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History for Mainland FC

WPM R18 vs Auckland FC | Sat 21st Feb | 5:00pm | RoF / SS1 / Sky Open

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Posted February 21, 2026 06:11 · last edited February 21, 2026 06:27

observerfromuh
All memes aside and whatever else.

How is it that the Nix are such a well run club off the field (e.g. finances, sponsors and other metrics), but when it comes to on the field it doesn't come close to compare.

Games like this are on the field but can harm off the field stuff too. Potential sponsors will see this and choose AFC over us and therefore harm us long term.

I always have maintained that ever since AFC came into the league that the club has made poor decisions since (on the field). 

In another thread people were talking about a third NZ team, if that happens we will have every home game in Wellington, we won't be the shiny new toy and we have no history of a winning mentality. A third team for NZ would end this club.
It could be that the 'affordable' price of our player pay packet and the relatively low coaching team salary makes up for the pre-calculated losses at the gate, with less risk than splashing out for a good team / good coach / but not getting the extra sponsorship or bums on seats from winning the league.  Cautious accountants, etc.

Maybe it is not a great comparison, but Australian Football changed the national coach from Frank Farina to Guus Hiddink in 2005 and qualified to the WC 2006 finals on merit (by besting Uruguay in continental playoffs).  Hiddink immediately cancelled meaningless friendlies booked by the FFA and organised a long rolling camp with people coming from the clubs and going back, depending on availability.  I remember very well that there was a sudden lift in quality in the team, not visible before, even if they were the same names (players) as before. And Australia did well getting out of their group at the finals, together with Brazil ahead of Croatia and Japan.

My point is that neither Greenacre, or Ifill, or anybody at that level, would make any sense to succeed Italiano.  A higher level coach with at least 2 year contract in order to bed in a new system would be needed. These are not terrible players, but they could be playing to their ability and potential if they were managed better.  Our team is no worse than Macarthur or Newcastle, but they are playing poorly, and have been regardless of who is on the field, for the past one and a half years.

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Unknown editor edited February 21, 2026 06:27
observerfromuh
All memes aside and whatever else.

How is it that the Nix are such a well run club off the field (e.g. finances, sponsors and other metrics), but when it comes to on the field it doesn't come close to compare.

Games like this are on the field but can harm off the field stuff too. Potential sponsors will see this and choose AFC over us and therefore harm us long term.

I always have maintained that ever since AFC came into the league that the club has made poor decisions since (on the field). 

In another thread people were talking about a third NZ team, if that happens we will have every home game in Wellington, we won't be the shiny new toy and we have no history of a winning mentality. A third team for NZ would end this club.
It could be that the 'affordable' price of our player pay packet and the relatively low coaching team salary makes up for the pre-calculated losses at the gate, with less risk than splashing out for a good team / good coach / but not getting the extra sponsorship or bums on seats from winning the league.  Cautious accountants, etc.

Maybe it is not a great comparison, but Australian Football changed the national coach from Frank Farina to Guus Hiddink in 2005 and qualified to the WC 2006 finals on merit (by besting Uruguay in continental playoffs).  Hiddink immediately cancelled meaningless friendlies booked by the FFA and organised a long rolling camp with people coming from the clubs and going back, depending on availability.  I remember very well that there was a sudden lift in quality in the team, not visible before, even if they were the same names (players) as before. And Australia did well getting out of the group, ahead of Croatia and Japan.

My point is that neither Greenacre, or Ifill, or anybody at that level, would make any sense to succeed Italiano.  A higher level coach with at least 2 year contract in order to bed in a new system would be needed. These are not terrible players, but they could be playing to their ability and potential if they were managed better.  Our team is no worse than Macarthur or Newcastle, but they are playing poorly, and have been regardless of who is on the field, for the past one and a half years.
Unknown editor edited February 21, 2026 06:26
observerfromuh
All memes aside and whatever else.

How is it that the Nix are such a well run club off the field (e.g. finances, sponsors and other metrics), but when it comes to on the field it doesn't come close to compare.

Games like this are on the field but can harm off the field stuff too. Potential sponsors will see this and choose AFC over us and therefore harm us long term.

I always have maintained that ever since AFC came into the league that the club has made poor decisions since (on the field). 

In another thread people were talking about a third NZ team, if that happens we will have every home game in Wellington, we won't be the shiny new toy and we have no history of a winning mentality. A third team for NZ would end this club.
It could be that the 'affordable' price of our player pay packet and the relatively low coaching team salary makes up for the pre-calculated losses at the gate, with less risk than splashing out for a good team / good coach / but not getting the extra sponsorship or bums on seats from winning the league.  Cautious accountants, etc.
Maybe it is not a great comparison, but Australian Football changed the national coach from Frank Farina to Guus Hiddink in 2005 and qualified to the WC 2006 finals on merit (by besting Uruguay in continental playoffs).  Hiddink immediately cancelled meaningless friendlies booked by the FFA and organised a long rolling camp with people coming from the clubs and going back, depending on availability.  I remember very well that there was a sudden lift in quality in the team, not visible before, even if they were the same names (players) as before. And Australia did well getting out of the group, ahead of Croatia and Japan.

My point is that neither Greenacre, or Ifill, or anybody at that level, would make any sense to succeed Italiano.  A higher level coach with at least 2 year contract in order to bed in a new system would be needed. These are not terrible players, but they could be playing to their ability and potential if they were managed better.  Our team is no worse than Macarthur or Newcastle, but they are playing poorly, and have been regardless of who is on the field, for the past one and a half years.
Unknown editor edited February 21, 2026 06:26
observerfromuh
All memes aside and whatever else.

How is it that the Nix are such a well run club off the field (e.g. finances, sponsors and other metrics), but when it comes to on the field it doesn't come close to compare.

Games like this are on the field but can harm off the field stuff too. Potential sponsors will see this and choose AFC over us and therefore harm us long term.

I always have maintained that ever since AFC came into the league that the club has made poor decisions since (on the field). 

In another thread people were talking about a third NZ team, if that happens we will have every home game in Wellington, we won't be the shiny new toy and we have no history of a winning mentality. A third team for NZ would end this club.
 It could be that the price of our player pay packet and the coaching team salary makes up for the pre-calculated losses at the gate, with less risk than splashing out for a good team / good coach / but not getting the extra sponsorship or bums on seats from winning the league.  Cautious accountants, etc.