Auckland Pride - Make Auckland Great Again

Simon B

martinb wrote:

There is a part of Doloras which is a true AFC fan!
It can be done, a division of self.

I was discussing this very concept with one of the Little Corner of Yellow members, who’s a passionate Phoenix supporter but also supports CCM as his local team when they aren’t playing the Nix.

The word we came up with was polyteamory, or polyteamorous if you find yourself in need of an adjective.

Honestly, for me, it's like cheating on my wife. And the derby is like cheating on my wife and my wife walks in.

Interesting take from Reddit: what was Woud doing going up for the last corner when an overcrowded box was precisely why AFC couldn't score?

In other news, great day out for the family:
- The Littlest Hooligan mainly came for the waterfight but she was really getting into it by the end and called the Jets "a bunch of little chickens";
- Her little brother made friends with all the neighbouring spectators and got a photo taken with Tama the Kōtare;
- My beloved wife wanted to know whether that number of yellow cards was standard for the A-League, and I was all like, no lol, Newcastle are thugs and criminals at the best of times, but also it's both NZ teams they try to foul out of the contest

Shame they put on such a sharke performance in front of 16k.

May has really regressed this year and don’t quite understand why Brook wasn’t played in the number 10 and Rogerson on the right from the beginning as Corica apparently doesn’t change a winning team.

The only reason I could see with Brimmer out he felt he thought he needed more creativity and that backfired.

Newcastle really have some nice young speedy skilful forwards. 

If they can continue to shore up their backline, then they will be there at the busy end of the season.

austin111

Well that was a nice gift to start the new year. AFC....too much Xmas pudding. They looked well off the pace. The missed game against Sydney cost them momentum.
The Jets are a good watch and well worth the win. They have youngest squad in the comp. 
I wish someone could get the Nix youngsters performing as well as Milligan has with his kids. They are really good, especially their movement on attack. AFC were cut apart in the first 30 mins.

I think it's AFC being a bit off the pace with the week off and disrupted by the team change as you say. But also about speed and sustained youthful energy. Maybe just one of those difficult match-ups because AFC aren't the fastest. 

Whereas we're also not the fastest - bar Eze (sort of). Including our youngsters.  So the AFC size and muscle and depth does us in and we've got not so much in the way of pace cryptonite to use against AFC.

That said, with a less depleted squad I still think we can beat them on a good day.

austin111

Well that was a nice gift to start the new year. AFC....too much Xmas pudding. They looked well off the pace. The missed game against Sydney cost them momentum.
The Jets are a good watch and well worth the win. They have youngest squad in the comp. 
I wish someone could get the Nix youngsters performing as well as Milligan has with his kids. They are really good, especially their movement on attack. AFC were cut apart in the first 30 mins.

Got this game very wrong. Thought Jets previous win at Mt Smart was a bit of a fluke in the flood.

But Milligan has Newcastle humming on their day. Lots of exciting young talent there. For sure European clubs are going to be looking at Taylor, Badolato and Adams.

I thought they would fall apart this season after Rob Stanton left. But no.

See that Stanton is now an assistant of Arnie's with Iraq. He's one guy the Nix should consider if Chiefy is let go.

Doloras

Simon B

martinb wrote:

There is a part of Doloras which is a true AFC fan!
It can be done, a division of self.

I was discussing this very concept with one of the Little Corner of Yellow members, who’s a passionate Phoenix supporter but also supports CCM as his local team when they aren’t playing the Nix.

The word we came up with was polyteamory, or polyteamorous if you find yourself in need of an adjective.

Honestly, for me, it's like cheating on my wife. And the derby is like cheating on my wife and my wife walks in.

Interesting take from Reddit: what was Woud doing going up for the last corner when an overcrowded box was precisely why AFC couldn't score?

Following that logic, should AFC have taken 3 or 4 other players out of the box?

He was instructed by Corica anyhow.

