If us and AFC win this wkd it'll be a 1st v 2nd clash which should build up more hype going into the game and us being at the top should give some belief to the casuals that we might not be shark again this year.
Not a huge crowd at the cricket yesterday and it was a nice day. Need the boys to put in a good performance today and get some decent media coverage during the week. Maybe we could crack 10k.
With all the current injuries, I believe we have about 50-60 minutes of strong dominate play in us. However, we lack the depth and fitness to sustain a full 95-minute contest against AKL.
Given that, should we consider going all out in the first half like we did against CCM, or push hard in the second half like the first two rounds?
I would assume that AFC start with the same mids and forwards as last game.
Now as long as the fastest defender (Loke?), is watching their most rapid forward in Randall like a hawk, I think the high line approach will be remarkably successful as long as they can stop him.
The rest of the forward line in May, Cosgrove and Brook are not rapid at all and pushing balls through the line or over the top is unlikely to be successful with them sprinting forward centrally on goal.
It’s only Randall’s pace they need to be concerned about.
Having such a high line should also mean that AFC’s set pieces become preety much negated. They won’t be hurling many long throws or free kicks into the box for Cosgrove.
So I think Chiefs strategy this season is perfect for a result against AFC.
Play a high line and go all out on attack in the first half.
If a goal can be nicked then nothing wrong with reverting to a low block in the second when legs and physicality may be lacking and AFC resort to more speedy forwards in Gillion, Francoise and playing Randall more central.
Frankly, I think Randall and Brook are their most effective players right now, and should be watched extra carefully. Cosgrove does not convince me, while May for all his finesse, has not quite worked up enough "chemistry" with the new recruits that is a key for his very instinctive way of attack. He was actually very good with Mata last season, less so with Rogerson I think (may be wrong).
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Hughes said in his post match interview that Sheridan was going to play RWB before the James injury, suggesting he is ahead of Loke in the RB pecking order, which I am glad about. There has been so much Loke hype and I think Sheridan has looked better when played there, he has been so unlucky to have had Payne ahead of him
Who played more at DM last season, LKH or Sheridan?
If Conchie is out (and Retre is still out), it could be LKH who slips in beside Rufer, and Hughes over to LCB if James is fit. Gut feel though is yes it would be Sheridan, who goes forward alongside Roofs. You play where your team needs you.
LKH was U20s captain at CB, and looks like centre back is now his long term position??
That’s not flash right? Or is the Pax a load of rubbish?
Nope not flash and Pax includes membership cards issued so only counted if they are scanned at the gate on the day. Hence why over the years there has nearly always been a discrepancy in Pax and numbers attending.
I actually think we should build a 11,000 seat stadium. I know this has been brought up a million times, but a purpose built football stadium of a smaller capacity would be awesome for the atmosphere, and probably increase long-term crowds as a result.
I actually think we should build a 11,000 seat stadium. I know this has been brought up a million times, but a purpose built football stadium of a smaller capacity would be awesome for the atmosphere, and probably increase long-term crowds as a result.
Scarcity effect.
Agree, but the council rejected the nix plans sadly
I actually think we should build a 11,000 seat stadium. I know this has been brought up a million times, but a purpose built football stadium of a smaller capacity would be awesome for the atmosphere, and probably increase long-term crowds as a result.
That’s not flash right? Or is the Pax a load of rubbish?
Not flash at all. Absolutely honking even. Prob 500 of them are Auckland fans. Plus a bunch of freebies and stadium members that won’t show up. Hope it starts to ramp up.
If by the 3rd derby game at the ROF (March next year?), both teams are in the finals mix, and head to head it is 1-1, that ROF crowd could be bigger than this Saturday.
With some of the attendances coming out of Aussie really dont have any issue if the crowd is less than 20k. Apart from the Warriors and the All Blacks there arnt many sports teams that regularly attract crowds of 20k. Yet for some reason us football fans seem to think what really are just 2 club teams should be doing it.
If by the 3rd derby game at the ROF (March next year?), both teams are in the finals mix, and head to head it is 1-1, that ROF crowd could be bigger than this Saturday.
With some of the attendances coming out of Aussie really dont have any issue if the crowd is less than 20k. Apart from the Warriors and the All Blacks there arnt many sports teams that regularly attract crowds of 20k. Yet for some reason us football fans seem to think what really are just 2 club teams should be doing it.
Because it's the biggest football game in the country? That's a pretty good reason to break 20k.
If by the 3rd derby game at the ROF (March next year?), both teams are in the finals mix, and head to head it is 1-1, that ROF crowd could be bigger than this Saturday.
Is a long way to go, but I think the chances are better than average that the Nix will be a more enticing watch next March, than they were finishing last season.
And that's a big factor in limiting the crowd this Saturday. How dire the Nix were season 24/25, incl the most recent derby result, that 6-1 shellacking.
Also if the Nix are playing well, they often get their biggest crowds Feb-March in the late summer twilight. By then the World Cup will also be very much looming on the horizon, and football will be more topical. Still the Nix will need to be playing well, in finals contention and be seen as having a genuine chance to beat the Estonians.
I actually think we should build a 11,000 seat stadium. I know this has been brought up a million times, but a purpose built football stadium of a smaller capacity would be awesome for the atmosphere, and probably increase long-term crowds as a result.
Scarcity effect.
Which is why I said "I know it's been brought up a million times" ... :)
Still if we as a fan group keep banging on the door about it, maybe one day it will happen.
With some of the attendances coming out of Aussie really dont have any issue if the crowd is less than 20k. Apart from the Warriors and the All Blacks there arnt many sports teams that regularly attract crowds of 20k. Yet for some reason us football fans seem to think what really are just 2 club teams should be doing it.
Tend to agree. We obsess way too much about crowds. Yes it would be nice to sell out our stadium, but the reality is we're a small city.
Consistent crowds of 8k are good for us.
My point on the smaller stadium is more about how awesome the atmosphere would be if we were pulling 8-11k in a small rectangular stadium and selling out most games or getting close to it.
Fire Up Derby Week! Like a Phoenix from the Ashes and Wish upon a Falling Star and maybe we get bacon and a win too! (Nb I had a public holiday yesterday. ) IMG_8201.gif363.29 KB
With some of the attendances coming out of Aussie really dont have any issue if the crowd is less than 20k. Apart from the Warriors and the All Blacks there arnt many sports teams that regularly attract crowds of 20k. Yet for some reason us football fans seem to think what really are just 2 club teams should be doing it.
Tend to agree. We obsess way too much about crowds. Yes it would be nice to sell out our stadium, but the reality is we're a small city.
Consistent crowds of 8k are good for us.
My point on the smaller stadium is more about how awesome the atmosphere would be if we were pulling 8-11k in a small rectangular stadium and selling out most games or getting close to it.
Man we like to move the goalposts. If you're happy about a crowd not meeting 20k for one of the biggest games of the season but on another thread shooting down AFC for getting 11k (in a town where the only attended sport is the one that actually needs a second NZ team in the competition IMO) it shows the state the Nix is in.
AFC Wins a trophy first (excuses), Nix gets worse crowds (excuses), Nix not making OFC Pro League (excuses), what's the excuse gonna be when AFC reserves finish higher than the WeeNix in their first season too?
