Auckland City bounce back from Wednesday night with a 2-1 win over Western Springs at Kiwitea Street today. A very competitive game that probably should have been a draw.
Liam Gillion immense as usual, Springs equaliser mid way through the second half and a Ryan De Vries winner late on.
Also noticed Steve Corica, Terry McFlynn and Nick Becker were there wonder if they're taking a look at Gillion.
Birkenhead (3) v Manurewa (2) at Shepherds Park yesterday. Rewa's second with the last kick (header) of the match. Good entertaining game with a lot of good football played. After a few off season dramas Rewa look quite a good side and even though they have dropped a few points so far could be on the verge of the top 4.will certainly give some of the more glamorous sides a hurry up. The two South american guys up front very exciting , particularly Lagos .Great dribbler and very quick. Paul Marshall used to give a headache with his sideline coaching but the Rewa coach McMurdoch makes him look like a mute as times.He spent the first 25 minutes yesterday yelling at his players who became increasingly confused as to what they were supposed to be doing. Probably didn't help that English is not the first (or even second?) language of some of his players.One of hos assistants acted as interpreter at times. It was noticeable that Rewa's performance improved when he sat down an shut up. Patterson and Phlip were a handful up front for Birko and Piper was the key in midfield. First time I have been to Shepherds Park since the redevelopment completed.Very impressive.That and Keith Hay probably the best two set ups in Auckland.
I went to Keith Hay Park for the first time (well, I've been to the cricket end of the field a few times, but first time to see a football match); the facilities there are really good. The surroundings are picturesque, and the pitch looked like high quality. Auckland United dominated most of the game, WCR only came into it when the match became scrappy. Oliver Fay on the wing looks good, and Takahashi class at the back. Sam Burfoot melted down at the end for West Coast, rightfully sent off. AU were amazingly good for the first half hour, the rest of the game wasn't really needed!
Auckland City (3) v East Coast Bays (0) at Bay City Park 2 goals in the last 10 minutes made the scoreline more reflective of the balance of the play Young ECB team competed well but never really looked like scoring wgilst AC wasted more than a few chances. AC seemed to be resting .rotating a few with a views to OCL shortly. Gillion always looked lively - winder if he is on Auckland FC radar
Whilst not involved in the match day squad today both Kailan Gould and Derek Tieku were being put through their paces by ACFC strength and conditioning coach Adria Casals at Kiwitea Street pre match today.
More or less confirming what previous posts have said
Birko (4) v Western Springs (1) at Shepherds Park tonight Birko should have had more and were really disappointed to concede a late sloppy goal. Hobson obviously had watched Springs keeness to play out fron the back and their press destroyed Springs early on and they never recovered. Birko were missing a few as well (Patterson) so a bit of a statement performance Nice evening , great lights and a reasonable cowd. Lot to be said abot Friday night football
So Shaun Gill mentioned on the Fever FM pod that next year AFC reserves will play in the Northern League and expects they will get a spot in the National League like the Nix.
Do we think the Northern League qualification for the National League will drop from top 4 going through to 3 + AFC like in the Central League? Or stay at 4 + AFC and maybe give the Southern League a 3rd spot to keep the number of teams even?
So Shaun Gill mentioned on the Fever FM pod that next year AFC reserves will play in the Northern League and expects they will get a spot in the National League like the Nix.
Do we think the Northern League qualification for the National League will drop from top 4 going through to 3 + AFC like in the Central League? Or stay at 4 + AFC and maybe give the Southern League a 3rd spot to keep the number of teams even?
Should really be a third option where they have to qualify on merit. You know, like everyone else.
I think - based on recent National League results - you'd be hard-pressed to argue that Central League deserves four spots. I don't think they've done anything to deserve twice that of Southern League and as many as Northern League.
If I was in charge, I'd drop a Central League spot and give it to Southern League; they don't deserve to have only two spots just to give the Phoenix kids preferential treatment. If you looked at the numbers of teams like a European competition with a coefficient, then Northern League teams average 1.74 points-per-game in the National League, Southern League teams 1.28 and Central League teams just 1.17. Nothing there suggests Central League deserves nor has the depth to have four sides.
It could be even worse this year, the Phoenix (despite having a whole 11 players picked in the national youth side by the head coach) have just a 35% win rate so far this season and will get a free pass in. Meanwhile, as things stand, Christchurch Utd would miss a spot despite having a 78% win rate in Southern League. It's hardly equitable, fair or meritocratic and it even devalues the competition a little bit in my eyes.
So not only does the phoenix have a stranglehold on nz youth squads and has done for years but the pro academy teams will increasingly compromise the equity of our natipnsl top league.
Makes a mockery of the effort clubs go to develop players and build teams to compete in top tier. Who pays the bills at nzf? Nationwide subs or x2 a league clubs? Genuine question
Should really be a third option where they have to qualify on merit. You know, like everyone else.
I think - based on recent National League results - you'd be hard-pressed to argue that Central League deserves four spots. I don't think they've done anything to deserve twice that of Southern League and as many as Northern League.
If I was in charge, I'd drop a Central League spot and give it to Southern League; they don't deserve to have only two spots just to give the Phoenix kids preferential treatment. If you looked at the numbers of teams like a European competition with a coefficient, then Northern League teams average 1.74 points-per-game in the National League, Southern League teams 1.28 and Central League teams just 1.17. Nothing there suggests Central League deserves nor has the depth to have four sides.
It could be even worse this year, the Phoenix (despite having a whole 11 players picked in the national youth side by the head coach) have just a 35% win rate so far this season and will get a free pass in. Meanwhile, as things stand, Christchurch Utd would miss a spot despite having a 78% win rate in Southern League. It's hardly equitable, fair or meritocratic and it even devalues the competition a little bit in my eyes.
12 players* 😉 Been told Lachie Candy is actually on loan at Waterside Karori, with an eye to having him involved in pre-season for 24/25 season.