Speaker 1: Football Fever with news Talks, Envy's Voice of Football, Jason
Speaker 1: Pine and Bonny Jensen. Hello there, and welcome into a
Speaker 1: new week and a new episode of the Football Fever podcast,
Speaker 1: where we cover off all things to do with New
Speaker 1: Zealand football, the A League, men and women, and anything
Speaker 1: else that catches our fancy. I'm Jason Pone. Bonny Jensen's
Speaker 1: here too. Hello, Bonny, Hey, Piiney, how are you good?
Speaker 1: Thank you? Yeah, A mixed weekend. As far as the
Speaker 1: New Zealand based A League teams are concerned, we'll cover
Speaker 1: them all off. I do want to start though, with
Speaker 1: Saturday afternoon at Go Media, another absolutely thrilling day out
Speaker 1: before we get into the football. You watched most of
Speaker 1: this from the Fairest Wheel.
Speaker 2: I mean, Pieer, how could I not really? I just
Speaker 2: when I heard Auckland NEFC we're getting this for us
Speaker 2: where I think I may have mentioned it last week
Speaker 2: on the podcast, I was like, how insane can they be?
Speaker 2: They've just you know, they've had a beach, they've had
Speaker 2: a slide, they've had flyovers and you know, fireworks and
Speaker 2: now a fairis Wheel a circus they were calling it.
Speaker 2: They had other Carnival Games, and you know, I thought,
Speaker 2: why not try and watch the whole game from the
Speaker 2: Fairis Wheel and do a wee story on it. So
Speaker 2: I did that. That'll be coming out in the Herald
Speaker 2: Monday afternoon.
Speaker 1: Good stuff. But yeah, it was.
Speaker 2: It was just great. And Nick Becker came and joined
Speaker 2: me the Auckland f c CEO Dan Hall.
Speaker 1: And yeah, it was brilliant wins. Dan Hall back.
Speaker 2: Dan Hall, I feel is back this weekend. He might
Speaker 2: be in the game day squad. I'm not sure. Steve
Speaker 2: Corker said, there's there's no this was this was before
Speaker 2: the game and the weekend. Steve Corker said, there was
Speaker 2: no real reason to rush Dan Hall into it. You know,
Speaker 2: they Tommy Smith's been doing great in there, and you
Speaker 2: know they want to obviously preserve them for the playoffs.
Speaker 2: But in saying that, when you look at some of
Speaker 2: the goals they conceived over the weekend, maybe he will
Speaker 2: he will reconsider that.
Speaker 1: It's an interesting conundrum for Steve Corricker. I mean, shone
Speaker 1: great faith in his team, hasn't he. I was looking
Speaker 1: on the weekend. Louis Vustrata for the second week in
Speaker 1: a row, didn't start the game. You know, Steve Coriker
Speaker 1: didn't change the winning team and look at maywell be
Speaker 1: that when he considers his team for the next game
Speaker 1: against the Newcastle Jets this coming weekend that he tinkers
Speaker 1: a little bit. But you don't change a winning team.
Speaker 1: He hasn't changed a winning team. But yeah, when Dan
Speaker 1: Hall comes back, he's going to present a fairly compelling proposition,
Speaker 1: isn't he. Because you think of those first six games
Speaker 1: that he was involved in, six games, six wins, broke
Speaker 1: his ankle at training. I feel like he's got a
Speaker 1: if he's fit, and he won't be fit straight away,
Speaker 1: he's got to present a fairly compelling case to come
Speaker 1: back into the team, doesn't he? Oh?
Speaker 2: Absolutely? And I spoke with him over the weekend. You
Speaker 2: know how he was putting his hand up for the
Speaker 2: Soccaro's the Australian national team before he got injured. He's
Speaker 2: such a key player and someone you know, I think
Speaker 2: he was Auckland f C's best player before he got injured.
Speaker 2: Obviously those were very early days back when he was playing.
Speaker 2: But yeah, he's certainly got to put his hand up.
Speaker 2: I think what I like know how Steve Carreker hasn't
Speaker 2: started for Strata the last two weeks, even though he's
Speaker 2: been available. Is he's obviously thinking about fatigue and fitness
Speaker 2: and preserving some of these players, which will be key
Speaker 2: when they look towards the playoffs. So that's something he'll
Speaker 2: surely consider as well.
Speaker 1: For you, Yeah, talks a bit about the depth of
Speaker 1: the side as well. You know that you can leave
Speaker 1: a guy like Louisvis Strata out, although as I say,
Speaker 1: they may look at what they do this week after
Speaker 1: the four to four draw. I don't think I've ever
Speaker 1: commentated a four all draw before. You know, if you
Speaker 1: score four goals and you don't come away with all
Speaker 1: three points, you probably think to yourself, well, what's happened
Speaker 1: as far as the two teams are concerned. Steve Coricker
Speaker 1: definitely saw it as two points dropped and Carl Viett,
Speaker 1: I think, was happy to get away with a point.
Speaker 1: What were your overall what your overall thoughts before we
Speaker 1: zoom in on a couple of things. What were your
Speaker 1: overall thoughts?
Speaker 2: Yeah? Well I thought Auckland DEFC shouldn't feel necessarily ashamed
Speaker 2: of a draw with Adelaide. You know, Adelaide turned up
Speaker 2: for the occasion. I thought they played better than what
Speaker 2: they have done in the past few weeks. Certainly a show. Piney.
