First Wellington Phoenix slumped out of the finals series as the Dylan McAllister led forward line couldn't score in the proverbial brothel despite putting in a strong performance in Adelaide on Friday.
Then they have to watch as their former young gun Kosta Barbarouses single-handedly delivers a fantastic semi-final opener, only to supply the Grand Final home ground second goal against the Mariners.
Oh Ricky how must you weep!
Football, the football I love is about forwards, and skill.
Today Paul Ifill for Wellington Phoenix waltzed past our Aussie great hope Ben Kantarovski Newcastle Jets, not once not twice but maybe ten or more times in the game. Mostly with a drop of the shoulder and an explosion of pace.
In extra-time after much huffing and puffing Ifill scored. Jets go home. Game ended 3-1.
Poor Ben, he's only young and previously I've raved about him but he looked like he'd been supplied with something from the Newcastle rugby league team. How could he defend so badly, so often?
And of course the Phoenix won, in front of 33,000 nutters wearing bras and that was just the men!
Great stuff, great game with Tarek Elrich and Matt Thompson missing sitters for the Jets. This was anyone's game and the Jets were tremendous at times. Mr Abbas from Iraq I like. Pity, today, about Ben
And then to Melbourne or rather Sydney where one wee slip, early on or late on can stuff you. A dodgy free kick with five minutes of extra-time to go. Tired legs tired minds and an ageing Kevin Muscat pounced.
Alert, he played a twenty yard pass, just twenty yards, and Archie Thompson, rested and alert sped in and touch the ball home.
All that training, all those drills, and wise words. Puff, disappeared in that one lapse. How many Sydney players were sleeping? Not one, but the wall, the few covering Archie, almost half the team, maybe more.
Simple game football, so simple, but you must concentrate at all times.
2-2 (agg 4-3) to Melbourne so it's Grand Final in Melbourne, as always!
Can Sydney recover? Will the Nix get the Sydney New Zealanders out to support?
Finals football. Collossal battles!
Asia this week, the rise of Leckie continues, Victory must win at home, then Sydney Wellington. Doesn't stop does it!
Nearpost radio will be talking football Tuesday as ever 6.30pm streamed www.2xxfm.org.au or poddied here later that night.....unless like Sydney we're dozing and we miss our bus.
Terry Henry has been talking New Zealand football up all year and for those who want more go visit the best fan site in the country, make that both countries.
90,000 Mexicans packed into the Rose Bowl, LA, USA to watch New Zealand lose 2-0 to Mexico yesterday.
And after that experience the Wellington Phoenix contingent will come home to a sell-out 34,500 crowd in the Ring of Fire as they take on the Jets for a place in the A-League last three.
They even got a big screen for the those that missed out. What is going on over there!
Here's hoping we get another penalty shoot-out and a classic recall from Piney and Chotey
Football in New Zealand never looked, or sounded so good did it?
Lucy Zelic, Patrick Bordier and myself Eamonn Flanagan talk Socceroos, A-League, Wellington Phoenix, Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory, Asian Champions League, Pohang Steelers, Matildas.
If we lose should Pim go? Patrick says no! Eamonn and Lucy say Yes!
Is Matthew Leckie better than Tommy Oar? Patrick says no!
Who got the most assists, and goals in the A-League this year, Oar or Leckie...yep Patrick says no!
Will the Phoenix win Lucy says Yes!
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Maybe one day there could be a North and South Island team. Given the Nix got over 20,000 to Christchurch to a game. Would add some spice to NZ football.
Fromt the Nix:
BIG-MATCH TICKETS IN HOT DEMAND
WELLINGTON Phoenix FC’s elimination semifinal against the Newcastle Jets at Westpac Stadium on Sunday, March 7, is proving the hottest ticket in town, with less than 5000 seats left for the big match.
The 34,500-capacity Westpac Stadium is expected to be sold out and Phoenix chief executive Tony Pignata is urging fans to secure their tickets quickly.
“We’re already close to capacity at Westpac Stadium after just five days of ticket sales. The game is certain to be a sell-out and the remaining tickets won’t last long.
Where Rugby is the King......
Reports saying that Wellington Phoenix have sold 25,000 tickets for the semi against the Jets which is still some ten days away.
If true, wonder how many fans will come and watch the All Whites take on the Aussies in the last game in Australia before the World Cup. Who knows how many Kiwi's will travel from Sydney, or NZ.
After all without the All Black fans the Bledisloe would rarely sell out in Australia would it?
And Wellington S14 Rugby team pulled in 17,000 for it's first game of the season, the next day the Nix pulled in 24,000 in the same stadium. Yep for football in NZ!
