34 years old, but has some serious playing record behind him.
Though not as big as the Korean (25,000) or Chinese (175,000) expat populations in Auckland, is still about 10,000 Japanese in the 09 apparently. My mate in Greenlane (fluent Japanese speaker himself) has partner from Tokyo. She once ran a Japanese pre school in Auckland, one of about 3-4 such pre schools in the city.
I'm sure my mate (more a Wahs fanboy) will take his partner and son to a few AFC games in nearby Penrose, more so yes if they have an ex Blue Samurai signing.
Edit - some trivia. Saki had 5 seasons at Marseille in France. His first seasion there in 2016/17, was Bill Tuiloma's last season there. Tuiloma being in the Marseille II (reserves) team almost that entire campaign. Just the 1 bench appearance for the first team. But yeah they will know each other a little you'd think.
34 years old, but has some serious playing record behind him.
Though not as big as the Korean (25,000) or Chinese (175,000) expat populations in Auckland, is still about 10,000 Japanese in the 09 apparently. My mate in Greenlane (fluent Japanese speaker himself) has partner from Tokyo. She once ran a Japanese pre school in Auckland, one of about 3-4 such pre schools in the city.
I'm sure my mate (more a Wahs fanboy) will take his partner and son to a few AFC games in nearby Penrose, more so yes if they have an ex Blue Samurai signing.
Edit - some trivia. Saki had 5 seasons at Marseille in France. His first seasion there in 2016/17, was Bill Tuiloma's last season there. Tuiloma being in the Marseille II (reserves) team almost that entire campaign. Just the 1 bench appearance for the first team. But yeah they will know each other a little you'd think.
Not sure what your work situation is but there's absolutely no chance I'd even recognise someone I worked with once seven years ago lol.
That is true. But you'd imagine the 2nd team would have been in and around the 1st team that whole season. Tuiloma would have marked up against Sakai at various trainings.
Think of it as the open plan office (shudders), with you in the accounts team, and the marketing crowd around the corner. Do that for a year, and 7 years later you'd likely remember some faces. FYI I left those horrid places 7 years ago, but can still recall most of those miserable looking folk.
I could definitely get behind that mushy peas idea!
Tipene's Takeaways on New North Road do mushy peas
A few people are getting ahead of themselves saying Hiroki Sakai has signed. I reckon Tipene's takeaways will be the next signing to be unveiled. and here is the proof tt.jpg97.6 KB
I could definitely get behind that mushy peas idea!
Tipene's Takeaways on New North Road do mushy peas
A few people are getting ahead of themselves saying Hiroki Sakai has signed. I reckon Tipene's takeaways will be the next signing to be unveiled. and here is the proof tt.jpg97.6 KB
Tipene is Logan Rogerson's middle name. It's all a sign. #AnnounceRogerson
Sakai is a good player. I wonder what his English is like!
Very much more a City type name signing than the Nix of recent times. A little risky, but also a chance of getting a bit of Japanese support along for AFC and probably also doesn’t hurt if in a few years negotiations around NZ based clubs entering Asian competitions happens… might also create the possibility for some good off season tours!
Pretty impressive if this is the level of signings Auckland FC will be making. Played for Japan at the last World Cup, was an overage player at the Tokyo Olympics, 200+ appearances across Bundeliga and Ligue 1, Asian Champions League winner and current captain of a J.League club. https://t.co/vtb6YsKbVG
Olympic Marseille fan here. Sakai was excellent when he played at OM. I saw nearly all his games and he’s a very complete footballer. Great work ethic, very good on the ball and combined well with team mates. Very very solid defensively. Not really a super fast bomb down the line RB but he does get forward and he crosses well. He’s quite tall and played occasionally in a back three. local fans are very tough on imported players but everyone loved him at OM. If I remember correctly he gave interviews in English. Would be a good pick up for Auckland. At 34 he would be more than OK in the ALeague IMO
Oh god this is far to early for me to feel jealousy. I was hoping they would spunk a load of cash on a wheelchair bound Winston Reid, but Sakai seems like a really impressive signing. Fair play
Oh god this is far to early for me to feel jealousy. I was hoping they would spunk a load of cash on a wheelchair bound Winston Reid, but Sakai seems like a really impressive signing. Fair play
It’s nice to come and see players you might not otherwise and who have a bit of heritage, but performance wise Payne was shark hot for most of last season. It’s just a challenge to stay the best in NZ.
