View from the convict side
Normo's coming home
Permalink
Permalink
Hoping to get a new feature started for this season. Each week we'll look to get the views of opposing fans from Australia on the upcoming match. As we're a bit insulated over here from general A-League chat I thought this might help us to get some different views from some well informed fans.
And anything that he�s gotten wrong?
And your worst?
Adam Kwasnik was an enormous failure at Wellington but has shown some form for CCM, what are your feelings about him as a player?
Dylan McCallister, glad to be rid or will be missed?
If you could have one player from the Phoenix squad playing for CCM, who would it be?
Good luck with season after this weekend Kiwis. Very happy to have our brothers down under adding such quality to the league and also doing such a great job in World football.james dean2010-08-20 21:19:33
This is the first of these, and big thanks to Forum Phoenix (great name) from the Marinators, for providing his views. I still have a couple of other replies outstanding so I will add them when they come in. If anyone is a regular on other forums and would like to help with this then please PM me.
Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners. Sunday 22 August. Round 3 Hyundai A-League Season 2010/11
Graham Arnold has replaced Lawrie McKinna as the manager at Central Coast. What are some of the things that he�s gotten right so far and can you see any differences in your football?
Forum Phoenix: The first thing Arnie got right was simply talking about playing attacking football this year and adding exciting creative attacking players to the squad. In pre season I then watched several games and was very impressed with our movement of the ball which had significantly improved in my opinion. He also has recruited well, getting rid of some old wood, and adding a lot of quality youth into the side with all of his major signings looking to be of clear worth to the squad. I feel better about our depth than I have in any season previous.
Also his eye for substitutions has proved very good so far. So yes, I can genuinely see a positive difference.
And anything that he�s gotten wrong?
Forum Phoenix: Allowing Robbie Slater to drag his name into the mud with the Slatergate incident currenltu transpiring. Apart from that, really it's actually been all good.
Who is your best off season signing?
Radinho: Tough call at the moment. Dutchy [Patrick Zwaanswijk] was all class against Adelaide, Rose was also outstanding... while Perez is supposed to be our key man but has only been glimpsed in pre season...
Oliver Bozanic however was class all pre season and I think will prove to be one of the standouts of our team and indeed the HAL this year. Though watch out for Mustapha Amini in the not too distant future also.
And your worst?
Forum Phoenix: Honestly, by default if you had to choose it would have to be one of our new
youth recruits... But that would be simply unfair.
youth recruits... But that would be simply unfair.
Adam Kwasnik was an enormous failure at Wellington but has shown some form for CCM, what are your feelings about him as a player?
Forum Phoenix: lol. Kwasildinho? Our Kwasildinho?? Put it this way... Row Z at Blue tongue was never safer than when Kwassi left!! No everyone mostly says the same thing about Kwasi. He's either brilliant or rubbish, rarely anything in between.
In short he's an inconsistent confidence player. Bear with him and you'll get some real quality and magic. But you'll need to be prepared to watch him go missing and be patient.
Dylan McCallister, glad to be rid or will be missed?
Forum Phoenix: Just seemed to have so much promise that never arrived... and just when you'd be thinking surely it's about to pop up... The further away it would seem to slip.
Kwasnik, Caceres and now McCallister... you guys certainly seem like gluttons for punishment... But maybe third times the charm.
If you could have one player from the Phoenix squad playing for CCM, who would it be?
Forum Phoenix: Only one?
Ifill. I'd take him over anyone else in the A league as it happens.
What is a realistic target for CCM this season and what needs to happen for you to achieve that?
Forum Phoenix: I think a top four finish is a realistic target. And we have every right to think we can challenge for honours as we have a strong starting 11, but perhaps more importantly we have genuine depth in every position. By which I mean players who can and are genuinely challenging for each spot.
Forum Phoenix: I think a top four finish is a realistic target. And we have every right to think we can challenge for honours as we have a strong starting 11, but perhaps more importantly we have genuine depth in every position. By which I mean players who can and are genuinely challenging for each spot.
