100% its a fixed draw by the A league to try & get them good early exposure and success, like how newer clubs get more salary cap space. Why do you think Nix have played them twice already in 7 weeks? It's to generate hype and talk. The league wants an expansion team to do well early to generate hype & excitement and winning 6 from 6 is far beyond anyone's dream from their North Harbour Stadium HQ to football Australia HQ in Darling Harbour. Is it weird to have such a schedule? Yes, but I also understand why did it. Is it luck to win from 6 from 6 and concede 1 goal? not at alltheprof
Nixieboys222
Dont buy into this luck nonsense.. sure playing away from home is harder then at home, but if they get results vs city (which is highly possible, City have not been good this season despite a big win vs roar) we will then ask for proof for them play away vs Victory who Nix beat and Sydney FC who are up and down? They will have to travel to Perth to play arguably the worst side in recent memory, and if they do beat them do we want them to play Pep's Barcelona? the 1995/96 Ajax side? the 1970 Brazil team to proof their worth? They're a very good side, with a good coach and have players with solid international expeirence like Sakai, well regarded A league players like Dan Hall & Jake Brimmer & players who have played in the top clubs of South America like May and Neydar Moreno who are used to travel long distances for games and face crowds and circumstances far more intense then A League. I think they will eventually have a form slump, but I cant see them not making top 3 theprof
AucklandPhoenix
I don’t quite understand Chiefs rationale for calling the team he will be playing lucky.
It smacked of Dome but in his case he would only say it to fire things like a boxing promoter trying to get attendance figures up.
In Chiefs case there was nothing to gain at all but add motivation to the opposite team and their crowd.
A dumb move and perhaps shows his naivety as a coach.
But AFC have been lucky, sure they've done the winning on the field but what team in the aleague has ever had the starting schedule that AFC have had. 4 home games in their first 6 games, 1 away game in Australia, 1 in Wellington. If that's not luck then it's planned - if it's planned then every other team should be asking WTF? Corica is right, AFC will have the away games at the end of the season to deal with, but by then they will have gelled and built a team culture to get them through it. Imagine if they had gotten the reverse, 4 away games in the first 6 - Corica would be going off about how unlucky the fans are and its a tough way to start the season. Luck has had nothing to do with how they play They have been plenty lucky with their early season schedule and lack of injuries.
As I said, the luck part has nothing to do with their form or how they play each game. The luck part is all about their schedule, 5 out of 6 games in NZ. One trip to Australia when every other team has travelled multiple time. Cas and point, the first derby we came back from Perth and AFC came from Auckland. You can't deny the lack of trans-tasman travel has benefited AFC's build up. If that isnt lucky then I assume your calling it intentional?
I am with Nixieboys222 on this. Even if the schedule was arranged like this for AFC to play quite a few home games first, it would be churlish to say that it gave the club a winning legup on the field. It is a sensible commercial strategy to build a long-term public support in the notoriously fickle and easily bored Auckland public landscape. The league is selling a consumer product. Who needs another failure in the league? Auckland won quite a few games now and look good while doing so - a very familiar Graeme Arnold / Steve Corica playing style that proved so successful for so many years for Sydney FC. If we cannot beat them on the park (so far) then we should not complain about their playing schedule.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Interesting. So we as a fan base are happy with AFC been given both an extremely friendly draw to start the season and probably some salary cap exemptions? I'm on with the salary cap stuff as most clubs received them in year one, although I dont recall the nix getting any help. We certainly didnt get the 5 games in NZ to start our campaign. It just smacks of the league being friendly to it's newest billionaire owner, that on top of the Caceres rule flip flop to allow the Paulsen loan. Can't help but feel a little resentful.
It just makes their entry to the league all the more easy, then they play well and dont concede, which says they probably didn't need all the favours they got.
