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

Something on 3 news about it shortly. Probably about 2 seconds worth of goal.

its only a pre season, most teams loose, even the best.

Good write up:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11131643

"Despite the result, it was great to see New Zealand's only professional football club taking the game back to the heartland. The Phoenix attracted a bumper crowd, similar to the sell-out against Fijian side Ba in last season's OFC Champions' League, with fans watching from every available vantage point at the complex but pristine ground."

I wonder how many other heartland clubs have complex but pristine grounds?  #notDFpark

Chokers.

You need to sign Spoonley permanently.

Actually - I'm intrigued now that Kiwitea was full and now that the Nix are a reasonably established brand, if there is potentially scope to do more of this in future pre-seasons (i.e. not just Akld but other ASBP teams).

Would be good if there is the same interest that this one seems to have generated.

Another report here: http://www.asbpremiership.co.nz/

Couldn't get that stuff page to load oddly. Anyone wanna cut and paste it?

Wrote this: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9222248/Phoenix-lose-to-1-0-to-Auckland-City, but some thoughts here:

For the Nix, Spoonley was excellent in his 45 minutes, Moss failed to stop the one shot he faced. To be fair, it was a cracker, but someone in a better position than me reckoned Moss could have done better with it. After Spoonley probably out-played Moss in the Rotorua game, could there actually be a battle on the cards for the Nix keeper role sometime this year?

I thought Sigmund was quite good, Adams had a shocker, Tade was turning him inside and out but Spoonley came to his rescue.

The Sherminator had some nice touches but struggled a bit defensively, Caira outplayed him, and Gulley went alright. 

Lia, well, put it this way, I'd bring Alex Rufer off the bench before him. Muscat good when he came on, the forwards did nothing but they didn't really get much service, no creativity at all from the midfield, especially in the first half. Leo and Boyd were very solid, but there were literally no real chances in the second half.

For City, I thought Berlanga and Pritchett defended well, as did my guy Irving, he didn't put a foot wrong, made some excellent challenges and clearances (not that I was counting....) and showed that he'll be an excellent recruit for City as expected. Outplayed all the Nix wing-back options, hopefully he shines this year and the Nix look at him to finally solve their RB issues.

Thought City deserved their win, but the Nix were obviously bereft of any creativity without their three key imports - I think the fans enjoyed the win more than the players, but hey, they deserve to enjoy a good performance.

Cheers N-bomb.

Can we say definitively that Kenny gives us creativity? Iffs and Carlos we know well, but Kenny?

Was it you (N-bomb) who wrote up Irving being at Ngaruawahia (coming from 'pyul)?

http://www.3news.co.nz/VIDEO-HIGHLIGHTS-All-goals-reaction-1-0-Auckland-City-V-Wellington-Phoenix-Kiwitea-Street/tabid/415/articleID/315034/Default.aspx

Fenton hasn't had scans yet?!?

Bragging rights to ACFC and the knitting circle. Such restraint! After all the jibes and accusations....

Just got back to Turangi. To be fair Nix never put a team on the pitch to win. It looked like a training game. Good on ACFC for taking it to the Nix.  Now it on to next Sunday. Should be the team to face Roar playing.  

Ok, so, Did Ernie refer to Durante as "Andrew Durakovich" and also forget the second name of another Nix player? 

http://www.3news.co.nz/VIDEO-HIGHLIGHTS-All-goals-reaction-1-0-Auckland-City-V-Wellington-Phoenix-Kiwitea-Street/tabid/415/articleID/315034/Default.aspx

Love you Ernie, and I'm totally into cannabis relegalisation, but please, hold off until the post-season.

Edit: I really do respect Ernie. Results matter and he gets results. Remembering names? Meh. Not relevant.

Time for another round of "Sign Clapham",methinks

How about that chap Claphamovic? 

South Island - Canterbury I think:

One very important point which I mentioned to el grap and 2nd Best at the ground. There were plenty of young kids there wearing Phoenix gear. I didn't see a single one wearing ACFC clobber.