The key will likely be having Perez combine as planned to have the Mariners play the kind of football Arnie and the crowds are looking for. Though we are doing well enough without him. The proposed guest attacking player we are looking at signing over our five game period at home come Xmas could well prove instrumental I suspect also - as consistency in the back end of the season has cost us the last two years in a row.
And finally, a prediction for Sunday�
Forum Phoenix: There's no denying the Nix are a quality side, and the Cake Tin [Ring of Fire!] has to be easily the toughest place to take points from in the league.
Forum Phoenix: There's no denying the Nix are a quality side, and the Cake Tin [Ring of Fire!] has to be easily the toughest place to take points from in the league.
Buutttttt of course I'll be tipping the Mariners to steal a win regardless :P
Good luck with season after this weekend Kiwis. Very happy to have our brothers down under adding such quality to the league and also doing such a great job in World football.
Normo's coming home
Permalink
Permalink
Get Rubbernose to do it (if he's still on there). Would be both hilarious and excessively sweary.
Permalink
Permalink
ask them if they think Reid should come back to NZ for international games?
All I do is make the stuff I would've liked
Reference things I wanna watch, reference girls I wanna bite
Now I'm firefly like a burning kite
And yousa fake fuck like a fleshlight
Permalink
Permalink
Kwasnik, Caceres and now McCallister... you guys certainly seem like gluttons for punishment... But maybe third times the charm.
You know we belong together...
Permalink
Permalink
Get KP to give his views on the Jam Tards when the visit...
"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009
Permalink
Permalink
I Like.
We will never fully decide who has won the football.
Permalink
Permalink
Brilliant idea. I'm mates with a GCU blogger (please forgive me), I'll ask him closer to our next encounter.
As for getting a Sydney fan to write up, you could always ask Stefan
Edit - Know a MVFC blogger too
Robb2010-08-21 23:44:36
As for getting a Sydney fan to write up, you could always ask Stefan
Edit - Know a MVFC blogger too
Robb2010-08-21 23:44:36
Permalink
Permalink
Brilliant idea. I'm mates with a GCU blogger (please forgive me), I'll ask him closer to our next encounter.
As for getting a Sydney fan to write up, you could always ask Stefan
Edit - Know a MVFC blogger too
No, no i don't think we should at all As for getting a Sydney fan to write up, you could always ask Stefan
Edit - Know a MVFC blogger too
Permalink
Permalink
Graham Arnold has replaced Lawrie McKinna as the manager at Central Coast. What are some of the things that he�s gotten right so far and can you see any differences in your football?
JA has brought in 12 new players and our squad look nothing like Mariners squads of the past. We have 15 players under 25 with 8 under 21... Also aside from Kwassie & Matthew Lewis all the Australian players have played for Australia at some level .. meaning we have 16 players who have represented Australia... many of the new squad are small and I mean very small between 55 & 60 Kls... Can we become a real attacking team of skillful players... that is the plan...
I actually think we have the best mid field in the league it is up front were we will struggle...
And anything that he�s gotten wrong?
Recent spat between Harry & Slatter ... were GA is said the be the sourse.
Who is your best off season signing?
Hard to say .. arguably Patricio Perez
Players to watch Oliver Bozanic very very very special IMO will be at least an A-League Socceroo .. this kid is a local boy returning home � he is a real talent �.
Mustafa Amini many good critics including Les Murry regard this kid who just turned 17 (April) as Australia�s best junior since Harry � and GA is charged with developing him (HHHHHMMMM) � � Expectations are high so I hope they do not bury him� He also needs to break into the run on team as well � but certainly one to watch especially for the future�
Patricio Perez could be a huge flop but could also be one of the best buys the A-League has ever made� rumour (from pub talk) is Perez was brought to help with the development of Amini. GA in a wide ranging Canberra interview hinted this may be the case as well without naming the player.
Also keep an eye on Rostyn Griffiths and Trent Sainsbury, who have been impressive in training and trials�
And your worst?
To be honest they have all worked out so far...
