Its great to see kiwis doing well in the A League. Does anyone know if the Nix had tried to recruit any of the kiwis that are now doing so well with AFC? FDV was playing NL last season wasnt he??
Its great to see kiwis doing well in the A League. Does anyone know if the Nix had tried to recruit any of the kiwis that are now doing so well with AFC? FDV was playing NL last season wasnt he??
I think most people know that they were keen on Howieson, who was generally viewed as the best player in NZ domestic footy prior to signing with AFC. He needs to based in Auckland for personal reasons.
Liam Gillion broke through very quickly at City so wouldn’t have been on their radar. I’m sure they had talked to some of the likes of Pjinaker, Mata, Smith from time to time.
I have to say there are some raw players floating around the domestic scene who have shown they can do a job at A-League level. See Piper, Gillion, etc.
i wasn't saying that they should already have such a player necessarily, just that it would have been cool if they did. In general, they are barely blooding kiwi youngsters at all, only two young kiwis in Gillion & Randall have got good minutes this season, and they are behind an even younger aussie in the pecking order. They could be doing better in this area, to make swallowing their success a bit easier for a bitter Nix fan like me TreeFiddy
imanixsupporter
De Vries is too old for a fee-paying move. He may start getting big wage offers from Asia as he nears the end of his contract (which expires at end of next season).
Rogerson the only player off contract at season's end for AFC other than Paulsen who they'll not want to lose. Interesting that there was no question or comment in the article about Logan in Stuff the other day regarding the prospect of him staying at AFC next season... must be keeping his options open with an eye on perhaps shooting back overseas.
Pijnaker is the only Kiwi that I could see fee offers being made to AFC to sign him. The most annoying thing to me as an All Whites fan and Nix fan who instinctively despises AFC is that they don't even have really exciting Kiwi youngsters shining for them (other than Paulsen). Nothing close to the levels of Cacace, Singh, Old, Surman. Would be easier to not resent their success if they had a kid like that breaking through who was clearly destined for much better things.
AFC have literally just entered the league. They're not going to have "exciting" young players immediately when they've only just established a Reserves team. It to the Nix several years to get that and then to start churning them out more regularly like the names you've mentioned. What a ridiculous statement.
Its great to see kiwis doing well in the A League. Does anyone know if the Nix had tried to recruit any of the kiwis that are now doing so well with AFC? FDV was playing NL last season wasnt he??
I think most people know that they were keen on Howieson, who was generally viewed as the best player in NZ domestic footy prior to signing with AFC. He needs to based in Auckland for personal reasons.
Liam Gillion broke through very quickly at City so wouldn’t have been on their radar. I’m sure they had talked to some of the likes of Pjinaker, Mata, Smith from time to time.
I have to say there are some raw players floating around the domestic scene who have shown they can do a job at A-League level. See Piper, Gillion, etc.
They might have spoken to Gillion, after all his younger brother Fergus is in the Academy.
Dome out because he didn’t try to take business away from Wellington’s desperate hospitality sector? O f-n k.
How about a balloon with your special name on it, like Auckland do? Jaysus
The club has been around for a while, but if we’re complaining because we’re not going through club owners and leadership like [insert metaphor here] f- me. We could be WSW. Haven’t won a finals game in 10 years. Or Sydney or Adelaide- all in alsorans. You’re not alone in your football team not being number one. 12 clubs are guna experience that this year.
So the Nix has been around for 20 years and have the same guy run things for yonks, haven't won anything and your ripping me one for wanting a change of vision. The clubs mentioned above have won stuff too. Heck Adelaide could have given Auckland a run if their squad wasn't decimated by the Aussie U20 campaign (an actual excuse).
Nix don't have a winning mentality in the organisation and if it doesn't change, they won't win anything soon. Things are also gonna get interesting when AFC sets up a youth academy too.
I heard recently that Auckland don't intend to set up an academy - they'd prefer to keep them at the local clubs up until they put them in their reserves team, this way they can keep their options open rather than 'betting on one horse' they can see who develops best as they get older before bringing them into the club
Financially it makes more sense too. Academies are an expens, without a guaranteed return. A lot of clubs are closing their academies overseas to invest in their reserves team.
Brentford is a good example of this. there's an interesting documentary on it.