Interesting times to be a sports fan in New Zealand...watch that Bin Hammam kick em out of the A-League...bet Dimetriou is talking to Hammam as we speak.....paranoid..me...never!
Wellington Phoenix, Asian Champions League, Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory, Socceroos, Matildas, Futsalroo, Adelaide United.
When did we last play the EN Zed, where, and who scored. Answer in the pod.
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Do yourself a favour.
Listen to Piney and his mate from NZ calling the penalties in the weekend game.
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or listen here http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/podcasts.asp
We're gonna do em like a dinner tonight on the Nearpost but gawd bless em and all those Nix fans. Fan passion and Adrian Caceres, wasn't expecting to be taking this penalty and his wike is expecting too....it's gold I tell ya pure gold.
On Perth's Norm Sekolovski, "Come on Norm do us a favour here in Wellington....over the top will do me, oh yes, oh yes yes yes, it wasn't a bad penalty, a great penalty." Reddy saved it.
"Piney I got to lie down you talk us through it."
"Who's next Piney. It's eleven coming up. No eleven's not playing so that wouldn't have been handy!"
But there is oh so much more as we come close to the final penalties.
Mitch Langerak doesn't listen to the Nearpost...or else he'd have got their first on the weekend.
John Aloisi, The Cove, Steve O'Connor, Sydney FC Melbourne Heart, Westpac, Tommy Oar, Lucy Zelic, Con Stamocostas, Gold Coast United, Wellington Phoenix, Terry McFlynn, Graham Arnold and Terry Henry..it's all here.
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NEARPOST LOCAL PODCAST can be found at www.nearpostlocal.blogspot.com
AFC President wants Wellington Phoenix out of the A-League in 2011 because they are a New Zealand side.
And undoubtedly this would be great for Canberra..providing an extra place...
but I say no! The Phoenix must stay.
They've proved their worth, have spent millions getting the team going, made a huge mistake not starting a Canberra Youth Team franchise this year, but have made significant signings in Jon McKain, Andrew Durante and now FRED!
And of course they have the Yellow Fever army, a fan group with the best website in the league.
So apart from the fact they represent 4 million people, we owe it to them to keep them in the league, assist the development of the game in NZ and President Bin Hammam needs to be a bit more thoughtful in his approach to these so-called problems.
How can Wellington Phoenix playing in the A-League be a problem for the future of Asian football Mr President?
The Mariners drew 0-0 with the Phoenix in Wellington and again Wellington let the standard of the league down with their dire football display...and Perth are doing it tough as well...not least Canberra's Nikolai Topor-Stanley.
Karl Dodds, Richard Johnson, Vaughan Coveny, Shane Smeltz have to be the least inspiring quartet in the league, maybe any league.
Throw in a Troy Hearfield who is going backwards under Ricky Herbert and there is nothing to excite, never mind win in this Phoenix side. It's dire.
Lei Lei Gao has plenty of skill, so he was left on the bench. Nice one Ricky.
No pace, no width, and no ability to play football, to keep the ball, to build attacks.
The Phoenix are going down hill fast and they are supposed to better at home. Dire, just dire.
The Mariners have Mile Jedinak, Bradley Porter improving, Matty Osman, Sasho Petrovski, Matt Simon, Adrian Caceres and John Hutchison. Each player offers something for the Mariners and each enables Coach Lawrie McKinna to change things, tactics or style.
Even so the Mariners needed the brilliance of Mark Bosnich to save the day. A wonderful reflex save.
Perth may have got flogged today, 3-0 down at half-time but at least they play some football and can surely improve.
Although the second half performance was woeful. Confidence has gone. Players are not united. James Robinson is centre-midfield time and time again gave the ball away and the normally goalshy Queensland looked like World beaters.
Craig Moore even Matty Mackay scored and himself and Massimo Murdocho looked creative and inventive when they're not...at least not against a good team.
Reinaldo is back and looking good.
But Perth are woeful.
Unlike Wellington Perth have a team, not to win the thing but certainly to entertain, maybe win at home.
Dave Mitchell has placed so much faith on his new signings, and his squad but his defence is shockingly poor.
Move Nikolai Topor-Stanley into the Centre. Give him the leaders role. He's being wasted playing left-back even if the Socceroos demand it.
Forget it. He looks disinterested, unwilling to break forward. In the end he, David Tarka, and Stuart MacClaren were just kicking anything that moved. They were demoralised....and anyone who knows Topor-Stanley knows he's better than that.
Mitchell may have lost the group, certainly will lose the 8,000 fans...and we're only four games in.
They have the squad to get beyond the second bottom place but do they have the Coach and the commitment from the players.
