Double post
Interestingly I just read somewhere that Padova have a new Sporting Director, which is a role that wields significant power in Italian football. Hopefully the new person doesn't have his sights on a new fullback and things tick along for Niko
Danny Hay in his in depth interview with Piney, Burgess & Spoonley - touched on that the Italian coaches/sporting directors for Garbett & Kirwan were particularly 'difficult'/tough to deal with re this January window. But also basically that the decision to leave both guys with their clubs, was really about what is best for their careers for the moment.
Kirwan apparently has just signed a new 2 year deal with Padova.
Hay also commented that Garbett is now getting close to breaking into the Torino first team squad, which if true is exciting stuff.
I can't find anything about his contract extension so maybe it's not official yet. Great news though if true. Padova will need to finish strong and try to overtake Sudtirol and gain automatic promotion. The Serie C playoffs are notoriously tough and although finishing second would mean coming into the play offs later on they will want to try and avoid taking that risk.
Regarding Garbett, from the full games and highlights I've seen of him so far, he's one of the best Torino players by far. Whether that means he can cut the mustard in Serie A, that's way too early to tell. But still, being moved to the first team would be huge!
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League leaders Sudtirol played the first of two catch up matches overnight and cemented their lead by beating Triestina 1-0.
Now they are +5 on Padova with yet one more game in hand. Hard to see how Padova can avoid the playoffs at this stage, bar for a huge slump in form from the league leaders.
Now they are +5 on Padova with yet one more game in hand. Hard to see how Padova can avoid the playoffs at this stage, bar for a huge slump in form from the league leaders.
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Gutsy come from behind 2-1 win overnight for Padova vs Pro Patria. Highlights here (https://www.padovacalcio.it/padova-propatria-2-1-hl/) - they're worth a watch. The woodwork gets hit a few times, Niko scores the equaliser with a CF-like header and Padova win the game with a peach of a lefty curler at the death!
Full game and the aforementioned goal for Niko!
Sadly leaders Sudtirol won as well and they remain +5 with a game in hand.
Full game and the aforementioned goal for Niko!
Sadly leaders Sudtirol won as well and they remain +5 with a game in hand.
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His goal in isolation.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1487659655367368704
Timely with Tuiloma, Payne & Kalua all RB options in UAE. Be really interesting to see who plays there against Uzbekistan.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1487659655367368704
Timely with Tuiloma, Payne & Kalua all RB options in UAE. Be really interesting to see who plays there against Uzbekistan.
By all accounts he's having an excellent season for a decent side gunning to get back to the Serie B. Great run and timing on his latest club goal too, that's a good finish to get his side back level.
Really like him at RB for the AW's going forward. He's not got the blistering pace to skin opposing teams defences, but he seems to pop up in the right place at the right time and he's solid enough at the back to have some faith put in him longer term.
Really like him at RB for the AW's going forward. He's not got the blistering pace to skin opposing teams defences, but he seems to pop up in the right place at the right time and he's solid enough at the back to have some faith put in him longer term.
Well, Padova are really giving promotion a good crack this season.
Gutsy 1-0 win vs Pergolettese overnight with the winner coming in the 87th minute! Full game Niko.
League leaders Sudtirol are playing right now. Currently 0-0 with 35' on the clock. It would be really good if they dropped some points.
Gutsy 1-0 win vs Pergolettese overnight with the winner coming in the 87th minute! Full game Niko.
League leaders Sudtirol are playing right now. Currently 0-0 with 35' on the clock. It would be really good if they dropped some points.
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Sadly Sudtirol maintain their 5 points lead (with a game in hand) thanks to a 1-0 win this morning.
15 (16 for Sudtirol) games remaining in the season.
15 (16 for Sudtirol) games remaining in the season.
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From Flying Kiwis. No surprises I guess that he's fluent in Italiano.
https://youtu.be/XltmPCUFY2c
https://youtu.be/XltmPCUFY2c
Yes, totally fluent. He even has the accent of the northern town where he grew up. You couldn't tell his was half kiwi if you met him at the supermarket and didn't know him.
Speaking of which I'm dying to hear Pennington speak both English and Italian. From what I've read in the papers, having been in Sardinia for so long, he has a slight Island accent. And I'm curious to hear how he speaks English, whether he has an Italian accent or an Aussie one!
Speaking of which I'm dying to hear Pennington speak both English and Italian. From what I've read in the papers, having been in Sardinia for so long, he has a slight Island accent. And I'm curious to hear how he speaks English, whether he has an Italian accent or an Aussie one!
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Padova held to a 0-0 draw by Fiorenzuola. Niko an unused sub.
Sadly League leaders Sudtirol appear to have an extra gear this season and scored the winner in the 92nd minute. This means they are now +7 on Padova with a game in hand.