Interesting that academies are falling out of favour just when we seem to be doubling down with the Fraser Park deal and the talk of a co-sponsored charter school. Have the Phoenix perhaps done better in terms of return on investment than other clubs? Or is the Academy just so intrinsic to the club's model that they're committed to it no matter what?
There are some fundamental differences between the Nix and Auckland.
1. AFC have signed MOUs with most of the Northern Region clubs. Auckland City/Central maybe the only prominent one they haven't?? Those MOUs will allow Auckland to have strong ties with those NR clubs, closely monitor promising talent coming through the local clubs, probably run age group trainaing camps etc. I wouldn't be surprised if AFC have development officers covering both Auckland and Waikato/BOP
2. Geography. Within 2-3 hours of the Auckland CBD are what about 2 million people. Just so much easier for Auckland to monitor a very large chunk of NZ's football talent pool, with a short drive. The Estonians may recruit NZ youngsters from outside the Northern Region club scene, but you suspect it will be fairly rare.
Very different to the Nix based in a smaller city, with the Central League going up to Napier, and even Taranaki (CL 2). Then you also have the faraway Southern League as a comp to scout from.
3. Winning over the local football community. They may have Bling owners but fair play to Auckland, they have made a concerted strong effort to win over the local NR football community. Keeping youngsters as long as possible at their local clubs, helps with that. It avoids having a stacked Auckland FC reserves team bossing the Northern League. Plus you have say a Jonty Bidois one year playing for Tauranga City, and the next is in Auckland's ALM squad. For sure most BOP folk will make Auckland their ALM team.
Tze-Xuan Loke leaves Green Island as a 14 yr old, then makes his senior Nix debut 5 years later. Otago football fans won't quite have the same sense of pride about one of their own. If you could criticise the Nix it's that they haven't done as well as they should have, with developing good ties with the local Central League clubs.
4. League strength. The Northern league is the strongest in the country. So why not leave promising talent to play in that league as long as possible. You have NR clubs in the Waikato, and now also Tauranga City (via Tauranga Boys High academy) has emerged as a strong outfit. So really is no need for non 09 kids to head to Auckland to play in that NR league.
You have more one sided results in the Central and especially Southern leagues. More mis matches, and so not so great for week in week out quality player development.
All in all the Phoenix has a greater need for an academy for quality player development and scouting. Plus yes the club's model of maximising transfer fees/solidarity payments by eventually onselling Academy graduates. The longer those kids are in the Academy the bigger the future valuable solidarity payments. If they now ever sell Piper for a fee, he'll generate alot less cash for the club, than if he had come in as yes a 14 yr old from the North Shore. Dome has mentioned that is clearly the club's business model.
Interesting that academies are falling out of favour just when we seem to be doubling down with the Fraser Park deal and the talk of a co-sponsored charter school. Have the Phoenix perhaps done better in terms of return on investment than other clubs? Or is the Academy just so intrinsic to the club's model that they're committed to it no matter what?
my feeling across the league is that a lot of teams invest significantly into their academies, like SFC (even though youth has historically not being given a go in the first team, their academy has probably produced the most), MC, CCM, AU etc.
I'd ask the question - what advantage is there to being in a professional academy environment, that cannot be provided by strong amateur setups?
Coaching quality? Field quality? Training 7 days a week? Health/nutrition? Other environmental factors? Other resources?
I'm not familiar enough with the Nix's academy to comment. But looking at some of the amateur clubs these days, I'd imagine the gap is shrinking rapidly?
Good to see Chris Wood on Sky Sport facebook talking about his hopes that AFC go all the way, and how good it is for New Zealand football. Keeps in touch with his good friend Tommy Smith on an almost daily basis
I'd ask the question - what advantage is there to being in a professional academy environment, that cannot be provided by strong amateur setups?
Coaching quality? Field quality? Training 7 days a week? Health/nutrition? Other environmental factors? Other resources?
I'm not familiar enough with the Nix's academy to comment. But looking at some of the amateur clubs these days, I'd imagine the gap is shrinking rapidly?
On the subject of AFC community engagement, the Auckland Arena proposal will no doubt attract savage attacks, possibly culminating in death threats, from the cookers who want Western Springs Speedway back
Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009 This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads
I'd ask the question - what advantage is there to being in a professional academy environment, that cannot be provided by strong amateur setups?
