How's this helping NZ football?

Hey I thought someone might point out that we had three Kiwis on the field before the game, I was sort of disappointed that it was mention after the game instead. But its all temporary measure.

To compare one or two games in the three seasons of a lack of Kiwis in the team of which the Nix has no second team with clubs like ManU that has about 100 seasons with a youth team and reserve team and governs plenty of community youth and local league teams is a laugh.

You also say that the hard slog was done by the previous NZ team. To some little degree it is, but after the first two seasons of the Kingz and then removing Rufer, that was the end of it. Having sub standard lower league overseas players that couldn't cope was a response to the badly performed New Zealand players in the Kingz or Knights teams. The problem of those coaches is being out of touch with the overseas connections and with the league level as well as lack of financial support in getting the players that the coach needs.

Understandable response of any club in the world but because of being only NZ club in an OZ league and the hope of the NZ football public. Both Kingz & Knights had their time to develop the youth football but owners and their funding was getting lower and lower and lost touch with the community.

The Nix had a great response to the needs of NZ football than the Kingz and Knights. I started and leave it at 10 below points ( or else I can go on for ages as other here will tell you);

1. They have a strong owner in Terry S that has established sport connections and investment in the local scene rather than the Kingz/Knights owners that has offshore investment, therefore a bit more stable.

2.A coach and CEO that communicates better with the football community because they are given the freedom to by the owner unlike Turner and Rufer who shut off by the Kingz/Knights board whenever they tried.

3. Players having more community oriented activities with the public. Leading to better crowd numbers.

4. Ring of fire has better crowd access and updated facilities and more well seen stadium that stand out near the City hub.

5. The Nix players have better national media coverage than Kingz/Knight.

6. The benefit of having the Nix coach who is also the AW coach. I have to admit that it was more beneficial than first thought of.

7. More Wellington football community backing for the Nix compared to the jealous and divided Auckland football community attitude to Kingz/Knight.

8. Ricki having shown greater resolve in turning last years season around with the players from a bad beginning run to a decent run towards the end in nearly gaining into the playoffs. Therefore gaining the confidence of the public that the club has the potential to do better.

9. Having the undefeated home streak and acquiring suitable player imports that fits the dynamic style of skillful play and team concept. Making football exciting to watch than stale team formations on the backfoot (beside Kingz first two season)

10. The Nix having to continuously trial NZFC players each season, unlike what the later Kingz and Knights had done as well as giving some non-Nix players training time with the club players for the AW squad.

10 points better for NZ football development by the Nix than the previous NZ clubs.

Just say that then you muppet. Leave your Auckland superiority complex at the door and try not be such a blatant troll and maybe people will listen a bit more.

That's a fair point, but I think that is exactly what the Nix have done. 3 kiwis on the park + the usual Siggie (if he hadn't got suspended) + the injured Paston= a solid base of 5 homegrown players. Costa and Rojas are being groomed for the future when they can step up at this level. I really don't get what you're complaining about? The fact there's no Auckland City heroes in the side?

My argument is simple. How can it be a bad thing? Nothing bad can come from having the phoenix play in the A league,it gives more potential for players to come through,it has given players like smeltz a lifeline,and it has generated public interest in football (particularly in wellington).

However I share your little fear of losing Ricki and the possible shut off of local talent. But that is not happening as it seems that there is more long term prospect that he will stick around even if a season goes pear-shape.

I have confidence in Terry, Tony and Ricki to continue to make the club competitive and capable as the next A-League club. The ongoing transitional seasonal player transfers has players and fans confidence higher than Kingz and Knights. Really Kingz and Knights just rolled over and died. As long we perform competitively on the field with the ongoing support in the management infrastructure and fan crowds that is just behind Melbourne Victory and maybe Sydney FC in the League, we should have a good future.

Can I also ask why it is the Phoenix's responsibility to develop NZ talent, but not Auckland City's?  I hope you're down at your own club asking them to get rid of the foreigners and play more kiwis...

He won't be back until after the next Auckland City home game.  Where after the match a little group of them will whine about the Phoenix getting media coverage ahead of City, and how unfair it is that they only get 500 to matches and someone will say 'you should go on yellow fever and post that, they won't like the truth'.

Of course neglecting to actually research if it is the truth.

Without the Phoenix, I doubt that Costa/Rojas would be playing professionally. They're not world beaters, but the best we have here in NZ. Giving these guys a professional contract exposes them to the sort of environment that can only help them grow their game...and that can only be good for NZF...
Rising_Phoenix2010-01-11 23:44:43

The original topic isn't worth talking about.

Though this thread does make one wonder if it might be time to retire, "Same old Aussies, always cheating."

Who said that we will be taking the World Cup by storm?
We are just thrilled to be there after 27 years !!!!!

Agreed.  Although a number of your comments referred to Vince Lia in a way that suggested his is average at best.  To be honest I'd prefer him as a DM ahead of most other DM's in this league.

I would rather be winning without NZers than losing with. Would you be content with losing knowing that we were playing with a team of Kiwis? No.

Yeah thats the one chant i dont get in on.
AJ132010-01-12 07:11:18

decent effort for an auckland troll - got five pages and he bailed by page 3.5.....

lets lock this. Bluemagic is a tool with no brains.

I get the feeling he's achieved what he set out to do when he started the thread.

You two have a lot in common then.