Sadly League leaders Sudtirol appear to have an extra gear this season and scored the winner in the 92nd minute. This means they are now +7 on Padova with a game in hand.
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Padova with a 2-1 away win at Seregno. Full game Niko. Ex Nix centre back Marco Rossi an unused sub for Seregno.
League leaders Sudtirol with a 1-0 win are able to maintain their healthy gap.
League leaders Sudtirol with a 1-0 win are able to maintain their healthy gap.
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Unused sub in a 2-1 win vs Lecco.
League leaders have now had their catch up games and finally dropped two points last week.
The ladder reads:
1. SUDTIROL 66pts (26 played)
2. PADOVA 58pts (26 played)
3. RENATE 49pts (26 played)
12 games remaining so still all to play for. Only top spot gets automatically promoted, the rest go to the playoffs. Sudtirol have been unstoppable this year, 20 wins, 6 draws and still unbeaten. 36 goals scored (4th best) but by far the best defense in their group with only 6 goals conceded in 26!
League leaders have now had their catch up games and finally dropped two points last week.
The ladder reads:
1. SUDTIROL 66pts (26 played)
2. PADOVA 58pts (26 played)
3. RENATE 49pts (26 played)
12 games remaining so still all to play for. Only top spot gets automatically promoted, the rest go to the playoffs. Sudtirol have been unstoppable this year, 20 wins, 6 draws and still unbeaten. 36 goals scored (4th best) but by far the best defense in their group with only 6 goals conceded in 26!
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
Unused sub in a 2-1 win vs Lecco.
League leaders have now had their catch up games and finally dropped two points last week.
The ladder reads:
1. SUDTIROL 66pts (26 played)
2. PADOVA 58pts (26 played)
3. RENATE 49pts (26 played)
12 games remaining so still all to play for. Only top spot gets automatically promoted, the rest go to the playoffs. Sudtirol have been unstoppable this year, 20 wins, 6 draws and still unbeaten. 36 goals scored (4th best) but by far the best defense in their group with only 6 goals conceded in 26!
League leaders have now had their catch up games and finally dropped two points last week.
The ladder reads:
1. SUDTIROL 66pts (26 played)
2. PADOVA 58pts (26 played)
3. RENATE 49pts (26 played)
12 games remaining so still all to play for. Only top spot gets automatically promoted, the rest go to the playoffs. Sudtirol have been unstoppable this year, 20 wins, 6 draws and still unbeaten. 36 goals scored (4th best) but by far the best defense in their group with only 6 goals conceded in 26!
Man that is a stingy defense! Hopefully Padova can get promoted via the playoffs. Tough ask, but Kirwan's done it before with Reggiana.
Wasted opportunity for Padova who can't do better than a 2-2 draw vs Trento on a day when league leaders Sudtirol drop points thanks to a draw of their own. Padova from 0-1 down to 2-1 up but then conceded the equaliser.
Full game and a yellow for Niko.
Full game and a yellow for Niko.
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Big news coming out of the North...
Padova have sacked their coach! Huge news considering they are second on the table and only 8 points behind the leaders with plenty of games to go. Whilst I guess the owners wanted to send a signal and show that they want that automatic promotion spot, I think that sacking their coach at this point in the season is just reckless. Padova have been playing really well. Sudtirol so far are really killing the league (unbeaten in 27 games!) and overtaking them might just be too hard.
Apparently Raffaele Longo (former pro, with serie A experience) is the interim coach but the real target is former AC Milan and Italian international Massimo Oddo.
I hope whoever comes in has a good opinion of Niko. A change at the helm is always scary, much more so when you're battling for promotion.
Padova have sacked their coach! Huge news considering they are second on the table and only 8 points behind the leaders with plenty of games to go. Whilst I guess the owners wanted to send a signal and show that they want that automatic promotion spot, I think that sacking their coach at this point in the season is just reckless. Padova have been playing really well. Sudtirol so far are really killing the league (unbeaten in 27 games!) and overtaking them might just be too hard.
Apparently Raffaele Longo (former pro, with serie A experience) is the interim coach but the real target is former AC Milan and Italian international Massimo Oddo.
I hope whoever comes in has a good opinion of Niko. A change at the helm is always scary, much more so when you're battling for promotion.
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
Do you think they sacked the coach due to results or some other reason? Seems extremely harsh if it's result driven
Unused sub in a 2-1 win vs Lecco.
League leaders have now had their catch up games and finally dropped two points last week.
The ladder reads:
1. SUDTIROL 66pts (26 played)
2. PADOVA 58pts (26 played)
3. RENATE 49pts (26 played)
12 games remaining so still all to play for. Only top spot gets automatically promoted, the rest go to the playoffs. Sudtirol have been unstoppable this year, 20 wins, 6 draws and still unbeaten. 36 goals scored (4th best) but by far the best defense in their group with only 6 goals conceded in 26!
