NZ National League 2022

In contrast, my interest in the women's league has been heightened because my daughter's club made it

As the username suggests, I haven't had a team to support in the National League since Young Heart Manawatu disbanded almost a decade ago. 

In saying that, I have found this season thoroughly enjoyable from a neutral standpoint, despite being skeptical of the new format initially. Have particularly enjoyed following a lot of the younger lads make a name for themselves, and am happy to have accessible and pretty watchable football across the National League spectrum through Sky Sport Next and YouTube coverage.

I'm always for more football in this country and I'd love to see a home + away NL season, but it is what it is. I'm pretty confident there will be a lot of tinkering with the format over the coming years, so I guess we'll wait and see what happens on that front. 

More than happy with this edition of the National League though, and we get the two best teams contesting the final. Couldn't really ask for too much more could we?

So the final will be at Mt Smart which is interesting. Hopefully it can pull in an ok crowd. Should be a ripper game though.

Also did anyone else hear why City get top spot? Seems a very strange rule to determine tied points, what happened to goal difference?

Delta

Can the lack of posts on this forum topic be an indicator into the lack of interest in the National league in general this year (particulary the last few weeks)?? I know I have lost interest and havent really been following it closely. I know for a fact and I think you can see in some performances that the players have lost interest and have said the season is too long. 

LOL it says a lot more about how dead these forums are these days.

Monto

So the final will be at Mt Smart which is interesting. Hopefully it can pull in an ok crowd. Should be a ripper game though.

Also did anyone else hear why City get top spot? Seems a very strange rule to determine tied points, what happened to goal difference?

What is the reason they get top spot (presupposeing it finishes even)?
Is it because AK beat Olympic in head to head?
If so, that’s poor, home team traditionally has a slight advantage in h2h , so unless they play home and away it is slightly unjustified. 

ClubOranje

Monto

So the final will be at Mt Smart which is interesting. Hopefully it can pull in an ok crowd. Should be a ripper game though.

Also did anyone else hear why City get top spot? Seems a very strange rule to determine tied points, what happened to goal difference?

What is the reason they get top spot (presupposeing it finishes even)?
Is it because AK beat Olympic in head to head?
If so, that’s poor, home team traditionally has a slight advantage in h2h , so unless they play home and away it is slightly unjustified. 

Yeah I just saw that's what it is, it's a bit shark for Olympic tbh with all the top notch goals they've scored this year.

Technically they're not calling it a City home game but a neutral venue. North harbor is unavailable so they're using Mt Smart. So it's totally a home game for City no matter how they spin it.

The regs say that the final has to be played on a neutral ground
normally NZF would have it at QBE, but that's being used for baseball so they've are going to Mt Smart as instead
So it doesn't really matter who finishes first, all that will get is that team listed first

NZ Football always give Auckland the advantage

Delta

Can the lack of posts on this forum topic be an indicator into the lack of interest in the National league in general this year (particulary the last few weeks)?? I know I have lost interest and havent really been following it closely. I know for a fact and I think you can see in some performances that the players have lost interest and have said the season is too long. 

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I have personally lost interest and came on here to at least get a summary or update and was surprised to see the forum quiet with no reaction to the fixtures over the weekend.

 

I think it also has to do with no playoff semis and final. That keeps everything close up until the final round. Right now, and for the last few weeks it seems, we already know who the top two will be. So majority of the league are playing dead rubbers to avoid wooden spoon. It does feel odd that in say the English PL I would never ever dream of it having a playoff system however really want it for the NZ NL.

 

In terms of support, it just doesn’t feel right supporting one of the Canterbury based teams in Cash Tech or CHCH United. Having played against them all year in the SIL you now are expected to cheer them on – it just feel strange. I personally much preferred getting behind the region and supporting Canterbury United play other regions. A format, that NZ seems to have been built on with top level Cricket, Rugby, netball etc. all being regional franchises rather than club based.

 

Probably getting off topic here and into a whole different can or worms (old or new NL format), but I definitely preferred the franchise format. It was always fun to cheer on a teammate that made it to the Dragons – rather now player loyalties are tested between staying to their colors or transferring to two sides if they want to play NL.

 

What are you others seeing at games in terms of support, more or less engagement that years previous to 2021?

 

Sorry for the long and wounded post!

ClubOranje

Monto

So the final will be at Mt Smart which is interesting. Hopefully it can pull in an ok crowd. Should be a ripper game though.

