Central League

What's up with United? Any players? Any coaches? Crisis time?

Stu Jacobs in their coach, they have the Kaizen kids that he will bring with them I imagine. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/94...

Except I don't think he is....anymore...

Yeah, I found out he has gone about 20 minutes after I posted that.

United up shark creek without a paddle?

doh. Havelock on standby?

It's been posted on United Facebook that Raf Christians has been announced as their first team coach. Has been at the club before.

Wasnt he the guy that was announced as Mar coach a few years ago only to leave before season start?

Wasn't there some questions over the validity of his qualifcations?

So what is Stu Jacobs doing then?

If it's good enough for Ramon...

So Olympic have signed Tom Jackson for 2 years on 40K..Leo Villa would be close to that..Gonzalo Amada would not come cheap..Etc etc etc ..

For what,  to do well or win central league? 

So armature football!!! where does this money come from? Nick Halikias bank account or funding applications?? 

How do you know he's on $20k a year? That's ludicrous money!

However, I will be keeping an eye on how much my subs go up this year!

With all the money floating around a number of clubs, makes you wonder how many kids could play football for free if that money was diverted elsewhere. 

Outstanding comment that!

Dear Bayern.

You may want to consider checking the accuracy of your facts, your statement is well off the mark.

For those at Davey F today, which Eastern Suburbs boys won’t be back at Wests this year? 

Too true. A real shame to think that there are kids who can't afford to play while grown men get paid to play what amounts to paddock football in front of 10 - 15 people.

To nobodies suprise...

https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/news/wellington-...

Rumour floating around is most of them. Talk is they will be off conquering Europe, and by conquer I mean playing pub football in some backwater.

Ole actually creating a pathway to play in Europe and still get criticism for it. At least they are trying something new to get players exposure overseas. Of course our National League is nowhere near a Pub League in some footballing backwater...

Maybe but  we have kids'  parents who have to pay significant amounts  to Ole and then Ole  dictates as to where they play their football.

Some of them are into their twenties and their lot is Eastern Suburbs for this year and then maybe Tasman next year  depending on whether there is a bust up between Edge and Hay. 

If only there was a national league team based in Wellington...

Yes and while  Ole continues to make enemies with NZ Football they will not have a National League Team.

Ole have never dictated where my player "plays their football". The player is there by their choice, and respects Ole's process. Yes, they are lucky our family can afford it.

(Not the person to confirm this, but i have been told that Nix yoof academy fees in a very similar ballpark?)

I had heard that back in Sept. Dunno how true. 

from Liam Hyslop's series on academies a couple of years ago (2017) prices were

Ole U9-U17 $850 - $1350 - for the younger ones its per season and there is a summer program for them which costs $600-$900

Young Ole $3k- $7k this included a Uni placement or pro opportunity

Liv in is $10-$15k pa

Nix

$4k per year

Home stay + $12k or Board at Scots ($12k tuition & $12k board)

Kaizen, $1600pa + $400 per term

I suspect this is right, and that's a real problem. I suppose promotion/relegation might eventually address that.

although you could argue they do have a National League team in Eastern Suburbs - only 2-3 of the squad that has been turning out for them this season aren't Ole players.

Well, you could argue that players like Garbett should be in the fringe of that side, but sending players at 16/17 away from family for 6 months non-ethical. Local side would change that.

Anyway, pre-season - 2-2 West's v Olympic on saturday. Otto ingham ex of Barca futsal / Akl City turned out for Wests, guessing he is 15? Handily, his parents in tow). Marko  S played a very false 9 for wests, and looked very sharp

Garbett was in the Eastern Suburbs youth team this season, as were a few other Ole kids.

But surely if parents are paying 3-15k per year they are buying into Declans pathway right? He his hardly shy in expressing a view that he believes his product is miles ahead of NZF to deliver pro players. If not, people should leave the program or is that too simple?

I think it's still very much in the pipeline. I'm pretty sure Ole have bought into a Swedish 3rd Div side. Not sure how many kids will go but I'm guessing half a dozen of the Easts/Wests lads.

Is that IFK, where Tyler Lissette is?

Olympic looking like they'll have a fairly experienced squad this year, George B, Chaz Lawrence and Aleem Sheik all returning to the club, along with Tom Jackson, Leo Villa and Gonzalo Amado, they'll be a tough beat.

If they continue to play the 6-2-2 and 6-1-3 they played on the weekend they may be tough to beat but they might struggle to score goals.

I would think Callum, Eli, Dom would be focused on Poland in the next few months; and OPP may be in mix for U23 campaign.  Players not making the U20 squad may well try their luck in Swedish lower leagues. Harry back to wests with next gen? 

Baiter said "Rumour floating around is most of them. Talk is they will be off conquering Europe, and by conquer I mean playing pub football in some backwater."

*yawn*

Whatever said "Some of them are into their twenties and their lot is Eastern Suburbs for this year and then maybe Tasman next year depending on whether there is a bust up between Edge and Hay."

Edge (24) has had a few goes with clubs around the world. Withers (28) and Awad (24) have just finished with US universities. The rest are all in and around the NZ U20's this year. That's hardly "....and their lot is....". I've ignored Adam Thomas because he hasn't played for 6 years.

The JourneyFan said "although you could argue they do have a National League team in Eastern Suburbs - only 2-3 of the squad that has been turning out for them this season aren't Ole players."

You could argue the strongest 11 would be 8 Ole and 3 non but there have been a few injuries to Pijnaker and Parker-Price which has kept them out. Tim Payne, Michael Built, Kelvin Kalua and Andre de Jong are the four non-Ole starters, with Campbell Strong, Jack Duncan and Kingsley Sinclair regularly coming on as subs or having the odd start themselves.

leftfootonly said "But surely if parents are paying 3-15k per year they are buying into Declans pathway right? He his hardly shy in expressing a view that he believes his product is miles ahead of NZF to deliver pro players. If not, people should leave the program or is that too simple?"

How is this any different from any other programme ? If you don't believe in the pathway offered by Ole, WPA, Kaizen or even FTC why would you bother ?

I know kids who have done the FTC and WPA route and they've paid significantly more than we have over the years, often on side trips which have no development benefit whatsoever. All some of those kids will have to show for it is a week at a meaningless tournament in Aussie when they were 12.

But that's the reality for 99.9% of kids who go through this. As a parent you have to do your research, put your trust a methodology and you have to stick with it.

IMO Junior and youth football is incredibly messy in Wellington (probably in NZ). Everyone is convinced their way is the best way and everyone on the outside has an opinion. But we paid more for our daughter to play college netball and be coached by a parent twice a week than the initial years at Ole and whether our boy makes it or not does not matter. We believe he is at the best place to make his dream a reality and we will support him in that for as long as it takes.