Sorry, double post
OK Bruce, I'll bite. Below is Tony's recent piece on the state of Canterbury under coach Devine. It is titled as an Opinion piece. Tony's viewpoint - as exemplified by his empathetic headline and subsequent support for Devine's position, is that Canterbury need more money and more imports. This is way out of line with many local views, which more commonly consider that Devine's coaching is simply not up to the mark - based on performances, style of football, player development and apparent team energy. Tony raises the issue of a shallow local talent pool but instead of questioning whether he is the right man for the job (given talent pool, location and resources), he merely agrees with Devine's point of view - "I need more money".
Patsy articles such as this appear exceedingly soft; when in fact the whole organisation should be grilled for finishing a likely 2nd last in a league which includes two youth development sides. I wonder whether the institution that is Tony Smith is too close to the institution that he is supposed to be critiquing. I do wonder whether he has "lost it".
I've also highlighted in BOLD simple errors and poor writing (yet allow that a sub-editor should have picked up on these) and the more disagreeable viewpoints in comparison to those I speak to of the state of Canterbury mens football. Note, I'm old fashioned in that I hate seeing sentences starting with but - or ending with them for that matter!
By Tony Smith, The Press
OPINION: Spare a thought for Canterbury United coach Sean Devine.
If his hair hadn’t already been showing shades of grey at the start of the season, it’d be whiter than white now.
Devine was at a loss to explain why Canterbury slumped to a fifth loss on the bounce as he left English Park’s artificial pitch after a 2-1 ASB Premiership reverse to Waitakere United on Saturday.
“I’m just lost for words,” said the first-year head coach, still shaking his head at the match officials’ decision that Aaron Clapham was offside when he set up a 72nd minute goal at ASB Football Park.
“I’ve never been on a [losing] run like it, even in my playing career,” Devine said.
That’s some admission because the former English Football League striker ended his pro football days in the A-League with the luckless New Zealand Knights.
It would be easier for Devine to accept if Canterbury were playing poor football. But they created enough chances to win against Waitakere but (TWO BUTS IN ONE SENTENCE?) couldn’t turn opportunities into goals – a season-long lament for the demoralised Dragons.
Devine did concede that Saturday’s defeat ended Canterbury’s minuscule mathematical chance of making the top-four playoffs.
His best-laid plans were dashed before kickoff when midfielder Miles John suffered concussion in the warmup after an accidental collision with a team-mate.
But the Dragons started strongly. Only a superb save from Waitakere keeper Alex Carr prevented a sizzling shot from Stu Kelly entering the net in the first five minutes.
Canterbury striker Adam Dickinson did everything but score, creating alluring openings for team-mates in the first spell.
So there was some credence to Devine’s claim that Canterbury “totally dominated” the first half and created the better chances.
But, with the experienced Jake Butler and Chris Bale controlling central midfield and Santiago Falbo shackling Clapham, Waitakere gained a vital edge after the interval.
Defensive dithering contributed to both goals by the West Aucklanders with 19-year-old English striker Derice Richards getting the vital final touch in the 53rd and 60th minutes.
Carr came to the rescue again to deny Dickinson a deserved goal with a full-stretch save and Canterbury keeper Adam Highfield was equally acrobatic to beat out Tom Boss’s drive.
Clapham looked to have put Canterbury back in contention when he got to the by-line and cut the ball back across goal where a defender turned it into his own net. But the assistant referee’s flag flapped in the gentle breeze. Clapham, he claimed, was offside.
It was left to the indefatigable (REALLY? HOW ABOUT TIRELESS, OR A SIMPLE WORD?) Dan Terris to grab a consolation goal for Canterbury in the 87th minute after a Waitakere defensive error. But it was too little too late. The Dragons had missed the semifinals for the second successive year.
What must be done to effect (EFFECT IS THE NOUN; AFFECT IS THE VERB) a turnaround? The Mainland Premier League talent pool is shallower than a high country dam in mid-summer.
Devine is right when he says Canterbury United must bring in better players. It will be up to the board to find the funding (a six-figure windfall from Auckland City’s Club World Cup finals success will help).
They should also end the Saturday afternoon home game experiment. Gates were down this year with many football stalwarts otherwise occupied with summer sport.
Saturday’s croud – 300 tops – was particularly paltry. But why wouldn’t it be with golf star Lydia Ko playing at Clearwater and the Cricket World Cup classic match on TV?
Mainland Football could also do a lot more to help the national league franchise – like allowing Canterbury United unfettered training access at ASB Football Park. The Dragons should be the primary user, not playing second fiddle to revenue-raising social football leagues. (BLAMING TRAINING VENUE? WHAT ABOUT POOR NUMBERS AT CANTERBURY TRAINING SESSIONS DUE TO MANY OUT OF TOWNERS, OR LACK OF RESPONSE TO DEVINE'S COACHING METHODS? MAINLAND IS A BROAD CHURCH AND NEED TO ACCOMMODATE THEIR FTC YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME; PLUS SOCIAL, REVENUE RAISING SLOTS - THIS IS NOT A BIG DEAL).
Canterbury clubs also need to show better support for the province’s flagship team (WHY WOULD THEY WHEN THE COACH PICKS EXPENSIVE IMPORT FLOPS INSTEAD OF LOCALS AND THE TEAM PLAYS DIRE FOOTBALL?). Yes, they do pay levies which helps cover the ASB Premiership entry.
But if ever (TYPO, SHOULD BE EVERY) MPL club followed Halswell United’s lead and brought out two players from the UK, it would strengthen the Mainland League and provide a broader player base for Canterbury United. (AGAIN THIS DOESN'T ADDRESS ISSUE OF LOCALS SUPPORTING LOCALS OR PLAYING AN ATTRACTIVE FOOTBALL STYLE; AND IS AN APPARENT ATTACK ON THE CLUBS!)
Unless something radical is done then the long title drought will continue. (AGREED, BUT NOT SURE MANY WOULD SUPPORT TONY'S VIEW THAT MORE MONEY ON IMPORTS IS THE ANSWER).