100% Disagree:
Which brings us back to the infallible Phoenix. You're either with them or against them and they'll be quick to tell you which camp you belong in.
Critical comment is not welcomed by the club, with part-owner Gareth Morgan penning a blog in which he implored The Dominion Post to become unabashed Phoenix supporters. He has resorted to name calling since that request was not met.
Morgan is an economist, so he can count. And if he adds up the numbers for this season he'll find that his team is currently the worst in the A-League.
They're too good to finish last but, for now, that's where they sit. People, rightly, want answers as to how a team deemed to have title-winning potential are now propping up the table.
Taking the NZC approach, and hearing and seeing no evil, does everyone a disservice.
A totally snide and petty approach to Gareth and the management.
About to break rule 7: Bidwell is a twunt.
Ok. Is critical comment welcomed by the club? Not really. Its hardly welcomed by the media in this forum! Having said that, most of the commentary on the Phoenix (outside of game day) is very much full of shit but then Morgan et al can ignore that if they choose and cut the Post out of the loop (not always the best move but may make the point). The game reviews that I have read seem to be accurate, but critical. I don't think the club really likes that.
Football in this country is never going to have any supporters in the media unless we are winning so its a bit naive of Gareth (and I would actually expect him to know better) to say 'you have to support us'. Media in this country support rugby only. Fullstop. The end. Look at the amount of bollocks that was spouted by Joe Public around the Halbergs... 'but they never won anything...' Ignorance, and football coverage has been full of it in this country for aons.
The problem would be infinitely solved if Welnix actually came out and said in a more detailed manner 'this is our blue print to success' and let every one see it. I think they have thrown bait in the water about what they would like to do but nothing with meat. 'We want to play total football, Ricki is our guy' and thats about it.
I go back again to the 'What is David Dome doing?' question because he seems to be getting an armchair ride if Gareth is doing it all.
I don't think the article is too far from the mark to be honest.