National League 2024

Bevan best team goal. Candy best dribbling goal. Ball best goal on weaker foot. Yoo best screamer.

can the commentators in the Olympic vs Birkenhead game stop talking over each other?  

Insufferable.

Nah, they were entertaining. Had an alternative commentary vibe to it. Loved the energy..
What is insufferable is nobody sorting out the ballboys screwing up the cameras by kicking the ball around!

I agree Rufus. How good were the stats? Loved it. 

Olympic look out? Birko to make the GF?

Daggydab

I agree Rufus. How good were the stats? Loved it. 

I didn't mind it - It was just annoying when two of the three? commentators were talking at the same time.  Was kinda funny hearing beer cans being popped open in the background

LT01

Olympic look out? Birko to make the GF?

They’ll choke. They always do.

Realistically should be the winner of Birko Coastal game. Olympic aren't out assuming both Birko and Coastal lose to Akl City, and Coastal beat Birko (I think). Tough way back though.

Buffon II

LT01

Olympic look out? Birko to make the GF?

They’ll choke. They always do.

Deserved 2-1 win for Western Springs over Auckland City at Kiwitea Street today. 

City failed to get a shot on goal in the first half Springs had plenty, City took the lead through a Nathan Lobo free kick about 15 minutes before the end before Reid Drake equalised on 89 minutes and Patrick Tobin scored the winner deep in stoppage time for limbs at the end from Springs. 

Mario Ilich probably lucky not to get sent off for a WWE move on Reid Drake. 

Birko has already played city. Absolute clutch games for next 3 weeks with citys loss today.
Good stuff

Birko has already played city. Absolute clutch games for next 3 weeks with citys loss today.
Good stuff

Bit of an upset at Kiwitea as Springs beat Auckland city 2-1.
Even game with perhaps City having more chances but a deserved victory for Springs in the end
Lobo gave City the edge with a well worked free kick afetr 70 odd minutes , burt Drake equalised in the 88th and Tobin the winner in the 95 th.
Things got fairly test in the last 15 minutes or so and Ilich could easily have been sent for almost ripping Drakes shirt off. he seemed aggreived at being tackled. Drake also got booked for retailiation and Gatkek also for who knows what as plenty of others came in with ther handbags.
For Springs Gatkek , Manuel , Drake and Ramsey controlled the midfield largely. Mogg showed why the Phoenix had a long look at hime (think he played a couple of A League games) and tade is still class
City lacking a bit of spark (Howieson and Gillion used to provide that) and you felt this loss has been coming for a few weeks.
Last 3 rounds are going to be interesting.
Top Six goes from City and Birkenhead at 13 down to Olympic at 8.
Springs(9) and Olympic (8) have the easier run ins so can't be discounted
Coastal and NCR (11) have the hardest run ins. Coastal have to travel to City and Birkenhead in sucesive weeks. NCR have 3 of the top 6.
Next weekend will probably clarify a few things..
No longer looks like a Auckland City certainty.
Nest week will probably 

Great result for springs and well deserved. City keeper made about 3 top draw save in that first half. I did enjoy drake getting on the score sheet after that incident, and his celebration of getting the ball and handing it to Illic who should have been in the changing room already. 

Tried to put this in the Phoenix Squad thread, but 'Forbidden'

Super finish from Oskar van Hattum, assisted by Luke Brooke-Smith, with Luke Supyk also involved in the move after Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues had won the ball back

Pretty good snapshot of the next generation of Wellington Phoenix forwards right there #NZNationalLeague pic.twitter.com/we77EpT9uM

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) November 3, 2024

Reid Drake went back to Kiwitea Street with Western Springs, pressed like a man possessed all game, nearly started a fight with Mario Ilich, then scored an 87th minute equaliser as his team whipped out a famous comeback victory 😤 #NZNationalLeague pic.twitter.com/CwwOZQC1az

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) November 4, 2024

Sceeeeeenes at Kiwitea Street as Auckland City legend Emiliano Tade sets up a Patrick Tobin winner in the 90+3rd minute for Western Springs 🎥 #NZNationalLeague pic.twitter.com/KSHz6HJ9r8

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) November 4, 2024

coochiee

Reid Drake went back to Kiwitea Street with Western Springs, pressed like a man possessed all game, nearly started a fight with Mario Ilich, then scored an 87th minute equaliser as his team whipped out a famous comeback victory 😤 #NZNationalLeague pic.twitter.com/CwwOZQC1az

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) November 4, 2024

Sceeeeeenes at Kiwitea Street as Auckland City legend Emiliano Tade sets up a Patrick Tobin winner in the 90+3rd minute for Western Springs 🎥 #NZNationalLeague pic.twitter.com/KSHz6HJ9r8

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) November 4, 2024

did Drake *almost* start the fight or was that Ilich - I would suggest the latter

Ilich/Drake incident happened right in front of me.
Ilich grabbed Drakes shirt - not just a tug on the sleeve , but a full grab almost aimed at throttling Drake so to my mind thats violent conduct and a red ?
Don't specifically recall Drakes reaction other than getting his shirt back from around his neck and being able to breathe again.
Ilich went on and on about "thats the 4th time you've kicked me on the ankle"
Then everyone flew in and the ref had to restore order. Both got yellows as did Wan gatkek for I'm not sure what.
Ilich was fortunate to my mind.

chubbs

Ilich/Drake incident happened right in front of me.
Ilich grabbed Drakes shirt - not just a tug on the sleeve , but a full grab almost aimed at throttling Drake so to my mind thats violent conduct and a red ?
Don't specifically recall Drakes reaction other than getting his shirt back from around his neck and being able to breathe again.
Ilich went on and on about "thats the 4th time you've kicked me on the ankle"
Then everyone flew in and the ref had to restore order. Both got yellows as did Wan gatkek for I'm not sure what.
Ilich was fortunate to my mind.

