Gonna have at least one visa spot to fill by the sounds of it.
Read that Mata might be returning to Shrewsbury Town (L2). But why would he want to do that?
Got their own Sky Sport doco coming out.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360700749/auckland-fc-left-hurting-after-missing-out-place-league-men-grand-final
The attacking side of their game has been a work in progress all season long and that work will now have to ramp-up during the five-month off-season. It’s hard to see Neyder Moreno being re-signed after he was used as a substitute in both legs of the semifinal, his off-the-ball work-rate seemingly not up to Corica’s standards.
Read that Mata might be returning to Shrewsbury Town (L2). But why would he want to do that?
Got their own Sky Sport doco coming out.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360700749/auckland-fc-left-hurting-after-missing-out-place-league-men-grand-final
The attacking side of their game has been a work in progress all season long and that work will now have to ramp-up during the five-month off-season. It’s hard to see Neyder Moreno being re-signed after he was used as a substitute in both legs of the semifinal, his off-the-ball work-rate seemingly not up to Corica’s standards.
Sidelined striker Max Mata was missed in the home leg much more than he was in the away leg, where the pace of his replacement, Randall, was a boost as Auckland attacked largely on the counter.
At home, in possession, they needed Mata working Victory’s defenders and wearing them down, the way he did when his introduction to the starting lineup in January helped lift his side out of a mid-season slump.
Backed to the hilt by American billionaire Bill Foley, Auckland had the chance to do it all in season one, but will only be spectators – if they can stomach it – while the spotlight falls on Melbourne next weekend.
They now have pain to use as fuel for season two, but the ‘Toilet Seat’ trophy teams get for winning the A-League Men Championship will taunt them wherever it ends up, as they will know they were close to completing an unprecedented first-season double.
Wanderers got even closer 12 years ago, made grand finals again – and lost again – in 2014 and 2016, then haven’t won a finals match since. The Wellington Phoenix got within a win of the final in 2010 then didn’t get that close again until 2024. Auckland will hope the same fate doesn’t befall them.
................. The documentary that’s been filmed for Sky Sport won’t come with a happy ending.
................. The documentary that’s been filmed for Sky Sport won’t come with a happy ending.