League leaders have now had their catch up games and finally dropped two points last week.
The ladder reads:
1. SUDTIROL 66pts (26 played)
2. PADOVA 58pts (26 played)
3. RENATE 49pts (26 played)
12 games remaining so still all to play for. Only top spot gets automatically promoted, the rest go to the playoffs. Sudtirol have been unstoppable this year, 20 wins, 6 draws and still unbeaten. 36 goals scored (4th best) but by far the best defense in their group with only 6 goals conceded in 26!
Do you think they sacked the coach due to results or some other reason? Seems extremely harsh if it's result driven
I've read no reports anywhere that suggest there was any other reason but failure to get that top spot. So very harsh. Such a short sighted decision in my view.
Sadly this morning Padova missed another huge opportunity to go - 5 by drawing 1-1 with last placed Legnano. Niko subbed off at HT with the score at 0-1 after getting a yellow.
Sudtirol are also playing today and now can go +11.
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Sadly Sudtirol Edge Trento in the local Derby 1-0. Slightly good news being that I can't add properly so the gap for Padova is now - 10 points and not 11 as I reported earlier. Still, not great.
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Good news for Niko who keeps his starting spot under new coach Massimo Oddo in Padova's 2-1 win this morning. Full game Kirwan Jr.
Even better news with league leaders Sudtirol finally losing a match, 1-0 at Piacenza.
Padova stay second and climb to -7 with 9 games to go. Difficult task but let's hope Sudtirol have lost their mojo and lose a couple in quick succession
Even better news with league leaders Sudtirol finally losing a match, 1-0 at Piacenza.
Padova stay second and climb to -7 with 9 games to go. Difficult task but let's hope Sudtirol have lost their mojo and lose a couple in quick succession
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
According to a story on the official Padova website, he has been called up by Hay for the March qualifying tournament...
This might well impact his club career given that a new coach has only arrived a week ago (Niko did keep his starting spot however), but how often do you get a chance to qualify for a WC?
This might well impact his club career given that a new coach has only arrived a week ago (Niko did keep his starting spot however), but how often do you get a chance to qualify for a WC?
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
Full game in a 1-0 win overnight. Sudtirol won by the same score so Padova stay second on -7 points
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Highlights here https://youtu.be/8YYg7wRwpJ0
Niko with a good goal line interception around 3:25. Padova played most of the second half 11 v 9 as their opponents had a man sent off either side of the break. You can sense the crowd's mood after Padova failed to put the game beyond reach time and time again.
Next up they play league leaders Sudtirol in the Serie C Cup midweek. A game that has very little riding on it as both teams are all but assured a spot in the playoffs (even if their form should plummet from here on).
Perhaps it's just an opportunity to beat them and put some fear into them, if Padova can do it.
Niko with a good goal line interception around 3:25. Padova played most of the second half 11 v 9 as their opponents had a man sent off either side of the break. You can sense the crowd's mood after Padova failed to put the game beyond reach time and time again.
Next up they play league leaders Sudtirol in the Serie C Cup midweek. A game that has very little riding on it as both teams are all but assured a spot in the playoffs (even if their form should plummet from here on).
Perhaps it's just an opportunity to beat them and put some fear into them, if Padova can do it.
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First leg of the Serie C Cup and Padova draw 0-0 with Sudtirol. Full game Niko among a team that included a lot of reserves. Makes sense to use him as he's off to AW duty soon.
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Absolute scenes as Padova achieves a 2-1 come from behind win overnight. Niko with BOTH GOALS at 48 and 93 min!!
Sadly League leaders Sudtirol beat Juventus U23 1-0 and maintain their 7 point gap.
Still, a day to remember for Niko no doubt.
Will post highlights as soon as they are available
Sadly League leaders Sudtirol beat Juventus U23 1-0 and maintain their 7 point gap.
Still, a day to remember for Niko no doubt.
Will post highlights as soon as they are available
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
Absolute scenes as Padova achieves a 2-1 come from behind win overnight. Niko with BOTH GOALS at 48 and 93 min!!
Sadly League leaders Sudtirol beat Juventus U23 1-0 and maintain their 7 point gap.
Still, a day to remember for Niko no doubt.
Will post highlights as soon as they are available
Sadly League leaders Sudtirol beat Juventus U23 1-0 and maintain their 7 point gap.
Still, a day to remember for Niko no doubt.
Will post highlights as soon as they are available
Great stuff.
Somewhat surprising that Padova agreed to release Kirwan for whole OFC tourney, given they are chasing promotion. He obviously thought he better thank his club before he left!
