2015/16 Preseason - v Auckland City | 2pm Sat 26th September | Home & Garden Show @ Westpac Stadium

I mean Central Coast. As in, it doesn't matter losing pre-season...sometimes it helps.

(...but Auckland City are categorically the 3rd best club in the world they should be in the EPL and UEFA Champions League and have 0.5 of a World Cup qualifying spot playing off against Asia Ramon for PM yes etc etc)

It's pre-season ffs.

Almost definitely not (underestimating) - it's not much to be underestimated. At least half the teams in Central League would struggle in Northern Premier.

But you could still be missing the context of pre-season. 'Worse' teams beat 'better' teams all the time.

We beat West Ham! I don't think it bothered West Ham. And the difference between EPL and A-League is greater than the difference between A-League and Central League.

Yeah as others have said, I wouldn't read to much into preseason. Not game yet has had what would be our starting 11 and they would be trying different things or have trained that day and still expected to play a full game.

We have played these games for 9 seasons now and everytime when we don't put these sides away by a dozen this discussion takes place.  We are likely to have 3 or 4 more players in before then, A-Rod hasn't played a minute, Siggy has only played half of one game as has Mossy.

On the plus side though the WeeNix kiddies look good, Justin Gulley and Tom Doyle are fitting in, Roly looks great, we're getting to see how Kwabs fits (if he does) and plenty of other positives.

It's early season and a chance to get some fitness and to warm up for the joke that is our one week in the FFA Cup then we can start to take pre-season seriously.

I was going to go last night, then I didnt.   True story.

How was it?  How are we looking?

http://yellowfever.co.nz/posts/1075114

Danke, excuse my noobishness

What exactly is wrong with A-Rod? He didn't play any part in Fiji, either, did he? Guess the injury is quite bad?

are you allowed to change the player taking the pen when it's a retake?

Any pre-season game two and a half months from season's start where the manager makes seven subs at half-time, simply can't be taken as indicative of anything....

Yes - the new taker must be identified to the Ref etc. 

Declan never shuts up, eh.

Had the urge many times when he's sat behind me at TeeDubs games.

Jesus, I couldn't watch more than 10 mins; I just skipped to the last goal when hilarity ensued. Bunch of flogs.

can someone please confirm whether or not that Declan Edge is the full quid? You know, running on all cylinders. More than 4 cans in a 6 pack.

pre season doesn't matter - neither does the real season. It's all about having a nice stripey 

His father would say no. But then Eddie's doubtful too.

If we are going to a back three, a la Vs. Wests, then who are those three players???  (apologies if this has been canvassed elswhere....)

Preseasons are very meaningful when you win, and totally irrelevant when you couldn't handle a hard pressing game from a central league side.....

Dura, Siggy, plus one of Manny/Vinnie/Gulley so far in preseason. I assume that the defender Ernie want's to sign would join Dura and Siggy at the back.

The first team dealt with the hard pressing game with ease. It didn't become effective until all of the young kids got subbed on a halftime, and you'd expect a Central League team to be effective against what was essentially a Cap Prem side.

Thanks Pat for that.

To be fair, I know Ole/Wests really look forward to this match and get up for it, (they've beat the nix pre season  before I think.)  I think you're being a bit kind when appraising the nix performance kids, oldies or whatever.  I saw lots and lots of mistakes in possession which has been an ongoing issue for us....

I'm not sure this is going to work out quite so well and someone of talent may be either out of position or on the bench.

I also think that generally a back 3 requires mobile CBs to cover the extra space at the back, and neither Sigmund or Durante are really that sort of player.

People have moaned about  our speed at the back in the past. I await this season with interest if 2 of our back 3 are going to be dura and siggy. I reckon there will be some attacks licking their lips. While I like them both I don't see it working with then both in a back 3.

Such a shame that Box has gone.

Dura Box Siggy set up would've worked well.

It also depends on what's in front of the back 3. Having the extra man in midfield could mean that it'll be harder to get through, so the lack of pace could only be a problem if teams play long ball to bypass the midfield completely 

I quite like Fenton on the right of of midfield/as a WB if we play a 343/352. If the opposition press and or wide players just stick to the wings the opposition could force us to be boxed in on the wings, Fenton is good enough to come into midfield to pick up the ball and create a 4v3 scenario in the middle of the park (assuming most teams play some variation of 433/4231) if need be. On the left, less confident of Doyle doing that.

Agree with the bold part.

Semi-agree with the bold italics part - I agree that I am less confident than I am with Fenton, i.e. Fenton is more capable than Doyle here (in my opinion) but I disagree in as much as Doyle has been playing the role on the left in the pre-season games with some aplomb (in my opinion).

26 September (venue tbc).  Excite.

Who is going to New Plymouth and where we drinking?

unusual NZF haven't released a squad less than a week out?

They are probably waiting for the confirmation fax that their selections are eligible!

Heading up Saturday arvo, numerous establishments Saturday night, staying sunday night, back on monday. 

Peggy Gordons, cnr of Devon & Egmont St can get quite interesting.