Auckland Pride - Make Auckland Great Again

7158 replies · 1,193,187 views
over 2 years ago
too American for an NZ fanbase, but if they come up with something that's Auckland centric of that ilk then yeah it'llk be awesome.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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coochiee
over 2 years ago · edited over 2 years ago · History
Yeah some fundamental differences between US and more reserved Kiwi psyche. Also ice hockey is a collison sport, with big hits and plenty of stoppages to throw some loud music in there.

Once a football game starts I just want to watch the football, and I hate loud music or some DJ on aloud PA during a game. But pre game, yeah bring on the entertainment and some glitz. I'm all for that. I went to a Colombian league playoff game in Medellin a few years ago, and it was all smoke cannons and relentless drumming pre game. Superb atmosphere. Actually the drumming, jumping & chanting went all game. Made me want to go again.

NZ sports watching is generally so staid & dull. The Nix are a genuine point of difference, but still they don't have the resources of a Foley to go OTT. I hope the Auck club does. Crowds have been dwinding in the ALM for a number of years, absolutely no harm in trying someone a bit different with a touch of glitz. They are a new start up team with a clean slate, they can do what they want.

You entertain the casuals, and immigrant fans (many of whom no doubt find NZ dull, when they attend sports like rugby compared to back home) - and that will help keep the crowd numbers up.
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RutheprofWanderingSheep
over 2 years ago · edited over 2 years ago · History
Have heard from a couple of people in the know and they have confirmed that Chris Greenacre will be announced as the inaugural head coach for AKL.
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billyspleen75
over 2 years ago
I would be surprised to see Greenacre appointed head coach. Sure he has been around the A-League a long time, mainly as an assistant but how many A-League games has he had in charge as actual head coach? He has mainly been dropped in to take over between changes of coach. Why has the Nix never given him the head coach job? I could see him getting some role in Auckland perhaps as director of football or setting up the academy. 
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LeggyNapier Phoenix
over 2 years ago · edited over 2 years ago · History
YoungHeartHM
Have heard from a couple of people in the know who confirm that Chris Greenacre will be announced as the inaugural head coach for AKL.

if that's the case then the Nix know this too, if he is leaving he's handed in his notice to Dome.
Two Nix assistant coaches leading the NZ derby!

Queenslander 3x a year.

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martinb
over 2 years ago · edited over 2 years ago · History
austin111
I would be surprised to see Greenacre appointed head coach. Sure he has been around the A-League a long time, mainly as an assistant but how many A-League games has he had in charge as actual head coach? He has mainly been dropped in to take over between changes of coach. Why has the Nix never given him the head coach job? I could see him getting some role in Auckland perhaps as director of football or setting up the academy. 

Don’t think he’s had the required quals to be a permanent head coach, until the last 12 mths
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martinbRRtheprofWanderingSheep+1
over 2 years ago
coochiee
austin111
I would be surprised to see Greenacre appointed head coach. Sure he has been around the A-League a long time, mainly as an assistant but how many A-League games has he had in charge as actual head coach? He has mainly been dropped in to take over between changes of coach. Why has the Nix never given him the head coach job? I could see him getting some role in Auckland perhaps as director of football or setting up the academy. 

Don’t think he’s has the required quals to be a permanent head coach, until the last 12 mths

He was a co-coach, or a very important assistant with Des way aback? And he’s been caretaker iirc?


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over 2 years ago
martinb
coochiee
austin111
I would be surprised to see Greenacre appointed head coach. Sure he has been around the A-League a long time, mainly as an assistant but how many A-League games has he had in charge as actual head coach? He has mainly been dropped in to take over between changes of coach. Why has the Nix never given him the head coach job? I could see him getting some role in Auckland perhaps as director of football or setting up the academy. 

Don’t think he’s has the required quals to be a permanent head coach, until the last 12 mths

He was a co-coach, or a very important assistant with Des way aback? And he’s been caretaker iirc?
When Ernie left, Greenacre took over for a few games. Because he didn't have the appropriate license, Buckingham was given the gig on paper & they were "co managers". He also was caretaker when Ricki & DK left.
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coochieekwlap
over 2 years ago
Wonder if any new Auckland A-League team staff were impressed with any of the players on show in the final today
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over 2 years ago · edited over 2 years ago · History
imanixsupporter
Wonder if any new Auckland A-League team staff were impressed with any of the players on show in the final today
This is something I've been thinking about. A few complaints around the traps that these days the Nix recruit from their academy rather than the NL. Well, a few NL players with ambition will be wanting to impress that nice Mr Foley.

