Waikato grief
How come he wasn't named in the squad? And how can they add him to
the squad after the deadilne?
More bad news coming for Waikato unfortunately. Steven
Holloway's ankle injury more serious than first thought. Ruptured
ligament, it appears. Out until Xmas.
I'm still hopeful Waikato FC will be in the top half of the table,
but picking a finishing position is a very subjective business.
Injuries could be pivotal. For instance, what happens if dan
robinson gets injured this weekend? David Samson in goal? Waikato
also have very little defensive cover.
On that front, i think Waikato ranks thin faster than most
other teams. But if they can find a starting place for the their 11
best players Waikato can still be competitive.
We can't deny the loss of Matt Williams and Che Bunce will
leave a hole, but now it puts more in the spotlight those who WILL
be playing.
Pre-season waikato's midfield never really got cracking. i
expect Sam Wilkinson to come back in. he can be dangerous on the
edge of the box, and will be suited to a 4-4-2 formation. His
challenge is to achieve consistency, rather than a few mercurial
flashes.
Sinkura may get a reprieve becuase of Williams defection. I'd
prefer Stanley waita to start on the left ahead of either Dale
Williams - he is slowly getting fitter - or Luke Findley, though
Findley offers a bit more aggression and Williams knocks a nicer
ball. By contrast, Waita offers a seamless fluidity.
As long as Dave Samson hasn't blown a fuse and also left the
camp I'd like to see him at right back. I fear Joe Simpkins
is a touch to uncertain and indecisive at right back, but may yet
do a job in midfield.
Good post sir. I agree..
I'm still hopeful Waikato FC will be in the top half of the table,
but picking a finishing position is a very subjective business.
Injuries could be pivotal. For instance, what happens if dan
robinson gets injured this weekend? David Samson in goal? Waikato
also have very little defensive cover.
On that front, i think Waikato ranks thin faster than most
other teams. But if they can find a starting place for the their 11
best players Waikato can still be competitive.
We can't deny the loss of Matt Williams and Che Bunce will
leave a hole, but now it puts more in the spotlight those who WILL
be playing.
Pre-season waikato's midfield never really got cracking. i
expect Sam Wilkinson to come back in. he can be dangerous on the
edge of the box, and will be suited to a 4-4-2 formation. His
challenge is to achieve consistency, rather than a few mercurial
flashes.
Sinkura may get a reprieve becuase of Williams defection. I'd
prefer Stanley waita to start on the left ahead of either Dale
Williams - he is slowly getting fitter - or Luke Findley, though
Findley offers a bit more aggression and Williams knocks a nicer
ball. By contrast, Waita offers a seamless fluidity.
As long as Dave Samson hasn't blown a fuse and also left the
camp I'd like to see him at right back. I fear Joe Simpkins
is a touch to uncertain and indecisive at right back, but may yet
do a job in midfield.
Just to follow on from that. I think the young kid Joe that played right back (Simpkins) spent the first 15mins telling all the Waitak boys to f**k off in the pre-season game. I then had to remind him of where he was, and who he was playing against. Allan Pearce then took him to school. At this level, I think young Joe would be a better right half??
I think Sam W's major weakness is that he can play, and he knows it, but I think if Sam used the KISS theory more, he would be a fantastic ditributing midfielder. He gives away too many passes to the oppostion and tries to be too fancy (reminds me of the Ginga kid from TW, Sam Peters??)
I thought Sinkora has played well pre-season, hence why I was intrigued to see how he would go alongside Matt Williams. MW would have been a good foil for him chasing loose balls. I don't think that Jakob is quite the foil to play off of Sam W because they are too similar.
Not sold on D Willaims, Findley or Wiata sorry.
Bruce - many years back you wrote a piece in Sitter ( I miss that)
called "The Waikato Disease". Sounds like time for a reprint !
It's frightening that these things never change isn't it
Chubbs.
Sam Blackburn ? Sam Peters is the U-20 right back. Mind you, could be Dan Keat or Roddy Brown, or a couple of others. Ginger juniors are a production line here.
Hard News2007-10-31 20:20:54
(reminds me of the Ginga kid from TW, Sam Peters??)
Sam Blackburn ? Sam Peters is the U-20 right back. Mind you, could be Dan Keat or Roddy Brown, or a couple of others. Ginger juniors are a production line here.
Hard News2007-10-31 20:20:54
Sam Blackburn. Plays left wing? Def not Dan Keat.
DrQuack322007-10-31 20:32:01
I love this thread, it reminds me so much of whats wrong with
Waikato footie. Having come from Ngaruwahia and supported
"The Greens", Waikato, Melville, Wanderers, Waikato of old,
I've always thought that if Waikato people would stop wacking each
others knee caps we would actually go some where!
Oh well, I don't really care who plays as long as Roger picks
the best starting 11 based on skill and form and that the players
out there put Waikato FC above petty amatuer Waikato footie
loyalties.
