Southern Football (incl Southern United)

Harsh that area51 Ferg I think is late 20's and Regan just needs to lay of pushing thae tin around the gym

Congrats Matt Joy for being in ASB Premiership TOM.  My old man said you were immense against Auckland CIty and I thought you did pretty well against HBU as well.  Put your balls on the line haha.  Keep it up mate we need you back there.  Have a look at the videos on youtube and help Tristan out if you can!

Nat how about praising Tristan instead of knocking his confidence, he is one of our better players and can't be that bad to play for NZ U23's. We all have bad periods, for me I think maybe he needs not to force the issue so much and just play the simple balls.

How many players (if any) read this forum

Hello Rooster.  Please go back and look at my posts.  I've consistently praised Tristan and even called him Otago's best player.  But the boy looks out of sorts at CB.  Perhaps not making the U-23 final cut or Waitakere has gotten to his brain a bit.  But mostly I think he's making the mistakes he is because he's being played out of position.  Who would have imagined Matt Joy would be ahead of Tristan in the CB position and make it into the TOTM at this time last year? Not me.  But all power to Matt, he deserves the accolades.  And Rooster it's got nothing to do with "forcing the issue" or playing "simple balls".  Tristan is class in possession and with the ball at his feet.  At LB with the ball he's a genius.  But go have a look at videos and see how he's poorly positioned as a CB OUT OF POSSESSION and in the transition.  Every CB knows it's the out of possession stuff that's much more important than playing "simple balls".  Defenders do their best work when they don't have the ball.  Look at why Matt is doing well.  He's a bit agricultural with the ball, but his positional play is better than Tristan's at the moment.

Looking forward to parking up at Freddy Taylor park this weekend to support the boys as i am living up Auckland now. Watched Waitak v Auckland in the weekend, Waitaks pace upfront is impressive and will be tough for the boys to handle. 

Quite surprised by the recent naming of the TOM. How the hell has a blind and half deaf goose like Matt made that side. What a balls up that was. How the hell was it picked anyway?

On that centre back note, how did Benjudah slime himself onto the cavvy train, let alone the united ship.

Waitak 8 Otago 0. Goodnight nurse.

you should coach the team NatPevin

Haha that's nice and caustic jazz - look forward to reading your match report.

I think Otago could sneak this one with Horner inspiring the team this weekend

What is he playing this weekend?  About time too.  Alongside Matt with Tristan at LB I hope.   Or even as a defensive mid in front of the back four would be good as well I reckon.  Might make the drive to Auckland worth it for me if he plays.

Little

Connor Joy Horner Prattley

Ryder Da Costa Day Coldicott 

Hancock Stevens

bench - Evans Burgess Mepham Fitzpatrick Ridden

Little is a no brainer. Joy and Horner together would be a great partnership, Prattley on the left in his natural spot is what everyone wants and best for the team Connor solid as a rock at RB. Ryder and Coldicott both exciting attacking players and will be threats to any defense Da Costa and Day to steady the ship in the midfield right two men for the job with Hancock and Stevens causing headaches for the backlines. Need a back up keeper and Peter Evans is the perfect man for the job. Burgess would be good off the bench as would show some experience late in a game. Mepham could fill any of the midfielders spot and add some mongrel to challengers he can also cover at the back if need be. Jude is extra cover at the back and even a target man up front from what we hear. Ridden additional cover in the midfield even holding midfield.

This would be the best possible team hopefully coach Murray and Duncan play this against side against Waitakere

This will never happen , as Im only a bench player now days , Victor is injured and the combo up front this week is Burgess & Hancock

Cheers

Hands you will never be a bench player.Long live the king

is horner starting? huge call from Murray to throw him in for this game, if so, i'd play him at sweeper (or in front of back 4) with Joy & Fitzpatrick man marking, Prattley & Connor making up the back five. Ryder, Mepham, Day Coldicott, Hancock making up the rest, bring on burgess for the 2nd half & Joel for the last 30.

Not sure but by the sounds of it having prattley out left wouldnt hurt and surely he's played enough games not to feel to disheartened if they get spanked..