Not at the moment the pride is gone.
The Mariners will feel they lost two points and lost further ground on Melbourne the leaders. Next week the two clash should be a great game.
Apparently Ricky Herbert is furious with his sides display last night!
I'm more furious. I had to turn it off at half-time. Yes I lasted that long.
The difference between me and Uber Coach Ricky was I knew what was coming.
Some of the Fox Sports guys have talked the Phoenix up since they started in the league.
But they've been dire to watch. Even when they've scraped a win or come from behind to scrape a loss.
Tedium. Poor football with hardly a player of interest to admire.
Last night they just built on what they'd achieved in their amazingly insipid home performances in Round 1 and 2.
Bottom, by miles.
A midfielder or two wouldn't hurt. And I don't care if Richard Johnson has played for Watford scored against Manchester United he is not good enough to lead an A-League side.
Compare him to Carlos Hernandez, Diego, even Charlie Miller. And if Michael Ferrante is your other Central Midfielder then you are going to get exactly what you are getting.
Dire dire football.
Maybe Jon McKain could improve the Central Midfield, maybe Johnno could go Centre Back.
Maybe I'll just turn the telly off earlier next time.
I hate watching Wellington Phoenix, Auckland Kings in fact any New Zealand team in the NSL, or the A-League they have all been RUBBISH!
Someone do something.
Now I love my Yellow Fever fans but the second year in and someone has to help them out....Ricky Herbert is the
New Zealand equivalent to Graham Arnold. It's tedious, deadly to watch and I hold little hope for the season for our loud yellow fans.
Of course they'll be bottom.
Did you see how they played at home, against a Scottish midfielder Charlie Miller who looked like he'd just rocked out of a Scottish pub. He's living at Craig Moore's house apparently, should that read The Moore and Miller local?
Anyhoo, The Yellow Army, god bless em, loud and vocal in the rain willing their team despite another dire season ahead.
And they drew their first game! How did this happen? With the ball missing the midfield on many occasions and little in the way of forward link players. The crosses were dire and I had to turn it off, I couldn't take it.
In Leo Bertos, Adam Kwasnik, Daniel and the free scoring Shane Smeltz they've got some bits of talent sometime, but no-one all the time.
And it's painful to see one Dodd on the park but two, I had to turn it off. The A-League should make a rule against it.
And Ricky Herbert if anyone in any of the football fraternity, football media EVER tell me what a great coach he is...total baloney.
Where is the evidence? I can produce a team of plodders and make them plod. He even makes the Brazilians look like plodders.
He's recruited well in Andrew Durante and Jon Mckain and Glen Moss will earn his money more than most keepers, but where is the football going to come from.
It is going to be painful.
The Phoenix reckon yesterdays game was "Dour" isn't it always from any New Zealand team.
When did an NZ side ever play with any flair, indeed not since Winton Rufus or some of the great All Blacks sides has a Kiwi team kept me watching.
Even the All Blacks are woeful these days:)
So Ricky good luck to yer, but you may as well come last playing football than last with the sort of stuff we saw yesterday.
It can only get better, of course, but I'm expecting you to get flogged on away trips as you hoof it up the field and hang on with what seems to be a much-improved defence.
The Yellow Fever fans are going to need to keep singing as at the moment they are more entertaining than the home side will ever be!
Belconnen United star Taylor Beaton is rumoured to be lining for the Central Coast Mariners when they take on Belconnen United and/or ACT Rockets in coming weeks.
And Wellington Phoenix have decided to spend a week of pre-season fitness football and fun in Fiji, giving Canberra a wide berth!
A black day for all football fans, and young players in Canberra. After the initial excitement it seems we will have to wait at least twelve further months for top grade pathway football in Canberra.
Full release below from Capital Football.
National Youth League Deferred
Capital Football regrets to announce that the Wellington Phoenix’s proposal of basing a National Youth League team in Canberra for this coming season has been deferred for 12 months at the request of the Hyundai A-League franchise.
The Phoenix outlined in a letter to the Football Federation of Australia that their main priority for the 2008/09 season will be to “develop the club within the A-League and Wellington and grow their membership, sponsors and revenue before embarking on the project”
Capital Football CEO, Heather Reid, is disappointed by the decision but understands why the decision was made.
“It’s a shame that the Phoenix came to this decision but we have to remember the Wellington franchise only made their Hyundai A-League debut last season so they’re looking to further settle themselves before joining the National Youth League,” Reid said.
It was proposed last month that the Phoenix were interested in expanding their franchise by setting up an Under 21’s team in Canberra for the inaugural year of the new development league.
