Southern Football (incl Southern United)

Does OU stay over night in Welly this weekend, think nz football would let them watch te Nix game

Game is live on sky this week.

Anyone know of any establishments that are gonna be showing the game?

I hear that the Culling Lounge will ne open for the game

Do you think Otago coaches need to go? I believe they should stay as they are doing the best with what they are working with. I have a funny feeling something will click within this side and they will get some quality results. Up 1-0 and down 2-1 in the last 10 minutes against the two best teams in NZ shows there is serious potential. From watching and hearing match reports all games have been close apart from the Manawatu game which was a shocker but revenge will come second time around. If Otago can kick on and maintain concentration and take there chances when required critics will be silenced. I am backing Richard Murray and Andrew Duncan all the way even if I am a little biased ha ha

I'm a Rosyln man as you all know, but at this point of time there's no way they should go - they are the right men for the job.  The only thing I would say is they need to do some more coach education.  I just heard the other day they are pretty lacking in that department.  Both need to be UEFA B minimum IMO.  The board need to make this investment in them.  Being able to coach Cavy to win the league is one thing, but coaching National League is another.  There is no margin for error.  I really believe we have the players to be top 4, but RM/AD have (IMO) made mistakes with team selection (eg Manawatu) and tactics (from what I saw versus HB).  You can talk about bad refs and bad luck all day, but as a coach you must get EVERYTHING right - then lady luck takes care of herself funnily enough.  They aren't at that level IMO, but they are worth investing in to get to that level.

Had a great away trip last season to Dunedin to watch Auckland City play Otago under the roof. Pouring with rain outside and great inside. It's what the Phoenix need at Westpac. Anyway hope you Otago boys find some form and start winning. Always have a softspot for you since the manager at the OUFC pub shouted we rowdy bunch of ACFC supporters a few rounds of post match drinks. You're a grand lot!

Trueblue we Southern men are the best mate - glad you can see that too.  And your good wishes are appreciated -all the best to the ACFC lads tomorrow.  Now please flick a bit of that lovely Trust money our way. Look forward to doing you like a dog's dinner at Kiwitea.

How many ASBP coaches have got UEFA B badge, lets not forget that we're still amateur players, yes do believe that RM/AD a the best coaches in town(apart from Steve Flemming).

Do believe that we will not be bottom and will come home with 3 points this weekend and will kick on 

UEFA B is NZ Football's stated minimum requirements for coaching National League.  So they allow the rules to be bent it seems.  But in any case Marshall and Jacobs are UEFA A.  Tribulietex has his UEFA pro license I'm told.  Braithwaite is at least NZ Level 3 (his assistant is UEFA A).  Greatholder isn't UEFA B yet, but is on it I'm informed.  Calcott and Cossey I have no idea.  Coach education is fundamental.  I was shocked when I heard what RM's qualifications were - he is at the bottom of the list by miles in that regard - I'm pretty sure about that.

would the Roslyn Wakari team of 2003 beat the current Otago team?

What qualifications does RM and AD have?

would the Roslyn Wakari team of 2003 beat the current Otago team?

Is that a joke?

I'm staying out of this...

Rab Smith's latest preview is...the best ever...I am still on the floor laughing.

Didnt they only just win the SPL when Tech and Cavvu were both playing Nat league?

You are talking 1992?  We won the Southern League -Tech were rubbish.  Then remember we were in the Super Club for a few years after that. We were the best team in town.  Then after the Team Otago thing in 98 Tech and Cavy played National League.  But perhaps you are talking 2003.  We won the FS league when Tech and Cavy were National League yeah.  But we were heros...just for one day.

Yeah he's saying we weren't in the top league so the championship was diminished.  But Tech and Cavy were poor that year so it's hard to gauge.  But I have to admit the following year Cavy were supreme - we were 2nd by a long way.  Getting back to the question, would RW 2003 beat the current Otago Utd?  I should know, and I don't think so.  They would find it hard to score initially because they don;t seem to have much in that department right now, but they would dominate possession.  We weren't as fit as they were.  They would finish us off in the last 15 I think.

cavy beat roslyn that year so can't have been that poor? i think the Roslyn side would rough the otago midfield up too much, a young R Smith vs Joy would be a good match up, Brando & Ferg would be both having early showers.