No wonder Waikato is stuffed. Why would you get a coach in that the two best players didn't like. You spend to much time sticking up for "your club". Thats a funny one because most players in the Waikato have a spell at three or four clubs. You sign players out of the Northern first and second division. And worst of all you have Luke Finlay involved. I'd be willing to pay money to anyone that can get proof hat that guy has ever won a tackle in his life.
Some of your points need a response, Gumboot.
I certainly don't think waikato is stuffed, despite a few
hefty challenges. Waikato has a few problems, but that's to be
expected when you are trying to effect major change.
I don't think it's fair to suggest Bunce doesn't like Roger
either. There may definitely be a personality blue with matt
williams, but you can't translate that to someone else.
I'm all for signing the most able, best performing coach,
not the one selected by senior players, even if it can mean a bit
of heartache. and let's judge the coach on his season efforts
(last year he was playing with a hand somebody else had
dealt.).
Yes, we do spend too much time sticking up for our clubs, in
the sense that it is often a competition to be the tallest
dwarf. But in another sense, it's good, because rivalry is one of
the prime motives for progress, and wanting to put one over your
rivals.
I don't believe waikato has signed anyone out of the second
division this season. Everyone they have signed from the first
division has previous national league experience or solid
pedigree.
And in defence of Luke, not everybody is in a team for their
tackling ability. it is not always the best yardstick to judge a
player. Luke may bring other qualities to the table. (Hopefully
Luke, Sam and the Blue corner of waikato won't now find
the need to respond to your stir-up post in their traditional
manner).
Ok, it was a very poor attempt to stir the pot and I now find
myself with a very large shovel in my hands. I do disagree
with some of your points so let me take off my previously earned
dickhead hat and start.
No team is stuffed before a ball has even been kicked.
However I do think Waikato now find themselves with the biggest
hill to climb this season if they want to be competive and push for
one of the top three places which has to be the goal for every team
in a 7 team league.
Fair point about Bunce, I wouldn't have a clue.
I'm also for selecting the best performing and able coach but
also think that squad dynamics need to be factored in to the
decision. Roger clearly had a personality clash with players
at Auckland city so it would be common sence to discuss with two or
three senior players the apointment of someone with that track
record.
Rivaly is the prime motives for progress?? Agreed but come
summertime when the real football kicks off (weird) it would be
nice to see waikato providing a united front. The above posts
are evidence that there is a strong feeling between some Waikato FC
players about other clubs. You would think Sam Wilkinson had
only ever played for Wanders but some of his comments. " Crest
kissers" is the term for those types of players.
I thought I read somthing in an eairler post regarding a
cambridge player being brought into the squad I may well be
wrong.
Last of all Luke Finlay, a lot less self promotion and
some goals would go a very long way in earning some real
respect.
So there it is, I'm not a very good typer so this took
me a bloody long time. Sorry all for my last
post.
I live in Auckland, never lived in Hamilton nor spent any time
there other than passing through so I am certainly not in a club
bias position. Its just simply that they have a few players
(Wilkinson, Findley, Dale Williams) that are overrated
buncey has never had a prob with roger and if he did he would have
stated so, (just think about ricki herbert and bunce)
roger actually gave buncey a chance when he 1st came on the
scene also given the respect he has for rog he has actually agreed
to help out with the 1st 3/4 games..willams good player loads of
mongrel..personally i beleive he regrets his comments if he even in
fact said them..If a player cant take criticism at this level
should he be playing let alone be named captain?? matt was singled
out during the half time break and didnt appreciate rogs
comments....if thats the way every player reacts we would never
have seen the best of Fellowes , cossey, hayes , chisolm, darren
melville these guys were good players and always took it on the
chin..used to be cups of tea smashed against walls and loads of
swearing etc in the old waikato days everyone got over it....even
roger has changed his tact since coming back from UK he hardly ever
goes off at players and if he does it normally works in getting
thebest out of them in the 2nd half..also to your point re Auk city
players not liking roger..they didnt like the fact they had to
train and then play guys like Jordan think they are gods and don't
like being told wat to do..wats the point of having a coach if your
senior players think they can do wat they like..im not saying the
guy doesnt have his faults but technically he is one of the
best coaches in NZ
I think players should be able to take more verbel from the coaches to. Some of the players I've played with have a habit of getting upset when questioned and going off the boil. But as I understand Rodger wasn't making Matt aware of two or three things he could improve on in the second half.
I'm sure Rodger did get stuck into the players you have
mentioned but also understand times have changed now and players
don't react so kindley to that ( which I think is sad) You
also say Rodger has changed since he has been back for the
UK, well this makes the Matt Williams saga even
stranger. Remember I have not questioned Rodgers coaching
ability only the man managment side of it.