Only thing is if I was building a club, I'd be using money bringing in foreigners for Central D, CM or serious attacking options up front.
Seems a waste to put big bucks on a RB to me... or perhaps he could slot in as a central mid? Happy to be shot down on this one, I'm only 1 coffee in today.
And actually I hope they come last, so good luck to them :P (half joking here)
The owners have said they will use all 5 foreign sports and have said they will also use marquees. Therefore budget and salary cap should not be a factor.
A previous poster has said that he has played in a back three and he looks big enough at 6 foot to do so.
Now with a foreign player you really want them to be good enough to be in the starting eleven which obviously this Japanese chap would be based upon his predigee.
Let’s assume that all foreigners signed are good enough to make the starting first eleven in their respective positions.
There appears two starting spots reserved for decent Australians, CM - Brimmer and CD, Burn. So assuming those rumours are true, those positions are partially sorted.
Now that only leaves 4 starting places left for kiwis. Let’s assume one place is for a gun kiwi attacker like Rojas or Singh. One is goalkeeper and the other a defender or two (like Smith and another).
Realistically you want at least that number in your starting team if you want to promote NZ football.
I seem to recall the initial knights only had 4 kiwis in their entire squad.
Don’t think these owners will sign journeymen ausis.
The nix fell into this problem for many years and only recently have stopped it.
I think you mean CD - (Dan) Hall. But yeah you are otherwise right. If they are going 5 quality visas and 2 experienced ALM Aussies in Brimmer & Hall, then you want your bench to all be Kiwis, and preferably some young exciting ones.
No Aussie journeymen/NPL level players, which Nix were guilty of in the past. AFC don't have an Academy yet, but there are enough young talented Kiwis around to fill out a squad - which to be fair, seems to be what they are planning to do.
Only thing is if I was building a club, I'd be using money bringing in foreigners for Central D, CM or serious attacking options up front.
Seems a waste to put big bucks on a RB to me... or perhaps he could slot in as a central mid? Happy to be shot down on this one, I'm only 1 coffee in today.
And actually I hope they come last, so good luck to them :P (half joking here)
Yeah seems weird they're signing a RB when you have a A-League quality RB in Callan but maybe Coirca doesn't trust him fully after not playing for a season.
There has been no announcement yet on Callan. Who knows if AFC sign Sakai, Elliot may want to look elsewhere. Though Sakai has only played 9 (6 starts) of 17 J League games this season to date for Urawa Reds. And at 34, he maybe getting a little injury prone.
Elliot can play both sides iirc. A few people questioned de Vries defence up North previously, so there is always a chance that Elliot might be able to slot in on the left side if needed.
There has been no announcement yet on Callan. Who knows if AFC sign Sakai, Elliot may want to look elsewhere. Though Sakai has only played 9 (6 starts) of 17 J League games this season to date for Urawa Reds. And at 34, he maybe getting a little injury prone.
Callan's signed.
Talk of this Sakai lad coming in as a CB, but I don't see how that would work given he's played bugger all at CB in a 400+ game career...
You need more than 1 RB in a squad and Elliot isn't exactly in match fitness to be a starter, or necessarily of the current quality to be 30 game a season player given hes essentially just had a year with no football. As a backup he's a great option, and who knows how a 35 year old's legs will hold up in the Australian summer in a physically very demanding role.
Sakai is 6 ft and has played nearly 350 games combined over the Bundesliga (Hannover 96), Ligue 1 & J League. Plus 75 games for Japan.
So vastly experienced. The ALM is a drop down from J1. He'd probably handle the switch to CB okay. He's likely lost some speed, but years of tactical nous to call upon.
