Doyle's gone to Bay Olympic and some of the other squad members have headed off (Al-Kalisy and Blake to NSU) but most of their core should stay, I reckon
Angel Berlanga and Albert Riera are coaching at West Coast Rangers, so have gone. Would presume Mario Bilen has also gone, as he's typically played elsewhere the last few seasons. Maro Bonsu-Maro too.
They've picked up Adam Thurston, though whether he's fit is another matter – not sure if they've got anyone else coming in.
Talented teen Addison Stewart will come into the mix, having not been in City's ISPS Handa Men's Premiership squad.
That would leave them looking something like this before any other departures (one of the senior forwards should probably be on the move, maybe two, otherwise they'll be doing a lot of bench-warming, depending how much minute management there is).
The key difference for them will be having to start two U-20s – they handed just two starts out of 176 to such players during the ISPS Handa Men's Premiership, I believe.
But they (and Wellington Olympic) will be the two teams to beat as the winter starts.
R.E. Berlanga, was a little thrown off by the ACFC news article, which gives no indication that he's leaving the club in a playing capacity: https://www.aucklandcityfc.com/news/1353/12/Berlanga-sets-comeback-target-/
Would it be too much of a stretch to say that they'd play for Auckland City and coach for WCR? I know instances of players playing for one club and coaching for another have happened before across the NRFL.
Great news about Thurston though. Would imagine that Vollenhoven would have one of the U20 starting spots locked down - relatively sure he hasn't got his citizenship yet though, having only come to the country 5-6 years ago, so would take a precious foreign spot.
Doyle's gone to Bay Olympic and some of the other squad members have headed off (Al-Kalisy and Blake to NSU) but most of their core should stay, I reckon
Angel Berlanga and Albert Riera are coaching at West Coast Rangers, so have gone. Would presume Mario Bilen has also gone, as he's typically played elsewhere the last few seasons. Maro Bonsu-Maro too.
They've picked up Adam Thurston, though whether he's fit is another matter – not sure if they've got anyone else coming in.
Talented teen Addison Stewart will come into the mix, having not been in City's ISPS Handa Men's Premiership squad.
That would leave them looking something like this before any other departures (one of the senior forwards should probably be on the move, maybe two, otherwise they'll be doing a lot of bench-warming, depending how much minute management there is).
The key difference for them will be having to start two U-20s – they handed just two starts out of 176 to such players during the ISPS Handa Men's Premiership, I believe.
But they (and Wellington Olympic) will be the two teams to beat as the winter starts.
R.E. Berlanga, was a little thrown off by the ACFC news article, which gives no indication that he's leaving the club in a playing capacity: https://www.aucklandcityfc.com/news/1353/12/Berlanga-sets-comeback-target-/
Would it be too much of a stretch to say that they'd play for Auckland City and coach for WCR? I know instances of players playing for one club and coaching for another have happened before across the NRFL.
Great news about Thurston though. Would imagine that Vollenhoven would have one of the U20 starting spots locked down - relatively sure he hasn't got his citizenship yet though, having only come to the country 5-6 years ago, so would take a precious foreign spot.
mrsmiis
andrewvoerman
mrsmiis
Doyle's gone to Bay Olympic and some of the other squad members have headed off (Al-Kalisy and Blake to NSU) but most of their core should stay, I reckon
Angel Berlanga and Albert Riera are coaching at West Coast Rangers, so have gone. Would presume Mario Bilen has also gone, as he's typically played elsewhere the last few seasons. Maro Bonsu-Maro too.
They've picked up Adam Thurston, though whether he's fit is another matter – not sure if they've got anyone else coming in.
Talented teen Addison Stewart will come into the mix, having not been in City's ISPS Handa Men's Premiership squad.
That would leave them looking something like this before any other departures (one of the senior forwards should probably be on the move, maybe two, otherwise they'll be doing a lot of bench-warming, depending how much minute management there is).
The key difference for them will be having to start two U-20s – they handed just two starts out of 176 to such players during the ISPS Handa Men's Premiership, I believe.
But they (and Wellington Olympic) will be the two teams to beat as the winter starts.
R.E. Berlanga, was a little thrown off by the ACFC news article, which gives no indication that he's leaving the club in a playing capacity: https://www.aucklandcityfc.com/news/1353/12/Berlanga-sets-comeback-target-/
Would it be too much of a stretch to say that they'd play for Auckland City and coach for WCR? I know instances of players playing for one club and coaching for another have happened before across the NRFL.
Great news about Thurston though. Would imagine that Vollenhoven would have one of the U20 starting spots locked down - relatively sure he hasn't got his citizenship yet though, having only come to the country 5-6 years ago, so would take a precious foreign spot.
I was thrown by that Berlanga article too, but he and Riera were both announced as first team assistant coaches at West Coast Rangers, so would be a bit tricky for them to be in two places at once every Saturday, unless their role there has changed.