Speaker 2: You mentioned the eight goals. That's fifteen goals at go
Speaker 2: media in the last two weeks, obviously thinking about the
Speaker 2: six to one when they had over the Wellington Phoenix.
Speaker 2: But no, I don't feel they I don't feel like
Speaker 2: Auckland f C should be necessarily upset. They still have
Speaker 2: a eight point lead at the top of the A
Speaker 2: League table. But I do think they should be slightly
Speaker 2: concerned about the four goals they conceded. I think two
Speaker 2: of them are very sloppy defending and the other two
Speaker 2: were very sloppy lazy tackles that obviously conceded the penalties.
Speaker 2: You know, that's five goals I've conceded in the last
Speaker 2: two games, which is very unlike Auckland f C. So
Speaker 2: I think that slightly is a red flag. But at
Speaker 2: the same time, I think a draw is absolutely fine
Speaker 2: to come away with.
Speaker 1: I think you've nailed it in terms of their defense.
Speaker 1: They'll certainly be working hard on that this week. Let's
Speaker 1: talk about We'll come to the penalties in a moment,
Speaker 1: but yeah, you're right. The two goals they conceded. The
Speaker 1: first a near post header by Archie Goodwin that's gone
Speaker 1: off the post, and then Jordan nel says the quickest
Speaker 1: to react, he puts it home. Look, there's a lot
Speaker 1: of men in around the penalty area and I think
Speaker 1: maybe Adeli I've got a bit of the bounce of
Speaker 1: the ball there. I know Hiroki Sakai will look back
Speaker 1: at his defending at the near post and probably examine that.
Speaker 1: But the goal at the end, it's not good defending
Speaker 1: at all from Auckland f C. When you're four to
Speaker 1: three up with you know, deep into at a time
Speaker 1: you should win that game. They did not defend well
Speaker 1: enough at the end.
Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, and it shows, you know, they've been so
Speaker 2: good in those pressure moments Auckland f C. I mean
Speaker 2: they showed it again at the weekend, scoring in the
Speaker 2: ninety second minute. I'm sure everyone probably you as well,
Speaker 2: party commentating in the box. We thought Hiroki had won
Speaker 2: it then and there, and it was so unlike Auckland
Speaker 2: f C to concede that like go you know, usually
Speaker 2: it is just them the ones finishing it off. So
Speaker 2: something they'll certainly learn from They've learned from a lot
Speaker 2: of mistakes I've had throughout the season, and you know,
Speaker 2: maybe it's a blessing in disguise. It comes now as
Speaker 2: they you know, eye up these these playoffs and hopefully
Speaker 2: go on to win it. That's something they'll you know,
Speaker 2: learn from.
Speaker 1: You did, right, That's what I did think. When Sarki scored,
Speaker 1: I thought, what a narrative, you know, the captain in
Speaker 1: the time when his team needed it the most, standing
Speaker 1: up to score what we all thought was going to
Speaker 1: be the winning goal and a seven goal thriller. I mean,
Speaker 1: what a moment. And the noise, Bonnie when he scored.
Speaker 1: The noise, because it's you know, there's there's the header
Speaker 1: which is initially saved, and then the follow up for
Speaker 1: the goal, there's that amazing crowd noise of a ah
Speaker 1: and then yeah, you know it's it is. It's Premier
Speaker 1: League noise. It's just incredible, Oh it is.
Speaker 2: And I jumped up and smack my head or just
Speaker 2: about smack mayhead on the ceiling of the carriage of
Speaker 2: the Fairis wheel and then I quickly read the side
Speaker 2: behind me and remember that you meant to be sitting down.
Speaker 2: It was it was just incredible. And watching it from
Speaker 2: that ferris wheel and just seeing the whole stand erupt
Speaker 2: it was. It was absolutely unreal. And Pioneer listened back
Speaker 2: to the highlights this morning, shout out to you. I
Speaker 2: thought that that call you did was absolutely incredible. Got
Speaker 2: goosebumps all over again. But as you said in the
Speaker 2: in the call, Hiroki, you know, it would have been
Speaker 2: a great narrative for him to win it there. But
Speaker 2: that's why it was so so surprising that they then
Speaker 2: went on to concede.
Speaker 1: Yeah, Marvaren's for Adelaide United, scoring in the eighth added
Speaker 1: minute to make it for all. And yeah, as I say,
Speaker 1: Steve Coricker I think was the more disappointed of the coaches.
Speaker 1: If your carl Vet, you come back from two nil down,
Speaker 1: three to one down and four three down late on
Speaker 1: and escape with a point, you're happy turn that over.
Speaker 1: And Steve Coricker, having led by those margins and not
Speaker 1: taking all three points, would be upset. And he thought
Speaker 1: both penalties were soft. Now I was during the commentary.
Speaker 1: I thought the first penalty, when Louis vu Strata has
Speaker 1: collected the leg of Ethan Alligance in the penalty area,
Speaker 1: I said I thought it was a penalty. Nothing I've
Speaker 1: seen since has changed my mind. Steve Currik had tried
Speaker 1: to change my mind after the game and the press conference,
Speaker 1: and then afterwards as we were walking out, he was
Speaker 1: absolutely adamant that that was not a penalty, as he
Speaker 1: was the second one, when Stephan Marc has gone into
Speaker 1: the area weaving his way through, Yes he's looking for contact,
Speaker 1: but he's an experienced player, Stephan Marc, and in that
Speaker 1: moment he knew that if he took the ball with
Speaker 1: him into the penalty area, into a crowded area, there
Speaker 1: was likely to get there was likely to be a
Speaker 1: touch somewhere, and so it proved to be. So I
Speaker 1: don't know that Auckland FC can have genuine complaints about
Speaker 1: the two penalties. I don't think they were absolute, obvious,
Speaker 1: clear errors, either of them.
