Auckland Pride - Make Auckland Great Again

Mainland FC

If we ever have a chance to get a result against A-FC in a derby, it will be in the one coming up. 

 The one where Woud plays the game of his life that would make Lev Yashin envious. 

I would be disappointed if Woud doesn’t get an absolute hammering all game by the Fever.

In fact if you want to influence the result, he is the subject that should  heckled all game. 

Don’t worry about Sammy, he will use it as inspiration, 

Woud however is likely to throw one in his net.

With Sail out, Joe Knowles injured, Eli Jones with glandular fever and the next GK options stuck in PNG, 17 yr old keeper Liam Hill gets a call up for AFC.

If Woud does have a clanger verus Sydney, Auckland will be in a bit of mess keeper wise.

Did Auckland City's Nathan Garrow head to South Africa as was rumoured?

How is Kees Sims tracking in pre season at GAIS? If he starts the Swedish season as no 2 there, he risks missing out on the World Cup to Henry Gray. Sims only played the last 6 or so games in 2025 because the usual long standing no 1 got injured. An AFC loan deal?

Baze has stated previously he likes his keepers to be playing.

Auckland FC v Sydney FC
Saturday, February 7 – Go Media Stadium – 3:00pm AEDT

Auckland FC Squad: 
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, 21. Jesse RANDALL, 22. Jake BRIMMER, 23. Dan HALL, 27. Logan ROGERSON, 35. Jonty BIDOIS, 77. LACHLAN Brook

(One to be omitted)
Ins: 60. Liam Hill

Outs: 20. Oli Sail (Injured)
Unavailable: Oli Sail (injured)

Sydney FC Men: 
4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS, 5.  Alex GRANT, 6. Corey HOLLMAN, 7.  Piero QUISPE, 8. Wataru KAMIJO, 9.  Victor CAMPUZANO, 10. Joe LOLLEY, 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES (GK), 13. Pat WOOD, 16. Joel KING, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 20. Tiago QUINTAL, 22. Mathias MACALLISTER,  23. Rhyan GRANT ?, 24. Paul OKON JNR, 30. Alexander ZAVERDINOS (GK), 32. Marcel TISSERAND, 36. Rhys YOULLEY, 41. Alexandar POPOVIC, 44. Akol AKON.

(Two to be omitted).
Ins: 4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS (promoted), 36. Rhys YOULLEY (return from suspension).

Outs: None

Unavailable:  1. Gus HOEFSLOOT (wrist), 11. Abel WALATEE (groin), 35. Al Hassan TOURE (calf).


https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360934570/auckland-fc-goalkeeper-oli-sail-out-all-whites-world-cup-mix-after-knee-surgery

Auckland's third contracted goalkeeper, 21-year-old Joe Knowles, is sidelined at present as he recovers from early-season hip surgery, while one of their three reserve team goalkeepers, 19-year-old Eli Jones, has been laid low with glandular fever.

Twenty-year-old Blake Callinan – who split playing time evenly with Jones in the reserves last year – is away in Papua New Guinea with Auckland's Oceania Pro League team.

amazing how a couple of injuries can threaten to derail your season.

New GK incoming today apparently.

A stallion riding in to save the black knights?

Jimmy (James) Hilton from Marconi Stallions until the end of the season.

NSW NPL goalkeeper of the year last year and a star in the Australian Championship

https://football360.com.au/australian-championship-marconi-stallions-james-hilton-interview/

is he coming in as backup or to push Woud for #1 duties?

Deal length will be instructive

theprof

is he coming in as backup or to push Woud for #1 duties?

I imagine it will be week to week.
Presumably Woud starts against SFC tomorrow, but needs to be mistake free to keep his spot.

AFC are in a bit of a form rut, and if the outfield players lose trust in their keeper it can all get a bit rotten.


Hilton signed to the end of the season. He sounds more A League ready than the likes of Mason & Callinan - so Woud will have to fight to keep his spot.
https://aucklandfc.co.nz/news/auckland-fc-call-on-jimmy-hilton-to-solve-goalkeeping-gaps/

In the last 4 or 5 matches May has squandered 6 or 7 really good opportunities from breakaways / virtually open nets...

