Sunday News season review - as requested.
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Sunday News season review - as requested.
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By JOHN MATHESON
AS the Wellington Phoenix last night moved to put a positive spin on their sixth placed finish, the brutal reality is that there is a chasm in class between them and a place in the money-spinning A-League top four.
It's true that Ricki Herbert's side have just delivered the best finish by a New Zealand side in an Australian football competition but for a club, and in particular a coach, who talked of the top four being the goal in pre-season, the year has been one of missed opportunities and under-achievement.
And that should be a massive concern for owner Terry Serepisos who now has to contemplate going into an expanded league next season without the services of the club's one genuine star, striker Shane Smeltz.
The inconsistency shown by the Nix in the early weeks of the competition was always going to stop them from qualifying for their first post-season.
And the naivety of their play - and a distinct lack of a killer instinct - was all to evident in a season which saw them
* collect only two points for the opening 15 on offer after making the final of the Pre-Season Cup
* lose to Adelaide 6-1 days after beating Melbourne 2-1
* pick up only one point from a possible nine against perennial underachievers Perth
* and have players sent off in must-win late season games against Sydney and Adelaide.
The truth is the Nix should have been in the top four - even with Herbert taking charge of a squad that suffered through some poor recruitment ahead of the season.
That the Nix could be as competitive as they were say more about the fall from grace of the defending champions Newcastle and glamour club Sydney than any great breakthrough from the Nix playing staff.
Andrew Durante - a part of Newcastle's defence last season - was installed as Nix captain this term but failed to live up to his reputation either as a player or a leader.
He's no talisman - the crocked Ross Aloisi last year was more inspirational.
And other new arrivals Troy Hearfield and Adam Kwasnik offered nothing.
Herbert's priority - other than replacing Smeltz - is finding a creative midfielder to go with his gaggle of run-all-day-and-tackle types that populate his roster at the moment.
The acquisition of Adelaide's Diego Walsh will help but the question must be asked why United are prepared to let him go and why the Brazilian would want to leave the A-League's top club? Aurelio Vidmar has only thought to select him on eight occasions this term...
While the Nix's PR machine was in overdrive yesterday focusing on the ``brave'' performance in the 2-0 loss in Melbourne and quoting Herbert talking about ``next season'' perhaps it's time for a reminder that we've been here before.
In November, 2007, when the Nix were struggling in their first year in the league, Serepisos told Sunday News ``next season we have the ability to go for the title.''
And a month later Herbert said: ``Make no mistake about it, next year we must take big steps forward. We have a great base and I'm already on record as saying next season will be all about making the playoffs.''
Herbert should, and will, keep his job at the helm of the Nix but he needs to start doing the things that have made him such a success with the All Whites.
He needs to be more ruthless, and perhaps more honest, with some of his charges.
He should also bury the hatchet with former assistant Stu Jacobs and bring him back in place of Brian Turner.
Turner - like Herbert, an All White legend - is a great man-manger but tactically he's not up to it.
But ultimately it is Herbert who has no place to hide.
He has had sole charge of building this team from scratch.
Every player that pulls on the Nix shirt is there because Herbert wanted him there - including the Aussie trio of flops Durante, Hearfield and Kwasnik.
And every player that has left or his leaving - Smeltz and NZ's No 1 keeper Glen Moss included - are, presumably, going with his blessing.
Replacing Smeltz is near-impossible of course, unless Serepisos is prepared to put his hand in his pocket and bring out a top player from Europe.
But even then he'll be hard pressed to find the right player.
Expansion club North Queensland have just acquired former Liverpool star Robbie Fowler - a big name but a player who is well past his prime.
The Nix don't need a name, they need goals and by sitting on their hands and allowing Smeltz to sign for Gold Coast they may have already confined themselves to the tag of also-rans in the new ten team league.
AS the Wellington Phoenix last night moved to put a positive spin on their sixth placed finish, the brutal reality is that there is a chasm in class between them and a place in the money-spinning A-League top four.
It's true that Ricki Herbert's side have just delivered the best finish by a New Zealand side in an Australian football competition but for a club, and in particular a coach, who talked of the top four being the goal in pre-season, the year has been one of missed opportunities and under-achievement.
And that should be a massive concern for owner Terry Serepisos who now has to contemplate going into an expanded league next season without the services of the club's one genuine star, striker Shane Smeltz.
The inconsistency shown by the Nix in the early weeks of the competition was always going to stop them from qualifying for their first post-season.