AucklandPhoenix

Shame they put on such a sharke performance in front of 16k.

May has really regressed this year and don’t quite understand why Brook wasn’t played in the number 10 and Rogerson on the right from the beginning as Corica apparently doesn’t change a winning team.

The only reason I could see with Brimmer out he felt he thought he needed more creativity and that backfired.

Newcastle really have some nice young speedy skilful forwards. 

If they can continue to shore up their backline, then they will be there at the busy end of the season.

As I said earlier the crowd were asleep anyway 😂

Agree though - Brook is the best player in the team and we just haven't unlocked him yet. Rogerson offers creativity (without relying on pace) and keeps the side balanced by actually staying wide.

That means you have to sacrifice either May or Randall.

At the moment Randall is - in my humble opinion - a better option, he is sharp, skilled and fast. May despite his quality has not yet picked up where he left off after the first season.

His dead-ball goal on Thursday was sheer delight

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360917050/auckland-fc-v-macarthur-fc-all-you-need-know-about-monday-nights-league-men-match

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/01/05/mens-a-league-leaders-auckland-fc-face-in-form-macarthur-in-monday-match/

Squads
Macarthur Bulls (two to be omitted)
1. Alex Robinson, 3. Damien Da Silva, 5. Matthew Jurman, 6. Tomislav Uskok, 8. Luke Vickery, 9. Chris Ikonomidis, 10. Anthony Cáceres, 11. Bernardo, 12. Filip Kurto, 13. Rafael Duran Martinez, 14. Kristian Popovic, 17. Oliver Randazzo, 18. Walter Scott, 22. Liam Rose, 23. Frans Deli, 24. Dean Bosnjak, 25. Callum Talbot, 28. Harrison Sawyer, 29. Zane Helweh, 32. Will McKay.

Auckland FC (one to be omitted)
1. Michael Woud, 2. Hiroki Sakai, 3. Jake Girdwood-Reich, 4. Nando Pijnaker, 6. Louis Verstraete, 7. Cameron Howieson, 8. Felipe Gallegos, 9. Sam Cosgrove, 10. Guillermo May, 11. Marlee François, 15. Francis de Vries, 17. Callan Elliot, 19. Oliver Middleton, 20. Oli Sail, 21. Jesse Randall, 23. Dan Hall, 27. Logan Rogerson, 35. Jonty Bidois, 77. Lachlan Brook.

Doloras

His dead-ball goal on Thursday was sheer delight

Wouldnt the GK in you have been  disappointed letting that in though

ballane

Doloras

His dead-ball goal on Thursday was sheer delight

Wouldnt the GK in you have been  disappointed letting that in though

It was proper awful keeping. Randall did well to take advantage of it though.

I'd like to see Middleton get on. IMHO Bidois hasn't shown much yet.

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360917050/auckland-fc-v-macarthur-fc-all-you-need-know-about-monday-nights-league-men-match

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/01/05/mens-a-league-leaders-auckland-fc-face-in-form-macarthur-in-monday-match/

Squads
Macarthur Bulls (two to be omitted)
1. Alex Robinson, 3. Damien Da Silva, 5. Matthew Jurman, 6. Tomislav Uskok, 8. Luke Vickery, 9. Chris Ikonomidis, 10. Anthony Cáceres, 11. Bernardo, 12. Filip Kurto, 13. Rafael Duran Martinez, 14. Kristian Popovic, 17. Oliver Randazzo, 18. Walter Scott, 22. Liam Rose, 23. Frans Deli, 24. Dean Bosnjak, 25. Callum Talbot, 28. Harrison Sawyer, 29. Zane Helweh, 32. Will McKay.

