The WaiBOP United Thread

I hear a little rumoured  last nite that the Chilean players are going due to there visa's and that 3 of the Auckland based players arnt returning.

Um Jeff as you may or may not be aware, a fair chunk of Waikato/BOP's best players don't play for Waikato as they have either turned pro (Rojas/Wood/Boyd (more then the Auckland region of late)) been pinched by ACFC/Waitakere or as shown by Declan's lot, have more loyalty to him/Melville/Wanderers/Ngaruawahia/Tauranga etc.

Also as a reminder Waikato finished third and beat ACFC at home in the first season when many of Waikato's current ACFC/Waitakere players were still in the Waikato.  Please do not compare the Waikato to Wairarapa or even Hawkes Bay/Manawatu.  We produce better players then those area and have more depth.  Auckland just pinches it.

Hopefully with the confederation behind us we will get back in to the top four where we belong.

Suffice to say that often what I think of your posts.

No I don't.

But the commute to Wellington is a lot further from HB/Manawatu then to AKL from Hamilton.

I don't think we (HB) lose too many to other centers. Bevin - between semesters at UWV, Parkin - university, Lucas - left to go to MAGS, others like Smith return. Keen to hear of any names just out of interest

The fact you are calling for a team in Tauranga based on a placing 9 years ago just draws into light your argument and your eye patch. Next you'll be telling me that Liverpool are still a powerhouse based on what they did 20 years ago.

Agree, the support at Hamilton has been crap, all due respect to the hardy few who do turn up for Waikato. I think Nelson and South Auckland would be better options for new teams in the ASBP in place of Waikato and Manawatu.

ASBP clubs have to deliver facilities, teams and crowds like ACFC, Hawkes Bay and Canterbury or they should be out. Regions like Waikato and Manawatu should stick to clubs in the winter leagues to which they're more suited.

I am against Auckland having 3/4 teams like it's been proposed, I really don't get how that promotes the game nationally, its not like Aucklanders are missing out on opportunities, whereas get rid of a Waikato side and many players won't be able to improve by playing at the top local level.

As for Nelson, it seems like they may join the league and it will expand to 10 teams, but who's to say they will get better results and crowds than Waikato and Manawatu?

And we are back, game this Wednesday against Auckland, apparently Michael "I only get sent off every second week" Kramer and Adam "Teach me how to defend" Wallis are off to the Ole Academy too.

Hope you Wai-Bop crowd are going to show in Ngauwhaarawhahiaha for the City match. Don't want to risk being outnumbered by Jaffas now do we?

The Jaffas always have their travelling band, I'm interested what affect the 5.30pm Wednesday kick-off will have on the crowd, if people are still on holiday there could be a good turnout, Centennial is a nice ground.

Adam Thomas gone, being stood down for a late transfer request to Team Wellington, once his suspension is over he's outta here. Very disappointing.

I have never rated him. I think he has continuously been played out of position. Until he is installed at centre back and left there, I don't think he will crack on.

He's certainly a fantastic athlete but yeah your point is valid, they just haven't seemed to find the right position for him. Is it CB? I'm not sure. For a side like Waikato in which he was their main attacking weapon it seemed logical to put him in the midfield, but if he has hopes of playing for the Phoenix or New Zealand then he (and his coaches) has to settle on a position.

Thought he was injured for the season?  Are the Chilean boys still around ?....have the Birkenhead players stayed ?

Yes the Chileans are still in town and the Birko boys have stayed. I think finally Waikato are heading in the right direction and the players and coaching staff are doing a great job now that the dead wood has been cleared out. Funny how people ring me from out of town and say  Waikato have lost sooo many players, when the truth of the matter is if Declan hadn't been coaching about 8 of them would never have made a national league squad anyway. Hopefully a decent crowd will get out to Ngara on Wednesday and support the team. 

Adam Thomas stood down by Waikato FC, heads for Team Wellington

That link does not seem to work

*Edit* found it

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10857901

Can't see Elliot Collier scaring the pants off AC however

Hopefully Waikato get a good crowd in today.. Going be a warm one...

Upset on the cards ?

Auckland haven't lost in 19 games so I think 3 points is too much too ask for, a draw could be possible if thIngs go Waikato's way and they play like they did before the Christmas break.

Waikato will get a point/points from this game. I think Auckland should be very wary.

6 mins in - Oh dear AFC 1 WaiFC zip. Is there a live stream, link available?

1-1 HT, well deserved, despite Mirko's worst refereeing decision EVER, it was just atrocious.

Goalz comin thick n fast now. Why would you sub off Franspagetti

Always going to be a tough proposition going up against a classy side such as Auckland, hopefully we can rebound for the game against Hawke's Bay, those are the biggies.

Good 1st half should have had a pen and turner was way  to selfish should have squared to margetts...

Soon as that 2 nd goal went in game over, I guess they battled but were 2 nd best ..

Margetts easily Waikato's best...

No shame in losing to Auckland .... Aucklands 11 best player on the pitch 

You can have 'striker initiated contact' to make it seem like there is contact and then go down which is diving. Ronaldo specialises in that. He creates the contact then goes down. That's not a foul but is a dive.

To be fair he should have gave a pen 20 seconds earlier against Ivan.

I thought Waikato played well in the first half. Looked to run out of legs in the second half but I must say it is one of the best peformances I have seen from Auckland. I still think the Waikato squad has potential and hopefully some players will come in during the transfer window to bolster the squad.

Waikato need some pace at the back and some pace out wide would help....

But fair play to them they don't get any money travel a total of 4 hrs round  each trip fom Auckland  ( most of them) just to try get a game somewhere...( as not wanted in akl)

There aim should be to win v Wellington/ hawkes bay/ Canterbury...you never know

Cossey has done a good job since he got there at least he's installed a bit of pride in playing for Waikato...

A fit Nathan Palmer would also be a plus

Would Nathan Palmer make the squad? He didn't exactly set the world on fire last time he played for us, I would rather play Greenhalgh, maybe even Mark Jones.

Greenhalgh yes. Mark Jones? Is that a pisstake?

Mark needs to focus on receiving the ball and giving it. He tries to beat everyone 3 times then loses it because he is not that skillful with ball at feet as he thinks he is. If he is not doing that, he is a hatchet man. Plenty of silly bookings. I recall last year when he got off the bench in Auckland it was 62nd min sub 63rd min yellow card. 

He has talent but zero focus.