Adam Kwasnik was an enormous failure at Wellington but has shown some form for CCM, what are your feelings about him as a player?
HHHHHHHHHMMMMMMm ... Still see Adam as a bench player and is effective in that role... still has the touch of an Elephant and that is his main problem...
Dylan McCallister, glad to be rid or will be missed?
Glad to be rid of... we have to many big fast run all day in your face types... Matty, Kwassie, Nil, Breen.... TBH I have seen Dylan from his days at the Northern Spirit... he is big fast plays with a huge heart... is a team player ... but then the other side his first touch and decision making both let him down a lot when the pressure is on..
If you could have one player from the Phoenix squad playing for CCM, who would it be?
EEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Paulie Paulie Paulie IIIIIIII
What is a realistic target for CCM this season and what needs to happen for you to achieve that?
Top 4 at best and build a young team for next year...
Also and Importantly for the first time the squad has the look of the Mariners long term planning from before we kicked a ball in Hal 1. That is accept we are a developing league that will loose its best players to overseas leagues. Accordingly try and get the best juniors you can into the squad, those who we may be able to sell. Thereby providing revenue to compete with the bigger clubs. Also to make it too and overseas team they will have to perform very well in the A-League so double bonus, plays well and revenue who could ask for more, further should attack other good juniors, and the cycle continues.
Hal 7 & 8 will be great season if we can hold this squad together, meaning there certainly appears a long term plan to entice top juniors, raise revenue and produce a creative and technically strong team. The sense of both long and short term planning that seems to have gone into this squad does impress me.
And finally, a prediction for Sunday�
Close you guys are hard to beat at the ROF ... If Patricio Perez plays the Mariners if he does not a draw.
Midfielder2010-08-22 15:42:41
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
Permalink
Permalink
Dylan McCallister, glad to be rid or will be missed?
Forum Phoenix: Just seemed to have so much promise that never arrived... and just when you'd be thinking surely it's about to pop up... The further away it would seem to slip.
Kwasnik, Caceres and now McCallister... you guys certainly seem like gluttons for punishment... But maybe third times the charm.
Forget about Tranmere; Central Coast Mariners are now the Nix's official feeder club. Perhaps we could use them as our Youth side
Permalink
Permalink
We've sent them Kwasnik, Elrich and (Knights) Josh Rose.
Permalink
Permalink
Dylan McCallister, glad to be rid or will be missed?
�
Forum Phoenix: Just seemed to have so much promise that never arrived... and just when you'd be thinking surely it's about to pop up... The further away it would seem to slip.
�
Kwasnik, Caceres and now McCallister... you guys certainly seem like gluttons for punishment... But maybe third times the charm.
�
Forget about Tranmere; Central Coast Mariners are now the Nix's official feeder club. Perhaps we could use them as our Youth side
I will happily give them Diego.
Permalink
Permalink
Brilliant idea. I'm mates with a GCU blogger (please forgive me), I'll ask him closer to our next encounter.As for getting a Sydney fan to write up, you could always ask Stefan
Edit - Know a MVFC blogger too
Funny.
I know just the person to do it though.Stefan2010-08-23 20:27:44
Permalink
Permalink
Ok feedback has generally been good so will keep this going.
I really will need some assistance though so if you would like to take this on for a week then please PM me.
Oh and apologies to midfielder, I didn't get a chance to ad your comments myself as I was away from Friday afternoon.
Cheers
JD
Normo's coming home
Permalink
Permalink
Oh and anyone know anyone from Brisbane? Their message boards aren't very user friendly
Normo's coming home
Permalink
Permalink
Best bet is to look on the FourFourTwo forums. Either start a thread or just look for a Roar supporter. Here is one you could PM:
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/forums/Default.aspx?g=profile&u=15411
He is a bit of regular.
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/forums/Default.aspx?g=profile&u=15411
He is a bit of regular.
Permalink
Permalink
hmm, if it means having to sift through the 4-4-2 forums perhaps I should just give up now haha
Cheers mate, thanks
Normo's coming home
Permalink
Permalink
Oh and anyone know anyone from Brisbane? Their message boards aren't very user friendly
I have a couple.