Second coming of Hamish Watson would be funny!

Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009
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over 2 years ago
Hilarious article from the Murdoch press. Once you get past the howler about what the capital of New Zealand is, there's this great line:

"Rugby league’s relationship with NZ has always been skewed by a power imbalance, with Australian clubs long pillaging the region’s talent pool like it’s the cashew station at Coles."

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theprof
over 2 years ago
imanixsupporter
Wonder if any new Auckland A-League team staff were impressed with any of the players on show in the final today

The recruitment process will be interesting. The goal will be to be competitive from Day 1, so would the likes of Howieson/JHS be able to instantly make the step up?

In his WeeNix role, he has seen plenty of all the local options at least.
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coochiee
over 2 years ago
RR
imanixsupporter
Wonder if any new Auckland A-League team staff were impressed with any of the players on show in the final today

The recruitment process will be interesting. The goal will be to be competitive from Day 1, so would the likes of Howieson/JHS be able to instantly make the step up?

In his WeeNix role, he has seen plenty of all the local options at least.
JHS, Howieson, Tracey and De Vries could all easily at least make the bench in a solid ALM team.
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over 2 years ago · edited over 2 years ago · History
RR
imanixsupporter
Wonder if any new Auckland A-League team staff were impressed with any of the players on show in the final today

The recruitment process will be interesting. The goal will be to be competitive from Day 1, so would the likes of Howieson/JHS be able to instantly make the step up?

In his WeeNix role, he has seen plenty of all the local options at least.

Another reason why Greeny is a solid if unexciting pick as their first coach. They have no Academy, there is only about 50-60 Kiwis of ALM or greater quality playing pro football worldwide. Only a small number will be available and/or want to come to the 09. It's a shallow talent pool, until that Academy is operating.

So crucial that you have someone who understands the NZ local scene very well. And who knows the domestic players who likely have the goods, after a solid intense preseason to step up to ALM level. Didn't Talay say recruitment was 80% of the job?

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YoungHeartHM
over 2 years ago
I’m with you, appointing him would not be the big statement of intent this new franchise needs. What is it? 5 imports and an extra 2 marquees? Presumably at and well above the level Greenie played at. A bit like buying a $5,000 suit and wearing it with a pair of KMart shoes.
austin111
I would be surprised to see Greenacre appointed head coach. Sure he has been around the A-League a long time, mainly as an assistant but how many A-League games has he had in charge as actual head coach? He has mainly been dropped in to take over between changes of coach. Why has the Nix never given him the head coach job? I could see him getting some role in Auckland perhaps as director of football or setting up the academy. 
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over 2 years ago
Greenie is very talented. He has played many different roles in developing a club and players. He knows the Nz scene well as well as having that professional player exp. I think if offered/applied for, he makes a hell of a lot of sense. 
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological. 
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coochiee
over 2 years ago · edited over 2 years ago · History
Slightly off-topic, but in my research on why the Knights failed I came across the fact that they had fifteen import players in their first season. Was there no import quota in 2005-7? Or were the Knights just exempt?

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over 2 years ago
Wonder if there's more of a push for Asian Champions League access now there are two NZ teams.
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over 2 years ago
Doloras
Slightly off-topic, but in my research on why the Knights failed I came across the fact that they had fifteen import players in their first season. Was there no import quota in 2005-7? Or were the Knights just exempt?

I was under the impression it had always been a max of 5 visa players in the squad of 23-26. 

Queenslander 3x a year.

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over 2 years ago
theprof
Doloras
Slightly off-topic, but in my research on why the Knights failed I came across the fact that they had fifteen import players in their first season. Was there no import quota in 2005-7? Or were the Knights just exempt?

I was under the impression it had always been a max of 5 visa players in the squad of 23-26. 

I see that the source I quoted was counting Aussie players as imports, but still, the initial Knights squad featured 8 visa players

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over 2 years ago
Doloras
Slightly off-topic, but in my research on why the Knights failed I came across the fact that they had fifteen import players in their first season. Was there no import quota in 2005-7? Or were the Knights just exempt?

