Hail ___ the Chief - Giancarlo Italiano

For conideration re our coaching options, here's a summary of AFC's coaching pedigree:

Steve Corica - Socceroo (32 A caps). 445 pro games including for Leicester, Wolverhampton and Walsall in the FL Championship. Earned his clubs approx $3.5m in transfer fees. Coached Sydney FC for 5  years winning the premiership and 2 championships.

Danny Hay - All White (31 A caps). 121 pro games including for Leeds in the EPL and Walsall in the Championship. All Whites coach for 3 years. NZ age group coach for 3 years prior.

Jonathan Gould - 2 Scottish Caps. 266 pro games including for Celtic in the SPL Coventry in the EPL and Preston in the FL Championship. Experienced assistant coach and GK coach at Middlesbrough, WBA, Preston, Stoke and of course the Phoenix.

Stacked.

reg22

For conideration when considering our coaching options, here's a summary of how AFC's coaching pedigree stacks up:

Steve Corica - Socceroo (32 A caps). 445 pro games including for Wolverhampton and Walsall in the FL Championship. Coached Sydney FC for 5  years winning the premiership and 2 championship.

Danny Hay - All White (31 A caps). 121 pro games including for Leeds in the EPL and Walsall in the Championship. All Whites coach for 3 years. NZ age group coach for 3 years prior.

Jonathan Gould - 2 Scottish Caps. 266 pro games including for Celtic in the SPL Coventry in the EPL and Preston in the FL Championship. Experienced assistant coach and GK coach at Middlesbrough, WBA, Preston, Stoke and of course the Phoenix.

Stacked.

Yep and of the 3 Gould is the only one i would want at the Phoenix

ballane

reg22

For conideration when considering our coaching options, here's a summary of how AFC's coaching pedigree stacks up:

Steve Corica - Socceroo (32 A caps). 445 pro games including for Wolverhampton and Walsall in the FL Championship. Coached Sydney FC for 5  years winning the premiership and 2 championship.

Danny Hay - All White (31 A caps). 121 pro games including for Leeds in the EPL and Walsall in the Championship. All Whites coach for 3 years. NZ age group coach for 3 years prior.

Jonathan Gould - 2 Scottish Caps. 266 pro games including for Celtic in the SPL Coventry in the EPL and Preston in the FL Championship. Experienced assistant coach and GK coach at Middlesbrough, WBA, Preston, Stoke and of course the Phoenix.

Stacked.

Yep and of the 3 Gould is the only one i would want at the Phoenix

that's fair. but this is a summary of what they're bringing to the table at their club, which is having success because of it.

we can sit here and complain about budgets and personalities all we want to. that's our right i guess and probably a good indicator of where we sit

Gould was at the Nix in 2009 was here for two years before heading to Perth.

theprof

Gould was at the Nix in 2009 was here for two years before heading to Perth.

Didnt he do two stints with us. Wasnt he here with Talay as well for a while.

ballane

theprof

Gould was at the Nix in 2009 was here for two years before heading to Perth.

Didnt he do two stints with us. Wasnt he here with Talay as well for a while.

rejoined in 2012 until 2015.

ballane

reg22

For conideration when considering our coaching options, here's a summary of how AFC's coaching pedigree stacks up:

Steve Corica - Socceroo (32 A caps). 445 pro games including for Wolverhampton and Walsall in the FL Championship. Coached Sydney FC for 5  years winning the premiership and 2 championship.

Danny Hay - All White (31 A caps). 121 pro games including for Leeds in the EPL and Walsall in the Championship. All Whites coach for 3 years. NZ age group coach for 3 years prior.

Jonathan Gould - 2 Scottish Caps. 266 pro games including for Celtic in the SPL Coventry in the EPL and Preston in the FL Championship. Experienced assistant coach and GK coach at Middlesbrough, WBA, Preston, Stoke and of course the Phoenix.

Stacked.

Yep and of the 3 Gould is the only one i would want at the Phoenix

Bazeley to the Nix? Or Corica moves to Nix and Bazeley takes his role or second to Hay on promotion?

dick le roc returns

ballane

reg22

For conideration when considering our coaching options, here's a summary of how AFC's coaching pedigree stacks up:

Steve Corica - Socceroo (32 A caps). 445 pro games including for Wolverhampton and Walsall in the FL Championship. Coached Sydney FC for 5  years winning the premiership and 2 championship.

