Hawke's Bay United

Just out of interest - the parallel is Teedubs when they moved from a fractured franchise model to a club based model. It took a while to gain ground with players, finances and fans. Hawkes Bay United appear to moving in that club based direction and it will take more than a couple of seasons to bear fruit. 

a lot of rubbish spouted. End of the day, the new regime came out firing up about how it was all about local and youth. They shouldn’t have 

The population in smaller centres is not enough to have a single club have enough players of quality to compete without sucking all local quality players into that club, which in the summer - winter competition scenario makes for a very one sided winter competition.

And that's if you can get the players to join the club designate in the first place, in an environment where there is often rivalries and history.

Been there, done that, seen it all with Taranaki United, and again with Team Taranaki, although to be fair they played in the same season (winter) which created conflict between club and composite, with clubs wanting to hang on to their best players, especially when a local derby was up.

Bigger the centre, less the issue as you have a bigger player base

One solution is to have a composite side from amalgamated clubs. The issue then arises with getting the clubs on board. The composite is often seen as 'owned' by one of the clubs, which can produce the same issues as above. It takes a good organisation to actually make it work and get everyone in the neighbourhood pulling in the same direction for the benefit of football in the region.

Shame it hasn't worked out for HBU, even if it was partly of their own making.

Up until this season it has been a Central Football funded franchise.  I have been back in the Bay since 2011 and I have yet to see that HBU is NCR in disguise - I have no idea what happened before that date.  Local Clubs have always had a "tall poppy syndrome" feeling towards NCR - we have become immune to it.

Same clubhouse, same catering staff, same barmen, same commentators, same coaches, many of the same players, same manager, same chairman, same ground staff- at one time or another all or parts of the above have been the same for both HBU and NCR. I know everyone went to great pains to sell the concept to everyone but the perception was always there and was hard to shift. This is not a criticism at all, I honestly think the club would of been long gone if it wasn’t for the input of NCR people wearing whatever hat at the time. 

I think the fundamental issue in the end was that HBU were being funded by Central Football and clubs started to revolt against what was essentially their money used to pay for players from outside the region. Clubs struggled to see any big picture, which I think is a little disappointing but understandable. 

It’s hard for “community” clubs to survive and the loss of CWC money has to bite too surely.

Disappointing again at the weekend and while they're mathematically still in the hunt, it's going to take something special for this team to make the play-offs. How Adam Cowan wasn't subbed, I'll never know. Time to walk the talk and give some of the young local lads a run. 

Bill's great in the air and a fantastic leader, but as soon as he has guys running at him he struggles. Would feel more assured with other players in at CB.

Their run is is Eastern Suburbs (a), Waitakere (a), Wanderers (h), Team Wellington (h)

I reckon out of those the only team they may pick up points off is Wanderers

i did have to laugh at CGs comments in the HBtoday about Wilson, Robertson and Cowan having experience and are a certain 7/8 of of 10 performance each week. Not the youngest of guys now. I only saw brief highlights of goal but Bill does turn like an ocean liner. You would just tell your guys to run at him all day. 

Another disappointing result, but at least some fight shown and good to see some younger players feature. 

Martin Bueno is an embarrassment, the sooner he leaves NZ the better IMO, could be a good player, but plain and simple he tries to cheat every week.    

If his ability matched his ego he'd be playing in La Liga - it doesn't.

Another disappointing result, but at least some fight shown and good to see some younger players feature. 

Martin Bueno is an embarrassment, the sooner he leaves NZ the better IMO, could be a good player, but plain and simple he tries to cheat every week.    

Agree with this sentiment, he is a disgrace and the fact that the referee knows this and still yellow cards the poor defender, with no contact made , is also a disgrace!

Another disappointing result, but at least some fight shown and good to see some younger players feature. 

Martin Bueno is an embarrassment, the sooner he leaves NZ the better IMO, could be a good player, but plain and simple he tries to cheat every week.    

Agree with this sentiment, he is a disgrace and the fact that the referee knows this and still yellow cards the poor defender, with no contact made , is also a disgrace!

? Robertson slapped him in the face and Cowan walloped him. Bueno is a shark, but the 2 cards against that came against him seemed right

TV footage and subsequent commentary from Fred was not a slap in the face for the Robertson incident,. Agree with the yellow for the chop from behind as that was clear and obvious to all on the sideline and on tv replay.

Time for the board to declare a vote of (no) confidence? 

Who will take over if that was to be case? Not money to get outside coach in surely...

Not sure, but looks like they've given up on and off the pitch - no highlights or score updates on the facebook page etc. 

If clubs want to be taken seriously then there is a hell of a lot of improvement required across the board. 

Jonathon Gould back in the Bay - new Director of Football for HBU

I like Gouldy, but what is he actually going as Director of Football? There are 2 teams 1 which only plays before xmas. Is there really a need to be paying someone to be Director of Football. It wasnt long ago people were up in arms as the franchise had no money. Have the come into some money recently? Or is he doing it for the love of the game?

One team innit?

"The Hawke's Bay United board says one of the objectives in the signing was to have another senior figure alongside Greatholder and Robertson, to focus on ongoing welfare of the coaching group and players and the health and safety of all in the franchise, which it says "seems particularly pertinent" in the Covid-19 environment."

looks like they may need to invest in a mini bus this season to save on commuting costs to and from Wellington.

Young locals in’it

If anywhere in the central league is local then yes...

There are young locals in there but of they see game time is another thing.

funny as previous coach got lambasted for same thing. Wonder if NCR assistant coach is going to come out and say anything from importing players from wells tonight rather then  central football catchment.

just because a team says they want to use locals doesn't mean their entire fudgein team has to be born in Napier. they have the region's most promising talent in their team already

Maybe they get the locals to train together and then put them on the field- as they are looking mighty average currently 

The comment is more about when Brett was coach and he was bringing in players from Wellington people were moaning they were from outside the region. These guys now are doing exactly the same thing as he did... anyone moaning to the local paper yet?

Nothing has changed if anything has got worse going off their performance last weekend.