Canterbury United lost to Waitakere United 2 - 1 today so play-offs now gone for this season. The side should have been in front at the break but failed to make the most of their chances. Waitak scored twice in the space of 4 minutes to lead 2 - nil after 60 mintes with Dan Terris pulling a goal back in the last few minutes.

That makes it 5 losses on the bounce, that has not happened since the 2008-09 season. 

Lets run a competition to try and pick Devine's comments to glorify today's loss.

if he had any brains he would say nothing but I don't think he can do that as there dont appear to be alot between the ears. so im going say he will blame the fans for creating negativtity. hopefully that be the last time we see him at asb as coach

Dragons coach Sean Devine found the ruling baffling. He claimed a video replay showed Clapham was clearly onside when he received the ball.

You think a ex pro would know its not when you get the ball your offside it is when the ball is played.

Another one here

Devine was at a loss to explain Canterbury's fifth consecutive defeat. But the former English professional striker put it down to "decision making, and [not] capitalising on chances in the final third [of the field) with a signed striker who has not scored so not expecting to capitalize on chances 

Well today I was the only one of my group on the bank to be watching the game.  I know the cricket was on but too many of the people in my area have had enough of the poor quality of football and the echo of the way the fans were treated with the roping off of the bank after Devine and Price's absolute shocking behaviour at the Wellington game.  

Also the double standards of the rather large secuirty guard turning a blind eye to players of both teams relieving themselves in the bushes because there are no toilets provided but providing a heavy hand to fans for doing the same.  Surely with selling liquor a toilet should be provided on the bank. 

It really is the end of a poor season from all perspectives. I know a lot of supporters are extremely disillusioned.  No wonder the numbers are dropping.  You reap what you sow.

I have just seen this on stuff.co.nz as above

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/66789194/Wa...

Surely this sums up why Canterbury are positioned so poorly on the table.  Their game today was shocking apart from early on in the first half and the last 20 minutes or so.

Again how can a coach glorify his losses all the time.  What did others think today? 

How dumb are people to believe a video replay showed Clapham was onside when the video camera is on halfway.  Reporting this makes Devine look like a complete idiot for those that were there.  I wonder what the officials think about this? 

Devine sounds like Mark Hammett. Send Devine to Wellington to stuff them up like Hammett did.

Interesting comment - Hammett is coming back from Wales getting out of his contract early.

9-1 v Manawatu

Todays offering from the Press/Sean Devine's mouthpiece. Starts "OPINION: Spare a thought for Canterbury United coach Sean Devine." and goes downhill from there http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/66813847/Co...

The players I feel sorry for...

This is funny. As I sat on the bank on Saturday, Tony Smith strolled into the game at about the 22nd minute mark. Guess he does not have to be there to report accurately!

Must have a double as I was speaking to him before the game kicked-off

 It would give a better state of the situation to the readers of the chip wrapper if TS quoted from spectators and less from the coach.

It is like he watches a different game.  Quite contrasting reading Mark Reason's piece in the same paper about the Crusader's performance.  

However TS did suggest Devine doesn't know what he is talking about with the following from the piece above

"I've never been on a [losing] run like it, even in my playing career," Devine said.

That's some admission because the former English Football League striker ended his pro football days in the A-League with the luckless New Zealand Knights.

We really need media people who report football in Christchurch to state it the way it is.  

One question is 'How would Braithwaite have gone with the same group of players?' (and I know there have been a few come and go).  Your thoughts?

What is your take on the season AllWhites82?  You seem pretty close to the action.

Question is how would an experienced UEFA A licenced coach go with the same, or better still a group of Cantabrian players? Better missing playoffs with local players supported by the local clubs that are putting the $$ in through their levies and likely better gate sales.

Time for SD to reflect on his own performance and limitations as a coach. Time's up.