Danny Hay - All White (31 A caps). 121 pro games including for Leeds in the EPL and Walsall in the Championship. All Whites coach for 3 years. NZ age group coach for 3 years prior.

Jonathan Gould - 2 Scottish Caps. 266 pro games including for Celtic in the SPL Coventry in the EPL and Preston in the FL Championship. Experienced assistant coach and GK coach at Middlesbrough, WBA, Preston, Stoke and of course the Phoenix.

Stacked.

Yep and of the 3 Gould is the only one i would want at the Phoenix

Bazeley to the Nix? Or Corica moves to Nix and Bazeley takes his role or second to Hay on promotion?

One thing's for sure, Bazeley is well qualified for any coaching role in NZ, having also played for Walsall.

dick le roc returns

ballane

reg22

For conideration when considering our coaching options, here's a summary of how AFC's coaching pedigree stacks up:

Steve Corica - Socceroo (32 A caps). 445 pro games including for Wolverhampton and Walsall in the FL Championship. Coached Sydney FC for 5  years winning the premiership and 2 championship.

Danny Hay - All White (31 A caps). 121 pro games including for Leeds in the EPL and Walsall in the Championship. All Whites coach for 3 years. NZ age group coach for 3 years prior.

Jonathan Gould - 2 Scottish Caps. 266 pro games including for Celtic in the SPL Coventry in the EPL and Preston in the FL Championship. Experienced assistant coach and GK coach at Middlesbrough, WBA, Preston, Stoke and of course the Phoenix.

Stacked.

Yep and of the 3 Gould is the only one i would want at the Phoenix

Bazeley to the Nix? Or Corica moves to Nix and Bazeley takes his role or second to Hay on promotion?

You wot? Or rather, wot r u on?

No to Bazeball for the Nix.

reg22

dick le roc returns

ballane

reg22

For conideration when considering our coaching options, here's a summary of how AFC's coaching pedigree stacks up:

Steve Corica - Socceroo (32 A caps). 445 pro games including for Wolverhampton and Walsall in the FL Championship. Coached Sydney FC for 5  years winning the premiership and 2 championship.

Danny Hay - All White (31 A caps). 121 pro games including for Leeds in the EPL and Walsall in the Championship. All Whites coach for 3 years. NZ age group coach for 3 years prior.

Jonathan Gould - 2 Scottish Caps. 266 pro games including for Celtic in the SPL Coventry in the EPL and Preston in the FL Championship. Experienced assistant coach and GK coach at Middlesbrough, WBA, Preston, Stoke and of course the Phoenix.

Stacked.

Yep and of the 3 Gould is the only one i would want at the Phoenix

Bazeley to the Nix? Or Corica moves to Nix and Bazeley takes his role or second to Hay on promotion?

One thing's for sure, Bazeley is well qualified for any coaching role in NZ, having also played for Walsall.

Underrated comment. I feel like this whooshed over some people’s heads 😂

dick le roc returns

ballane

reg22

For conideration when considering our coaching options, here's a summary of how AFC's coaching pedigree stacks up:

Steve Corica - Socceroo (32 A caps). 445 pro games including for Wolverhampton and Walsall in the FL Championship. Coached Sydney FC for 5  years winning the premiership and 2 championship.

Danny Hay - All White (31 A caps). 121 pro games including for Leeds in the EPL and Walsall in the Championship. All Whites coach for 3 years. NZ age group coach for 3 years prior.

Jonathan Gould - 2 Scottish Caps. 266 pro games including for Celtic in the SPL Coventry in the EPL and Preston in the FL Championship. Experienced assistant coach and GK coach at Middlesbrough, WBA, Preston, Stoke and of course the Phoenix.

Stacked.

Yep and of the 3 Gould is the only one i would want at the Phoenix

Bazeley to the Nix? Or Corica moves to Nix and Bazeley takes his role or second to Hay on promotion?

Why could Corica want to move to the Nix?