Speaker 2: I agree Piney, I think they were absolutely penalties. Yes
Speaker 2: they were soft, and you know another referee, another on
Speaker 2: a different day, may have called something else. But you
Speaker 2: put the same situation up the other end of the picture,
Speaker 2: and I think Steve Coric is throwing his hands up
Speaker 2: calling for a penalty all day. So yeah, I think
Speaker 2: you know it could have gone either way more so
Speaker 2: think than penalties, and I actually just think they were
Speaker 2: very lazy defending from from Rastrata and Tommy Smith.
Speaker 1: I think also there's the inconsistency across the competition because
Speaker 1: you think back to the game between Wellington Phoenix and Brisbane.
Speaker 1: When a Shiga is you know, it is basically had
Speaker 1: a chunk taken out of his leg in the penalty area,
Speaker 1: much much more physical contact than either of the two
Speaker 1: on the weekend, and that wasn't given as a penalty.
Speaker 1: A couple of other Phoenix examples and recent weeks haven't been,
Speaker 1: so I think it feels like there's a sliding scale
Speaker 1: of what is a penalty and what isn't and it's
Speaker 1: very much in the hands of the referee, and I
Speaker 1: know it has to be, really because it's not as
Speaker 1: though it's not like a has the ball gone over
Speaker 1: the line or not. Penalty decisions are are objective in
Speaker 1: the eyes of the referee. I think one thing Steve
Speaker 1: Koric has said, which I think I do agree with,
Speaker 1: was that Daniel Elder was in very close proximity to
Speaker 1: the Forstrata tackle. He was about five yards away looking
Speaker 1: directly at it, and decided there was nothing to see here.
Speaker 1: It was only when the var called him over. So
Speaker 1: I don't know does the var have to call him
Speaker 1: over in that situation or does he say, okay, well
Speaker 1: you've had a good look at it and you don't
Speaker 1: think it's a pen.
Speaker 2: I don't know, yeah, exactly, it's it is. It is
Speaker 2: really tough to call. And I just wonder if maybe
Speaker 2: you know that the luck had run out a little bit,
Speaker 2: not quoting Chiefy there, but the luck had run out
Speaker 2: a little bit for Auckland f C. Because obviously the
Speaker 2: week before, wasn't it, or maybe a couple of weeks
Speaker 2: ago when Nando should have got a red card and
Speaker 2: he didn't. You know, I think Steve Corac has to
Speaker 2: look at the bigger picture here and go you know,
Speaker 2: it's obviously could have gone either way. It's a subjective decision.
Speaker 2: But in this case it didn't go their way. And
Speaker 2: I don't think it's all doom and glue. They got
Speaker 2: a point, yea.
Speaker 1: These things tend to even themselves out across the course
Speaker 1: of a season, don't they. Other parts of the game
Speaker 1: Auckland f C up to nil early gives youmo Mi's
Speaker 1: first goal. My goodness, what a cracker, just a carbon
Speaker 1: com my god, indeed, oh my my, what can the
Speaker 1: man not do? Very similar goal to the one he
Speaker 1: scored earlier on this season against Melbourne City. But he's
Speaker 1: just an excitement machine, isn't he. Giz you ma, I
Speaker 1: hadn't didn't score at all in the six to one win.
Speaker 1: I'm sure that was playing on his mind, because when
Speaker 1: you score six and you're the main striker and you
Speaker 1: don't get any you think that's ow right, I'm going
Speaker 1: to put that right. And he did inside fifteen minutes,
Speaker 1: got a couple Logan Rogerson, another goal for him, a
Speaker 1: couple of penalties to say, Zach Cloff converting them both,
Speaker 1: and then Sarkai and friends at the end. A terrific
Speaker 1: game if you're a neutral, and I saw a lot
Speaker 1: of stuff coming in on social media from across the
Speaker 1: TASMANA people saying game of the season, incredible contest, what
Speaker 1: a spectacle, all of that stuff. If you've got skin
Speaker 1: in the game, you're a bit disappointed if you're Auckland FC.
Speaker 1: But as a spectacle, if you landed in, you know,
Speaker 1: from out of space and watch that game and thought, okay,
Speaker 1: this is the A League. You'd be back next week
Speaker 1: to watch.
Speaker 2: It, absolutely, And you know, I think it was close
Speaker 2: to seventeen thousand fans there. As I mentioned before, fifteen
Speaker 2: goals that go be there in the last two weeks.
Speaker 2: My sister they were her first to Auckland nef CE
Speaker 2: games and what to to go to. I told her,
Speaker 2: you know that they're not all like this, but they
Speaker 2: are pretty exciting just on those goals. I think what's
Speaker 2: so impressive for Auckland nef C and promising I guess
Speaker 2: heading into the playoffs is the variety of goal scorers
Speaker 2: that we've seen throughout the season. Yes, my stood up
Speaker 2: on the weekend. Obviously, Hiroki and Logan got one too,
Speaker 2: but you know last week it was Nadar and then
Speaker 2: we've seen Nando's score a few, so it's you know,
Speaker 2: Brimmer as well another one. It's really promising that they
Speaker 2: have got goal scorers right across the.