I guarantee you if they didnt have a good start, or beat us twice in a month or conceded 1 goal we wouldnt be having this conversation. theprof
Interesting. So we as a fan base are happy with AFC been given both an extremely friendly draw to start the season and probably some salary cap exemptions? I'm on with the salary cap stuff as most clubs received them in year one, although I dont recall the nix getting any help. We certainly didnt get the 5 games in NZ to start our campaign. It just smacks of the league being friendly to it's newest billionaire owner, that on top of the Caceres rule flip flop to allow the Paulsen loan. Can't help but feel a little resentful.
It just makes their entry to the league all the more easy, then they play well and dont concede, which says they probably didn't need all the favours they got.
Already looking forward to heading up again for the feb derby for redemption.
How did it go for those who flew out straight after the game? Get to the airport with plenty of time?
I drove home the next day. Plenty of time to stew away with my thoughts for 4½ hours with a bit of peace and quiet, watching all the AFC flags (I counted at least 6) along fencelines going down the southern motorway. 😡
Best thing about the weekend wasn't the football though, it was getting my brother - who's not a hardy football supporter by any means, up and into the away bay, even walking him through and getting him into the chants. Says the atmosphere was absolutely unreal and it was a credit to all those who turned up and sang their hearts out. He's coming back in February. Broke my heart when he said Auckland were the better side on the day. Unfortunately he wasn't wrong with that call...
Honestly, putting aside the heartbreak of the result, kudos to the Fever for organising the march an everyone who made the trip up to Auckland for it. It amazes me how nice and polite everyone is in a situation where people can tend to get a little carried away by emotion. No pushing or shoving, people actually saying "excuse me" if they want to get past you, holding tree branches so others behind them don't get hit in the face. Delightful! The buzz in the zone was great. Always loud despite the outcome of the match. I feel like I have to apologise to the people directly in front of me for my shrill screaming but I'm sure they would have understood.
I am still kind of deflated by the result and hate to admit it but I do think Auckland were better than us on the day. I can't bring myself to watch the highlights but am confident that we'll continue to improve as the season develops. As others have pointed out, we have only lost to AFC. It feels particularly sharke but it could also be much much worse.
I don't buy the stuff around an easy schedule - they've played us twice, Macarthur and Sydney, all decent teams. If you want an easy schedule, look at Adelaide who haven't played anyone above 8th!
This acting like they will be absolutely get found out on the road is a bit funny, realistically only Victory, Sydney and Adelaide are particularly good at home. Any other game I'd fancy AFC to go there and win right now.
I don't buy the stuff around an easy schedule - they've played us twice, Macarthur and Sydney, all decent teams. If you want an easy schedule, look at Adelaide who haven't played anyone above 8th!
This acting like they will be absolutely get found out on the road is a bit funny, realistically only Victory, Sydney and Adelaide are particularly good at home. Any other game I'd fancy AFC to go there and win right now.
Yeah, but let's not forget the Sydney game where Sydney had a very good shout for a penalty overturned, then conceded a scrappy as goal in the dying seconds.
Both of those things (penalty and goal) have been allowed and disallowed in previous seasons with VERY little difference from what happened in that game.
Auckland are living a VERY charmed life, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to their honeymoon period finishing soon.
That was my first game in quite some time. (I'm thinking Sigmund winning goal in Christchurch) Was great to be in the Yellow Fever zone again after so long. Shame about the result.
Honestly, putting aside the heartbreak of the result, kudos to the Fever for organising the march an everyone who made the trip up to Auckland for it. It amazes me how nice and polite everyone is in a situation where people can tend to get a little carried away by emotion. No pushing or shoving, people actually saying "excuse me" if they want to get past you, holding tree branches so others behind them don't get hit in the face. Delightful! The buzz in the zone was great. Always loud despite the outcome of the match. I feel like I have to apologise to the people directly in front of me for my shrill screaming but I'm sure they would have understood.
I am still kind of deflated by the result and hate to admit it but I do think Auckland were better than us on the day. I can't bring myself to watch the highlights but am confident that we'll continue to improve as the season develops. As others have pointed out, we have only lost to AFC. It feels particularly sharke but it could also be much much worse.
