Central League 2

Bigboot wrote:
I’m going to jump on this weeks preview a little earlier this week. 4 teams had catch up games last weekend, while 6 teams had a week off - will that help to recharge the bodies and work on a few things, or will it lose some momentum?

We are no closer to determining the top 4 promotion nor the league winners for that matter. A few crunch games this weekend should sort out the order of teams a little better. Always good to keep in mind the teams that have a game in hand also - that could be crucial come the last week of the season.

Douglas Villa v Seatoun
Only separated by a few league positions, but experiencing very different runs of results. Seatoun won this fixture back in March 4-2 back at Seatoun Park, but heading over the hill is a different prospect. DV have taken points off some of the top teams…. But not since early June. The new additions and recent consistency in the Seatoun squad should be the difference in this one. Seatoun WIN

Stop Out v North Wellington
Stop Out is another team who have taken points of some of the top teams. Although their main man, Campbell Webster, hasn’t been firing of late and I see him as the only hope in taking points away from this one. North Wellington haven’t lost since 16th of May, I’m picking a comfortable NW WIN

Tawa v Lower Hutt City
Tawa are in a bit of a form slump at present, having not won since 20th June. They are also without Parry who was sent off for DOGSO in last weeks loss to Seatoun. This could be an opportunity for LHC smash and grab some points at Redwood Park. If Tawa can sort out their issues at the back, they should be too strong, but…… I’m picking a DRAW

Wainuiomata v Taradale
Again, this is a match that should be easy to pick without kicking a ball. But that’s not what this league is about. Wainui will take good form away from DV last weeks loss and hope to make Richard Prouse a difficult place for Taradale to come. I think the kick and chase long balls and feeding off second phase scraps game plan will prove effective for Taradale this week. Taradale WIN

Palmerston North Marist v Palmerston North United
In my pick for the game of the round, we have a very important local derby. 3rd vs 4th, with the losers likely to drop out of that top 4. These are very different teams that competed back in May where PNU won 4-0. PNM haven’t lost in the league since April and PNU haven’t won since May 16th. I’ll definitely be searching for a live stream or a recording of this one as I think it will be a banger. I’m controversially picking a DRAW. 


As always, I’m very keen to hear others’ perspectives. Especially on the Central Fed teams. It’s going to be a cracker of an August in this league. 

Bigboot wrote:
Another great weekend for the neutral. PNU continue their downward slide, PNM continue their unbeaten run. Tawa back to winning ways and Seatoun now go 4 in a row and have maximum points from their round 2 games. 

I still couldn’t confidently predict the top 4, or the champions for that matter. 

bigfudge wrote:

 Bigboot wrote:
Another great weekend for the neutral. PNU continue their downward slide, PNM continue their unbeaten run. Tawa back to winning ways and Seatoun now go 4 in a row and have maximum points from their round 2 games. 

I still couldn’t confidently predict the top 4, or the champions for that matter. 

After this weekend the only confirmed results are that with 4 games to go, only Stop Out, Wainuiomata, and Douglas Villa are the only ones mathematically ruled out of the title fight, and only Douglas Villa can no longer finish in the top 4.

It'll just come down to which teams out of the top 7 can put together the best run of 4 games. It's great having such an open league!

