It was such a stupid thing to do. There are A-League fans who have done far less and currently have long bans. The whole stunt was tone deaf to the current policing issues fans are facing right now. Clearly whomever thought it was a good idea has no idea about the landscape in the A-Leagues.
Have a lot of presence around town here and there, sign players, do community engagement events, make sure the trains are running to Mt Smart as much as possible, make sure your fan groups aren’t off base- but get some identifiable fans who are real people so the public can relax that there’ll be some normal ish folk there, engage with the local clubs, get the membership options out early and get the tickets out early…win games…
Though Ali Williams and/or the Mowbrays in a free kick type dunk tank could be popular! Just spit ballin’ here…
Have to be honest, I’m still not impressed that no one associated with local football is in the top management team, but that may not matter. They’ve got more people associated with the Blues, the ABs, Melbourne City and Sydney F.C. than any local football people of any profile. Huge potential for missteps there.
On the other hand they’ve taken care of the money side, their home ground, the training facilities, coach appointment and allegedly some very classy signings. It’s a different origin story to the Phoenix. None of this reborn battlers business. Blinged II, aiming to challenge Sydney FC and shoot straight at the top. Might mean their fans get more impatient too! Or more casuals- with Ali and Bill it’s okay to like the #^$€ ball. We’ll see…
Are stadium bans mostly lip service? Do they have facial recognition cameras? The chances of ever getting recognised by a labour hire bloke paid minimum wage to checking bags on entry must be about zero
Have a lot of presence around town here and there, sign players, do community engagement events, make sure the trains are running to Mt Smart as much as possible, make sure your fan groups aren’t off base- but get some identifiable fans who are real people so the public can relax that there’ll be some normal ish folk there, engage with the local clubs, get the membership options out early and get the tickets out early…win games…
Though Ali Williams and/or the Mowbrays in a free kick type dunk tank could be popular! Just spit ballin’ here…
Have to be honest, I’m still not impressed that no one associated with local football is in the top management team, but that may not matter. They’ve got more people associated with the Blues, the ABs, Melbourne City and Sydney F.C. than any local football people of any profile. Huge potential for missteps there.
On the other hand they’ve taken care of the money side, their home ground, the training facilities, coach appointment and allegedly some very classy signings. It’s a different origin story to the Phoenix. None of this reborn battlers business. Blinged II, aiming to challenge Sydney FC and shoot straight at the top. Might mean their fans get more impatient too! Or more casuals- with Ali and Bill it’s okay to like the #^$€ ball. We’ll see…
Foley used the phrase 'working with the community' about half a dozen times last year, at the launch. Read a bit about the Golden Knights NHL franchise, and they made big efforts with the Nevada locals when starting up.
Also read somewhere about Fred De Jong will be organising groups from Ellerslie FC to games at Mt Smart or something. I imgine there is shark loads to organise before the start of next season, especially around assembling a squad, sorting out training facilities etc etc - that the local football community stuff will come a bit later. More so when Northern Region football actually kicks off.
Edit - the Golden Knights (2017) were the first big 4 American sports franchise, to be based in Vegas. But since then the LA Raiders (NFL) relocated from Oakland to Sin City in 2020, and the Oakland 'A's baseball (MLB) team have confirmed as also relocating to Vegas. So the Foley Group will be learning fast about competition for sports fan's eyeballs, marketing etc etc. It's a super competitive sports market in the US. Some of those learnings will be handy starting up in Auckland.
Have a lot of presence around town here and there, sign players, do community engagement events, make sure the trains are running to Mt Smart as much as possible, make sure your fan groups aren’t off base- but get some identifiable fans who are real people so the public can relax that there’ll be some normal ish folk there, engage with the local clubs, get the membership options out early and get the tickets out early…win games…
Though Ali Williams and/or the Mowbrays in a free kick type dunk tank could be popular! Just spit ballin’ here…
Have to be honest, I’m still not impressed that no one associated with local football is in the top management team, but that may not matter. They’ve got more people associated with the Blues, the ABs, Melbourne City and Sydney F.C. than any local football people of any profile. Huge potential for missteps there.
On the other hand they’ve taken care of the money side, their home ground, the training facilities, coach appointment and allegedly some very classy signings. It’s a different origin story to the Phoenix. None of this reborn battlers business. Blinged II, aiming to challenge Sydney FC and shoot straight at the top. Might mean their fans get more impatient too! Or more casuals- with Ali and Bill it’s okay to like the #^$€ ball. We’ll see…
Foley used the phrase 'working with the community' about half a dozen times last year, at the launch. Read a bit about the Golden Knights NHL franchise, and they made big efforts with the Nevada locals when starting up.
Also read somewhere about Fred De Jong will be organising groups from Ellerslie FC to games at Mt Smart or something. I imgine there is shark loads to organise before the start of next season, especially around assembling a squad, sorting out training facilities etc etc - that the local football community stuff will come a bit later. More so when Northern Region football actually kicks off.
