Wellington Phoenix Men

Phoenix Ownership - Rob says FTFFA

4003 replies · 795,143 views
about 13 years ago

The Thinker wrote:

I have been despairing over what has happened this season but got to the point now where I'm willing to just accept that teams have bad seasons and just get on with supporting and appreciating the fact I have a team to support on the weekend and debate and discuss during the week.



Thank you TT - best post eva!

Pathetically yours
Part time supporter.

"Phoenix till they lose"

Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion. 

Genuine opinion: FTFFA

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about 13 years ago · edited about 13 years ago · History

Bullion wrote:

Tegal wrote:

Does it also mean the players are pathetic for looking at the league table this season? I'm sure some of them will hear those comments and be annoyed. The anonymous player who spoke up during the meeting saying "we won't all be here in 5 years" springs to mind. Who wants to play for a club that doesn't have any interest in winning the league?

Isn't that the point that Gareth is making, that the club needs to make a change if they are to reach a level yet obtained by the Phoenix. Ricki  is firmly behind the implementation of a new system (as are the owners) and if it is to have any success everyone needs to buy into it and give it time.

The club needs someone else to be the touch point between stakeholders and media, Gareth is not considered enough with his language.

 

Yeah but you need to invest in players that can play the system. "Total football" is not giving the ball to Totori for him to kick it out or get tackled on the wing.

 

Edit: Just talked to a couple of occasional supporters you know may go to 2-4 matches and they are pretty pissed off at Gareth's comments.

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about 13 years ago

The Thinker wrote:

Just wondering what everyone having a moan about Gareth would prefer? Because I doubt there would be any A-league in NZ without him and the rest of the Welnix.

His timing and use of words was pretty poor but his points are pretty fair, he's pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into the club and all he's getting is bitching and moaning in return.

The way I see it the facts are:  

  • The Nix have almost always played atrocious football so they are trying to improve that. I for one welcome the change, and accept it may take longer than hoped. I was at my wits end with their performances at the beginning of the season despite being in and around 6th place.
  • They are building a youth system that will greatly benefit NZ football in the long run and we are already seeing the emergence of some young Kiwi talent for which there was never a pathway before (bar one or 2 lucky ones Rojas, Kosta etc)
  • They are trying their best to get the club to the point where it is self sufficient and doesn’t lose money, If they fail then eventually there will be no A league in NZ, as no one wants to run a money losing business forever.
  • I also don’t get all the angst about taking (max 3-4) games on the road, seems to me that a lot of people miss the point that they were just lucky Welly got the license over anywhere else in NZ, a great football culture has emerged but that’s not to say that Welly has the monopoly on football support in NZ, I certainly don’t see anyone complaining when thousands of people all round the country buy merchandise and travel to Welly for home games. And again the alternative may be that the game is no longer viable in NZ.

All this bagging of Gareth and threatening to pull season ticket membership seems counter productive as all that will happen is you'll lose the nix all together.

I have been despairing over what has happened this season but got to the point now where I'm willing to just accept that teams have bad seasons and just get on with supporting and appreciating the fact I have a team to support on the weekend and debate and discuss during the week.

1 Atrocious is far too strong a word. There has definitely been room for improvement in style and results but atrocious football is like the second half against Western Sydney. Last season Morgan was quoted as saying "we have a fantastic team".
2 Yes, they are improving the youth system which is great.
3 I'll accept this, they mean well. This doesn't excuse them from criticism when they do or say something stupid. Attacking fans like this is not helping.
4 Side issue but this is not going to help results. It all adds up to more travel for the players who already travel a lot. Ask the players and think about future recruitment when the schedule will become even more demanding.
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about 13 years ago

im pretty relaxed about all of this - but im realizing that everytime something goes bad with the nix, I go into this false relaxed mode


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about 13 years ago

relaxed or not, if you were not a nix fan and the option of going to a game was brought up would you want to buy a ticket given the fiasco that is the nix at the moment?

