In The Zone - The End

Happy 50th anniversary.  Really enjoyed the podcast and how awesome is Henry Tait!

 In The Zone V51 is live at www.yellowfever.podomatic.com & Itunes bit.ly/YFZone.

This week the pod utilises the bench to discuss the Wellington Phoenix FC's away loss to WSW FFA FC, Lia's best impression of Daniel Narcisse, the Distance Derby, and Greenacre's chance of nabbing the vacant head coaching role. In New Zealand football news, it's insane in the membrane as the Football Ferns claim 3rd spot in the Cyrus Cup, Ryan Nelsen claims his first win, and the ASB Premiership reaches its climax. While the local football segment makes a long awaited return.

The teams in the Big Blue now play for the Beyond Blue Cup, which is the campaign about depression.

Good pod - more Greenie please (can't believe I'm saying that).  Rotation works well, get a load of different views

On Chris Greenacre, I think one clear thing he has done is to leave the 2 young guys out of the starting lineup and use them from the bench.  I think that probably reflects where they are at - both are good, talented, young players but aren't ready to be relied upon week to week.

I got shot down for pointing out that this is what Ricki had done with previous young talent and that if he hadn't felt under pressure from the new owners and lack of any other players he would have done with these guys also. And he got criticised for what really may have been not exposing them too early and allowing to keep developing their game and building their confidence. 

 In The Zone V52 is live at www.yellowfever.podomatic.com & Itunes bit.ly/YFZone.

This week the pod reflects back on the Wellington Phoenix FC's brave attempt to avoid the wooden spoon on the back of a 2-1 victory over Perth Glory , while elsewhere in the Hyundai A-League, there is more fan violence and offence banners. In New Zealand football, the All Whites head to Dunedin and Waitakere United claim their 4th ASB Premiership title in a row. And back in Wellington, the Hilton Petone reaches its climax.

Agreed with Smithy on goal keepers.  There is an odd attitude to them a lot of the time, when a striker out of nothing scores, we say it's fantastic brilliant player, but when a keeper makes a string of great saves there is always a yeah, but around the result...

You sign a good keeper for that exact reason, to do their job which is to make saves and stop goals, and a good keeper will stop more goals than a bad one.  We shouldn't apologise for that

Only saw the 2nd half of the Big Blue, but you guys missed a great game.

As for Gameiro, he was pretty much playing as a midfielder against the Glory. At one point, he even popped up covering at CB. He has added a lot of work rate into the midfield the last couple games, that we have missed all season.

Sort of the similar work rate that Browny brought in the past

My friend in Melbourne says that the king-hitter is from the Victory fanbase, but turns up to Heart games every so often. He's not a part of Yarraside, and is a bit of a knob most of the time (even at Victory games).

As for the Big Blue, it was a very entertaining game, but that was mainly because the structure of both sides through the midfield was horrible, they were both letting the other team breeze through the midfield without much attempt to stop them. For that reason, I wouldn't describe it as a 'great game', merely an entertaining one.

Got around to listening to the pod last night, appreciate the shoutout guys!

No pod this week?

Recorded yesterday.

Depends on when 2B can post it up, he's faced some challenges this week.

Edited on the plane back to NZ. Trying to upload at Auckland airport but the interwebs not handelling it. Will be there by 5pm

 Celebrate Easter with the latest installation of In The Zone. It's live at www.yellowfever.podomatic.com & Itunes bit.ly/YFZone. Listen now!

With the Hyundai A-League heading into its final round and Wellington Phoenix FC having a week off, the Pod takes a look at permutation required to #avoidthespoon. Elsewhere, it’s a big week for international football with the All Whites and Junior All Whites are both crowned champions of Oceania with un-emphatic 100% winning records, Australia’s road to Rio hits a speed bump, and the race for CONCACAF qualification is tighter than Welnix. Locally, drought conditions look set to cause havoc with the start of the football season.

 We gonna get a season review pod?

 Recorded last night, then our producer had training.  Should be up tonight.

Need something better than Seven Sharp to entertain you? Then check out In The Zone V54. It's live at www.yellowfever.podomatic.com & Itunes bit.ly/YFZone.

As Wellington Phoenix FC? claim their second wooden spoon thanks to the weekend’s 3-2 loss to Melbourne Victory?, the Pod reflects back at the good, the bad, and the very, very ugly in the season that was. The New Zealand football segment looks at the Young All Whites? squad for Oceania qualifying, Kiwis abroad, the opening round of the O-League , and the Futsal All Whites. While locally, the season kicks off for most teams in Wellington.

Why the discretion on players you don't like El Grap?  You have to give your opinions on the players otherwise what's the point of having you on?  

Some very fair and sensible points though on Lochhead.  If those guys are on 250k though - wow.  It actually shows though that NZ players are in a really tough position, if you're not good enough to be an overseas player in an Aussie team the Phoenix have an awful lot of leverage.  It's them or no-one else.

Personally I think the defence got off awful lightly in the review - particularly Durante and Sigmund who have to be under the microscope for next season.  I think we may have to make a tough call there for next year

Smithy questioning the U17s lack of meaningful warm up matches ..didn't they just participate in the entire ASB Youth League? ..or is that not deemed as meaningful?

Only the northern based ones did.

But Mainland players were in it (even one at Ole)..?

I agree with Boxey on Hogg's performances for the Phoenix - very timid, especially on attack. Compare that with Rowe who was far more confident against Melbourne.

yeah Hogg stood off far too much for me.
Rowe has the best delivery of the 3 by far.

Also thought under Greenacre, our fullbacks werent encouraged to press forward as far as they did under Ricki - probably because we had 5 or 6 attacking players on the field already

 Wellington Phoenix FC might be done for another season, but In The Zone doesn't take a break for the off season. Episode 55 is out now. Listen at www.yellowfever.podomatic.com & Itunes bit.ly/YFZone

With no Phoenix of note, the pod takes a look at the two elimination finals where Perth Glory bowed out in controversial fashion and Adelaide United FC predictably waved goodbye. Back in New Zealand, the O-League's Super City derby sees Auckland City Football Club trump Waitakere United, while Capital Football's Central and Premier leagues are underway.

Enjoyed this week as usual.  Think you're a bit harsh on Perth though, thought they had pretty genuine complaint. 

They did miss a pen so yes, it was in their hands but they were ahead at that stage and were still ahead until Melbourne got the decision.  The refs intervention was pretty decisive.  Not sure I'd be writing it off that easily if we got screwed like that.

Smeltzy isn't in great form - I've always said we can't carry both him and Brockie in an XI as the don't do enough round the park.   They're quite similar players. If the qualifier was tomorrow who would you guys pick?

Good to hear about local football.  Always a lot more interesting when you go deeper and do more than just read out results at the beginning, read out the table half way through and then read out the draw at the end, all off the internet.  That's really not good radio, especially hard to follow when you're listening...

 In The Zone V56 is live at yellowfever.podomatic.com & Itunes bit.ly/YFZone.

This week the pod takes a look at the Hyundai A-League semis as the Wanderers and Mariners book themselves a place in the grand finale, reflects on the season's positives for the A-league and the Wellington Phoenix FC, and argue over whether Marco Rojas is truly the best player in the league. In New Zealand football news, the O-league ramps up, Kiwis are in action overseas, and the Junior All Whites are asked to cough up $3,000 for their World Cup preparation. While locally, there is Capital Football's Central and Premier League action.

 Re: Berger, isn't he a left sided player? Not sure he would be an option for RB anyway.