Seriously, if he leaves Auckland FC he's going to a better league

We lost 8 decent players at the end of last season and potentially 7 more this season. How the f--k  is Chiefy meant to build a challenging side?

Domey is still banging on about aiming to finish in the top 6 each season. That is so negative. Try aiming to be number one. Whilst grooming academy players is one thing but to rely on them to reach top 6 is very poor. We need some seasoned professionals to help their development and to aim higher than 6 every year.

We have seasoned professionals who stayed for this years campaign (Rufer, Barbs, Payne, Wooten, Ball).

And you can argue around them, we had experienced A League players (and internationals) in Sutton and Al Tay as well who stayed.

We then had players who had decent exposure to the A League the year before in Kelly Heald, Hughes, Sheridan and OVH.

That's 11 players who should be up to standard there. Not a terrible starting point by any stretch of the imagination. 

We also signed 2 very experienced professionals at the start of the year to build up the squad, and picked up further experience in Rojas, Retre and Colakovski.

No we are at 16. 17 if you count Josh, who as a VISA signing one should assume is of a high standard... certainly higher than what we have internally.

Chiefy had the squad he wanted/built. He would of known before the end of last season he was losing players, just like we are with Sutton this year etc and would of started planning in earnest for this.

He failed - I have some theories as to why, but losing half a squad is not an excuse, its the norm in the league.

He needs to go.

No, injuries have hurt this year, and losing core players last year

Side wondering...

We have a thumbs up option that shows hits on the left botton of posts. We should have a thumbs down that shows hits on the bottom right. Would have been quicker than replying to LG : )

MetalLegNZ

Side wondering...

We have a thumbs up option that shows hits on the left botton of posts. We should have a thumbs down that shows hits on the bottom right. Would have been quicker than replying to LG : )

thumbs up to that

Keep seeing people saying about how many players we lost last year but sure i saw somewhere that we actually lost less players than many of the other teams. Does seem as if its a false excuse at times doubt there are many teams who dont have a turnover of players at the end of a season. Particularly when players we lose are often at the end of their contract.

ballane

Keep seeing people saying about how many players we lost last year but sure i saw somewhere that we actually lost less players than many of the other teams. Does seem as if its a false excuse at times doubt there are many teams who dont have a turnover of players at the end of a season. Particularly when players we lose are often at the end of their contract.

I mean there is a big difference in losing a lot of players that aren't very good after a bad season which you would've gotten from WSW, Perth, Brisbane etc compared to losing a lot of players you'd want to keep like us and CCM.

I just seen on Stuff that he is Gone!

Ooops sorry wrong coach, it is the women's coach that's gone

wilbaker

ballane

Keep seeing people saying about how many players we lost last year but sure i saw somewhere that we actually lost less players than many of the other teams. Does seem as if its a false excuse at times doubt there are many teams who dont have a turnover of players at the end of a season. Particularly when players we lose are often at the end of their contract.

I mean there is a big difference in losing a lot of players that aren't very good after a bad season which you would've gotten from WSW, Perth, Brisbane etc compared to losing a lot of players you'd want to keep like us and CCM.

Yeah but what im getting at is the narrative from a number of people  that the Phoenix lose more players than other teams when that just isnt the case. Also if a player has chosen to move on when his contract expires how can the club be blamed for that they cant force players to sign. Also its been a stated aim of the club to develop players and sell them on yet when it happens people act surprised. 
People are kidding themselves if they think young players ambitions end at playing in the A League.
Does seem that some expect the Phoenix to offer players contracts and they will sign but as we have seen thats not how it works,

Seems like there could be a decision before the last game against Perth if what Gilly says is true. Think i heard it right.

ballane

wilbaker

ballane

Keep seeing people saying about how many players we lost last year but sure i saw somewhere that we actually lost less players than many of the other teams. Does seem as if its a false excuse at times doubt there are many teams who dont have a turnover of players at the end of a season. Particularly when players we lose are often at the end of their contract.

I mean there is a big difference in losing a lot of players that aren't very good after a bad season which you would've gotten from WSW, Perth, Brisbane etc compared to losing a lot of players you'd want to keep like us and CCM.

