Southern Football (incl Southern United)

Time for The Onions to ditch the Yellow, Youngheart looked sharp, very smart in the Green and White Nike strip

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I think most players were poor out there. Don't agree with the paper that the wide players were delivering good ball, I think all the delivery was pretty poor that includes the set pieces which were horrible and lead to 2 of the goals on the counter. Coldicott was far too deep in the first half and then far too high in the second (they were chasing a 3-0 deficit however), I think Ryder or Stevens should take his spot. Thought Burgess and Day were the sides better players. Burgess up top by himself would possibly work better as it look as if he and Hancock got in each others way at times. Tactically the game was won by Manawatu who exploited us perfectly.

My pick for Auckland would be,

Little

Connor, Prattley, Joy, Ferguson

Mepham

Stevens, Da Costa, Day, Ryder

Burgess

Bench: Evans, Fitzpatrick/American, Ridden, Coldicott/Cunningham, Hancock/Govan

Ah well onwards and upwards , Auckland this weekend , Wont be easy . Could be a 10nil job 

Anybody know if Horner is available this weekend? may not be match fit but after yesterday who is.

Fuck Sake. If Otago is going to win games, they need to believe in themselves and WANT to win. believing in themselves begins from a firm support base from the public. So long as there is an expectation to lose, there is far less chance of a win. The play in the weekend is NOT acceptable. IF any other region played that way, there would be total uproar. Uproar because there is an expectation to WIN. The mindset here in Otago seems to be one of silence and low expectation. The public need to be far more critical. Being critical creates open discusssion which puts pressure on those within the system to make changes. There is little pressure on those within the system and therefore the reason changes won't be made. Being critical, does not convey a message of low confidence, it shows that there is care and WANT to be winning games. It is of course easy to say all this as an anonymous observer and keep quiet in the places that count. But I myself, will be there at all the games, giving credit where it is due and criticism where it is needed. I think we can all agree that players appeared lethargic in the weekend. Sub the fuckers and let others have their shot. If they don't appear to WANT it, then you can be damn sure that those previously subbed will have rethought their own attitudes. TOOO SOFT WE ARE. This is not the 'otago spirit' i had envisioned at the beginning of the season. quite an angry comment, but appropriate in this context.

Maybe we were outplayed by manawatu as they played more preseason games. For us 1 game against Canterbury (which was a scratch team for us) and then playing youth is not good enough. We just have to find the money to play in Wellington for a weekend and get two quality games in against Welly/Hawkes Bay or either Manawatu.

Anyway this is where we can make are statement against Auckland as we have nothing to loose.

It's gonna take some smart tactics against Auckland this weekend - hope RM's got it sorted.

Instead of the old, 'just stand still and don't forget your shirt number' approach.

Surely Morrison can't keep his spot and will be replaced by Ferg. I'd like to see Joel given a start in place of Aajay and Ryder in CM instead of Morgan.

I was told Day was one of the better ones.  Aajay's not a wide player at this level - I think we all know that except the coaching staff.  And I'm also told Hancock is short of a gallop.   I like this 4-1-3-1-1 for the Auckland game:

Little

Tom, Matt, Jude, Tristan

Sam

Ryder, Day, Joel

da Costa

Burgess

Stick Tristan at LB for goodness sake, let him play his best position - he's gonna get cheesed off playing at CB and leave for Oz in the New Year if they keep playing him there - just watch what happens.  Chuck Jude next to Matt - let the future CBs learn how to play next to eachother now not in 5 years time.  They will make mistakes, but they are two big, keen lads and they will learn.  It's going to be a development season, I think we can see that after just one week.  Evans, Ferg, Ridden, Regan and Govan on bench.  Boot Hancock and Morrison into touch for a week - teach them not to be slackers.

Does everyone reckon Coldicott's been tossing too much tin lately? looked a bit sluggish, Reg thoughts? 

I haven't heard that Conte (well not exactly).  But he has been dropped according to Rab Smith:

Otago Utd vs Auckland City Preview 

Good to see Govan named in the initial squad at least.

Probably a good thing as his head won't be in the right frame of mind after the Barca result. 

Can Otago do a Celtic?

I think you should do the team talk Conte.

Was not expecting to see Coldicott off the team sheet entirely but may give him the kick up the butt that us lot think he needs. hopefully the news of Ferguson picking up a knock is not too serious and hes right to play on Sunday, same could be said for Ryder aswel. Any body heading down to the game this week or gunna spend the money elsewhere? Hopefully be able to make it down watch the "Bhoys" pull off an upset.

Auckland at $1.40 is good money. 

Auckland should be at 8$ in my opinion

Weird odds.  Perhaps people are backing Otago not to lose (Otago win paying $6.50 and draw paying $4.10).  These are decent odds as well and may be bumping the Auckland win odds up.  Compare that to Waitakere over Waikato at $1.17.

a few players have been dumped according to the dropped player's friend, who attended OBHS in 2004 & now resides in NEV, Coldicott survives another week, can you believe that, Murray has informed the lad it's his last chance, been told his heart his Mosgiel not Otago.

& for this sick rumour going around that i'm Scott Gannon, Craig Ferguson or Callum Flaws, sorry but i am not

Conte! Go to bed mate.  Regan deserves a spot on the bench IMO.  One last chance maybe...And people think I'm RM himself!  So don't worry about the accusations.  To us you are Conte and you have good info mostly - that's al that matters.

And for what it's worth Conte - I thought you might be the great Andy Coburn.

Otago 1, Auckland 1

Coldicott has his heart in Mosgiel, pretty sure I heard he was joining Cavvy next season?

Ive been hearing that since 06 when they had Otago player of the year Towel boylan,coburn,eisenhut and the rest of Otago united moved over but still got their ass handed to them.Keep dreaming

$1.40..Idiots

All f*ckwits

"Frustratingly there were no real duds in Otago's last performance, just fluctuating performances, and as Murray said, ' some really naive defending'."

no real duds eh Rab, what game were you watching? if they play like that tomorrow , min score will be 10 +

At the end of the day green island are up for a massive season after last season, signed the ultimate hard working centre back in cam mcphail and rumors are Jesse wright is gyming the house down and could be invincible on that left wing, Joel also cofirmed signing 1 more season , I'm a Hundy on. Gi till I die

Dudsexpat your a legend

Havnt heard of either Mcphail or Wright, who did they play for last season? Also as appears you are a Green Island man and are in the know, has nothing come of Joel's trials in the states? Whilst i'm impressed with the improvement in the Island this season I think he may well have outgrown them an needs to be playing at Tech or Cavvy in order to play in the bigger matches. A lot to be said for loyalty however.

Auckland 4 Otago 0

That reff in the Otago V. Auckland match today was appalling, if I were his mother I'd be ashamed!

Your right there billy, you could say he cost them the game..I thought andy Duncan was gonna put him on his ass after the game. Would have been gold

Aw mate tell me about it. Disgraceful call on Coldicott, definitely cost Otago the game. Andy should have done that for sure, the reff bloody deserved it! I would have to say that Otago has to stop playing the long ball all the time, it really killed them.

Otago can feel hard done by, deserved more, Coldicott better this week but still hangs onto the ball too long, put Prattley back to left back please, Ferg's naive defending was embarrassing & cost us 

One wonders if the Ref had Auckland City in his multi bet???? He was bloody awful and where did that donkey of 4th official get 6 minutes from

Otago did well today, mad calls from the ref, you could tell he was from auckland

Richard for once got the starting line up right

That kid at half time fluked those shots soo hard. Couldn't believe it.