Southern Football (incl Southern United) (Part 1)

Meh..so Cavvy seem to have gotten the best of it with youngsters Ridden and Fitzpatrick. Both lads are big, athletic, versatile and are marked for 2012/2013 with Otago Utd no doubt - all power to Murray as Otago coach I guess he has wooed them somehow. Donnie seems sharp but a bit injury prone, so perhaps not such a great gain - nevertheless he will score some great goals for GI this season I bet. Ferg is a fine player in my book - experienced too. Collects cards like Ramos, and that will be exploited by smart forwards and wingers, but whoever gets him will benefit a lot.

i've seen Ridden & Fitzpatrick play very little for Otago this season, can't say i'm impressed with what i saw.

Donnie was not nzfc standard, Ferg is no where near the likes of Prattley, Wild or Swaney

All these transfers blah blah will pail in comparison when Ross Mackenzie transfers back 2 tech

I hear that Ferg isn't going to tech. Fridge counted on having him in his squad as they are 'mates' but he has decided that fridge isnt someone he wants to play for. He might not be the only OU player to leave tech because of fridge....

Cant think of anyone who has left because of the Fridge ??

Im quite pleased that Ridden has gone to Cavvy.

Yeah I hear what you're saying about Ridden and Fitzpatrick - but there aren't many 18/19 yr olds that can impress in their first hit out at National league level - they tend to be good one minute and awful the next. But if I recall correctly both kids suffered serious injuries very early on in their respective campaigns. Certainly I remember Prattley in his first season in the National League and sometimes wondered if he would ever kick on. But the boy is now 23 and doing well. I will watch the two Cavvy youngsters over the winter season with much interest - let's see how they develop with a bit of game time. Donnie I have only seen twice, but there was something about his movement, ability to find space, and work off his fellow striker that caught my eye.   I hope he can stay fit.

true with the young players, Prattley in my view was always a bit more composed on the ball compared to his peers of the same age

Donnie may do well in SPL but i think it's his level

will Ridden get game time at Cavvy?

History has shown if you're a good young player, Mike Fridge will give you opportunities, whether you take them is up to you.

Fridge gets the best out of young players, FACT! He's a bolss. Would love to have him out at the Taieri Plains

Yeah I wouldn't disagree with the comments about Fridgey - he's consistently gotten the youth-experience mix right. As for Ridden, Rich Murray must play him even if he makes a few mistakes. But as to where on the pitch he will play him I'm not so sure.

Ridden going to Cavvy is not a criticsm of Fridge.

Cavershambles won't get the best out of Ridden and Fitzpatrick. Everyone knows this.

how many teams have players in the age range from 24-30? must be an all time low?

Will be an all time low. Shows that there is good young talent coming through but teams will be lacking experience which is essential to win a title. Do you think it is a good thing or bad thing?

need the right mix, not having players in that age bracket is one of the reasons Otago can't quite make the next step

The only thing that can make the next step in Mosgiel. If we don't win the league this year I will be extremely dissapointed.

well done Cam Howieson, didn't he play a game for Mosgiel last year, now he's pro!


https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/6655898/Football-talent-scouts-on-NZ-teens-tailjudda162012-03-29 12:27:03

I recall Malc going on record at the start of the National League about his concerns with playing too many kids and it affecting their confidence. The youngsters need a good season in the SPL under their belt before they step up, unless perhaps they are a talent as good as Joel Stevens. Otago looked very good until they lost Mike C, Overton and Tom - and this is exactly the age bracket we are talking about. They have a few seasons experience and still have the hunger to perform at National League level. You CAN win a league with a team of 11 old blokes, and you CAN win a league with kids (ask Alan Hansen). But in my perfect team I would hope to have a minimum of an experienced (late 20s) keeper (Evans), centre back (Horner), and striker (Burgess). Mix in a youngish centre back and full backs - I wouldn't care so long as they're quick. Add a couple of 25ish midfielders (one a technician and one an energizer bunny (M Cunningham, M Day), two young quick wingers, and a mid 20s striker. They would give the title a good crack. So 3 older guys and at least 3 mid 20s guys would do it for me. And if you come second you are looking good for the following year...

Not always?The Cavvy side that won the league last time around only had two players over 24.Horner and Smith?

in the league in general though, Smith was in the 30+

I dont think age has too much to do with it to be fair. The majority of these "young" players having been playing in this league for 5 or 6 years now. Whilst they may be under 24 years of age, it would be fair to say they have just as much more experience than a lot of the older players when you chuck in the MILK Cup and National Youth League as well as the few who have played a number of seasons for United. Players like Prattley, Day and Rodeka come to mind but there are plenty more. Its alway important for teams to have experience but looking at someones age is not the way to go about it in my opinion.

when i say players in the age range 24-30, i mean with decent National League experience also, if Prattley, Day & Rodeka were still in Dunedin & playing for Otago in 4-5 years, Otago would be better for it.

You could win the local league win a young team, which cavvy have don't numerous times over the years but NZFC is a different story, maybe Waikato will prove me wrong but then again they're training basically everyday.

Like Yeovil has mentioned, it's a historical problem for Dunedin.

06-07 they came up against a very good western suburbs & i think the better side went through both times, 2010 you can't get any closer to a final but last year with a few more older heads in the team, they probably would've made it past a Napier

Western were pretty good away in Wellington in 06 but thought we were a little unlucky the next year at home after a couple of things went against us (goalie threw one in).I dont think age or experience came into it against bays as the whole team would of played 50+ gmaes in SPL and all were playing national league at the time.Just a couple good saves in the pks and wags a coulpe to many beers that Friday..

Less than 24 hours until the season begins and the TAB have released their odds.

Overall Winner: Dunedin Technical ($2.00), Mosgiel ($4.50), Roslyn ($4.50), Caversham ($5.00), University ($20.00), Northern ($75.00), Grants Braes ($100.00), Queenstown ($150.00) & Green Island ($1500.00).

Golden Boot: Aaron Burgess ($1.02), Ant Hancock ($12.00), Morgan Day ($15.00), Harley Rodeka ($17.00), James Govan, Sam Mepham, Regan Coldicott, Seamus Ryder, Phil Kelly & Donnie MacGregor ($25.00).

Player of the Year: Aaron Burgess ($2.50), Tristan Prattley ($3.00), Morgan Day($5.00), Harley Rodeka ($8.00), Tim Myers($8.00), Sam Mepham ($11.00), Ant Hancock ($11.00), Aajay Cunningham($15.00) Tom Bekkers ($20.00), Pete Evans ($25.00).

Some tasty odds there. Thoughts?

Fantastic post TAB - just brilliant, the best in ages. I wish some of those odds were real. You have Burgess at $1.02 for GB and big Tom as $20 for POY - priceless.

soooooooo funny

Queenstown

fizzing

Formulating odds on the identity of Brookside. Watch this space!

The Tongans to edge past the Hyde St Futsalers but will rely a on Liam a Little more than they would like.

hint, i tuck my tracksuit pants into my socks

Steve Fleming?

Brookside

Slow on the results today.

https://www.soccerbot.com/nzealand/tables/fed7prem12.htm