Auckland Pride - Make Auckland Great Again

Congrats to chopah on becoming chair of AFC's FRG  (fan representative group).  Hopefully he'll continue on and replace Pragnell as CEO of NZF.

Listened to an interview with Corica on Newstalk ZB yesterday around 5pm or so. He said Verstrate was likely to feature against M City after all, and that Howieson was definitely out for at least a few weeks with calf injury.  Corica sounded very modest and level-headed despite the gushing tone of the interviewer whose name escapes me.

Apparently Dan Hall, has broken his fibula. Absolutely massive loss.

Be interesting to see if they put Sakai to the centre of defence or Smith. Personally I would put Sakai there and Elliot taking his place at right back. 

Whichever way they go losing Hall significantly weakens the team. He has been a class act

With Howieson out and question marks about Louis’s back

Lucky no more.

Jessie Merino

Congrats to chopah on becoming chair of AFC's FRG  (fan representative group).  Hopefully he'll continue on and replace Pragnell as CEO of NZF.

Jeez - no thanks...  ha ha

AucklandPhoenix

Apparently Dan Hall, has broken his fibula. Absolutely massive loss.

Be interesting to see if they put Sakai to the centre of defence or Smith. Personally I would put Sakai there and Elliot taking his place at right back. 

Whichever way they go losing Hall significantly weakens the team. He has been a class act

With Howieson out and question marks about Louis’s back

Lucky no more.

Yeesh, that's massive that. Behind Verstraete, Hall has been the unsung hero of their team I think.

Verstraete and Howieson out for City confirmed. They've also had a flu/cold situation that's gone through the camp this week too. It got a few of them. Might be some heavy legs in the Melbourne heat.

If AFC win this game they'll be the real deal, a few key players out and away from home will be the first big test. Prediction a 2-1 loss.

Interesting, guess we'll find out if they have good depth. Tbh honest I still don't see City winning, maybe a draw, but I have a feeling AFC might concede at least 2 tonight

welp, if there was any doubt it's been washed away. Even with 3 starters out and constantly having to come from behind (pause) they were still able to keep things together and squeeze out a draw. 

Also good turnout from the Port, I assume most of them are ex-Melbourne Fever?

Goals conceded has a pattern going on 0... 1... 2... 

First non-win, only watched the first 10 mins or so, but AFC looked like they wanted to keep the same plan but certainly looked less confident without Verstrate and Hall. Will be interesting to see how the track if Hall's injury is a long term one, will mean Sakai stays at CB and Elliot at RB.

Great performance in the second half, always chasing the win, and then after the horrid backpass by Pinjaker, going hard to get something out of the match.
Passed a test being without 2 key players. Hall out for ages. 
Top of the league after 7!

Think Pijanker will be a lot more exposed without Hall alongside him now.

A functional A-League defender at best, but nothing more.

Dan Hall could easily play in the championship.

I'd join the consensus that that was Pijnaker's fault, not Paulsen as many were saying elsewhere

Doloras

I'd join the consensus that that was Pijnaker's fault, not Paulsen as many were saying elsewhere

backpass was poor - overhit and the "rule" is your not supposed to pass back on goal (although that is where AP was standing) - I think AP will be disappointed he didn't deal with it but with that type of pass from Nando your always taking on risk.

One of the best own goals ever, it was like watching it in slow motion as it rolled passed Paulsen. The "Oh no" look on their faces said it all. I think most players have had that feeling before. 

However, no excuse for the City Keeper. Straight between his hands. He should've punched.

I'd say it was both Pjinaker and Paulsen's faults - back pass was very poor, but Paulsen was also far too casual with it, especially as it was bobbling the whole way to him - it's not like it was smooth and suddenly bobbled unexpectedly right before him - he should've dealt with it better 

I’m sure if he had just put his boot through it, instead of being cute he would have connected.

Too much pussyfooting around by goal keepers these days and another cute  pass that Alex made could have resulted in a goal.

Would love to see some stats on the success of goal keepers playing out form the back and putting a boot through the ball

Pijnaker's pass isn't ideal. A bit bobbly and on target, but it's also straight to Paulsen and he should be stopping that going in, regardless of bobble. Its bread and butter for a pro footballer and especially a goalkeeper who excels with his feet. He was too casual, had poor technique on the touch and got punished.

I'd assign the blame 90/10 Paulsen/Pijnaker.

It was very generous of the other keeper to bail them out.

Doloras

I'd join the consensus that that was Pijnaker's fault, not Paulsen as many were saying elsewhere

Spot the goalkeeper!

Buffon II

Think Pijanker will be a lot more exposed without Hall alongside him now.

A functional A-League defender at best, but nothing more.

Dan Hall could easily play in the championship.

I laughed how in the article they talked about Sakai moving to CB and also having veteran Tommy Smith. Smith and Sakai are the same age.

Tommy Smith is like the forgotten man, Sakai is class, but Smith has spent the best part of his career in Championship, league 1 teams. He doesnt look like he's passed it physically yet either. Don't understand why he wouldnt be the next cab of the rank at CB and leave Sakai to bomb down the wing like he as been doing.
Looks like they'll have a few months to figure out who is the better CB.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360523393/auckland-fc-defender-dan-hall-miss-2-3-months-after-breaking-ankle-training

He does look like he's past it physically, didn't you see him lumbering after Kosta last week?

Nelfoos

He does look like he's past it physically, didn't you see him lumbering after Kosta last week?

I dont think he's ever been quick, he's appears to be lean and strong, plenty able to play the CB role.

I am too lazy to google it, but what is the age difference between say Kosta, Rojas, Smith and say David Ball?

