The WaiBOP United Thread
You should ask the players and coaches what they think. They find him rude and over board. He runs over from 30 yards to yell and shout in their faces. Its there to see. There has to be respect from the players and that referee would not get that from any player from any team.
Are waikato playing any more friendlies due to having four weeks off untill next competitive match? Will these games be played at Bay City Park?
Im going to throw this out there..Do you really think Willy Gerdsen wants the best for Waikato FC? or is he using this franchise to enhance the quality of his East Coast Bays team for its tough competition next year! I doubt many waikato players will see much game time.
In the case of Waikato football (and admittedly I haven't seen it in 2-3 years) who would people want to front for the team that hasn't been picked? Aaron Scott has chosen Waitakere so thats a results/money vs roots (I wont say loyalty as he has been with Waitakere for 3 years), Matt Williams was Auckland for 3 years but has had the summer off. In the likes of Bunce, Sole and Chewins, well without beind rude to them and their ability but their time has been and gone in the back half of the 30. Steven Holloway is a bit of a mystery cause he has talent but something is obviously not clicking for him, as he hasn't played the last 2 years and as Bruce says, he is in Queenstown. Maybe Joe Simpkins but he tries to play that enforcer role and is that going to fit in with the coaches style (whom coach teams football and not long ball or physicality). Thats half of Melville right there.
It looks like the next best in Waikato has been picked. They are young and have talent and in some cases still need developing at this level. Who has they picked from Auckland? Well thankfully its not retreads/Auckland-Waitakere off casts like the Matthews boys, Prince, Suri etc. I think had Van Rooyen stuck around, he would be helpful cause it still looks light in the middle. I see the website is updated and its not a list of big names and granted they are ECB players but then they are playing for nothing, never been given a run at this level before will play football. I've yet to see Jason Hicks but when he was at Glenfield, he was a little sh*t of a player so he must have come along way. Strom is still floating around and will be the experienced player it seems.
To the moaners...who would you pick?
Hope young players get a run. Although after the Che Bunce debarcle you cant afford poor results.
I think the youth movement is a good idea and give it 2 years (provided that they come back) they will be a good young team with experience. Yeah Waikato have heard it before but when you look whats on the pitch, it kinda does ring true. The feedback has also been that they were very much in the game against Auckland. Either Auckland are bad or Waikato are going to compete well this year.
Would you rather see a New Zealand A-League team full of NZ players, but totally uncompetitive, or a Wellington Phoenix full of Aussies, Brits, Barbadians, Latin Americans etc which can win matches? It's the same question, surely, and one which history has already answered.
Im not saying the mathews boys should be there or not, for all we know they may have been asked but turned it down. Jeff your point about them getting sent off, who doesnt these days. When Dave Edmunson was in charge he had a superb defence and Mathews was a part of it. Infact im sure Waikato would love to have Mathews Strom Pearce Wylie as there back for again. However that is not the case so lets move on.
Also people are saying it doesnt matter who is playing, in that results will bring in the crowds. I dont agree with this. The franchise needs players that the fans in the area can relate to. Club players and fans that watch these winter players in the region. Whether they are winning or losing i am sure the fans would be suited to seeing local talent on show that they know about rather than results. If they can get results with local players...well even better...but build to that!
Also people are saying it doesnt matter who is playing, in that results will bring in the crowds. I dont agree with this.
So why dont we scrap Waikato franchise. Give auckland another team. That 3 teams in auckland and more local derbys, which would no doubt mean bigger crowds and better players on show! it can only be good for the league!!
Then by the same logic with waitak signing Aron Scott, So why dont we scrap the Waitakere franchise. And give the Waikato another team
So why dont we scrap Waikato franchise. Give auckland another team. That 3 teams in auckland and more local derbys, which would no doubt mean bigger crowds and better players on show! it can only be good for the league!!
Why don't we scrap the Phoenix and give New South Wales a fourth team?
P.s Jeff vader do you have personal issues with those players? They are not involved at all this year. Why talk about them. Sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder.
Cant understand why Chewins didnt want to play. Old, but classy player. Also did Paul Stewart not make the squad, why? Wanderers Matt Gibbons is a class above Barlow. Also Wanderers english import Howie should have been included in that squad if he was still around, he ran the show for Wanderers in the back half of the season.
Wow, Sloth, 3 Waikato players out of two squads of 20 odd. I'm no mathematician but this is around 5 - 10%. Let's consider this years Waikato squad - 10 out of the starting 11 are Aucklanders, and I would hazard a guess that there are more in the squad. Lets take a conservative estimate of 60%. You have just proved my point. There is more talent in Auckland than in Waikato that is not being used or being forced to travel. Now backed up by statistics.
Ignore the odd overseas import, from my point of view it is pointless to this debate. I am not saying that Waikato should be all Waikato players as others are. I am saying that based on player talent it makes no sense to have 2 Auckland franchises and a Waikato franchise. Surely we want our National League to be the strongest possible. With the best players. This is not schoolboy stuff where each reigon has to be "represented". Don't often hear the argument there are too many London teams in the premier league. Clearly, to get the best possible standard an additional Auckland Franchise makes sense. Interested to hear others thoughts?
Seriously, grow up. English is a bastard language which steals words from everywhere. Do you object to going to a "restaurant", singing "karaoke", ordering a "stein" of beer, wearing "pajamas" or eating "curry"... or is it just Maori words borrowed into English which upset you?
Doloras2010-10-22 13:42:31
I mean they have just allowed Che Bunce on it after he totally embarrased and disgraced the franchise last year. They need a clear out. Start from fresh, get rid of the cobwebs.
When I have seen Gibbons play for Wanderers he has looked a class above. I believe he has also been to the UK recently for trials???
As for Edge and his players...? I have seen them a few times and I don't think many/any of them are that flash apart from the Green lad, Josh I think it is? He looks quality but hard to tell when he is playing with 10-18 yr olds.. He really should be playing at a decent level instead of training with and playing against little kids.
Alex has broken his right leg... one bone fractured other bone snapped and is in a full leg cast in Hastings hospital... doctors expect it to be healed in 8 weeks...
First of all, kids will play, regardless of the situation. The thought of preservation or consequences does not come first. So if someone says 'Wanna play?' they naturally think 'yeah sure' without thinking 'well if I injure myself, I'm screwed so no I wont thanks'
Secondly I would guess that Milicich would be there watching teams and players for his u20 squad......
I don't see where Declan Edge fits into this.