Auckland city got to do things there way and have a title to
show for it...... not bad going
I am absolutly gutted to find out that Steven Holloway is out for the first part of the season. He is a great player and I was tipping him to get the goldent boot this year... who is going to step in for him as Waikato's main scoring threat. I was going to say it would have been boomer kotchin but he has surpizingly been dropped by wilkinson - 1 week before the start of the season. I thought this was a weird decision by wilkinson. I thought that he would have known how it felt to be 'stitched up' when bunce and williams pulled out - now he has went ahead and stiched up kotchin..... weird decision. Does anyone know the method behind this madness?
I am absolutly gutted to find out that Steven Holloway is out for the first part of the season. He is a great player and I was tipping him to get the goldent boot this year... who is going to step in for him as Waikato's main scoring threat. I was going to say it would have been boomer kotchin but he has surpizingly been dropped by wilkinson - 1 week before the start of the season. I thought this was a weird decision by wilkinson. I thought that he would have known how it felt to be 'stitched up' when bunce and williams pulled out - now he has went ahead and stiched up kotchin..... weird decision. Does anyone know the method behind this madness?
I am gutted about Steven as well. I would say bigger and
better things are ahead for him when he is fully fit and gets back
on the park. Now Boomer is another matter, this guy is the most
overrated player in the Waikato. I think Roger made a mistake
signing him but to his credit has admitted the mistake by making
sure he does not play.
Steven Holloway will be a big loss, he is the only striker to score
in proper pre season matches, having said that I think Robert Gill
will do well. Still if Holloway is back by christmas he will not
have missed too much of the season, the second half of the season
is the business end anyway. It does put some more pressure on
Dale Williams to perform though.
I saw form Wanderers 5-aside across the field that Che Bunce was training, can anyone confirm that he is back in the squad???....Bruce Holloway???? Would be great to have him involved.
Boomer Kotchin was lucky to be selected in the first place, I think there are better players in the area that wern`t selected....Billman, Mark christianson, Tristan Mckormack or the Africans from Cambridge. For Melville Boomer was no more than a run of the mill northern 1st division player, NZFC is obviously above his level. To answer feedback ...I guess the method to the madness was that Roger realized he was not good enough...thats football.
I saw form Wanderers 5-aside across the field that Che Bunce was training, can anyone confirm that he is back in the squad???....Bruce Holloway???? Would be great to have him involved.
Boomer Kotchin was lucky to be selected in the first place, I think there are better players in the area that wern`t selected....Billman, Mark christianson, Tristan Mckormack or the Africans from Cambridge. For Melville Boomer was no more than a run of the mill northern 1st division player, NZFC is obviously above his level. To answer feedback ...I guess the method to the madness was that Roger realized he was not good enough...thats football.
Yes waikato man, Che is going to play a few matches. It's fantastic
that he hasnt let anyone down. I think they should pay himthe money
he was asking
Is it correct, as I was told today, that Che was so keen
to help Roger out that he agreed to take a whole lot
more money out of the pot for a couple of games. But then Che was
unable to get a flight back straight after the match
which promptly led to him pulling a hamstring at training.
Waikato should pull the other one.
I don't know what the big deal is? Aarron Scott and Dave Samson
are more than capable being centre-backs for Waikato... could even
be outstanding performers this year... they were the best defenders
for NZ'A' in Fiji.. And there's no way Kris Bright will be back -
just recoving from broken leg as previously stated... Pretty odd
about Matt Williams?!
Definately puttin money on Hawkes Bay this weekend anyway!! $4,
they're gonna finish top 4 this season!
I have done a wee bit of reading lately. Seems to me Matt Williams is a spoilt brat, can't take a bit of criticism (probably went crying to daddy) and when he gets it he packs it in, such a big man, oh and he took a significant pay cut, don't tell me money has nothing to do with it. Sam Wilkinson is still over rated and the biggest problem is his dad is his biggest fan, can't do anything wrong. TRY PASSING THE BALL. At least Roger has signed a couple of decent players from Auckland, Sean van Rooyen and Hone Fowler, although they look like they are laking in defence. Heard Soley and Cates were playing five a side the other night, is there no chance of them coming to Waikato's rescue, cause the need it.
Ol well if night, a lose to Otago must be acceptable to the
Waikato board, whole thing smacks of amateurism. Seems to me
nothing has changed in Waikato for three years, apart from actually
having a decent coach.
I think your criticisms are unfair and cowardly. If you
want to have a pop, have the guts to put your name to
it.
Sam can stick up for himself here, but to put a word in
for Matt, yes. I'll tell you money had nothing to do
with it. He knew the deal bnefore he joined up and he's not short
of a dollar. I think what hurt more was being told he was no
longer captain just before taking the field against Waitakere in
pre-season - when he had been told he was previously.
And it was not the fact he can't take criticism, he's been
criticised by experts, but the relevance of the criticism that was
directed at him. ie, non-match related.
If re-approached in the correct manner I reckon there's
every chance of him returning. Still, that's the coach's call. I
think the Waikato defence will generally be fine as long as
they keep Joe Simpkins clear of right back.