Is Dan Ede still injured or not wanted by the coach just trying to please the fans by having him in the squad?
Do not think Wally is the sort of coach to based a selection on pleasing the fans.
No just his favoured 11 to fit them into the team anyway he see fit. Can't see how Chang can come back in (but he will) when only scored 1 goal not a great return from a forward.
Is Dan Ede still injured or not wanted by the coach just trying to please the fans by having him in the squad?
Do not think Wally is the sort of coach to based a selection on pleasing the fans.
No just his favoured 11 to fit them into the team anyway he see fit. Can't see how Chang can come back in (but he will) when only scored 1 goal not a great return from a forward.
Brock Messenger scores in added time to get the Dragon's home 3 - 2 over WaiBOP to go back to second on the table and now take on table toppers Auckland City next Sunday at ASB Football Park with the later kick-off time at 4:35pm.
Wrap of today's game from the Andrew Voerman (formally at the the ChCh Star) Waikato Times:
What a game! WaiBOP with the amount of possession and time in Canterbury's half they should have won. Messenger's goal was something else.
Would like to see the footage of the shot that hit the crossbar twice moments before Messenger's goal as looked like it was over the line - there would have certainly been a few comments if Messenger had not scored.
Great to see a Canterbury side score with the limited times they were up the WaiBOP half. A good sign.
Canterbury really let WaiBOP have too much time on the ball. Bit of a worry with Auckland coming up. Simple game plan should be to disrupt the Auckland sides ability to tap it around in the back and midfield. The guys up front need to hussle and disrupt their passing game at the back.
Should be a good crowd on Sunday at English Park if the weather's good.
Potentially game of the season.
They owe the fans one after the lame effort vs. Hawkes Bay last time at English Park.
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
this canterbury side is a good unit. good to see terris back, he makes defending look easy. clapham is class and there aren't many better players than andre de jong in the league
What a game! WaiBOP with the amount of possession and time in Canterbury's half they should have won. Messenger's goal was something else.
Would like to see the footage of the shot that hit the crossbar twice moments before Messenger's goal as looked like it was over the line - there would have certainly been a few comments if Messenger had not scored.
Great to see a Canterbury side score with the limited times they were up the WaiBOP half. A good sign.
Canterbury really let WaiBOP have too much time on the ball. Bit of a worry with Auckland coming up. Simple game plan should be to disrupt the Auckland sides ability to tap it around in the back and midfield. The guys up front need to hussle and disrupt their passing game at the back.
Really hard to tell if the ball has fully crossed the line, I can't say with 100% certainty that it has. Watch from 7.50min in.
Ball definitely went over the line.
Rewound sky and watched in slowmo.
I would have thought with the head injury the GK would have gone off earlier. He didn't look very comfortable and with all that strapping and the time taken to fix him up.
Also with the directives that have been given on head injuries lately..
Ball definitely went over the line.
Rewound sky and watched in slowmo.
I couldn't confidently say that the whole ball had crossed watching it in normal speed. Very tough to call either way.
Agree with you on the keeper, I'm surprised he kept on playing.
well that's one way to try and play mind games with the ACFC players.......
Saw on Twitter they diverted to Wellington but are now on their way to Christchurch. No confirmation yet if game will go ahead.
well that's one way to try and play mind games with the ACFC players.......
"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...
I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...
Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."
Piney just announced that game has been postponed. Good call I think here!
Decision expected soon as to whether the game will go ahead this afternoon at English Park.
Check for updates here on the Dragons Twitter:
https://twitter.com/CU_Dragons
The ground beneath the pitch is much stronger than before the Feb 2011 quake after much work on it before they laid the artificial pitch.
The ground was being prepared for the new artificial pitch when the Feb 2011 quake hit and there was much liquifaction.
I passed by soon after that quake (used to live up the road) and it was a real mess with sand and water bubbling up to the surface.
That area is former swamp land and always had drainage problems. The ground is very soft around there.
I just hope all the work done on ASB Football Park was up to today's large quake.
Depends on if they think the stand is safe too I guess.
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
Game is off today.
Will be re-scheduled:
Canterbury United FC Retweeted
ASB Premiership @ASBPremiership 6 minutes ago
FIXTURE l @CU_Dragons v @AucklandCity_FC postponed due to earthquake. Game to be rescheduled for a later date shortly #CUvAC
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
My experience in Christchurch in 210 and 2011 was that the City Council closed all Council buildings after a shake like this. English Park falls into this category. They will probably remain closed until a satisafactory Engineering inspection.
Name change! Peter Dunne United - they love that Synthetic grass!
Peoples Republik of Aucklandia
My experience in Christchurch in 210 and 2011 was that the City Council closed all Council buildings after a shake like this. English Park falls into this category. They will probably remain closed until a satisafactory Engineering inspection.
Correct that was the issue, all council buildings an amenities were closed until they could be checked.
The pitch was OK with Canterbury United having a inter squad game but were not allowed to use the changing rooms.
I think repairs have recently been completed to the Mainland Fed Admin block - located under the stands at ASB Football Park, caused by the 2011 quakes.
Deja vu:
Russell Kamo Same as almost 5 years ago to the day Canterbury Utd vs Auckland City being postponed due to earthquake.
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
tonight we have lacked real quality up front but to be fair have done all season midfield de Jong especially has carried us! Aaron Spain ahead of dan Ede? He has never been prolific goal scorer in the mainland so why his continued inclusion as a striker. Let's be fair only one side have scored less. Edes goal scoring record speaks for itself give the boy a crack. We have the same problem every year not been able to score. Chang 1 from 12. White 3 from 11 Kaua 1 from 11 not good stats and no goal from Jesse
I let my guitar speak for me
Thought this was a good article in The Press today http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/77378503/ca...
Willy is a breath of fresh air after last year. The players seem to respect him and the results follow.
Best of all he acknowledges the fans.
Thanks for a great season Willy and team - the football has been entertaining as well...
I let my guitar speak for me
What a change from 'fudge these Auckland out of towners' before the start of the season...
Grumpy old bastard alert
Yes breath of fresh air.... Last year you would have had the coach launching himself at the fans and yelling expletives.
Great to see Mike Fridge aka 'Elvis' appreciating well mannered banter. Now that is how you earn repect - most Canterbury fans were right behind him in support of a number of bad calls.
What a change from 'fudge these Auckland out of towners' before the start of the season...
Can't you hear us singing because we are winning?
What a change from 'fudge these Auckland out of towners' before the start of the season...
Given the volumes of sheer cockery posted on these forums this years Dragons preseason rants are not ranked at #1, but still in the top 5 I feel.
E's Flat Ah's Flat Too
What a change from 'fudge these Auckland out of towners' before the start of the season...
Can't you hear us singing because we are winning?
Grumpy old bastard alert
What a change from 'fudge these Auckland out of towners' before the start of the season...
Can't you hear us singing because we are winning?
They still could! Just need to beat Auckland this weekend and then win the final!
What a change from 'fudge these Auckland out of towners' before the start of the season...
Can't you hear us singing because we are winning?
They still could! Just need to beat Auckland this weekend and then win the final!
Exactly what sounds hard about that?
Thanks for a great season Willy and the team. Pity the season is not longer as you have really started to 'hit your straps' You have done Canterbury proud....
Thanks for a great season Willy and the team. Pity the season is not longer as you have really started to 'hit your straps' You have done Canterbury proud....
As Glen Larma would say Good job Wally