Needs contact lenses 

Though Woud redeemed himself to some degree

AFC top the charts for chances wasted. May has been bad but Cosgrove has had multiple good chances where he screws up. Against Sydney he twice missed an open goal. He also had a good header brilliantly saved but in general he is very very wasteful in front of goal.

Cosgrove, Randall and Brook, have the three highest XG’s in the entire league over the season.

They are all striking below their XG.

AucklandPhoenix

Cosgrove, Randall and Brook, have the three highest XG’s in the entire league over the season.

They are all striking below their XG.

Okay yeh that’s it. 
Everyone keeps on saying Golden Boot etc etc but this attack hasn’t been remotely clinical.

Goals or no goals, I thought the A-FC game against MV was highly entertaining and a great value for money for a casual observer. May striking the post twice was priceless. I really feel for the bloke.

The thing with May is that he is technically very good. Hes just having a bad patch. The goals will come. Cosgrove is at peak Cosgrove. Hes bundles in goals from inside the 6yd box but he needs lots of chances. 
AFC are missing Moreno. His 8 goals often won them vital points last season.

Mainland FC

Goals or no goals, I thought the A-FC game against MV was highly entertaining and a great value for money for a casual observer. May striking the post twice was priceless. I really feel for the bloke.

Sydney?

austin111

The thing with May is that he is technically very good. Hes just having a bad patch. The goals will come. Cosgrove is at peak Cosgrove. Hes bundles in goals from inside the 6yd box but he needs lots of chances. 
AFC are missing Moreno. His 8 goals often won them vital points last season.

really underrating Sam here - his hold up play allows the likes of Brook and Randall to have the space they get - I will admit it's not quite working with May - but a few goals by May would fix that right up.  

May is about 1 second away from hitting good form again. 2 Shots hitting a post. 6 inches short of connecting to a cross and scoring. I would keep faith in him. He is not over trying or playing poor, it's just not quite working. He'll get there.

Knowing our luck he will turn into prime Edison Cavani and Enzo Francescoli when he plays against us in a few weeks 😂 we are good at that.. 

LG

May is about 1 second away from hitting good form again. 2 Shots hitting a post. 6 inches short of connecting to a cross and scoring. I would keep faith in him. He is not over trying or playing poor, it's just not quite working. He'll get there.

He's absolutely playing poorly, imo. In fact, it's such a shocking dropoff that he barely looks A-League level. 

I'm not being harsh here either, as I've scrutinised every minute he's played in the hopes he'll contribute to the team again; his ball loss rate is astoundingly bad, whether he's trying to beat his man or force it out of trouble. He's lost the bit of pace he once had, and the composure in front of goal was never there to begin with. Technical ability is decent for the league but seems like he's lost so much agility and balance that he can't take advantage of his skill to do anything more than a decent trap or through ball. Easily the biggest disappointment from this Auckland side

May has the ability, however as far as game day performance goes, he's been really poor.  Loses the ball most of the time and scores none.  May and Rogerson need to up their games.

mrsmiis

LG

May is about 1 second away from hitting good form again. 2 Shots hitting a post. 6 inches short of connecting to a cross and scoring. I would keep faith in him. He is not over trying or playing poor, it's just not quite working. He'll get there.

He's absolutely playing poorly, imo. In fact, it's such a shocking dropoff that he barely looks A-League level. 

I'm not being harsh here either, as I've scrutinised every minute he's played in the hopes he'll contribute to the team again; his ball loss rate is astoundingly bad, whether he's trying to beat his man or force it out of trouble. He's lost the bit of pace he once had, and the composure in front of goal was never there to begin with. Technical ability is decent for the league but seems like he's lost so much agility and balance that he can't take advantage of his skill to do anything more than a decent trap or through ball. Easily the biggest disappointment from this Auckland side

Agreed, the truth is relative to his standard last season he's been appalling. 