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 13 years ago

So shortly after Morgans comments hit media brockie tweeted 'unbelievable' then Alex Smith asked Ifill how his day was going and he replied poor and to check his last tweet, which just happened to be a link to Morgans comments.. Player's getting ddisgruntled?? 

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about 13 years ago

players realising what a numpty they have as an owner - this is not how you motivate your team to perform well on game day.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 13 years ago

Yep, players seem just as outraged. 


Allegedly

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about 13 years ago

Junior82 wrote:

The Thinker wrote:

I have been despairing over what has happened this season but got to the point now where I'm willing to just accept that teams have bad seasons and just get on with supporting and appreciating the fact I have a team to support on the weekend and debate and discuss during the week.



Thank you TT - best post eva!

Pathetically yours
Part time supporter.

I agree. I am still enjoying this season and enjoy the discourse, both negative and positive.
The Phoenix > any soap opera :P
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about 13 years ago

gareth only opens his mouth to change feet, and the dom post just make sure he takes off his shoes so his mouth doesnt get dirty



I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological. 
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about 13 years ago

theprof wrote:

relaxed or not, if you were not a nix fan and the option of going to a game was brought up would you want to buy a ticket given the fiasco that is the nix at the moment?



Yes I would, because I love Football and love having a team in the A League and love supporting them, and after all, they play on the field, not on these pages or in the Doom post or other papers

I'm possibly pathetic but there you are
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about 13 years ago


should we be getting worried .Or is this getting way outta context for me to comprihend

 

I LOVE LAMP

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about 13 years ago

hepatitis wrote:

theprof wrote:

relaxed or not, if you were not a nix fan and the option of going to a game was brought up would you want to buy a ticket given the fiasco that is the nix at the moment?



Yes I would, because I love Football and love having a team in the A League and love supporting them, and after all, they play on the field, not on these pages or in the Doom post or other papers

I'm possibly pathetic but there you are

 

he's talking about people who aren't fans.

I like tautologies because I like them.
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about 13 years ago · edited about 13 years ago · History

Cosimo wrote:

hepatitis wrote:

theprof wrote:

relaxed or not, if you were not a nix fan and the option of going to a game was brought up would you want to buy a ticket given the fiasco that is the nix at the moment?



Yes I would, because I love Football and love having a team in the A League and love supporting them, and after all, they play on the field, not on these pages or in the Doom post or other papers

I'm possibly pathetic but there you are

 

he's talking about people who aren't fans.


Ah see how easy it is to read things wrong right now LOL

Anyway, go the Nix, right to the top


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about 13 years ago

Frankie Mac wrote:

I cannot believe that people are somehow turning this into an issue with the Dom Post. 


Not a fan of how the DP have been reporting the Phoenix for the last couple of years, but in this case they only reported exactly what Gareth said.  Its not their fault what he said comes across in an incredibly terrible light.
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about 13 years ago
[/quote]
1 Atrocious is far too strong a word. There has definitely been room for improvement in style and results but atrocious football is like the second half against Western Sydney. Last season Morgan was quoted as saying "we have a fantastic team".
2 Yes, they are improving the youth system which is great.
3 I'll accept this, they mean well. This doesn't excuse them from criticism when they do or say something stupid. Attacking fans like this is not helping.
4 Side issue but this is not going to help results. It all adds up to more travel for the players who already travel a lot. Ask the players and think about future recruitment when the schedule will become even more demanding.

[/quote]

For the point you have at number 4. From what we have seen the players love playing in front of large crowds in Dunedin, Christchurch (how much of a high is Siggy on every tim,e he plays there) and Auckland. And the travel is pretty minor. A one hour flight. The travel they have is no worse than the MLS (USA is just as big as Australia) or teams playing in UEFA leagues (though admittedly they have much bigger squads).

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about 13 years ago

hepatitis wrote:

theprof wrote:

relaxed or not, if you were not a nix fan and the option of going to a game was brought up would you want to buy a ticket given the fiasco that is the nix at the moment?



Yes I would, because I love Football and love having a team in the A League and love supporting them, and after all, they play on the field, not on these pages or in the Doom post or other papers

I'm possibly pathetic but there you are

you've misread my point I said if you were not a fan - why would you buy a ticket to watch this fiasco?