As a new(ish) Nix fan who made the trip up for his first ever away supporter experience, I couldn't agree more. I turned up at the Right Track feeling like a bit of an imposter because I didn't know anyone and haven't really engaged with the fan community before, but the atmosphere was awesome and I had the time of my life joining the march and shouting myself hoarse with the rest of you. Maybe I should get my 25/26 season ticket in the zone...
Shame about the result, but if last weekend taught me anything it's that the time to chant the loudest is right after you concede. COYN!
Where exactly are you guys seeing this crazy run of away games, though...? From the fixtures list, I can see they have a couple of instances of back to back away games (same as us). They also have a bye just before two of their away games.
I don't think it's an excuse. Both things can be true at once - they have been playing better than other teams AND they've been lucky/helped by the scheduling. They're not mutually exclusive things and also does not excuse our loss.
the thought of bringing in a ream of yellow paper and throwing paper darts at them did cross my mind mykey
I am so fired up for this. Have the fever got anything planned for the second storey away zone? 100 yellow streamers raining down on the port would do the trick
Note to Auckland Transport: if you could put on a 6 carriage train instead of a 3 carriage train And if you could avoid cutting the march in two at the pedestrian crossing with the next train along! (or let people travel free so no queue to tag off) that would be appreciated
Honestly, putting aside the heartbreak of the result, kudos to the Fever for organising the march an everyone who made the trip up to Auckland for it. It amazes me how nice and polite everyone is in a situation where people can tend to get a little carried away by emotion. No pushing or shoving, people actually saying "excuse me" if they want to get past you, holding tree branches so others behind them don't get hit in the face. Delightful! The buzz in the zone was great. Always loud despite the outcome of the match. I feel like I have to apologise to the people directly in front of me for my shrill screaming but I'm sure they would have understood.
I am still kind of deflated by the result and hate to admit it but I do think Auckland were better than us on the day. I can't bring myself to watch the highlights but am confident that we'll continue to improve as the season develops. As others have pointed out, we have only lost to AFC. It feels particularly sharke but it could also be much much worse.
As a new(ish) Nix fan who made the trip up for his first ever away supporter experience, I couldn't agree more. I turned up at the Right Track feeling like a bit of an imposter because I didn't know anyone and haven't really engaged with the fan community before, but the atmosphere was awesome and I had the time of my life joining the march and shouting myself hoarse with the rest of you. Maybe I should get my 25/26 season ticket in the zone...
Shame about the result, but if last weekend taught me anything it's that the time to chant the loudest is right after you concede. COYN!
I was very much in the same boat, got in late the night before, but turned up at the pub super early because I was a ball of nervous energy and just wanted to get in to the day. Got in my Uber and the driver was wearing a Bayern Munich top - class bloke, bit of a Eurosnob, but he knew the Wellington Phoenix, so I tipped him.
Asked him if he knew about Auckland FC and he goes, "yeah we're playing them in the Club World Cup!" Lol 😂
Knew bugger all people at the pub, aside from the brother I dragged along, but met up with a lad I'd met off twitter, and a couple of lads who run a Phoenix podcast, as well as a couple of older gentleman who were all top class. If you're heading up in February give us a buzz!
I don't buy the stuff around an easy schedule - they've played us twice, Macarthur and Sydney, all decent teams. If you want an easy schedule, look at Adelaide who haven't played anyone above 8th!
This acting like they will be absolutely get found out on the road is a bit funny, realistically only Victory, Sydney and Adelaide are particularly good at home. Any other game I'd fancy AFC to go there and win right now.
True story, while in Auckland we picked up a nix top that we purchased off trademe. The dude opened the door wearing his new AFC kit and was selling his nix shirt. Fever rejects.
Copping abuse from cods in cars whilst waiting for a bus that's 15 minutes late.
What a time to be alive...
Yeh mate took his kids and sat nearish the Port and said it was distracting from the game just the abuse and foul mouthed stuff.
