Wellington Phoenix Men

WHO ARE YA - Mathew Steinbauer

102 replies · 3,520 views
about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
2ndBest wrote:
yomcat wrote:
Soccer coach Ricki Herbert has done a fine job kicking off the Phoenix debut season in the A-League, but his time is up and was some matches ago.
His intention to play attacking football was clear from the beginning with a 3-5-2 formation and his signing of Brazilian players. This would be fine were his three backs world class. Otherwise, he was expecting far too much of them but persists with a strategy that is clearly not working.
I � and many others � are disappointed with Herbert and it's worse when we see a great crowd that deserves a lot more.
To hear of the marathon training done over the Christmas break is a let-down when the team should have been working extensively on defence with four backs.
Who should replace Herbert? Stu Jacobs.
 
I stopped reading after the use of 'soccer'.  If you don't know the name of the sport you are talking about then you are wasting my time.
 
 
i 100% agree with you..
 
 

ive got a song that wont take long, Adelaide are rubbish.. the second verse is same as the first.. ADELAIDE ARE RUBBISH

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
What a muppet, he plays the game, then makes an uneducated comment like that!!! Must be a Miramar thing???

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I know, it's like he's never seen a game before let alone played one. Maybe his new years resolution is to be a twat?
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
theprof wrote:
What a muppet, he plays the game, then makes an uneducated comment like that!!! Must be a Miramar thing???
 
C'mon now, be serious! He was a keeper.

Apparently I'm apathetic, but I couldn't care less.

"Being a Partick Thistle fan sets you apart. It means youre a free thinker. It also means your team has no money." Tim Luckhurst, The Independent, 4th December 2003

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Jag - I'm a keeper and I'd like to think I have more football nouse than this clown.
FYI post from Patrick Piercy on stuff's blogs re the comments made by this idiot.
 
removed link cos it was broke "doh"
 
very interesting.
theprof2008-01-17 14:10:41

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
theprof wrote:
Jag - I'm a keeper and I'd like to think I have more football nouse than this clown.
FYI post from Patrick Piercy on stuff's blogs re the comments made by this idiot.
 
 
very interesting.
 
Maybe he's had a few more kicks to the head than you, prof
 
Oh, and BTW, your link's busted

Apparently I'm apathetic, but I couldn't care less.

"Being a Partick Thistle fan sets you apart. It means youre a free thinker. It also means your team has no money." Tim Luckhurst, The Independent, 4th December 2003

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Kicks to the head? yeah sure, been kicked in the knee a couple of times never the head, just can't operate a link thingy.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
theprof wrote:
Kicks to the head? yeah sure, been kicked in the knee a couple of times never the head, just can't operate a link thingy.
 
 
 
 
Just read it. Pretty fair piece of writing I think.

Apparently I'm apathetic, but I couldn't care less.

"Being a Partick Thistle fan sets you apart. It means youre a free thinker. It also means your team has no money." Tim Luckhurst, The Independent, 4th December 2003

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Arnt some of you being more than a little precious about a letter to the editor.Go back and read some of the sl*gging various players have copped on the forums over the season from some so called Phoenix supporters,I really see no difference here.So what your not allowed to know express an opinion that may differ from yours.

While i dont agree with his call for Ricky to be sacked,I have to say the most disappointing aspect of this season for me is to see the defence/midfield making the same mistakes game after game.It seems at times that we have made no progress at all and to make matters worse we are now not scoring them as well.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
tigers wrote:
the difference is Righstr that any niggles about players are as you say voiced on this board, not in public

haven't read it so can't comment on the details, but i don't think Steinbauer has done the club any good with this - and i believe that fans should think about any effects of their actions on the club
 
You pompous git!
 
He can say what he wants. I think it's great that the Phoenix have got to the point where letters to the editor about who should be the coach can get printed in the local rag.
 
I don't agree with him but football around the world thrives on this sort of stuff!
 
Good on ya Mr Steinbauer for being passionate enough about the Phoenix to stick your neck out and write a letter. And well done the Dom Post for considering it a subject worthy of printing.
 

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Look guys, let us not forget that this is a single person posting his views.
 
It just happens to be that the medium he has chosen (newspaper) means that his view is broadcast out to a sizable readership.
 
He is just one person.
BobbySmith2008-01-17 14:38:02
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
i dont agree with his views but surely it is a sign that football is growing..
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Good point, Ballane. (and you T-X). Maybe some double standards on the go here. We don't think twice about coming on here and sl*gging off players etc, and I'm as guilty as anybody else. My issues with his letter were the inconsistencies in it and the calls for Ricki to be sacked.
 