Speaker 1: Park and a near good point across the last couple
Speaker 1: of weeks. Yeah, they've all been in the goals, haven't they.
Speaker 1: So now gives you my Mai, Nadal Modino and Logan
Speaker 1: Rogers and all have seven goals, so I'm sure they're
Speaker 1: having a little internal competition themselves. Not saying that they
Speaker 1: wouldn't pass it to the other one of the others
Speaker 1: if they're in a better position, but you know, that's
Speaker 1: the kind of competition you want internally, is a lot
Speaker 1: of guys trying to score goals. Tommy Smith I quick
Speaker 1: mention on him his five hundred and fiftieth professional game.
Speaker 1: That is an incredible achievement by Tommy Smith. The guy's
Speaker 1: been around for a couple of decades in the professional game.
Speaker 1: Auckland FC Bonnie are eight points clear now with eight
Speaker 1: games to go. Can they be caught?
Speaker 2: No, I don't think they can. I actually think Pioney,
Speaker 2: this weekend's game coming up in Newcastle is going to
Speaker 2: be so taling. Newcastle are, you know, far lower down
Speaker 2: the table. They're currently a ninth but they haven't lost
Speaker 2: in the last five games. They beat Adelaide United just
Speaker 2: a couple of weeks ago, So yeah, I think this
Speaker 2: if they win it this weekend, it's they can put
Speaker 2: both hands on the play.
Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think that was maybe the bit of
Speaker 1: the disappointment for Steve Kurriker. He would have liked to
Speaker 1: have been ten points clear with eight games to go,
Speaker 1: at which point I think you can say nobody's pulling
Speaker 1: back a double digit points deficits. I agree with you.
Speaker 1: I don't think anybody's catching them eight points clear. It
Speaker 1: seems to me as though there's a real battle though
Speaker 1: for that second spot. Western United thirty two, Adelaide thirty two,
Speaker 1: Western Sydney Wanderers thirty one, Melbourne City thirty one, Melbourne
Speaker 1: Victory thirty Sydney FC twenty nine. So what's that Six
Speaker 1: teams within three points of each other and they'll all
Speaker 1: take points of each other, which I think also plays
Speaker 1: into Aukland FC's hands because nobody I don't think is
Speaker 1: going to put a run together and it would need
Speaker 1: Auckland f C to fall over, which I don't think
Speaker 1: they're going to do exactly.
Speaker 2: And you look at Adelaide and Melbourne City, they're probably
Speaker 2: in the best place out of all those teams you mentioned.
Speaker 2: They have a game in hand, but so to Auckland
Speaker 2: f C as well. Just to add to that so
Speaker 2: very exciting last couple of weeks.
Speaker 1: I think Adelaide United are a very good team. I
Speaker 1: really enjoyed watching them and comparing them to Wellington Phoenix
Speaker 1: a week ago. You know, the Phoenix went behind, and
Speaker 1: yes they pulled one back early in the second half,
Speaker 1: but it never really felt like Wellington finished win to
Speaker 1: win that game. Even when Adelaide were two aled down
Speaker 1: and three to one down, they didn't stop. And that
Speaker 1: is the mark of a side that is very good
Speaker 1: come finals time. You know, that could be a Grand final,
Speaker 1: Awkley FC Adelaide could be the Grand Final.
Speaker 2: It's setting up for quite a good rivalry now because
Speaker 2: they've played twice and had two thrilling matches and both
Speaker 2: ending in draws. So if they do meet in the
Speaker 2: final party it's yeah, certainly going to be you know,
Speaker 2: more than just a trophy. They're going to get ultimate
Speaker 2: bragging arts for the season.
Speaker 1: Yeah. I love the rivalry that's built already. You're right.
Speaker 1: So the aggregate score across the two games is six
Speaker 1: all and there's been incredible drama in both games, late
Speaker 1: goals controversy, coaches fully invested, big crowds. I mean Adelaide's
Speaker 1: home crowd is as good as Auckland's. You know, they
Speaker 1: get good, good crowds in South Australia at Cooper Stadium,
Speaker 1: a similar kind of venue, rectangular, the crowd are right
Speaker 1: on top of the players. Yeah. I love the fact
Speaker 1: that there might be this rivalry building.
Speaker 2: I bet what's going to happen is they're going to
Speaker 2: meet in the semis Dare I say it? And it's
Speaker 2: going to be like a really tight home in a
Speaker 2: way of fear. Yes, And it's there's going to be
Speaker 2: great traveling contingents from both sides. And it's oh, I'm
Speaker 2: already I can already feel it now. It's making me nervous.
Speaker 1: Yeah, okay, we'll see, We'll see what happens down the track. Next.
Speaker 1: Our point of business, as you say, for Auckland FC,
Speaker 1: Newcastle away. Newcastle in a good run of form five
Speaker 1: unbeaten as you say, have won their last three. So
Speaker 1: it won't be easy going to McDonald Jones Stadium on
Speaker 1: Sunday night at seven o'clock New Zealand time. But that
Speaker 1: is Auckland FC's next game as they look to continue
Speaker 1: there what now looks to be an inevitable march towards
Speaker 1: the Premier's plate. This is football fever. So that was Saturday.