Coaching quality? Field quality? Training 7 days a week? Health/nutrition? Other environmental factors? Other resources?
I'm not familiar enough with the Nix's academy to comment. But looking at some of the amateur clubs these days, I'd imagine the gap is shrinking rapidly?
That is actually a good question imo. Very few of the Nix' latest signings have been in the Academy for any length of time eg Walker, Brook-Smith and Smith. This is in stark contrast to the likes of Paulsen, Old and Surman who went through the full Academy pathway before getting a 1st team contract. Seems if the Nix believe you are good enough (jury is still out on whether all of the above should have 1st team contracts) there is no need to follow the Academy pathway.
Actually Jayden Smith is an interesting one. Still only 17. But he's hardly kicked a football the last 6 months. Required to sit on the bench for the ALM side due to a lack of CB cover.
Meant he missed nearly all of the National League phase last October-November. Plus the start of this Central League season.
Not ideal for the development of a young outfield player. They need to play. Hopefully he gets a run for U20s in Chile. Must be talented to be picked as a 17 yr old, and their being a few other eligible NZU20 CBs around at other ALM clubs.
But yeah a bit different to that other Sth Island CB Surman who came to the club from Selwyn as a 15-16 yr old. Two years in the Academy, and then into the first team squad as a 18-19 yr old.
Tommy Smith and @fc_auckland know the job’s not over 💪
Auckland’s dream debut season could hit new levels in front of another packed out home crowd this Saturday as they chase a spot in the A-League Grand Final 🇳🇿🏆 pic.twitter.com/Hr8wfA2oUk
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) May 21, 2025
I'd go further and say the existence of an academy has blinkered the Nix, led them to overlook other talent.Footballtragic
20 Legend
I'd ask the question - what advantage is there to being in a professional academy environment, that cannot be provided by strong amateur setups?
Coaching quality? Field quality? Training 7 days a week? Health/nutrition? Other environmental factors? Other resources?
I'm not familiar enough with the Nix's academy to comment. But looking at some of the amateur clubs these days, I'd imagine the gap is shrinking rapidly?
That is actually a good question imo. Very few of the Nix' latest signings have been in the Academy for any length of time eg Walker, Brook-Smith and Smith. This is in stark contrast to the likes of Paulsen, Old and Surman who went through the full Academy pathway before getting a 1st team contract. Seems if the Nix believe you are good enough (jury is still out on whether all of the above should have 1st team contracts) there is no need to follow the Academy pathway.
The thing with having the academy and Dome said it in the pod - is that you get to identify and coach the tlent you want - you're not relieant n other clubs coaching and talent use. Having the academy running teams ata ll age groups means theNix cam identfy players early and develop them for the first team they want to build. Also means they get all the money when a player is sold - which I think is the most important part of the equation for the Nix.
Auckland FC director of football Terry McFlynn has provided an update on the club’s plans to enter the women’s A-League.
“It’s something we’re working towards at the minute,” McFlynn told BBC World Football presenter Mani Djazmi, in a 19-minute programme detailing the success of Auckland FC in its debut men’s A-League season. https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/p0lb6n5r
“We started the men’s team last season, and we’ll start the women’s team with the exact same strategies, exact same approach,” McFlynn said.
“We want to get as many New Zealand girls as possible into the team.”
This would match the men’s A-League plan that focused on signing All Whites.
“We want to get a coach that has got experience of A-League women’s, who’s won the league, who knows the salary cap and also has connections across the world as well, to bring in good, quality players as well,” McFlynn said.
In January, McFlynn told the NZ Herald the club was eager to announce by early February that the shortlist for the coaching role was down to three candidates.
For the men’s team, head coach Steve Corica was announced in March 2024, and the first player signings were announced in late May.
“Auckland FC remains committed to launching a Ninja A-League women’s team in time for the upcoming 2025/26 season, due to start spring 2025,” Becker said in a statement to the Herald in early April.
McFlynn told BBC Football World it was important the club got things right.
“There hadn’t been a professional men’s team in this city for 17 years. There’s never been a professional women’s team so for us, it’s a first and something we want to get it right from day one.”