T-X, great point about the Dom printing the letter. Shows you how far we've come when the Dom thinks a letter about us is worthy of printing.
 

Apparently I'm apathetic, but I couldn't care less.

"Being a Partick Thistle fan sets you apart. It means youre a free thinker. It also means your team has no money." Tim Luckhurst, The Independent, 4th December 2003

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I don�t mind it. The guy wanted to voice his thoughts. He shows little clues about the game in what he says, but good on him for having the enthusiasm to put pen to paper. I agree that we should have gone to a back four (player availability dependent) a few games ago.

Founder

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I think it's unfair to tarnish us all with the same brush. I generally don't attack people but comment on others views and the team/player's performance in a way I feel is constructive. As do many other people on here.
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I have no problem with the guy making a comment, he could have called Radio Sport and made it there - he's entitled to, hell I make enough brash outrageous comments, but I'd like to think most of them have some basis and logic to them. Demanding that the coach be sacked after the first season is why I've lambasted him as a muppet!!

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Hay I started this in good faith please no direct personal assualts. As he wrote his article we all need ourspace.
 
The Dominion Post in publishing it - need to get the letters in - as to push it in that way shows they want a response.
Blew2008-01-17 15:47:57
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Blew wrote:
Hay I started this in good faith please no direct personal assualts. As he wrote his article we all need ourspace.
 
The Dominion Post in publishing it - need to get the letters in - as to push it in that way shows they want a response.
 
You probably shouldn't have used the guy's name in the title of the thread then.
 
Tigers - fair play, removing his photo is a start.
 
Personally, I'd lock this thread off. Some of the posts are so far in breach of your own forum rule #4 that I'm surprised the mods have tolerated it up until now.
 
I don't want to have to start fantasising about snipers taking out members of YF again (just joking Tigers!).
 

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
theprof wrote:
I have no problem with the guy making a comment, he could have called Radio Sport and made it there - he's entitled to, hell I make enough brash outrageous comments, but I'd like to think most of them have some basis and logic to them. Demanding that the coach be sacked after the first season is why I've lambasted him as a muppet!!
 
He probably tried but because it wasnt rugby or circket then he didn't get through to air. 
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I have no problem with people writing letters to the editor. Good on Mathew. All opinions are welcome. The problem he made is not getting his facts right.
Has anyone here heard about this marathon training he mentions?
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I'm pretty sure they got Xmas off..well a few days atleast.  Saw a TV3 peice about the team doing a 'trialthon' around the waterfront just before xmas and them metioning that the team would get a few days after that.  Remember there being talk of long fitness sessions before the season started to get everyone up to speed. 2ndBest2008-01-17 16:29:24
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
For my two cents worth, you all know i think our defence sucks. They started off ok, got worse, then got better, then got worse again. These things happen. I know the players don't go out there with the intention of playing bad. Now that we have a season pretty much behind us, the break will give every player to reflect on how they may have done things better. I hope sincerely that they come back next season all the better for it. I do believe at least two new CD's are required to boost the squad and perhaps help the incumbents spur on to better performances.
 
No way do I blame Herbert. he can coach, give sideline advice, but he's not the one on the field making it happen. I am glad he's stuck with his ideas on attacking football. As a fan, we have all learned so much the season. Long may it continue.......
Lonegunmen2008-01-17 19:38:30
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
sanday wrote:
I have no problem with people writing letters to the editor. Good on Mathew. All opinions are welcome. The problem he made is not getting his facts right.
Has anyone here heard about this marathon training he mentions?
 
Yes, they did an article on it on TV. Who cares? It was meant as a competitive team building exercise and kept their fitness levels up. A bright fresh initiative if you ask me.
Lonegunmen2008-01-17 16:30:08
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Has anyone written a letter in response yet? I would but I'm just far too tired today.

EDIT: Bugger it. I'll do it anyway.
Critical_Lemon2008-01-17 16:43:34
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Valid points Lonegunmen, as are all the opinions on the thread. But as always if your gonna demand someone gets sacked you need to be backing it up with some solid evidence, and to be honest I doubt there anyone anywhere that could justifably say that ricki has doena poor job. the players have a lot of reflecting to do in the off season, lets hope they learn from their mistakes.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Here is my letter. Comments?

