Mainland Premier League

Information discussed. Only really 2 things confirmed: (1) After 2 rounds of MPL, 5 teams in SI, 3 teams down. (2) Top CCL team after 3 (or 2 rounds, unsure yet) gets the promotion (or the possible playoff with top Nelson team). Unsure at the moment how the 3 MPL teams and 6 CCL teams handle the rest of the season. Could be in together in an end of season comp, or some sort of spilt. Also not comfirmed which of the 3 MPL teams dropped down will drop to CCL in 2019. Mainland worried about the integrity of the competitions, I don't see too many problems. All still to be confirmed at further meetings. Whatever happens, not all will be happy.

Reading the Dragons programme and going through the players. Has the traditional pics and the players each have a sponsor. Anything to be read into Sean Liddicoat being sponsored by Halswell United? Sorry so many threads this could go into

Isn't there also something around that whatever the decision they will keep this for 2 seasons?

Surely the MPL team that gets relegated is the team that gets last over over the two rounds. It does mean we are back to the rip, sh!t and bust of a two round competition, that we got rid of a few seasons back. The complaints were around not having enough games to prove you were the best, and to prove that you weren't the worst. I hope the benefits of a Southern League outweigh the opposite. 

Will be interesting to watch for sure!

Really depends upon how the South Island league goes after 2018. If in 2019 that goes to 2 rounds then likely some sort of Canterbury League (for want of a better name) with 3 MPL's and rest of CCL.

Copied from Ferrymead Bays FC facebook page:

The Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Joe Hall as our Director of Football.
Joe is currently completing his Ph.D. in Sport Science as well as his OFC B coaching licence. He is a former coach of Universities in the Mainland Premier League and is currently the assistant coach of the Canterbury United Dragons.
Joe's initial focus with the club will be the implementation of our Youth Talent Centre, the structures and support involved with that, and aspects concerning other youth teams.
We welcome him on board as a great addition to the club.

I see Cashtech looking for Assistant Coach? Who was it last year? Any obvious candidates?

Great move for Bays for securing and attracting junior & youth players. The way I see things the following clubs are on the right track with their curent structures and player development; Ferrymead, Selwyn, ChCh United, & Cash Tech. FC Twenty 11 have a lot of young talent coming through but need to figure out how to retain players. Nomads look like they may be back on track, not sure what is going on at Coastal. 2018 and beyond could be interesting seasons with some real suprises.

Yes plenty of chatter around the traps already about player movement.

Coastal should have a FDM in place before Christmas and Halswell expected to follow in the New Year.

I was told Cashmere still havnt confirmed their head coach? 

I heard that one option for the bottom 3 teams is that they play each other twice in a round robin to see who gets relegated. Meaning a bye every other week pretty much. And playing the same teams... Might be better than being lumped in with the kungfu fighters in the CCL.

Eric is playing CCL?

I heard he's going to try the ethnic tournament first then see how it goes.

Yes - Mainland have had the first meeting, listened to the clubs and then done exactly what they want. No imagination.

The 3 bottom MPL teams will play each other 5 or 6 times (depending if Nelson there) to find the one to be relegated. They will carry the points gained in the first 2 rounds against each other into this mini-competion. To avoid the bye each week, games will be played on Tuesdays. The CCL will stay at 6 teams, 4 rounds. The CCL winner still has the right to go up. If you thought the CCL was boring with only 6 teams, the 3 bottom MPL teams are gonna go mad :)

Is this now confirmed Murray? Last I heard it was one of the thoughts, but they may have now made the decision as this was a couple of weeks ago.

If they are going to play it on a Tuesday I want to see Nelson in the bottom 3 just for the comedy value with clubs having to travel up on a work day to play in Nelson :)

Yes, you are correct - still one meeting to go, but it seems a fait accompli. But this was never one of the options at the first meeting. Parts of it discussed etc.

Quoting from Mainland - "The only sticking point on the night was what happens to the bottom 3 MPL teams and how can they merge with CCL, and ultimately re-enter MPL next season. After discussion with staff members, we have found that the best solution is to keep them separate, meaning MPL have their League and CCL have theirs."

Jez it sounds like it is ALMOST going to be as convoluted,nonsensical & boring as the super rugby draw - & as you quite rightly say Murray it will become mind dumbingly dull very quickly for those poor buggers who finish in the bottom 3.

Good incentive to not be in the bottom then... but jeeeez

I'm am constantly amazed how they take a good product (yes Football) and constantly turn it into something you wouldn't want to have anything to do with. What a waste of so many good people's time and thoughts. It's that dumb it's not even funny. Makes it easy to stay away.

Does anyone know when the decision on the 2018 MPL will be?

Probably about a month after the season starts.

2nd MPL and CCL meeting is 28 November.

No mention of bottom 3 and CCL.

From what I understand bottom 3 play off against each other to see who gets relegated

Just another dumb idea from the plonkers at Mainland Farceball.

You beat a team or teams in normal league comp say by 15 or more points then still have to play again in a relegation game.

Did Willy Wonka come up with this.

Lets make it a one off round robin open to any club to enter one team forget MPL or CCL.

The top 4 or what ever get into the SI league no need for promotion etc finish with the CCL trophy as the 2nd round for those not in SI comp.

As stated in the past any revamp has to consider the teams in the qualiflying league in both the Nelson and Blenheim regions, so cannot just merge the MPL and CCL. 

As I said earlier, the the 3 bottom MPL teams play-off after the 2 rounds. But take their points that they got (or not) against each other in the first 2 rounds. So earlier games are counted and not lost.

I wonder how many leagues in the world offer this type of competition?

#groundbreaking

nah Scotland and Switzerland both have comps that split after 3 rounds and the top 6 play for the championship and bottom 6 for relegation, main diff here is the numbers

fixed

Coastal Spirit coaching announcement 2018

Ekow Quainoo re-appointed MPL coach.

Wibbles, you missed the big news - SmAsh is back!

So excited to see the best striker in recent times returning to hook up with the lads and Ekow as coach.

Boomtimes!!

I had to laugh at the fact it was mentioned Coastal Spirit can’t match Cash Tech or Ferrymead Bays “resources” yet the amount Ash will be getting for his stint next season would come close to making him the highest paid player to play in the league. Fact

How do you know this is fact? Any details for the general population?

But no one gets paid we’ve heard ??

I know Ashs dad quite well. I think Ashs flight home was the monetary incentive but more so Ash has close friends at Coastal he wants to end his career with. I can picture his dad wearing a big Speights Tech Jacket to their games though :o 

Finally someone has some actually evidence and not just hearsay. So this has come from Ash's father. Pretty credible source. So when people say Bays/Cash/Coastal etc are paying players this should be what we expect as evidence and not just someone's brothers, aunties neighbor said so.

Hmm I'd be thinking someone's brother would know if the other had been approached to move to Coastal and the money being put on the table.

I do know that a certain player [not my brother though] has been on the CS coach shopping list with a fat or maybe skinny cheque book for the last 12 months since he came to Chch.

As the new coach for his 2017 team was also very keen to get him signed for 2018, must have got out a call was made to player a few weeks ago from the same CS person or sponsor.

I can't say if $$ on the table for 2018 but with sign on fee, win, bonus and game payments for 2017.

Couldn't see the point in Coastal going after the player for 2018 without putting the same as 2017 on the table.