The letter from the port is back online, edited to say parents and children.
Good work. Those guys deserve credit for being able to process feedback.
Meanwhile, the publicity for T-AFC is getting out of hand. David Squires.
You know you've made it when you get in one of those Squires Guardian cartoons. Always a giggle. The Foley caricature needs some work though.
If it hasn't made the news in NZ, PM Albanese has purchased an expansive $4.3M seafront holiday home on the Central Coast. Accusations of being out of touch, when lack of housing is a big nationwide issue in Oztraylia. Thoughh unlike Christopher he will have to pay some capital gains tax, if he ever sells it.
So I did some research (asked ChatGPT) and while no A-League club has sold out in their inaugural home game, I did learn that Auckland are on track to have the 2nd biggest inaugural home game attendance ever.
His career hasn’t been one of regular minutes and he’s had a lot of disruption. Maybe he’s just missed a key lessons on how to be a pro? Still, if he’s not in the original squad then, he can play reserves and make a case. They’ve got a reserve team playing somewhere? If not, that could be an issue.
And what about the Brisbane Roar? Are they any good?
Brisbane have 11 new signings ahead of this season so to say they’re a new look side would be a fair assessment (keep half an eye on 21-year-old Indonesian forward Rafael Struick).
Their coach Ruben Zadkovich made more than 160 professional appearances in England and the A-League and has coached at the Perth Glory before taking the reins at Brisbane, this being his first full season in charge. There’s an interesting storyline in that Auckland FC’s Joey Champness is a former Roar man - so watch out for a bit of niggle there.
The Roar finished ninth last year in the A-League Men but I wouldn’t go counting them out as a load of new signings and a fresh manager will give them a boost ahead of their first match.
Tyler St Sports Bar a waste of time. Thought Friday eve it was meant to be pumping. Not this evening, least not so far. Not a football fan in sight. Apart from fandom IMO The Right Track has still got it for that downtown Auck ambience if anyone interested.
His career hasn’t been one of regular minutes and he’s had a lot of disruption. Maybe he’s just missed a key lessons on how to be a pro? Still, if he’s not in the original squad then, he can play reserves and make a case. They’ve got a reserve team playing somewhere? If not, that could be an issue.
Reserve team doesn't start until next year, so yeah - probably not a good sign for him
New England Revolution have quite a cool goal celebration as well with their muskets. Same group I understand do their thing at New England Patriots NFL games. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU-tqzaXLTI
But yeah the Timbers lumberjack guy with his chainsaw is the best. Some fans actually go out into a local forest and bless the log, before it's cut up at games. It's a pretty big part of their club identity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mITsXs0wXfo
I see The Port's march begins from the concourse stairs and finishes at their seats - is this so they can claim that everyone in that stand walking to their seats was technically part of the march?
Or maybe by keeping the march within the confines of the stadium they can guarantee they get their march on TV 🤣
I jest I jest 🤣
Actually quite interested to see what the atmosphere is like today with a near full stadium of people getting their first chance to see their new team
I see The Port's march begins from the concourse stairs and finishes at their seats - is this so they can claim that everyone in that stand walking to their seats was technically part of the march?
Or maybe by keeping the march within the confines of the stadium they can guarantee they get their march on TV 🤣
I jest I jest 🤣
Actually quite interested to see what the atmosphere is like today with a near full stadium of people getting their first chance to see their new team
Yeah should be interesting but for me im putting the first few rounds down as novelty factor. The true test will come over the Xmas period and what happens on the back of a few bad results. Hope for football in NZs sake that it does come off and without to much yuk.
Will AFC be able to break the past cycle of the Kingz and Knights losing their inaugural game? Tbf though, it was harder for the Knights as they didn't have the choice of playing at home and had to travel to Suncorp.
Plus it was obviously also the inaugural A-League season so the Knights coming into their first match would've had no idea of the Roar's style of play, same situation if they had played another team.
Considering Carlton were coming into their third season in the NSL, the Kingz would've likely had a better idea of how they played.
All the journos writing about Auckland are hyping Sakai up as a signing the likes of which we’ve never seen in NZ before.
Are they all forgetting Steven Taylor or? Yes he doesn’t have the international caps, but 194 games in the Premier League has to be pretty close or even better than Sakai’s 145 Ligue 1 and 92 Bundesliga apps.
I see The Port's march begins from the concourse stairs and finishes at their seats - is this so they can claim that everyone in that stand walking to their seats was technically part of the march?
Or maybe by keeping the march within the confines of the stadium they can guarantee they get their march on TV 🤣
I jest I jest 🤣
Actually quite interested to see what the atmosphere is like today with a near full stadium of people getting their first chance to see their new team
Prediction for atmosphere: something along the lines of "clap clap clap Auckland" for a bit followed by awkward silence for 10 minutes and chatter in the crowd.
I see The Port's march begins from the concourse stairs and finishes at their seats - is this so they can claim that everyone in that stand walking to their seats was technically part of the march?
Or maybe by keeping the march within the confines of the stadium they can guarantee they get their march on TV 🤣
I jest I jest 🤣
Actually quite interested to see what the atmosphere is like today with a near full stadium of people getting their first chance to see their new team
Prediction for atmosphere: something along the lines of "clap clap clap Auckland" for a bit followed by awkward silence for 10 minutes and chatter in the crowd.
Maybe in parts of the ground, but The Port area of 1,500 is sold out and standing only. They will be making noise, plus will be quite a pre match I understand with some music acts etc.
Very different to Nix games at Eden Park, as it's now an Auckland team, with their own organised active support.
I see The Port's march begins from the concourse stairs and finishes at their seats - is this so they can claim that everyone in that stand walking to their seats was technically part of the march?
Or maybe by keeping the march within the confines of the stadium they can guarantee they get their march on TV 🤣
I jest I jest 🤣
Actually quite interested to see what the atmosphere is like today with a near full stadium of people getting their first chance to see their new team
Prediction for atmosphere: something along the lines of "clap clap clap Auckland" for a bit followed by awkward silence for 10 minutes and chatter in the crowd.
tbf the "clap clap clap <insert city name>" is iconic. Where would football be without it?
What a weekend for football! Really looking forward to watching AFC's first game, a full stadium is always a massive boost to the occasion. I wish them all the best, it's great for the development of football in this country. And then the Nix tomorrow is the icing on the cake 👌
Seems that Piney is up in Auckland on commentating duties. I had hoped that Sky would find a team at least linked with Auckland to commentate on the games.
Yeah I don't think Spoonley or even Piney are that great at commentary that they should be flown to Wellington and Auckland respectively for every A-League game, I'd rather there were local commentary teams for both.
+1
