I don't dispute that the westies can hold it where they want... Doesn't change the fact that their ground is a bit shit and I'll complain if I want.
Imagine if the Phoenix got to the grand final (Haha! I know, I know - not a realistic analogy) and the opposition decided to play at a ground not dissimilar to Kiwitea St - 500 capacity stand and standing room for a couple of thousand more... You'd complain and don't deny it.
I don't think I would. If you finish first, you can play were you like. That's the perks of finishing first.
In reference to the Phoenix, If there was ever a time where they might win the regular season, I think its a given it would be held in Australia regardless and that would come with being a part of their competition so I don't think I would whinge. I also understand that whinging would not change it cause the FFA are not going to give a shit - they already try to skew it in a Sydney favour anyway...
I have no doubt that Fred Taylor is not the 'best' look for the competition but when the competition gets 3 men and a dog turn up with zero coverage all year (3 games on TV?) does it really make 2 shits of a difference? I also ask you Ali, are you going to be at the game supporting? If so, who cares how it looks on TV. I can tell you when I was at Eden Park for the Perth game, I did not really give a shit how it looked on TV. If how the product looked on TV made a difference, NZF would have been rowing that boat hard a long time ago in a bid to leverage off it (yes that's probably a funny statement as well - NZF being proactive)
Considering you guys are die-hard ACFC supporters and would take offence at having a game insinuated being moved from your ground by away supporters, you are being a bit insulting to the die-hard Waitakere supporters (and granted they are not as visual or vocal as you guys)
I can understand your pro ASB stance but it gives an appearance of only taking up that fight now that you guys made the final because the state of Fred Taylor was never raised at any other point in time in the season and when you consider they have been competition front runners for a while now...
The issue of Fred Taylor Park and the venue for the final has been a long going one. I raised it with a volatile Rex Dawkins and NZF myself two years ago when the same situation arose and the final was eventually held at Trusts Stadium and it was a big success. My issue is Fred Taylor, having no stand, doesn't give spectators a good view of the game. The best you can get a raised bank by the clubhouse or standing at ground level around the sides. Throw in a big crowd and you can be looking over other people's shoulders trying to get a glimpse of the action on field.
I once attended a game at Fred Taylor between Waitakere vs Bar in the O League and the mostly Fijian crowd of 3,000 odd mean't many spectators were struggling to watch the game being two or three deep around the perimeter of the ground. I heard frequent complaints from those struggling to see what was happening on the field. Frankly it was ridiulous. That game too should have been held at Trusts Stadium, which I also said to Rex and copped an earful of nasty abuse in return.
This is not just about how it looks on TV. A game of this importance has to have a decent stand so spectators get a good view. This has nothing to do with my being a ACFC supporter so give that a rest - it has to do with my wanting NZ football to provide the facilities spectators deserve. That's why the final has been held at North Harbour and Trusts stadium in the past. If Kiwitea Street didn't have a stand I'd say the same thing if ACFC was hosting the final.
You are missing the point I was making. I wasn't taking a shot because you guys are ACFC supporters (and trust me, I have resisted damn hard and tried to make it all reasoned). I was saying that when you read the forums, no one has raised Fred Taylor as an issue at all this year despite the fact it was only really going to be 1 of 2 grounds to host the final and the same will occur next year. It's only really popped this week since Waitakere earned the right to a home final and you guys joined them this week. You may well have raised this issue before with Rex, NZF, whomever - good on you, but when it's only popped up this week, you tell me how it looks. This is why I stated my next point about 'let's take a real look at what's best for the comp'. Facilities would only be scratching the surface but if your interest is in 'whats best for the comp' as a whole then harping on about Fred Taylor in finals week does not give that outward appearance. If i could use a delicate example it's a similar scenario about some people who became campaigners for things like child cancer (as an example). They never gave a shit about about it until it affected their child so where was their support for that cause in all the years prior? It just makes the campaigning look self serving. This is not an accusation I am making at you but I am asking you to look at if from a 'how does it appear in the eyes of others' point if view. It just gives the appearance of whinging ACFC supporters.
I too was at the exact same Ba game and understand completely what you are talking about but no one came back here after the fact and banged on about how shit it was to watch the game... Can you see the point I am trying to make?
I completely agree with your opinion about facilities and the standards initially laid out being skirted but then that comes back to a wider ranging review which NZF will never do because the simple fact is, there is no money. It also comes back to the removal of Glyn Taylor (which I have been on about for a long while - see what I did there?) whom ran this comp like Novopay.
As for my opinions in person, they are exactly the same, but I'm just a has been now at my age and largely keep to myself at football games with a lot of watching. If I get engaged, it's the exact same POV in person.