Melbourne Victory travel to face Auckland FC at Go Media Stadium on Saturday, and head coach Arthur Diles has included club captain Roderick Miranda in his extended squad ahead of the trip across the ditch.
Miranda was a late out ahead of the 1-0 loss to Auckland in leg one and with his replacement in the backline, Brendan Hamill, suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against the Black Knights last week, the Victory captain’s potential inclusion in the matchday squad would be a tremendous boost to the travelling side’s hopes of overturning their aggregate deficit to reach the Grand Final.
Speaking on Thursday morning ahead of the trip to Auckland, Diles said Miranda had returned to training but a decision was still to be made on whether he’d travel with the squad for Saturday night’s Semi-Final.
“Roddy trained today,” Diles said.
“He looked okay today, so let’s hope that tomorrow he pulls through okay and he’s good enough to travel with the team. We’ll know more tomorrow morning.”
Auckland FC v Melbourne Victory Saturday, May 24 – Go Media Stadium – 4pm AEST /6pm NZST
Auckland FC squad: 1. Michael WOUD, 2. Hiroki SAKAI, 4. Nando PIJNAKER, 5. Tommy SMITH, 6. Louis VERSTRAETE, 7. Cameron HOWIESON, 8. Luis TOOMEY, 9. Max MATA, 10. Guillermo MAY, 11. Marlee FRANÇOIS, 12. Alex PAULSEN, 14. Liam GILLION, 15. Francis DE VRIES, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 21. Jesse RANDALL, 22. Jake BRIMMER, 23. Dan HALL, 25. Neyder MORENO, 27. Logan ROGERSON, 28. Luis Felipe GALLEGOS
(Two to be omitted) Ins: 8. Luis TOOMEY, 9. Max MATA Outs: Nil Unavailable: Nil
Melbourne Victory squad: 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 6. Ryan TEAGUE, 7. Daniel ARZANI, 8. Zinedine MACHACH, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Bruno FORNAROLI, 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, 14. Jordi VALADON, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 18. Fabian MONGE, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Alexander BADOLATO, 24. Alexander MENELAOU, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 27. Reno PISCOPO, 28. Kasey BOS, 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI
Melbourne Victory travel to face Auckland FC at Go Media Stadium on Saturday, and head coach Arthur Diles has included club captain Roderick Miranda in his extended squad ahead of the trip across the ditch.
Miranda was a late out ahead of the 1-0 loss to Auckland in leg one and with his replacement in the backline, Brendan Hamill, suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against the Black Knights last week, the Victory captain’s potential inclusion in the matchday squad would be a tremendous boost to the travelling side’s hopes of overturning their aggregate deficit to reach the Grand Final.
Speaking on Thursday morning ahead of the trip to Auckland, Diles said Miranda had returned to training but a decision was still to be made on whether he’d travel with the squad for Saturday night’s Semi-Final.
“Roddy trained today,” Diles said.
“He looked okay today, so let’s hope that tomorrow he pulls through okay and he’s good enough to travel with the team. We’ll know more tomorrow morning.”
Auckland FC v Melbourne Victory Saturday, May 24 – Go Media Stadium – 4pm AEST /6pm NZST
Auckland FC squad: 1. Michael WOUD, 2. Hiroki SAKAI, 4. Nando PIJNAKER, 5. Tommy SMITH, 6. Louis VERSTRAETE, 7. Cameron HOWIESON, 8. Luis TOOMEY, 9. Max MATA, 10. Guillermo MAY, 11. Marlee FRANÇOIS, 12. Alex PAULSEN, 14. Liam GILLION, 15. Francis DE VRIES, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 21. Jesse RANDALL, 22. Jake BRIMMER, 23. Dan HALL, 25. Neyder MORENO, 27. Logan ROGERSON, 28. Luis Felipe GALLEGOS
(Two to be omitted) Ins: 8. Luis TOOMEY, 9. Max MATA Outs: Nil Unavailable: Nil
Melbourne Victory squad: 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 6. Ryan TEAGUE, 7. Daniel ARZANI, 8. Zinedine MACHACH, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Bruno FORNAROLI, 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, 14. Jordi VALADON, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 18. Fabian MONGE, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Alexander BADOLATO, 24. Alexander MENELAOU, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 27. Reno PISCOPO, 28. Kasey BOS, 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI
Melbourne Victory travel to face Auckland FC at Go Media Stadium on Saturday, and head coach Arthur Diles has included club captain Roderick Miranda in his extended squad ahead of the trip across the ditch.