Probably got an exemption 'cause they were all shark
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Endorsed by
coochiee
over 2 years ago
Rusty Dunks
Doloras
Slightly off-topic, but in my research on why the Knights failed I came across the fact that they had fifteen import players in their first season. Was there no import quota in 2005-7? Or were the Knights just exempt?

Probably got an exemption 'cause they were all shark
Harsh on Neil Emblen!

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Marto
over 2 years ago
did they have NZ citizenship as well?

Queenslander 3x a year.

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over 2 years ago
Didn’t WSW have something similar when they set up? 


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over 2 years ago
martinb
Didn’t WSW have something similar when they set up? 
theprof
did they have NZ citizenship as well?

1)  yes, WSW were allowed to sign up to 7 imports for the first two years, in the teeth of opposition. Can't find any reference to a similar deal for the Knights or whether there were even import quotas in 2005-7. 

2) No. The Knights' original imports were van Eijs, Devine, Emblen, Imaya, Collett, Yeo, Zhang and Bull.

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over 2 years ago · edited over 2 years ago · History
Doloras
theprof
Doloras
Slightly off-topic, but in my research on why the Knights failed I came across the fact that they had fifteen import players in their first season. Was there no import quota in 2005-7? Or were the Knights just exempt?

I was under the impression it had always been a max of 5 visa players in the squad of 23-26. 

I see that the source I quoted was counting Aussie players as imports, but still, the initial Knights squad featured 8 visa players
Wikipedia lists a lot of them as Injury Replacement/National Team Replacements https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005%E2%80%9306_A-League

Edit: Looking at this, the time lines don't really match up for IR deals https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005%E2%80%9306_New_Zealand_Knights_FC_season Might be one for the Bloc 5 hardcores to answer
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over 2 years ago
So Foley (or one of his staff) has already reached out to Northern Region Football. Oversight to not mention the good folk of BOP & the Waikato. I'm guessing he owns some NZ assets up Northland way.
https://www.nrf.org.nz/newsarticle/135247?newsfeedId=1496305

“This is brilliant news for our football community, who will soon have professional football teams of their own to support, and local derbies with the Wellington Phoenix to look forward to. This couldn’t come at a better time, off the back of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023” said NRF CE Laura Menzies.

“Strong professional teams need a strong football community behind them, and we look forward to working with AKLFootball24 to build that connection with our clubs.”

From speaking with Bill Foley’s team, we’re excited by their track record of investing and building the grassroots game. Bill has written to our clubs today to outline his vision, and NRF looks forward to helping guide this mahi,” said Laura Menzies.

Find out more at aklfootball24.com,

Bill Foley's letter to NRF clubs:
To the members of Northern Region Football clubs, 

I trust you share in my excitement with the news that we will be bringing an A-Leagues club and professional football to Auckland. T

his is a momentous occasion that brings with it the chance to build a partnership amongst us and our collective ability to create more opportunity for football at all levels, and amongst all people in Tāmaki Makaurau and Northland alike. 

Our vision for the club is to become part of the community, help inspire young people to pick up the game, and give football fans the chance to see, and follow, an elite level of the sport in your own backyard. We look forward to fielding a men’s team less than a year from now and a women’s team a year later, in the 2025-26 season. 

But we don’t plan to passively see the impact this club has. That’s not how my teams have operated in Las Vegas or Bournemouth, and won’t be in Auckland either. We will invest our time and money to promote the growth of the game throughout the community while also building for success on the pitch. 

In Las Vegas, we have invested in ice hockey facilities and put sticks in the hands of local students. The result was a more than 400% growth in youth hockey participation across the state in the short time the Golden Knights have existed. It has been extremely rewarding to witness that growth, while also celebrating the success of our professional players raising the Stanley Cup. 

We have owned AFC Bournemouth for less than a year, but have already committed to giving back to the young players in the community. We have been particularly active on the girls and women’s side and look forward to continued growth there. Meanwhile, we are moving toward completion of building a world-class training facility in Bournemouth, a key component in developing some of the best talent in the sport. 