Yeah but what im getting at is the narrative from a number of people  that the Phoenix lose more players than other teams when that just isnt the case. Also if a player has chosen to move on when his contract expires how can the club be blamed for that they cant force players to sign. Also its been a stated aim of the club to develop players and sell them on yet when it happens people act surprised. 
People are kidding themselves if they think young players ambitions end at playing in the A League.
Does seem that some expect the Phoenix to offer players contracts and they will sign but as we have seen thats not how it works,

the issue with the type of young players we are losing is that they're over performing relative to their salary. If a SFC or a MV lose a player they can just spend to maintain that level, we aren't likely going to spend to bring in the quality of a Old, Surman or Paulsen on top of a Zawada, BK etc.

Seems to be genuine uncertainty about whether Chiefy stays based on recent comments from Domey & Gill. I'm a little surprised, I thought there was almost no doubt Chiefy would stay, but I still think it is but far the more likely outcome. 

MetalLegNZ

Side wondering...

We have a thumbs up option that shows hits on the left botton of posts. We should have a thumbs down that shows hits on the bottom right. Would have been quicker than replying to LG : )

Can’t have thumbs down option, you might hurt someone’s feelings.

I’m conflicted. The Chief era so far has been an amazing rollercoaster. Coming from nowhere with the kids. Number 1 for so long. Watching the CCM game on the a long train trip and just as we got off, Doka. Oof. 

But this season has had some appalling football. So negative and pointless. And the odd stuff with players wanting out and being frozen out. 

Chief’s only chance to my mind is to say this year was a lot of mistakes by him and it can be binned off, and point to what he and Griff did the year before. As well as the few bright spots of inspired play by his senior players this season who are all retained, apart from Marco.

The injury situation shows a bit of bad luck, also how poor some signings were. We’re lucky Payne, Wootton, Ishige, Nagasawa and Kosta  were as fit as they were.

martinb

I’m conflicted. The Chief era so far has been an amazing rollercoaster. Coming from nowhere with the kids. Number 1 for so long. Watching the CCM game on the a long train trip and just as we got off, Doka. Oof. 

But this season has had some appalling football. So negative and pointless. And the odd stuff with players wanting out and being frozen out. 

Chief’s only chance to my mind is to say this year was a lot of mistakes by him and it can be binned off, and point to what he and Griff did the year before. As well as the few bright spots of inspired play by his senior players this season who are all retained, apart from Marco.

The injury situation shows a bit of bad luck, also how poor some signings were. We’re lucky Payne, Wootton, Ishige, Nagasawa and Kosta  were as fit as they were.

Payne has missed 5 games this season. per transfermarkt, this season we will have missed at least 87 games cumulatively across the squad due illness/injury

The perplexing question about Chief, is if you were to offer him a new contract, could you really afford to make it for two years. The Nix watch their purse strings and I don’t think could afford to make it two and watch another year of dross and then pay him off.

If he is willing to take one year and maybe an extension based upon making the top 6, then I would be open to it. 

AucklandPhoenix

The perplexing question about Chief, is if you were to offer him a new contract, could you really afford to make it for two years. The Nix watch their purse strings and I don’t think could afford to make it two and watch another year of dross and then pay him off.

If he is willing to take one year and maybe an extension based upon making the top 6, then I would be open to it. 

Agree with 1+1 with conditions.
Will put my hand up after much consideration im in the Chief to stay camp. Yep he has no doubt made mistakes this year but there are also a number of reasons things havnt gone as wanted. Think last years performance gives him some credits and i dont think its true what some say it was all on the back of Talay

Bullion

martinb

I’m conflicted. The Chief era so far has been an amazing rollercoaster. Coming from nowhere with the kids. Number 1 for so long. Watching the CCM game on the a long train trip and just as we got off, Doka. Oof. 

But this season has had some appalling football. So negative and pointless. And the odd stuff with players wanting out and being frozen out. 

Chief’s only chance to my mind is to say this year was a lot of mistakes by him and it can be binned off, and point to what he and Griff did the year before. As well as the few bright spots of inspired play by his senior players this season who are all retained, apart from Marco.