Miranda was a late out ahead of the 1-0 loss to Auckland in leg one and with his replacement in the backline, Brendan Hamill, suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against the Black Knights last week, the Victory captain’s potential inclusion in the matchday squad would be a tremendous boost to the travelling side’s hopes of overturning their aggregate deficit to reach the Grand Final.
Speaking on Thursday morning ahead of the trip to Auckland, Diles said Miranda had returned to training but a decision was still to be made on whether he’d travel with the squad for Saturday night’s Semi-Final.
“Roddy trained today,” Diles said.
“He looked okay today, so let’s hope that tomorrow he pulls through okay and he’s good enough to travel with the team. We’ll know more tomorrow morning.”
Auckland FC v Melbourne Victory Saturday, May 24 – Go Media Stadium – 4pm AEST /6pm NZST
Auckland FC squad: 1. Michael WOUD, 2. Hiroki SAKAI, 4. Nando PIJNAKER, 5. Tommy SMITH, 6. Louis VERSTRAETE, 7. Cameron HOWIESON, 8. Luis TOOMEY, 9. Max MATA, 10. Guillermo MAY, 11. Marlee FRANÇOIS, 12. Alex PAULSEN, 14. Liam GILLION, 15. Francis DE VRIES, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 21. Jesse RANDALL, 22. Jake BRIMMER, 23. Dan HALL, 25. Neyder MORENO, 27. Logan ROGERSON, 28. Luis Felipe GALLEGOS
(Two to be omitted) Ins: 8. Luis TOOMEY, 9. Max MATA Outs: Nil Unavailable: Nil
Melbourne Victory squad: 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 6. Ryan TEAGUE, 7. Daniel ARZANI, 8. Zinedine MACHACH, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Bruno FORNAROLI, 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, 14. Jordi VALADON, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 18. Fabian MONGE, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Alexander BADOLATO, 24. Alexander MENELAOU, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 27. Reno PISCOPO, 28. Kasey BOS, 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI
I expect to see Mata released end of his contract. He's been shaded massively by Rogerson who I think on current form should be the AWs third choice striker behind Wood and Barbs, having leapfrogged Waine and McCowatt.
Really don't know why he wasn't picked. Favouritism?
Supporter of the world's best football teams: Waikato..., Kingz FC, NZ Knights, The Nix, The Argyle & of course the All Whites
I think Mata has been a crucial player for FC this year. Just watched a F DV reel. A lot of Rogerson sure. But at least twice Mata gets the equivalent of an assist. One, Rogerson gets an unmarked header as the two defenders are so worried about Mata.
Second, Rogerson gets a free header half a metre from goal because Mata legally blocks the keeper and CD out in front.
He was a home grown player offering something different and his injection allowed May space and team to get his deadly radar on target. They scored a bunch more first half goals when Mata started.
Who could replace him as a 9 doing that particular job? Not Rogerson or Randall. Or May. But all 3 and de Vries benefited from his role imo.
Maybe they want a few more goals from him. I think training and confidence are more likely to get that than a new player entirely.
I will be watching as a big Melbourne Victory fan, as I believe any real Phoenix fan should (at the very least, any Phoenix fan who isn't an Aucklander). But even for genuine neutrals, a MV goal is exactly what you want for the spectacle.
Unfortunately as a realist I am expecting another 1-0 AFC win.
Also hate Alex King. He was the guy who just gave up for about 5 minutes at the end against Perth and he’s usually this inconsistent. Plus he seems to be their ‘best ref’. A la Jared Gillet.
Rogerson's goal should have stood but overall Auckland were just not great today.
Azani should have had an early shower but we had a shark ref who struggled to control the game so he never used that second yellow. If he's the A League's best, Australian referees are shark.
Piney's commentator jinx has rubbed off here like it often does for the Nix: eg "AFC haven't conceded to MV yet", immediately MV score. I far preferred the commentary from last week.
Supporter of the world's best football teams: Waikato..., Kingz FC, NZ Knights, The Nix, The Argyle & of course the All Whites