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 13 years ago

One day we will look back on this and laugh.

#dontstopbelievin



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about 13 years ago

probably on the day we win the league.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 13 years ago

 Nah, I'm not waiting that long!

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about 13 years ago

theprof wrote:

hepatitis wrote:

theprof wrote:

relaxed or not, if you were not a nix fan and the option of going to a game was brought up would you want to buy a ticket given the fiasco that is the nix at the moment?



Yes I would, because I love Football and love having a team in the A League and love supporting them, and after all, they play on the field, not on these pages or in the Doom post or other papers

I'm possibly pathetic but there you are

you've misread my point I said if you were not a fan - why would you buy a ticket to watch this fiasco?



Because you want to see the cats there

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about 13 years ago

I wonder how much the owners now wish they stuck with the solid-defensive Phoenix of old.  My view is that we should've looked towards the Central Coast Mariners (CCM) as our blueprint for success, not Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Roar or laughably Barcelona.  
CCM have conceded only 11 goals in 17 games and sit deservedly at the top of the table.  And while they'd hardly be called 'entertainers' they've scored 26 goals, just two less than the Victory who are the A-League's best 'footballing' team.  CCM also have the league's top goal scorer in 35-year-old Daniel McBreen.
They've finished on top of the table twice, second once, third once and fourth once - qualifying for the finals on 5 out of 7 occasions.  They do lack an overall premiership with three seconds and a third, but as we all know, finals and especially football finals can be decided on very small margins (Two 1 nil losses and a penalty shoot-out loss).
Their average home attendance (for the last full season 2011-12) was 9,628, so not far off the 'magic' 10k.  And this is from a population of 400k, which is less than the Wellington Region.
And as if you needed more convincing - they also play in stripes, their supporters are called the Yellow Army and they also don't entertain the idea of a proper marque player (which is fine).  I rest my case.
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about 13 years ago

i do not usually get into angsting but at the moment i am very close to joining the angst

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about 13 years ago

Tunnel Vision wrote:
[/quote]
1 Atrocious is far too strong a word. There has definitely been room for improvement in style and results but atrocious football is like the second half against Western Sydney. Last season Morgan was quoted as saying "we have a fantastic team".
2 Yes, they are improving the youth system which is great.
3 I'll accept this, they mean well. This doesn't excuse them from criticism when they do or say something stupid. Attacking fans like this is not helping.
4 Side issue but this is not going to help results. It all adds up to more travel for the players who already travel a lot. Ask the players and think about future recruitment when the schedule will become even more demanding.

[/quote]

For the point you have at number 4. From what we have seen the players love playing in front of large crowds in Dunedin, Christchurch (how much of a high is Siggy on every tim,e he plays there) and Auckland. And the travel is pretty minor. A one hour flight. The travel they have is no worse than the MLS (USA is just as big as Australia) or teams playing in UEFA leagues (though admittedly they have much bigger squads).

Playing an evening match means that you spend another night away. The Dunedin league game was not a big crowd. I thought MLS was conference based? Which would mean the large majority of games are relatively close. UEFA are not the regular league games. If the players were perfectly happy with it I wouldn't have such a big problem. But the main objective should be to win the a-league and I don't believe this helps.
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about 13 years ago

energy24.7 wrote:

I wonder how much the owners now wish they stuck with the solid-defensive Phoenix of old.  My view is that we should've looked towards the Central Coast Mariners (CCM) as our blueprint for success, not Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Roar or laughably Barcelona.  
CCM have conceded only 11 goals in 17 games and sit deservedly at the top of the table.  And while they'd hardly be called 'entertainers' they've scored 26 goals, just two less than the Victory who are the A-League's best 'footballing' team.  CCM also have the league's top goal scorer in 35-year-old Daniel McBreen.
They've finished on top of the table twice, second once, third once and fourth once - qualifying for the finals on 5 out of 7 occasions.  They do lack an overall premiership with three seconds and a third, but as we all know, finals and especially football finals can be decided on very small margins (Two 1 nil losses and a penalty shoot-out loss).
Their average home attendance (for the last full season 2011-12) was 9,628, so not far off the 'magic' 10k.  And this is from a population of 400k, which is less than the Wellington Region.
And as if you needed more convincing - they also play in stripes, their supporters are called the Yellow Army and they also don't entertain the idea of a proper marque player (which is fine).  I rest my case.

