Nix vs Heart, Dunedin, 3rd March 4.30pm SS1

Just above you guys, I think..

I have a Kaiser Chiefs shirt to blend in..

Any Jam Tards likely to be at the Craft Beer place? Lol!

They have been invited. I bumped into their keepers and Fred tonight. 

Very interesting to hear the Heart media person comment that there is hardly anything he has seen in town advertising or promoting the match. 

FFA I hope you are reading this. If the purpose of the regional round is truly to grow the game in areas where it is a minority sport, you need to have a decent marketing strategy to achieve the desired goal. It saddens me to be honest. I love both Dunedin and football and have those interests at the forefront of all I do. 

THE DAY BEFORE MATCH DAY!

Today is going to be crazier than tomorrow. See you all soon. 

Don't forget 1pm at the Octagon!

I've seen ads in The Southland Times.

There are print ads in STL and ODT. Also radio ads. But nothing whatsoever in town. 

 Phoenix in desperate need of good news

Dunedin has been a happy hunting ground for the Phoenix, and left back Tony Lochhead hopes it will be again tomorrow for the flagging A-League football side.

In 2011, the Phoenix downed high-flying Brisbane 2-0 but this year they are managerless, at the bottom of the league, and facing a strong Melbourne Heart side keen to seal their place in the playoffs.

Lochhead has been a stalwart of the Phoenix backline, racking up more than 100 appearances for the club.

But where once the Phoenix were famed for a hard-nosed defence, this season they have let in 41 goals and Lochhead has found himself under fire in the media and from fans for his form.

"I try not to read too much of that stuff," Lochhead said.

"A lot of those people don't really know a whole lot about what is going on but yeah, I haven't had a great season.

"Me personally and the rest of the team, we haven't got the results we've needed. It's been disappointing and sometimes these things happen: you can't play well every year. I've just got to do the best I can for the rest of the season and see where we go.

"The quality of the league has gone up and some of the players that have been brought in have been pretty impressive. There are some teams that have been spending some pretty big money on good players but we need to work hard, regroup and hopefully we can sort it out."

Lochhead conceded the sudden departure of coach Ricki Herbert had "been tough".

"But I guess that's part of football that these things are going to happen. You just have to get on with it; there's not much we're going to do by complaining about it, we've just got to roll up our sleeves and get stuck in."

Tomorrow's kickoff at Forsyth Barr Stadium is at 4.30pm.

QFT

DP and stuff is 100% boillocks

YF Forum is mostly bollocks

Everyone wants their witch to burn. 

Pleased to have arrived in the home of my avatar..

Drove round The Octagon & saw the FoF thing happening, sorry Ahmad, I needed a nanna nap.

Oh and Snapper are on at 18:00 at The Gardens... ;)

Self fulfilling statement

Went to night and day yesterday to see the Phoenix, bloody waste of time.Don't know if they had jet lag, bus lag, or Ricky H lag,or fuck maybe G Morgan lag. Not hard to smile and have a chat to the kids that turned up.Fuck like walking into a funeral. My boys were gutted, just to get the poster signed was a bloody mission.A bit of PR would'nt go astray boys.My youngest  is supporting the Heart now.Not a good look Mr Morgan!      

Photos from the Octagon Festival of Football:

Once again, a huge thanks to the support of the following, without whom this event would never have gotten off the ground:

- Dunedin City Council Events Co-ordinator Marilyn Anderson
- Football South/Futsal South
- Wayne and Dana and Tony for co-ordinating and refereeing 
- Gerry and Melchester Juniors for operating the BBQ
- Olly Bowman
- Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull
- David Manuca from the Heart; Chris Greenacre and Mal Impiombato from the Nix
- Sponsors Sony, Mojo Coffee, Revera
- Event Traffic Management Otago
- Classic Hits/The Radio Network

Paston,Boyd,Sanchez,one other player don't  know  who he was.   

Melchester Juniors??