Also did anyone else hear why City get top spot? Seems a very strange rule to determine tied points, what happened to goal difference?

What is the reason they get top spot (presupposeing it finishes even)?
Is it because AK beat Olympic in head to head?
If so, that’s poor, home team traditionally has a slight advantage in h2h , so unless they play home and away it is slightly unjustified. 

To be fair it's the same system they had for the old format - it was league table by the normal sorting process but in terms of spots in the playoffs it was a H2H records - albeit across two rounds.

chopah

ClubOranje

Monto

So the final will be at Mt Smart which is interesting. Hopefully it can pull in an ok crowd. Should be a ripper game though.

Also did anyone else hear why City get top spot? Seems a very strange rule to determine tied points, what happened to goal difference?

What is the reason they get top spot (presupposeing it finishes even)?
Is it because AK beat Olympic in head to head?
If so, that’s poor, home team traditionally has a slight advantage in h2h , so unless they play home and away it is slightly unjustified. 

To be fair it's the same system they had for the old format - it was league table by the normal sorting process but in terms of spots in the playoffs it was a H2H records - albeit across two rounds.

Well knowing that does piss me off a little less at least.

It does still seem strange to not reward the best gd though, its usually a reward for being the more exciting team. Oh well, hoping for a wellington victory.

Monto

chopah

ClubOranje

Monto

So the final will be at Mt Smart which is interesting. Hopefully it can pull in an ok crowd. Should be a ripper game though.

Also did anyone else hear why City get top spot? Seems a very strange rule to determine tied points, what happened to goal difference?

What is the reason they get top spot (presupposeing it finishes even)?
Is it because AK beat Olympic in head to head?
If so, that’s poor, home team traditionally has a slight advantage in h2h , so unless they play home and away it is slightly unjustified. 

To be fair it's the same system they had for the old format - it was league table by the normal sorting process but in terms of spots in the playoffs it was a H2H records - albeit across two rounds.

Well knowing that does piss me off a little less at least.

It does still seem strange to not reward the best gd though, its usually a reward for being the more exciting team. Oh well, hoping for a wellington victory.

oh yeah it's a dumb rule, but at the very least it's a dumb rule consistently. 

Justin Bieber OUT, #NZNationalLeague Championship Grand Final IN at Mt Smart Stadium 🏟@AucklandCity_FC will face @WgtnOlympic on Sunday 4 December at the Auckland stadium after the Canadian singer postponed his NZ tour dates.

🎟 Book tickets from https://t.co/MpTvelFQm3

— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) November 22, 2022

The JourneyFan

The regs say that the final has to be played on a neutral ground
normally NZF would have it at QBE, but that's being used for baseball so they've are going to Mt Smart as instead
So it doesn't really matter who finishes first, all that will get is that team listed first

 and gets to wear blue shirts

I think we are on the same wavelength. Maybe it’s just a Mainland/Christchurch thing where we had a strong (maybe not in performance) franchise that I think was supported a lot more than the current club system. And for another forum topic it will be interesting when the woman’s NL goes club based down here…..

Mainland Analyst

Delta

Can the lack of posts on this forum topic be an indicator into the lack of interest in the National league in general this year (particulary the last few weeks)?? I know I have lost interest and havent really been following it closely. I know for a fact and I think you can see in some performances that the players have lost interest and have said the season is too long. 

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I have personally lost interest and came on here to at least get a summary or update and was surprised to see the forum quiet with no reaction to the fixtures over the weekend.

 

I think it also has to do with no playoff semis and final. That keeps everything close up until the final round. Right now, and for the last few weeks it seems, we already know who the top two will be. So majority of the league are playing dead rubbers to avoid wooden spoon. It does feel odd that in say the English PL I would never ever dream of it having a playoff system however really want it for the NZ NL.

 

In terms of support, it just doesn’t feel right supporting one of the Canterbury based teams in Cash Tech or CHCH United. Having played against them all year in the SIL you now are expected to cheer them on – it just feel strange. I personally much preferred getting behind the region and supporting Canterbury United play other regions. A format, that NZ seems to have been built on with top level Cricket, Rugby, netball etc. all being regional franchises rather than club based.

 

Probably getting off topic here and into a whole different can or worms (old or new NL format), but I definitely preferred the franchise format. It was always fun to cheer on a teammate that made it to the Dragons – rather now player loyalties are tested between staying to their colors or transferring to two sides if they want to play NL.