If your mate was wearing a Nix shirt and sitting near the Port, he should've expected some abuse. Respect for wearing it but that's the risk you take.
But he wasn’t. Didn’t even say he was a Nix fan, did I. Wasn’t that it was focused at him, just like they were chanting seagull the whole time, but instead of that it was just a whole bunch of swearing in the Fever’s direction…and he found that off putting.
I know chanting, banter and even a bit of taunting are all part of a rivalry, and I'm here for it, but as I said to a few of you on the day. Some of them are so bloody angry for a bunch of people that have been 'die hard' AFC fans for all of six games.
I don't mean to tarnish a whole fanbase with the brush, but some of them were just so mad to a level I can't possibly fathom for a fanbase so young, from a team that hasn't lost to us (or anyone!) yet.
It was utterly bizarre. Anyone have any idea what's going on? (if you are an ex-Phoenix, now AFC fan still lurking, please enlighten me)
I'm a born and raised Aucklander, and the thing that struck me is it had this little brother energy we're used to occasionally seeing from the smaller regions, but from them, to supporters of a team from a smaller city, that they're beating. Again, I don't get it.
True story, while in Auckland we picked up a nix top that we purchased off trademe. The dude opened the door wearing his new AFC kit and was selling his nix shirt. Fever rejects.
Oh well, we lose dead weight and a few of us get a chance to plug any gaps in the collection :D
Some perspective: Auckland have had 4 home games in the seven rounds. The game to Wellington was an away game in front of 24000 Nix fans.
these teams have had 4 home games in the seven rounds; Western United, Macarthur, CCM.
To add to that perspective, 22/23 season, Phoenix had 6 of their first 8 games at home, HHAAHHHH. Although we did have all 4 February games away, and Feb can be quite warm.
I was playing cricket in Huapai on Saturday and couldn't get back for the game. I'll regret that for the rest of my life, but at least I got my ticket to a deserving fan.
(the cricket game sucked, thanks for asking :D )
Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009 This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads
Copping abuse from cods in cars whilst waiting for a bus that's 15 minutes late.
What a time to be alive...
Yeh mate took his kids and sat nearish the Port and said it was distracting from the game just the abuse and foul mouthed stuff.
If your mate was wearing a Nix shirt and sitting near the Port, he should've expected some abuse. Respect for wearing it but that's the risk you take.
But he wasn’t. Didn’t even say he was a Nix fan, did I. Wasn’t that it was focused at him, just like they were chanting seagull the whole time, but instead of that it was just a whole bunch of swearing in the Fever’s direction…and he found that off putting.
I know chanting, banter and even a bit of taunting are all part of a rivalry, and I'm here for it, but as I said to a few of you on the day. Some of them are so bloody angry for a bunch of people that have been 'die hard' AFC fans for all of six games.
I don't mean to tarnish a whole fanbase with the brush, but some of them were just so mad to a level I can't possibly fathom for a fanbase so young, from a team that hasn't lost to us (or anyone!) yet.
It was utterly bizarre. Anyone have any idea what's going on? (if you are an ex-Phoenix, now AFC fan still lurking, please enlighten me)
I'm a born and raised Aucklander, and the thing that struck me is it had this little brother energy we're used to occasionally seeing from the smaller regions, but from them, to supporters of a team from a smaller city, that they're beating. Again, I don't get it.
It's a good point and it's the vibe I get from some of them as well - not all but some.
I am a little concerned about the aggression level of some of them - if it's this high while we are winning then I'm not looking forward to seeing how they handle some losses.
True story, while in Auckland we picked up a nix top that we purchased off trademe. The dude opened the door wearing his new AFC kit and was selling his nix shirt. Fever rejects.
Was probably old mate around these parts 'The Port Soldier' flicking off something far more valuable in order to fund his next fix. 😂
Just curious but does the A-League fine clubs for getting more than a certain number of cards in a game - in local NRFL football if teams get 5 or more in one game it's an additional fine - starts at $250 and doubles every time you do it (capped at $2k).
