Phoenix at the Hong Kong 7s

So. What do we make of this, and is anyone going to go? 

HK is immense for a weekend away.

It appears a lot of the teams last year basically took their youth team along. I don't know if that's the idea or its clubs not taking it too seriously. 

http://www.hksoccersevens.com/teams/main

I reckon we'd probably do the same. Could still be a good giggle.

Isn't the tournament about five minutes after the end of the European season? Not a huge surprise that top players wouldn't be there. Would still be a fun time though.

the idea of "soccer sevens" concerns me and I hope it doesn't catch on properly at any point in the future. But could be a fun time away for those who can afford it!

Even the mighty Guangzhou Evergrande had a youth team so it seems to be the go for most clubs. I reckon the Nix will send mostly players from the ASB Prem team with maybe a few of the younger senior players sprinkled in. 

Those young boys will learn a thing or two in HK, and I am not talking about football.

Bangkok Betty is in Thailand Smithy. She can still spit a shelled hard boiled egg across the room I hear.

It sounds like a really cool invite. Exciting stuff.

I must have be going down the wrong back alley ways last time I was there. Heading back this year, which places/bars do you recommend?

Feverish is your man if you need a guide for that particular tour.

I'd be more interested in the temples and museums.

Food and telling the mainlanders to fudge off back to Shenzhen.

Back in Italy 8v8 (not quite the same I know, but very similar to 7v7) has gained a lot of popularity in the last 15 or so years and there are now many artificial pitches and leagues exclusively used for this game. I personally love it, and it suits my skills - or lack thereof - quite nicely. It's not as technical and fast paced as futsal, but also less tiring than 11v11...

I wasn't aware that professional teams played 7v7 games - it could be quite interesting, although I don't think I'd be able to make it all the way to HK. I do love the city though, it's pretty kick ass!

I guess its something that you kinda need to be careful with. Show up and get absolutely hammered, then we may not get asked back. You also want to let main players rest too. Perhaps this is the Rufer, Ridenton, JBS, Hicks type tour with Italiano and some Weenix that are in the mix for a step up. Send Greenacre to run it....?

Football fluffery.

We want 7.

According to Ernie's interview that is exactly what they are going to do. Ernie said he would be in Europe at the time and Greenie would take a young squad over.

Interesting that its been running for 16 years and nobody, including myself, has heard of it before.

WeeMac mentioned on RS he'd been a couple of times with Celtic - so whilst big clubs are involved there's an indication as to how seriously it's taken.

As mentioned on the pod, U20 players unavailable due to world Cup, so no Rufer, Ridenton to Honkers.

Just take a full strength side lol would actually be really interesting to see how well it would go 

Central Coast were runners up a few years ago

It's a youth tournament for the overseas teams - but the local Hong Kong clubs field teams with senior players (and struggle against the foreign youth sides - HK teams have only won the cup twice). It also includes the Hong Kong FA u-21 and u-23 rep sides.

Man City last year sent their u-18 team  - all their players aged 16-18.

Some oreign clubs send a couple of 20-21 year olds with the teens. 

The oldest players in the foreign sides seem to be about 21 years but most are in the 17-20 age bracket.

Some future big stars have played in it:

"Aston Villa remain the undisputed Soccer Sevens kings, with five victories and two other final appearances since the tournament was first held in 1999. Their most recent success came in 2010 when, inspired by two players with first-team experience, striker Nathan Delfouneso and winger Marc Albrighton, they beat Rangers 3-2 in a thrilling final.

Numerous Villa youngsters who have appeared in Hong Kong have gone on to make their mark at senior level, including the likes of Gabriel Agbonlahor, Craig Gardner, Liam Ridgewell and Gary Cahill in years past and, more recently, Delfouneso, Albrighton, Barry Bannan, Cairan Clark, Nathan Baker and Andreas Weimann."

I was definitely over the moon, my favourite A-League make the first appearence to Hong Kong! I am not sure but I maybe the only Hong Kong borned Wellington Phoenix fans in Hong Kong. I am sure I won't have the bad experience like I want to see Rory Fallon last time! Jeremy Brockie not here anymore but I would love to see Siggy and of course Alex Rufer! I am not sure I will able to watch the whole tournament, but as my experience the first day of tournament is free of admission and hopefully, I will be there to report!!! :-)

Yes Pete Villa was very strong, brought good young players to Hong Kong to play, last year I watched Jack Grealish he was definitely Irish Messi! David Bentley also play in Hong Kong before too, and yeah, the local HK team was shark.

Sounds like my dream game then!

#toogoodtobetrue

This is all sorts of awesome

Who is that English bird with nixie? Not sure I approve. Nixie should stick with other cocks.

Hi wellingtonphoenixnixie. Do you follow the local scene? I only read occasional reports in wildeastfootballl. Last one reported Kitchee and Eastern scraping it out at the top.

I'm more interested in Guangzhou Fuli due to an extremely tenuous family connection to their home ground.

Sounds like FIFA15.

That's the Norwich mascot, amirite?

'Ullo Nixie me old cock sparrow. You don't wanna go chirpsing that blimmin budgie.  Come and meet all the rest of us cocks at the Bell and Hare

They are good friends by the way ;-)

He was Captain Canary the Norwich City mascots, as I was a big Norwich fans!!!

Hi Junior82, I did follow the local football too, the most famous club is South China which had long history, the only team has their own ground but you can't believe they use their home ground for ppl to play golf! Eastern and Kitchee are other famous team, there are so many teams disappear because of lack of funds available, and the league standard, I would say non league level in England!!! Attendence less than 1000 for nearly ever game, parents won't allow their kids to play pro...it was poor, and it is poor.

Guangzhou Fuli? The China League? It was in different level but I am not sure how come they get so many $ from the riches to invest the team, "black money" maybe??? 

Thanks WPN, good to hear.  

Shanghai Shenhua also use their ground as a practice driving range during the week.  I guess it caters to a rich market. Also there has been talk of the top HK Club participating in the CSL... this would be great if it ever came to be.

CSL money?  Best not go too deep into that!  Most of it seems to come from property investors (not quite a la Terry) - which so far seems to be stable/secure.  Guangzhou Fuli used to be based in Shenyang until it relocated to Shenzhen in 2011, like all CSL teams they are a franchise so there's not a big link with a province/city (Guoan, Shenhua and Tianjin Teda are the ones with strong and long links to their cities).  

J82 you know a lot about the scene in China, have you spent a lot of time there?

A long time ago.  A long, long time ago now.

Other than the 1982 WC qualification I started keeping an eye out on Chinese football in the mid/late 1990s.  But it's really the explosion of interweb info that has provided more coverage, plus the wealth that is being poured into the game that is lifting the standard.

One area that I have no idea about is Taiwan - there are one or two players in the CSL but since they used to have tussles with NZ back in the 1980s they haven't really registered on the international scene at all.