Youngheart

Yeah, I spotted the Nieres handball as well...but I didn't think of it as "holding" the ball. It briefly touched his hand and he sheilded the ball (by mistake). You can't really defend the kick in the back from the defender. And yes, youngheart, I will be there, probably for every game for the rest of the season (and maybe life in the Manawatu). The schoolboys had me very confused. Weren't they singing a "Youngheart" chant at the start?

yes they were singing youngheart but they were just singing louder than frenzy :-)

Well at least we are scoring goals now...

Ian Robinson I have to say looks off the pace sometimes during games. Niggling injury, age catching up with him, or just not fit enough? I'd be tempted to play Adam Cowan in his place. Are we playing 3 across the back? We need to bloody well stop doing that for a start. Peni Finau was immense today save for a couple of mistakes in the first half. He needs a quick, pacey, fast (how else can I say bloody swift!!) defender along side him and then we'd be flying. Once again poor calls from the ref let us down. Who the hell is Matt Adams? looked good when he came on even if he got sent off 5 minutes later.

Quansar worked his ass off and Nieres showed some superb technical skill but they're just not getting in scoring positions. Need Osea back, him and Nieres up front with Nieres playing right up in the 6 yard box. 4 across the back and 4 in the midfield.

Chettleburgh was superb with his runs and pace but is prone to hogging the ball at times.

Bailey is a future all white I'd say. He's showing confidence and skill beyond his years and we have him to thank alot of the time. Definitely not a penalty that he gave away. He went for the ball and the hawkes bay guy couldn't help tripping up.

Hawkes bay couldn't stay off the ground in the first half but they dived alot less in second half.
WillyB2008-03-09 17:45:25

Matt Adams is Lower Hutt, ex-NZ U-23 (or U-20) rep, and been with Team Wellington for the previous two seasons.

Ian Robinson has not looked as good as he did last year with Sandbrook. In my opinion, they were the best midfielders in the comp last year.

i do believe that once again the football gods have shat on the youngheart

The Evening Standard said it was Aliaga who came on and subsequently got sent off News...bloody useless reporting, or bloody useless announcing at the game...either way it'd be fairly typical.

Same position I was in. NZFC says it was Aliaga who got sent off. Not sure what happened.

Embarrassing loss at Otago it has to be said. This season is a complete write off.

  Whats that??  you're next home game at Memorial Park???  ...and so it should be.That should help generate some atmosphere as its a complete waste of time playing at FMG. I realise its got the facilities for the corperates but in the long term they will generate more interest at Memorial. Imagine what it would sound like ifyou could get some chanting going????  Create an atmosphere at it will attract more people.Playing footy at FMG is like building a triple garage for a bicycle...

Well that game summed up our season. Nieres superb once again but the defense obviously lacking, although I couldn't make it to the game to see for sure. How we have collapsed so catastrophically I am not sure, but re-building for next season must begin fairly quickly. Rufers position needs to be reviewed but I don't think it is or should be a foregone conclusion that he is sacked.

Play up Youngheart!

You wouldn't have thought the team in white were bottom of the league. Clinical finishing by Canterbury and very soft defence from Manawatu. Good goal from Nieres and he could have had a hatrick late in the second half as their keeper pulled off 3 great saves when faced with 3 point blank one on one situations. Oh well, theres always next season.

Manawatu will be playing all their home games this season back at Memorial Park. A lot closer and intimate for the fans.

How does that fit in with the NZFCs 'facilities' criteria which was the whole point of this NZFC creation 4 years ago anyway?

That was mentioned and yes, improvements are going to have to be made.

I wondered about the facilities too when I read that. Not much to offer the sponsers.

There were grand plans for corporates and club rooms on the top floor of the amenities block and yanking the cycling track out.

Those things likely to happen ?

That news about Memorial Park and that Finn Milne is looking forward to playing this season are about the only positives coming out in the YoungHeart "news" at the present time. Otherwise it all seems rather uninspiring.

Bob Sova will be the coach and boy hes got a personality of a jelly fish...........