I think referee's have a new directive to card the 3rd man into these events - which was Gatkek - basically trying to stop people rushing in.

Played against Mario a few times and had to listen to him absolutely throttle young team mates for not playing boring backwards passes to him from promising positions. Sums him and Auckland City up really.

NZF hired Marcel Marceau for the silent commentary tonight?

Thought the Olympic vs Western game was on Saturday and missed it which is annoying. At least I had fifa+ and a mime on commentary to keep me up to date

chopah

chubbs

Ilich/Drake incident happened right in front of me.
Ilich grabbed Drakes shirt - not just a tug on the sleeve , but a full grab almost aimed at throttling Drake so to my mind thats violent conduct and a red ?
Don't specifically recall Drakes reaction other than getting his shirt back from around his neck and being able to breathe again.
Ilich went on and on about "thats the 4th time you've kicked me on the ankle"
Then everyone flew in and the ref had to restore order. Both got yellows as did Wan gatkek for I'm not sure what.
Ilich was fortunate to my mind.

I think referee's have a new directive to card the 3rd man into these events - which was Gatkek - basically trying to stop people rushing in.

Referee directive should be to get to the scene of the altercation, card both protagonists, then systematically card everyone that is still within 5 metres when they gave written the previous name in their book.

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Can someone explain what the bottom guy means?

Noah4thenix

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Can someone explain what the bottom guy means?

Auckland City are sponsored by Trillian Trust who operate pokie machines and then distribute the Pokie money.

Essentially they give Auckland City hundreds of thousands of dollars a year that can only be given to 'amateur' sports clubs - if they turn pro they are no longer eligible for the pokie money.

Article about other clubs claiming Auckland City get an unfair advantage by receiving all this money here: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/67377005/pokie-money-giving-auckland-city-an-unfair-advantage-kiwi-rivals-say

Half a Pint

Noah4thenix

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Can someone explain what the bottom guy means?

Auckland City are sponsored by Trillian Trust who operate pokie machines and then distribute the Pokie money.

Essentially they give Auckland City hundreds of thousands of dollars a year that can only be given to 'amateur' sports clubs - if they turn pro they are no longer eligible for the pokie money.

Article about other clubs claiming Auckland City get an unfair advantage by receiving all this money here: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/67377005/pokie-money-giving-auckland-city-an-unfair-advantage-kiwi-rivals-say

And Auckland City in turn 'hire' their players as 'club coaches' ... offering up big contracts in the face of the $150 a game NZF rule ... (allegedly :-) ) ... you'd be a mug to think they're the only ones in Auckland (and Wellington) doing that. what would Birkenhead's salary be? Or Miramar? those South Americans wouldn't have come cheap ... mind you, didn't help them get into the national league

Nix Reserves up 3-0 at half time over Auckland City!

ACFC will need a huge 2nd half to get something out of this game.

Finn Roa Conchie, Luke Brooke Smith and Gabriel Sloane Rodrigues on the scoresheet so far.

Also Dublin Boon saved a penalty, so not a bad half for the reserves!

Half a Pint

Nix Reserves up 3-0 at half time over Auckland City!

ACFC will need a huge 2nd half to get something out of this game.

Finn Roa Conchie, Luke Brooke Smith and Gabriel Sloane Rodrigues on the scoresheet so far.

Also Dublin Boon saved a penalty, so not a bad half for the reserves!

😂😂😂

Auckland City have been farking shocking! Don't know what it is, but their game just feels really off and they've been second best to everything today.

National League has been great this year! Especially when the streams are on point too. 🤌

Don't blow it, don't blow it, don't blow it, don't blow it, don't blow it.

3-2.

Lol, they're blowing it - 3-3.

They're not gonna blow it 
4-3 WeeNix!

What a game.

Incredible stuff. What a national league it's been

LT01

Incredible stuff. What a national league it's been

We here in Napier think it's pretty good as well.

Fascinatiing last 2 rounds to come
Table is as follows
Napier CR        14 points (to play Auckland home and Olympic Away)
Birkenhead      14 points (to play Coastal home and Cashmere Away)
Auckland City   13 points (to play napier away and Coastal Home)
Western Springs 12 points (to play West Subs away and Phoenix Home)
Olympic               11 points (to play Phoenix away and Napier Home)
Coastal                11 points (to play Birko away and Auckland away)
Impossible to predict a final two 
Napier v auckland next week will be a key .
Coastal with two trips to auckland could be a big influencer.
Not really sure why the league has evened out (downwards in my view) this season. Auckland nowhere near as dominant and the losss of Howieson and Gillion has bought them back to the pack

Sensational from Napier City Rovers. There must be some magic in the water at Bluewater Stadium. Hope they go all the way. amazing

ol'sole

LT01

Incredible stuff. What a national league it's been

We here in Napier think it's pretty good as well.

Albert Riera giving a master class in how to lose the dressing room with his after match interview. Blames everything except his tactics.

Be a little awkward if there's no Auckland team in it...

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VimFuego

Be a little awkward if there's no Auckland team in it...

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... an Auckland based team is already guaranteed for the womens final

Wow, could not have guessed it!