 

What are you others seeing at games in terms of support, more or less engagement that years previous to 2021?

 

Sorry for the long and wounded post!

The thing that turns me away is the absolutely abysmal marketing and amateurish presentation

mrsmiis

The thing that turns me away is the absolutely abysmal marketing and amateurish presentation

That is certainly somethin  that needs to improve I agree. I think part of the problem there is sky, their marketing is all pretty bad, even a lot of their rugby stuff. They really do a bad job of presenting sports well.

NZ Football needs to up their game too. It can't be that hard to get some better promotional art put together and do better quality videos on their channel.

All things that will hopefully improve next season.

mrsmiis

The thing that turns me away is the absolutely abysmal marketing and amateurish presentation

I can kind of understand those factors, picking on semantics but it is technically an amateur league after all. In terms of marketing, there's no real money to be made; Birko, Akl Utd, Melville, probably Olympic and Phoenix too all can't really charge admittance, so beyond sharing on their socials there's not much to expect. NZF could do stuff, but it's sort of the same issues, it's just throwing away money, and realistically most football fans in New Zealand are Eurosnobs anyway who wouldn't bother.

In terms of the broadcasting, I take it on a 'beggars can't be choosers' basis. For ages you'd be lucky to just get the Grand Final broadcast, then they started with a game a week, and now everyone is done live in some capacity. Considering it probably doesn't garner much in the way of demand, it's good that it's persisted with.

Monto

mrsmiis

The thing that turns me away is the absolutely abysmal marketing and amateurish presentation

That is certainly somethin  that needs to improve I agree. I think part of the problem there is sky, their marketing is all pretty bad, even a lot of their rugby stuff. They really do a bad job of presenting sports well.

NZ Football needs to up their game too. It can't be that hard to get some better promotional art put together and do better quality videos on their channel.

All things that will hopefully improve next season.

this is a weird take

chopah

Monto

mrsmiis

The thing that turns me away is the absolutely abysmal marketing and amateurish presentation

That is certainly somethin  that needs to improve I agree. I think part of the problem there is sky, their marketing is all pretty bad, even a lot of their rugby stuff. They really do a bad job of presenting sports well.

NZ Football needs to up their game too. It can't be that hard to get some better promotional art put together and do better quality videos on their channel.

All things that will hopefully improve next season.

this is a weird take

Why?

Monto

chopah

Monto

mrsmiis

The thing that turns me away is the absolutely abysmal marketing and amateurish presentation

That is certainly somethin  that needs to improve I agree. I think part of the problem there is sky, their marketing is all pretty bad, even a lot of their rugby stuff. They really do a bad job of presenting sports well.

NZ Football needs to up their game too. It can't be that hard to get some better promotional art put together and do better quality videos on their channel.

All things that will hopefully improve next season.

this is a weird take

Why?

sky are consistently winning awards for their sports promos, there are some genuine things to not like about sky I just had never heard this complaint before.

Now you might be thinking the coverage and marketing of the live streams on sky sport next is average, but that is NZF and their contractors, Sky just provide a youtube channel and pretty much nothing else.

Can’t believe people are complaining about coverage when we have had every game live and, bar a few on ss7 or ss9, free.

It’s a massive step up on anything we have ever had for a national league beforehand.

chopah

Monto

chopah

Monto

mrsmiis

The thing that turns me away is the absolutely abysmal marketing and amateurish presentation

That is certainly somethin  that needs to improve I agree. I think part of the problem there is sky, their marketing is all pretty bad, even a lot of their rugby stuff. They really do a bad job of presenting sports well.

NZ Football needs to up their game too. It can't be that hard to get some better promotional art put together and do better quality videos on their channel.

All things that will hopefully improve next season.

this is a weird take

Why?

sky are consistently winning awards for their sports promos, there are some genuine things to not like about sky I just had never heard this complaint before.

Now you might be thinking the coverage and marketing of the live streams on sky sport next is average, but that is NZF and their contractors, Sky just provide a youtube channel and pretty much nothing else.

Fair play there, didn't know that about the YouTube.  

I can maybe see why some people like the way sky advertise sports but to me they've always leaned into (and this is especially true of rugby) making it look like fun happy excitement. To me sports should lean into being more self serious and promoting rivalry. I think it the advertiser doesn't take it seriously then the fan won't either. State of origin is a great example of how to market sports well.