Speaker 1: If we rewind to Friday night, the Wellington Phoenix welcomed
Speaker 1: Melbourne City to Sky Stadium a one nil win for
Speaker 1: Melbourne City, third straight loss for the Phoenix, fifth game
Speaker 1: without a win, just two goals in those five games.
Speaker 1: A Marco Tillio goal early in the second half settled
Speaker 1: this one. I was contrasting and comparing the two games.
Speaker 1: I had the opportunity to commentate both of them, and
Speaker 1: really it was just compared to what we saw play
Speaker 1: out on Saturday. It was just by comparison, nowhere near
Speaker 1: it on Friday night.
Speaker 2: I feel bad, I've said this the last few weeks,
Speaker 2: but it is really hard to critique the Phoenix at
Speaker 2: the moment because the team is so young and it's
Speaker 2: not a great watch. It's not a great watch of football.
Speaker 2: You know. It's that they had five shots on goal,
Speaker 2: none of them on target, and you know, it's quite
Speaker 2: sad for the team really considering what they did last year.
Speaker 2: But I think what the most disappointing thing for me
Speaker 2: was is Chief he touched on it at the start
Speaker 2: of the season. Is that the last of drive and
Speaker 2: motivation that you're seeing from these players on the field.
Speaker 2: I watched kind of you know the character of these
Speaker 2: players last week against Auckland f C. A lot of
Speaker 2: heads down, you know, angry, yelling at each other and
Speaker 2: taking it out and you see that in all teams.
Speaker 2: You know, no doubt Auckland f C would have done
Speaker 2: that as well at the weekend, but it seems to
Speaker 2: be pretty rife in the Wellington Phoenix again when they
Speaker 2: conceded the two goals at the weekend. Obviously one of
Speaker 2: them was caught offside, but a lot of swearing at
Speaker 2: each other and your heads down and placing the blame
Speaker 2: elsewhere rather than taking onus.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a really good observation and it's always a
Speaker 1: lot easier, as we all know, it's a lot easier
Speaker 1: to be buoyant and you know, to be positive when
Speaker 1: things are going your way. I mean Aukland FC and
Speaker 1: Wellington Phoenix are having very different seasons, aren't they. But
Speaker 1: you know, I kind of hope that there would be
Speaker 1: more from Wellington Phoenix. And to be fair, they were
Speaker 1: better than the previous week. I mean it's a low
Speaker 1: I know, when you lose six to one, they were
Speaker 1: better first half nil all Alex Rufer I think was
Speaker 1: instrumental and you know, coming back into the starting side
Speaker 1: for the first time since last December, he kind of
Speaker 1: really solidified things there in central midfield. Plo Retre was
Speaker 1: in there as well, having missed the derby. Sam Sutton
Speaker 1: coming back that you know, that's the best choice at
Speaker 1: left back, and I like the fact that Nathan Wrker
Speaker 1: got a start as well. But really they didn't They
Speaker 1: didn't really start really going for it until after they
Speaker 1: one kneel down. Luke brook Smith came on, Michael Rojas
Speaker 1: came on, Giraldis was good at times, but I don't know.
Speaker 1: I watched the Phoenix side and I compare it to
Speaker 1: last year. Last year, you always expected that regardless of
Speaker 1: the that situation, they will find a way to score
Speaker 1: a goal. I don't feel the same way this season
Speaker 1: at all.
Speaker 2: No, they can't and I just don't think they have
Speaker 2: the personality or the experience to do that this season,
Speaker 2: which is such a shame because you know, I'm looking
Speaker 2: at the lineup and the players you name Piney, and
Speaker 2: there are actually some really experienced, talented players in that lineup,
Speaker 2: but just for some reason this season it's not gelling.
Speaker 2: And whether we put that down to management or the players' attitudes,
Speaker 2: I'm not sure, but yeah, it is a real shame
Speaker 2: for the fans. It looked like I don't know how
Speaker 2: many if you know how many people were there, Piney.
Speaker 2: They looked like a nice turnout, you know, turned up
Speaker 2: to the stadium on Friday night.
Speaker 1: It was around sort of six thousands, I think. But
Speaker 1: they made a lot of noise. I raally like that.
Speaker 1: You know, you can't, you know, we talk a lot
Speaker 1: about the port and the noise they make and they do.
Speaker 1: But the hardcore Yellow Fever and we should have mentioned
Speaker 1: this last week and didn't, but they sung for the
Speaker 1: whole game last week in the derby as they watched
Speaker 1: their team dismantled six' to. One they were the same
Speaker 1: there On friday. Night there was a lot of, noise
Speaker 1: a lot of energy and that's what following a football team.
Speaker 1: Is so, yeah, no we do have to give it
Speaker 1: to the you, know to The phoenix. Fans Corbyn piper
Speaker 1: had had a head a brilliantly saved By Patrick beach
Speaker 1: but as it happened the flag was up, anyway doesn't
Speaker 1: take away from the. Save the save was. Outstanding wouldn't
Speaker 1: accounted Sir Wellington phoenix eleventh of in the league nineteen,
Speaker 1: points eleven points outside the top, six eight games to,
Speaker 1: go playoffs are basically. Gone it would take a huge
Speaker 1: turnaround in their. Fortunes they basically have to win their
Speaker 1: remaining eight games to get anywhere near the top. SIX
Speaker 1: i think what The phoenix will be now a disruptors
Speaker 1: for the rest because we talked about those other teams,
Speaker 1: before jockeying for positions in the top, two top, four top,
Speaker 1: six and The phoenix have to play a lot of.