Is this is thing in the A-League, does anyone know?
I don’t think we are a particularly bad side. Sure there is room for improvement but sporadically we were able to impose our play. There’s the problem…..we got dominated in midfield and struggled all over the park with AFC,s physicality. Our small quick guys were continually get monstered off the ball. You have to be very skillful and fast if you have nobody who can hold up the ball back to goal and lay it off to the runners. I really think in our squad we are two or three players short. We need an Old who can go past defenders. We need a bit more muscle in midfield to help out Rufer. But I am still optimistic for this season. We have the ability to beat many sides. The key for me is Rojas. If we can get him back to playing 80 minutes then he could play the creative Brimmer role. That’s what’s really missing. As for AFC they have quality all over the park. Watching the game live you can see how good a player Sakai is. Amazing movement and skill and football smarts. It’s a joy to watch top class players like him.
if the pitch was a bit quicker it would've helped negate the physical battle. maybe a bit naive expecting good, quick pitches in the AL and recruiting players for that. like last season we certainly were a bigger team with more runners.
True story, while in Auckland we picked up a nix top that we purchased off trademe. The dude opened the door wearing his new AFC kit and was selling his nix shirt. Fever rejects.
Was probably old mate around these parts 'The Port Soldier' flicking off something far more valuable in order to fund his next fix. 😂
Copping abuse from cods in cars whilst waiting for a bus that's 15 minutes late.
What a time to be alive...
Yeh mate took his kids and sat nearish the Port and said it was distracting from the game just the abuse and foul mouthed stuff.
If your mate was wearing a Nix shirt and sitting near the Port, he should've expected some abuse. Respect for wearing it but that's the risk you take.
But he wasn’t. Didn’t even say he was a Nix fan, did I. Wasn’t that it was focused at him, just like they were chanting seagull the whole time, but instead of that it was just a whole bunch of swearing in the Fever’s direction…and he found that off putting.
I know chanting, banter and even a bit of taunting are all part of a rivalry, and I'm here for it, but as I said to a few of you on the day. Some of them are so bloody angry for a bunch of people that have been 'die hard' AFC fans for all of six games.
I don't mean to tarnish a whole fanbase with the brush, but some of them were just so mad to a level I can't possibly fathom for a fanbase so young, from a team that hasn't lost to us (or anyone!) yet.
It was utterly bizarre. Anyone have any idea what's going on? (if you are an ex-Phoenix, now AFC fan still lurking, please enlighten me)
I'm a born and raised Aucklander, and the thing that struck me is it had this little brother energy we're used to occasionally seeing from the smaller regions, but from them, to supporters of a team from a smaller city, that they're beating. Again, I don't get it.
I think they have watched a Wellington team rep NZ for so long... now they have their chance, and they are doing really well...
Probably something in there from their Rugby team being average for years too...
Also the Warriors never win anything...
They are probably excited to have a team actually winning for once haha. Angry short man syndrome.
Copping abuse from cods in cars whilst waiting for a bus that's 15 minutes late.
What a time to be alive...
Yeh mate took his kids and sat nearish the Port and said it was distracting from the game just the abuse and foul mouthed stuff.
If your mate was wearing a Nix shirt and sitting near the Port, he should've expected some abuse. Respect for wearing it but that's the risk you take.
But he wasn’t. Didn’t even say he was a Nix fan, did I. Wasn’t that it was focused at him, just like they were chanting seagull the whole time, but instead of that it was just a whole bunch of swearing in the Fever’s direction…and he found that off putting.
I know chanting, banter and even a bit of taunting are all part of a rivalry, and I'm here for it, but as I said to a few of you on the day. Some of them are so bloody angry for a bunch of people that have been 'die hard' AFC fans for all of six games.
I don't mean to tarnish a whole fanbase with the brush, but some of them were just so mad to a level I can't possibly fathom for a fanbase so young, from a team that hasn't lost to us (or anyone!) yet.
