ive got a song that wont take long, Adelaide are rubbish.. the second verse is same as the first.. ADELAIDE ARE RUBBISH
RICKI Herbert not one for making rash predictions has guaranteed playoff football for the Nix at the business end of next season.
The Wellington Phoenix coach amused by critics comparing his side to the failed New Zealand franchises the Kingz and the Knights made the prediction last night.
He told Sunday News: "The club's second year will be all about being in the top four. I sense that. At the moment we are competitive, we are close but we are making mistakes and we're getting punished.
"That's OK for year one it won't be OK for next season.
"When I signed on to coach the Nix it wasn't all about our first season. If it had been I would have filled the squad with seasoned pros.
"But we're trying to build something here. That's always been my rationale and I won't change my tune on it.
"All I can say is when I took on this job I signed on for three years. The first year was always going to be bloody tough.
"The critics forget that not too long ago we had a brand new chairman, no board, no offices, no training ground, no training gear we didn't even know what the colours where going to look like.
"Three months later we had 23 players moving to Wellington and then the season starts. We don't have any of those distractions next year.
"Next year, when the media ask me for a prediction I'll tell them, hand on heart, top four.
"And if we don't make it, then the chairman can make any decisions that need to be made at the end of the season.
"I'm quite happy for that statement to be made public."
Herbert's confidence is in a large part down to his recruiting something for which he gives the club a 75 percent pass mark.
"That other 25 percent, that's something we can make up next season."
The only dud Herbert recruited for the Nix's inaugural season is the Brazilian centreback Cleberson.
He's failed to impress in any of his three appearances, something the coach puts down to "communication difficulties".
It's easier, he says, for fellow Brazilians Felipe and Daniel to adapt to a new environment because they're forwards.
"At the back, though, communication and understanding the team's structure is vital."
Herbert who doubles as the All Whites coach had the chance to sign his national skipper Danny Hay, but passed. The decision led to Hay changing his focus, retiring from international football and taking charge of an academy in Auckland.
It's a decision Herbert wishes he could revisit.
"Experience (at the back) is what we need," said Herbert. "We need someone who, from an organisational point of view, can take charge.
"Someone like Danny would have been ideal. You can't dismiss that. When you look across the league, most of the sides have that type of person and that type of player anchoring their defence.
"I went for a South American defender instead ... "
Do you think the Phoenix will make next year's playoffs?
ive got a song that wont take long, Adelaide are rubbish.. the second verse is same as the first.. ADELAIDE ARE RUBBISH
good stuff rikki, glad to hear it, i knew next season would be where we were at, season 1 was always not going to be important coz your getting used to the new league.
the window for transfers open on Nov. 1
You see anyone leaving?ive got a song that wont take long, Adelaide are rubbish.. the second verse is same as the first.. ADELAIDE ARE RUBBISH
a.haak
ive got a song that wont take long, Adelaide are rubbish.. the second verse is same as the first.. ADELAIDE ARE RUBBISH
a.haak
Yeh he's a good player, but Coveny will always be chosen ahead
of him, sadly. I'm not a fan of Coveny or the EVIL THAT IS MICHEAL
FERRANTE!! 
I don't
care if he has a great work rate and good passes etc, he couldn't
hit a barn door when shooting! He players a similar position to
Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard and they can at
least get it on target.
Yeh he's a good player, but Coveny will always be chosen ahead
of him, sadly. I'm not a fan of Coveny or the EVIL THAT IS MICHEAL
FERRANTE!! I don't
care if he has a great work rate and good passes etc, he couldn't
hit a barn door when shooting! He players a similar position to
Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard and they can at
least get it on target.
Yeh he's a good player, but Coveny will always be chosen ahead
of him, sadly. I'm not a fan of Coveny or the EVIL THAT IS MICHEAL
FERRANTE!! I don't
care if he has a great work rate and good passes etc, he couldn't
hit a barn door when shooting! He players a similar position to
Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard and they can at
least get it on target.
... why is there not
more coaches like him?
With you on that Lonegunmen Im just glad
that Ricky is in charge and not some on the forums after some of
the suggestions i have read tonite. as I have no doubt
that as quick as some have jumped on the Phoenix bandwagon they
will be just as quick to jump off again.Im staying for the longterm
like i hope most of you will be.Apparently I'm apathetic, but I couldn't care less.
"Being a Partick Thistle fan sets you apart. It means youre a free thinker. It also means your team has no money." Tim Luckhurst, The Independent, 4th December 2003
Perhaps the Auckland fans could do like those Petone ones with the "Who are ya" tee shirts?
Apparently I'm apathetic, but I couldn't care less.
"Being a Partick Thistle fan sets you apart. It means youre a free thinker. It also means your team has no money." Tim Luckhurst, The Independent, 4th December 2003
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
Queenslander 3x a year.
Yeh he's a good player, but Coveny will always be chosen ahead
of him, sadly. I'm not a fan of Coveny or the EVIL THAT IS MICHEAL
FERRANTE!! �I
don't care if he has a great work rate and good passes etc, he
couldn't hit a barn door when shooting! He players a similar
position to Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard and they
can at least get it on target.
hehehe. .:)RICKI Herbert not one for making rash predictions has guaranteed playoff football for the Nix at the business end of next season.
The Wellington Phoenix coach amused by critics comparing his side to the failed New Zealand franchises the Kingz and the Knights made the prediction last night.
He told Sunday News: "The club's second year will be all about being in the top four. I sense that. At the moment we are competitive, we are close but we are making mistakes and we're getting punished.
"That's OK for year one it won't be OK for next season.
"When I signed on to coach the Nix it wasn't all about our first season. If it had been I would have filled the squad with seasoned pros.
"But we're trying to build something here. That's always been my rationale and I won't change my tune on it.
"All I can say is when I took on this job I signed on for three years. The first year was always going to be bloody tough.
"The critics forget that not too long ago we had a brand new chairman, no board, no offices, no training ground, no training gear we didn't even know what the colours where going to look like.
"Three months later we had 23 players moving to Wellington and then the season starts. We don't have any of those distractions next year.
"Next year, when the media ask me for a prediction I'll tell them, hand on heart, top four.
"And if we don't make it, then the chairman can make any decisions that need to be made at the end of the season.
"I'm quite happy for that statement to be made public."
Herbert's confidence is in a large part down to his recruiting something for which he gives the club a 75 percent pass mark.
"That other 25 percent, that's something we can make up next season."
The only dud Herbert recruited for the Nix's inaugural season is the Brazilian centreback Cleberson.
He's failed to impress in any of his three appearances, something the coach puts down to "communication difficulties".
It's easier, he says, for fellow Brazilians Felipe and Daniel to adapt to a new environment because they're forwards.
"At the back, though, communication and understanding the team's structure is vital."
Herbert who doubles as the All Whites coach had the chance to sign his national skipper Danny Hay, but passed. The decision led to Hay changing his focus, retiring from international football and taking charge of an academy in Auckland.
It's a decision Herbert wishes he could revisit.
"Experience (at the back) is what we need," said Herbert. "We need someone who, from an organisational point of view, can take charge.
"Someone like Danny would have been ideal. You can't dismiss that. When you look across the league, most of the sides have that type of person and that type of player anchoring their defence.
"I went for a South American defender instead ... "
Do you think the Phoenix will make next year's playoffs?