Speaker 1: Them they Play Western, United SYDNEY, fc The Western Sydney,
Speaker 1: Wanderers Melbourne, Victory Adelaide, united so you, know they'll be.
Speaker 1: DISRUPTORS i think is probably the best thing that they
Speaker 1: can be. Now and they do have to finish. Strongly
Speaker 1: they're still professional. Players they still have to go out
Speaker 1: there and try and win every, week even if the
Speaker 1: top six is going to be out of reach for, them.
Speaker 2: AND i think they should do it for. Themselves you,
Speaker 2: know they've had a rough season as we've, mentioned riddled with,
Speaker 2: injuries and you, know a very young, team so just
Speaker 2: do it for. Themselves and you can already start to
Speaker 2: See chief he is looking forward to the. Future you,
Speaker 2: know he's giving more minutes to these younger. PLAYERS i
Speaker 2: mean he's had two imports on the on the bench
Speaker 2: on the, weekend so you know HE'S i think that's
Speaker 2: what they've got to start doing as looking towards next
Speaker 2: season and just trying to pick up their confidence a
Speaker 2: little bit and end the season, on you, know as
Speaker 2: much of a high as they possibly.
Speaker 1: Can, yeah A, SHIGAR i think is carrying a. Knock
Speaker 1: so that was why he didn't start the. Game he's
Speaker 1: been pretty much never present Starting. Nagasawa now we haven't
Speaker 1: seen for a couple of. Weeks he's been on the
Speaker 1: bench the last couple of weeks and not. Used and
Speaker 1: then josh Olaway emi is also on the. Bench so
Speaker 1: you look at you look at the team sheet and
Speaker 1: three of the five imports are on the. Bench that
Speaker 1: speaks to recruitment of overseas players that hasn't worked.
Speaker 2: Out the thing That i've got a question about is
Speaker 2: like The phoenix would have made quite a bit of
Speaker 2: money from the sale of the likes have been old
Speaker 2: right And Alex. Paulson so do we just put it
Speaker 2: down to they've you, know not spent the money correctly
Speaker 2: and in terms of bringing in these imports this, season
Speaker 2: because you look at the imports For AUCKLAND, fc and you,
Speaker 2: know you could Argue auckland is perhaps more of a.
Speaker 2: Destination it's especially because of their ties WITH Afc. Bournemouth but,
Speaker 2: yeah you just wonder if they haven't got it right this.
Speaker 1: Season Well phoenix definitely haven't got it, right but they
Speaker 1: have in previous, years you, know and this is really
Speaker 1: this is an outlier as far As Wellington phoenix's imports are.
Speaker 1: Concerned for most of the of the last few, seasons
Speaker 1: they have got the imports bang. On you look at
Speaker 1: a guy Like boja Dar, Kroiev you look At Oscars
Speaker 1: nevada and the things that he did when he was.
Speaker 1: There you, know those are just two examples of players
Speaker 1: who have Elevated Wellington phoenix and have, really you, know
Speaker 1: lifted them to greater. Heights they've just got it wrong this.
Speaker 1: Season nugasawa and A shiga and Olaway yemi just haven't
Speaker 1: added what they would have. Hoped and it's not uncommon
Speaker 1: in THE A, league you, know For AUCKLAND fc to
Speaker 1: get all five, right which they, have really is probably
Speaker 1: more the exception than it is the. Rule but, yeah
Speaker 1: but DON'T i don't know how much they're Paying nagasawa
Speaker 1: Or Olaway emmy or A. Shiga but you, know so
Speaker 1: whether they haven't quite reinvested all of the money they,
Speaker 1: COULD i don't. Know it might be also That AUCKLAND
Speaker 1: fc got players Like modino The, strata you, Know Guy.
Speaker 1: GOSS i, MEAN i Think Hiroki saka would have cost
Speaker 1: them a, Bit but the, OTHERS i hadn't heard of
Speaker 1: any of, Them, BONNIE i don't think anybody. Had but
Speaker 1: now you, know so you get these players who are
Speaker 1: perhaps in a bit of a holding pattern in their.
Speaker 1: Career Now Louis ustrata is probably now worth two or
Speaker 1: three times what they paid for.
Speaker 2: Him, yeah, exactly all. Right it is interesting again you'll
Speaker 2: probably know more than, Me, Piney but will they be
Speaker 2: breaking some of these contracts next? Season like Ollaway amy
Speaker 2: what he, was his contract got. Extended surely they're not
Speaker 2: keeping him.
Speaker 1: AROUND i can't see how they. CAN i think they've
Speaker 1: got to find a way to extricate themselves from. That
Speaker 1: that seemed a very curious, decision as you, say just
Speaker 1: very early. On and, yeah he was serviceable enough in
Speaker 1: the first couple of. GAMES a one will, drawer then
Speaker 1: a clean cheek and of two n'll, win you, know
Speaker 1: and then they you're, right they, said okay to at the.
Speaker 1: Derby here we're extending then the Derby and, LOOK i
Speaker 1: think Josh aula william is a good, keeper but if
Speaker 1: he's not, playing you can't have him taking up an import. Spot,
Speaker 1: no not at.