Auckland FC (one to be omitted)
1. Michael Woud, 2. Hiroki Sakai, 3. Jake Girdwood-Reich, 4. Nando Pijnaker, 6. Louis Verstraete, 7. Cameron Howieson, 8. Felipe Gallegos, 9. Sam Cosgrove, 10. Guillermo May, 11. Marlee François, 15. Francis de Vries, 17. Callan Elliot, 19. Oliver Middleton, 20. Oli Sail, 21. Jesse Randall, 23. Dan Hall, 27. Logan Rogerson, 35. Jonty Bidois, 77. Lachlan Brook.

In: Nil.
Out: Jake Brimmer (injured).

Lots of changes... Nando for JGR. Sakai for Elliot. Cosgrove and May dropped. Francois and Rogerson starting.

20 Legend

Lots of changes... Nando for JGR. Sakai for Elliot. Cosgrove and May dropped. Francois and Rogerson starting.

I think JGR is off in this window so time to start phasing him out and giving Nando some minutes - I think while JGR has been good, it's probably better to have a left footer at LCB if possible.

Sam on 4 yellows being saved for Brisbane where he will be needed to provide some fight.

Brook has been a seriously good signing.

Be up there for signing of the season.

chopah

20 Legend

Lots of changes... Nando for JGR. Sakai for Elliot. Cosgrove and May dropped. Francois and Rogerson starting.

I think JGR is off in this window so time to start phasing him out and giving Nando some minutes - I think while JGR has been good, it's probably better to have a left footer at LCB if possible.

Sam on 4 yellows being saved for Brisbane where he will be needed to provide some fight.

Ah yeah that makes.  Always thought JGR was better than Nando but if Nando is going to be a mainstay for 5 years it might be better to keep him playing.

if the other signing is Cosgrove its practically a certainty....

FU BLU

if the other signing is Cosgrove its practically a certainty....

I genuinely don't get the Cosgrove hate from our own fans - I certainly get it from Nix fans.

EDIT: He is much better than Max Mata in my opinion.

I think he meant in the entire league - Brook the best signing of the league.

Buffon II

Brook has been a seriously good signing.

Be up there for signing of the season.

Kinda gives me peak Nathan Burns at the nix vibes.

And he was great up until that Jan international windows.

chopah

FU BLU

if the other signing is Cosgrove its practically a certainty....

I genuinely don't get the Cosgrove hate from our own fans - I certainly get it from Nix fans.

EDIT: He is much better than Max Mata in my opinion.

Yes. And if you watch him warm up (e.g. finishing drills) he's a lot more talented than he lets on...

little mini slump - can't complain too much but balance is not quite right - got some good pieces though.

He certainly hides it well ...

Cosgrove is a donkey. Playing the human wrecking ball is ok up to a point. But in his last game and a half hes had dozens of balls to him in the box and hasnt even got one on target.....zero. Also i have never seen a player flop to the ground so quickly. Any touch and he flops. Refs now know what hes up to. Shame they didnt figure that out for the Nix games

After eleven games, it’s becoming clear who AFC need to extend now for next season.

Verstrate top of the list, closely followed by Brook.

De Vries and Randall of the kiwis.

Believe Nando, Elliot, Cosgrove and Brimmer have contracts already for next year.

Everyone else off contract can wait and prove themselves for the rest of the year.

ballane

Doloras

His dead-ball goal on Thursday was sheer delight

Wouldnt the GK in you have been  disappointed letting that in though

Real talk, I think the Jest keeper played an absolute blinder

Fudge I hate the NZ media, I've held my tongue on this for a little while but today looking at stuf after the weekends footy and shock horror/breaking news AFC drew 1-1 - two articles, ones a recap and the other pretty much the same.
https://stuff.co.nz/sport/360918803/auckland-fc-pegged-back-macarthur-fc-avoid-back-back-losses
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360917050/recap-auckland-fc-v-macarthur-fc-league-men
yet there is nothin about the Nix winning 3-0 with 10 men.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360920608/tearful-phoenix-coach-hails-win-over-roar-his-greatest

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360916886/10-man-phoenix-stun-roar-fiery-encounter

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360920494/emotional-wellington-phoenix-coach-hails-win-10-men-his-greatest-victory

Screenshot 2026-01-06 105339.jpg 186.67 KB

how far back did you have to search to find those!

