Oh dear.
Auckland FC - Once the Knights, Always the Knights
Oh dear.
I remember having a two day long argument with Leggy about 6 or 7 years ago over whether or not Bruce Djite would be an acceptable signing as a 2nd or 3rd choice off the bench. This is the forum way (Hope you're well, Leggy).
Leggy can mostly be found these days moderating the Obituaries thread. Hoping he's keeping cool in Brisbane. Bit sweaty in QLD at the mo.
He's got a point here. When i'm in the Arsenal thread and say 'we' i'm clearly not talking about the Phoenix. This thread is about the Auckland A-League team.
But you’re a fan of the Phoenix (hence using this forum) who is also an Arsenal fan. You’re an Arsenal group in the Phoenix pub.
It would be a nonsense to have a significant subgroup of Arsenal fans who were equally committed Spurs fans. Like the Phoenix and Auckland, they are derby rivals.
Other A league club discussion on this board by and large doesn’t use ‘we’ as it is Phoenix fans reporting or talking about another club. As this thread is. It’s not an Auckland thread on an Auckland board.
Weirdly, many Brentford season ticket holders also have tickets for Chelsea, Fulham, QPR and to a lesser extent Tottenham and Arsenal as for most of their existence the club was a bottom feeder so everyone supported them if their main team was away.
That's how I'll be as a Nix and Jaffa fan going forward.
Yipe Sail & Woud more likely that Tzanev who left NZ as a 10 year old.
He'll likely find another UK club if moves on from the Dons.
Elliot - Visa CB - Domestic CB - de Vries
Howieson - Visa DM
Rojas - Visa Mid
Visa Striker - Visa Striker
Wouldn't be the worst start.
He probaly wants to stay in Europe (and may even get signed by someone this Jan window - Oxford United?) but Pijnaker could fill that domestic CB slot. Or as AV says Tuiloma maybe released early by Charlotte - will have to see what their new MLS coach thinks of him.
Otherwise yes may need Corica & McFlynn to find some Aussies.
27 yr old Tyler Schrijvers (with Green Gully in the VIC NPL) was talked about for the Nix a few years ago. Trevor Zwetsloot also comes to mind.
Bazeley will promote a few of his U23 squad to Corica. Likes of GK Scott Morris could be good squad pickups.
If it was the case it has definitely been tidied up now! Some trolling perhaps? Were they briefed earlier and off the record that Greenacre had been chosen? Or just an earlier draft that’s been on the laptop for a couple of months.?
I swear it said that the coach spot was undecided!
If it was the case it has definitely been tidied up now! Some trolling perhaps? Were they briefed earlier and off the record that Greenacre had been chosen? Or just an earlier draft that’s been on the laptop for a couple of months.?
I swear it said that the coach spot was undecided!
An earlier draft that's been sitting on the laptop for awhile I'd say, waiting to file to fill in holiday quiet media period. Skeleton staff over the Christmas break and the stretched or hungover sub editors ain't picked up the error.
Posted as "AP sports reporters", so dunno if its AV's work?
Still only 32. You'd think he'd be interested in trying to go to the 2026 WC, even if he's not the no 1 AWs keeper. So yeah could well be interested in a move back to the ALM with Auckland, but only if he's basically going there as the no 1. Same with Sail, who won't be getting much overseas interest sitting on the bench at Perth, regardless of any higher ambitions.
With the right signing, this would drum up a lot of media/public interest, and also help attract local (NZD/AUS) talent.
2] Wasn't Corica one of the louder voices that did not want the Nix (A kiwi team) in the A League?? My how times change.
3] I wish Auckland all the best, it is exciting times for football in New Zealand. At last a Derby Match and some rivalry. be interesting to see Auckland fans at one end of Sky Stadium and Wellington fans at some spot in Auckland. "You're not singing, you're not singing, you're not singing any more......." Fun times ahead.
If it was the case it has definitely been tidied up now! Some trolling perhaps? Were they briefed earlier and off the record that Greenacre had been chosen? Or just an earlier draft that’s been on the laptop for a couple of months.?
I swear it said that the coach spot was undecided!
An earlier draft that's been sitting on the laptop for awhile I'd say, waiting to file to fill in holiday quiet media period. Skeleton staff over the Christmas break and the stretched or hungover sub editors ain't picked up the error.
Relax on the fantasy signings for the Auckland A-League team and check in with the best local talent who could fill the roster...
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) January 1, 2024
NL Champions: https://t.co/NCTwd9rlnM
NL Team of the Season: https://t.co/xLN8otdUHi
Matt Riddenton? I thought he looked good in the a league. Seemed real fit and a hard worker. Wouldnt be a bad kiwi squad player.
James Musa. Not in the MLS and maybe missed his chance for mins there.. would be a decent local CB option.
Matt Riddenton? I thought he looked good in the a league. Seemed real fit and a hard worker. Wouldnt be a bad kiwi squad player.