Speaker 2: ALL i mean it did happen last season With Alex.
Speaker 2: Paulson although Was Jack. Duncan was He? Australian, no he
Speaker 2: is an.
Speaker 1: Important no no, No Jack Duncan's. Australian so, yeah so
Speaker 1: he wasn't taking up an imported. Spot, no, No BUT
Speaker 1: i just you and not just. Goalkie but LIKE i,
Speaker 1: say when you've reached the, game where really now or
Speaker 1: you know these are must win. Games when you go
Speaker 1: into a must win game and three of your five
Speaker 1: import players start that game on the, bench they're not injured,
Speaker 1: NECESSARILY i, KNOW i, SAID a she is carrying a,
Speaker 1: Knock but if he's good enough to be in the matchday,
Speaker 1: squad then he's not that. Injured so when three imports
Speaker 1: are not injured and not in the starting, eleven then
Speaker 1: you do you do have to look at it and
Speaker 1: say we haven't got it.
Speaker 2: Right, yeah, Surely AND i think that's What chief he
Speaker 2: will be doing now and maybe we can see that with.
Speaker 2: That the squad he's been naming over the last couple
Speaker 2: of weeks is he knows that they're probably going to
Speaker 2: swap some of them out next season and why not
Speaker 2: give as much experience as they can now to the
Speaker 2: likes Of Corbyn, Piper Nathan, Walker. Lukebrooksmith so maybe Actually
Speaker 2: chief's out smarting us all with the lineup's good putting.
Speaker 1: Out could well be. Goodwill but, Ye i'd like to
Speaker 1: see a lot more Of luke Brook. Smith are still very,
Speaker 1: raw but adds. Energy chief is set after the game
Speaker 1: that the plan at some stages to Have Geraldez, rojas
Speaker 1: A shiga And barbarussis all start. Together that'll depend on
Speaker 1: injuries and things like that and playing, minutes But i'd
Speaker 1: love to see. IT i, mean that feels exciting to
Speaker 1: me if if that is what they can manage to
Speaker 1: do with a bit Of Luke brooksmith And Nathan walker
Speaker 1: perhaps coming off the. Bench so here we'll see what.
Speaker 1: Happens Western united are the next assignment For Wellington. Phoenix
Speaker 1: they play them away On saturday, night that is eight
Speaker 1: O'clock New zealand. Time the football fever With Jason hin
Speaker 1: And Bonnie jess and finally to The Wellington phoenix women
Speaker 1: who Welcomed Adelaide united To Pottydowa park. Yesterday we've talked
Speaker 1: ad nauseum WHAT i have about how important marches for
Speaker 1: The Wellington phoenix. Women unfortunately they couldn't Start march with a.
Speaker 1: Win adelaide are a good, side but a three to
Speaker 1: one WIN i want to go straight to, This. Bonnie
Speaker 1: is this a top six Side Wellington. PHOENIX i don't
Speaker 1: think so.
Speaker 2: ANYMORE i think that was such an important game to
Speaker 2: get a point, from particularly being a home. Match they
Speaker 2: do so well at. Home and, YEAH i THINK i
Speaker 2: don't know, Though, piney because they're actually not far. Off
Speaker 2: it's still on the ladder And adelaide are actually a
Speaker 2: really good team and are probably going to go on
Speaker 2: and win. It so maybe they.
Speaker 1: ARE i don't, know what do you? Think, WELL i
Speaker 1: hope they, Are BUT i JUST i draw this parallel
Speaker 1: with last season where this is almost a carbon copy
Speaker 1: of what happened last season when when The Wellington phoenix
Speaker 1: had around about the same time had an identical number of. Points,
Speaker 1: really in, fact it happened slightly earlier last season around
Speaker 1: sort Of round ten or. Eleven they just got stuck
Speaker 1: in the mud and couldn't pick up any. Points and
Speaker 1: now we're at the. Point we're at the point now
Speaker 1: where if The Wellington phoenix don't win this coming, weekend
Speaker 1: they'll have fewer points after eighteen games than they did last.
Speaker 1: Season and they didn't make it last. Season So i'm
Speaker 1: not willing to write them out of the equation just.
Speaker 1: Yet this only four points outside the top six with
Speaker 1: six games to, go but they have to Beat Western
Speaker 1: sydney On. SUNDAY i feel like that's not.
Speaker 2: Negotiable oh, yes so they've they've Played melbourne, victory have
Speaker 2: they or they've still got them coming up just BECAUSE
Speaker 2: i thought that was the next. Game so, yes you're, Right,
Speaker 2: PINEY i think this weekend is a non. Negotiable there
Speaker 2: are only four points off that that playoff that playoff
Speaker 2: spot at the, moment so three points this weekend is a.
Speaker 2: Must AND i think they still do have a good
Speaker 2: side with some key. Players you, Know Carolyn vilau on the,
Speaker 2: weekend the goalkeeper for The Wellington, phoenix she's so. Good
Speaker 2: obviously she saved that, penalty but in other moments in the,
Speaker 2: Match she's so key for, them and it's nice to
Speaker 2: See Emma maine get the start as well at the other.
Speaker 2: End SO i think they've got the personnel to do.
Speaker 2: It it's just whether they can gel and make things.
