No habla Espanol - the NZFC bitch fight

He hasn't.

Auckland City   3      NZ Olympic Training Squad   0

The island teams use players basically only from their country, and you can see how competitive they are against the NZ teams in the OFC Champions League. There should be a balance in the squad with the majority Kiwi and a handful imports - that�s how most of the A-League teams operate too. I think Auckland City has a decent balance, as well as a good youth academy.

Not just Auckland, but Canterbury United and Team Wellington both have imported this season and it will be good for their team and for their opponents.

I have no problems with 3 imports but I do have an issue that they qualify as a local player after 6 months living here.

I dont mind if its 6 months or 3 months. The league needs imports. Without imports this league would be dead. No one enjoys watching say Waikato vs Otago, they are worse than most northern league teams in Auckland. Atleast when you watch Auck City or Waitakere or Cantabury you know you going to atleast see some quality. And the local boys in those teams are given a lift playing with these half decent imports. Cheers

Wow, talk about missing the point.... If an import becomes "not an import" after 6 months how long would it take to fill a team with 'not an imports" and imports. Now that would be really good for coalface football!

Yeah but then you've just shot down the point of every ACFC knitter out there. ACFC are all about grassroots coalface NZ football. How is having imports in line with that? When the Phoenix do it, its bad (having Aussies and imports) when ACFC and associated franchises do, its ok because it makes everything better. Jeff Vader2011-11-04 15:51:12

If ACFC were about the development of grassroots coalface NZ football, they would not need to get these players in and the amount that they do. Jeff Vader2011-11-04 16:05:31

Auckland City are developing grass root players. They are just using a different approach than most. They are using some overseas talented players to increase the intensity/quality at trainings and in games. Who said a club had to bring through 11 young kiwis at a time? that never happens around the world. Possibly one or two make the grade because they are up to the standard. Auckland City have set high standards and the young ones who do make the grade will play crucial roles for NZ Age group sides and what not. Just because a side like Waikato chuck in a bunch of kids into a starting line-up every weekend does not mean they are developing as players.

City have got their approach right and NZ Football are benefiting.

You dont always get people agreeing...however i feel alot of the comments are from outsiders showing a case of 'sour grapes or 'wind ups'.

Cheers

Again you've kinda missed the point I was getting at.

Jordy Bean says that the Phoenix are evil for NZ football because they do not develop Kiwi footballers. If he had his way, the Phoenix would be entirely Kiwi which is in complete contrast to a football cllub that he supports and is not entirely Kiwi.

The Phoenix have their imports in and develop the Kiwi kids. If its ok for ACFC, then its ok for the Phoenix.

I appreciate you may not share the view of the knitters Greyhound and I'm not directing this at you. I'm just exposing Phil and his band of cronies for what they are - full of sh*t hypocrites. I fundamentally have no real issue with how ACFC run their club other than that they lie about playing their players. I think they do a good service to NZ football as do the Phoenix. I don't think I agree with the '6 month in town to be local' period however.

Again Phil is silent because he has no leg to stand on.

I read this from him - "there should be more NZ players and all the Youth players that they are required to have in the squad should be NZ eligible.
And maybe not have a 37 year old Trinidad & Tobago Goalkeeper!"

Perhaps you didnt read it right, you keep saying all NZ players in response. There are quite a few who would like to see it as it reads in the quotes.


hepatitis2011-11-04 21:02:43

Greyhound, you say "Just because a side like Waikato chuck in a bunch of kids into a starting line-up every weekend does not mean they are developing as players."

hello deckard. In 2008 and 2009 the lads played for Melville in the Metro (Auckland) youth leagues. But as 13-14 year olds it was way too early to trumpet or even publicly pontificate on how they might evolve. For instance how many of this age group get discussed anywhere here?

Bruce Your (red) woolly hat has slipped over one eye. It's Declan that won't embrace talent (unless part of his system). You forgot to mention where his involvement was prior to 2008 and the standard of league these young talented players spent most of this season playing in. Hardly better than 1st X1 schoolboy stuff

Thoughts on today's game? Average team performance in my opinion. But good 3 points.

Can I ask an objective question about how many good honest grassroots coal face NZ eligible footballers started for the righteous and holy ACFC this weekend? I count 5... (Spoonley, Coombes, Mulligan, Milne, Vicelich) Say, doesn't take them evil like the Phoenix as I could swear the Phoenix were labelled cancerous for NZ Footballl for only starting 5 kiwis in recent times... Knitters?

Jeff seriously give it a rest.

Oh i'll give it a rest shortly because I'm getting bored of it as well. You understand that it is no more than supporters on this forum have copped from ACFC supporters over the last 4 years about the Phoenix so in reality, its just evening the ledger a little. I see the ACFC trolls have pretty much gone so don't worry, I'll be stopping quite soon.

Does anyone know how an 'amateur' club like ACFC can obtain 'work' visas for so many foreign players? A couple of these Spaniards might qualify as local players after six months, but that has nothing to do with their immigration status. I would also like to know under which category they have applied for their visas, given that they play at an amateur club and proof of income is a mandatory part of the Visa application process.

In order to get a visa based only upon your outstanding ability as a 'community coach', and not as a 'football player' you would have to be more qualified etc than any local resident who might be suitable for the coaching job. This is different to actual professional foreign sportspeople in New Zealand (rugby, netball, league, basketball) who obtain a visa under the sport and talent category becuase of the fact that they are 'talented professionals' and meet the criteria to play as a foreign player in one of NZ's professional or semi-professional competitions.