Capital Football will continue to fully support and build on this application of a proposed National Youth League team in Canberra for the 2009/10 season.
“It’s unfortunately but it’s not all bad news, Capital Football has since established a close relationship with the Wellington Phoenix and together we will to continue to work towards establishing a youth team in Canberra next year,” Reid confidently said.
Focus can now turn towards this weekend’s Project Coordination Federation Cup finals and the commencement of the Men’s Premier League and Women’s Club Pink Premier League kicking off on the 19th and 26th April respectively.
“Football must go on in the nation’s capital and what better way to do so than celebrate at the final of the longest running football tournament in the ACT this weekend, the Project Coordination Federation Cup on Sunday, and the season kicking off for an expected 17,000 registered participants in the next couple of weeks,” Reid said.
Wellington Phoenix CEO Tony Pignata speaking from the Windy City today said, "We're working to get our proposal into the FFA by Friday."
You can hear the full interview on Nearpost radio Tuesday 6:30-7:30pm or catch it here on the podcast on Wednesday.
"We've spoken to Capital Football who are supporting us,.....
"We've spoken to Capital Football who are supporting us, we've spoken to FFA who
have come back to us requesting a submission by this Friday. I'm currently working on a submission to put forward how it would work, the logistics, and the make-up of the Youth team.
"We know what is required and they (FFA) have just asked some questions regarding the squads and how it would work with our first team based in Wellington, and our Youth team based in Canberra.
"We'll set it up and be working closely with Capital Football who will provide administration and give us facilities to train on.
"If successful we'll advertise for a Coach, a Manager and this stage we'll probably look to do that as soon as we get confirmation.
"I'm hoping within a couple of weeks turnaround. They'll need to digest it, to make sure we tick all the boxes and that we can put together a strong team over there as well.
"A couple of weeks and then we'll know."
What about players, Canberrans or open to all Australians?
"We'll be open, it doesn't have to be Canberra, but ideally it would suit to have Canberra based players so we're not setting up accommodation schools etc if required. If successful we'll open it up to have some trials and Ricky Herbert will go over there, with the new Youth League Coach, and sort out a squad of 10-12 boys depending how we set it up, added Pignata
"We're hoping to be ready for next season, but that's up to the FFA, I think we've got a good chance."
I know, I know things take time, particularly new ventures like the Phoenix Youth side to play in Canberra but I stumbled across this today:
Aussie players:Sign your interest for Central Coast Mariners Youth here!
FFA have sent a list of questions to Wellington Phoenix and Capital Football before the final go ahead is given before the Canberra based 8th Youth side is given the go ahead.
Costs, Player rosters, overcoming the difficulties of having two teams playing in two locations, two countries are just a few concerns.
Capital Football CEO Heather Reid said, "I'll work through these concerns with Tony (Pignata, CEO Wellingon Phoenix) next (this) week, but there doesn't seem to be anything we can't sort out. It's all pretty positive.
"As regards staff appointments Wellington Phoenix will have the final say, but there will be some input from ourselves. Again I don't forsee any problems."
Coach of the Phoenix Youth? Milan Milanovanovic, Ron Smith, Chris Tanzey are a few likely contenders at this early stage.
Capital Football website is reporting that today could be the decision day for Canberra/Wellington Phoenix based Youth team.
See Release below for details. And I'll have details later in the day of any decision.
Both side of the ‘ditch’ propose Capital Phoenix
The Football Federation of Australia will meet today to discuss the proposal from Capital Football and the Wellington Phoenix about entering a Canberra-based team in the new National Youth League.
The Capital Football Board of Directors has agreed to engage in formal discussions with the Wellington Phoenix football club but finer details have yet to be determined with logistical, financial, management and governance arrangements to be discussed.
Both parties are in full support of basing an under-21 development team in the ACT to take part in the inaugural season kicking off in August this year and therefore a decision is needed by the FFA as soon as possible.
The exclusive partnership would provide the Australian-born Phoenix players under the age of 21 with a development program and an opportunity for local players with A.I.S. scholarship holders, Premier League and ACT Academy of Sport graduates called upon.
The selection of players will be a wide process and one that’s not exclusive to current Canberra-based players with a trial and talent identification process open to all Australians.
The management of the youth team will be done so by the Wellington Phoenix but in return Capital Football would include support for player identification, match day arrangements, secretariat services, securing of media coverage, sponsors and other supporters.
Communications between Capital Football and the Phoenix are continuing with a formal agreement to be drafted regarding outstanding issues especially in relation to management and governance.
It’s anticipated that Capital Football and the Wellington Phoenix would be informed of FFA’s decision by the end of the week.
