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OFC Professional League matches thread

613 replies · 22,321 views
3 days ago
Also looking at the crowds from today's semi finals - maybe OFC should have kept the Semi Finals as originally scheduled. 

There was a solid Vanuatu contingent for the earlier kick off and if they had have been allowed to keep the later kick off, they probably would have had a much larger crowd than this Auckland vs South Island game. 

There really wasn't much difference in crowd numbers between the 2 games despite the early kick off being in the middle of a work day.
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Endorsed by
LT01Southernix
3 days ago
OFC resorting to offering a free Pacific holiday to try entice a crowd. I doubt the Vanuatu RSE workers will be there, can't can't too many days off work.

And reads like Auckland FC may have a few departures this ALM off season?? Not just Randall

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360979767/auckland-fc-are-going-global-fifa-intercontinental-cup-awaits-after-oceania-pro-league-semifinal-win

Auckland will now play South Melbourne in Sunday’s final at Eden Park, where a trip for two to Fiji, the Solomon Islands or Vanuatu will be up for grabs in an attempt to get people through the gates.

Prins’ goal lit up a dour semifinal, played in front of a meagre crowd of a few hundred people – a far cry from the sell-out crowd set to pack the venue for Auckland’s A-League Men grand final against Sydney FC on Saturday night.

It is expected the Auckland team that faces Al Ahli will more closely resemble their A-League Men one than their Pro League one, though off-season departures will mean plenty of changes from how either team looks today.

https://twitter.com/OFCProLeague/status/2057022121101213788

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3 days ago · edited 3 days ago · History
Yep am sure there will be many changes.

Hall and Verstrate the big ones. Two players who are debatably the best players in their positions in the A league over the last two years off contract who will attract attention from overseas (likely Asia). It would be very tough to retain either. They will be sorely missed.

May and Gallegos have probably done their service for the club and it’s time to move them on.

Girdward-Reich, unlikely AFC would ever pay a transfer fee, so will head back to the States.

If there is any truth of this hard cap of 3 million being in place next year, they will want to shed some players in any case and replace with a couple of younger cheaper imports and OFC players.

Crucial win for AFC last night. A bit of coin from going to the intercontinental club World Cup, more exposure for players and sponsors, helps to fill in the pre season and no doubt goes a long way to the big prize of the club world championship. Think they somehow figure out who that is based upon the results of three years - which would disadvantage the Nix if they make it in next year.

Solomon Islands for a holiday - hmmmmmm, don’t know about that one.

Auckland will rise once more

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2 days ago · edited 2 days ago · History
Sounds like a few of the Auckland pro league guys have already signed contracts to be elevated to the first team in 26/27.

I've got a lot of time for the big fella in the bib in this video too. 🙂
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Endorsed by
coochiee
2 days ago
YoungHeartHM wrote:
Sounds like a few of the Auckland pro league guys have already signed contracts to be elevated to the first team in 26/27.
https://x.com/i/status/2057022121101213788

I've got a lot of time for the big fella in the bib in this video too. 🙂
I have also heard that they are releasing quite a few of the younger/academy players. Any idea which of the pro league guys they are signing?
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2 days ago
YoungHeartHM wrote:
Sounds like a few of the Auckland pro league guys have already signed contracts to be elevated to the first team in 26/27.
https://x.com/i/status/2057022121101213788

I've got a lot of time for the big fella in the bib in this video too. 🙂
Yeah nice touch from AFC to get him to do the MOTM presentation.

He’s obviously quickly become a bit of a popular icon at their club. Their own Hard News. The best of The Port

What’s his name?
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2 days ago · edited 2 days ago · History
From their OFC League team Id guess Wynne, Ellis, Fitz Harris and Bailey Ferguson to get ALM contracts

Daniel Normann would be a cheap Verstraete replacement. Prins has been much improved the last few games 

Mourdoukoutas If they need an ALM experienced CB squaddie. I guess is a chance all 3 first team CBs this season - Girdwood-Reich, Hall & Pijnaker - leave

Some of the ALM scholarship players maybe released. Coulibaly and Middleton have barely featured either ALM or OFC Pro

O’Leary and Ashton Burns seem to be rated


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2 days ago
coochiee wrote:
 YoungHeartHM wrote:
Sounds like a few of the Auckland pro league guys have already signed contracts to be elevated to the first team in 26/27.
https://x.com/i/status/2057022121101213788
 
I've got a lot of time for the big fella in the bib in this video too. 🙂
Yeah nice touch from AFC to get him to do the MOTM presentation.

He’s obviously quickly become a bit of a popular icon at their club. Their own Hard News. The best of The Port

What’s his name?
Big Red. 

But Blair to those that know him. 🙂
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Endorsed by
coochiee
2 days ago
coochiee wrote:
From their OFC League team Id guess Wynne, Ellis, Fitz Harris and Bailey Ferguson to get ALM contracts

Daniel Normann would be a cheap Verstraete replacement. Prins has been much improved the last few games 

Mourdoukoutas If they need an ALM experienced CB squaddie. I guess is a chance all 3 first team CBs this season - Girdwood-Reich, Hall & Pijnaker - leave

Some of the ALM scholarship players maybe released. Coulibaly and Middleton have barely featured either ALM or OFC Pro

O’Leary and Ashton Burns seem to be rated


 
Normann is off to Cambodia I believe, and Nathan Lobo is being lined up by Sydney Olympic.

All I'll say (can say - it's not my place sorry) is that the names I've been told aren't in your first sentence there. 🫣
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2 days ago
Interesting. Melting in Honiara should prepare Nowegian Normann for Cambodia. 

If not AFC then I hope the Nix look at Wynne and Ellis for the A League.
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2 days ago
Youngheart you are a great source of information.

If you are in the know, could you possibly throw a bone if a European midfielder may have possibly resigned?

Auckland will rise once more

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Endorsed by
ob
2 days ago · edited 2 days ago · History
AucklandPhoenix wrote:
Youngheart you are a great source of information.

If you are in the know, could you possibly throw a bone if a European midfielder may have possibly resigned?
No real mention of it sorry. Could also be a case of people being tight-lipped too. 🤔

My scope usually covers the Kiwis and the younger ones coming through. Seldom do I really get too much information regarding the visa/foreign player movements. To their credit both the Nix and AFC seem to run a pretty tight ship in that regard. 

Perhaps someone like Andrew Voerman might like to impart some wisdom though (if he see's this).
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Endorsed by
AucklandPhoenix
1 day ago
https://twitter.com/OFCProLeague/status/2057665835318247817
https://twitter.com/OFCProLeague/status/2057025159559856209
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