We look forward to working with Northern Region Football, your clubs and members to co-create a similar impact in Auckland and Northland. We want to help drive growth in both the number and the quality of local players – we know this will benefit your club and ours in the long run. Ultimately, we hope to see some of your players competing for us in the A-Leagues and to become future Football Ferns and All Whites.

With our multi-club model this will provide a pathway for Kiwi football players to succeed here and beyond, including the Premier League. I look forward to meeting many of you and sharing this exciting journey ahead.

This is just the start of what will be a mutually beneficial partnership and one that makes football in our Northern region better than ever. 

Bill
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kwlapmrsmiis
over 2 years ago · edited over 2 years ago · History
RR
Doloras
theprof
Doloras
Slightly off-topic, but in my research on why the Knights failed I came across the fact that they had fifteen import players in their first season. Was there no import quota in 2005-7? Or were the Knights just exempt?

I was under the impression it had always been a max of 5 visa players in the squad of 23-26. 

I see that the source I quoted was counting Aussie players as imports, but still, the initial Knights squad featured 8 visa players
Wikipedia lists a lot of them as Injury Replacement/National Team Replacements https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005%E2%80%9306_A-League

Edit: Looking at this, the time lines don't really match up for IR deals https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005%E2%80%9306_New_Zealand_Knights_FC_season Might be one for the Bloc 5 hardcores to answer
And it lists Sean Devine as having gained NZ or Aus residency, which is ridiculous, he played his entire career in England and Cyprus before 2005

Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009
This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads



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over 2 years ago
coochiee
So Foley (or one of his staff) has already reached out to Northern Region Football. Oversight to not mention the good folk of BOP & the Waikato. I'm guessing he owns some NZ assets up Northland way.
https://www.nrf.org.nz/newsarticle/135247?newsfeedId=1496305

“This is brilliant news for our football community, who will soon have professional football teams of their own to support, and local derbies with the Wellington Phoenix to look forward to. This couldn’t come at a better time, off the back of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023” said NRF CE Laura Menzies.

“Strong professional teams need a strong football community behind them, and we look forward to working with AKLFootball24 to build that connection with our clubs.”

From speaking with Bill Foley’s team, we’re excited by their track record of investing and building the grassroots game. Bill has written to our clubs today to outline his vision, and NRF looks forward to helping guide this mahi,” said Laura Menzies.

Find out more at aklfootball24.com,

Bill Foley's letter to NRF clubs:
To the members of Northern Region Football clubs, 

I trust you share in my excitement with the news that we will be bringing an A-Leagues club and professional football to Auckland. T

his is a momentous occasion that brings with it the chance to build a partnership amongst us and our collective ability to create more opportunity for football at all levels, and amongst all people in Tāmaki Makaurau and Northland alike. 

Our vision for the club is to become part of the community, help inspire young people to pick up the game, and give football fans the chance to see, and follow, an elite level of the sport in your own backyard. We look forward to fielding a men’s team less than a year from now and a women’s team a year later, in the 2025-26 season. 

But we don’t plan to passively see the impact this club has. That’s not how my teams have operated in Las Vegas or Bournemouth, and won’t be in Auckland either. We will invest our time and money to promote the growth of the game throughout the community while also building for success on the pitch. 

In Las Vegas, we have invested in ice hockey facilities and put sticks in the hands of local students. The result was a more than 400% growth in youth hockey participation across the state in the short time the Golden Knights have existed. It has been extremely rewarding to witness that growth, while also celebrating the success of our professional players raising the Stanley Cup. 

We have owned AFC Bournemouth for less than a year, but have already committed to giving back to the young players in the community. We have been particularly active on the girls and women’s side and look forward to continued growth there. Meanwhile, we are moving toward completion of building a world-class training facility in Bournemouth, a key component in developing some of the best talent in the sport. 

We look forward to working with Northern Region Football, your clubs and members to co-create a similar impact in Auckland and Northland. We want to help drive growth in both the number and the quality of local players – we know this will benefit your club and ours in the long run. Ultimately, we hope to see some of your players competing for us in the A-Leagues and to become future Football Ferns and All Whites.

With our multi-club model this will provide a pathway for Kiwi football players to succeed here and beyond, including the Premier League. I look forward to meeting many of you and sharing this exciting journey ahead.

This is just the start of what will be a mutually beneficial partnership and one that makes football in our Northern region better than ever. 