The injury situation shows a bit of bad luck, also how poor some signings were. We’re lucky Payne, Wootton, Ishige, Nagasawa and Kosta  were as fit as they were.

Payne has missed 5 games this season. per transfermarkt, this season we will have missed at least 87 games cumulatively across the squad due illness/injury

Only 5! If he missed as many as Rufer … 
Does that count Marco? And Cola? That’s 35 games right there if it does! 

I don’t know how to use or interpret that games missed statistic. However,  we are significantly lacking in players 21-29 with a bit of experience, good fitness and recovery times.

With the amount of sprinting Payne does and his history of hammies, I’d take only 5 games out each and every time! 

Retre has been a failed signing. Nagasawa doesn’t have a settled position and hasn’t convinced the fans, though he has looked better further forward. Ishige isn’t a big personality and drifts in and out of games. It’s been too easy to shut him down, without that freeing up space elsewhere. 

I did really like Ishige playing deeper and moving the ball like Singh used to. But it’s not clear if that’s sustainable against bigger teams than the Jets.

We were slow or didn’t bring in any injury cover players at all. Maybe a journeyman might have been Manny or at least someone who had a bit of experience at a lower level and could hold down the fort. Say prevent opposition running straight through the midfield…

martinb

Bullion

martinb

I’m conflicted. The Chief era so far has been an amazing rollercoaster. Coming from nowhere with the kids. Number 1 for so long. Watching the CCM game on the a long train trip and just as we got off, Doka. Oof. 

But this season has had some appalling football. So negative and pointless. And the odd stuff with players wanting out and being frozen out. 

Chief’s only chance to my mind is to say this year was a lot of mistakes by him and it can be binned off, and point to what he and Griff did the year before. As well as the few bright spots of inspired play by his senior players this season who are all retained, apart from Marco.

The injury situation shows a bit of bad luck, also how poor some signings were. We’re lucky Payne, Wootton, Ishige, Nagasawa and Kosta  were as fit as they were.

Payne has missed 5 games this season. per transfermarkt, this season we will have missed at least 87 games cumulatively across the squad due illness/injury

Only 5! If he missed as many as Rufer … 
Does that count Marco? And Cola? That’s 35 games right there if it does! 

I don’t know how to use or interpret that games missed statistic. However,  we are significantly lacking in players 21-29 with a bit of experience, good fitness and recovery times.

With the amount of sprinting Payne does and his history of hammies, I’d take only 5 games out each and every time! 

Retre has been a failed signing. Nagasawa doesn’t have a settled position and hasn’t convinced the fans, though he has looked better further forward. Ishige isn’t a big personality and drifts in and out of games. It’s been too easy to shut him down, without that freeing up space elsewhere. 

I did really like Ishige playing deeper and moving the ball like Singh used to. But it’s not clear if that’s sustainable against bigger teams than the Jets.

We were slow or didn’t bring in any injury cover players at all. Maybe a journeyman might have been Manny or at least someone who had a bit of experience at a lower level and could hold down the fort. Say prevent opposition running straight through the midfield…

it does include Cola and Marco (when he was at the club),also includes Chico. Doesn't include Ball who was supposedly coming back from injury but his injury data has been wiped on transfermarkt. To put it into perspective (assuming data is fairly accurate) Akl would need 20 players unavailable for each of the next 3 games to be in the ballpark for games missed. 

Double post

Yeh- that’s the point about money and squad depth imo. They rest their players constantly. Moreno comes off the bench. Cam Elliot comes off the bench. Brimmer, Howieson, and a whole bunch of players are able to rotate in and out and take pressure off the first team. Tommy Smith replaces Dan Hall. Verstaete has had a period of not starting. 

They don’t have to push Rufer, Payne and Kosta the way we do because they have depth in the squad. And that’s their money talking I think.

But also I’m a bit suspicious of the data too. Auckland have had some injuries as well. 

I mean we had Rufer out and we had no midfielder capable of running box to box. That’s an effect from one player Auckland don’t have. 

From Chiefy's post match chat tonight with the Parmount crew, sounds very much like he'll be getting a new deal announced this coming week.

coochiee

From Chiefy's post match chat tonight with the Parmount crew, sounds very much like he'll be getting a new deal announced this coming week.

