Southern Football (incl Southern United) (Part 2)

I believe Cam M played at GI when they got 3rd a few years back 

Is Zane going to stay at Mosgiel with Liam Whittaker arriving? seems like a weird move from Whittaker if he isn't number one

Perhaps Liam Little is back at Cavy?  That would scupper Zane's move.  So maybe he needs to go where the action will be thick and fast. Northern or Uni?

And comments on the worst ever SU season?  Let's lay it out there without being mean and all.  We continue to produce good players, but perhaps we need to invest in an out of town coach.

I believe Liam little is back so cavy have number 1, Roslyn have Tom Stevens, Mosgiel at this stage have Zane Green and Liam Whittaker both fighting for starting place, Uni appearently have a pretty good keeper but who knows if that's true? Green Island looking for a keeper to play first but have 3 younger keepers and a overseas fighting for top spot atm we will see how that goes and Northern looking for a keeper too. 

Whittaker move makes no sense, from what I heard DT have no keeper to start, with Tom Batty away for a couple of weeks. Mosgiel have Zane Green who is with SUtd, (isn't he the captain too?). Has he said he's going to Caversham? Unless there is more to this? Brookside?

Green to stay at Mosgiel

If so who starts? Whittaker or Green? 

Option 1 = 18yo back up Southern youth team keeper with limited Premier grade experience

Option 2 = experienced back up Southern men's team keeper who was also the Premier team's Captain the season prior and has played in Auckland in the top grade up there too.

Its a no brainer.

Really?

Good players?

Jackson, O'Farrell, Cotter, Kiore and Dykstra to name a few are all very good

I've heard that both cotter and Dykstra have left Dunedin this year, which is a loss but the gaining of Rodeka and French to the league will be good! 

Tom Jackson, Matt Joy, Seamus Ryder and possibly Eder who might sign with a team in Auckland all out of the league.

Liam Whittaker I'm calling will have a phenominal season this year if he plays for Mosgiel Premiers.  At 18 years old he is excelling those around him and coaches and players around Dunedin can't even see it.  I believe the that Dunedin technical as a club will miss him greatly.  Whittaker is on a mission too get in the best possible shape and form before he attempts too make his move to the states so I think he is the man for the job too stand in the Mosgiel goal this season.

From what I've heard Green definitely isn't as favoured as Whittaker, as most of the boys get along much better with Whittaker

Both teams he plays for (Tech & Southern Youth) he is the clear number 2 so it's not his development being missed, he's just unfortunate that only one GK can play and he's not as good as Batty or Josh. 

He'd be foolish to stay at Tech if he wants to progress because Batty is not going to lose his place. Mosgiel is probably his best option to play for a competitive side but he'd have to win his place over Green which may or may not mean starting the season with the 2nds, would he accept that challenge?

Thanks for the write-up Liam.

I find this whole discussion very interesting really.

1. Probably in no way am I as favoured As Liam by the boys. When I signed I was approached before I even left Auckland and was asked to do a job. Unfortunately the game down here is not as competitive or as aggressive in Auckland so the manner in which you train, communicate and play is different. Sometimes it's fragile ego's sometimes it's over-aggressiveness. If you are a club that's constantly languishing behind the top teams - it has to change. I think it changed for the better. You can't go past increasing expectations and pushing hard to achieve goals. Also Liam is with those boys in the Southern Youth and I'm almost 10-15 years older than most of the team .

2. Big improvement on the season before, and before that....and before that..

3. I signed for Mosgiel as a mate of mine Jordan Swaney had played there and let them know I was moving and I got a call out of the blue from the club asking if I would be interested.  Andrew was really great and helped me settle in to the move to Dunedin which I appreciated. At the time I was purchasing my gloves from Tom Stevens and even said to him that I was considering Mosgiel - had he told me that he was the keeper there I wouldn't have signed. He's a good guy and screwing people over isn't my thing. Got an offer to play for Caversham and win some titles, I turned them down out of loyalty to a club that had helped me out. Ironic that I've had next to no communication from Andy - nor will he commit to an answer of wanting me to stay other than - you have to do what's right for you. Pretty clear really.

4. A sit stands I'm still a Mosgiel player - I love the club and I'm still the captain until they ask for the band back. But if I'm not wanted then maybe it just needs to be said - either from the lads or the coach. Either way if Liam is off to USA good luck to him. Might leave Mosgiel in the lurch if no keeper though.