1. Taradale AFC – 35 pts (DLWW)
   Still the team to beat. They have a tough looking run-in with Seatoun and PN United, but their home form and consistency should see them get enough points to take out the league. I’m picking a slip up at home to Seatoun and away at DV.
2. Palmerston North Marist – 34 pts (WLWDW)
   A massive final few weeks. They have five games left and a lot of them are against teams around them. I think they pick up enough results, but the Seatoun and North Wellington games could decide whether they lift the trophy.
3. North Wellington – 34 pts (LWLW)
   Probably the side with the best opportunity to finish strongly. Four very winnable games, although the trip to Palmerston North and Seatoun away will test them. Could easily finish higher. I’m also picking Tawa to have their number this weekend.
4. Seatoun – 33 pts (DWWDW)
   A brutal run home starting with Taradale away, but plenty of opportunities to make up ground with games against the teams around them. The midweek Marist game and final round against Lower Hutt could decide their season.
5. Tawa – 31 pts (WWLW)
   A tough run home with three games against teams fighting for the top four. I think they will topple NW this weekend, but I think they just miss out - unless Wests do them a favour and there are 5 promotions.
6. Palmerston North United – 27 pts (WLWL)
   The dark horse. They have the easiest looking fixture list on paper but need to find consistency. If they win their last four, they could jump all the way into the promotion spots.
7. Lower Hutt City – 22 pts (LWL L)
   A difficult finish with three games against sides above them. They will be competitive but probably struggle to collect enough points.
8. Stop Out – 21 pts (WLWL)
   Always capable of a surprise result, but I think they finish in the lower half. Wins against the teams below them to finish the season with some positivity.
9. Wainuiomata – 12 pts (LLLL)
   Have shown improvement but the final fixtures are challenging. Might just pip DV on goal difference to avoid the wooden spoon.
10. Douglas Villa – 12 pts (LWLL)
    A tough season, but they remain a dangerous side at home and could still have a say in the promotion race. I’m picking an upset at home to Taradale.

Bigboot wrote:
Has anyone got any news/gossip/inside word on the competition structures for next year? What will CL2 look like? Who will get promoted? 

Tyler wrote:
Options being discussed and agreed. I believe the options are. 

1- keep CL2 as is (first teams only from Capital and Central).

2- keep CL2 but allow ressies teams in there based on current placements from Capital prem. Think would mean Olympic ressies go in.

3- scrap CL2 and send the Central teams back to Central. Would mean the Capital CL2 teams would go to Cap Prem. 

whatever-11456-1 wrote:
Gisborne United are currently leading comfortably the Eastern Premiership which would mean that they could be promoted into Central League two.
The travel cost for them and the Wellington teams would be prohibitive.

 

Bigboot wrote:

 whatever-11456-1 wrote:
Gisborne United are currently leading comfortably the Eastern Premiership which would mean that they could be promoted into Central League two.
The travel cost for them and the Wellington teams would be prohibitive.

 

All CL2 have made travel work, including NP last season. 

I find it interesting that NL clubs want to join but at the same time want to dismantle the league due to “prohibative” costs. Maybe reallocate some payments to travel rather than towards players? 

Feverish wrote:

 Bigboot wrote:

 whatever-11456-1 wrote:
Gisborne United are currently leading comfortably the Eastern Premiership which would mean that they could be promoted into Central League two.
The travel cost for them and the Wellington teams would be prohibitive.

 

All CL2 have made travel work, including NP last season. 

I find it interesting that NL clubs want to join but at the same time want to dismantle the league due to “prohibative” costs. Maybe reallocate some payments to travel rather than towards players? 

NP?
Which NL clubs have said that?

Bigboot wrote:

 Feverish wrote:

 Bigboot wrote:

 whatever-11456-1 wrote:
Gisborne United are currently leading comfortably the Eastern Premiership which would mean that they could be promoted into Central League two.
The travel cost for them and the Wellington teams would be prohibitive.

 

All CL2 have made travel work, including NP last season. 

I find it interesting that NL clubs want to join but at the same time want to dismantle the league due to “prohibative” costs. Maybe reallocate some payments to travel rather than towards players? 

NP?
Which NL clubs have said that?

New Plymouth - 6 hour drive and an overnight. Isn’t too much different from Gisborne - 8 hour drive and an overnight. 

I thought it was widely understood that NL teams want it to return to Cap Prem (ie dismantling CL2), especially with Gisborne a possibility. Also not wanting their reserves teams 3 leagues below their firsts. 

Not my preference.

