The WaiBOP United Thread

Looks like Waikato might be able to get their licence back, good news.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/sport/8011228/Way-forward-is-now-likely-for-Waikato-FC 

I just read that article. Ironic the support of the regions board comes on the back of Edge's firing. If one were to draw conclusions...

Agreed twice

Awwww thanks guys! Twice. :-)

Hi Doris, looking at the NZFC preview it seems that Jesse Edge, Mohammed Awad, Josh Greene, Ryan Thomas and others are still playing for Waikato. Is it safe to assume you now withdraw unreservedly your comment of November 26?

I note you never replied to my earlier point on whether we should be surprised that these boys were not playing national league when they were 14-15 either. Welcome your thoughts.

Should we be surprised they were not playing NZFC at age 14-16. No. I think by virtue of their record, it dictates that.

 Hi Jeff, you are quite correct, they certainly should not be playing that young, but Doris appeared to be baldly inferring it was some form of hypocrisy that they weren't. Pretty weird, huh?

I guess the point I am trying to make here is that amongst the quite valid criticism Edge attracts, there is also quite a lot of invalid stuff from people like Doris, which appears to be based on little more than a mixture of inexplicable personal dislike and ignorance.

Posters like Doris take their own prejudices, and make outlandish statements which do not have any basis in fact, and then appear to shy away from putting their hand up to admit they were wrong.

In other words, they feel free to slag people like Edge for mistakes, but don't admit their own. That's a pity, I reckon.

As far as Declan goes, I can give him his dues that he tried to do it his way, with his players. However he gets seriously marked down for not having the intelligence to realise that he did not have the personnel to play that way and that by virtue of possession alone, you don't win games. He always used to trumpet the possession stakes. No one cares about that when you are not winning. That and the endless comparisons to Brisbane/Barcelona, how the losses were always someone elses fault and how he really talked down the achievements of his players. He is basically a twat and I personally feel bad for the kids of Wellington that are going to be subjected to his brand of football. The methodology is there but you had to have a serious bullshit filter on to get there.

Well I may be wrong (probably in the short term or maybe a reflection of people growing up), however my point was based on logic. (basis of fact), 2 years ago, the following players were not available (although quite ellegible) to play for Waikato FC & youth, J Green, M Awad, EdgeX2, T Boyd, A Wallis, Others to play outside the franchise, A Thomas, J Smith, L Davis Campbell, perhaps Lissette (can't remember. Reason.................. Edge couldn't stand the thought of Cossey etc. coaching them.

Personal dislike, yes, ignorance, well we all have our own opinions 

p.s. good post Vader

 Hi Doris,

Good on you for admitting you were wrong and withdrawing your comments because they were completely out of order and based on blind prejudice. We need more posters to do that.

But in your latest post I don't think "logic" is quite the word you are looking for.

You must realise that 2 years ago these players were young even for a youth team (where the age limit was 19 or even U20), depending on what stage of the World Youth Cup cycle we were in.

And the coach of the time, Peter Smith, had plenty of other lads to choose from who were older. You are correct that some of the older lads played outside the franchise. You could hardly blame Adam Thomas for taking up a spot with Auckland City, while Jesse Smith was not wanted - quite rightly in my opinion - by Waikato (I didn't think he was near good enough) but somehow got a gig with Wellington. I think Lissette has really come of age recently - just in time to be out with long-term injury. But two years ago he was certainly not wanted at national league level in Waikato - he had hardly had a northern league game - but he went somewhere he could get a game in summer.

Alexie Campbell-Davies was eligible, was selected and definitley did play for Waikato youth, because he shows up as a goalscorer in youth reports. Not 100 per cent sure on Wallis, but I think he was also selected.

I can't see that any sin has been committed by anyone. Even Declan Edge players most often simply do what is in their best interests without any hidden agenda or unspoken motives.

But happy to be corrected if you know stuff I don't.

Once again, good on you for putting up your hand about being so far off the mark with your earlier comments.

What's the odds anybody know?    

Waikato $2.75

Manawatu $2.15

Draw $3.55

Waikato win 2-1

Here's a stat which really sums up Declan's tenure: So far this season, 13 individual players have scored more goals than Waikato FC as a team.

Have to say, Manawatu look like value, I think it might be hard straight away for Cossey to make a difference, half his squad are used to passing it around in their own half. Happy to be proven wrong though, hopefully we get on the scoresheet and get some points.

I would think if they can pick points up in next two games would be a bonus.... then will be a new team/ squad when the boys all leave in jan with deklan..

At least they've scored goals this season :-). Mosquera has 5 times the goals of Waikato's whole team. I assume I'll be one of the 7 people watching this game, not going to be easy on the eye

So many lols at this heh.

i hope it's a better specticle than the last televised asb premiership match

I disagree that Awad will be a talent in the future.

Thomas could be if he stops looking about how he has been wronged on a pitch. Every time he gets touched, he looks at the ref and cries about it. He needs to realise that this is senior mens football and he needs to be stronger on the ball. Yes he is slight, but Marco learned that he needed to be strong on it.. If can't do that, he wont go anywhere.

Good grief, I actually agree.  Thomas needs to eat raw protein and come back looking like a gorilla.  Essentially he's got to be stronger on the ball.  Technically decent, but sometimes you have to fight your way through.

Interesting to see Jesse Edge on the bench, obviously little point in playing him if he's going to leave to Wellington. Hobson-McVeigh starting, interested to see how he goes, whether he can provide that spark needed in midfield.

 Shit that deserved a goal.

Promising signs early, but then again I write that every week 

Looks like we are talking here. How did Margetts miss that?!?!?! 4 yards and all he had to do was smack the shit out of it.

Already a more exciting game than the TW vs Canterbury one.

 Agreed

Looks like the short corner has been killed off, 1st good thing Cossey has done. Good to see Cooksley still looking like a neanderthal

The back 4 for Manawatu really are lacking in some sort of shape and/or leadership. I'm quite surprised at the lack of effort required for Waikato to get into the box.

Lols "his touch was not a good one"

Nathan Cooksley has never had a good touch.

Since when has he been in midfield? I seem to recall him getting sent off against us a while back while playing in defence, am I wrong?

How old is Ryan Thomas??

17. There we go, Rory Turner fufilling his promise he's shown so far. Great goal.

Does he play for AGS?

I think he is 18.
Good advantage to allow them to play by the ref. The A League ref from last night could have learned that.
The goal was coming. Not sure I would call it something he planned more so than a hit and hope in that direction but its still a goal.

Not sure what school he's from but none of Declan's kids play school football so no.

Rory Turner looks like the AGS number nine that went after Kevin Fallon following the national secondary school final, crying, demaning some aplogoy. Was hilarious viewing.

Ah thought you were still talking about Ryan Thomas. Yeah believe you could be right there, Turner was definitely an AGS student.