And the naivety of their play - and a distinct lack of a killer instinct - was all to evident in a season which saw them
* collect only two points for the opening 15 on offer after making the final of the Pre-Season Cup
* lose to Adelaide 6-1 days after beating Melbourne 2-1
* pick up only one point from a possible nine against perennial underachievers Perth
* and have players sent off in must-win late season games against Sydney and Adelaide.
The truth is the Nix should have been in the top four - even with Herbert taking charge of a squad that suffered through some poor recruitment ahead of the season.
That the Nix could be as competitive as they were say more about the fall from grace of the defending champions Newcastle and glamour club Sydney than any great breakthrough from the Nix playing staff.
Andrew Durante - a part of Newcastle's defence last season - was installed as Nix captain this term but failed to live up to his reputation either as a player or a leader.
He's no talisman - the crocked Ross Aloisi last year was more inspirational.
And other new arrivals Troy Hearfield and Adam Kwasnik offered nothing.
Herbert's priority - other than replacing Smeltz - is finding a creative midfielder to go with his gaggle of run-all-day-and-tackle types that populate his roster at the moment.
The acquisition of Adelaide's Diego Walsh will help but the question must be asked why United are prepared to let him go and why the Brazilian would want to leave the A-League's top club? Aurelio Vidmar has only thought to select him on eight occasions this term...
While the Nix's PR machine was in overdrive yesterday focusing on the ``brave'' performance in the 2-0 loss in Melbourne and quoting Herbert talking about ``next season'' perhaps it's time for a reminder that we've been here before.
In November, 2007, when the Nix were struggling in their first year in the league, Serepisos told Sunday News ``next season we have the ability to go for the title.''
And a month later Herbert said: ``Make no mistake about it, next year we must take big steps forward. We have a great base and I'm already on record as saying next season will be all about making the playoffs.''
Herbert should, and will, keep his job at the helm of the Nix but he needs to start doing the things that have made him such a success with the All Whites.
He needs to be more ruthless, and perhaps more honest, with some of his charges.
He should also bury the hatchet with former assistant Stu Jacobs and bring him back in place of Brian Turner.
Turner - like Herbert, an All White legend - is a great man-manger but tactically he's not up to it.
But ultimately it is Herbert who has no place to hide.
He has had sole charge of building this team from scratch.
Every player that pulls on the Nix shirt is there because Herbert wanted him there - including the Aussie trio of flops Durante, Hearfield and Kwasnik.
And every player that has left or his leaving - Smeltz and NZ's No 1 keeper Glen Moss included - are, presumably, going with his blessing.
Replacing Smeltz is near-impossible of course, unless Serepisos is prepared to put his hand in his pocket and bring out a top player from Europe.
But even then he'll be hard pressed to find the right player.
Expansion club North Queensland have just acquired former Liverpool star Robbie Fowler - a big name but a player who is well past his prime.
The Nix don't need a name, they need goals and by sitting on their hands and allowing Smeltz to sign for Gold Coast they may have already confined themselves to the tag of also-rans in the new ten team league.
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What a load of old sh*te.
Apparently I'm apathetic, but I couldn't care less.
"Being a Partick Thistle fan sets you apart. It means youre a free thinker. It also means your team has no money." Tim Luckhurst, The Independent, 4th December 2003
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What a load of old sh*te.
Agreed, thats really harsh
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imagine if the knights finished 6th i bet the review would have been outstanding
giddyup2009-01-27 10:58:59
giddyup2009-01-27 10:58:59
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What a dickhead.
Thats a really harsh article with stupid statements with out any proof.
Thats a really harsh article with stupid statements with out any proof.
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like most here will probably agree, that is a lot of needless bullsh*t, but the part about Turner really pisses me off, I mean WTF????
You know we belong together...
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Its the sunday news...
ive got a song that wont take long, Adelaide are rubbish.. the second verse is same as the first.. ADELAIDE ARE RUBBISH
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And show me an article saying that Fowler has signed for the fury.
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total b/s.
hate when people talk down the club. what a way to help our country's view on football.
playwithFire2009-01-27 11:10:46
hate when people talk down the club. what a way to help our country's view on football.
playwithFire2009-01-27 11:10:46
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they havent secured fowlers signature but there close too a deal...
Bludy Hell
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since when was hearfeild a flop?
and Dura hasnt been a flop
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dura hasnt been a good captain
most of the games we have won have been captained by tim brown
both have been flops
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Is there a way to view that online?