Doyle's gone to Bay Olympic and some of the other squad members have headed off (Al-Kalisy and Blake to NSU) but most of their core should stay, I reckon
Angel Berlanga and Albert Riera are coaching at West Coast Rangers, so have gone. Would presume Mario Bilen has also gone, as he's typically played elsewhere the last few seasons. Maro Bonsu-Maro too.
They've picked up Adam Thurston, though whether he's fit is another matter – not sure if they've got anyone else coming in.
Talented teen Addison Stewart will come into the mix, having not been in City's ISPS Handa Men's Premiership squad.
That would leave them looking something like this before any other departures (one of the senior forwards should probably be on the move, maybe two, otherwise they'll be doing a lot of bench-warming, depending how much minute management there is).
The key difference for them will be having to start two U-20s – they handed just two starts out of 176 to such players during the ISPS Handa Men's Premiership, I believe.
But they (and Wellington Olympic) will be the two teams to beat as the winter starts.
R.E. Berlanga, was a little thrown off by the ACFC news article, which gives no indication that he's leaving the club in a playing capacity: https://www.aucklandcityfc.com/news/1353/12/Berlanga-sets-comeback-target-/
Would it be too much of a stretch to say that they'd play for Auckland City and coach for WCR? I know instances of players playing for one club and coaching for another have happened before across the NRFL.
Great news about Thurston though. Would imagine that Vollenhoven would have one of the U20 starting spots locked down - relatively sure he hasn't got his citizenship yet though, having only come to the country 5-6 years ago, so would take a precious foreign spot.
My brother who’s been training with Auckland City this summer reckoned the U20s most likely to play are Addison Stewart (even though he’s 2004 born), Aidan Carey, Matthew Ellis, and Vollenhoven
ACFC vs Auckland United will be a freakin' tasty derby with National League slots on the line. I play for an AU-affiliated club but live nearest to Western Springs, who might also be a dark horse. I was a big skeptic of trashing the franchise model but the idea of following a club all the way to National League is growing on me. It all depends on whose active support is most fun, lol
Speaking of which, who knows where the Waitak United players are going? West Coast? Western Springs? Elsewhere?
Mostly to the clubs they've played for in recent years.
Believe Gerard Garriga, Dane Schnell, Zac Zoricich will be back to Western Springs, where they will be joined by Angus Kilkolly.
Alex Connor-McClean, Andrew Cromb, Rob Dymond, Alex Greive, Dylan Hobson, Nathan Lobo, Nic Milicich, back to Birkenhead United, where they will be joined by Sam Burfoot.
Jack Duncan, Reggie Murati, Josh Redfearn, Leon van den Hoven back to Auckland United.
Nick Draper back to Bay Olympic.
Not sure where Sammy Khan is off to, but that's basically all their core players.
Anyone know why? I heard that Olympic Park has been closed by the council, but from looking through the other games, it's not the only ground closed, and all the other games are still going ahead.
Anyone know why? I heard that Olympic Park has been closed by the council, but from looking through the other games, it's not the only ground closed, and all the other games are still going ahead.
AK Council website says Crum Park is open, so my guess is ACFC cried to NR(F)L about how they were still tired after last Sunday
Having seen the squads Auckland City, Auckland Utd and Birkenhead have some scary lineups, and turns out I was told wrong about Yousif and Andrew Blake going to Shore as they’re still at City.
Few names back in New Zealand be interested to see how they do, like Moses Dyer (assume that was the big Manukau signing hinted in the old thread), Connor Probert at Birko, den Heijer, Oscar Ramsey at Shore. Shore also picked up couple ex-Nix/NZ u17s in Joe Lee and Kris Naicker, but surprisingly not Max Drake (West Coast Rangers) despite his family being heavily involved there I think.
WCR, Melville and Manukau look a bit meh, but perhaps I just don’t recognise the quality players there. I am a bit worried about Northern Rovers, maybe I underrate them as the players are a known quantity vs the unknowns of those 3, but if Rovers do badly maybe my brother will play more, so either way.
Also, as an aside, the NZF release has Angus Kilkolly registered for both Auckland City and Springs, but it wouldn’t be an NZF release without something like that.
I'm a bit torn by the new League. Central United & Three Kings were my clubs growing up then I moved to Waitemata later. Now ACFC's my Team, but I'm playing for Auckland United. The moral dilemma is real.
Did we ever get confirmation on why ACFC game was postponed?
This week by week draw is a bit of a nightmare. I'm trying to plan my weekend and having no luck 😂
I just received confirmation of the official version of why this happened. NZF will be putting out a statement soon as they are behind this.
Basically they promised ACFC (not sure who else) a week off between the ISPS Handa Final and the first week of the Northern League - and due to the delay of the ISPS Handa Final due to the Auckland Lockdown this is how they solved it.