But as another poster said it's just great to have games on TV. Exposure I always good especially if the games are too. Hopefully the comp grows and gets even better.

Monto

chopah

Monto

chopah

Monto

mrsmiis

The thing that turns me away is the absolutely abysmal marketing and amateurish presentation

That is certainly somethin  that needs to improve I agree. I think part of the problem there is sky, their marketing is all pretty bad, even a lot of their rugby stuff. They really do a bad job of presenting sports well.

NZ Football needs to up their game too. It can't be that hard to get some better promotional art put together and do better quality videos on their channel.

All things that will hopefully improve next season.

this is a weird take

Why?

sky are consistently winning awards for their sports promos, there are some genuine things to not like about sky I just had never heard this complaint before.

Now you might be thinking the coverage and marketing of the live streams on sky sport next is average, but that is NZF and their contractors, Sky just provide a youtube channel and pretty much nothing else.

Fair play there, didn't know that about the YouTube.  

I can maybe see why some people like the way sky advertise sports but to me they've always leaned into (and this is especially true of rugby) making it look like fun happy excitement. To me sports should lean into being more self serious and promoting rivalry. I think it the advertiser doesn't take it seriously then the fan won't either. State of origin is a great example of how to market sports well.

But as another poster said it's just great to have games on TV. Exposure I always good especially if the games are too. Hopefully the comp grows and gets even better.

I think there is room for both, I believe Sky do dabble in both of those kind of promotions - when there is a bledisloe cup game for example the tone is a bit different - at the end of the day sport is now entertainment and some like it light and some like it serious - a bit like styles of commentators.....

⚽ The Oceania Football Confederation Executive Committee has approved plans for the formation of the OFC Professional League, during the OFC Executive Committee meeting in Doha, Qatar on November 19. https://t.co/NfqKbOYOIE

— OFC Oceania Football (@OFCfootball) November 23, 2022

I've put it in the Oceania Football thread already, but this proposed Oceania Professional League surely has implications for our Northern, Central, Southern & National leagues? 

YoungHe.\rt

⚽ The Oceania Football Confederation Executive Committee has approved plans for the formation of the OFC Professional League, during the OFC Executive Committee meeting in Doha, Qatar on November 19. https://t.co/NfqKbOYOIE

— OFC Oceania Football (@OFCfootball) November 23, 2022

I've put it in the Oceania Football thread already, but this proposed Oceania Professional League surely has implications for our Northern, Central, Southern & National leagues? 

Interesting. I wonder how that would work. Presumably funded by fifa mostly?

Still not a lot of detail but could be good for the island teams. More competition and quality is surely good for the region.

I think Fifa is looking to inject money with the change to the WC format moving forward and Oceania getting 1.5 spots. 

Realistically 1 is NZ, the other is up for grabs and this is an easier avenue for Fifa to invest into the development of all the other nations who will be gunning for this chance.

Not much detail so far but two things immediately spring to mind
1."Professional"  = no pokie money available ?
2.if there is a professional league available to NZ sides then how does that affect the Phoenix license given that AFC permission is based on the Phoenix having no league to play in ?
As I said not much detail at the moment.
Sounds more like just a flasher version of the O league

Sasse starting for Weenix if anyone wants a look at him.
Rufer getting a first run out too

Commentary is excellent in the Nix/Birko game. Been one of my main gripes all season - generally extremely low effort play-by-play, with no will to learn proper pronunciation or provide any information on teams and players. Either intimidates new viewers, pisses them off, or puts them to sleep.

Don't recognise this man's voice, but he's doing an unreal job! Lot of personality to his work. Anyone aware who it is?

Sam Sutton showing just how big the gap is between A League and National League. Sasse still doesn’t look entirely there.

mrsmiis

Commentary is excellent in the Nix/Birko game. Been one of my main gripes all season - generally extremely low effort play-by-play, with no will to learn proper pronunciation or provide any information on teams and players. Either intimidates new viewers, pisses them off, or puts them to sleep.

Don't recognise this man's voice, but he's doing an unreal job! Lot of personality to his work. Anyone aware who it is?

 
Jesse Rawlings, I think he works for the Phoenix in some capacity.  He got Capital Football Personality of the Year this year, though not sure what that entails. I think he does every game in Wellington, almost always by himself which makes it harder, but he knows his stuff.

carlind

mrsmiis

Commentary is excellent in the Nix/Birko game. Been one of my main gripes all season - generally extremely low effort play-by-play, with no will to learn proper pronunciation or provide any information on teams and players. Either intimidates new viewers, pisses them off, or puts them to sleep.