I'll PM you.
Permalink
Permalink
We've sent them Kwasnik, Elrich and (Knights) Josh Rose.
Josh Rose looks very good, him and Caravella. Add in Brockie and that's three pretty decent A-League players that the Knights had.
Permalink
Permalink
Fourfourtwo forums. Uhoh
scouse_roar
Permalink
Permalink
Wellington Phoenix vs Brisbane Roar. Hyundai A-League Round 4. Suncorp Stadium Friday 27 August
james dean2010-08-25 22:58:19
Thanks to Roger for his help with this.
Ange has completely revamped your squad for 2010/2011. Who are now the key players at the Roar?
This is Ange's squad now and thus he has no excuses anymore. In my opinion he's strengthened well and the 3 key players are Matty McKay, Theoklitos in goals (much better than Reddy) and Thomas Broich who is the link-up player the Roar have been missing as well as being able to deliver a decent corner, again something the Roar has lacked for 5 seasons.
A number of high profile players have left the club and the manager now has his own team in place. Have the fans backed the clear out?
Yes the fans are generally supportive of the clear-out. It was widely known that there was a clique in last year�s team that Farina was the head of and so Ange had no option but to get rid of Moore, Tiatto, Miller, Malcolm & Reddy otherwise he would have been undermined. The sale of the 3 youngsters to Utrecht [Sarotta, Oar and Zullo] though has left a big void but the money we got will basically keep the club afloat.
Gold Coast starting up just down the road was supposed to lead to a new Queensland rivalry but the combined attendances have been less than what the Roar were averaging in the first few A-League seasons. Why is that and have you seen any improvements in crowd numbers this year at Suncorp?
It would appear as though that the Roar and GCU basically shared supporters i.e the Roar got many people from the Gold Coast to their games before GCU came in. All that this has done is diluted the Roar's crowd. Gold Coast is not a football centre and will never be either so I'm not sure what the FFA thought of by admitting them. The Roar are still clawing back their reputation in the local football scene from when they started the club and some things that Ange has done has bought them closer to the football community and this is a good thing. The vibe this season is better but it will depend on results.
Brisbane have been the great underachievers of the competition considering the quality of the set up. Any easy reasons why?
A lack of a genuine striker is probably the most simple thing to pin point, it�s no surprise that when van Dijk came in the team made the finals. We suffered from Miron's lack of tactical nous for the first 2 seasons and Farina's pig headedness thereafter. I don�t think that the setup up here is any better than other clubs and there has always been a lack of money and backroom harmony at the club. The club has consistently shed backroom staff each year and it�s hard for the players to get a sense of stability if the coaches, managers, office staff keep changing every year.
Kosta Barbarouses, excellent addition or waste of space?
He's no Tommy Oar or Dario Vidosic but I think he will have a role to play this season.
Who is your best off season signing?
Thomas Broich. He was playing in the Bundesliga last year and is still young. You can see that his awareness of space and the quickness of his thought process is way above the others. I just hope he doesn't do a Culina and start to play to the level of the others as compared to maintaining at his higher level. Erik Paartalu looks good too and adds some much needed size and height to the midfield.
And your worst?
There's a couple of guys bought in from the local leagues so you would think that they might struggle at this level.
What is a realistic goal for the Roar this season and what needs to happen for you to achieve that and a prediction for Sunday?
Given that it�s a rebuilding stage and a new side, sneaking into the finals is realistic. This can only happen as long as there isn't an injury crisis as there isn�t much depth.
Roar 2-1 with Kosta getting the winner ;)
Normo's coming home
Permalink
Permalink
Phoenix 2-1 with Kosta getting the winner from an own goal ;)
Permalink
Permalink
I would not be surprised if Roar win this. Never fancy us away from home for some reason, even if they are 'restructuring'.
Gonna see if my mate in brissy is gonna go to this. Need to send him over some phoenix gear he can wear haha.Azevo2010-08-26 16:07:28
Gonna see if my mate in brissy is gonna go to this. Need to send him over some phoenix gear he can wear haha.Azevo2010-08-26 16:07:28
We will never fully decide who has won the football.
