In The Zone - The End

There's only one Greenie however!

I think one of the reasons that the last 3 podcasts have been so well received is because its given us fan a voice and opinion more to the face we see on game day. We get their opinions, personality and their take on various things and it opens your eyes so much to just how different things are under this coach.

Would it be a fair and objective statement to say that we got the right coach for the Phoenix? I know Ernie is one guy but the impression I get from listening is that he has stripped out what Ricki did and put in some fundamental systems (that may or may not have been missing) to really help improve the club from the ground up. I think its fair to say that he would be one of the major reasons for this. Listening to Greenie as he said, they were kept on the outer until Ernie got what he wanted in place and then started handing things over slowly

My take is that Ernie had a different approach and probably required more sports science to help in his approach.  He would have been hired based on his sales pitch of HOW he wanted to achieve success (including youth development I guess).

I think we have the right coach, but I think that club financials and Board/Owner knowledge has also changed over the last few years so that also changes how much risk/investment the club takes on.

I thought I was very nice to News?

Re pitch watering. Greenacre was close but it's more to do with the time it takes to water the pitch and fitting that into the already hectic pre-game pitch activity.

They asked us about it at Eden Park as well and after a few discussions they decided to flag it.

Basically the pitch is watered in sections (or stations) of 5 or 6 pop up sprinkler heads. Each head takes about a minute to do a full 360 degree turn - which is not a lot of water, on a nice warm day it'll be well and truly dry by half time. So if its 10 stations that's ten minutes and there isn't enough time pre-match to fit that in.

Westpac has a slightly different system to E.P but from what I remember it was the same problem there. Although I'm pretty sure since I left they've watered the pitch a lot more there so I'm not sure what's behind that. They do have a new computer system but not sure if that's why.

Merrick told us that he has never had the chance to speak to the groundsman at Westpac so barely knows/knew a thing about the place. Thought that was interesting.

When I was in scotland they would water the pitch right up until kick off and then water the pitch at half time as well. And it was winter and raining.

Ultimately it's up to the Phoenix if they want to designate 10/15 minutes of the pre match build up for the pitch to be watered. Merrick wasn't too bothered about it in Auckland.

"...It's in Australia!..."

;o)

But is it in the morning or afternoon???

Real good podcasts. cheers

Don't worry Greenie, I still love you.

Me or the other Greenie?

You, of course.

Why don't they just do their pre-match kick-around with the sprinklers on? My kids love that sort of thing. Get the water-slide out. Good times.

Are the FFDU awards still going?

I'd say that In the Zone would be a lock for Amateur Pod. Best A-League pod that I listen to.

done by voting number so WSW one wins.

so it's  quantity not quality that counts.

Any more cock sucking by patrick and he will replacing 2nd best on the pod cast

That's so typical of football. Just like counting the goals at the end of a game rather than seeing who'd played the best football!

Get Ben Williams on for one and aask him about his last performance in the Iraq v Iran game. Also ask him if its frue that unless yoh praise him, he will remember it and rule against you more often than not. Just a comment I heard last night.

Yes I wonder if those commentators can get into trouble for those derogatory statements. It was Aloisi that said Williams bore a grudge and will use it against you.

Interesting idea, but refs generally have a no comment policy and I can understand that. There's not much good that can come of them speaking out publicly.

To add to this, one of the rules we have around participation of the ASB Premiership as an official is no media statements/commentary and social media/Yellow Fever is part of that (as I have fallen foul of in 2008). We have all signed that as part of our participation agreement. For the HAL again, you would need permission of Ben Wilson and most likely you would have to submit questions which would be straight batted. When I comment on here, I make no reference to any player, coach, team, official or incident and try to educate with law where possible. Besides, referee stories are boring... No one wants to hear about that one time, at band camp, when you did the thing with the yellow card and the player said this and said that. It's funny to us but to everyone else - *snore*. When we were in Honiara for OFC Nations Cup, I had permission from NZF to do an interview with Dale. It never made it to air because I guess of 3 reasons: a: boring, b: boring or c: I spoke too fast :o)

To be fair, the game is not about us as much as we are made the focus of sometimes - it's about the players and the fans so who wants to hear from a ref anyway. The fans constantly remind us it's not about us (not that I have ever heard any fan yell that at me :o) )

The best way to get answers to some of these things you have is pose a question. Use team A and Team B. Then as referees, we are in the role of educating, and not commenting/criticising. I believe there is a thread for this already but realise if you talk about an actual incident involving teams/officials that are a little close to home, you are unlikely to get commentary. I know Patrick is a member of a closed referee Facebook page where we discuss incidents but it's never incidents close to home and it's usually boring chatter to all but refs.

I know that Urs Meier is regularly on TV to talk through referee decisions. It can be educational and takes out the steam of some decisions. I think referees not talking is not very clever.

Many players and Kevin Muscat, are pretty annoying, too. This constant complaining and raising the arm for every throw-in make them look like dicks. My kids where pretty shocked about the language on the field after an ASB game.

Bring back Pierluigi Collina !! The best of the best.

As an Everton supporter I would wholeheartedly disagree with you sir.

Why? Interested.

"""Slaphead ref Perluigi Collina denies Everton extra-time at El Madrigal with a baffling decision to disallow Duncan Ferguson's late goal in the Champions League Qualifier."""

The ref announced his retirement a couple of days after that game (he was already over the max age anyway).  Some of the more cynical Everton fans believed that he was on the take. 

Players like Kevin Muscat look liked dicks because they are dicks.

Durante is joining us this week. Questions by 4pm Wednesday.

Worst Phoenix room mate you have had?

How is the ankle you clipped hurdling the fence after your goal?

You've been all the way to the GF with Newcastle... how are you feeling about our chances this year?

Is Kevin Muscut as much of an ass in person as he seems to be through the lens of a TV camera?

- Best keeper to play in front of
- Worst keeper to play in front of
- Do you support the ABs or Wallabies?
- Favorite HAL ground orher then Westpac

Who would you rather have back you up in a fight Siggy or Manny?