R8 vs Melbourne City | Sunday 30th Nov | 5:00pm | RoF

Off topic much?

Nick Paris only knew me as arthouse movie addict so he was surprised to hear I am a YF addict too. We spent the subsequent 1/2 hr discussing football as only two tragics can.

Then you beat me by a few good years - my Alice card dates to 1991 (my wife got it, I only landed here in 1993). Alice had moved by then from Hereford St already I think (to High St).

Of course not. Talking cinema is all part of the pre-game ritual, and half-time entertainment.

Especially when the drama (or comedy) on the pitch is underwhelming.....

ChCh had quite a good arthouse movie scene back in the day.  Alice was a great wee niche with lots of foreign muck films.  An oasis in a sea of dross Hollywood.

Not really Alice but I saw this in ChCh at one of the feelum festivals back then:

I liked that film back then when I saw it too - stylish but a pretty sick ending.

I enjoyed his previous two films, "Diva" and "Moon in the Gutter" too.

"Diva" has one of the best soundtracks of all time I think (I like the punk who goes around saying "I hate Beethoven" and smashing his busts whenever possible).

All still available to hire at "Alice's" 

Back onto football, where else can you hire a film like this:

The Goalkeeper's Fear Of The Penalty(1971)
Wim Wenders.

"A haunting portrait of alienation, following a professional soccer goalie (Arthur Brauss) who abandons his team and sets out on an odyssey. Stunningly directed, a film you will not soon forget."

"A goalkeeper is sent off during a game for committing a foul. He spends the night with a cinema cashier, whom he afterwards kills. Although a type of detective film, it is more slow moving and contemplative than other films of the genre. It explores the monotony of the murderer's existence and, like many of Wenders' films, the overwhelming cultural influence of America in post-war West Germany."

Them goalies, eh?

"Goalkeeper's Fear of the Penalty" opening sequence on You Tube:

Man, that goalie was having a bad day...

Better luck for the Phoenix lads tomorrow night, lets hope...

By posting this ultimate nightmare film sequence of all time involving a footballer character, I hope to remove any jinx on the Phoenix tomorrow.

"Viel Glück! Viel Erfolg! Ich wünsche Ihnen Gesundheit und Freude! Die besten Wünsche für die Zukunft!"

Mate, I got banned for the joke I made last friday...... Be careful what you say.

Sky are a fair target in anyone's language though I should think - useless cod pieces!

They are still advertising the game as 7 pm on Sunday vs. Newcastle.

Have been doing this since Monday. 

Right, I'm going to phone them now....

Ernie's opinion piece in this morning's Dom Post:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/63652653/merr...

The minutes silence for me will be a tough one. We lost a fellow foundation member last night and I'm going to miss him, particularly at the footy. For sure, marking Phil Hughes is a good call, but it'll have another meaning for me.

Otherwise, what do i think about this.  We are better than last year, lost to two of the top sides by just the goal though struggled to get our mojo goin particularly at Perth.  But you're going to have the odd bad game after midnight and off the back of a bit of a near thing disappointment v Adelaide.   

Hopefully Ernie gets the front half working better, Weemac makes a difference and being back at home does it for us big time.  COYN.  Big mid table game. 

On Lia, my biggest disappointment is that A-Rod is not starting.  That's another import on the bench.  Lia can play a decent dangerous ball but I'd say otherwise is serviceable, an experienced head who will take the card when needed and I imagine a great guy and squad member.  But I doubt we will be a top four side with him starting and I just don't ever see him helping us win the League.  So I had hoped for more.  Happy to have him at the club for two more years, albeit with no idea how much cap he's taking, but I had hoped we would grow past him starting.  Still time for that. 

COYN

^Wish come true mjp2.

Piney just tweeted that Lia is out with a calf injury. Rodriguez to start.

Nah, don't wish ill or injury on anyone.  It would be good if all our imports simply demanded to be picked as starters.  But go A-Rod and I hope Lia gets that injury sorted asap. 

Sky still bloody advertising this as Jets vs Nix 7pm...

I have the soundtrack and the dvd. Circle Jerks FTW!

Sorry for your loss.

I thought Boyd had been playing well. So Khrishna will start, and Burns will start too by the sounds, and McG. That leaves Boyd shite out of luck. Perhaps he'll feature off the bench.  Thought Burns has seemed a little complacent and Krishna has scored, but also still takes some poor options at times and missed that chance against Perth from Doyle's ball. I'm not sure Krishna would be guaranteed a start if I was coaching. Annoyed Boyd hasn't had a few more chances because I think he adds something to our attack and seems to have been putting in good shifts in the Weenix games etc.

In Ernie we trust...

Iggy Pop did the theme song to the movie. I aas hoping Boyd might have gotten a start.

Fudging 4am start. Not keen.

Right then.Gameday.Fire the f*ck up!!  COYN

3 points, clean sheet, cohesive passing

Thanks.

If we win this then we will have a nice gap between us and the also rans. To coin an old football cliche.... this is a 6 pointer!

good morning gameday.  COYMFingN

coming down the road with one other in tow trying to get a couple more but they are a bit slack usually so not expecting them to say yes at the last minute

Forecast is for westerlies and about 16 degrees - should be good. Gameday - YES!

A Wellington heatwave  then. :)

Looking forward to today's game. Go Nix!! 

Glorious in town at moment but....at work till 3.30.

FIRE UP YOU FLOCKERS !!!!!

The silly season of home "home" games begins today...30 Nov, 28 Dec, 4 Jan and 14 Feb...4 in 3 months since last one.

PAX 7940 as at last nite when I bought one for son.

Flipping Fire Up - FARK

Cmon Youse Nix

Very very quiet in here today. I wonder where everyone is

Very very quiet in here today. I wonder where everyone is

Very very quiet in here today. I wonder where everyone is

so quiet you can hear that echo

Fire up!