Feverish wrote:
I could name you a half a dozen WCL teams over the years and men’s too

bigfudge wrote:

 Feverish wrote:
I could name you a half a dozen WCL teams over the years and men’s too

Fair enough but I don't see how limiting the chances for them to have a go at it is fair at all. Gisborne United have been pretty vocal about wanting a go at CL2 this last year or so, and the majority of their players probably only have one or two years of being able to commit to that kind of travel, but if they want to go up, earn the right through playoffs, and then get consulted out by Capital football, it'll hardly be fair.

bigfudge wrote:

 Feverish wrote:
I could name you a half a dozen WCL teams over the years and men’s too

Fair enough but I don't see how limiting the chances for them to have a go at it is fair at all. Gisborne United have been pretty vocal about wanting a go at CL2 this last year or so, and the majority of their players probably only have one or two years of being able to commit to that kind of travel, but if they want to go up, earn the right through playoffs, and then get consulted out by Capital football, it'll hardly be fair.

whatever-11456-1 wrote:

 bigfudge wrote:

 Feverish wrote:
I could name you a half a dozen WCL teams over the years and men’s too

Fair enough but I don't see how limiting the chances for them to have a go at it is fair at all. Gisborne United have been pretty vocal about wanting a go at CL2 this last year or so, and the majority of their players probably only have one or two years of being able to commit to that kind of travel, but if they want to go up, earn the right through playoffs, and then get consulted out by Capital football, it'll hardly be fair.

Under the structure prior to Central League Div Two, Gisborne would be in the playoff to go Central league One, so if DIV 2 is scraped Gisborne can still have a pathway to Central League.

Bigboot wrote:

 whatever-11456-1 wrote:

 bigfudge wrote:

 Feverish wrote:
I could name you a half a dozen WCL teams over the years and men’s too

Fair enough but I don't see how limiting the chances for them to have a go at it is fair at all. Gisborne United have been pretty vocal about wanting a go at CL2 this last year or so, and the majority of their players probably only have one or two years of being able to commit to that kind of travel, but if they want to go up, earn the right through playoffs, and then get consulted out by Capital football, it'll hardly be fair.

Under the structure prior to Central League Div Two, Gisborne would be in the playoff to go Central league One, so if DIV 2 is scraped Gisborne can still have a pathway to Central League.

I’m not sure this perspective has ever been raised - that’s why I love these forums. I’m not sure it quite works though, you can’t use old promotion regulations to a completely different competition.

Using your logic above, Gisborne would need to first beat Wanganui and then have to beat the highest Capital football qualifier to enter Central League 1. I guess that would be the 5th placed CL2 side?

Simon B wrote:
Uninformed opinion here, but if the top club teams and the Nix/AFC Reserves are competing in the NL next year wouldn’t the current CL take the place of CL2 as the top regionally-run competition and feeder to the NZF-run Nationals, just like the WCL?

If that was the case then CL2 would be left sandwiched between Cap Prem and the now-regional CL. Would that lend weight to the arguments for keeping or not keeping it?

LT01 wrote:
Is trimming to eight teams an option? 

whatever-11456-1 wrote:
Big Fudge your comment in a previous post regarding The Taradale Women's Central League coach of 2025 being suspended for swearing at the players is interesting.

This could be one of the reasons why Taradale lost a number of players for the current season


 

bigfudge wrote:

 LT01 wrote:
Is trimming to eight teams an option? 

I really don't think they need to. Just from what I've gathered throughout this year, Gisborne United would love to go up, same as Whanganui, same as Greytown, same as Havelock North. The issue is just whether they allow CL2 teams or not. The pool of ambitious clubs with first teams not already in CL or CL2 is thin in Wellington which is another factor that will impact this. Outside of Greytown, the only other club side in the Cap region i can think would probably be Welly United that habours aspirations of making it back to CL.

Noah4thenix wrote:
I think you're asking for trouble by allowing reserve sides into CL2, it'll just make it easier for these bigger clubs to hoard players which I don't think is very healthy. I'm not the biggest expert on the health of Central/Capital football but I just feel like it's the wrong answer

Tyler wrote:
Options being discussed and agreed. I believe the options are. 

1- keep CL2 as is (first teams only from Capital and Central).

2- keep CL2 but allow ressies teams in there based on current placements from Capital prem. Think would mean Olympic ressies go in.

3- scrap CL2 and send the Central teams back to Central. Would mean the Capital CL2 teams would go to Cap Prem.