Some good points here. Not a 'rocket science' post, or a 'why didn't we think of that earlier' post, but that is exactly the point.
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about 13 years ago

I think we are over-reacting.

After all, only 11% of Phoenix owners are dick-heads.


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about 13 years ago

Fitzy wrote:

energy24.7 wrote:

I wonder how much the owners now wish they stuck with the solid-defensive Phoenix of old.  My view is that we should've looked towards the Central Coast Mariners (CCM) as our blueprint for success, not Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Roar or laughably Barcelona.  
CCM have conceded only 11 goals in 17 games and sit deservedly at the top of the table.  And while they'd hardly be called 'entertainers' they've scored 26 goals, just two less than the Victory who are the A-League's best 'footballing' team.  CCM also have the league's top goal scorer in 35-year-old Daniel McBreen.
They've finished on top of the table twice, second once, third once and fourth once - qualifying for the finals on 5 out of 7 occasions.  They do lack an overall premiership with three seconds and a third, but as we all know, finals and especially football finals can be decided on very small margins (Two 1 nil losses and a penalty shoot-out loss).
Their average home attendance (for the last full season 2011-12) was 9,628, so not far off the 'magic' 10k.  And this is from a population of 400k, which is less than the Wellington Region.
And as if you needed more convincing - they also play in stripes, their supporters are called the Yellow Army and they also don't entertain the idea of a proper marque player (which is fine).  I rest my case.

Some good points here. Not a 'rocket science' post, or a 'why didn't we think of that earlier' post, but that is exactly the point.
CCM are probably the best model to run a club in the A-League. If they didn't have cash issues, they would have won a couple toilet seats by now. They are not a pretty side, but they are very effective. And it is all built on a solid defence.
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about 13 years ago

 if in my job, I delivered poor service and took 2 hours to get someone's food out to them. And a customer complained. Could I call them pathetic and explain to them that their reaction is pathetic because we are trialling a new kitchen system and in 5 years itll be better? No. They'd be rightfully pissed off.


Allegedly

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about 13 years ago

Tegal wrote:

 if in my job, I delivered poor service and took 2 hours to get someone's food out to them. And a customer complained. Could I call them pathetic and explain to them that their reaction is pathetic because we are trialling a new kitchen system and in 5 years itll be better? No. They'd be rightfully pissed off.


Haha yeah nice. Quote from high fidelity - I thought having no customers was a bad thing? Insulting fans, regulars or not, reminds me of this.

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about 13 years ago

patrick478 wrote:

Fitzy wrote:

Tegal wrote:

Too late for a banner change?

"Pathetic?"


Na, I'm all for having a jab at Gareth but the banner has to be a statement of unequivocal support for the players. There's a time and a place for all the other stuff and the banner is not it.

Agree.

Its highly likely that any negative banner abut NIx management will just be used by the media as another bad-news item to bang everyone over the head with..... it will harm more than help the situation. There is plenty of fodder for them as it is.

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about 13 years ago

energy24.7 wrote:

I wonder how much the owners now wish they stuck with the solid-defensive Phoenix of old.  My view is that we should've looked towards the Central Coast Mariners (CCM) as our blueprint for success, not Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Roar or laughably Barcelona.  
CCM have conceded only 11 goals in 17 games and sit deservedly at the top of the table.  And while they'd hardly be called 'entertainers' they've scored 26 goals, just two less than the Victory who are the A-League's best 'footballing' team.  CCM also have the league's top goal scorer in 35-year-old Daniel McBreen.
They've finished on top of the table twice, second once, third once and fourth once - qualifying for the finals on 5 out of 7 occasions.  They do lack an overall premiership with three seconds and a third, but as we all know, finals and especially football finals can be decided on very small margins (Two 1 nil losses and a penalty shoot-out loss).
Their average home attendance (for the last full season 2011-12) was 9,628, so not far off the 'magic' 10k.  And this is from a population of 400k, which is less than the Wellington Region.
And as if you needed more convincing - they also play in stripes, their supporters are called the Yellow Army and they also don't entertain the idea of a proper marque player (which is fine).  I rest my case.