I have my own feelings about if this should have been done but surely a statement before the weekend would have been the best way to deal with it.
Did we ever get confirmation on why ACFC game was postponed?
This week by week draw is a bit of a nightmare. I'm trying to plan my weekend and having no luck 😂
I just received confirmation of the official version of why this happened. NZF will be putting out a statement soon as they are behind this.
Basically they promised ACFC (not sure who else) a week off between the ISPS Handa Final and the first week of the Northern League - and due to the delay of the ISPS Handa Final due to the Auckland Lockdown this is how they solved it.
I have my own feelings about if this should have been done but surely a statement before the weekend would have been the best way to deal with it.
" my guess is ACFC cried to NR(F)L about how they were still tired after last Sunday "
Holy shark, I was right, except it was NZF they cried to
Surely everyone can agree that it's a little unfair to have zero preseason resulting in 40+ consecutive games for amateur players?
Yeah for me the trying to hide it is the really bad part - but also for a club who has so much talent available just play some of the younger guys in the first game - I mean this is no different to the years where AC and Central's leagues overlapped and they made it work, despite their assurances they were two different clubs. There are so many players at so many clubs who are in the same boat as ACFC so allowing this for me effects the integrity of the competition.
Western Springs involved in a few player - first Angus Kilkolly to ACFC and Kayne Vincent to Springs, then Ruben Parker to Suburbs and Danyon Drake to Springs
A number of players have departed to other teams (over hearing some conversations on the weekend but a number of whom were "fed up" with ES) and the ones coming through look remarkably average (well this weekend they did at least). Game vs Western Springs had Stephen Hoyle starting at centre back.
It genuinely wouldn't surprise me if they relegated this year.
Otherwise I also caught first half of City vs Manukau. City looked a class above in general work rate and intensity. Had two good (I'd have given them) penalties shouts turned down and hit the post twice. Think they'll cruise the league.
And caught the second half of United vs Bay Olympic. Featuring the grubbiest mullet for Bay (and some extremely poor language). Bay looked relatively strong at the back but also very lucky at times.
A number of players have departed to other teams (over hearing some conversations on the weekend but a number of whom were "fed up" with ES) and the ones coming through look remarkably average (well this weekend they did at least). Game vs Western Springs had Stephen Hoyle starting at centre back.
It genuinely wouldn't surprise me if they relegated this year.
glad to see I'm not the only one thinking this. Other teams have improved immensely and they've only become worse
I was expecting Suburbs to run over Springs who had some of their senior players missing and started a very young side, but the youngsters did very well and played as a team. Was surprised given the big names in Suburbs that they were beaten, but missing Adam Thomas too on the day who is in my view their best player.mrsmiis
20 Legend
Eastern Suburbs quietly having a crisis?
A number of players have departed to other teams (over hearing some conversations on the weekend but a number of whom were "fed up" with ES) and the ones coming through look remarkably average (well this weekend they did at least). Game vs Western Springs had Stephen Hoyle starting at centre back.
It genuinely wouldn't surprise me if they relegated this year.
glad to see I'm not the only one thinking this. Other teams have improved immensely and they've only become worse
I was expecting Suburbs to run over Springs who had some of their senior players missing and started a very young side, but the youngsters did very well and played as a team. Was surprised given the big names in Suburbs that they were beaten, but missing Adam Thomas too on the day who is in my view their best player.mrsmiis
20 Legend
Eastern Suburbs quietly having a crisis?
A number of players have departed to other teams (over hearing some conversations on the weekend but a number of whom were "fed up" with ES) and the ones coming through look remarkably average (well this weekend they did at least). Game vs Western Springs had Stephen Hoyle starting at centre back.
It genuinely wouldn't surprise me if they relegated this year.
glad to see I'm not the only one thinking this. Other teams have improved immensely and they've only become worse
Adama Coulibaly is impressive to say the least. 2005-born and playing a full Northern League game.
I think Tyler Lissette is Suburbs' best player, but he's gone MIA
I was expecting Suburbs to run over Springs who had some of their senior players missing and started a very young side, but the youngsters did very well and played as a team. Was surprised given the big names in Suburbs that they were beaten, but missing Adam Thomas too on the day who is in my view their best player.mrsmiis
20 Legend
Eastern Suburbs quietly having a crisis?
A number of players have departed to other teams (over hearing some conversations on the weekend but a number of whom were "fed up" with ES) and the ones coming through look remarkably average (well this weekend they did at least). Game vs Western Springs had Stephen Hoyle starting at centre back.
It genuinely wouldn't surprise me if they relegated this year.
glad to see I'm not the only one thinking this. Other teams have improved immensely and they've only become worse
Adama Coulibaly is impressive to say the least. 2005-born and playing a full Northern League game.
I think Tyler Lissette is Suburbs' best player, but he's gone MIA