Interesting discussion this afternoon.  Where have Gannon and Ferguson gone in all this?

Not good enough

Rab putting some heat on Rich, Big Dog John Mathias giving Murray the dreaded vote of confidence, could he be walking the plank come late Sunday arvo?

"Otago coach Richard Murray will be looking over his shoulder since the United ASB Franchise has a similar record, and will need to find improved form to gain points from Waitakere in Sunday's away match."

"However Otago United Board member John Mathias ( pic left ) confirmed that the franchise has every confidence that coach Murray can produce results that will lift United away from its present lowly position."

no one should be surprised that an unpaid team of dunedin locals are not winning regularly in the national league

that being said, the youngheart result obviously hurts

Im up in Auckland this weekend (and in Wellington next week to see Del Piero and the lads) and hoping to get to Fred Taylor to watch the game, Somewhat of a homecoming as I used to be involved in the Waitakere City club for a couple of seasons. If i manage to see the game i'll be sure to provide a match report. The boys are really up against it tommorow. I saw the Super City Derby last week and Waitakere were impressive. Having said that, things don't always go to form and if they can keep it tight then they may just nab something.

-----------------------Little---------------------

Connor--------Joy--------Prattley----Ferguson

---------------------Mepham---------------------

-----------------Day------Da Costa------------

Stevens------------------------------------Ryder

---------------------Coldicott--------------------

I think this side could be capable of getting a job done. Coldicott up top is a bit of a wild card but hes got the pace and power which could cause problems on the break which is likely the only way they are going to have a chance. Bring Burgess on in the second half if a goal if in need, but i feel he is better suited to a team that will have more possesion. Day, Da Costa and Mepham will need to run a tight ship in the middle. The key will be Joy and Prattley not being split by the pace of De Vries and Krishna.

Any news on how the boys went today??

Lost 4-1. By all accounts, on another day with a little bit of luck, it was a game we could we could have got something out of... for the 4th week in a row. Positive signs.

When is Lady Luck going to turn up for us, this will make us bottom of the league now with Waikato winning today 

i think Otago would've taken a 4-1 loss before kick off

Hopefully Jazz and Why always me? will hop online soon and give us a full report - I suspect they may be players though, so maybe not.  The ASB website seems to indicate we played a back five with Horner in there! It was only 2-1 with four minutes plus stoppage to go, so that seems like a pretty good effort.  Well done Joel on another goal.  Sad we are in last place in the table.  I just hope we can better the 2009 record of two wins and two draws - this side does seem better than that.

Otago were competing pretty well in the first half, withstanding most of waitaks attack. When waitak managed to get that goal not long into the second half, maybe 10min or so, Otago had to do something to play more attacking. We pushed everything forward and gave them a crack but ended up  conceding two late goals. 

Attacking in the 2nd half was the right call because they had to play positively if they were to beat a team like waitak. Not a bad result considering the task at hand. That goal just after half time really set the tone for the rest of the match since Otago were chasing waitaks tail. 

It was good to see a young guy like stevens have a good crack at them. 

Why don't we attack more then just worry about defending, would love to see us play more attacking football!!

How good would it be to watch us win 4-3 or 5-4 getting value for money aye

Big board meeting tonight, not happy with the start OU has made. Watch this space

Can't believe RM would get the chop or even be sanctioned that harshly.  Have the performances been that bad (isolated incidences of poor defending aside)?  Not IMO.  Is there widespread player discontent?  Not that I've heard.  Has the player selection been poor?  Again, not IMO - they have had to figure some things out on the hoof because they lacked funds for pre-season games when they could have been figured out (eg Morrison appears to be a fizzer, where has he gone?  And Burgess is too unfit to start IMO even though he did in the weekend again with Colidcott on the bench - I don't get that).  Have they missed their target (top 4 finish) for the season already?  Well, in all likelihood, yes they have - in the past three seasons since the 14-game league was introduced teams have needed at least 18 pts (maximum was 23 pts) to finish 4th.  So they still have a mathematical chance of top 4 but it would need at least six wins (say against Waikato twice and Wellington twice plus Manawatu and Hawke's Bay) and then probably still some wins or draws in the Auckland, Waitakere and Canterbury reverse fixtures.  It's a very tall order - if they lose or even draw against Wellington this weekend it's impossible really.  Perhaps this is the issue the board has.  So do they now play for pride, aim for 5th or 6th and put the strongest team out each week?  Or opt for a bit more development of some of the younger lads who aren't seeing much game time (like Cunningham and Ridden) with a longer-term view?  I say...sign Beckham in the transfer window.

