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

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Posted August 05, 2013 04:16 · last edited August 05, 2013 05:23

Jeff Vader wrote:
mjp2 wrote:
Jeff Vader wrote:

Ernie has stated that Stein and Brockie are head to head. Cunningham from the bench? Yeah right... 

Ernie has pretty much said that his flank guys are Bertos, Boyd, Ifill and Cunningham for 2 spots. Carlos in the middle and up front.... You can guarantee that it will be Cunningham Carlos and Ifill.

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. You may think that's nuts, but Cunningham is NOT a big goal scorer or big assist provider, over his club record.  1 goal in just under every five games at club level the last three years. 

Sure I can see the argument for Cunningham's reputed pace in that wider position.  And sure I can understand Ernie's intention.  But, as I said, I am not convinced this will end up a straight Brockie v Stein situation.  It all depends just how good Cunningham actually turns out to be and it is quite possible that Stein could make Ernie rethink.  I am not saying that will definately happen, but I think there is a lot of jumping to conclusions going on about a guy we've not even seen yet, and that the coach has not actually seen yet.

Just so I understand what you wrote, you are telling me that Ernie is going to have a current overseas international riding the pine because he does not score goals or assist much? You do realise there are players on the field whose job requires they don't do much of that because their position dictates it like, Manny, Durante, Sigmund... You also realise he is not a striker and the read is that he tends to play mostly as a wide midfielder like a Daniel or a Bertos, right?


Yeah Cunningham is pretty much a guaranteed starter...

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

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mjp2 edited August 05, 2013 05:23
Jeff Vader wrote:
mjp2 wrote:
Jeff Vader wrote:

Ernie has stated that Stein and Brockie are head to head. Cunningham from the bench? Yeah right... 

Ernie has pretty much said that his flank guys are Bertos, Boyd, Ifill and Cunningham for 2 spots. Carlos in the middle and up front.... You can guarantee that it will be Cunningham Carlos and Ifill.

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. You may think that's nuts, but Cunningham is NOT a big goal scorer or big assist provider, over his club record.  1 goal in just under every five games at club level the last three years. 

Sure I can see the argument for Cunningham's reputed pace in that wider position.  And sure I can understand Ernie's intention.  But, as I said, I am not convinced this will end up a straight Brockie v Stein situation.  It all depends just how good Cunningham actually turns out to be and it is quite possible that Stein could make Ernie rethink.  I am not saying that will definately happen, but I think there is a lot of jumping to conclusions going on about a guy we've not even seen yet, and that the coach has not actually seen yet.

Just so I understand what you wrote, you are telling me that Ernie is going to have a current overseas international riding the pine because he does not score goals or assist much? You do realise there are players on the field whose job requires they don't do much of that because their position dictates it like, Manny, Durante, Sigmund... You also realise he is not a striker and the read is that he tends to play mostly as a wide midfielder like a Daniel or a Bertos, right?


Yeah Cunningham is pretty much a guaranteed starter...

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.


mjp2 edited August 05, 2013 04:16
Jeff Vader wrote:
mjp2 wrote:
Jeff Vader wrote:

Ernie has stated that Stein and Brockie are head to head. Cunningham from the bench? Yeah right... 

Ernie has pretty much said that his flank guys are Bertos, Boyd, Ifill and Cunningham for 2 spots. Carlos in the middle and up front.... You can guarantee that it will be Cunningham Carlos and Ifill.

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. You may think that's nuts, but Cunningham is NOT a big goal scorer or big assist provider, over his club record.  1 goal in just under every five games at club level the last three years. 

Sure I can see the argument for Cunningham's reputed pace in that wider position.  And sure I can understand Ernie's intention.  But, as I said, I am not convinced this will end up a straight Brockie v Stein situation.  It all depends just how good Cunningham actually turns out to be and it is quite possible that Stein could make Ernie rethink.  I am not saying that will definately happen, but I think there is a lot of jumping to conclusions going on about a guy we've not even seen yet, and that the coach has not actually seen yet.

Just so I understand what you wrote, you are telling me that Ernie is going to have a current overseas international riding the pine because he does not score goals or assist much? You do realise there are players on the field whose job requires they don't do much of that because their position dictates it like, Manny, Durante, Sigmund... You also realise he is not a striker and the read is that he tends to play mostly as a wide midfielder like a Daniel or a Bertos, right?


Yeah Cunningham is pretty much a guaranteed starter...

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 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.