Edit - the Golden Knights (2017) were the first big 4 American sports franchise, to be based in Vegas. But since then the LA Raiders (NFL) relocated from Oakland to Sin City in 2020, and the Oakland 'A's baseball (MLB) team have confirmed as also relocating to Vegas. So the Foley Group will be learning fast about competition for sports fan's eyeballs, marketing etc etc. It's a super competitive sports market in the US. Some of those learnings will be handy starting up in Auckland.
No not organising group, more offering the new building at Michaels Ave as a pre-game location, also Ellerslie AFC not FC.
It was such a stupid thing to do. There are A-League fans who have done far less and currently have long bans. The whole stunt was tone deaf to the current policing issues fans are facing right now. Clearly whomever thought it was a good idea has no idea about the landscape in the A-Leagues.
If it was a stupid thing to do, then someone tell Radio New Zealand and the other media outlets who think it was the most exciting thing to happen in football for decades and "made football cool again". Media-wise it was a total slam dunk for Williams/the Mowbrays, and that success will only encourage further stupidity and douchebaggery.
Unfortunately we live in a media world where the average journalist has the attention span of an oyster. They want quick feed bling stories, click bait. The sports desk will report the Nix win but the general media loved the pitch invader story. In a tight overcrowded Auckland sports market you are competing for attention. It appears Ali Williams and Mowbray understand this. We might find it shallow or crass but it’s the way of the world…..and expect much more of it from Auckland bling FC. If a whole bunch of trash talking sells out Mt smart for the Nix vs bling derby then is that really a problem? The only issue I see is this might encourage some fringe element to do something stupid and then the media will all dive in on the football hooligan angle.
It was such a stupid thing to do. There are A-League fans who have done far less and currently have long bans. The whole stunt was tone deaf to the current policing issues fans are facing right now. Clearly whomever thought it was a good idea has no idea about the landscape in the A-Leagues.
If it was a stupid thing to do, then someone tell Radio New Zealand and the other media outlets who think it was the most exciting thing to happen in football for decades and "made football cool again". Media-wise it was a total slam dunk for Williams/the Mowbrays, and that success will only encourage further stupidity and douchebaggery.
Remember Williams was too thick (allegedly) for the ABs until Sir Brian Lahore (allegedly) took a piece of 4 by 2 and thumped him with it every time he made a mistake. I’m sure Ol mate Bill has got a piece of 4 by 2, but he might not want to waste his precious time thumping Ali (and his in-laws) with it. Perhaps that’s Danny Hay’s job then?
And if they wanna set up a free kick drill before a game where you can dunk the bunch of them for $5 I’ll be out in the park practicing my free kicks again and hoarding the $5 notes…
I mean compared to everyone else involved this lad is Mr Auckland, NZ A league soccer/football! Apparently knows Corica too. And can understand being cursed at in a bunch of British accents.
Ticks a lot of boxes, really. Plus he knows a bunch of Kiwi footballers.
Promising signing tbh. Be interesting to see how the team dynamics go from a guy who’s been a head coach to an assistant, but that’s their issue to manage.
I mean compared to everyone else involved this lad is Mr Auckland, NZ A league soccer/football! Apparently knows Corica too. And can understand being cursed at in a bunch of British accents.
Ticks a lot of boxes, really. Plus he knows a bunch of Kiwi footballers.
Promising signing tbh. Be interesting to see how the team dynamics go from a guy who’s been a head coach to an assistant, but that’s their issue to manage.
If you took the Nix blinkers off, the way Italiano has the team setup this year ain't that exciting for neutrals either. Especially away from home. Remember the early game at AAMI Park without a shot on goal. The team are a lowly 9th for total goals scored this season, and well down the list for total shots. It's a game plan built off defensive solidity.
But in the history of the Nix it's been a superb season. Winning is the most important thing.
If you took the Nix blinkers off, the way Italiano has the team setup this year ain't that exciting for neutrals either. Especially away from home. Remember the early game at AAMI Park without a shot on goal. The team are a lowly 9th for total goals scored this season, and well down the list for total shots. It's a game plan built off defensive solidity.
But in the history of the Nix it's been a superb season. Winning is the most important thing.
I'm fully aware we are not one for the neutrals. A lot of the time its still a hard watch even being a Nix fan.
What month did the ceo say he will start announcing signings?
I reckon early June when most European seasons will have finished and the AWs will start assembling in NZ getting ready for OFC Nations Cup. So you can hopefully reveal signings including some high profile marquees in person, at a great big glitzy reveal. Maybe a runway with smoke machines and strobe lighting, American style.
Also the ALM season will be finished, so local football media's attention can be solely on the new Auckland franchise. Announcing likes of Woud, Howieson, FDV, Randall and Toomey now would be a bit meh for your first squad annoucement.
