[quote=Tekkers10]
Tech would destroy most sides in Div1 except Nomads and Chch Utd by a large margin. Just goes to show how piss poor div1 has become, every season it's the same old story... same teams promoted and relegated. Selwyn/waimak are all show and no go and if it wasn't for their juniors they would be in burwood/parklands shoes.
Couple interesting points made. Over the course of a season, yes you would expect the top MPL sides to beat the top div1 sides. The strength and depth of the Cash Tech, Coastal etc would be well above those of Selwyn, Nomads etc. The reserves of those MPL sides also play at a higher level and against better players (arguably) than the reserve div1 league. That then breeds a stronger squad where player rotation due to form, injuries, the hell of it, is less of an issue.
I can't speak for the other div1 squads, but at Selwyn if we can get our top team in the pitch then in a 1 off game we would be ok. No way saying we will beat Tech if we get them in the next round of the cup, but I would think it wouldn't be a 17-0 loss. Over the course of 21 games it is very different and whoever goes up from div1 will 1st look at staying up the next season and then go from there. The senior squad at Selwyn (1st and reserves) is markedly stronger than even 2 years ago but still needs improving.
Look at leagues around the world, this year apart, no side from near the bottom of or newly promoted has succeeded in a top league. Yes those teams may have competed against top sides but quality shows through. Any side that gets promoted will look to strengthen. If you are a top footballer coming to the region, you probably wouldn't look at div1 as a place to play. You would want to test yourself against the better players, so it goes from there.
If you can't attract the better players in Div1 then you need to try and build a culture to have it as a great place to play. I think that is what Selwyn is trying to do. We have done ok considering it was essentially a 'country social kick around' club not too long ago. It is testament to the progress that now the club has 2 Canterbury youth players and Dan Ede who was in the larger senior squad. These players had offers to go to other teams but chose Selwyn.
If you look at the Tech side of course as a supporter of the club you would expect to win against div1 opposition. They have many Canterbury senior and youth team players and 1 (soon 2) former All Whites. I think any side who draws them in the next round of the cup will be underdogs, but in a 1 off game who knows what could happen. I don't think anyone envisaged them beating Burwood 17-0 for a start.