Don't recognise this man's voice, but he's doing an unreal job! Lot of personality to his work. Anyone aware who it is?

 
Jesse Rawlings, I think he works for the Phoenix in some capacity.  He got Capital Football Personality of the Year this year, though not sure what that entails. I think he does every game in Wellington, almost always by himself which makes it harder, but he knows his stuff.

 
Jesse is with the Academy, Coached the Cap 1 side- got the cap 2 side promoted last year. 
Very good with the boys on the grass, has his teams playing very nice crisp passing football. Boys like and respond to him. 
And I agree, he is good on the commentary.

How did Yan Sasse play?

i did not see the game so not sure how he played, he did score a goal in the 81st minute according to the match centre.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

How did Yan Sasse play?

Whose opinion do you want?
He scored, had a couple of other shots, one of which OvH scored from the save. I thought he was decent. Lively, made some good runs and passes, made some mistakes. Lost the ball a couple of times and gave up on it, whereas I like to see players try to make amends like Mackenzie Barry did yesterday when she lost it. But that’s just one person’s opinion.
Game is still available to watch on SkySportNext YouTube channel.

carlind

mrsmiis

Commentary is excellent in the Nix/Birko game. Been one of my main gripes all season - generally extremely low effort play-by-play, with no will to learn proper pronunciation or provide any information on teams and players. Either intimidates new viewers, pisses them off, or puts them to sleep.

Don't recognise this man's voice, but he's doing an unreal job! Lot of personality to his work. Anyone aware who it is?

 
Jesse Rawlings, I think he works for the Phoenix in some capacity.  He got Capital Football Personality of the Year this year, though not sure what that entails. I think he does every game in Wellington, almost always by himself which makes it harder, but he knows his stuff.

the personality of the year award is one of the Cap footy ones that is decided by public vote 

So after all the song and dance NZF made about the national league revamp and a fully amateur competition, the Phoenix are allowed to make a mockery of it by dropping down full-time professionals to play in it while A-League is on break.

Pretty insulting that our national football league can just be treated as a training session league for the Nix when they want to. No problem with them having a nailed on spot and playing all those kids, but getting to play Sutton, Rufer and Sasse while other teams are (supposedly) prevented from paying professional wages is absurd. Pro contract A-League players shouldn't be allowed to play. 

lthomas20

So after all the song and dance NZF made about the national league revamp and a fully amateur competition, the Phoenix are allowed to make a mockery of it by dropping down full-time professionals to play in it while A-League is on break.

Pretty insulting that our national football league can just be treated as a training session league for the Nix when they want to. No problem with them having a nailed on spot and playing all those kids, but getting to play Sutton, Rufer and Sasse while other teams are (supposedly) prevented from paying professional wages is absurd. Pro contract A-League players shouldn't be allowed to play. 

Does it matter at all for a game that was long ago a dead rubber?
Maybe the Birko guys enjoyed the chance to test themselves against a couple of full time pros?

Surely the whole NZ football community wants the Nix to do well. So if giving Rufer, Sasse & Sutton a run at the best level available in NZ, helps NZ's only pro club in some small way, why not.

coochiee

lthomas20

So after all the song and dance NZF made about the national league revamp and a fully amateur competition, the Phoenix are allowed to make a mockery of it by dropping down full-time professionals to play in it while A-League is on break.

Pretty insulting that our national football league can just be treated as a training session league for the Nix when they want to. No problem with them having a nailed on spot and playing all those kids, but getting to play Sutton, Rufer and Sasse while other teams are (supposedly) prevented from paying professional wages is absurd. Pro contract A-League players shouldn't be allowed to play. 

Does it matter at all for a game that was long ago a dead rubber?
Maybe the Birko guys enjoyed the chance to test themselves against a couple of full time pros?

Surely the whole NZ football community wants the Nix to do well. So if giving Rufer, Sasse & Sutton a run at the best level available in NZ, helps NZ's only pro club in some small way, why not.

Are you telling me Nix wouldn't have played those players if it was a decisive game for Birko (i.e. they were still in range of the top two)? Cause I think they would have. It's the principle that matters. 

We all do want the Nix to do well, but that shouldn't mean bending over backwards for them to the detriment of the national league.