Word is its all out attack against Wellwood, should be great to watch on tv 

Good attitude by coaching staff

just got into wellington. its not bad weather up here and apparentely its only meant to get better for tommorow. Cant help but think that the way otago have approached games this year that theyd prefer the wind that wellington is famous for. Is everyone fit for the weekend?

i think the minimum coaching level for national league is level 3

Rab needs t5o go, or better still get some glasses so he can report better

About to head down to the ground. I'm picking a 2-1 win for the boys today. We'll go behind midway through the first half then level just before the break through Burgess, the winner will come with 10 to go from Ryder. Big afternoon in store, will try update at halftime

Alright that sounds good to me.  I'm not going to the game - can't be bothered driving down so will watch on sky with the rest of us.  Go Otago!

This is awful

Great effort lads. the season up and running and that streak comes to a halt. The boys played well i thought.

Played well? Two passes and turn it over (from both sides) is not played well.

The standard of our national league is not flash.

Common Vader...both sides made more than two passes at times.  On a few occasions both sides even put some half-decent stuff together.  It is very depressing to see players (from both sides) needlessly give the ball away under no pressure though.  And both sides need to cut that aimless long ball stuff - I don't know why the coaches allow that.  Anyway well done lads one the first three points - need to back that up at home next week.

Easy to be judgemental from the sideline, but credit needs to be given when it is due. What are you comparing our league to? we are talking about amateur players who make a large committment to play. ofcourse they won't be at the level of the a-league etc. If the standard bothers you so much then try do something about it. 3000 posts would suggest you've got enough spare time.

Congrats too Otago.

I am amazed at the number of people who jump in with statements that rubbish a result when it doesn't go their way. So well done boys, look forward to watching you at ASB Park in ChCh in the new year

a: I'm not a Wellington or an Otago fan. I'm a fan of good football so to say I've rubbished it when its not gone my way is baseless.

b: Compared to what you ask? Compared to previous national leagues. It was not this bad 3 years ago. I think this year is truly a very low quality level. I'm not comparing them to any other leagues but as was said, the needless long ball and ball given away under no pressure was telling in the volume of it. How can we possibly call that good football?

c: at near 50 yo there is not much I can do about it. The coaches in the league are far more qualified than I am but their teams produce this..... football. I am allowed to call it crap football when it is crap football.

I've seen 3 games now this year and all of them have very ordinary. Tellingly, Team Wellington have featured twice in the worst two..

Take the 3 points, revel in it, but don't dress the mutton up to look like lamb.

Well done Otago, happy days, Horner has sorted them out at the back, need to work on keeping the ball though

I agree Judda.  Horner had them nice and tight and focussed (and they needed to be) - a few un-Hornerish panic attacks but he's not played for a year so it's understandable.  All the defenders deserved big credit IMO.  Ferguson gave the ball away alarmingly too many times in the first five minutes, but was very good after that I thought with some great cover tackles.  Matt Joy is just so solid and dependable isn't he?  And Connor will always be a personal favorite -he really gets under the skin of the other side. Stevens is getting better each game isn't he?  Great work rate and a through-the-legs finish always shows a bit of class: it was no fluke. I thought Morgan struggled really, he just has to switch on and not take too many touches  - he was caught quite a few times.  Victor looks like quality but clearly lacks match fitness and fell away.  Well done Sam - his introduction was timely I thought he stopped us being over-run in the middle at a critical stage of the game.  Interesting to see Tristan at left half.  And while he didn't look hims best still, at least he was busy and he had that crucial goal line clearance to boot.  Ryder caught the eye of the commentators and fair enough, he is a male model after all - but he was also really bright and showed some fantastic touches and that great pace.  Burgess just doesn't do it for me I'm sorry.  He had that one chance and at least he hit the target, but he does nothing off the ball - he looks well out of shape.  I keep banging this drum I know, but he should be the one that comes on as a sub.  Jude's impact was immediate wasn't it?  He ran around and put some pressure on and that's a credit to him IMO because he's a defender.  And the commentators were raving about Solomons winning everything in the air all game (but he was under no pressure), but as soon as Jude got near him he made a mistake and headed it to Joel to score.  I have no idea why we had no actual strikers on the bench - not Hancock or Colicott or Govan, in fact only 3 players.  Maybe funds to travel are short.  Anyway great win lads.  Well done.  Don't need to tinker too much now RM, just turn up on game day.

Yeah Jeff they would - like you I remember the good old bad old days.  And they would destroy them by kicking their shins off.  And mate, they were on nicotine.

i often pull this statement out and some people think it's a joke, but anyone who followed the game then would tend to agree.

the quality was incredibly high and the speed of the game was right up there with the top english leagues

in fact, players often moved between new zealand and the english football league, players such as colin walker and paul warhurst who played for england soon after turning out for manurewa