In response to the letter calling for Rikki Herbert to be sacked (January 17) I would like to point out that the letter writer has many misconceptions about the Phoenix' season. For a start the team has not played 3-5-2 all season, for the first third of the season the formation was 4-4-2 but our deffence was poor and Herbert changed to 3-5-2 to strengthen the midfield. Our deffence up until Christmas was much more effective. Of course we don't have "world-class" backs, there is not a single "world-class" player in the A-League. But yes we do need better defenders.

 

The club had around 3/4 months from conception to the start of this season, most of the players the club could sign were rejects from other A-League clubs, we could not expect them to perfrom miracles. I am sure Rikki has been looking at potential additions to the squad for next season since he got his team for this season together. I hope he brings in two quality defenders first.

 

The letter writer claims many people share his view. I am a very active member of Yellow Fever and on our forums a thread was started in response to his letter. Not one person has agreed with him that Rikki Herbert should be sacked and in fact I have yet to see an anti-Rikki comment on the forums since I joined. If there really are people who agree with the writer they must not understand that this club has a long-term plan and Rikki Herbert is part of it. Managers need time to get a side going, any fan of Newcastle United will know that sacking managers left, right and centre doesn't help at all. We should hold off on reviewing his position until this time next year.

 

Finaly, the writer suggests Mr Stu Jacobs should be the new manager. This shows he hasn't done his research or has little common sense, Stu Jacobs is in fact not only the Manager of Team Wellington but also the Assistant Coach at the Phoenix. Jacobs will have been helping Rikki make the decisions the writer complains about.

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Ricki.Fair summary.
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Awesome response letter, hope it gets in the Dom.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Cheers. I always manage to get his name wrong.

Yeah I do too but that version is too long. I've currently hacked it down to 275 but if i cut off more it will take away a main point or two
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

try and cut out the formation stuff ie 442. most readers wont know what you are on about

Founder

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Cheers Feverish but I've sent it off already. It's up to the Dom what gets cut out now.
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Pleased that someone has chosen to respond. It would be disappointing if all of the frustration expressed today on this thread should be wasted on the converted. 
I have known Matt Steinbauer  for years and although I havent seen him for about a decade, I can tell you he enjoys the game as much as the rest of us, playing in various grades over the years (Not a GK). Whilst I disagree with most of his comments, he is entitled to voice his opinion in what ever media source he chooses. He wasnt speaking on behalf of Yellow Fever and therefore we can not object to his rights. I personally think that Yellow Fever, of whom I class myself one of through my contribution to this site, can get too protective of our wonderful asset to football. Tomorrow, if you can tolerate it, listen to Radio NZ Sport for a short time and listen to people pulling rugby, rugby league or cricket apart and you will find that we are not alone in having our game, it's coaches and it's admin criticised.  PLAY ON. WE STILL HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.
 
See you Sat night at Four Kings, if that's ok.  

We're Forever Causing Trouble

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Critical_Lemon wrote:
Cheers Feverish but I've sent it off already. It's up to the Dom what gets cut out now.
 
Hey Lemon, I hope you still included that last paragraph. I found that quite pertinent to the point being made by Ricki's detractor.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
So did I LG, that's why it was last and I didn't edit it at all.
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
meh - this will happen when a team that shouldn't get the wooden spoon does. It isn't acceptable to the author and he's airing his views on who is responsible. Seems fair enough.
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
So the moral of the story?
don't write anything critical of the club/players/coach lest you be lynched-

it seemed like a reasoned piece, his opinion of course, and it kept the Nix in the limelight
good on him-remember- no news is bad news

heres to democracy and freedom of speech i say!

Salmon swim upstream

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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
The "Triathlon" was  an around and across the bays team buiding session held on the morning the boys left for christmas break, instead of a training session. It was done in teams consisting run, cycling and kayak legs.  As for the marathon training, some up-hill preseason runs was about the extent of that from what I have heard.
 
People are intitled to their opinions and the fact that we don't all agree is what makes us individuals. Its great that he wrote this piece as it has allowed all of you to voice your opinions, some which appear highly educated. Pointing out "facts" to incorrect statements to back up your own argument is great, however, its when the personal attacks begin and stupid comments involving going down on people during after match showers, shows the immaturity and narrow mindedness of some people.
Ollie2008-01-18 09:45:06
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about 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
No letter in the paper today but Fred Woodcock has a pretty good best of/worst of article about the Nix' season in the Friday Sport supplement.
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