Permalink
Permalink
I will happily give them Diego.[/QUOTE]
Thats got my vote
" If you only have a hammer you tend to see every problem as a nail" - maslow
Permalink
Permalink
can't wait till this weeks with the Shed!
Permalink
Permalink
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: red; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Phoenix 2-1 with Kosta getting the winner from an own goal ;)</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><o:p></o:p></span>
You were close.
If you are old and wise you were probably young and stupid
Permalink
Permalink
well you got the goal scorer right mate
VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life
Permalink
Permalink
We gonna have one for the Glory? Do like these.
We will never fully decide who has won the football.
Permalink
Permalink
guys i think I'm going to struggle this week as I've just got back from hols and I'm off again on Friday (I live in the UK so it's summer - well at least in name) and I haven't had any general offers of help (just volunteers for specific clubs). That also means I'll miss the following week too. Anyone keen to get involved?
Normo's coming home
Permalink
Permalink
guys i think I'm going to struggle this week as I've just got back from hols and I'm off again on Friday (I live in the UK so it's summer - well at least in name) and I haven't had any general offers of help (just volunteers for specific clubs). That also means I'll miss the following week too. Anyone keen to get involved?
Asked a mate in Perth if he knows anyone who'd be keen (he declined when I suggested he do it a couple days ago). Will let you know.
Permalink
Permalink
Perth = Egan surely?
He's the mate who declined.
Permalink
Permalink
Tell me what is required and I will ask one of the die hard Glory supporters I work with if he would be interested.
Permalink
Permalink
Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners. Sunday 22 August. Round 3 Hyundai A-League Season 2010/11
David Mitchell is under big pressure this year can he perform?
The knives would have been out had he not had a good start to the season. Because this has happened there is less pressure than what was building all through last season. A lacklustre performance this season by our squad will see the success-starved fans ready and willing to knife the next coach. The fan pressure is enormous but hopefully they can perform despite the pressure to get a title after 6 years of waiting.
And anything that he�s gotten wrong?
Probably, the underlying sentiment with a lot of fans is his faith in 4-4-2 and his lack of early substitutions when we go behind. He's seemed to be changing this formula up this season and we see a different side on the park
Who is your best off season signing?
Fowler, all class.
And your worst?
Well lets just say we have recruited well, I have doubts about Baird, but we will see what happens in the long run.
Jamie Coyne is an enormous failure at Perth Glory, can he stop his brain freezes in the middle of defence?
We all prey for the day this happens...
Wayne Shroj, glad to be rid or will be missed?
Glad the lazy man has left the purple and orange.
If you could have one player from the Phoenix squad playing for Perth Glory, who would it be?
Ifill...
Glory's crowds have been some of the biggest in the league, can they keep the Perth public interested?
Depends on how they perform at home. We have wall to wall coverage of the AFL at the moment. Perth sportsfans will jump on the bandwagon if we continue to stay top of the league. The 1998 Ground Record may be under threat come November if we continue our good form.
What is a realistic target for Perth Glory this season and what needs to happen for you to achieve that?
Ha, depends on the injuries. Andy Todd will be critical and that man Jamie Coynes stuff ups will need to be limited. We as fans have had high expectations of the club this year and everyone will be dissapointed if we are not challenging for the title. Grand Final Day would be the ultimate goal
Ha, depends on the injuries. Andy Todd will be critical and that man Jamie Coynes stuff ups will need to be limited. We as fans have had high expectations of the club this year and everyone will be dissapointed if we are not challenging for the title. Grand Final Day would be the ultimate goal
And finally, a prediction for Sunday�
3-2 to the Nux. I think the Phoenix are due to show the league their talent on Sunday and we will under-estimate our opponent.
3-2 to the Nux. I think the Phoenix are due to show the league their talent on Sunday and we will under-estimate our opponent.
Egan2010-09-04 14:54:05
Permalink
Permalink