Sandbrook by all accounts had the best season out of all the players. Only one who seemed to be bothered and on his game when everyone else was just crumbling around him. Where have Roydhouse and Wilkinson gone?!

Ahh I see, they've gone to america universities. seems a wise move

Which Colleges ?

It's easily the better and consist playing surface which has more merit for their player skills and development in the large scheme of things. Cheaper and would assist beginning crowd growth. It's not that much difference to Kiwitea street is it?

Don't know. I haven't had the pleasure of a match at Kiwitea Street. It was being resurfaced when I went to watch YoungHeart up there last season. Memorial does at least have a bit of football history to it - been to some great national league games there over the years.

i heard a former manawatu player based in waikato was going to get the YHM job? sova seems a desperate selection from the YHM board and they will have to work hard to stop Colin Tuaa from lifting the likes of robinsopn, Cowan and Sandbrook. I fear YHM are going to have a rough summer ahead of them at this rate.

Couldn't be much rougher than last summer. On a postive note though, the Uruguayans have been hitting form for Marist during the winter season.

At last some good news in tonight's paper - Ian Sandbrook is staying with YoungHeart. Let's hope they sort out the coaching situation pronto and start confirming a useful squad.

Tonights paper says no coach appointed yet. Only team in NZFC without a coach. Rufer apparently would have liked to remain.

I am not sure but I think that Rufer is still isn't finish as yet. He has applied again, i believe.

I don't know for sure but have the feeling it's all a bit of a shambles behind the scenes. I'm disappointed Rufer wasn't given it in the first place. I think he was doing good things for Manawatu football. I don't think the off the field stuff helped him much last season.

Fricking heck!!! I've just read last night's paper and while I treat anything in the media with a heavy dose of scepticism (eg Ryan Nelsen comments) it seems to confirm exactly what I have been thinking for some time. Sounds like they have completely cut Rufer as an option which seems bl**dy stupid to me if their preferred choice is now stuffing them around and may not sign. Who is the backup if negotiations fall through?

On field stuff probably didnt help either...

Good to see you're still about Willy and Joe.

But living in Wellington so won't catch too much of the Youngheart this season! But on the news we've got of them so far, maybe thats not a bad thing at all...

Hope to see you at Newtown Park when Youngheart come of course though!

YoungHeart Manawatu chairman Paul Barris is confident Manawatu is well placed for the upcoming national league despite the delay in naming a coach.

"As far as I'm concerned we're in a far stronger position than we were at the same time last year," Barris said.

"I'm confident that we are going to have a very good team."

Barris said it was no surprise that sacked coach Shane Rufer was critical of the delay because he was now out of a job.

"He [Rufer] is out of the loop now. It's not because he doesn't like Sports Management Services that he wasn't reappointed as coach. That's neither here nor there."

Barris said meetings have been held with senior Manawatu players to keep them informed about the appointment process. ""But it's been on a need-to-know basis."

An announcement, he said, would be made shortly.

Barris expected YoungHeart would again have a strong South American influence but he hoped talented players from around New Zealand could be attracted.

He said several Uruguayan professionals were lining up to play, while last year's imports Pablo Yackson (defender) and Gonzalo Nieres (striker) would be part of the team.

"We'll be giving locals the first go and then we'll see how strong the team will be. Based on how that's gone, then we'll then bring some imports in.

"Nieres wants to come back and he will be on a plane in a matter of days."

Barris said other positives for YoungHeart included the switch to the traditional soccer ground at Memorial Park, while he was pleased with recent performances from Palmerston North Marist and North End.

YoungHeart Manawatu chairman Paul Barris is confident Manawatu is well placed for the upcoming national league despite the delay in naming a coach.

"As far as I'm concerned we're in a far stronger position than we were at the same time last year," Barris said.

zizoustainrod2008-08-16 11:28:30

Also, I see that Julie Keane has been appointed the new Franchise Manager.

'need to know'!?!?!?!?!?!?

Mmmph . . . they forgotten already the amount of work he has been doing about Manawatu. Those imports were a failure at team play at the end of the day and Rufer is big on team combinations and the players didn't pull through last season. IMHO.