Our population is between 250 & 290.... Sydney have a lot of weekender's on the Coast...
On the 9, 628 crowd it was in a season when we started most of our matches before 5:30 and on the Coast in summer its the water first and daylight second... this is the google Central Coast link .... 
This year out of 7 games two its has poured all day and two were played in over 40 degrees .... our crowds are 10, 615 ...
We also play most games with 4 to 5 ... 20 and under player... most games with only two or three players over 25...
I dare say the difference between the Mariners and the Nix and most other teams is we have built our game around two things... first having a high quality youth side that trains with the first team so players can slot in...Second and to your point we play a highly technical game based around a fast transmission of the ball from defence to attack and when that does not work hold the ball and look for openings... 

Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei

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about 13 years ago

Ryan's Rovers wrote:

Fitzy wrote:

energy24.7 wrote:

I wonder how much the owners now wish they stuck with the solid-defensive Phoenix of old.  My view is that we should've looked towards the Central Coast Mariners (CCM) as our blueprint for success, not Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Roar or laughably Barcelona.  
CCM have conceded only 11 goals in 17 games and sit deservedly at the top of the table.  And while they'd hardly be called 'entertainers' they've scored 26 goals, just two less than the Victory who are the A-League's best 'footballing' team.  CCM also have the league's top goal scorer in 35-year-old Daniel McBreen.
They've finished on top of the table twice, second once, third once and fourth once - qualifying for the finals on 5 out of 7 occasions.  They do lack an overall premiership with three seconds and a third, but as we all know, finals and especially football finals can be decided on very small margins (Two 1 nil losses and a penalty shoot-out loss).
Their average home attendance (for the last full season 2011-12) was 9,628, so not far off the 'magic' 10k.  And this is from a population of 400k, which is less than the Wellington Region.
And as if you needed more convincing - they also play in stripes, their supporters are called the Yellow Army and they also don't entertain the idea of a proper marque player (which is fine).  I rest my case.

Some good points here. Not a 'rocket science' post, or a 'why didn't we think of that earlier' post, but that is exactly the point.

CCM are probably the best model to run a club in the A-League. If they didn't have cash issues, they would have won a couple toilet seats by now. They are not a pretty side, but they are very effective. And it is all built on a solid defence.
Agree with the above.

Feeling down at the moment, yes I look at league tables, I want results, I want the team to play attractive football. Its what most fans do and want. Most fans do know that sometimes or often that it does not happen. Not every team can win all the time, every club rebuilds and changes style but it how they do this that counts. I support the Nix and Crewe and all I want from my clubs is to perform to their best abillity on and off the field for themselves and the fans. And I would take an ugly win form a solid Team over a 1-7 result to try and play "total football".

Not sure if this has come out right, but it is a toned down version.

See you there on Sunday:)

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about 13 years ago

 The positive thing is that Gareth seems to have focused his attention from the Phoenix to cats.

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about 13 years ago

He has been tweeting about cats a lot today. Nothing about the Phoenix funnily enough.


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about 13 years ago

amazing what you can do on the way to China/

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 13 years ago


wonder if gareth will be at this weeks game?

I LOVE LAMP

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about 13 years ago

for his sake I hope not.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 13 years ago

Gareth's response. http://garethsworld.com/blog/wellington-phoenix/the-latest-on-the-phoenix/

Didn't apologise for saying that those of us who care about the League Table are pathetic, but instead called us gullible for believing the story about him telling Ricki how to play, despite not coming out immediately and saying what was really going on. Thanks Gareth, appreciate it.


Yellow Fever - Misery loves company

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