Most media articles about a game are published the following day or that day.

AucklandPhoenix

Most media articles about a game are published the following day or that day.

Historically, I have spent more time haranguing RNZ (easy target) and other outlets for poor coverage of the Nix than I had baked dinners. But with two ALM teams in the country I think the overall media coverage (volume) will increase or even has increased already.  
Last weekend the RNZ bulletin after the two Brisbane games started with the womens' draw and had an audio clip of Bev Priestmann, before adding "... and the mens team beat Roar 0:3" which was better than nothing.

austin111

Cosgrove is a donkey. Playing the human wrecking ball is ok up to a point. But in his last game and a half hes had dozens of balls to him in the box and hasnt even got one on target.....zero. Also i have never seen a player flop to the ground so quickly. Any touch and he flops. Refs now know what hes up to. Shame they didnt figure that out for the Nix games

I think I said I knew why you as a Nix fans don't like him....

Not only nix fans ...

I think the doubts over Cosgrove are perhaps not really from his play, but the form and output of Rogerson and May. And perhaps de Vries too. Certainly Cosgrove’s personal output is above Mata’s.

The case for Mata is that he came in and everyone around him looked better and you started scoring earlier in games. 

It could also be that Corica has got these 4 players in May, Rogerson, Brook and Cosgrove and was hoping they’d figure out how to play together and they haven’t quite. Or wanted them to play one way and they haven’t been able to yet.

So for the rest of us there’s the depressing sight of a team at the top of the table that hasn’t really gelled this season yet, with the threat that at some point they might.

Brook looks like an amazing talent. I’d say he’s in 3rd gear and you’re calling him the signing of the season. Thought he’d be too good for the league and there’s a good chance he’ll turn it up a notch and he will be at some point soon too.

martinb

I think the doubts over Cosgrove are perhaps not really from his play, but the form and output of Rogerson and May. And perhaps de Vries too. Certainly Cosgrove’s personal output is above Mata’s.

The case for Mata is that he came in and everyone around him looked better and you started scoring earlier in games. 

It could also be that Corica has got these 4 players in May, Rogerson, Brook and Cosgrove and was hoping they’d figure out how to play together and they haven’t quite. Or wanted them to play one way and they haven’t been able to yet.

So for the rest of us there’s the depressing sight of a team at the top of the table that hasn’t really gelled this season yet, with the threat that at some point they might.

Brook looks like an amazing talent. I’d say he’s in 3rd gear and you’re calling him the signing of the season. Thought he’d be too good for the league and there’s a good chance he’ll turn it up a notch and he will be at some point soon too.

It's a good summary of the situation - but with how off the pace May looks after his off season knee tidy up I am super glad we have Cosgrove, Randall has done well but is still patchy as a youngish player finding his feet - similar to Rogerson but Sam provides a good platform for the team - just as you say have to find the balance which I think is 4-2-3-1 with Brook in the 10 spot as a free role and Jesse and Logan wide.  the player we are missing most is Moreno.

Agree. Without Moreno they've become predictable. Brook is v good but for me I preferred the Colombian.

Jessie Merino

Agree. Without Moreno they've become predictable. Brook is v good but for me I preferred the Colombian.

I just think it all comes down to balance - May last year solved a lot of balance problems by playing in spots to suit the team and contributing goals - which then saw Logan pop some in and of course Moreno off the bench as well. 

This year it's all a bit different - Lockie is good but is more of a free spirit - let him roam type player and it means the balance of the side is not quite right yet - which is why i like Cosgrove there as he provides a focal point.  

Tuesday 17 Feb 7pm the new date for Sydney FC v AFC. Last game for SFC at Leichardt Oval before their return to Allianz