Not true. He was head and shoulders above the rest of the league and anyone at City the season before the Nix snapped him up.

Make up your mind, mate, do you want people to yell at you or not?

(Aucklander here who's a big fan of both the Nix and ACFC and will actually be in Welly on 12 Feb, so you may see me at the Mariners game...)Doloras2010-01-12 10:24:16

You're in the majority Doloras, it's just the minority are more vocal.

See, this is where you lose credibility. Siggy was easily the best player in the NZFC, by a long way, before he came here. He was always going to get the opportunity (just like the likes of Krishna and Corrales, but they failed to make the cut) to play for the Phoenix.

And then you berate Ricky for not giving the opportunity to Brockie, who was absolute pants in the NZFC. Most people have tried to reason and argue why your views are bit misguided. And you had to expect some heat, especially since your argument aren't particularly well founded.

Quality thread this. Haven't read it all, but some of the questions do have to be asked.

First we wouldn't want a team getting humiliated just to give NZ players a go. You want NZ players to earn their starting spot.

martinb2010-01-12 12:28:28

Astute judge Ricki.

whatever I did to you I'm sorry. Just stop putting me down.

It's a valid issue throughout the game, do you invest in developing local players or throw money at imports. It's a huge issue in the Premiership at the moment and Fifa's even talking of quotas for local players. I've been a loyal fan of City from the outset and I can assure you Siggy wasn't the best player in the NZFC. I talked to him when he was trying to get a trial at the Phoenix and it was his sheer determination that finally got Herbert to relent but boy he had to work at it. Costa and Rojas are only there because of regulations. But don't tell me that Costa doesn't get the biggest cheer when he runs out as substitute. Krishna's finishing isn't good enough, even though he has good skills. Haynes and Coombes could do a good job for the Phoenix. BUT unless they get the chance, and that means proper game time because there's no reserve team, how can you say they're not good enough. Likewise Rojas. Maybe economic realities next season will allow cheaper local players more of a chance and I think that would be a good thing.

Bollocks. Siggy stood out like a beacon in the NZFC. Coombes isn't good enough for this level. He doesn't need to play in the A-league for everyone to realise he's not up to it. Haynes worth a look, but so is Barron.

Like we keep saying, best players from the NZFC have always had the opportunity to impress and get signed by the Phoenix. Some took the opportunity, others didn't. There's no reason to think that these opportunities won't keep coming, so I don't really see what your problem is.

Well if you want to have a whip around for us and get your mates not to block it we could have a reserve team either in Aussie or in NZFC.

Having seen Coombes and Hayne and asked around (so not just my one sided one eyed view) I would say that with Hayne he has the ability to be an A League player and what is helping him is that he moving away from the one dimensional wing man that he was. Plus Miron said so.... (obvious troll) Coombes too has A League talent. Very fit and competitive with skill on both feet alround the park. Its just he is a headcase on the pitch. Sorts that out and he would be there.

Jeff Vader2010-01-12 12:43:24

I dont think we can compare the Premiership with New Zealand football. Football in England is way popular than it is here.

If we were to play a team with majority of them being Kiwis and end up at the bottom of the table again - what good will that achieve for the game of football in New Zealand as whole?
No one will want to invest in a loosing team and no one will want to play for one either - - You make it sound as if the Nix have nothing to offer - they are the ONLY professional team in the country! This will indirectly help in developing local talent. You have to be patient - this is only the third season for the team!

There is a debate in some countries about not enough local players playing in their teams. This is sometimes a legit debate. The circumstances are obviously very different in New Zealand / for the Phoenix than the debate you refer to. But by coming here and posting incorrect facts and rubbish accusations that half our players are only here for money / have no commitment, that was hardly going to address the 'valid issue' you talk of.

Check out this piece which he (Bluemagic) sent to the Herald and then posted on the Auckland City Forum...can't say i agree with that!

"Now while I don't begrudge the All Whites their nomination for Westpac Sports Team of the Year nomination in the 2009 Halberg Awards, as local football receives precious little recognition in this country, I do wish to point out one very notable omission in the Team of the Year nominees.

Auckland City FC, a team of part-timers in the New Zealand Football Championship, qualified for the prestigious Club World Cup and then defied all odds to beat the (fully professional) champions of the UAE, Al Ahli, 2-0 and even more sensationally the powerful African champions TP Mazembe 3-2 with a fantastic last-minute goal.

No sporting achievement by a NZ team this year comes close to this David and Goliath triumph in the world's most popular game. All due respect to NZ's ice hockey team, the basketball Tall Blacks, softball's Black Sox, even the All Blacks, none of their efforts compare to what this amazing team achieved in coming fifth in the Club World Cup last week.

Led by All Whites hero Ivan Vicelich and coached by Paul Posa, Auckland City FC has some of the most exciting young NZ talent in the game and they were the sensation of a major international football tournament watched by hundreds of millions around the world. Respect where respect is due please!"

It's hyperbolic of course, but he's a city fan so not unexpected.  Plenty of us on here see things through rose-tinted specs at times and City's efforts were respectable.

I don't think they would have made a finalist spot but if they weren't even nominated that is disappointing (assuming there wasn't a timeframe that excluded them).

Yep. I thought the same last season when I had a good laugh at the ROF over the irony. I think it was Van Dijk who chopped Troy Hearfield and the "same old Aussies always cheating chant" went up. I realised a dutchman had chopped our Aussie....