Sakai was actually one of Japan's 3 o/a players at the Tokyo Olympics. He started 5 of their 6 games, as they finished 4th. The only game he missed? The QF win on pens over NZ!
Had vague memories of Sakai at CB. Don’t think he lacks the attributes to do the job and have vague and possibly fraudulent memories of him as a RCB in a 3.
Auckland FC is thrilled to announce the appointment of Cam Kilgour as the club’s Team Manager⚔️
With over 20 years of leadership and experience in team logistics, Kilgour will help take Auckland FC to new heights in our inaugural season! pic.twitter.com/1Z6kV3WTJo
2003-4 Blues Super Rugby - Assisting Blues Manager 2007-8 Easts Rugby Brisbane - Rugby Manager 2009-13 South Canterbury Rugby Union - Rugby Manager 2013-18 Cook Islands - 15s and 7s Team Manager 2019-20 LA Rugby and Austin Rugby - Operations Manager 2022 1880 Rugby Frankfurt - Rugby Manager 2022 Manawatu Rugby Union - NPC Team Manager 2024 Auckland FC - Team Manager
I jest. Wonder if we can grab Yuta Nakayama to go on the left side. He's a free agent, played for PEC Zwolle (where Ryan Thomas currently is) and more recently in the English Championship.
There has been no announcement yet on Callan. Who knows if AFC sign Sakai, Elliot may want to look elsewhere. Though Sakai has only played 9 (6 starts) of 17 J League games this season to date for Urawa Reds. And at 34, he maybe getting a little injury prone.
Callan's signed.
Talk of this Sakai lad coming in as a CB, but I don't see how that would work given he's played bugger all at CB in a 400+ game career...
YH is very informed. If he says so, it very likely is. I think he’s 6 out of 6 so far.
And some intel I understand he’s likely holding back, out of respect to young players and their families not wanting to ruin their big day, when AFC officially announce them.
Read earlier in the thread for some other likely signings.
There has been no announcement yet on Callan. Who knows if AFC sign Sakai, Elliot may want to look elsewhere. Though Sakai has only played 9 (6 starts) of 17 J League games this season to date for Urawa Reds. And at 34, he maybe getting a little injury prone.
Callan's signed.
Talk of this Sakai lad coming in as a CB, but I don't see how that would work given he's played bugger all at CB in a 400+ game career...
Very good, close sources.
But like I said earlier, I won't divulge names if I'm asked to keep details under wraps. Have had the confirmation of one player tonight (who has already been strongly suggested in this thread) but it just turns out I didn't read my messages closely enough the first time I was told. 😅
I may post them up on here just prior to an announcement, but for the most part, especially for those earning their first pro deal, they should be able to enjoy that moment & the limelight that comes with it.
Here's a tidbit for you though. Northern League selection players (I think that means invitational) will get to show their wares in front of coaches in the next 3-4 weeks in the run in to the start of pre season.
Any idea where they might put the Away Bay? Or do you reckon the NZ Derby's get pushed to Eden Park?
The first derby in Auckland is being mooted for about Round 4? 2nd derby the ROF for Waitangi Day?
I guess they will see how Auckland's first ever home game at Mt Smart (30,000) goes. If that sells out or is close to a sellout, maybe yeah they think about moving the first derby to EP. I imagine as the season start draws close, they will get a feel about the general hype, ticket demand etc.
Round 4 will be early/mid November? Domestic rugby season over, so EP shouldn't have any other event clashes??
With Canberra now not happening until season 2024/25, that means an uneven draw, and playing 2 or 3 teams thrice to get a 26 or 27 game ALM regular season for Paramount. I'm sure there will then be a 3rd derby game. If that 3rd derby matchup late in the season is in Auckland, maybe that goes to EP, especially if both teams are in playoff contention.
An Away Bay in Penrose? Maybe it goes in with the ultras of Tamaki AFC! A ring of riot poilice as protective shield, against the angry hordes surrounding them.
Once again, chuds when Lefties come to the football fathertheresa.png936.82 KB But more seriously: wouldn't the obvious place for away fans be Bays 10 or 11 on one side, or 33-34 on the other?