James Musa. Not in the MLS and maybe missed his chance for mins there.. would be a decent local CB option.
Not sure about Ridenton, seems content playing NPL level in Aussie and may/may not have a half decent career on the side.
Can count Musa out too as he has already extended his contract with the Colorado Switchbacks for the upcoming USL season. Funnily enough I saw him in New Plymouth not long before Christmas along the coastal walkway. Assume he's still got strong links to the Manawatu/Whanganui region?
Better targets might be Deklan Wynne, Jesse Randall, Riley Bidois, Sam Brotherton or Luis Toomey.
At a stretch I would have included Logan Rogerson and Ollie Whyte as options - But it seems Rogerson is already headed back to Europe, and after a little further digging, Ollie Whyte was on a 1+1 that was signed before last season kicked off, so one would assume he's probably triggered that second year.
Musa will be 32 in April, missed lot of the last USL season with injury, and has signed a new contract extension with Colorado Switchbacks anyway. He'd have to get out of that deal to turn up for ALM preseason July-August. Ridenton who knows, but he may consider his pro football days over.
Haven't seen his name bandied about, but things certainly add up.
• Auckland boy.
• Contract up in Scotland at seasons end, where he hasn't really gone above his role as a bench/impact player.
• 10 cap All White so will have that name recognition that the owners will be after, a name that resonates with the general football aficionado, even those that aren't immersed in football may loosely know/recognise the name.
• Close ties to his old club Birkenhead. Traditionally strong footballing base out those ways. Could be good use to get that lot on board - Forge those links!
If this mob are going to go big, then a signing like Greive will be the sort of move they'll have to be making from the get go. Imagine if they could get him and someone like Marco Rojas as well...
Greive would go alright in the ALM. 10 goals a season with luck. He ain't no Monty. 2 goals in 420 SPL mins this season, and from memory unlucky to have one chalked off for a marginal offside. Suspect yes this will be his last campaign with St Mirren. But for a guy who was plucked straight out of the National League he's done bloody well. Does he want to stay in Europe (English lower tiers??) or come home to the 09. Just don't put him on pens.
It could very well be that the team name/logo is the next major announcement. Unless completely unattached players like Marco or Stefan are picked up, there'd be no need to delay an announcement for them surely.
It could very well be that the team name/logo is the next major announcement. Unless completely unattached players like Marco or Stefan are picked up, there'd be no need to delay an announcement for them surely.
Nix reserves lads are fair game at this stage as well, although I'd imagine any signings from that pool of players probably won't eventuate until further down the line (not high profile enough, marquee etc etc).
As far as I can tell there's a few players positioning themselves at Northern League clubs, while there's also a few who have headed, or are on their way to heading offshore.
Still think Greive would be a good shout as a very solid first signing. Chuck in a Marco Rojas and/or a Callan Elliot and that would be a very decent starting foray into the transfer market for this Auckland outfit.
Barbarouses, Rojas headline Auckland's ALM wish-list - FTBL | The home of football in Australia https://t.co/bLKIvEnWte
— David Lewis (@lewieatlarge) January 4, 2024
Though McFlyn is unwilling to divulge potential targets, FTBL understands that veteran Wellington Phoenix attacker Kosta Barbarouses, 33, is on a long list which includes All Whites winger Marco Rojas, 32, who is a free agent after departing Chilean giants Colo Colo in mid-2023.
TAHW is an interesting suggestion! He'll be 29 in March, and from memory is now working in the UK and playing pub football over there. Does Piney know something? Otherwise seems a little daft mentioning him. But the others for sure all possibilities, though I'd say Musa maybe past it for the ALM.
Good list of kiwis here … Rojas, Sail, Howieson, Kirwan, Elliot, Champness + Pijnaker all seem feasible.
— Jason Pine (@pineynz) January 4, 2024
Hard to see Kosta leaving Wellington, given his family ties.
I’d add Tuiloma, M.Boxall, de Jong, Wynne, F. de Vries, Collier, Hudson-Wihongi, Musa, Sinclair + Randall. https://t.co/sBmPhlpuj1
TAHW is an interesting suggestion! He'll be 29 in March, and from memory is now working in the UK and playing pub football over there. Does Piney know something? Otherwise seems a little daft mentioning him. But the others for sure all possibilities, though I'd say Musa maybe past it for the ALM.
Good list of kiwis here … Rojas, Sail, Howieson, Kirwan, Elliot, Champness + Pijnaker all seem feasible.
— Jason Pine (@pineynz) January 4, 2024
Hard to see Kosta leaving Wellington, given his family ties.
I’d add Tuiloma, M.Boxall, de Jong, Wynne, F. de Vries, Collier, Hudson-Wihongi, Musa, Sinclair + Randall. https://t.co/sBmPhlpuj1
Think he must have seen the same pic I did on Insta and made a jump ⬇️
Social media these days is such a rich tapestry. 😂