I hope not.

We've been woeful this season and for all the highs of last season we still have absolutely nothing to show for it. Chiefy and the team bottled it when it mattered last year and HIS team this year has been dire since late '24.

AFC will likely have it's first trophy in a couple of weeks whereas for us it's been 18 odd years of pain and suffering.

If we use metrics, his team sucking and AFC dominating means the Nix will have permanently lost a significant proportion of its fan base. The Nix needed to excel this season to prevent haemorrhaging fans but we've been so bad, the club has actually helped AFC accrue more of them then it should have.

martinb

Yeh- that’s the point about money and squad depth imo. They rest their players constantly. Moreno comes off the bench. Cam Elliot comes off the bench. Brimmer, Howieson, and a whole bunch of players are able to rotate in and out and take pressure off the first team. Tommy Smith replaces Dan Hall. Verstaete has had a period of not starting. 

They don’t have to push Rufer, Payne and Kosta the way we do because they have depth in the squad. And that’s their money talking I think.

But also I’m a bit suspicious of the data too. Auckland have had some injuries as well. 

I mean we had Rufer out and we had no midfielder capable of running box to box. That’s an effect from one player Auckland don’t have. 

That’s called bad management 

Feverish

martinb

Yeh- that’s the point about money and squad depth imo. They rest their players constantly. Moreno comes off the bench. Cam Elliot comes off the bench. Brimmer, Howieson, and a whole bunch of players are able to rotate in and out and take pressure off the first team. Tommy Smith replaces Dan Hall. Verstaete has had a period of not starting. 

They don’t have to push Rufer, Payne and Kosta the way we do because they have depth in the squad. And that’s their money talking I think.

But also I’m a bit suspicious of the data too. Auckland have had some injuries as well. 

I mean we had Rufer out and we had no midfielder capable of running box to box. That’s an effect from one player Auckland don’t have. 

That’s called bad management 

That’s what’s been making me cranky this season. It’s more difficult to manage things with fewer resources, but you can’t proceed with a bunch that are half built of glass assuming there’ll be no injuries. 

Just to put things into some perspective when people are talking about $ and the quality of the squad that AFC assembled.

I was listening to an old NZ podcast today - studs up. It was just before the A league started and I was interested in how at that time AFC and the Nixes seasons were going to be perceived.

They talked about the betting odds for the winners of the league. Now betting guys don’t always get things right but they will do everything they can to evaluate and analyse as obviously they could lose a truck load of dosh if they fudge it up.

Obviously no one saw AFC coming based upon the quality of the squad they had assembled.

The odds of AFC winning were 15- 1.

AFC were not even favourites to win their first home game of the season against the Roar. 

The Nix odds were 8-1.

AucklandPhoenix

Just to put things into some perspective when people are talking about $ and the quality of the squad that AFC assembled.

I was listening to an old NZ podcast today - studs up. It was just before the A league started and I was interested in how at that time AFC and the Nixes seasons were going to be perceived.

They talked about the betting odds for the winners of the league. Now betting guys don’t always get things right but they will do everything they can to evaluate and analyse as obviously they could lose a truck load of dosh if they fudge it up.

Obviously no one saw AFC coming based upon the quality of the squad they had assembled.

The odds of AFC winning were 15- 1.

AFC were not even favourites to win their first home game of the season against the Roar. 

The Nix odds were 8-1.

There had to be a point when they started recruiting Hall, Brimmer, Sakai, Paulsen, de Vries, Smith, Elliot, Hay, (as an assistant so had to be good money), Corica etc where they had to start looking good to the bookies. 

The surprise surely has to be how productive de Vries, Rogerson and to a lesser degree, but still handy in a considering their very parsimonious defense, Mata have been. 

But compared to the league they’ve been able to give a few youth players experience, rather than playing youth because the disbursement meant they couldn’t afford anyone else. Their backups were and are established pros and that difference should have been clear early.

I think that stat says more about how honking we’ve been coming off our best ever season results wise. Auckland might have had trouble binding it together, but the Nix should be in the mix after second is how I’d read those results.