It was utterly bizarre. Anyone have any idea what's going on? (if you are an ex-Phoenix, now AFC fan still lurking, please enlighten me)
I'm a born and raised Aucklander, and the thing that struck me is it had this little brother energy we're used to occasionally seeing from the smaller regions, but from them, to supporters of a team from a smaller city, that they're beating. Again, I don't get it.
I think they have watched a Wellington team rep NZ for so long... now they have their chance, and they are doing really well...
Probably something in there from their Rugby team being average for years too...
Also the Warriors never win anything...
They are probably excited to have a team actually winning for once haha. Angry short man syndrome.
Both the Blues in super rugby and Auckland’s provincial team have been far more successful than either the Hurricanes or Wellington.
Nah I didn't get that from it, I think he's just very close to neutral overall (part of doing his job I think - he cant really commentate for both teams if hes biased against one) and he probably cares more about the good of Football in NZ than the Phoenix.
Also don't forget that on that podcast he praises the Fever and says they were a lot louder than the port
Nah I didn't get that from it, I think he's just very close to neutral overall (part of doing his job I think - he cant really commentate for both teams if hes biased against one) and he probably cares more about the good of Football in NZ than the Phoenix.
Also don't forget that on that podcast he praises the Fever and says they were a lot louder than the port
Agreed. He is a sports commentator, not a Nix commentator. He is doing his job.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Nah I didn't get that from it, I think he's just very close to neutral overall (part of doing his job I think - he cant really commentate for both teams if hes biased against one) and he probably cares more about the good of Football in NZ than the Phoenix.
Also don't forget that on that podcast he praises the Fever and says they were a lot louder than the port
Agreed. He is a sports commentator, not a Nix commentator. He is doing his job.
Be good if he got his commentary facts right. Tim Payne didn’t play as a 16 yr old striker for Auckland City. Was Waitakere Utd.
Nah I didn't get that from it, I think he's just very close to neutral overall (part of doing his job I think - he cant really commentate for both teams if hes biased against one) and he probably cares more about the good of Football in NZ than the Phoenix.
Also don't forget that on that podcast he praises the Fever and says they were a lot louder than the port
Agreed. He is a sports commentator, not a Nix commentator. He is doing his job.
Be good if he got his commentary facts right. Tim Payne didn’t play as a 16 yr old striker for Auckland City. Was Waitakere Utd.
He played for Auckland City before playing for Waitākere United.
So a couple of things, the Nix have asked for and been given some feedback regarding the match day. The main points we gave were:
The trains only having 3 carriages
The debacle at the gate trying to get us all in through one entrance.
Marching us through Auckland fans after talking about keeping us separated before the game
Auckland fans in the zone and even if that was ok, not getting rid of ones that were clearly trying to cause shark
This has been feed back and hopefully Auckland learns from it. Otherwise, it was a brilliant tour from the Fever lot, the pub, the march and the zone was great despite the result.
I'm really pleased also to see comments from others that aren't usually in the zone or the pub pre-match, really enjoying themselves. I think we pride ourselves on being a welcoming bunch and so it's nice to hear others that usually don't experience it really enjoying themselves and I hope you'll be back again soon!
I took my brother, niece and her boyfriend along, and they loved it. The boyfriend had never been to a football game before and said it was an amazing, one of the best sporting experiences he's ever had (and he's been to breakers and warriors games).
Nah I didn't get that from it, I think he's just very close to neutral overall (part of doing his job I think - he cant really commentate for both teams if hes biased against one) and he probably cares more about the good of Football in NZ than the Phoenix.
Also don't forget that on that podcast he praises the Fever and says they were a lot louder than the port
Agreed. He is a sports commentator, not a Nix commentator. He is doing his job.
Be good if he got his commentary facts right. Tim Payne didn’t play as a 16 yr old striker for Auckland City. Was Waitakere Utd.
He played for Auckland City before playing for Waitākere United.