Kosta 34
Rojas 33
Ball 35
Smith 34

To be fair to Smith I think Sakai has played a chunk of his career in the J league which isn’t as brutal schedule wise or physically compared to the Championship. 

I think also the demands on CBs have changed with a lot more running and ball playing required. Lot fewer Karl Dodds out there. Smith’s been much more comfortable for the AWs where less close control under pressure is required. 

Probably AP's worst game of his career so far, unfortunately 

Obviously the error for the second goal (of which the blame is shared with Pijnaker), but also had that very poor Oluwayemi-esque giveaway in the first half that City fumbled, as well as a very poor attempt to save Ugarkovic's strike which lucky for him was ruled offside. Also had a few other poor save attempts (think it was Memeti who hit one just wide but AP looked very slow to get down, getting nowhere near it). 

First goal was eh, you could say he could have done better but realistically he was in the right place and had a split second to react

First goal was McKinley’s fault.

mrsmiis

Probably AP's worst game of his career so far, unfortunately 

Obviously the error for the second goal (of which the blame is shared with Pijnaker), but also had that very poor Oluwayemi-esque giveaway in the first half that City fumbled, as well as a very poor attempt to save Ugarkovic's strike which lucky for him was ruled offside. Also had a few other poor save attempts (think it was Memeti who hit one just wide but AP looked very slow to get down, getting nowhere near it). 

First goal was eh, you could say he could have done better but realistically he was in the right place and had a split second to react

The first goal to M City was probably more of a defensive error to let the striker be where he was, unchallenged. And it was well taken.
Agree on the giveaway. It was horrific and M City would be kicking themselves for not scoring from it.  Unforced goalkeeper error.
The second goal would just rub the salt into the wounds.  Poor, regardless of who you might blame.

mrsmiis

Probably AP's worst game of his career so far, unfortunately 

Obviously the error for the second goal (of which the blame is shared with Pijnaker), but also had that very poor Oluwayemi-esque giveaway in the first half that City fumbled, as well as a very poor attempt to save Ugarkovic's strike which lucky for him was ruled offside. Also had a few other poor save attempts (think it was Memeti who hit one just wide but AP looked very slow to get down, getting nowhere near it). 

First goal was eh, you could say he could have done better but realistically he was in the right place and had a split second to react

An uncharacteristic performance to say the least.

Lad on the ground said AP only trained for the first time last week on the Friday. He knows a few of the younger players, and said that a cold/flu had gone through the squad throughout the week. AP being the highest profile player to succumb to it though. Could go some way to explaining the dodgy performance. 

I'm not sure what Patrick Beach's excuse could have been though. 😂

" I'm not sure what Patrick Beach's excuse could have been though"
That it was an excellent strike?  Gosh it looked great on the telly.

Mainland FC

" I'm not sure what Patrick Beach's excuse could have been though"
That it was an excellent strike?  Gosh it looked great on the telly.

I'm sorry, but any keeper worth his salt should be saving that effort.

YoungHeartHM

Mainland FC

" I'm not sure what Patrick Beach's excuse could have been though"
That it was an excellent strike?  Gosh it looked great on the telly.

I'm sorry, but any keeper worth his salt should be saving that effort.

99% would have punched or tipped, not tried to catch.

LG

YoungHeartHM

Mainland FC

" I'm not sure what Patrick Beach's excuse could have been though"
That it was an excellent strike?  Gosh it looked great on the telly.

I'm sorry, but any keeper worth his salt should be saving that effort.

99% would have punched or tipped, not tried to catch.

It’s not even hard to catch though. It was literally straight at him.

Buffon II

LG

YoungHeartHM

Mainland FC

" I'm not sure what Patrick Beach's excuse could have been though"
That it was an excellent strike?  Gosh it looked great on the telly.

I'm sorry, but any keeper worth his salt should be saving that effort.

99% would have punched or tipped, not tried to catch.

It’s not even hard to catch though. It was literally straight at him.

In fairness it was going pretty fast.

"A few key aspects of Moreno's play stand out. First, his confidence when striking the ball from distance, often beating goalkeepers with sheer velocity." - Joe Sothcott @ Substack, commenting coupla months ago on AFC's last signing after extensive viewing of his history on YouTube 

PS It would be interesting to know just how fast Moreno's shot was. The web tells me a Brazilian called Ronnie Heberson is recorded as having the most powerful shot at 200 plus kilometers p/hr. But Ronald Koeman, Tony Yeboah, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, even David Beckham are up there with 180 k's plus. Acc to The Guardian David Hirst takes No.1 with a goal for Sheffield Wed v Arse at 114mph in 1996, followed by Beckham for Man U v Chelsea at 98 mph in 1997.

With Hall out for some months how useful would Piper have been for Auckland now. He was playing midfield for Birkenhead??, but a real oversight the Black Knights didn’t sign him. They don’t have any young backup CBs. Coulibay is not really a CB?

Oh and you really have to question Smith’s spot in the AWs now if he’s not considered good enough to start in the ALM by Corica. Not helped by Kosta making him look slow at Mt Smart in Derby II

LG

Buffon II

LG

YoungHeartHM

Mainland FC

" I'm not sure what Patrick Beach's excuse could have been though"
That it was an excellent strike?  Gosh it looked great on the telly.

I'm sorry, but any keeper worth his salt should be saving that effort.

99% would have punched or tipped, not tried to catch.

It’s not even hard to catch though. It was literally straight at him.

In fairness it was going pretty fast.

Sure it was, but he could have just stood there and let it hit him and he would have saved it, its the fact he tried to catch it and the contact with his hands directed it into the goal.