Bill
Someone suggested in another thread that Foley will look to do a deal to "take over" an NL club's spot for the 2024 season, like the Nix used to with Lower Hutt or Wellington United. He could definitely make it worth their while.

Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009
This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads



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over 2 years ago
Doloras
RR
Doloras
theprof
Doloras
Slightly off-topic, but in my research on why the Knights failed I came across the fact that they had fifteen import players in their first season. Was there no import quota in 2005-7? Or were the Knights just exempt?

I was under the impression it had always been a max of 5 visa players in the squad of 23-26. 

I see that the source I quoted was counting Aussie players as imports, but still, the initial Knights squad featured 8 visa players
Wikipedia lists a lot of them as Injury Replacement/National Team Replacements https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005%E2%80%9306_A-League

Edit: Looking at this, the time lines don't really match up for IR deals https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005%E2%80%9306_New_Zealand_Knights_FC_season Might be one for the Bloc 5 hardcores to answer
And it lists Sean Devine as having gained NZ or Aus residency, which is ridiculous, he played his entire career in England and Cyprus before 2005

Sean Devine Devine, he wears number 10 not 9...

Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet

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over 2 years ago
Sean Devine was fudgeing useless. Couldn't score in a brothel.

Three for me, and two for them.

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Endorsed by
LGMartoRu
over 2 years ago
Auckland United has a pretty good academy set up (I believe they took over the Onehunga Sports set up?) and the best non-Phoenix women’s team in the country.

If Foley could set up a partnership there he’d be in good stead.
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over 2 years ago
axxaa
Wonder if there's more of a push for Asian Champions League access now there are two NZ teams.

The sooner NZF joins AFC the better. I'd rather not qualify for the WC and play quality opposition than thump the Island Nation's every 4 years but not gain the skill/quality to at least become a solid 3rd tier nation.

All Whites have been stuck on the spot for decades now. Joining a bigger confederation is the only way forward to get the most out of the talent we have. Both at country and club level and the game overall 
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anbillyspleen75Buffon IIFo+3
over 2 years ago
coochiee
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/133344359/auckland-aleagues-club-has-lot-of-work-to-do-on-brand-owner-not-wedded-to-knights

“I'm not wedded to any name at this point. We've got to do a lot of work and we want to do it right and we want the logo to be really compelling, like the Vegas Golden Knights.

I don't think we'll have one (a name) until late February, early March.

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over 2 years ago
InsulinMachine
axxaa
Wonder if there's more of a push for Asian Champions League access now there are two NZ teams.

The sooner NZF joins AFC the better. I'd rather not qualify for the WC and play quality opposition than thump the Island Nation's every 4 years but not gain the skill/quality to at least become a solid 3rd tier nation.

All Whites have been stuck on the spot for decades now. Joining a bigger confederation is the only way forward to get the most out of the talent we have. Both at country and club level and the game overall 

it affects more than the AWs

Founder

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over 2 years ago
Feverish
InsulinMachine
axxaa
Wonder if there's more of a push for Asian Champions League access now there are two NZ teams.

The sooner NZF joins AFC the better. I'd rather not qualify for the WC and play quality opposition than thump the Island Nation's every 4 years but not gain the skill/quality to at least become a solid 3rd tier nation.

All Whites have been stuck on the spot for decades now. Joining a bigger confederation is the only way forward to get the most out of the talent we have. Both at country and club level and the game overall 

it affects more than the AWs
 Such heresy. I will not have any such slanderous statements. The football world revolves around the All Whites and to suggest otherwise is simply laughable and directly at odds with what the Church dictates.
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over 2 years ago
TonyHibbert
https://thespinoff.co.nz/sports/01-12-2023/a-wish-list-of-signings-for-the-new-auckland-a-league-franchise?utm_source=spinoff-share-button&utm_medium=spinoff-web-mobile


Interesting ideas. It’s true a really big name from the EPL will really spark some proper interest. Vardy is probably a dream though.
No, ridiculous idea. Why would Roy come to AKL when he wouldn't come back to the Nix?

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kwlap
over 2 years ago
I assume he wanted more money than the Phoenix would pay, but at his age he's going to be a risk for the Phoenix if on high wages, but might not be for an Auckland team with bottomless funds.
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theprofTonyHibbert