Mainland Premier League (Part 2)

Train two teams have only conceded 10 goals in the MPL in a 21 game season - Suburbs in 2008 and Technical in 2014.

With games like Coastal vs Cash Tech yesterday it makes me annoyed I can't watch due to having my own fixtures! Mad result it was too. Never would've guessed that. Especially with Coastal's good form going in and Cash Tech showing frailties.

I don't think there's any argument that Cash Tech are the better side however I do believe this is their last season of real dominance. Coastal will close the gap with more quality and further improvements to their side whereas I feel a severe slide in Cash Tech as a club. Squad lacks depth, chip shop manager, and poor player attitudes.

Looking in from the outside and it's quite interesting judging each club's season. Cash Tech will undoubtedly win the league, who were huge favourites, however extremely disappointing exits from the Chatham and English Cups. Whereas Coastal were unfavored by many to even finish top 4 however have a great chance of coming second and winning the English Cup. In my opinion - Coastal in that instance would have had the far better season of both clubs. A real success for Coastal, whereas Cash Tech will still be licking wounds from the Cup exits.

Brando - biggest clown in MPL. He's had worse success with women then he had as a coach at Coastal. 

Poor Train

Good at slagging everyone involved at Tech, but not so good with excuses.

When I used to give my dad an excuse he used to say if your granny had balls she'd be your granda.

So what have we had since 4.30pm yesterday, from our friendly neighbours.

I've went from a player bummer, to a fat loud mouth shark coach w****r with no tactical nouse who pays shark loads to players. Then roll in the old airplane jibe. As you know I am fat, or as I tell my kids a bit curvy so i'm thick skinned. CS players and /or possible coaches in their droves slagging me and CTFC players.

What is despicable is coming on here and  wishing a deadfull illness like cancer on a volunteer and successful coach like Brando, who gave back as good as got yesterday, i'm told. Before I get some good banter back, as Vim said when I was slandered a few weeks back, "he's not one of us" probably doesn't wash any more.

Who ever he is, or she, they are scum. Also for cs fans on here giving up the Ghost, nothing is won yet. We still have to play a Western side that have done something 3 times in the last 5 years that CS haven't done once , and that is beat Tech. We also have to play a very talented FC side who are very well coached. So be positive. Live will and be happy.

The fat controller

Sorry add Chip shop Manager. cheers Russ

Now, now, calm down people, nothing to get worked up about. We were beaten by the better team, for the 4th time this year. 

Yes the first half was better and we fell apart in the second. Nice words were spoken in the post-match speeches so I don't know why it's all turned to custard on here. No idea on the cancer comment, sounds pretty terrible.

The benefit on anonymity I guess, let's play nice huh?

For the record, that's a really good self-reflection Broonie.

Still 3 weeks of footy. But yes in a nutshell Coastal will be a much happier place then Tech this season. No hiding that.  And at this rate who knows who will be champions next season. Watch out for Parklands. They are throwing the cash big next season too 

At the moment looks like we are heading for the lowest tally of goals to win the Golden Boot, with the following the top six on the ladder going into the final two rounds:

10 Andy Tuckey (Ferrymead Bays)

10 Mario Hoffman (FC Twenty11)

9 Shawn O'Brien (Coastal Spirit)

8 Chris Anderson (Ferrymead Bays)

8 Nikolai Molijn (Universities)

8 Stu Kelly (Cashmere Technical)

Strange as the MPL as currently sitting on the highest average number of goals per game - 3.45, for a 21 game season.

The previous lowest total to lift the Golden Boot is 14 (in a 21 game season) and 24 the highest.

The lowest ever tally to win the trophy was 11 back in 2009 when it as only a 14 game season.  

You forgot the week after the English Cup, on 10 Sept when the South Island Trophies are being contested between winners of both the South Island Federations.

I take what I give. Coastal clearly get slagged just as much as Tech 

You can't be talking Parklands men's team, we don't even get new match balls ;)

Yeah I was told Parklands have been in contact with coaches and players. Big joint venture with Celebration church

I am hoping for  MPL & SI champs plus  WPL champs and who knows maybe a KO win for the girls. Whatever we will celebrate another top season locally and be happy that we once again represent Canterbury in the national competitions. Not satisfied but happy.

Next season will be a new challenge and CTFC will be looking forward as always.  

Might have looked a bit different if Ben Wright hadn't been plagued by injuries or even if Campbell Banks had shown up from the start.

Carey's coming back? 

Why are they not joining with CS as it's your part of the sticks?

If they want to get into football which they already have according to the Celebration Trust then a good junior set up would be an advantage.

Enough of the CTFC and CS talk. Time for other clubs to get some input on here.

From my point of view winning the English Cup is like winning the Johnstone Paints Trophy, a second tier comp. 

Yes win something who cares who remembers and most clubs put out reserve team players on a Tuesday night. 

Winning the MPL is what defines a season, second as they say is just an also ran. Bit like Arsenal eh lads. 

Come on you know you want to bite back.

Wednesday (17 August) will mark the third anniversary of Cashmere Technical's current tenure of the Hurley Shield. Currently they have defended the shield for a record 28 occasions, the longest in the history of the shield which was first introduced at the start of the 2007 and awarded to Ferrymead Bays who won the MPL in 2006.

Next longest defence is Woolston Technical on 13 and then Ferrymead Bays on 7.

There have been 90 games for the shield which has changed hands 18 times, with the only clubs never to lift the shield being Burnside, Rangers and Universities.  .

While I think the idea behind the Shield had been a good concept is it time to alter the rules to allow Nelson Suburbs to challenge for the shield rather than just the Canterbury based clubs.

After this mornings' Arsenal result i wanna cry not bite. Not that it was unexpected :( 

2nd behind a well resourced Cashmere Tech is still a great achievement in my book. Ask the 6 teams below us and I'm sure they would swap positions in a heartbeat, considering the only team we have lost to is Cashmere Tech. Winning a cup final would also be nice so all in all I don't think you can call it an "also-ran".  Anyways, English Cup isn't second tier, seeing as everyone enters (except Nelson), not many reserve players that I've seen. 

slushy me old mate

I see Liverpool perked up your weekend a wee bit today 

What about the Marist Brothers?

That game was a classic. Just glad bloody Arshavin wasn't playing for the gunners again! 

Manes goal. Coutinhos goal/s. I am glad I was alive to see them. 

And I have Arsenal supporters at my work too so it made it rather special

Marist brothers aren't just rugby, there are Marist Football clubs in Wellington, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Napier, Gisborne and probably more around NZ

Getting slightly off track- have you seen how big the Celebration Church complex is? And what they have planned for our home ground at Cuthberts? It's all going cray-cray. 

I didn't know anything about the Parklands thing though. Good luck to them I say. 

Christchurch (think about it) has 2 divisions of church based football leagues...why the need to segregate on basis of religion I'm agnostic about but imagine the uproar if my Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Wiccan or aetheist brothers and sisters did the same!

Fair do to CS and the crowd you get. I'd take a winners medal in place of the runners up cup medals I got.

Something for Nomads to aim for is taking points off CTFC & Coastal. 

Looking to see these MPL & Reserve teams back at Tulett Park. A huge amount of work for the coach and club to do in the off season to put out a competitive side at the MPL level mind.

I can't believe "One Way Jesus" is bottom of the table. Wouldn't have picked that. 

I was thinking the same. Do the winner's et promoted to a 'higher' league and what happens if you finish at the bottom.

Catholics are ok, it's the Evangilicals you have to keep an eye on

Their based on St Asaph Street. 

?????

my name is Craig surname David

It wasn't me