Also wasn't the story that Hay broke covid quarantine during the World Cup play-off and gave Rojas covid causing him to miss the game.
Someone pass me the popcorn if Rojas has signed.
Unless it's maybe your life partner (and even then), how can you get Covid and be certain you got it from Person X? The rumour that Hay said or did something offensive, to female coaches at NZF I'd give more credence.
He played a back 5 in a friendly at home against Australia. They played their second string and dominated us and we did nothing going forwards. Lost 2-0. Surely with nothing on the line and a record home crowd behind you you could go for it a bit. But no, he was a defensive and dour coach. He also established Pijnaker in the All Whites starting xi and we still cannot get rid of him.
Also wasn't the story that Hay broke covid quarantine during the World Cup play-off and gave Rojas covid causing him to miss the game.
Someone pass me the popcorn if Rojas has signed.
Unless it's maybe your life partner (and even then), how can you get Covid and be certain you got it from Person X? The rumour that Hay said or did something offensive, to female coaches at NZF I'd give more credence.
they were all in a hotel together and were taking precautions
If you took the Nix blinkers off, the way Italiano has the team setup this year ain't that exciting for neutrals either. Especially away from home. Remember the early game at AAMI Park without a shot on goal. The team are a lowly 9th for total goals scored this season, and well down the list for total shots. It's a game plan built off defensive solidity.
But in the history of the Nix it's been a superb season. Winning is the most important thing.
That's kiwi football though: Ferns, AWs, Nix all boring as f**k in front of goal if not playing a minnow. Mind you not many of us care about that around here as long as those teams actually win (only really the Nix in that category though).
Hay might be a great No2, could well be his level as I think he's a good motivator although it does seem to be his way or the highway (for him).
He was though a bang average Manager who played Pijnaker over Boxall and Woud over anyone who could catch a ball on numerous occasions, so not a good judge of talent (the Boxall decision costing us a WC place).
With this signing can expect to see Mata and Pijnaker in Auckland in a few months time?
What is Neil Emblin up to these days? He was the last exciting manager the AWs had.
Metro FC chairman Antony Owens told the Herald: “Auckland FC aren’t to blame, it’s the lack of communication [from Northern Region Football and NZF] and in the sense of just three days out from the season.
“Had they let us know in January, it would have been fine. We would have just lived with it, but it’s the three days out that’s the kick in the teeth.”
The Herald understands there was a meeting between clubs and the governing bodies roughly six weeks ago where they proposed and almost settled on a completely different structure.
During the meeting, it was widely agreed the Northern League should incorporate Auckland FC reserves as the 13th team in 2025. They would subsequently introduce new promotion-relegation rules for the local leagues. This structure was the approach preferred by Auckland FC, who had no involvement in the decision.
If you took the Nix blinkers off, the way Italiano has the team setup this year ain't that exciting for neutrals either. Especially away from home. Remember the early game at AAMI Park without a shot on goal. The team are a lowly 9th for total goals scored this season, and well down the list for total shots. It's a game plan built off defensive solidity.
But in the history of the Nix it's been a superb season. Winning is the most important thing.
That's kiwi football though: Ferns, AWs, Nix all boring as f**k in front of goal if not playing a minnow. Mind you not many of us care about that around here as long as those teams actually win (only really the Nix in that category though).
Hay might be a great No2, could well be his level as I think he's a good motivator although it does seem to be his way or the highway (for him).
He was though a bang average Manager who played Pijnaker over Boxall and Woud over anyone who could catch a ball on numerous occasions, so not a good judge of talent (the Boxall decision costing us a WC place).
With this signing can expect to see Mata and Pijnaker in Auckland in a few months time?
What is Neil Emblin up to these days? He was the last exciting manager the AWs had.
Good thing they've already signed Woud then eh? #1 role sussed from the get go. 😉
As for Neil Emblen, he's still at the Colorado Rapids for this MLS season at least, if not the 2025 season too.
Well the signing of Hay at least does not give me any moment of mixed loyalty, as a local it would be great to support a team, but its the Nix 100% for me still. Neil Emblen would have been superb!
Who knew, the way to get press coverage of the A-League wasn't about results, it was about getting a bit of drama.
But this is bullshark. Newshub are being played. "Terrazza d'Azzurro" are NOT the properly organised AFC fan group (they're provisionally called The Port). TA are nothing but a Twitter account which has been *claiming* to be "the active support" with no evidence that there's anything but one troll behind it. There are hardly any Italians in Auckland for one thing!
(edit: just noticed mrsmiis already pointed this out, but I should note that no-one on the AFC Facebook has heard about these people either)
Have they still not finalised a name? Giving the Fever a run on being the most shambolic supporters group if nothing else.
Also "The Port" is terribly bland. Like the club's name. So I guess it's perfect.