Highlights here:
https://youtu.be/T-M1XndX8cM
Cracker of a game!
https://youtu.be/T-M1XndX8cM
Cracker of a game!
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Highlights here:
https://youtu.be/T-M1XndX8cM
Cracker of a game!
https://youtu.be/T-M1XndX8cM
Cracker of a game!
Ponytail is gone, shaved sides look is in. Gets mobbed after the 2nd goal and shirt comes off. He'll be on a high flying into Doha. I think he actually had a royal chance to get another one between 1st & 2nd goals, with a header over the bar??
NP - little tip If you use the Link icon (3rd across the above tool bar) you can copy & Embed links, making them easy to open, for lazy sods like me.
https://youtu.be/T-M1XndX8cM
Some of the saves were awesome, but man some of the finishing and defending was woeful!
Highlights here:
https://youtu.be/T-M1XndX8cM
Cracker of a game!
https://youtu.be/T-M1XndX8cM
Cracker of a game!
Ponytail is gone, shaved sides look is in. Gets mobbed after the 2nd goal and shirt comes off. He'll be on a high flying into Doha. I think he actually had a royal chance to get another one between 1st & 2nd goals, with a header over the bar??
NP - little tip If you use the Link icon (3rd across the above tool bar) you can copy & Embed links, making them easy to open, for lazy sods like me.
https://youtu.be/T-M1XndX8cM
Unfortunately embedding videos is really hard on my phone. Often times I can't scroll up to see that menu at the top of the page. I've deleted the app as it didn't work for ages and I don't usually manage to read YF from a computer 😑
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Kirwan-less Padova won the local derby with Mantova 1-0.
Currently league leaders Sudtirol are 2-0 up inside 30 min so it's unlikely their 7 point gap will be reduced.
Currently league leaders Sudtirol are 2-0 up inside 30 min so it's unlikely their 7 point gap will be reduced.
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Another win for Kirwan-less Padova, a 2-1 come from behind win vs Juventus U23. Sadly Sudtirol beat Marco Rossi's Seregno 1-0 and are still 7 points clear of Padova.
With only 5 games remaining, the comeback appears less and less likely. Hopefully Padova can keep their great form into the play offs
With only 5 games remaining, the comeback appears less and less likely. Hopefully Padova can keep their great form into the play offs
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
Great news! League leaders Sudtirol have lost their first match of the season (after 34 games!) and Padova won so the gap is now -4 with 4 games to go!
Anything is possible. Padova (2) will play the following:
- Pro Vercelli (6)
- Sudtirol in the Serie C Cup Final
- Giana Erminio (19)
- Sudtirol (1)
- Virtus Verona (12)
Niko still in Qatar
Anything is possible. Padova (2) will play the following:
- Pro Vercelli (6)
- Sudtirol in the Serie C Cup Final
- Giana Erminio (19)
- Sudtirol (1)
- Virtus Verona (12)
Niko still in Qatar
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
Another great day for Padova who beat Pro Vercelli 0-1 away and reduce their gap from top spot to 2 points thanks to a Sudtirol draw (could have been a single point as the league leaders almost lost, and equalised in the dying stages).
Niko subbed on at the start of the second half with the score still at 0-0.
What an end to the season! 3 games to go, including a Padova v Sudtirol to come and all to play for! Top spot gets automatic promotion to Serie B.
Niko subbed on at the start of the second half with the score still at 0-0.
What an end to the season! 3 games to go, including a Padova v Sudtirol to come and all to play for! Top spot gets automatic promotion to Serie B.
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/128270328/all-whites-eye-peru-ahead-of-world-cup-playoff-costa-ricas-buildup-takes-shape
Italy-based right back Niko Kirwan is the only player at risk of missing major matches for his club, Padova. If they don’t finish first in group C of third-tier Serie C, they will have to take part in a playoff series for a shot at promotion to Serie B, which culminates in a home-and-away final on June 5 and 12.
Italy-based right back Niko Kirwan is the only player at risk of missing major matches for his club, Padova. If they don’t finish first in group C of third-tier Serie C, they will have to take part in a playoff series for a shot at promotion to Serie B, which culminates in a home-and-away final on June 5 and 12.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/128270328/all-whites-eye-peru-ahead-of-world-cup-playoff-costa-ricas-buildup-takes-shape
Italy-based right back Niko Kirwan is the only player at risk of missing major matches for his club, Padova. If they don’t finish first in group C of third-tier Serie C, they will have to take part in a playoff series for a shot at promotion to Serie B, which culminates in a home-and-away final on June 5 and 12.
Italy-based right back Niko Kirwan is the only player at risk of missing major matches for his club, Padova. If they don’t finish first in group C of third-tier Serie C, they will have to take part in a playoff series for a shot at promotion to Serie B, which culminates in a home-and-away final on June 5 and 12.