Love the shot of greenie

 New Phoenix coach has Heart for the battle

Like his Phoenix club colleagues, Greenacre was stunned by the news of foundation coach Ricki Herbert's departure this week. "There have been all sorts of emotions I've gone through this week," Greenacre said.

"Excitement. Sadness. You name it, I've been there. I've been through the wringer this week, so it's good to finally get a day's training under our belts and start concentrating on playing football again." A seasoned striker, Greenacre has seen most of what football has to offer. Five loan spells while a trainee at Manchester City, and stints at three clubs subsequent to being released by City, meant there was drama and controversy aplenty before Greenacre left Tranmere to join Wellington as a player in 2009. The events of this week top all that has gone before.

"I have had some unbelievable times and some sadness on the way, but this beats them all. I remember when [manager] Joe Royle told me City didn't want me. I hadn't really started my career, didn't have many games under my belt, and was wondering: ‘What am I going to do?' I decided to look at it as a positive, an ‘I'll show you' kind of thing. That was my motivation, and I did get my career up and running again.

"But this has been a very different kind of feeling . . . Ricki is the reason why I'm here, he gave me my opportunity to play over here, he gave me my first coaching job, and I'll be eternally grateful for what he's done for me. He's a great guy, his man-management skills are first class, and on top of that he's a top coach.

"I've sent him a couple of text messages and stuff, but I think he's got a lot going on." For Greenacre, who uplifted his entire life and moved his family to the other side of the world, home must feel very far away. However, he is adamant, no matter how his stint in charge of the Phoenix turns out, that he has no regrets.

"I consider myself fortunate I was able to retire playing for a great club in a great city, playing in front of really good people. Kiwis have been more than welcoming to me and my wife since we got here, and I won't look back on this with any regret - it's been a great place to be, and hopefully, my future is here in New Zealand doing what I love, being involved in football."

Greenacre said the Phoenix board had told him he was in charge for the rest of the season, but he had not had any indication of what might unfold after March 31's final regular season game.

"The owners said feel free to do whatever you feel, and it's always encouraging when you have that kind of backing. Whatever gets thrown at me I'll try and ride it out, and I'm sure it will make me a better coach in the future."

One positive for Greenacre this week has been the backing of the fans. Hearing his name chanted by the Yellow Fever as he strode out on Wednesday for his first game as gaffer was a moment to send the hairs on the back of the neck standing on end, Greenacre said. Unfortunately, the wooden-spoon favourites lost 2-1 to Newcastle, defensive errors costing them dearly. They can't afford a repeat.

Feeling remarkably upbeat about the match today!

COYN

#fireupfarken

#sackricki

#heartlesscrew

COYN

#lunacy@lunchbox

Fire Up!!

#teanauwebelongtogether

Good luck in Dunedin. Always have a soft spot for the deep south, had a great away game there with ACFC last season. Hope Phoenix attract a good crowd and pull off a good win. It's a fine stadium to watch footie in.

Saw the Nix doing some sort of stretch warmup in the middle of town half an hour ago.  Got a wave from Siggy.  We're now BFFs. 

What pub are people meeting at again?

Alibi

and if anyone needs tickets Derrol has 3 extra at alibi now

Seeya there then. Must be beer o'clock.

Any team news yet? I hope Greenie gives Hogg a run

 Good luck to the lads, still think they can win today.

Ah wish I knew you were here vim it would have been good to catch up. Do you know if Uncle Wayne made the trip. 

lineup as per FB page,

Why the hell is lia starting? same old incapable central mid paring, which is going to hinder the front men,

Our centre backs, indeed our back 4 are only as good as the men in front of them. If they are put under constant pressure to defend by them then eventually they will crack like they have.

On the other hand, if we were to go 2 - 0 up early then Siggy and Dura would be able to play with a lot more confidence

I haven't seen the manny/lia combo giving our back four much confidence this season, have you? Surely the back four can do their job with the help of one DM not two! And if they can't then get someone in who can.

So is Manny RB and Leo in midfield?

Pleased Stein is starting...Ifill needs to wind the clock back.