Super slow on the ball. Too many touches. Bad decision making.  Passing game hasn't been there.  And his lack of raw pace has seriously been found out this year.

Hoping he finds some form.

He certainly seems a different player. Maybe he's enjoying the Kiwi lifestyle a bit too much. Fish 'n chips. Craft beers. Splashing in the surf. No relegation. She'll be right mate.

Brooks injury looked nasty. Broken ribs? 

Not the player AFC want out short or long term.

May will definitely need to up his game while he is out.

chopah

Mainland FC

Goals or no goals, I thought the A-FC game against MV was highly entertaining and a great value for money for a casual observer. May striking the post twice was priceless. I really feel for the bloke.

Sydney?

Yes Sydney of course.  I am distracted by work, apology.

Anyone know much about how the Port leadership are structured?

Footy_Fella

Anyone know much about how the Port leadership are structured?

4 4 2

Jessie Merino

He certainly seems a different player. Maybe he's enjoying the Kiwi lifestyle a bit too much. Fish 'n chips. Craft beers. Splashing in the surf. No relegation. She'll be right mate.

 had minor knee surgey in the off-season - I think he has struggled off the back of it - but has looked better in recent weeks but still well below his form from last season.

Interesting to see that the documentary Forever Auckland FC, has now made it to Netflix.

Meh. Rather watch Bluey.

I would rather watch 30 year old replays of Coronation Street in black and white!

Ina Sharples !! Minnie Caldwell !!

both more mobile than Cosgrove ...

I have it on good authority that our greatest living poet Sam Hunt never misses an episode of Coro St.

AFC apparently trying to tee up friendlies with big name Argentinian teams. Pretty meh, Nix already hosted and beat Boca. Why can't they get Bournemouth over? 

please please please please please be River Plate. El mas grande. 

imanixsupporter

AFC apparently trying to tee up friendlies with big name Argentinian teams. Pretty meh, Nix already hosted and beat Boca. Why can't they get Bournemouth over? 

Looks like it’s more of a Wayne Brown thing in an attempt to get Eden Park used.

How many big names would likes of Boca and River Plate have at the World Cup?
Those guys most likely won't also come to NZ, ie will be rested.

Guillermo May played for Newell's Old Boys in Argentina, Messi's childhood club.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football/auckland-fc-could-host-boca-juniors-or-river-plate-under-mayors-buenos-aires-plan/DXPJKQCAJVANZA5X6MB64535SE/#:~:text=Auckland%20could%20host%20some%20of,2027%2C%20Brown%20said%20more%20major


Sydney FC v Auckland FC
Tuesday February 17 – Leichhardt Oval – 7pm AEDT

Sydney FC: 
5. Alex GRANT, 6. Corey HOLLMAN, 7.  Piero QUISPE, 9.  Victor CAMPUZANO, 10. Joe LOLLEY, 12. Harrison DEVENISH-MEARES (GK), 13. Pat WOOD, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 20. Tiago QUINTAL, 22. Mathias MACALLISTER,  23. Rhyan GRANT (captain), 24. Paul OKON JNR, 30. Alexander ZAVERDINOS (GK), 32. Marcel TISSERAND, 35. Al Hassan TOURE, 36. Rhys YOULLEY, 41. Alexandar POPOVIC, 44. Akol AKON, 70. Ahmet ARSLAN, 80. Apostolos STAMATELOSPOULOUS.

(Two to be omitted).
Ins: 13. Pat WOOD (return to squad), 35. Al Hassan TOURE (returns from injury).
Outs: None
Unavailable:  1. Gus HOEFSLOOT (wrist), 11. Abel WALATEE (groin)

Auckland FC squad: 
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,  12. Jimmy HILTON, 15. Francis DE VRIES, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 19. Oliver MIDDLETON, 21. Jesse RANDALL, 22. Jake BRIMMER, 23. Dan HALL, 27. Logan ROGERSON, 35. Jonty BIDOIS, 77. Lachlan BROOK

Ins:
Outs:
Unavailable: 20. Oli SAIL