We can leave comments on articles
We can leave comments on articles
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maybe a flop as captain - but not as a player.
I think he was quite stable in the back and wouldn't get rid of him.
I always thought putting the captaincy straight into a new players hands was silly.
and Hearfield was not a flop - look at how he grew through the season
I think he was quite stable in the back and wouldn't get rid of him.
I always thought putting the captaincy straight into a new players hands was silly.
and Hearfield was not a flop - look at how he grew through the season
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Nope, not online. Sunday News is crappy with that.
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haha cheers Johhny. You're a numpty - but at least it gives me a laff reading your articles on a Sunday. Sort your website out son
Founder
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Sunday News: Bringing insightful Phoenix columns from highly regarded John Matheson and Danny Hay
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A typical Sunday News article - tailored for their readership.
Whitby boy2009-01-27 11:39:50
There is, however, a big gap between the top 3 clubs (Reds, Victory and Roar) and the rest. To bridge that gap I think we do need to get real about the quality of players required to compete with those teams, on a week in week out basis, and the quality of some of our squad.
He dribbles a lot and the opposition dont like it - you can see it all over their faces. (Ron Atkinson)
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A typical Sunday News article - tailored for their readership.
There is, however, a big gap between the top 3 clubs (Reds, Victory and Roar) and the rest. To bridge that gap I think we do need to get real about the quality of players required to compete with those teams, on a week in week out basis, and the quality of some of our squad.
Good points WB
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some of the points made we valid - not the best way to make them though.....
Kwasnik has been a flop, Hearfield really only started to shine late in the piece, Dura captancy has left a lot to be desired.......
plus the comments on our inconsistancies are pretty accurate, 1 point from the 9 against Perth - very bad, losing 6 - 1 to Adelaide after beating Melbourne - very frustrating.
Its a pity he's been a negativy co*k, but the nix could have helped them,selves a lot and not gioven this idiot so much ammo.
Queenslander 3x a year.
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How can Hearfield have been a flop? He�s still a pup � and has featured more prominently than expected and had been performing well up until his sending off. We didn�t sign friggin Archie Thompson � we signed a young lad who is starting to show some good potential ffs.
Feverish2009-01-27 20:46:21Founder
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Are you Danny Hay in disguise?
Some of his comments are fne, but pretty obvious. Others are pretty silly really.
tI like these random points he picked out. I rather think you can see multiple sides to these if you want ..."* collect only two points for the opening 15 on offer after making the final of the Pre-Season Cup" (or going on an impresive mid seasn run to collect 25 points from the following 39)
"* lose to Adelaide 6-1 days after beating Melbourne 2-1" (or recovering to pick up a point the week after getting thrashed 6-1 by Adelaide)
* pick up only one point from a possible nine against perennial underachievers Perth (or picking up 7 points from 9 and going unbeaten against both last year's finalists)
* and have players sent off in must-win late season games against Sydney and Adelaide (ok that was dumb!)
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The Sunday News has to be the worst publication produced in NZ. Long live the capital times.
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Its one mans opinion
nightz2009-01-27 16:52:30A dog with a bone :)
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Its one mans opinion
hardly a man
Founder
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Its one mans opinion
hardly a man
Just giving him the benefit of the doubt.
A dog with a bone :)
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Its one mans opinion
hardly a man
Just giving him the benefit of the doubt.
I'd rather you wrote in a national newspaper
Founder
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I think the article takes an unduly negative spin on some things, and it is contratictory. i.e saying the phoenix are a long way off the class needed to make the top 4 and then at the same time saying that they should have made it. That's something that is a bit ridiulous to see in print...
Nightz, this guy is paid to have these opinions, being controversial for the sake of controversy is poor journalism, but not unexpected from the Sunday News.
At the same time, there were some negative aspects to the season. Adam Kwasnik was a complete flop despite being a good quality, proven A-League player. Why?
We had an appalling start to the season, why? And discipline did let us down in the run home (as did Smeltz).
I think it is fair enbough to ask what Brian Turner's role is, in terms of football played the 'nix have gone backwards. Jacobs got the boot because Ricki was supposed to focus on the coaching, but then, leter in the season after a very poor start, Turner is appointed. That's a botch up.
One thing I definitely don't understand is criticism of the captain. What is that based on, watching matches on TV? In football it's more of an off-field role anyway. That's just tosh.
james dean2009-01-28 23:25:28Normo's coming home
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