Just who is the best team in NZ then?

Just who is the best team in NZ then?

The 'Nix or Auckland City? Pointless argument really but the top team in the NZFC vs the bottom one in the A-League would probably be pretty close i think man-for-man.

No chance.  Different league, different class.

so Auckland vs Perth?? for one you can't compare NZFC to A-League (well you can, but you shouldn't) ... and second, you're saying its a pointless argument, so yea thats that .. NO POINT

i think auck city cud cause some problems for phoenix

I don't. The Phoenix could rip them limb from limb.

In matches this year:

Auckland City vs Waitakere 1-1
Sepahan vs Waitakere 3-1
Urawa vs Sepahan 3-1
Sydney FC vs Urawa 2-2
Sydney FC vs Wellington Phoenix 1-2

Therefore : Phoenix 5 goals better.

(Yes, I know this doesn't remotely stack up).

uli and utd07 are not serious.id probably back felipe to skin rupesh puna and chad coombes is unlikely to beat dodd in a one on one.and at this stage its not certain that auckland are the best team.team wgtn game in hand i believe and there only a point aheadfelipe2007-12-12 13:23:37

There's really no point in discussing this, it's not even close.

Put it this way, who in the City starting lineup would make the Phoenix starting lineup?

Both Young and Jordan would be well out of their league, and that's the side basically. Sigmund is the only player that could come close at all...

Certainly some confident comments from the Nix sipporters! I remember in 2005 that an Auckland team without Jordan lost 2-3 to Sydney FC in the Oceania's to an injury time winner from Corica. Sydney was no1 team in A-League then. I think the team likely to finish last or second to last in the A-League this year would have a very tough matchup with the NZFC'S no1 team. Just an opinion. Dont think it is worth matching up players man-for-man it is an overall team vs team thing, otherwise you bring up names like Christie and Old into the equation felipe and it kinda kills your argument. Would certainly be a ripper match I reckon.

Old and christie are still better than anything auckland has.

Lysergic_Bliss2007-12-12 19:57:04

Chocnut please Old and Christie better than anything Auckland has!!!
even  Herbert has realised that Old is crap
hence why he hasnt played for NZ recently
and he is trying to find a position for christie
the Korean guy Ki Hyung Lee is a much better player than Christie will ever be
and James Pritchett would be a far better right back and lets not even compare Old and Sigmund!!!

Same ol Jafas ...

That's a ridiculous argument, however, as it supports my opinion I will go along with it. loyalgunner2007-12-13 22:58:20

I can't see too many Auckland players in the All Whites (bar Sigmund).

So who do Pritchett and Campbell play for?

Actually the A-League had not even played a game.  Sides halfway through recruiting played a competition prior to V1.  Many players were not close to match fit, not to take anything away from a great display by Auckland from all accounts.  Having said that Sydney did win the rest of their matches, Auckland seemed to peak for that and then struggled against sides they would normally have beaten.

The thing with Christie and Old is they wouldn't be the top players, these days they would rank around 15 and 16 in the Phoenix squad, that doesn't leave them compared with Siggy (or Pritchett, who I can't for the life of me understand how he is an international Right back).  Old is more closely compared to George Suri or someone like that and there isn't so much of a gap there.

Soupy is an ex-Kingz player so I'll not have a bad word said against him (disclaimer, I won't claim that exempts all ex-Kingz players).

Interestingly on the Ki Hyung Lee thing is that he trialled with the Phoenix and George and Cleberson who have since been released were considered a better use of the import spot.  Maybe there is an indication there of where the two leagues lie.

Just throwing it out there.


Hard News2007-12-12 21:33:39

The fact that Herbert signed to Brazilians he had never seen play
ahead of Lee says a lot about him as a coach!!!
and Christie is definetly not an international player let alone a rightback

How would you know ?  You don't watch Australian football, or do you tune in just to boo the Phoenix and get joy out of a side with lot's of kiwi's losing ?

As for bagging Herbert, once again you underline the Grey and Miserable point.  Incidentally, when's Hostie popping in to tell me I must work for NZ Football because I support Herbert ?

Yeah thats exactly why i watch the A-League
and i've seen enough of Christie to no that he aint know A-League or International player
although he did have one good game for Onehunga Sports once at Ellerslie
Hostie was waiting for you up at Fred Taylor Park opening day but as usual your all talk
and didnt show to busy watching the Phoenix eh
 

You may not think Christie is an A League player but he has been signed by 3 different clubs. I suggest you get some of your Central players to sign with his manager if they want to progress.

The NZ Knights were the best.....

Honestly i just think it would be a close match. The Nix are a very poor professional side by global terms - even the most one-eyed fan would have to admit that. They are near the bottom of a fledging comp and a realistically a long long way off being a decent pro side. How many of their players would get a job in a decent league in Europe? So a match against our best amatuer side would definitely be a close match. No different than the early FA Cup rounds in the UK. People have to realise the gap is not that big, if at all, in this instance. A "professional" name tag counts for nothing when a team walks out on the pitch. Very surprised by the naivity of some of the comments posted above. As Mike Cockerill has stated the A-League is in fact inferior to old semi-pro NSL at its peak before the mass exodus of Aussies best talent to Europe. The difference is in the packaging - promotion, stadiums, TV etc. Dont get too sucked in by the hype guys. Judging by Sepp's comments today a matchup may be coming soon anyway. I think this may provide a surprise to many.

I didn't know they were in the All Whites.

My mistake.

its ok you dont watch the all whites you shouldnt have to know whose in them....

uli its the first season u muppet

I do watch the All Whites...or was your statement directed at somebody else?

It's Hostie's comedy stylings at work.

Getting in a dig about the small crowd for Vanuatu while ignoring the fact that the equivalent match when it was last held in Auckland had well under 1000.

Auckland and Waitakere have been woefully outclassed at the club world champs, Sydney, the one A-League team that have competed were both competitive and actually won games. I'd like to see the match up, but a one off game will never show the true gulf in class. That would come over a season. If these Auckland players are so good why aren't other clubs in the league also looking at the players?

As for the criticism of Ricky signing Brazilians he hadn't seen play live, that's the reality when you put a side together in 4 months. What is important to note is that this side has managed to keep pace with every other side in the comp.

The phoenix are equal on points with Melbourne, are you suggesting that Auckland City would give them a good game?james dean2007-12-15 20:22:41

If auckland can't beat Team Wellington how can you expect them to beat the phoenix?

Phoenix.. easy

This thread and the one that has been locked clearly show why NZ football will struggle to become any sort of united body.When some seem to be very blinkered in their views and only seem to be content when they are sl*gging off other areas.

Seems as if there are still those who claim to support NZ football when all they seem to ever do is sl*g off others who are trying to improve our lot.
Some of the things that have been written recently look much like some of the crap that has been footballs problem here for far to many years.Way past time that some people started thinking about the bigger picture,but that hasnt happened in the last 20 years so unfortunately i doubt its about  to happen anytime soon.

nudity ..is it the answer?

It would be good for football in NZ to see the Phoenix play a few games against some NZFC teams at the end of the season. I think the interest would be there for the games and could generate more publicity and fans for both the Phoenix and the NZFC around the country next year.

I think this would only be good for the NZFC teams.  The Phoenix would not get much out of matches against NZFC teams either on or off the field.