We just handed Don-Key and his merry men, three years to run our country and start sending troops to fight a war.
Three years for Ernie. No worries.
(---)
But seriously: Merrick looks to be the goods now. Most of us regard the day after tomorrow as belonging to the dim and distant future. Remember "Long season beckons"? Remember the angst after the WSW loss or the two home draws? A 4th place finish, even making the semis don't impress me much, because Ricki got us there with the help of some good signings. If I were in control, I would have given him a 1-year extension with options for renewal to see whether he can really get us in silverware contention.
I can't agree with that, Doloras. The 4th place finish under Ricki was in different times and it would be much harder, if not impossible, for Ricki to do it today. And thank god that Gareth in his wisdom asked for a more entertaining style of play, because now we have a coach that can do it, regardless of whether we win the league, or just get to the 4th place, or whatever.
What you are saying - unless I misunderstood - is that if Ernie does not win us the silverware after one extra year then we should let him go. IMe, I actually enjoy watching the Nix under Ernie. I do not mind if they lose the grand final, as long as they play well in the GF and do not get thrashed by 5 to 0. At least I know that with Ernie (and Welnix) we will probably now get more good seasons than bad ones, whether we play in the GF or not.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
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Doloras feels the need to put on the headscarf, cheap jewelry, burn the incense and polish her crystal ball [leaving the broomstick in the corner]
Uncannily accurate!
"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...
I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...
Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."
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(---)
But seriously: Merrick looks to be the goods now. Most of us regard the day after tomorrow as belonging to the dim and distant future. Remember "Long season beckons"? Remember the angst after the WSW loss or the two home draws? A 4th place finish, even making the semis don't impress me much, because Ricki got us there with the help of some good signings. If I were in control, I would have given him a 1-year extension with options for renewal to see whether he can really get us in silverware contention.
I can't agree with that, Doloras. The 4th place finish under Ricki was in different times and it would be much harder, if not impossible, for Ricki to do it today. And thank god that Gareth in his wisdom asked for a more entertaining style of play, because now we have a coach that can do it, regardless of whether we win the league, or just get to the 4th place, or whatever.
What you are saying - unless I misunderstood - is that if Ernie does not win us the silverware after one extra year then we should let him go. IMe, I actually enjoy watching the Nix under Ernie. I do not mind if they lose the grand final, as long as they play well in the GF and do not get thrashed by 5 to 0. At least I know that with Ernie (and Welnix) we will probably now get more good seasons than bad ones, whether we play in the GF or not.
Spot on. For pure style of play, this is the most I've enjoyed watching the Nix. The only thing it's missing is Ifill.
a.haak
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Imagine this team with added 2009/10 Ifill and then try not to mess yourself. It's tough.
You know we belong together...
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Wonder if that is NZF given the rumour they were ending their sponsorship
If ASB cease their sponsorship deal with NZF, I will immediately close my account with them. It's bad enough that they are sponsoring the AB's with their sharkty cheesy ads. The AB's must be the richest team in NZ.
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Close your account. It stopped 2 months ago. Through whom I know, everyone (franchises) have been told not to have ASB logos for next ASBP (or whatever it will be called) season. I actually heard that ASB could not run fast enough.
Grumpy old bastard alert
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I don't think it's good news, unless we can buy out Merrick 1 or 2 years early if his tactics start to flop again. There's not enough leeway to punish incompetence.
Coaches get sacked well short of contract length all the time. Just costs a bit more. Moyes didn't even last one year into a 6 year contract
Because United fans hounded him out.
and where's Everton this season too, just quietly
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Okay, okay, most of you are making good points on security of tenure for a good coach.
One issue which I'm still not convinced about Merrick on is building a strong team culture around Kiwi players. You can argue Ricki went too far on this to the extent that "his boys" would never get dropped no matter how much they sucked. But we've lost solid if unspectacular Kiwi names (Brockie, Boyd), in favour of near-to washed up Aussie journeymen. Yes, and I know the evidence that Boyd has a bad attitude. But the question isn't just the Nix winning (although that will be mighty fine), but its overall role in building Kiwi football.
sure someone else will have already made this point, but- Brockie and Boyd are going to be playing professional football somewhere else. Ernie has improved Boyd's game and regularly plays Fenton, Boxall, McG, Siggie and Mossy. If you look at Hicks work off the bench that's testament to the quality of tactical and technical work he's undergone with the 'Nix and of course to his own talent. Since Ernie got here we've achieved the Wee Nix.
I think Ernie is good for NZ football, no doubts about it.
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I can't shake the feeling that Merrick was let go by the Tards for a reason
Anthony Di Pietro. You have to remember he came in as MV chairman and sacked Merrick and a couple of back office people. De Pietro wanted to make a name for himself. Victory still made the finals that year BTW. I think Ernie was a dead duck as soon as De Pietro became chairman. Goes like that sometimes.
Think Ernie pretty much confirmed my reasoning in this interview with Piney:
https://soundcloud.com/piney6/ernie-merrick-newsta...
I would firmly say that Ernie's sacking was mainly political and not ability based.
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