i can see your point in bringing on Burgess when the defenders are tiring & it's valid but bringing on regan (with so called pace) should make bigger impact? Unfit Burgess > Coldicott

I think you argue against yourself because you are saying Burgess is a better player Colidcott.  Personally I would use a good unfit player, not an OK fit player, at the end of the game.  The relative 'fitness gap' between players is smallest at the start of the game, so you should use your fit players when they have running in them - even if they aren't that good they can run around, cause havoc and wear the opposition out.  Then I'd bring on the unfit genius on with 10-15 to go to nick a goal.   May I cite Klinsmann in my defence?

Altidore physically unfit to start for US 

i'm not a fan of Jozy Altidore, he's rubbish too.... i would rather have burgess up top holding the ball up rather than a headless chicken losing it a large portion of the time, the whole team suffers (fitness wise) by constantly having to defend all the time....wait till James Govan starts a game & my point will be proven

who would you replace the coaching staff with??

Sorry for the late report. I left Fred with an odd feeling on sunday. looking at the result one would assume it was the usual Waitak-Otago game but it was anything but. Otago took one early and then looked to stay tight for as long as possible, when that failed the game opened up a bit and had it not been for some great last ditch tackles and interceptions then there could well have been more goals in the first half. Second half started and Otago look alot more defensive in their approach. Prattley gave away the ball far too easily and Butler ended the break with a tidy finish. What happened next was a complete surprise. If you had turned up for the last 20 mins you would have thought Waitak were bottom of the table and desperately trying to hold on for a win against a far more fancied opponent. Otago almost camped themselves in the right end with long throws, corners and free kicks and on more than one occasion Waitak scrambled the ball clear by banging in up the field. Tat approach ended up paying off when a hopeful clearance was dealt with poorly by Connor and left Krishna clear on goal. De Vries got another late one which flattered the home side. Thought Stevens was tremendous and Da Costa was lively when he came on, Horner showed his class and lead the team well. Prattley was at left back and still looked a shade of himself, Burgess saw little ball but needed to work harder out of possesion. Really looking forward to seeing the lads at the Cake Tin this weekend before Phoenix v Del Piero. Another tough match but they just need to keep playing the way they are and the results will come. Suppose i'll see a number of you jokers in Welly this week as by all accounts this is a regular haunt for alot of the players.....?

What point is Govan going to prove....?

He's rubbish too?  Blimey he's 23 and has more than 50 caps for the USA - that's a bit harsh isn't it?  But my point wasn't about the player - it was about Klinsmann not starting him because he wasn't as fit as he needed to be.  But anyway I respect your opinion even if I beg to differ.

Still watching....

Board has given RM/AD to the end of this season, but must have improved results eg wins against Manawatu/Waikato & Wellington.

Number of things need to change in regards to players attitudes, to training and game day. They also need to recruit better ( no money doesn't help).

The up side is we can only go in one direction!!!!!!

If you ask me I say stick with these two as they have done a great job with what they have got, and who is going to replace them Steve Brook???? Also the board need to get their act together in regards to kitting out the team with proper walk out and warm up tops, jackets for bench players and no point ordering brand new strip 2 weeks before the season starts!!!! 

need to recruit better?!?!?

i'm sorry, but this is some kind of joke surely.  the squad assembled seems to be the best that the otago region has to offer

and with no money for imports or out of towners, how could they possibly have recruited better?

if you ask me, they have done well to even convince the best of the locals to play for free.  this would never be possible in most other regions

maybe the board should ssack themselves for having no idea