Pre-season 2013/2014 - vs Phoenix B - Ring of Fire - Sunday

Exactly.

He also did look good last year when the ball was played to him on the deck - he rarely loses possession in that front third which is something else Merrick has said he wants to do.
He slotted some great goals when the midfielders threaded a ball through when he made a run.

Think Brockie worked better as a striker who can chase down those long balls we played but also he just sat on the backline and rarely tracked back to pick up the ball or help out defensively. I've been pleased to see him getting a bit better at this in Toronto, now setting up a few players as well.

Actually think there is room for both of them on the field at once, although that obviously means dropping one of the other imports. The other players really look to have a better understanding of Stein's movement here in preseason, his give and go runs are starting to be a lot more natural for his teammates

Yeh yeh, I understand you have a different and forceful opinion.  Cunningham may not work out as good as we'd all like to think.  Stein is playing well, his play suits the new game style and he is already gelling better with the players around him as a result and being successful. You keep with your opinion, that's fine.  I'll just keep an open mind.

Whatever happens we have an expected front four formation with five (leading) candidates, all of whom should  make an impact at A league level. I've said I am not sure this comes down to Brockie vs Stein in the central role in a front three.  There are a lot more possible permutations than that, one of which I mentioned could have Stein in his more natural attacking wide midfielder/front three role.

looking forward to seeing how it pans out.

Just as an interesting aside

Costa Rica ranking 39

NZ ranking 58, best 55 in the last few years?

and we've continually said a number of those NZ team members - lochie, brown, half our midfield etc were not good enough and expected our 'Nix imports to be a lot better

so Cunningham maybe has a better chance of proving his quality, based on his position as a frequent starter in a reasonably good international side, but I'm not sure it's the guarantee you suggest

hopefully he's brilliant

Dont doubt his skills as a clairvoyant Bullion.

I'm allowed to very definite in my comments cause that's what I believe. I choose not to be a pessimist with this signing like other opinions. I'm not being weak and having a bob each way.

 I'm allowed to very definite in my comments cause that's what I believe.

Dont you think he would be any good?

I see what you did there. You made it personal because you had no actual comeback and couldn't dispute the football. 

Great reply

Big cock? Is it JV under than ernie suit?

when is the next game?

Pretty sure Boxall is back.

When I say pretty sure, I mean definitely.

Isn't "cock" another way of saying "penis"?

Players carrying any sort of injury were not released for a week off. 

Cocks to the west.

It's all about football.

Deflecting, that explains alot. Big thanks to the master for clearing that up.

You are the king of it. Should we revisit how you can't use the Capital Football site and then deflect or how Stein is only good for CL then deflect. Help me out here, I'm low on options...

Fucking grow up people. Bloody pathetic. 

Noted

whatever JV

you equate open minded with weak

you equate a willingness to think of a range of possibilities as pessimistic

I don't need or aim to be right, I am quite happy to see the possibility that Cunningham might not work out and to suggest if that were the case what the outcome would be

if you think that is weak and pessimistic, then fine that is your world view

it's not mine

if you cannot handle someone suggesting that something is not a certainty and want to argue that it is, that's fine, you are entitled to your opinion.  I would just suggest in that circumstance you don't go throwing around insults about weakness and pessimism or you just might be perceived as an arrogant rooster

After nightz agrees with you that it was a great reply (it wasn't), there is no name calling in that. The fact is, your stated opinion is hardly 'yes what a quality signing!!!'. I get you are excited for the potential upfront but again, back to Cunningham.

Come on dude, debate the football.

see above

I have debated the football, i've just considered a few more possibilities than you

night Vader

better things to do

Then perhaps re-read what you wrote.

"I'd like to actually see how good Cunningham is first.  Sure you are backing Merrick's reported view.  But for me, Stein is scoring truckloads, and is better suited wider, and is likely to show us what he can do with a ball to feet game and the likes of Carlos feeding him rather than Siggy from 50 yards away.  Brockie is our standout leading goal scorer.  Until Cunningham, who does not have a particularly good scoring or assist rate, proves to me he can produce, I'm not convinced."

Your opinion is based on him not scoring goals and assists which is odd because he is not a striker. Yet because he is not a striker, and Ernie has said he is not playing him as a striker, you base your opinion on his goal scoring record and that means he will be a failure?

Yup, you win... I refuse to argue with people that can't see flaws in their own argument. Please don't tell me Paston was a failure because he never scored any goals cause like Cunningham, he too was not a striker...

Cunningham all club games

60 appearances 14 goals (1:4.3 games) 5 assists (1:12)

and 14 yellow cards - which seems high

Husygems

376 appearances 80 goals (1:4.7) 33 assists (1:11.4) - half of those in the Eredivisie where he scored at 1:5.3

[in A league 22 5 (1:4.4) 1 (1:22) ]

only 11 yellow cards over those 376 games

Do both these wide or top 3 players score goals and assists 

yes they do and with comparable records, except those yellows

acknowledging differences between Eredivisie and AD San Carlos where the two of them played respectively most of their games, respectively top Dutch and top Costa Rica leagues

Stein 31 years, Cunningham 28

Doesn't prove anything, but interesting.  Is Cunningham definately the clear, ahead by miles starter as you insist?  

Really JV I don't care, I do care though that we should have both of them contributing strongly over the season

And do you drop Brockie to play both Cunningham and Stein.  Is Ifill a shoe in ahead of all of them all the time?

I'd simply be looking to make the most of the lot of them and keeping them as competitive as possible

for interest compared to 

Marco Rohas all A league games 

68 appearances 17 goals (1:4.0) 10 assists (1:6.8)

2 yellow cards

You are comparing a guy that plays up front/wide upfront to a midfielder/wide midfielder. The comparison is not the same! That's the point I am trying to make. If they played the same position, sure compare their strike records. They don't so the comparison is pointless. Do you compare Ivan Vicelichs goal scoring record the Shane Smeltz? No because they do not play the same position.

And Cunningham as far as starter goes get compared to Boyd, Bertos and Ifill for 2 positions. So yes, definite starter as he is better than Bertos and Boyd.