The Big one - Grand final 2011 - SS2 Sund

Put 10 on Auckland at halftime paying $7, if only that penalty went in. The quality of the game was terrible really

They were booing O'Leary, not United. Some of his decisions were mindboggling! Some of the tackles from United were terrible and they didn't get pulled up. I'm surprised it didn't turn ugly.

Does anyone know if the Fijian boys in the corner are City's O-League opponents? They were honestly the loudest supporters Waitakere had all day!

That is who I thought they were, And the ACFC lads were giving them a few songs so I am guessing that is who they were. Although I was just down to the left of the ACFC army and I didn't hear a thing from them.

Also 3500 crowd was pretty good. 

Was it really that big, Didn't think it was from watching on Sky.

Someone said they were the Under 20 Fijian team. Glad of any cheering. Lots of encouragement from the singing crew.    

theprof2011-04-11 08:26:44

Great game to watch IMHO. Some woefull defending but both teams played good football. Some of you guys are pretty blinkered. 

I think it's probably partly a reaction to the assertions of some that the ASB Premiership is similar quality to the A-League.

Right, I see well A League is definately better. But thats quite irrelevant when it come to discussing this game.

In my opinion both Auckland And Waitak TRY to value possesion more than some A League sides. But that doesnt mean they would beat those A league sides, just that they can be alright to watch in their own right. Throw in some Bizarre defending and 5 goals and you've got a good game.

Fair call, was really just pointing out I'm realistic about the standard of the league, but I thought there was some good stuff yesterday as well as goals and F ups.

A few nice moments but the standard was well below recent form.

 Kwalitee. Couldn't make it to the game cos of work which fking sucked, but good result! Good game. Dakota Lucas allllll day.

This. I know what to expect from the ASB Premiership, and the final yesterday was along those lines most of the time, but defending for most of the goals (other than probably the OG that Hogg forced) wouldn't have looked out of place in Cap 15.

Am I right in thinking that ACFC started the match yesterday with only 6 good, honest kiwis on the field?

  Junior822011-04-11 12:39:36

I have to say, while it wasn't 'champagne football', i really enjoyed being able to watch this match on TV, despite Waitakare scoring all Auckland's goals as well as their own.

It would be nice to see the ASBP on Sky next season, a long shot i know, but i think despite not having a 'local' team to support (YoungHeart is closest), that doesn't mean i wouldn't mind watching it.

Not pretty, but well worth 2 hours of my life on a Sunday afternoon.

Thanks ASBP & Sky. And congrats to Waitakare.

I think you will find that Berlanga had one of those games he would rather want to forget.
And Expositio was one of there best going forward. Unlucky with his strike that hit the post but was a beauty of a hit

The way ACFC played yesterday was definitely not a fair representation of their form since December and Berlanga, in particular, was well off his usual form. Mulligan could have made a difference - not fit? Maybe Coralles could have been on earlier too. Ian Hogg probably the best for ACFC on the day.

Does this result make ACFC the 6th best club in the world now?

Dunno. Not sure how it affects their ranking accroding to the International Federation of Football History & Scientology either

We looked seriously at the viability of online streaming some local games and the costs were terrifying and that is without buying airtime.

I thought Fijian sports teams weren't allowed over here [except for the 7s and international tournaments]. Or is that off now?

No.  The rules are about links with the illegal government regime which meant the keeper wasn't allowed in so no one came.

NZ Football can afford a weekly 30 minute highlights show, but they choose not to

And what do you base that on?

The fact he has narrated a NZFC highlights show previously would be a good guess.

A highlights show would be a bit of a waste of money. Tried before,nobody watched it. Got scrapped.

Sky should stop being such c**ts. Should try get Stratos or someone do a game a week.
CboZ2011-04-12 14:18:00

I don't really blame sky. It wouldn't really be a ratings winner for them. Am sure if NZF paid,they'd happily play the games (if it didn't clash with anything).

Sorry, should've been clearer with my earlier post - I was asked to put a proposal to NZF early in the ASB Prem season for a highlights show, and was told the numbers I was quoting were realistic... so I took that to mean there was money there (as there should be after the World Cup, the ACFC wins in Abu Dhabi, the ASB Sponsorship etc)... but the proposal was iced, which makes me think they chose to spend the money elsewhere - as is their right and prerogative, especially with the international sides and junior programmes having busy years... so instead I just made highlights for the Auckland and Waitakere websites, much as that guy did for Team Wellington...

Just a couple of quick points re: highlights shows:

1) producing a half-hour wrap of the current league is not as expensive as people think - for the league just finished, there would have been change out of $120K total for the season if every week was covered.

2) in the previous version of the show (2005-06), SKY did not charge to air it - basically, as it was produced independently and supplied at the specified deadlines, it was essentially considered as free content and therefore no charge involved. I would assume the arrangement would be the same now if re-started - so the only real cost is production, not broadcast.

3) the audience wasn't huge (especially with some of the techo glitches we encountered) but it was still there, and steadily increasing. I'd suggest an inexpensive weekly show would hold its own in a niche crowd, and serve a wider purpose

4) producing/narrating highlights in no way shape or form makes me any sort of expert on broadcast funding - just spouting my opinion based on some ideas

NZFC TV coverage and sponsorship as usual always ends up high jacking these blogs/discussions.
1/ Having said that I found TBdFSOE's input most interesting and would love a response from NZF and SKY.
Anyway, I've really enjoyed this year's Team Wellington and ACFC's home highlight packages. Keep up the great work to those involved.
2/ If Sky can subject me to school kid's and grassroot's 60th division rugby then surely they can spend some of my subscription by covering at least some of the ASB National League.
3/ Then again.....ONLY 3000+ 'football supporters' can be bothered turning up to watch the National League Final show casing half a dozen current or ex All Whites and ex European League players. Is it any wonder SKY treats football with such contempt.
Spud2011-04-12 21:11:09

If it really would only cost about 120k could yellow fever not contribute as per earlier investigations HN? rather than funding and running the whole thing. Plus find a bit of sponsorship, and a little NZF money, you wouldnt have thought that wouldnt be too difficult. Maybe we could ask Ryan Nelsen to donate 1 weeks salary a year ?

Guess there really needs to be some desire on behalf on NZF to push it through.

Im with JD in that something like ASBP TV.co.nz would be a good solution, but you would have thought that if you dropped a package in the lap of SKY TV, they would show it.