Does Sandringham have so many kids playing football and such a lack of qualified youth coaches that after an exhaustive search for coaches throughout New Zealand, the well intentioned community spirited folk at ACFC decided to advertise overseas for suitable candidates for moderately paid part time community coaching work? Amazingly, the successful coaching applicants are all experienced European players under the age of 30 who are coincidentally available to play for the club's amateur football team on the weekend.

a player only needs a written offer of employment from a New Zealand sports club to get a work visa for 12 months.

Highlights from Auckland City v Team Wellington

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft_tsjD1Hfo

Quite right, that is all that is required.

The sports visa policy states, "Players taking up a paid position for a season as a player or coach of a New Zealand sports club may be issued with work visas authorising a permit for the length of the contract, up to a maximum of 12 months. NZ Government employment policies require that people employed must be paid at least the New Zealand minimum wage and that they pay NZ taxes on this."

So with a loophole as big as this staring them in the face, the question is how many coaches does an amateur club need?

As you said, average  performances by both sides. Auckland was better side and deserved 3 points. They will need to do much much better if they want to avoid hammering at the CWC.

TW: right fullback had very bad game, was outpaced several times. Musa also had a loads of problems  on  the left. Good performances by Imray, Branch, midfielder #4 and Aussie #11. Lucas was average today and striker #12 (Galbraith?) struggled 99% the game. I know he's young, but he is slow and can't keep the ball, can't link with other players, can't win the ball in the air, often in the wrong part of the field and can't even  run properly.

ACFC:
Standouts Vicelich, Belunga (one mistake when White scored) and Spoonley. Spanish guys in the midfield were pretty ordinary (gave ball away to often) Manel converted 20% of his chances. #6 (Coombes) below average...

.TopLeft072011-11-07 18:32:00

Emi Tade looked pretty good from the highlights?TopLeft072011-11-07 18:31:43

Hello. Auckland played nowhere near their potential but I was again impressed by Tade. Clever, skilful. And by Exposito, who was just too quick and skilful for Tim Schaeffers (who started out with Waikato many years ago).

Bruce i always like reading opinions on games and thanks for yours.

Tade was the worst player on the park for us yesterday and many have agreed with me. He constantly gave the ball away and took the wrong option too often, however the lad can finish il give him that.

Spoonley has had a few shaky weeks, not sure what is up with him at the moment but hopefully the boy comes right.

Milne isnt a left back, i think we are a little bit stuffed in that position if Hogg remains injured.

Agree with you about Galbraith, as mobile as a fridge. Didnt trouble Auckland back four at all and i dont think he even held one ball up all day...poor player at best.

Musa...i still cannot believe he has played professional football..i saw him do somethings out there that would suggest he is even out of his depth in asb league.

Surely Imray is worthy of a shot with the phoenix...quality shot stopper.

Agree with immaculate facility, but where has the beer tent gone? need to be half cut to watch Dakota Lucas play.

Cheers

The coach has a few Spanish contracts and got the first few over to play. Exposito was friends with Andreu, the last import, when they were at Barcelona and convinced him to come over.

I don't see what problem some of the people have with them though. Sure its a bit suspicious that they are playing in an amateur team, but its better than having a team like Waikato FC.

When I was watching the highlights (and also of the Welly game against Otago) I couldn't help wonder how Nick Branch was the captain of the U20 NZ team.

Look at the first goal. Adjusting his fringe. Second attempt on video, he's just walking and lets Exposito run past. And so on for the rest of the game. I'm a better defender than that.

Because Chris Milicich and hist staff have very few clues?



In five years there is a chance that some of the Waikato side will be representing New Zealand.  Where will the Spaniards be?  One achieves the aims on NZ Football, the other?

That's interesting. I watched the highlights again and he looked to have more involvement in ACFC's attacking plays than any other player. He did miss the open goal which isn't like him but he must have been truly terrible in other 85 minutes if you could ignore all the good things he did.

And I won't deny that he's a mate of mine so may have a somewhat biased view but he is heavily involved in that highlight package.

I agree that Tade was pretty good as well. I thought the standout was clearly Mulligan and as Bruce said, I always thought he was a right back but he seems to have blown that theory away.
The two that I think didn't not really perform was Chad (yet again a yellow?) and Andreu who thought he was on holiday such as his casualness. Someone in the office better remind him of the terms of his contract vs money. Can't have these Spaniards thinking this is amateur hour and they can play like they are on holiday. Exposito also has some nice balance.

Team Wellington - Dakota Lucas is just proving himself to the headcase that his reputation is turning into over the last 9 months. It would be almost bringing him mum there to watch him and let her be embarrassed by the way he perfroms. Looking at the squad Calcott has, I am kinda surprised that some players whom I thought would play, are not. He seems to be giving the juniors a leg up perhaps with an eye on a season or 2 ahead? Imray always has been class.

Chad is a liabilty and it could cost us this year. Nearly cost us in the Solomans last week. I think team mates sense it aswel. Not a position we have much depth in.

chris.acfc2011-11-08 09:37:29

Not sure why Pritchett has been left to don the tracksuit! Maybe his play is to direct for their style. But in saying that Coombes couldnt keep the ball if you payed him per pass. Right back is an issue...and Coombes will never play midfield...constantly fouls....give fans the sh*ts at times.