Phoenix Ownership - Rob says FTFFA

I am shocked at my reaction to Gareth's recent comments. I've been thinking about them abit since he made them.

I have concluded that his comment about the fans, or some of them, being pathetic and unsophisticated, and not knowing much about football... pah. I can ignore those. Stupid things to say, even in the context he said them... but I can get over those.

But the fact that he wants to kill my cat. I am really struggling to come to terms with this one. I am quite surprised by this, but for the first time I am disinterested in the team, the club, and the A league. I am not bummed out I am not in Auckland for the game against Perth, and I am not 100% sure I can be bothered going to the next home game.

Way to go Gareth. I was pretty sure you could have said just about anything and you wouldn't have alienated me. Turns out I was wrong.

You should be disappointed. It's an awesome time up here. 

Was Gareth here or was he farting around the sevens?

Crowd: 11,566 at Eden Park Auckland ..... wonders aloud what and if this means anything

It surely means scrapping the travelling circus idea. Not sustainable. 

twice the crowd Welly would have put up going by the last few?

Not sure how 11,566 is "double" the last few of Wellington? Even the smallest crowd doubled is more than 11,566.

vs CCM = 5,961

vs Heart = 6,401

vs WSW = 6,382

vs Jets = 6,429

Aye crowd in Auckland must have been nigh on 3K for the city game... Imagine I'd you all supported nZ foorball

Yawn.

2k stopped in on their way to the Nix Game !!

Think 15000 was the break even point for the Auckland game. Could be wrong. Stick to Wellington and start promoting the games and find out why people are turning there backs on the club.

Because Gareth is slagging the fans off and wanting to kill my cat?

People are not coming because we are losing. 

Start winning and maybe bring in a marquee #wecandream and we will get 10k+ every home game. Simplez.

crowd would've been 20K plus if team was doing well and owners weren't negative. 

Curious, what are the prices of food and tings at Eden park like?

$8 speights. Wieners were still $7.50 (but with a wider choice of sauces?)

Chups? Donuts? I just lovvveeee the batter, all over my face.

Guessing not much difference between Westpac and  Eden

That is the owners' prerogative .  You can see that in many clubs all over the world.  

Welnix may have the skills and tenacity to put the club on a sustainable footing after 5 years and walk away.  Or they may bail out early.  Most of us will still be here supporting the team.  

Owners are not the fans and will not have the same emotional attachment (less) or financial committment (more).

Gareth thinks cat owners should be responsible, some supporters who only focus on the team's table position are patheitc and unsophisticated (steady on old bean), and that Federated Farmers are retarded.

...meh.

Subconscious link ??   :-)

Rid Wellington of all feral weather and it might make a difference..it is wild and it does bite you

Yesterday in Auckland, glorious, find a place to siesta. 

I can understand people getting upset about his comments, but feel they have taken them to heart a bit much (which is your prerogative, sure). It seems to me now we will hear things from Gareth that will be upsetting all the time of his tenure, he is that sort of bloke and he wont change, so the only thing that can change is how much I/you/YF the ordinary fans take it on as personal and let it get in the way of our enjoying our team. 

When I watched yesterday, he hardly came to mind, except when a woman was going up the aisle selling programmes at halftime, they were $5 and someone said, thats another cat gone, had to laugh.

Good luck, the club needs strong fans like you

The cost of taking the game on the road too. Also intangibles like alienating fans who come week in week out, losing home ground advantage etc. 

is it really worth it for a few extra thousand people at a one off game? Me thinks not. 

Auckland > Christchurch

Don't mind one being spread around, it was fun and an excuse for an 'away' trip like to say. It's more the talk of taking more games away (travelling circus), I think Auckland just proved that it isn't feasible. 

20 thou in a good season, 11 thou in the worst, ave 15.5..

Yep it will be in Auckland again next year

 Split the difference and play it in Hamilton? Smaller stadium, easier to fill rather than rattling around in the hellhole that is Eden Park

Heres a link (I hope) to a podcast of Radio New Zealand's mediawatch programme from Saturday Feb 3rd - about half way through it gives a bit more background on Gareth's approach and how the media relates to it - probably among the most balanced, objective and non-hysterical assessments I've heard. Skip the first half of the podcast which is about Paul Holmes (unless of course some media history is your thing).

Mediawatch Saturday 3rd Feb

If the link doesn't work because I've posted it wrongly - and you're interested in a decent assessment - then just google Radio New Zealand Mediawatch.

I challenge anyone to listen to that and maintain that Morgan is an impressive individual who should be the face of this club.  That was just embarrassing!

How so?