Speaker 1: Happen, YEAH i, mean looking at the, Game adelaide with
Speaker 1: a better, TEAM i don't think there's any question even you,
Speaker 1: know through the, Stats adelaide had thirty one shots to
Speaker 1: The phoenix's, Eight so that alone tells the story of
Speaker 1: the opportunities that were. Created you're right About carolina. Vlau
Speaker 1: that penalty save is a brilliant penalty. Save so The
Speaker 1: adelaide player who took, it and her name escapes me
Speaker 1: at the, moment has drilled it off To vlao's left
Speaker 1: and she's got this strong hand to it and she's
Speaker 1: made a number of other. SAVES i, mean she obviously
Speaker 1: has let three, in BUT i think you, know and
Speaker 1: it's only you know a short history of the club
Speaker 1: has but she is by far the best goalkeeper That
Speaker 1: Wellington phoenix have had in the women's.
Speaker 2: Program she is an import you don't want to lose forxt,
Speaker 2: season just speaking on, Imports but, YEAH i, Agree. PINEY
Speaker 2: i thought she was unreal and she has been unreal
Speaker 2: beyond this game last. Night so, yeah definitely don't want
Speaker 2: to lose her key moments like that that can help
Speaker 2: these teams go. Fast so, yeah back to that top six.
Speaker 2: THING i think they can do, it but you, Know
Speaker 2: i'd like to See Alyssa. Wynham she's she's so talented
Speaker 2: and she's so good on the, ball but just you,
Speaker 2: know executing some of these opportunity or you, know all
Speaker 2: these opportunities that she. Has converting you, know these these
Speaker 2: goals and these opportunities will be so key for. Her
Speaker 2: AND i think that the minute she starts doing, that
Speaker 2: she gets caught up into the.
Speaker 1: Ferns, YEAH i, agree and and the goals have dried
Speaker 1: up and she is a she can turn that tap
Speaker 1: back on if she starts, to you, know to really get.
Speaker 1: Creative For, MIDFIELD i think back To january when they
Speaker 1: Beat perth two, nil they beat The wanderers three. Nil
Speaker 1: they had that two, one lost To adelaide and then
Speaker 1: Beat newcastle three. Too they were scoring goals for. Fun
Speaker 1: they've they've really dried, up just three in the last five.
Speaker 1: Games so you know that that tells the tale of
Speaker 1: a team that is start is struggling to to you,
Speaker 1: know to create chances and when they, do to finish those.
Speaker 1: Chances but they are still there or. Thereabouts No Grace
Speaker 1: jarlie yesterday and for the next two, weeks AS i understand,
Speaker 1: it so that will put a dent in their chances
Speaker 1: at the attacking. End BUT i think you're. RIGHT i
Speaker 1: think a lot of, it and without wanting to put
Speaker 1: too much pressure on, her will revolve around whether a
Speaker 1: list will win, them can rediscover the creativity that she showed,
Speaker 1: it you, know for large parts of the first half
Speaker 1: of the.
Speaker 2: Season and we spoke about it last Week piney how
Speaker 2: he wanted to See Emma main get more more minutes
Speaker 2: or it might have been the week, before AND i,
Speaker 2: hopefully you, Know Grace jarlie being out will Allow emma
Speaker 2: to get. THOSE i think she also is quite a
Speaker 2: creative player and could hopefully do something get it moving
Speaker 2: up the top for them to get out of this dry.
Speaker 2: SPELL i did really Like Olivia. Ferguson ferguson's goal, though,
Speaker 2: yeah that was, great.
Speaker 1: Now, NICE i, mean she's onto a bit of an
Speaker 1: underhit pass looked? Up could have you, know she had
Speaker 1: a few options because she's still quite a way. Out
Speaker 1: look up sort of keep her off the. LINE i, thought,
Speaker 1: WELL i can chip her from. Here so, yeah that's
Speaker 1: a confidence booster For Olivia, ferguson who's now scored in consecutive.
Speaker 1: Games she found it a little bit hard to get, going,
Speaker 1: mister a couple of high profile, opportunities but, yeah goals
Speaker 1: in consecutive. Games strikers love, that so hopefully she can
Speaker 1: she can continue to do. So so are we calling
Speaker 1: it a must win game Against Western. SYDNEY i think we.
Speaker 2: Are oh, yeah oh, YEAH i think.
Speaker 1: So all, right well that is what we shall call, it,
Speaker 1: then a must win game against The Western Sydney Wanderers
Speaker 1: Pottydour park On sunday at four. O'clock so hopefully in
Speaker 1: a week from now and we're chatting again on The
Speaker 1: Football fever, podcast we'll be talking about a win And
Speaker 1: Wellington phoenix's women's side moving a bit closer to participation
Speaker 1: in the top. Six that is us For Football Fever.
Speaker 1: Bonnie another jam packed weekend with three more games to.
Speaker 1: Analyze this coming weekend we'll have an all white squad
Speaker 1: coming out at some stage for THE Ofc World cup.
Speaker 1: Qualifiers kiwis overseas that we haven't got to. Today so,
Speaker 1: yeah they just keep on, coming thick and. Fast the
Speaker 1: football storylines.
Speaker 2: Can't, Wait, Piney, yeah bring it. On it's going to
Speaker 2: be a big next couple of months and before you
Speaker 2: know it will be a league.
Speaker 1: Playoffs, indeed see you next. Week this is football even