I'm pretty honest and straight up - there's always a story behind what goes on. So if you want to know - feel free to ask. I don't hide behind a pseudonym - I have nothing to hide. Kind of frustrating though, I'm the number two for the franchise and looking more and more to be club-less. Plenty of years left and you can't knock experience - especially for a keeper. Now that I'm settled, it'll be a good season, (kids, house, work - life gets in the way of football). Have a great night folks. Good luck for the season - wherever that finds you.

Well said ZG - good job for being up front.  Your skill, attitude and experience puts you in the top 2-3 keepers in Dunedin.  Batts is above you and now that Liam Little is back for Cavy he is too - it  would have been interesting if he'd not returned.  There is no race for the title this year, Cavy will romp home.  So for all the other teams, what do they want?  To compete hard for second or develop players?  If it's the former they should pick you. Q.E.D..

Why would LM not stay at Tech. It's been mentioned on here that Batty is away for a spell plus he has a contract to do some work out of town later in the year. 

Coach Martin spoke to Liam about the situation at length but he has chosen to move on.

He would've got plenty of guaranteed game time for the first team this season, something he isn't guaranteed at Mosgiel. 

Yours in football 

DT

Really high risk move from Liam, especially knowing TK will be counting down the days till he boards that flight to the US

"Hey Liam, Tom is away this week so we need you, he's back next week though so no matter how well you play, you're back on the bench"

Back up goal keepers are a tough ask in that regard. But when you are 18yo you can either choose to train and play behind the best goalkeeper in the South Island or go to a lower ranked team and have a go at replacing the No1 goalkeeper - where you can guarantee the goalkeeper training is not at the same standard. 

Choosing a team where the goalkeeper is the captain is probably not the best idea though. 

Tech: Batty - Won't play first team at all. Gets to train with best in the league with no chance of being Number one.

Cavvy: Liam - Competition favourites, won't play first team at all. 

Mosgiel: ZG - Will be competitive, ZG was captain last season, will challenge for number one jersey.

Roslyn: Tom Stevens - Best of the rest, Stevens was player of the year last year, will challenge for number one jersey.

Green Island: ?? - Would start and possibly be the most senior player.

University: ?? - No one knows what they'll be like but last year they were poor.

Northern: ?? - See University.

you are a deluded young man. Whittaker nowhere near Greens level and experience. Mosgiel.... How to scupper your season before it starts, by alienating the one player who made you guys competitive. At least for the first round. if Whittaker was better than green then he would be in southern men's. Even dykstra couldn't hold green out in men's and got found out.

Didn't Josh start the only game Batty was unavailable for?

New season, same shark chat. Welcome back SPL.

In regards to Liam, he's class. Slightly behind Batty and no one else. Distribution is excellent along with good shot stopping, communication, good on the high ball, basically he's got everything. He left Tech because as someone said he might play every so often and no matter what he does he won't start the next game. I think that's fair enough. Going to a very good Mosgiel team where he will fight for a spot (and I think he will get that number 1 spot), he will enjoy it, get lots of game time and develop as a very good keeper. He doesn't need a spray on this for trying to extend himself as a keeper and get a fair go at being number one.

But back to Brook, he's looking sharp.

This has to be the stupidest post I've ever seen! 

Harley Rodeka to mosgiel?? 

Too be fair, If only Greens level of quality and ability was as big as his ego.

Hey Zane, Hate too be the bearer of bad news but I think its pretty clear that you're not going too be close to captain this year. You just don't have what Mosgiel wants, Tom Cairns will be Captain as he shows class and a cool head rather than blowing up constantly and losing your shark in the dressing room, on and off the field. In all fairness being the second keeper in the Southern United mens team is no compliment, the team is rubbish. It really is embarrising.

I heard Tom Cairns wanted to transfer to Tech but they decided against it as he couldn’t train with the team?

I think you'll find that those that blow up on and off the field tend to be the ones who have the appropriate desire and passion to win and demand that others put in that same level of quality and effort in order to do so. 

Only two teams of people have that in Dunedin and you certainly won't find it out on the plains. 

If Mosgiel doesn't want those kinds of people - thats their loss. I am sure other clubs will happily take him and they will be better for it. 

I also can't understand how some have decided that Liam is better than Zane. If that was the case wouldn't he be in the Southern mens squad? Its not a very high benchmark but it is still a pretty clear indicator of who is of a better standard. 

Why did you edit your post? Did you drop your pair?

It will be interesting to see how long it will take for Roslyn's defence to crack under the insurmountable pressure of Brook in tomorrows game.
Jeez he's good.

Great performance from young Matt Kelly today in Mosgiels pre season game against Roslyn afc. I back a big season from him this year